Characters

Gale Boetticher Played by David Costabile

Gale Boetticher
Gale Boetticher Quotes »

Gale Boetticher is Walt's superlab assistant. A specialist in X-ray crystallography, the Libertarian chemist has a open-minded attitude regarding meth: "Consenting adults want what they want," he tells Walt. "At least with me they're getting exactly what they pay for."

Gale impresses Walt with a recitation of Walt Whitman's "When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer," about the exhilaration of experiencing scientific wonders first-hand. "Yes, I am a nerd," Gale laughs.

What Gale jokes "might be beginning of a beautiful friendship" between him and Walt ends suddenly. Walt, angling to install Jesse as his lab assistant, accuses Gale of making an error and fires him. Before Gale departs, an unkempt Jesse saunters in and declares the superlab "the bomb." "This makes no sense," says Gale.

Gus reinstates Gale after Walt kills two of the businessman's dealers to protect Jesse. Gus visits Gale one night to reveal Walt's cancer diagnosis. Saying that he must "prepare for the worst-case scenario," Gus orders Gale to master the cooking process as quickly as possible.

To retain leverage with Gus as the sole meth cook, Walt plots Gale's murder. Jesse shows up at Gale's apartment and brandishes a gun. "You don't have to do this," Gale pleads. Jesse, his eyes tearing, pulls the trigger.

 

Gale Boetticher Quotes

“Consenting adults want what they want. At least with me they’re getting exactly what they pay for.”
Season 3, Episode 6: “Sunset”
“Yes, I am a nerd.”
Season 3, Episode 6: “Sunset”
“This makes no sense.”
Season 3, Episode 8: “I See You”
“Please don’t do this. You don’t have to do this.”
Season 3, Episode 13: “Full Measure”