How Breaking Bad Created the Most Terrifying Villains on Television

[@patrickg5648]

I would argue that what makes Todd so terrifying is that he DOESN’T enjoy tormenting people, but he’s so disconnected from anything resembling empathy or kindness that he just doesn’t understand why it’s so wrong. It’s like his day job

[@justaway6901]

Yeah. And that's the true definition of a psychopath. Our brains are organs too and so if it was compromised during our development, it can affect the way it functions. Psychopathy is a brain disorder.

[@rycegabrielmajor9847]

"The kind of evil that doesn't realize that it's evil, is the worst kind of evil there is." - Weather Report, JJBA Part 6

[@4LegCrotch]

Yeah, he doesn’t really seem to feel anything particular about what he does, he just treats it as if it was stuff that happens everyday. The most clear example is when he tortured and enslaved Jesse, but afterwards he just treats him as if they were friends and as if he hadn’t done some of the worst shit you can do to a person to Jesse. He even gives him that ice cream and all

[@beef_baby]

@@rycegabrielmajor9847 Ain't no way you pulled a JoJo reference in here

[@soundwhisperer1058]

@@rycegabrielmajor9847 Almost no one thinks they are evil idiot

[@humandeviant8739]

I think Todd was pretty much the scariest one. What he turned out to be was so unexpected and he was so chill about everything he does.

[@BigPurp9]

I can’t remember what his name is but the actor that plays him plays villains so well. He was brilliant in the USS Callister episode of black mirror as well. I couldn’t imagine him playing a good guy😂

[@natalyamartirosyan]

@@BigPurp9 it's Jesse Plemons and yeah he has that blank face and demeanour that is totally psycopatic.

[@lucastadeu9699]

@@BigPurp9 He plays one of the "good" (or less terrible) guys in Fargo season 2.

[@HollabackCoy]

@@BigPurp9 You should watch Game Night. His character is very fun to watch in that

[@cookingwitchefzayy8830]

@@HollabackCoy loved him game night it was hilarious

[@marcuso.530]

What's terrifying about these characters is how realistically they're portrayed. I've known men and women like Tuco who would fly off the handle at a short notice, or people like Gus and Todd who act friendly at one point only to do horrible things the next. Props to these actors for their incredible work. Especially Giancarlo Esposito because Gus was just a force of nature at times.

[@cigsRcool]

Are you Jesse?

[@spacemann1425]

@@cigsRcool lmfao

[@jessali_]

Yup. And I knew a Gus Fring: A terrifying man with a fake smile which unsuspecting people fall for but who's a highly intelligent real-life villain in a dark underground parallel world. I've also met people who might be Todds, but to a lesser extent.

[@michaelscott7916]

Gus was scary because of his intelligence. He was cold & calculating & capable of horrendous acts of brutality but even those were done to achieve specific ends. I'll never forget the episode where Gus very calmly & methodically demonstrates what happens to disloyalty in his organization and cuts that guys throat with a box cutter. I watched that the first time it premiered on a certain cable channel. The next day one of the headlines in the newspaper was ' Breaking Bad Just Invaded Primetime.'

[@youarealwayscorrect]

Well, some of them. Then there are cartoonishly evil twins.

[@taddybear4244]

Gus wasn't just motivated by wealth and power, he was motivated by revenge as well. He's such an excellent villain.

[@spacemann1425]

Gus was motivated mainly just by revenge. Power and wealth were just a carry over for him. In the end he was just waiting to end Hector, and cut off whatever grows of the cartel again and again and again.

[@jvdarklxrd]

Totally agreed.

[@cj-cv7zv]

he wasn't motivated by wealth or power at all, the guy is just flat out wrong

[@jameslough6329]

@@cj-cv7zv Nah, Gus was DEFINITELY motivated by power. Even after he took revenge on the Salamanca family he continued to try to expand his drug business and acted more ruthless than ever to Walt due to considering him a threat to his power. One of his main motivations for murdering Victor the way he did was also simply a power flex towards Jesse and Walt. I’d say he’s equally motivated by both revenge and power

[@cj-cv7zv]

@@jameslough6329 maybe initially, but once they killed his boyfriend i'd argue that was his main motivation above all

[@The_Archer-he2ft]

imagine making a character so good, the actor doesn't want to play as him anymore because it hurts his mental health, truly terrifying yet amazing

[@user-bq5ny3bh5m]

Heath ledger fell victim of this

[@Notcminecraft]

@@user-bq5ny3bh5m overrated

[@yo-hydro815]

@@Notcminecraft u bugging

[@thedevil5719]

@@Notcminecraft true

[@garretiswright8532]

@@user-bq5ny3bh5m From what I understand, Heath Ledger enjoyed his role and wasn't in any mental anguish. He died of the overdose by accident, but that is just what I read online (so take it with a grain of salt).

[@DownWithBureaucracy]

I always liked and respected the character of Gus. He's cold and calculated but he's entirely logical. He gave Walt and Jessie a fair deal and was more than patient with them

[@cookingwitchefzayy8830]

Absolutely it was Walt jealous and wanting to control everything that ruined that partnership

[@Christopher-ms5ke]

@@cookingwitchefzayy8830 Except when Jesse went to kill 2 of Gus’s men and Walt had to save him. I’m not one that blames everything on Walt.

[@kianhughes6309]

Gus was a great businessman in an evil business

[@raulgarcia8627]

Gus is literally a metaphor for neoliberalism (see his not subtile past in the Pinochet regime), he represents the worst of the worst under the self-righteous self image of civility, but it's great that anyone can think he's cool 🤗✨❤️

[@cynicaltheastrocreep4504]

@@Christopher-ms5ke he had to bring in Jesse and Jesse couldn't leave well enough alone, he wasn't cut out for it and it was Walt's fault. You can tell Gus is pissed when Walt doesn't want to work with Gail.

[@gonzalogca4907]

Tuco is actually the nicest guy in the Breaking Bad universe. Look how he takes care of his abuelita in Better Call Saul.

[@idanlewenhoff2295]

hahahahha thats jokes tight tight tight!

[@aSandwich.13]

Biznatch!

[@jessali_]

He's just misunderstood lol

[@miliba]

Agree. At least Tuco had a loving family

[@rashaunsmith8806]

@@miliba hard disagree. The Salamanca family is a cartel family so I doubt Tuco was shown much genuine love. Look at the scene in BB where the cousins are outside with Tio and in order to enrage one cousin he almost drowns another.

[@calebdallas5643]

Gus didnt kill his henchman because he was angry, Gus doesn't act on emotion. He killed him because he showed his face at the crime scene. Todd doesn't kill for fun, there's no fun in it. He kills the kid because he saw what happened, he kills Andrea to keep Jesse in line. He feels nothing, he's empty. When his whole family is gunned down he doesn't even care.

[@ZenShroud1]

"Jesus. Mr. White..." like he was about to ask him how he did it lol.

[@deathbymazda]

Todd took a trophy though. The spider. You don’t take a trophy from a kill unless you feel some way about it

[@LuisSierra42]

Your are absolutely right sir

[@justaway6901]

Todd was psychopatic

[@dinomite29]

@@deathbymazda not quite. He could’ve killed the boy and then noticed a spider can keep because it looks cool. To simply put it, Todd had a Jeremy Clarkson moment “oh no, so anyway.”

[@capncake8837]

You completely misunderstood Todd’s character. He’s a psychopath who does things out of necessity. I think he actually thought off Jesse sorta like a friend, which is why he gave him ice cream. He literally just took the spider because he thought it was cool, not out of some hunter’s mentality. He killed the kid because a witness, killed Andrea to keep Jesse in line and tortured him to get information.

[@sullystpatrick]

Todd was a psychopath with boyish arrested development qualities, he had that childlike crush around Lydia and took interest in capturing the spider for those reasons. I'd argue he viewed Jesse as a pet/possession. Even if he did view Jesse as a friend he was too much of a psychopath for it to occur to him that it's virtually impossible for Jesse not to hate him, Todd was incapable of empathizing with how Jesse felt or thought cause Todd didnt feel or think with any emotional depth.

[@Patchesstuff]

i agree like he didng seem like completely ruthless like gus well he was very bad but like he seemed like he had a lil empathy left

[@twocheezitz9182]

Right after torturing Jesse and stealing walt's 80 million, he talks about how he respects them

[@Patchesstuff]

@@twocheezitz9182 after jack SHOT HANK IN FRONT OF WALTERS EYES bro had the audacity to say sorry for your loss

[@spaceclown7650]

Cap'n Cake This video misinterpreted nearly everything so it's no surprise.

[@JadeyCatgirl99]

Part of what makes Todd killing Drew Sharp so shocking is it comes right after the train heist. Up until the end this had been a really fun, and somewhat whacky episode. They carefully weighed all the factors to safely get the methylamine without hurting anyone. Kuby has some comedic dialogue with the engineers. Everything is going well, and there's exciting rush for them to finish up. For a moment everything had gone well, and they revel in their success. Now there's this kid on the scene. I had expected this to be setting up for a funny ending where they have to quickly explain what they are doing there. Instead, Todd changes the direction of the whole episode in its final moment. It immediately goes from one of the lightest to one of the darkest.

[@capybaraandwatermelonenjoy8208]

that wasn't kuby???

[@Makowako_]

@@capybaraandwatermelonenjoy8208 what? It was

[@capybaraandwatermelonenjoy8208]

@@Makowako_ no it was one of the pest control guys

[@Makowako_]

@@capybaraandwatermelonenjoy8208 no what are you on Todd shot the kid but kuby is the one that had funny dialogue with the mechanic. Also the he fact that you didn’t use Todd’s name kinda makes it apparent that you either haven’t finished the show or haven’t watched it in a long time. Maybe rewatch it to refresh your mind. It’s a good show

[@capybaraandwatermelonenjoy8208]

@@Makowako_ i was talking about one of the other pest control guys not todd dumb@ss i know who todd is

[@priatalat]

Actually, Gus killed his henchmen because he became a liability when people saw him at the crime scene. This is proven further when they show a very detailed wanted poster for him later in the show, hinting at how easily he'd be recognized and caught if still left alive.

[@ramaarmandoyusran9216]

@Gg you miss the point... Gus killed his henchman is the most Gus Fring's action to do. Why? Because he calculated everything. Killing his henchman gives him 2 benefit : 1. Just like the comment said, people saw him at the apartment. And that is a danger to the business and him. 2. To prove a point. He could easily kill his henchman in another place or time in silent, but no... He did the opposite. He killed him in front of Walter and Jesse to show how terrifying he is, to show how he'll not hesitate killing anybody who is in his way with a freaking cutter in cold blood. See? He calculated everything, Killing his henchman is like killing 2 birds with one bullet to him, and that is why Gus Fring is one of the best antagonist of all time.

[@doozsromhacks]

I was about to comment this

[@munken7673]

There was No evidence that pointed at Victor he arrived later then must of the other people that was there already

[@toastedravis]

@@munken7673 how can you not see that doesn’t matter? He was there at the scene and people saw him. Doesn’t matter when he got there. He walked into the apartment like he knew Gale, a guy even told him something. What witnesses wouldn’t remember that? Even if there is a chance they wouldn’t, why would Gus take that chance and be cool with it?

[@toastedravis]

@Gg Gus would never simply send anyone away for compromising and disrespecting his operation (ie being spotted at a crime scene and cooking the meth he was not qualified to cook)

[@AsbestosMuffins]

Gus Fring really saves the show, I think 4 seasons of Tucco beating people to death constantly would have dragged the show down, but by fate, he stepped off the show at the exact right time

[@oceanwavesandcocaine1129]

Ehh Tucco is pretty crazy & iconic

[@masterknife8423]

Though I kinda wish Raymond Cruz stayed to play Tuco throughout the rest of season 2 like Vince and the writers originally planned

[@dumpstercast-refuseradio8429]

i honestly feel like both in and out of character tuco chose the perfect time to step away from the story

[@JustMe-ob3nw]

Fring is the most puzzling character of any movie I’ve ever watched

[@omar21710]

They were supposed to be 8 episodes not 4 seasons !

[@charlesancer6101]

I do think you got Tod's character completely wrong. He doesn't kill for pleasure. He does kill because he doesn't feel anything. When the actor was asked how he intemperated his role he said: it's like when you step on a fly. It sucks for the fly but the fly doesn't have fallue to you because it's a fly.

[@a_bruuuhhh9286]

damnnn

[@KittSpiken]

Fallue like the pastry?

[@s-l3353]

@@KittSpiken maybe they misspelled "value"

[@KittSpiken]

@@s-l3353 that makes more sense but I'd rather it be about a pastry

[@chumuheha]

They also misunderstood Gus... he's not a psychopath, or at least wasn't always one. He clearly cared deeply about Max, which was one of the primary drives for his thirty year revenge crusade on the cartel.

[@ericO141]

I think that they showed another kind of evil in Lydia, who is the kind of evil that lies to themselves and can’t even see what they have done.

[@elgenerico6263]

She's the hypocrite evil. The kind of evil that will happily have ten men gunned down, but won't bring herself to look at the bodies. That scene really encapsulated her.

[@DrMcMoist]

Oh yeah, Lydia is supremely dangerous. Imagine a character like hers with lackeys at her disposal that would carry her wishes out without question. Her paranoia would drive her to murder time and time again.

[@highfive4203]

*don't want to see what they have done

[@Dark666Butterfly]

Yes !

[@snakesonaframe2668]

The fact that she covers her eyes when she comes out of the meth lab Todd rescued her from really irked me. Like you can’t even have the nerve to face up to what you’ve done and own it? She’s honestly my least favorite character. Selfish, cowardly, paranoid, backstabbing, she’s just pathetic.

[@felliperibeiro8021]

The most interesting thing about it all is that Walter White manages to have the personality of these three villains together, that's amazing

[@spacemann1425]

Yeah. It's strange that this is a video about villains but doesn't feature the villain that the show is all about. The villain protagonist. Walt.

[@spacemann1425]

Also it's strange that The Salamancas and the cartel aren't talked about.

[@pranavps851]

Wrong. Walter was neither a psychopath or a sociopath. He displays genuine remorse at having to kill Crazy-8, even though it was in self defense. Later on, however, he got comfortable with killing but originally he wasn't amoral. He only killed when it was absolutely necessary for his plan.

[@felliperibeiro8021]

@@pranavps851 🤓

[@Dark666Butterfly]

@@pranavps851 What the hell ? He assists to Jane's death coldly, no normal person would be able to do that. He poisoned a child, Brock...

[@LowReedExpert1]

I feel real confused about this interpretation of Todd. Undoubtedly the dude's a psychopath, but he was presented as killing for fun as if he was just killing whenever he wanted. In the series, with exception of keeping Jesse as a pet, each action was done in direct response as a cold answer. Killed Sharp to eliminate any witnesses. Killed Andrea to keep his cook in line like he promised. Killed his housekeeper because she found his money. Those aren't the crimes of someone killing because they enjoy it, those are of someone who doesn't care for human life beyond their objective use. Anyone who could pose a real threat was taken out immediately. He's also one of the few characters to really show pretty much no emotion. Gus has empathy, Tuco has empathy, Todd is unchanging and cold - no happiness, no fear, no empathy, at best he has an attraction to Lydia

[@Pikminiman]

+

[@sillyslicker1]

Exactly. He always had more of a "damn, now that one's gotta go" attitude. Cold is exactly the word to use. He always kind of made me think of a child in an adult body, who never developed more than surface-level feelings.

[@saidirbad4213]

Sadism

[@Flanders7880]

Even keeping Jessie around I always thought of as being for his meth making expertise, not as a trophy or pet. I never saw evil or enjoyment from his killings, just necessity.

[@guiyerod444]

Totally agree, I think he didn't do a good job on Gus and Todd, too much into a pov that sees them as "evil"

[@eltedioso]

I agree that Todd is a psychopath, but I disagree that he kills just because he enjoys it. He's indifferent to it, but all the violence serves a purpose to him. Killing Drew Sharpe? because he witnessed the heist. Killing Declan's gang? because he & uncle Jack wanted to take over the meth operation (and he wanted Lydia's affections too). Killing his maid? because she found his money (and he admitted to Jesse that he felt kinda bad about it, and even gave her a nice eulogy of sorts in the desert). He doesn't seem to actually ENJOY the violence, but he's perfectly willing to do it when he sees it as necessary or convenient.

[@popinmo]

convenient is the keyword here why did he shoot the kid with ease convenient

[@jamesconkey1480]

The word youre looking for is "sociopath"

[@davideberhardt6150]

But he does enjoy it. There's a serial killer streak to him, like taking a trophy form the dead child or that smirk when the murder is mentioned by Jesse. Yes, he has actual reasons for killing these people ... but he also likes doing it. Pretty sure if Jesse wouldn't have killed him (love that scene), Todd would at one point in his life start killing just for the fun of it.

[@FracturedPixels]

@@davideberhardt6150 I'm not convinced he "took it as a trophy" Someone in another comment explained it as coming off more like "oh cool a tarantula". I tend to agree with their summary that Todd is just so apathetic and disconnected that he can take something from the child he just murdered without those two things being directly connected.

[@A..224]

@@jamesconkey1480 lol this kills me when ppl pull the “psychopath v sociopath” argument. Both terms are outdated and obsolete. Sociopaths and psychopaths are on opposite ends of the same spectrum in ASPD (Anti-social personality disorder)

[@georgevelis4651]

I disagree with your take on Todd. He doesn't really enjoy killing. That's what makes him terrifying. He doesn't feel anything when he takes lives or tortures people. It's no different to him than everyday stuff. He won't kill for no reason, but he does it in such a cold, emotionless way. He would react the same way if he had to murder 5 children as he would if he had to take out that trash or go buy some milk from the store

[@rajikage3098]

Same here he doesn’t enjoy it It just like he has 0 emotions and does what he does to survive He’s chaos incarnate in the sense that he’s just an evolutionary animal

[@ricardo_lavra]

I guess I agree with that. Think of an ant, for example: we don't feel anything for them, in fact, we don't even perceive their existence most of the time. But when an ant is walking towards our food or is found making a nest where it shouldn't, we smash it not because we hate the poor creature or enjoy doing so, but simple because it stood in our way and we have the capability to do it. Todd is exactly like that. He doesn't feel absolutely anything for anyone, not even hatred or despise. He just don't care... until someone crosses his way...

[@internettraveler8666]

Killing a fly isn’t joyless and mundane like a roach. Killing a fly is a challenge and when you manage to catch it off guard it’s satisfying.

[@ja9145]

@@internettraveler8666 are you trying to argue he did enjoy killing?

[@annaeverette8960]

@@ricardo_lavra the real question is, why do we keep doing these things to ants, and then turn around and declare that Todd is 'the evilest'.

[@plasmazing3612]

You seem to forget that the main motivation for Gus is revenge, his main motivation in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul was always revenge for Max, when he was shot he was clearly heartbroken. He is very cold and calculating, but it is all in service of revenge, he clearly enjoys telling Hector about when one of his family members have died, or the rest of the cartel. And as others have pointed out, he didn't just kill Victor because he was angry, he killed him both to send a message to Walt and Jesse, and because people saw him at the crime scene at Gale's death.

[@hsblw_6]

His way to kill Victor was a demonstration of his way to act: practical. By doing it like that, he solved a problem (since it'd be worse to kill Victor anywhere else) and sent a message at the same time. With the tool he found at the place, may I add, because he's resourceful and if it wasn't with a box cutter, he'd have done it in some other way using what was around. Really interesting when we stop to think about it.

[@toriless]

He does the same with Lalo, he explains the truth about how he feels and what he thinks. Money and control are just his tools.

[@toriless]

@@hsblw_6 Like Lalo with the poultry shears is Better Call Saul

[@thepotato513]

Gus's backstory is actually why I liked him more than Walt. Walt is doing everything for the sake of his own ego, to the point where it causes him to make fatal mistakes, whereas Gus is trying to avenge his dead partner and doesn't really make mistakes along the way (other than trusting Walt to begin with). That's at least a marginally more sympathetic motivation. I also liked that Gus's downfall still came from his desire to get revenge and the fact that he takes it too far. He didn't really need to gloat to Hector about what happened, but he wanted to because he felt the most personally wronged by Hector. In the end his emotions ended up being his downfall, despite how cold and calculated he is

[@spacemann1425]

Killing Victor because "people saw him at the crime scene" doesn't make sense.

[@ODISeth]

Damn, it’s amazing how smart this guy sounds while getting so much blatantly wrong, both about the show and about the psychology of ASPD. I’m kind of impressed you can make such astoundingly false statements seem so believable

[@alias5305]

Thank you, I also thought this was garbage. On top of being psychologically wrong this video is such a misinterpretation of the show

[@PolishGod1234]

Especialy about Todd. Todd DID NOT enjoy killing, he was a psychopath who saw murdering people as a mundane job. He doesn't kill for no reason or becaise he wants to, he does so because he considers it the right thing to do in various situations like Drew Sharp being a witness. Disagree with him being pure evil, the closest we get to real pure evil characters are Jack and Don Eladio

[@miguelthekewlkid272]

@@PolishGod1234 I actually thought was one of the most non villian villians ever. He was constantly rooting for Walt and Jesse even when it wasn't in his best interest. You could say he even admired them both. To me he was just some normal guy who had no guilt when killing people he HAD to kill.

[@Thawhid]

So messed

[@emberdragon4248]

That's the power that politicians wield

[@nitewing1898]

I agree with majority of this, however, Gus isn't a Psychopath. He has shown that he is capable of creating human bonds; we see this with his former business partner and based on his reaction when said partner is killed, Gus is capable of feeling empathy and sadness. The death of his partner is the catalyst in his character, and this is when he stops connecting with people.

[@paratatruc]

Definitely a sociopath, not a psychopath. I agree

[@annaeverette8960]

he's a high functioning sociopath, by choice.

[@snt03]

so he became a psychopath after yeah?

[@nitewing1898]

@@snt03 You can't become a psychopath mate. It's a neurological disorder from birth. Sociopathy is a different story, but it's more common to develop through trauma from a young age, so it's not likely Gus could have become one, but it is possible.

[@basedtortellini]

Thats what i commented as well. The video claims that he cares for money and power. But his character is more a calculated and brilliant look at vengeance.

[@danieldanielson2324]

Gus didn’t kill victor just because he was angry. Obviously it was to prove a point but victor also showed his face at a crime scene when gale was murdered. Victor stepping into that room was his death sentence and he didn’t even know it.

[@bradsully6620]

I agree. I dont think gus killed Victor for cooking. He killed him because he was seen at the murder scene. Im trying to remember though did gus know he was seen?? Because when Mike asked Victor if anyone saw him there gus wasn't in the room was he?? I don't remember. So maybe I'm completely wrong.

[@saulgoodmanKAZAKH]

@@bradsully6620 i am sure he would find a way to know EVERYTHING. Probably knew about the kettle, too

[@shybzrk]

Yeah that was a weird take. Seemed obvious Gus isn't going to kill someone that he trusts "just because he's mad"

[@shybzrk]

@@bradsully6620 I don't think Gus knew 100% Victor was seen but it was too much risk especially at that point. Too much liability and it turns out Victor was very much seen

[@deejay8403]

Walter White may have been correct when he speculated on why Gus killed Victor. He told Jesse that Victor “flew too close to the sun” by taking unapproved liberties cooking that batch of meth when Gus had spent millions of dollars to create that lab for only expert chemists (Initially Gale Boedicker only, but also Walt after Gale’s persuasion, and Jesse as an assistant after Walt’s persuasion) to access and handle. It’s pretty much conjecture to believe that Gus knew Victor was spotted at the crime scene, and therefore killed him because of that, which is what Walt claimed was his initial thought.

[@kallisto9166]

What makes Todd such an outstanding villain character is the sheer banality of his evil. He's unremarkable in every way except his cruelty and the ease with which he does terrible things. Perhaps even more disturbing is that he doesn't even seem to enjoy it that much. I mean, he enjoys killing and cruelty, but never to any great extent. Murder is not some ecstatic experience for him, like a lot of fictional serial killers, it's just an okay time, about as much fun as eating a burger or smoking a cigarette. So creepy.

[@jakemiller9495]

This was my fake on Todd as well. He mentions in the video that he enjoys it but there wasn’t really anything about Todd that made me feel like he enjoyed anything he did. He just did it. He wasn’t effected one way or another by any of his actions. He didn’t show remorse, he didn’t show anxiety, he didn’t show fear. Just nothing.

[@neilpemberton5523]

He's your basic psychopath. When many serial killers do what they do their heart rates stay constant. Todd is a soulless killer who probably sincerely believes he's not really a killer, but just good at tough decisions. He actually told Andrea it wasn't personal in a calm even tone a second before he executed her while Jesse watched. He killed the kid on the motorbike and his own cleaning lady without a thought, and even took the tarantula the kid had caught and kept it as a pet! You can't get more removed from common morality than that. I would never turn my back on Todd under any circumstances.

[@jirkazalabak1514]

From what we know, many serial killers do indeed get happy, almost kid-like while killing their victims. They are the exception however. Most people who have killed a lot are like Todd, and become completely desentisized to it over time. Todd, Gus and Tuco all represent their own archetypes of villains, with most of the other bad guys landing somewhere in between.

[@Ikaros23]

Todd is as far as i can see the most crazy killer on tv other than Marlo in « the wire». To them as you say , killing was no different than eating a burger or smoking a sigaret. Their total lack of emotions and their normalisation of sadism and cruelty, is just totaly mindblowing.

[@charlesancer6101]

I do think he got Tod's character completely wrong. He doesn't kill for pleasure. He does kill because he doesn't feel anything. When the actor was asked how he interpret his role he said: it's like when you step on a fly. It sucks for the fly but the fly doesn't have fallue to you because it's a fly.

[@yderga8707]

What made Tuco initially terrifying was his instability, but once Walt figured out his weakness (his ego and weak drug-fried brain) he became much less of a threat. Todd was terrifying because in my opinion he embodied a serial killer very well. The calm collected nature, the cold almost robotic reaction to traumatic or catastrophic events, his charm and likable false kindness. But Gus was on a league of his own. In my opinion he embodied both of what they did with Tuco and Todd in one character. He was kind, giving and caring and believable, but then changed on a dime and was unpredictable. On top of that having significant intelligence and planning, it was insane how well written his character was, he was truly terrifying.

[@animal5602]

I vehemently disagree with the idea that Gustavo is a psychopath. He is nowhere NEAR a psychopath. He expressed fear, concern, love and disappointment multiple times in the show. I think he is desensitized and has been slowly molded by his experiences to be increasingly callous and antisocial, because of the environment he subjugated himself to.

[@purplesamurai5205]

I'd somewhat agree here and even say this was his downfall.

[@thataintfalco7106]

Probably a sociopath instead

[@secktuss9610]

bcs vehemently disagrees with this idea

[@jonahmoran3751]

@@secktuss9610 Max’s death says no.

[@secktuss9610]

@@jonahmoran3751 yeah let's spend nearly 10 years tormenting the man who killed my best friend's including killing his bloodline and his friends. very no indeed.

[@ready2start]

"Nothing matters to Gustavo Fring more than money and power." Revenge also matters a great deal to Gus.

[@jmchez]

He tortured a wild animal because the poor, unthinking beast ate his fruits. There was nothing to teach or to be learned by the other animals from this. It was done for the pure satisfaction of revenge.

[@OK-yy6qz]

To the point of him sacrificing a lot of money and power (men) to go on war with a cartel

[@judywright4241]

Very true, look how long he planned to be able to get retribution on the cartel for killing his ‘protege’. I also never believed he had ‘daughters that he had cooked for’. That guy was so single minded, and everyone had their uses to him, until they don’t--then bye bye Victor.

[@Bless-the-Name]

...to secure a future with money and power.

[@hanieh_art]

I think he got that wrong. Revenge mattered to gus more than power and money. He got power and money as a means to revenge. He also wanted to be successful but his desire for revenge was so much that it was his bane and made him make his last mistake.

[@MrNoblethread]

Unless you’re directly involved in their businesses the only one you should really fear is Tuco. His chaotic type of evil is a threat to anyone he crosses paths with

[@dinglbarry1275]

That's the point I made. He's the only one where any given meeting could be your last.

[@envee__4839]

Idk about that, two of his kills were completely unrelated to the business. The kid was just riding around in the desert and his cleaning lady just happened to see something she shouldn't have. Andrea wasn't part of the business either, was just unlucky enough to have a connection to someone who was.

[@MrNoblethread]

@@envee__4839 yeah I’d be pretty weary of Todd too I wouldn’t get too close

[@dash4800]

Who did tuco ever hurt that wasn't involved in his business or who crossed him in a direct way?

[@OK-yy6qz]

@@envee__4839 they were involved they just didn't know it. They were both witnesses which is the most dangerous situation to be when facing a mobster

[@thesixfootsixexperience8781]

I think it’s worth noting that even when he kills Victor, it’s for a reason. Victor was seen at Gale’s crime scene

[@munken7673]

But still unnecessary since he arrived late and would just be some random guy that was nearby for the police

[@thesixfootsixexperience8781]

@@munken7673 we do see his face on a wanted sign later, though

[@redherring74]

@@munken7673 a random guy no neighbors can identify showing up to a crime scene is definitely sus, there’s a reason they say killers always return to the scene of the crime

[@munken7673]

@@redherring74 still No evidence on him since he arrived later then the others

[@alex360c]

@@munken7673 how still no evidence there were literally wanted posters for him

[@michelsindaha]

Gustavo didn't kill Victor because he was angry. One of the main reasons that he killed him was that he was possibly spotted at the scene of the crime of Boetticher's murder.

[@DawudSandstorm2]

I thought Gale's surname was Bennekers

[@jyn7154]

The moment I knew, out of these three, that Todd was the scariest villain to me, was when he shows up to Andrea’s house as if he was just some next door neighbor’s teenage son asking about his friend, and then shoots her. I don’t think even Gus or Tuco would do something like that - to kill an innocent so unnecessarily, so nonchalantly. All the killings mediated by Gus or Tuco were all “deserved” in their eyes. But Andrea? It was so unexpected that I felt true shock, discomfort, and even sick by her murder. I would honestly never feel safe living in a world where people like Todd exist.

[@thataintfalco7106]

Nah, I think they would have if they knew how to use her death to keep Jesse in line

[@jonathanlemon544]

People like Todd do exist tho..

[@quartzking3997]

Todd kills Andrea in order to remind Jesse of his place. An actual death that occurred for no reason at all other than pure sociopathy is that of No Doze at the hands of Tuco

[@jonathanlemon544]

@@quartzking3997 Todd killed Andrea because.. He liked it. He was good at it... He was alive!

[@xprobro1755]

Then there was that one kid

[@GalvatronRodimus]

Gus Fring is honestly one of my favorite TV characters of all time. Giancarlo Esposito has *so much* stage presence.

[@izuku3111]

Yeah everytime i see him i just feel like its important

[@toriless]

@@izuku3111 Too bad Revolution was such a piece of garbage. A total waste of his time.

[@Airoehead]

Tuco = how being a middle management boss brings out the worst in humanity Gus = how being a CEO brings out the worst in humanity Todd = how being a 40 hour work week employee brings out the worst in humanity

[@annaeverette8960]

love this

[@isaacpianos5208]

how being *raised by literal nazis* doesn't make you a great person

[@puppieslovies]

I guess we could extend this analogy to Walter and Jesse as the teachers and students. But we also get to see the good it can bring out in people who put genuine love and respect over their career

[@tuckerbittick1718]

Breaking Bad: how humanity brings out the worst in humanity.

[@purplesamurai5205]

I'm not at all being ironic when I say that this right here is a better explanation for the villains than everything else.

[@herpyderpy2869]

Imagine being a villain so chaotic that the actor who plays you refuses to continue playing you and requests that you be killed off

[@jyn7154]

Tuco’s actor said this? That’s truly hilarious

[@ProfessionalPatches]

He refused because his wife told him it scares her when she sees him like that

[@qoopzy2271]

Sounds stressful screaming all the time and imagine the retakes they did with him

[@Finantheagile3]

@@qoopzy2271 I’m surprised he went back for Better Call Saul

[@definitelynosebreather]

In BCS, Tuco character is a bit more chill compared to BB

[@jjron1722]

What’s amazing to me is how different the show could have been. They had all these changes, some of which weren’t even due to creative insights, such as having Tuco originally playing a bigger role. They were also going to kill off Jesse until they saw his chemistry with Walt (pun intended). It’s crazy, because I couldn’t picture BB being any different than the way it turned out, which is a masterpiece

[@DarklordofDOOM57]

Not to mention BCS is knocking it out of the park with Lalo. The guy is so entertaining to watch, insanely charming and scary at the same time

[@toriless]

Scary, they needed a worthy nemesis for Gus, he probably gifted those poultry sheers so they would be there years later.

[@margarethmichelina5146]

Walt and Jesse are so lucky to never meet Lalo because even Saul, Gus, and Mike are very terrified of Lalo. Gus did the right thing to kill him first because Lalo is the most dangerous Salamanca.

[@Tink7200]

Something this video highlighted that I love are the plain sight introductions that Gus and Todd are given. When they’re first introduced you don’t really notice either them because the show doesn’t give you a reason to. But then it turns out that these guys you wouldn’t look twice at are actually very disturbed and cunning individuals with more bodies behind them than we, or the people in their world with them, could have imagined. This is especially pronounced considering the last big player, Tuco, was introduced with open intimidation and violence. Tuco is the guy you know to watch out for. Todd and Gus are the guys you find out about on the news.

[@styx9193]

Great insight and important comment! Tells you a lot about the general approach of BB and BCS for that matter. This is also true for Walter White in a way. Not even Hank, an experienced high-ranked DEA agent, had seen it coming.

[@deanscordilis7280]

I feel like we’re ignoring the fact that Gus’ life has essentially been unsustainable trauma responses. He had to have been a teen during the Pinochet reign, managed to escape and form a close bond with Max, only to watch his closest friend get unceremoniously capped. The lesson he’s been taught over and over is one of ruthless, cold, calculating dominance. As much as we can armchair diagnose, if you look at his history presented in the show, you’ll see it’s not so much a behavioral or personality disorder, but unchecked emotional damage.

[@constantreader1422]

more than his closest friend, the love of his life. my heart broke for gus.

[@КурочкаКрашена]

Agree. I think Hector is the worst person in the BB/BCS universe. When Gus tortures him in BCS it's not because he doesn't care or sadistic for the sake of it, he's avenging Max. "A Bullet is too good for Hector Salamanca"

[@armorofgod1430]

@@КурочкаКрашена Hector and Lydia are the most evil characters BY FAR

[@OakNuggins]

You could say that about all of em

[@Cropcircledesigner]

Most personality disorders are an unsustainable trauma response.

[@Wahkien]

I felt like the actor that played Todd really put in the same energy in his character from Black Mirror, no regard for others just doing what he feels like.

[@EnjoySackLunch]

Yeah, Jesse Plemmons excels at portraying aloof and disaffected madness

[@cakeboss16]

jesse plemons has some range. In Fargo season 2 he is like the most wholesome and likeable characters

[@nikolas8203]

@@cakeboss16 ahh yes he was very good in fargo

[@gizel4376]

@@cakeboss16 oh! i should watch this, it migth feel weird to see this guys being nice

[@pantheraonca3635]

The Salamanca twins are also pretty terrifying. On the show, they are as close as you get to real cartel hitmen.

[@igorPatritrov]

Nah. They were fun and their battle with Hank was amazing, but they were probably the most cartoony character in the show

[@ThePharaoh9]

@@igorPatritrov thats what made them good tortugas head on a turtle was silly buy showed how chaotic they were

[@CardamomYGO]

Nah, Tuco would be that.

[@biilybob1]

Lol how would you know about real cartel hitmen? They were just some unrealistic fun side characters.

[@pantheraonca3635]

@@biilybob1 They decapitate people like real cartel hit men do. They also placed a bomb which mutilated people. Real cartel hit men do this stuff plus far worse things. There’s plenty of news and information on the internet that shows you how real cartel hit men are. I’ve seen them in person in Mexico too.

[@DexterHeisenbergBruh]

Todd seems to me like he could’ve been a great person. He had a naturally polite and calm demeanor. I think terrible role models in his life combined with his passive personality made him a terrible person.

[@toriless]

Just like most sociopaths.

[@marshs7774]

just like Mr.White

[@jonahmoran3751]

No. He was a psychopath from the beginning but he prob wouldn’t have been into crime if he wasn’t living with uncle jack.

[@Otter6690]

I definitely agree, he unlike the rest of the members of Jack's gang seemed different, he actually showed respect to the people he would work with, he didn't do what he's been told for the thrill and he actually can talk normally with others. I don't quite get the hate for him honestly

[@Patchesstuff]

agreed like i feel as though before he enslaved jesse he couldve gotten therapy

[@Slender_Man_186]

The part in El Camino where Todd, a character we’ve seen shoot a kid after waving to him and basically enslave Jesse for his gang’s meth operation, is just singing along to a tune in his car, is a perfect show of how fucked up he is.

[@donatj]

Hear me out, the white supremacists enslaved Jesse, Todd kept him alive.

[@MariaFlores-lz9wi]

@@donatj they weren’t gonna let him die, Todd or no Todd

[@ProfessorPerhaps]

@@MariaFlores-lz9wi they definitely would’ve killed jesse if it wasn’t for Todd intervening homie, like right as soon as they watched the tapes of Jesse ratting on everybody (mainly Todd) Jack was going to kill jesse right then, because he didn’t really care that much about keeping the meth empire going since they basically hit the lottery by stealing that ~$80 mill from Walt,

[@rickybaillie4222]

Just a pity he was twice his size in BB, really couldn't get into el Camino because of that

[@gizel4376]

@@MariaFlores-lz9wi Todd isn't the smartest, but it doesn't look like any of them are smart either, they stick to what they know, kill the rats, but Todd, despite being quite dumb, is an ambitious man, he's a visionary, he sees the potential in keeping the rat alive

[@zoanth4]

Gustavo - lawful evil Todd - neutral evil Tuco - chaotic evil Makes sense now

[@dinglbarry1275]

That breakdown makes absolutely no sense

[@tohitAC0]

@@dinglbarry1275 makes perfect sense, of you understand those alignments

[@RassionellMaddman]

@@tohitAC0 No it doesn't. Gus Fring is Neutral Evil, Todd is actually Lawful Evil (by the law of his gang) and Tuco is chaotic evil, so he got 2 of them wrong.

[@mikegamikega]

The law of Todd’s gang is quite literally lawlessness. The only one of these individuals with guiding principles or a code is Gus. Neutral evil is practically defined by the needs of one’s self which perfectly described Todd’s intentions. You could say the same about Gus but he has shown an ability to bend to another persons needs without completely selfish intentions. Neutral evil is also defined by embracing whatever social order that gives them the most power which in Todd’s case would be Jacks gang which he attached himself to at a young age in this pursuit.

[@RassionellMaddman]

@@mikegamikega Give me one single example of Todd imupulsively deviating from the code of his gang. I can give you plenty examples of Gus's chaotic side, including how his rivalry with the Salamancas played out.

[@ojbanks5253]

Gus didn’t kill the henchman cause he was mad; it was cause he was spotted at a crime scene. It would be against his character to kill a trusted employee wit no true motive

[@mothman4672]

Exactly! Unfortunately it just made Walt more irrational and paranoid, as he saw Gus more like Tuco (someone who kills just to make a point) because he didn’t get the real motive of killing Victor.

[@ShMeatWad]

Exactly, he became a loose end and Gus wouldn’t allow that risk, regardless of who it was. Better Call Saul shows that he has been working for Gus for a while. It just showed how cold and calculated Gus is. And it showed Walt and Jesse that nobody is safe from him if they become an issue

[@toriless]

yep, this analysis is crap.

[@BassManDan1018]

Tuco is scariest. Just an absolute nightmare of a bloke. Such a good performance. Todd is the most hateful, his dead eyed nonchalance in sickening. BB’s Most satisfying kill is when Jesse finally strangles him. Gus is the most complex. He’s somewhat sympathetic - we see his backstory, his partner being killed - and it’s hard not to respect his resolve and resourcefulness.

[@tuckerwilson9258]

Gus has empathy , he just became ruthless when he saw his best friend get murdered right in front of him and have the killer mock him . He was also forced to work alongside the killer for years and he couldn’t do anything about it .

[@Dark666Butterfly]

It was his lover, not his best friend.

[@gergopiroska5749]

​@@Dark666ButterflyIts not confirmed Also dont bring f@gs into this masterpiece of a show

[@Arganoid]

At 3:00 the video conflates "psychosis" with psychopathy, but the two terms are not connected. Psychosis is where someone experiences delusions such as hearing voices, and is associated with mental illnesses such as schizophrenia.

[@Johnnysmithy24]

Gus Fring(in BB) is imo the best TV villain of all time. Everything from his introduction to his death was so expertly done. The actor’s performance is flawless, his arc of going from neutral ally to arch nemesis, how significant and psychologically connected he is to the main character. And the fact that he actually is somewhat understandable based on his backstory

[@spacemann1425]

I disagree. He's a great villain. But not the best TV villain. Walt is an equally good villain. Lalo is a great villain as well. Most villainous characters in both the shows are some of the best TV villains of all time.

[@TravisD.Barrett]

7:34 genuine question: Does Gus really only kill his right hand man “just because he’s angry?” The show never really answered his motivation, but I always thought Gus was too logical to just kill his right hand man for no reason. I guess I always interpreted it as him tying up loose ends, since he’d been seen by the neighbors. Am I wrong? Would love other peoples thoughts on his motivation!

[@dylanpearson983]

I always thought of it as a win-win. My interpretation of Gus’ character is that he would kill Victor regardless because he’d been seen by the neighbors. I think his method of silently killing him with a box cutter in front of Walt and Jesse is his other “win” in that it is an absolutely shocking and horrifying display of power to them. He’s basically saying “this WILL be you when I get the chance” to them while getting rid of an inconvenience he was getting rid of anyway. I think the fact that we can look so much into a single action with no words shows just how great the characters in Breaking Bad are!

[@sertu1462]

Yeah pretty much. Victor was seen at a crime scene, victor started to cook without the order to do so and Gus also needed to send a message to Walt and Jesse.

[@stevendog40]

I would definitely not say it was because he was angry. He was shown throughout the show to almost always act through logic, not emotion. Killing victor had several benefits for him; it wasn't for vendetta.

[@dinglbarry1275]

He kills Victor because he was seen at the crime scene. Sending him away was a risky option given that Victor knew Walts meth formula and could turn up as a competitor, so he used it as an opportunity to send a message, given that Walt and Jesse thought he killed him merely to send a message.

[@officialFredDurstfanclub]

Two for one deal. Victor had been seen by the neighbors at Gale’s house and had to die. On the other hand, disposing of him personally and such a gruesome way was the perfect way to showcase to Walt that he wasn’t fucking around and if he dared put a toe out of line again, he’d suffer

[@on333]

My favourite line of Todd's is his last one. I don't remember it exactly but the scenario is stuck in my mind. Walt successfully kills most of Jack's gang, Todd and Jack himself being the only ones escaping death, but from Todd's perspective his uncle is dead too. He gets up calls for his uncle, no response... then, through the window, he sees the weapon in the trunk of the car, and in that moment he completely forgets about his crew and uncle's lives, the only emotion he displays is admiration for Walt's ingenuity still adressing the man who killed his family member with "Mr.". And then Jesse kills him, totally deserved :D

[@lilmane1070]

PRECISELY

[@xamus-wn-6023]

Sometimes the disclaimer of "I am not a medical expert," can be pretty important, cause so much shit is completely wrong on the medical side.

[@officialFredDurstfanclub]

Season 1-2 villain: Tuco, cancer itself Season 3-4 villain: The Twins, Gus Season 5 villain: Todd, Jack and his gang Series villain: Heisenberg

[@flanunu-l6o]

I'd like to hear your take on Lalo Salamnca. Some may argue he is a bit cartoonish, but boy Tony Dalton is amazing in his role.

[@Christopher-ms5ke]

One of my favorite of the BB Universe.

[@MetalShag]

Only cartoonish villains are the two cousins, but I still like them

[@hanieh_art]

Gus was also motivated by his love for his friend that was killed by the cartel. That makes him even more complicated. He wanted power just so he could be as bad and menacing as the cartel so he could take his revenge.

[@toriless]

which he did, everything he tells Lalo is the cold truth

[@spacemann1425]

But he never was as bad and menacing as the cartel. Not nearly. The cartel just got lazy and were caught lackin.

[@Mouzebruh]

I like how all of these actors who play these absolutely horrible people are like the nicest people in real life

[@InterestingPros]

I hate to be the "Um, actually" guy, but... 7:33 Um, actually, Gus kills Victor not because he's mad, but to make a point to Walt and Jesse, and MAINLY because Victor was seen at the scene of Gale's murder by the tenant, and he's now a threat to get them all caught. It's actually incredible rewatching that scene, because Mike tells Gus that like ten minutes before Gus actually kills Victor, and in that moment, you know Gus has already made his decision to kill Victor. So we're left with a slow, quiet build-up of Gus preparing his hazmat suit so he won't get dirty from his sudden violent act. The scene is incredibly effective, because even though it *seems* like he kills Victor "just because he's angry," he does it to wordlessly send a message to Walt and Jesse: if you are a liability to Gus Fring, he will not hesitate to kill you with his own hands. And he will make sure to keep looking professional after doing it too. SO scary

[@hamptons_the_one7088]

The moment Gus fring scared me was when he killed his right hand man, it wasn't the action taken by Gus himself but the reactions of Jesse, Walt and White that really showed how terrifying Gus was. The fact that even Mike was scared or shocked enough to pull his gun and point it showed how inhuman and violent Gus was compared to the rest of the cast in this show with maybe an exception to Todd.

[@wattsnottaken1]

I noticed that a few days ago watching Boxcutter. Mike pointed his pistol at Gus because he was sketched out by the gruesome action

[@thataintfalco7106]

“Walt and White”

[@thataintfalco7106]

I also think they hadn’t really known about Victor being seen at the crime scene, thus making him a loose end

[@Ryan-vi5mz]

I’d argue Breaking Bad does have a main antagonist Walter White

[@marcuso.530]

The villain of his own story. Like Agni from the manga fire punch.

[@gupoll]

Dude, Walter White is the protagonist. Antagonist≠Villian Antagonists are just foils to the main character, the protagonist

[@salamiman3819]

@@gupoll so in a way Walter is the protagonist, but Heisenberg is the one antagonist that stays constant throughout the show.

[@Slothptimal]

Naw. It was Skylar. The antagonist of a story is the person you want to lose who always competes to hold the protagonist back.

[@Ryan-vi5mz]

@@gupoll To me, Jesse is the protagonist of the story. Walter is always setting him back and causing him harm and grief. That’s my interpretation of course, and I’m sure the show is more meant to be Walt’s story

[@kanakawase]

You should do a follow-up on Lalo. He's probably the most charming villain of the BB universe, and yet, his smile can be as intimidating as Gus's humourless stare.

[@baccarah7010]

Gustavo is so well done. The moment he switches man.. He has this presence to him this aura, he is so intimidating without even saying a word, just his glance is enough to make a grown man fill with dread. Amazing actor, he is like a swiss army knife, he can play any role with pinpoint accuracy.

[@Speccyyy]

Got Todd totally wrong. He didn't keep the spider because it's a trophy. He kept it because he felt it was the right thing to do so it wouldn't die in the jar. He had no feelings of remorse, but he didn't revel in it. He killed Andrea to keep Jesse in line. He killed Sharp because he was a witness. He killed the housekeeper because she found his money. He never enjoyed any of it. He just lacked the feelings to get hung up about it. He was almost child like in his innocence about it. Which is itself terrifying.

[@erikhillblaske]

On the subject of realism within the different characters, I definitely hold Gus Fring as the scariest. The veneer he creates by hiding in plain sight makes me think of people in the world I have yet to meet who have a sinister side to them, One that can only be seen when you step into their world.

[@gergelylanyi2968]

I think Todd is like the opposite of what the vid says. I think he all the kills he did was just bc he thought it was necessary. I think he only took the spider bc he liked it. I don't think he ever kills just for the sake of killing. It's more like he wants something else and gets it the most efficient way possible. He just has 0 sympathy and conscience whatsoever.

[@nont18411]

It’s funny that no matter how evil these villains could be, Skyler will always end up being the most hated character of Breaking Bad universe anyway.

[@chollachow]

Yeah, and it’s stupid

[@marcuso.530]

I've always wondered why that is. Realistically it probably has to do with our attachment to Walter White, but I just don't know. This same thing happened with Geoffrey from GOT. Unlike other antagonists in the show, Geoffrey's character was universally despised.

[@lilymaria0214]

@@marcuso.530 I'd say it's more like Sansa because Skyler never acted out of much besides desperation. Joffrey was a monster and yet people still dislike Sansa for having a crush and being a victim. Arya fought her way out so gained respect, and yet Sansa played the Game of Thrones better than Arya ever could and she's disliked

[@Robert___98]

Skyler isn't disliked nearly as much as she used to be. The most hated characters nowadays 100% percent are Todd and Jack.

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

Which is completely BS because she doesn’t deserve it AT ALL. She so obnoxiously overhated for no reason.

[@eanderson9599]

The fact that characters like Tuco and Todd are so interesting despite us knowing NOTHING of their backstory is truly impressive, most shows try to give you a characters past as a way of getting you to give a shit Better Call Saul is doing the same thing with Lalo, I just find the writing style of this universe so interesting

[@FionaLovecraft]

"There really isn't a primary antagonist in breaking bad" it's Walter my man, he's the bad guy.

[@spacemann1425]

Walt is he protagonist. He's the villain protagonist.

[@wanderingrandomer]

There's a diiference between antagonist and villain.

[@kylie8284]

They call that an anti-hero

[@waterierStone]

He's the protagonist for the whole show, but I wouldn't count him as the villan until the last season. Like Todd is just the enabler of Walt to fulfill his evil greed to its full extent.

[@D8teen]

Also Fring didn't kill his right hand Victor because he was angry, if anything Gustavo knows how to control his emotions. Gustavo killed his right hand man because he failed to protect his chemist Gale, that Gustavo had invested so much in and had huge hopes for. He was impressed by the professional bond between the Walt and Jessie and hoped for similar one with Victor and Gale as cook and assistant.

[@Airoehead]

disagree that Todd is really joyous about torture, he only seems desensitized to it, like it's a fact of nature not to think too much about. That's a lot scarier.

[@paristhompson7522]

I actually never got the impression that Todd really enjoyed killing or torturing all that much, at least in the series. I always felt like his brand of "evil" was more about a certain passivity -- he behaves like a misguided child, acting on impulses, doing things HE believes are right without really thinking about his own actions or registering any of the consequences. It sounds weird to say but there was almost a certain innocence to Todd that added to his creepiness, a complete stunted lack of awareness. Like I get the impression that he might have turned out to be a good guy if he wasn't manipulated by drug lords and white supremacists from a young age. To me he's scary because he doesn't seem to have any concept of good or evil, and he doesn't even seem to feel anything about what he's doing. He's always just doing what he's told or what his impulse drives him to do without a second thought

[@chefboiarby304]

I agree. I never really found Todd to be as scary as the others though. To me, he always seemed like someone who just couldn't really understand right and wrong due to being desensitized to violence by his uncle. He also seemed to only be able to gauge the morality of his actions as to whether someone he looked up to approved of it (Walt, Mike, Jack, Lydia). I almost felt bad for him, because of what he likely had to go through as a kid to get to this point of lacking a functional moral compass. His awkwardness made him even more unlikable to some, but to me it sort of indicated how disconnected others had made him.

[@dinglbarry1275]

Todd completely lacks empathy. He doesn't kill or hurt for fun, but he feels absolutely nothing if it's in the cards to do it. He would be the perfect underling in any criminal organization.... trust worthy, would never rat, no ego and completely fearless.

[@OK-yy6qz]

@@chefboiarby304 im conflicted on whether or not Todd is scarier than the others. On the one hand like you said you can almost feel bad for him for what he's being through on the other that inability to understand right or wrong makes him the most capable for monstrosities (and he does perform the most direct monstrosities out of any villian in the show). He literally tortured Jesse then gave him ice cream and talked to him as if they were friends

[@dylankennedy4539]

His death especially makes this seem like the route writers tried to take. His last words, read like hes on the magic school bus, are 'Gee Mr White!' right before Jesse takes revenge

[@PolishGod1234]

@@OK-yy6qz Did Todd really tortured Jesse? I have impression that Jack and his guys did it, Todd seemed the nicest to Jesse. And people responsible for most direct monstrosities were Salamanca Twins, who murdered old lady just to get her house or killed one to get her car.

[@alexmousley7213]

Extremely interesting analysis of the really scary characters in Breaking Bad. The writing is extraordinary as is the casting, directing, acting and camerawork. I often struggle with knowing the difference between a sociopath and psychopath but you have explained that very clearly. The characters are played so well, how Gus's eyes are cold but his smile is fake, how Tuco flies into incomprehensible rages, how Todd feels nothing for killing, maybe enjoys it and, of course how Walter goes from underdog to psychopath when he feels he has nothing to lose.

[@evildestroyer6129]

I really wish we could have gotten more of Tuco because he is a really great villain

[@iainronald4217]

Then, there's Lalo Salamanca who is friendly, cheerful, happy; I heard someone say he's "everyone's best friend at a BBQ" or putting it the other way, he's the guy who, after quietly keeping to themselves for the duration of the event, as soon as a person spots Lalo they blossom and cheer up, eager to chat with him. Lalo is also a guy who can go from flamboyant and cordial to fileting ten goons on a dime.

[@noahmclaughlin7921]

I like how Breaking Bad doesn’t feel obligated to make every character morally dubious. Most of the protagonists are flawed but they can make the villains as evil as possible.

[@frankpembleton4381]

Also how they don't have to have a crazy and vengeful motive. Lots of shows give these antagonists big revenge plots- "He killed my wife" etc. This show has characters who kill for business, kill for pleasure, or straight up kill because they don't feel anything.

[@noahmclaughlin7921]

@@frankpembleton4381 Tbf a big motivation for Gus was revenge for Max

[@GOTTA_RUN]

@@frankpembleton4381 Gus literally killed the whole Salamanca family because they killed his Partner/Lover(?). He never killed anyone else unless they affected his business in a negative way

[@Criiies]

Not really, gus has a sympathetic backstory just like walter. In a way they are extremely similar. Todd was scary because he had no emotions, but at the end of the day he killed people who put his business in jeopardy, which is what walter did too. Almost all of the characters are morally dubious.

[@josenavas2971]

You got a lot of things right about the series, but psycopathy and sociopathy are not exactly how you described them, and their main difference is just that you are born with one and you turn into one because of experiences lived

[@toriless]

Not true either but he does get a lot wrong

[@mayonnaise3959]

@@toriless jose is right

[@wuh-huw9950]

I don’t think Todd enjoys killing, it just isn’t a big deal to him.

[@caj1235]

I would like to live in alternstive universe, where Tuco got his 8episode arc

[@cvjonesmusic97]

One of the most terrifying things about Todd is that you never really see him torture or beat Jesse. You only see Jesse completely broken and his face mangled while Todd is giving him a bowl of ice cream lol. I think Todd is the scariest villain of Breaking Bad because of how he is just a hollow shell of a person.

[@glanni]

Gustavo also killed his right hand man because he was seen on the crime scene. He was probably still scapegoating and threatening because he mad, but he took the guy who was worth the least to him at that moment, and also a possible risk factor.

[@MoFiTheMagnificent]

I think its interesting how Todd "seems" like a very nice person but we obviously know that's not true

[@donatj]

I'm my book he's just a nice guy who did what he needed to given the situation.

[@kittylover62]

I think that's what threw me off about Todd. His boyish looks made him look innocent and unassuming.

[@davideberhardt6150]

@@donatj Is your book Jeffrey Dahmer's biography by any chance?!

[@constantreader1422]

@@donatj what? he was a nazi, how is that "nice"?

[@donatj]

@@constantreader1422 I mean what did he do that wasn't nice that wasn't required by the situation?

[@infinitypgg9902]

Gus was very laid back but had a trigger while Tuco was insane. The thing that made me even more afraid of Tuco was that he loved his family, this made me realize that this dude could've blended into society alone with that trait if he never showed his true intentions.

[@mothman4672]

Dedicado a Max has to be one of the most revealing episodes for Gus’s character. I don’t see an ounce of psycho in him, just a man who has been burned again and again and kicked while he was down. Being cold and calculating is a necessity for him, not a choice. In his heart, I believe he wants the world to be safe, and knows that it all depends on who has the most power. He wants that to be him... he is the only one he can trust.

[@mothman4672]

Bad opinion changed my mind

[@mymind4750]

@@mothman4672 why

[@mothman4672]

@@mymind4750 Gus’s feature story in Better Call Saul about the coati and lùcuma tree completely changed my assumption of what Gus was like as a kid and how that reflects on him as an adult

[@mymind4750]

@@mothman4672 oh, thanks

[@povijestpovijest9569]

I never got a feeling that Todd enjoyed killing, more that he was indifferent to it

[@DarkMAGABurt]

This ''Nerdstalgic'' missed the mark completely. Interestingly Todd appears apologetic about his kills. He is the only one who shows concern for Jesse during his captivity. And to Walter when his money is taken and Hank is killed. He follows his uncle's orders almost blindly in cold blood, but there is still a spark of humanity in him somehow.

[@simondobos]

I love that in El Camino, the writers elaborated on the fact that Todd kept the boy's tarantula all along after he had killed him by briefly showing it in one of the scenes. Just shows how thought out the show is and how much they care about little details which bring incredible depth to characters.

[@mubzytv]

Gus Fring was my favourite villain in Breaking Bad. He’s the main reason why Season 4 was great

[@HippoHunk.]

the editing on this video is insane. Well done bro

[@XanderShiller]

You can't diagnose intermittent explosive outburst if it's primarily substance induced.. and remember "he snorts anything in front of him. And nachos concern that tucos been out of ctrl since he started w that stuff."

[@homicidehomemade4715]

This is respectfully, a video I've been looking for. One detail you did get wrong, or had more meaning than you interpreted, was the murder of guses front hand man. Gus murdered him because he appeared in Gales apartment after he was murdered. Gus wanted to kill two birds with one stone. Kill his front hand man, because the risk of him being caught on a crime scene was high, and he needed to intimidate Walt and Jesse. Makes you think how far Gus plans ahead. How Psychopathic Gus really is.

[@judeconnor-macintyre9874]

What I think is impressive about Breaking Bad is that there are heaps of characters but I think I can remember all of them, they're all so unique even the most minor ones have something to distinguish them.

[@basedtortellini]

7:50 Especially in the context of having watched BCS, nothing matters more to Gustavo Fring than revenge. I think everything else to his character is secondary.

[@DaoNguyen-iy2iu]

Speaking of villains in this series we also have to talk about Walter White.

[@spacemann1425]

I think this video was more about antagonists. Walt was a villain but he was a protagonist. Either way, it doesn't need to be said. At this point he has made his mark among the greatest villains of all time.

[@davidmb1595]

I don't think Todd enjoys killing or torturing, he seems to do those things without caring a lot, it's like a normal job for him, while we think stuff like, "today I have to do an inventory", he thinks like "today I have to kill a woman" he does that without a care in the world, in fact he rarely seems to have any emotions at all, he just does what he has to.

[@rgodase]

You can stay away or deal with Gus logically. You can fool Tuco. But just run away if you see Todd.

[@PolishGod1234]

Or just don't get into Todd's way, he doesn't kill without a reason

[@Max-Brain-Power]

Good video, should've included the Salamanca Twins though.

[@problemed.2206]

It’s crazy how literally almost everyone in this show coulda had their own series lmao even damn Patrick Kuby

[@KS-gf2hn]

Todd didn’t take the tarantula because he wanted a trophy, he was as fascinated with it as the kid he killed, because he’s more of a child than a psychopath

[@Glitch4Twitch]

Small note on Tuco....we gotta remember that he was a SEVERE METHAMPHETAMINE user---that could account for lots of his unpredictable nature/impulsivity.

[@wouterijzerman648]

Thoroughly enjoyed the video! Todd alway has been the most terrifying character of the entire show to me. Not sure if he actually enjoys torturing people though (@09:00) It always struck me Jack and Todd were introduced in the last season to hold up a mirror to us the audience. Walter and Jesse have espoused similar behaviour and ideas to Jack and Todd. Bearing in mind how Walter and Jesse ended up enslaving Krazy-8 by use of a motorbike lock as early as season one, which Jesse in particular ironically enough had little scruples over, Walter allowing Jane to die by an overdose, Jesse relishing in the thought of Hank dying after he was assaulted by the Salamanca twins, Walter killing Gustavo's drug dealers and Jesse killing Gale, are all instances that are not too far off from what Jack and Todd would do as well or in one form or another have done. But if it wasn't for five consecutive seasons in which we get to develop strong connections with Walter and Jesse, we would probably not look too different at them as we would with Jack and Todd. Hence the remark of Ed Galbraith (owner of the vacuum cleaner store) in El Camino to Jesse, "From where I sit, you made your own luck. As did your former partner". Todd seems to be the product of his uncle who twisted and honed him to such an extent, murder and torture would come as easily to him as ordering a pizza or smoking a cigarette. This explains why he has little difficultly in engaging in this kind of behaviour, but more importantly is the way for Todd to gain recognition and advancement with his uncle and the gang as a whole (hence Todd smirking @10:20 for being given the credit of killing Drew Sharp). This would also explain why Todd is drawn to Lydia Quayle who has the same obtuse, thoughtless mindset to torture and murder and is not bothered by the banality of evil. While Jesse is not removed from morality as he incrementally carries out evil under Walter ("I'm the bad guy") Todd has no problem filling his shoes for he has carried out evil for much longer and under Walter's apprenticeship can continue his search for recognition and advancement, which is a central theme of Todd. In addition to his complete unremarkable and even innocuous appearance, this makes him the most terrifying character, for he seems to be completely removed from any morality and regards torture and murder merely as the means to gain recognition and advancement.

[@RobertEskuri]

Of all the deaths in the series watching Jesse choke Todd with the chain he used to imprison him was my favorite.

[@annaeverette8960]

Fair is fair

[@CJonesApple]

Tuco is the best character for that stage in the show to come up against Walt and Jessie. Gus is one of the best characters ever on TV and portrayed to absolute perfection by Giancarlo Esposito.

[@FloRiva2]

Brilliant video bro, these three characters had me on the edge of my seat

[@philiplauritzenjr.2711]

Not all psychopaths are sociopaths. A psychopath is just someone who experiences psychosis, which is a state of detachment from reality. It causes hallucinations and delusions, as well as paranoia. Psychopaths are typically more terrified as a person than you are of them.