Ignacio “Nacho” Varga Origins - Better Call Saul’s Most Captivating Character Explored

“Do you know what the definition, of insanity is?” Wait, that doesn’t sound like the right character. “You think I’ll be caught dead driving that thing? It looks like a school bus for six year old pimps.” Yes, that’s the one. Michael Mando is, without a doubt, one of the best actors on Planet Earth today. His work as Vaas Montenegro in The Far Cry Experience took both the game and his career to new levels, but we’d be lying if we said we aren’t going to remember him forevermore as Nacho Varga. From a throwaway line in Breaking Bad to the undeniable highlight of Better Call Saul, his character is integral in setting into motion events that will inevitably bring together all the players for Breaking Bad. But who is this guy? Why is he so important in the first place? And how exactly does he bring all these players together? We’ll answer all those questions and more in this video; this is Nacho Varga’s Origins - Explored.
#bettercallsaul #breakingbad

[@xanderlowe1543]

The character was extremely well written, but Michael Mando's acting is what makes Nacho so iconic.

[@216cle]

I think the whole of both these shows is like that. Lalo is actually a pretty shitty character when you think about it but it's Dalton's acting and charisma that carries it. Mike too. The writing is well above average obviously but the acting from everyone is so phenomenal it carries the shows to an insane level

[@jmclane27]

You can't have one without the other. His acting wouldn't mean as much if it was a weak or predictable story arc. But it's an amazing Arc, like most of the characters in this universe

[@sandrasalas9813]

He is also very likable. Jesse type. His father being his weakness.

[@jmclane27]

@@sandrasalas9813 yep. With Jesse it was always children and women essentially

[@OGVade]

Great name

[@heelmoxley365]

Those last 3 episodes were Nacho realising what we already knew, there was no way out for him 💔

[@elliotburing87]

💔💔💔💔

[@enelmartodoesfelicidad]

Yes he was so memorable... i thought he was in Breaking Bad😂 so for me he have to live. I was shoked

[@HighperDuckDude85]

@@enelmartodoesfelicidad Saul did say “did nacho send you?” when Walt and Jesse kidnapped him

[@blakedevitt6948]

There may have been if Lalo had died.

[@blakedevitt6948]

Wow. Far Cry makes him seem more like Tuco.

[@heelmoxley365]

Nacho probably has my favourite character arc in the entire breaking bad universe. ‘When you’re in, you’re in.’

[@walnutsandbeastiality866]

,,Where's my arc, Paulie?" (Christopher Multi-something, The Sopranos, 1999)

[@elikerr785]

Thank you, I can't tell you how much I've wanted to hear someone else with this same sentiment... I get so sick of "Kim is the best character" talk and everyone else rather than Nacho! I felt the most emotional connection to Nacho than any other character in BCS, and I think he's tied with Jesse as far as my favorite character/arc in the BrBa universe. Ignacio is the shit!

[@hannibalburgers477]

"GLUG GLUG GLUG GLUG GLUG MORE JIMMY WATER BRING ME THE BOTTLE AND LEAVE IT" WIL WHEATON

[@kimmmwest2722]

@@hannibalburgers477 a

[@koba.9617]

He is a rat 🐀 .

[@_MaZTeR_]

Nacho faked his death in order to become a pirate in a secluded paradise archipelago

[@jasonvoorhees895]

And became the next Dread Pirate Roberts

[@gigiarmany]

would love to join him there😜

[@edcapeling8998]

He now goes around telling California frat bros the definition of insanity

[@motorbikeTim1]

With Tupac.

[@Tarnished-bn5gq]

Ignacio Varga, Howard Hamlin, and Michael Ehrmentraunt were the saddest deaths In the series for me.

[@xkdjdnskdnscndjdj984]

It's crazy to think that Walt and Jesse worked in the lab above the bodies of Howard and Lalo

[@simplifier_]

One of the saddest deaths was death of Lalo

[@hastensavoir7782]

@@xkdjdnskdnscndjdj984what do you mean?? I’m still in the episode where Nacho was at his last appearance.

[@Roverpiggy2435]

@@simplifier_He was so happy and funny but extremely dangerous

[@esraahesham4831]

and werner ziegler

[@stephaniemarie3587]

I absolutely loved every minute of screen time Micheal Mando had on this show. What an incredible character. I actually shed a tear during his final scene. 😩❤️

[@kathypriest95]

Me too 💔

[@fire7560]

me too, it was incredibly heartbreaking.

[@Reshme77]

Me too 😔 😟 🙁 😥

[@Jpilgrim30]

I wanted Nacho to make it out SOOOO bad! His character was great.

[@lenny3989]

Nachos last call to his dad was probably the best scene in Better call saul for me

[@jakeforrest]

There may be a reason for that. Have you read the interview with Michael Mando, who played Nachos? It turns out that his dad in real life was dying and eventually died during the recording of the episodes. In the interview he reflected on the situation, that he was able to rescue his fictional father in the series, but not his father in real life !

[@safsnake]

@@jakeforrest damnn that is sad

[@alpachino468]

The way Nacho talks to his dad with so much love and respect should be a lesson for us all...

[@Adam-r6s2c]

Not enough love and respect to follow his example and advice - may that be a lesson considering his end.

[@CadyKorok]

I DREAM of a Nacho spin off of how he found the cartel considering his conventional home life.. he is by far my favorite character from the BB universe

[@edcapeling8998]

Basically he grew up on a tropical island where he became a pirate. He kidnapped a white california dude bro with the intentions of ransoming him, but the douchebag frat boy escaped. After that the party boy from california had to survive the jungle and learned to become an absolute killing machine at the cost of his sanity and single handedly dismantled nachos entire organization. After a near death encounter with this *west coast douchebag turned apex predator*, Nacho decides to use his contacts in the criminal underworld to join the cartel

[@Reshme77]

We all do

[@bertmaclen6585]

It’s so fucking stupid how they killed him off. Nacho would have went out shooting not this pussy shot of I can kill the don but nope just just shoot myself…wtf

[@notsoberoveranalyzer8264]

This entire series is a masterclass on how minor / side characters can be more important than the main ones.

[@Saber23]

True I absolutely love Nacho, but my favourite Michael Mando role will always be his performance as Vaas easily one of the greatest villains in video game history with some of the most memorable lines ever, plus the nostalgia when watching it back is insane 🙏

[@pab1381]

Seeing nacho with hair in the thumbnail scares me.

[@Reshme77]

Nah it looks nice

[@AniTube-ds8uz]

he looks like Will Smith in Hancock ☠

[@catchcan221]

Nacho wasn’t a good guy but compared to all the other criminals he was a saint.

[@alexism.v.1016]

Nacho has balls of steel, seeing him go against the Salamancas right under their noses in various ways put me on the edge of my seat

[@bertmaclen6585]

He did but writers fuck it up by not having him atleast shoot the don.

[@dominicbuck3744]

Probably the hero of the show. Unshakable, honorable, freethinking

[@pterojacktylus2475]

The power of his lines in far cry 3 when he’s talking about his sister and choosing between “them, or me” literally broke me into tears with how powerfully he delivered them, all the right levels of both anger and anguish in the way he sreams and shouts,

[@flightofthebumblebee9529]

I really hope they at least mention Nacho in the series finale. Chuck too. Him and Chuck are part of what made BCS so awesome.

[@roddydykes7053]

Nacho didn’t get much love after his death, not really too surprising. Chuck got a final scene though

[@LoganLS0]

Should've immediately told the twins it was Gus. He'd still be around.

[@aerystargaryenii2565]

Until they find out how long Nacho has been undermining the Salamancas. Remember he got rid of Tuco and tried to kill Hector without Gustavo. He was already doing a side buisness he would gotten killed over if he was caught. He dug his grave in the first season he just didn't have both feet in there tll season 5-6. If he stayed in the shop working with his dad then he would still be around.

[@darthbango1999]

Micheal Mando is such a fabulous actor. I can't wait to see him on the big screen after BCS finishes up.

[@hastensavoir7782]

He deserves his own El Camino

[@4OHz]

Well done. Excellent analysis of this character and yes, wonderful acting. His relationship and total arc with Mike is one of the best threads in the series. Thanks.

[@hornwarriorking3959]

This guy looks so scary and so cool at the same time and I wish they gave him his own show

[@mrillis9259]

It might happen, I think the creators have decided to just keep making connected stories instead of something original.

[@stormrevenant]

Maybe as a pirate...

[@hornwarriorking3959]

@@stormrevenant kkkk you funny but you forgot the pirate movies are most popular movies in the Hollywood industry and people love them lol

[@stormrevenant]

@@hornwarriorking3959 I was referring to him playing a pirate in Far Cry 3

[@hornwarriorking3959]

@@stormrevenant I think you’re trolling me but I’m okay with that but you have African last name and Indian first name and it’s so confusing to me. Are you African or Indian

[@joshuawilliams8252]

Something that gets overlooked, I think, is that once Hector isn't in direct control of everything, and Nacho is handling things for Lalo, he actually moves Krazy-8 to the position he was in under Hector, which leads to Krazy-8 being a shotcaller in Breaking Bad. He still plays the role of boss over Domingo, but it's pretty clear that he wanted his friend to be close by as he climbed the ladder.

[@Pwn3dbyth3n00b]

He's like the anti-Walter White or basically this shows version of Pinkman. He's displayed as an Intelligent hardcore criminal who has power to being a weasel for Gus and trying to get out of the game for his family (Dad).

[@irvinmorales1409]

He's more like Jesse. A somewhat good man pretending to be bad and way too deep into the criminal life.

[@Adam-r6s2c]

That's being overly simplistic and reductive. He's a very different character to Jesse.

[@drunkweebmarine9492]

I love the way he said you twisted fuck to Hector

[@UGOkilleth]

5 years later, a Nacho series emerges

[@elliotburing87]

*Spoiler alert for anyone who hasn’t finished the video* But Nacho has probably the most memorable death I’ve seen in the past ten years.(and that includes a lot of great GoT deaths) The three seconds before and after it happened were the most heartbreaking moments of the entire series. And also, it’s heartbreaking that his father doesn’t see that his son was a KING among horrible festering walking pieces of shit. I love Michael Mando. Cannot wait to see his next fantastic performance.

[@ButtersCCookie]

Besides Ade and Tyrese (for me), I can't watch any ever again. I haven't even seen this entire episode.

[@ButtersCCookie]

I forgot Omar.

[@gigiarmany]

agreed

[@Franciscobocanegraww]

Man's was for real a king among thieves

[@flightofthebumblebee9529]

I actually thought about Nacho that entire week after he died. His death his me harder than even Howard or anyone else in BrBa.

[@computerhardware2063]

His arc is worth movie adaptation

[@bc-guy852]

Michael and the writers did a great job. But this is very thorough and well done. Thanks for your efforts. New viewer who liked, subscribed and now commenting!

[@HEKVT]

3:05 The video shows a clip where Tuco threatens to cut off Jimmy's fingers with a plier, the specific finger being the pinky, which Jimmy wears the ring on when he is Saul.

[@Poppins242]

I felt so sad when nacho died. He really wanted to get out and protect his dad. He went out like a legend but I cried so hard. I had hope for him x

[@dojofi7487]

I gotta respect Michael Mando for his performance as nacho and also Vaas

[@84updown]

You sound like a young version of Howard

[@Tobi_Wan_Kenobi]

The Kettlemans didnt call the cops on Nacho, their neighbor did after seeing the van parked outside 2 nights in a row.

[@Sebax9000]

Great vid! But one detail that you missed. That wasn't an oil tank that Nacho hid himself in. It was a tank for manure. My man hid in liquid shit for almost a whole day

[@AmbeanWambulance]

I watched through all the eps of better call saul without realising Nachos actor also played Vass 🥺 welp i think that shows how good of an actor he is, literally didn't realise wtf!

[@Chadius_Thundercock]

Then you didn’t play far cry 3, you’re blind, or you can’t remember voices if your life depended on it

[@edisonleka8937]

@@Chadius_Thundercock probably all 3, i never played far cry 3 and i recognized him as soon as he showed up

[@Chadius_Thundercock]

@@edisonleka8937 fr his voice is way too distinct to not remember

[@AmbeanWambulance]

@@Chadius_Thundercock What a sick joke!🧐

[@Adam-r6s2c]

He played Vass exactly the same, same voice etc. Just angry. He's not Daniel Day Lewis

[@Anonymous589x]

People like Ignacio Varga only have one of two outcoms in the underworld:- 1) Dead due to getting trapped in the web they build themselves 2) The Boss like Don Eladio

[@Adam-r6s2c]

Eladio started a cartel, totally different road.

[@ginawolfe155]

Give that man an Emmy. 👏👏👏👏

[@SuperKelleyg]

Thank you for posting this even though you are dealing with technical problems. It is interesting to watch the progress of the trial because we can see DB's behavior change as the trial progresses. He objects more to nonsense things and becomes more angry. Looking forward to your next video.

[@amyhutchinson7771]

Nacho is the finest character that has ever graced the screen

[@gigiarmany]

just LOVE this detailed summary of my favorite character of all time!!I had actually missed quite a few details & am glad to be newly amazed about how every intricate tiny clue has a world of content & meaning..just WORLD CLASS Story telling & filming🔥💥🔥❤️🙌🏾👏🏾❤️💯💥🔥

[@HEKVT]

Nacho and Mike were my favourite characters from BB and BCS.

[@Logan912]

Yeah, it's almost like Mike was having a father-son bond with Nacho because of his grief over his own son. Later in Breaking Bad, it also seems like Jesse was reminding Mike of Nacho even though BCS hadn't been written yet.

[@kcmule]

Somebody please tell my why Mike never told Saul that Lalo was dead. I get that it preserves the famous 'Lalo didn't send me' line in BB, but Mike told Saul that Lalo was going to die prior to the failed assassination, why didn't he tell him when Lalo was actually confirmed dead?

[@aerystargaryenii2565]

Because I think at that point Mike wasn't feeling like a buddy towards Jimmy because while they were burrying Lalo they were also burrying an innocent man who Jimmy got killed. Mike has certain feelings for people who aren't in the game so I feel like after Howard and seeing all the damage Saul did. Mike decided to let him live with the Paranoia as some sort of justice

[@infernogott]

He probably did. But Saul didn't believe him, because he came back from the dead once before.

[@onemicyeehaw1583]

It was definitely a punishment from Mike. Mike can see through Jimmy and figured that pain jimmy is going through would be hell for me, and maybe even teach him a lesson

[@KdDevil14]

Lalo did come back from death once in a very haunting way. Safe to say Jimmy has PTSD.

[@TaysanGalovu]

@@aerystargaryenii2565 wtf, if anything, it was Mike who got Howard killed.

[@Pooturdoop]

Great video, man.

[@georgegianakakis2643]

Nacho is my favourite character in the breaking bad universe he is so damn good and especially his last speech to hector

[@Gambit2483]

Nacho deserved better....but he played the hand he was dealt to a "T"

[@anthonypost8214]

One of my favorite characters ever I would love to see a stand-alone show or movie about him

[@sunatray]

Wonderful analysis. Thank you for this video. I throughly enjoyed it!

[@yoloswag_8172]

Sad to see this series end

[@SuperOmnicronsj44]

Michael Mando was the guy opposite Michael Keaton's Vulture - in Spider-Man;Homecoming - will he play The Scorpion?

[@Reshme77]

Yes

[@blakedevitt6948]

That was before Tuco dipped into the crystal.

[@LarryLeeMoniz]

I am so glad I subscribed. This, and your look at Lalo Salamanca are incredible. Looking forward to exploring more in your channel.

[@SeaGrea]

That's a Tobey Maguire scream if I've ever heard one

[@22mingus]

These videos are insanely well done man, great job.

[@kathiundich]

When he offed himself I cried because first, he was too handsome and too young to die, and second, because it was the most badass move to save his family.

[@TV-ob1if]

Wow. Who would have thought Eddie Munster grew up to be a stone cold gangsta

[@Bout_TreeFiddy]

Butch Patrick?

[@Reshme77]

Nonsense he doesn't look anything like Eddie?

[@X23ReZ23X]

I need to quit saying someone is my favorite cuz they always get offd in the series.. acting was epic and his story was so good

[@misstrussteLgbTq]

Big fan of that Mike Ehrmantraut guy, I reckon he’ll be O… K.

[@X23ReZ23X]

@@misstrussteLgbTq o yea he retires to a nice place with a view I believe

[@greyson3421]

RIP Nacho

[@ButtersCCookie]

I miss you Nacho!!!! I miss you!!!!

[@bigsolidboss781]

I wonder why Gus did not instruct the assasins to kill Nacho at Lalo compound.

[@56postoffice]

Nacho went out on his terms....but not before he coated off Hector Salamanca and his ilk in his face. Brilliant character.

[@schwarzwald6672]

Micheal Mando is amazing I had no idea he was the voice actor in that cool game. He went out probably better then if he gave up if they had him alive they would have skinned him on tape.

[@elikerr785]

Agreed, even without knowing he killed it in some video game, he seemed familiar right away, and I think it's because he's so convincingly human that we connect to him right away.

[@thesarkive7746]

yall are crazy its literally him in the game his face his voice everything

[@liquidgoose9730]

Do u guys know y Vaas from FC3 always asks the player if they know the definition of insanity? Cuz unlike the player Vaas used to work with a guy called Tuco Salamanca, and that was the definition of insanity.

[@allanfifield8256]

I wonder if the final episode will more than one hour? Perhaps 90 minutes? Perhaps 2 hours?

[@biohazardmadness1155]

I always called him vass monologue

[@OG_Sneert0130]

I never noticed that he is Vaas in Far Cry. That’s awesome.

[@troylandzerep8045]

Michael mando vs Steven Ogg Who is more crazier

[@giovanniamore7532]

Vaas Montenegro 😎

[@Screwfacecapone]

Time to bring him back to the MCU so he can play Scorpion in Spider-man 4.

[@ThatJoseGuy]

yes, very well actor and character

[@JacobC479]

The character development in BCS is the best I’ve ever seen, even better than Breaking Bad. Nacho was intimidating then I ended up loving him and I hated Howard then ended up feeling bad for him to the point I feel completely different toward him when rewatching.

[@thibautvdb9880]

You see varga i see vaas

[@Reshme77]

I see both

[@mrhatred3652]

I wish he could escape somehow...

[@MasonSmith-fz9ev]

What about a Scarface remake with Michael Mando

[@slackstarfish8133]

He became one of my favorite characters in this entire series

[@AS936-q3x]

One of the favourite characters... as an actor a role was very demanding and well played by actor. Respect ❤ but the way he ended.....and the call him his father 💔

[@cadengericke5652]

If there was another breaking bad show I would actually want to have one about nacho. And how he got mixed up in the cartel

[@jayrobb1971]

Love this .... Thank you

[@misterg2201]

Such a great character

[@MrDrivingFaster]

Oscar winning performances by Michael

[@questlove_satx]

really great Breaking Bad videos. Good job

[@johntaylor-lo8qx]

Excellent, ty 🙏

[@peterdo5047]

I love his "The Rock" pose when he stood up on top of the oil tank.

[@Jay-uu5lu]

If nacho shot bolsa and then the twins then nothing bad would've happened

[@Reshme77]

If he had an AK 47... But one pistol Not likely

[@xdanbo1859]

14:49 - If they ever make a Lalo prequel show, I think "The Third Salamanca" would be a great title.

[@rondaallen7211]

Tuco is not the craziest Salamanca. that's Lalo. the most violent are los dos, of course. so Tuco s somewhere in the middle but i don't get how Nacho died in a prequel

[@jasonvoorhees895]

I watch some fan videos, but not a ton, so I may have missed it, but I don't think I've ever seen anyone talk about just exactly WHAT Nacho's fatal character flaw was. Nacho thought he was smarter than everyone around him. He thought he could use his friendship with a cartel man (Tuco) as much as he wanted, then just skate out whenever he decided he was done. He KNEW he was smarter than Tuco, and knowing that was the beginning of his downfall. I've known plenty of highly intelligent people taken down by the assumption that they're the smartest or that they're the ONLY highly intelligent person in a particular game. Nacho thought he had the smartest solution to every problem, but he didn't.

[@Kyrieru]

I love that an aspect of his character is basically "Escape artist".

[@CharliRay]

Nacho is absolutely a bad guy though he has redeeming qualitys he is no doubt an evil man

[@Reshme77]

Sure chucky

[@biggredd2008]

Loved this guy!

[@hastensavoir7782]

He was to BCS whom Jesse Pinkman was to BB.

[@bugsnasty2447]

Whenever I seen him he was Vaas from Farcry 3 because he voiced and played that insane character so we'll and now he is nacho lol

[@thumper84]

As a long time drug addict him and jesse are the 2 most believable character

[@christopherkettler8727]

The vet brings everyone together

[@MaddixCuhming]

Honestly all he had to do was get beat up and hide in the fortress of lalo, he’s all beat up and shot up and only lived to show he “tried” to help Lalo escape. And only survived due to him hiding

[@DarthC0MB0S]

Nacho deserved so much better.

[@henrywallacesghost5883]

Nacho was a tougher version of Jessie. A guy that didn't want to do what he ended up having to do.

[@esraahesham4831]

i believe that nacho didn't want the twins to die in the shootout. I think he wanted to make sure that all the espinozas are wiped out so that they won't be able to clear themselves from the incident gus framed them into. nacho needed them dead so that his connection to gus won't be discovered. I guess.

[@RogerOnTheRight]

Around 11:20, "meticulously", not "metiously" (which is not a word).

[@somedude4805]

Michael Mando is a phenomenal actor.

[@GamingRoomOficial]

great actor and character