Why Did Gus Kill Victor? The REAL Reason! - Breaking Bad Explained

Summary

The video script delves into the character of Gustavo 'Gus' Fring from 'Breaking Bad,' exploring his decision to kill Victor instead of Walter White or Jesse Pinkman. It examines Gus's meticulous nature, the failure of Victor's actions, and the strategic and emotional implications of his choice. The analysis suggests that Gus's move was a display of power, a message to his associates, and a reflection of his unpredictable and dangerous side, challenging Walter's perception of him as a purely pragmatic businessman.

Takeaways

• 🧪 Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher, turns to making and selling meth after a terminal cancer diagnosis to secure his family's financial future.
• 🤝 Walter partners with his former student, Jesse Pinkman, to navigate the drug trade and eventually becomes a ruthless drug kingpin.
• 🎭 Gus Fring is a calm, calculating kingpin who operates a fast-food chain as a front for his drug empire and forms a strategic partnership with Walter and Jesse.
• 🔪 In a shocking turn, Gus kills Victor, one of his henchmen, to maintain control and send a message to Walter and Jesse about the consequences of crossing him.
• 👥 Gus's decision to kill Victor is influenced by Victor's failures, including not protecting Gale and being a liability to the operation.
• 🤔 The act of killing Victor could be seen as Gus's rare moment of lost composure, showing his true nature and the depth of his depravity.
• 🕊️ Gus may have had a personal connection with Gale, and his death could have triggered Gus's need to find someone to blame.
• 📉 Victor's attempt to cook meth to prove his worth backfired, as it showed he was taking liberties and acting without Gus's permission.
• 🔮 Gus's actions reveal his unpredictability and danger, challenging Walter's assumption that Gus is a pragmatic businessman.
• 👀 Jesse's reaction to Victor's death, showing anger and principle, may have impressed Gus and set the stage for Jesse's future role in the operation.
• 📺 The dramatic scene of Victor's murder served as a gripping season opener, especially for new viewers on Netflix.

Q & A

Who is the main character of 'Breaking Bad' and what drastic change does he undergo?

The main character is Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher who turns to cooking and selling meth after being diagnosed with terminal cancer. He transforms from a mild-mannered teacher into a ruthless drug kingpin.

What is the significance of Walter White's partnership with Jesse Pinkman?

Walter White partners with Jesse Pinkman, a former student, to navigate the dangerous world of drug manufacturing and distribution, aiming to secure his family's financial future before he dies.

What themes does 'Breaking Bad' explore throughout its series?

The show delves into themes of morality, consequences of one's actions, and the allure of power and money.

Who is Gus Fring and what is his role in the series?

Gus Fring, also known as Gustavo, is a calm, calculating, and highly intelligent kingpin who operates a chain of fast-food chicken restaurants as a front for his drug empire. He forms a strategic partnership with Walter White and Jesse Pinkman.

How does Gus Fring's character initially present himself to the public?

Gus Fring initially presents himself as a legitimate businessman and philanthropist, hiding his involvement in the distribution of methamphetamine.

What event at the climax of season 3 puts Walter and Jesse in a life-threatening situation with Gus Fring?

Walter and Jesse are in a life-threatening situation when they think Gus is going to kill them after they kill some of Gus’ street dealers.

Why does Walter White plan to murder Gale, another chemist working for Gus?

Walter plans to murder Gale to eliminate competition and force Gus to rely on him and Jesse for the production of high-quality meth, thus saving their own lives.

What shocking action does Gus Fring take at the beginning of season 4 that reveals his true nature?

Gus Fring shockingly slashes Victor’s throat with a box cutter, revealing his true nature and the depth of his depravity when pushed.

What are some reasons Gus Fring might have chosen to kill Victor instead of Walter or Jesse?

Victor was responsible for the failure to protect Gale and had become a liability. Killing Victor also served as a message to everyone in the room about Gus' unpredictability and power.

How does Gus Fring's killing of Victor impact the other characters, particularly Mike Ehrmantraut?

The killing disturbs Mike, shaking his loyalty and causing him to question his perception of Gus, leading him to the realization that he too could be easily disposed of.

What does Gus Fring's action of attempting to cook meth himself signify about his character?

Victor's attempt to cook meth himself without permission shows he was taking liberties and acting on his own accord, which goes against Gus' preference for loyalty and obedience.

How does Jesse Pinkman's reaction to Victor's death differ from Walter White's and what might it imply?

Jesse is furious and stares back at Gus, showing anger and principle, which might have impressed Gus and led to Jesse being groomed for a more significant role.

What strategic purpose might the season opener's violent scene serve for the wider audience on Netflix?

The violent scene serves to hook the audience and demonstrate the intensity of the show, especially for those watching on Netflix after its increased popularity.

Outlines

00:00

🧪 The Transformation of Walter White and Introduction to Gus Fring

This paragraph introduces the premise of 'Breaking Bad,' focusing on the transformation of Walter White from a high school chemistry teacher to a ruthless drug lord after his terminal cancer diagnosis. Walter partners with his former student, Jesse Pinkman, to ensure his family's financial future. The narrative then shifts to Gus Fring, a calm and intelligent kingpin who operates under the guise of a legitimate businessman. Gus's meticulous nature and strategic partnership with Walter and Jesse are highlighted, culminating in a tense situation where Walter must eliminate a rival chemist to secure his position with Gus.

05:02

🔪 Gus Fring's Unpredictable Nature and Victor's Downfall

The second paragraph delves into the character of Gus Fring, exploring his calculated and pragmatic approach to the drug trade and the shocking moment when he kills Victor, one of his henchmen. The reasons behind this act are dissected, including Victor's failures in protecting Gale and maintaining secrecy, as well as his overstepping of boundaries by attempting to cook meth without permission. The paragraph also examines the implications of this event for the other characters, particularly Mike and Jesse, and how it reveals Gus's true, unpredictable nature.

10:04

🤔 Analyzing Gus Fring's Motives and Jesse's Potential Rise

The final paragraph continues the analysis of Gus Fring's character, speculating on his motives for killing Victor and the potential it reveals for Jesse's rise within the organization. It discusses Gus's need to maintain control and the message his actions send to his subordinates about loyalty and the consequences of failure. The paragraph also considers the psychological impact of these events on the characters, particularly Jesse's anger and defiance, and how this might influence his future role and relationship with Gus.

Keywords

💡Breaking Bad

Breaking Bad is an American television drama series created by Vince Gilligan, which centers on the transformation of Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher, into a ruthless drug lord. The series is renowned for its character development and moral ambiguity, making it a celebrated television drama. In the script, the show's themes and characters are discussed in detail, highlighting its significance in the narrative.

💡Meth

Meth, short for methamphetamine, is a powerful and highly addictive stimulant drug. In the context of the video, Walter White turns to cooking and selling meth to secure his family's financial future after being diagnosed with terminal cancer. The script discusses the dangerous world of drug manufacturing and distribution, which is central to the plot of Breaking Bad.

💡Moral Ambiguity

Moral ambiguity refers to the complexity of moral situations where right and wrong are not clearly defined. The script mentions this concept as one of the themes of Breaking Bad, where characters like Walter White and Gus Fring exhibit a spectrum of moral behaviors that challenge traditional notions of good and evil.

💡Gus Fring

Gus Fring, also known as Gustavo, is a character in Breaking Bad who is portrayed as a calm, calculating, and highly intelligent drug kingpin. He operates a chain of fast-food restaurants as a front for his drug empire. The script delves into his character, discussing his strategic partnership with Walter White and Jesse Pinkman, and his ultimate demise.

💡Los Pollos Hermanos

Los Pollos Hermanos is a fictional fast-food chicken restaurant chain in Breaking Bad, which serves as a front for Gus Fring's drug empire. The script mentions this as an example of how Gus presents himself as a legitimate businessman while secretly being deeply involved in the drug trade.

💡Pragmatism

Pragmatism in the script refers to the practical approach of Gus Fring and Walter White in their dealings. Walter attempts to reason with Gus by appealing to his pragmatism, suggesting that killing him would not be a practical move for Gus's business. However, Gus demonstrates that he is not purely pragmatic, as shown by his unexpected actions.

💡Victor

Victor is one of Gus Fring's henchmen in Breaking Bad. The script discusses his role and his ultimate fate, where he is killed by Gus in a shocking and sudden act. Victor's death is used to illustrate Gus's power and unpredictability, as well as to send a message to Walter White and Jesse Pinkman.

💡Mike Ehrmantraut

Mike Ehrmantraut is a character in Breaking Bad who is loyal to Gus Fring and plays a significant role in the drug operation. The script mentions Mike in the context of the events leading to Victor's death and how it affects his loyalty and perception of Gus.

💡Depravity

Depravity in the script refers to the moral corruption and wickedness of a character, particularly Gus Fring, when he feels pushed or threatened. His act of killing Victor is described as revealing his true nature and the depth of his depravity.

💡Jesse Pinkman

Jesse Pinkman is a former student of Walter White and his partner in the drug business. The script discusses his character development, his partnership with Walter, and his reactions to the violent events orchestrated by Gus Fring, which contribute to the show's exploration of morality and consequences.

💡Cartel

A cartel is a criminal organization involved in drug trafficking. In the script, Gus Fring's actions are compared to those of a cartel boss, emphasizing his unpredictability and dangerous nature, despite his outward appearance as a businessman.

Highlights

Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher, turns to cooking meth after a terminal cancer diagnosis.

Walter partners with former student Jesse Pinkman to navigate the drug world for financial security.

The series explores themes of morality, consequences, and the seduction of power and money.

Character development and plot intricacies contribute to the show's acclaim.

Gus Fring is a calm, intelligent kingpin with a fast-food chain as a drug empire front.

Gus' meticulous attention to detail and strict code of conduct define his operation.

Walter and Jesse face a life-threatening situation in season 3, leading to Gale's murder.

Gus' shocking act of violence in season 4 reveals his true nature and control.

Victor's failure to protect Gale and his subsequent actions make him a liability.

Gus' decision to kill Victor sends a message of unpredictability and power.

Mike's loyalty to Gus is shaken by the violent display, leading to personal turmoil.

Walter's assumption of Gus as a pragmatist is challenged by his actions.

Victor's attempt to cook meth signifies a breach of Gus' strict hierarchy.

Jesse's reaction to Victor's death reveals his anger and potential for a larger role.

Gus' actions serve as a warning and a display of power to all characters.

The season opener's shocking scene is a strategic move to engage a wider audience.

Transcripts

Breaking Bad, created by Vince Gilligan, revolves  around Walter White, a high school chemistry  

teacher who turns to cooking and selling  meth after being diagnosed with terminal  

cancer. He partners with a former student, Jesse  Pinkman, to navigate the dangerous world of drug  

manufacturing and distribution in order to secure  his family's financial future before he dies.

As the series progresses, Walter's transforms  from a mild-mannered teacher into a ruthless drug  

kingpin. The show delves into themes of morality,  consequences of one's actions, and the allure of  

power and money. It's known for its intense  character development, intricate plotlines,  

and moral ambiguity, making it one of the most  celebrated television dramas of all time.

One of the most interesting characters in  the show is Gus Fring. Gustavo is a calm,  

calculating, and highly intelligent kingpin who  operates a highly successful chain of fast-food  

chicken restaurants called Los Pollos  Hermanos as a front for his drug empire.

Gus initially presents himself as a  legitimate businessman and philanthropist,  

but underneath this facade, he is deeply involved  in the distribution of methamphetamine. He becomes  

a key player in the Albuquerque drug trade and  forms a strategic partnership with Walter White  

and Jesse Pinkman, using their chemistry  expertise to produce high-quality meth.

Gus is known for his meticulous attention to  detail and his ability to maintain control  

over his operation. He is extremely  disciplined and operates with a strict  

code of conduct, demanding loyalty  and competence from his associates.

Things get sticky for Walter and Jesse at the  climax of season 3 when the duo think that  

Gus is going to kill them after they kill some of  Gus’ street dealers. In order to save themselves,  

Walter plans on murdering Gale, another chemist  who Gus had cooking the meth for him. If Gale is  

out of the picture, Gus must rely on Walt, and  Walter’s instincts prove correct when Gus’ two  

henchmen, Mike Ehrmantraut and Victor, take  Walt into the cooking lab to execute him,  

with them not knowing where Jesse is.  Walt manages to trick Mike into letting  

him phone Jesse, and he quickly gives him  instructions to kill Gale, which he does so.

Enter the first episode of season 4, and Walt,  Jesse, Mike and Victor are in the lab awaiting  

Gus’ arrival, with Victor attempting to try a cook  to prove he studied Walter’s foruma. Gus arrives,  

and starts putting on a lab coat, while  Walt pleads for his and Jesse’s lives,  

and then suddenly, Gus slashes Victor’s  throat with a box cutter. Its shocking,  

its sudden, its so out of character Mike  even pulls his gun on Gus momentarily.

So what gives? Why, of all the people Gus could  have gone to work on, he decided to kill Victor?

Well, let’s discuss.

There’s a few reasons why  this could have been the case,  

some simple, and others relating to  the dynamic between the characters.

Victor of course, along with Mike, were  responsible for this fiasco, and between  

the two Mike is the more valuable. Victor  also failed to reach Gale in time to save him.

As Walter was babbling on and on, Gus was  indeed listening to what Walter was saying,  

and he knew Walter was right. And that made him  even more angry because Gus would have liked  

nothing more than to punish Walter in that  moment but he had no cards to play. Walter  

was right – You kill me you have nothing.  You kill Jesse you don’t have me – it was  

actually just after Walter said this that  Fring walked away from the duo. Perhaps he  

was initially going to slash Jesse’s throat  but knew Walter would no longer cook for him.

Then Walter, attempting to reach Gus’ famed  pragmatism, to reason with him, says “you won’t  

do this. You can’t do this. You can’t afford to  do this” It might not have been the intent, but  

this is almost a challenge, almost a mockery being  made of Gus. Sure Gus was the strong, silent type,  

but he had his moments of emotion, and with  the all-round frustration this satiation had  

caused him and his inability to lash out on those  responsible, it could simply be - instead of some  

highly calculated 5D chess move - a rare moment  of lost composure. Not to mention, its not often  

considered by fans that Gus may have actually  liked Gale on a human level, maybe even in that  

way, and this would mean it’d be the second time  he lost someone to the drug world. Now Gus needs  

someone to blame, someone to stab. Someone has  to die. And between all the men in the room,  

he had the least to lose by offing Victor. Plus  it shows his power, that he could easily dispatch  

a loyal subordinate, the implication being he’s  got plenty of men who can do Victor’s job. But its  

actually very much in accordance with Gus nature,  who acts out when things don’t go in accordance  

to his meticulous plans – see my video on why Gus  made Lyle clean the frier again and again. In any  

case this sick action reveals his true nature and  the depth of his depravity when he feels pushed.

Of course, there’s very much practical reasons to  offing Victor. Victor was in charge of protecting  

Gale, he failed to keep Gale's home location  a secret and allowed himself to be followed  

by Pinkman. He fails to stop Jesse taking out  Gale and then on top of that he’s all over the  

crime scene. Victor knows he’s screwed up, which  must have been why he was trying to cook a batch,  

it was an attempt to make up for his screw up,  to show that he was of value. More on that later.

The man admitted to Mike that Gale’s neighbours  saw him at the scene, something Mike was concerned  

about – I mean, he used to be a cop, he knows how  bad this is even if Victor brushes it off – Victor  

even left his car at the scene. Victor’s handling  of the situation would prove to be poor when later  

on its shown the police even had a sketch of  his face. Victor had now become a liability,  

he was a loose end, that’s why Gus offed him,  but the way he offed him was also meant to send  

a message to everyone in the room – not  just Walter and Jesse, but also to Mike,  

who very much screwed up. If he had just shot Walt  this entire situation could have been avoided.

In fact, this even would play heavily on  Mike’s mind. It leads him to the bottle – this  

realisation that Gus isn’t the man who Mike  thought he was. It disturbs him and shakes  

his loyalty, as well as the fact that he knows  he could just as easily be offed as Victor was.  

Perhaps this is why he punched Walter when  Walter pointed Gus’ nature out at the bar,  

all of that emotion was bottling up  inside Mike and he let it out on Walt

“We’re all on the same page” Jesse says after  this scene. Everybody knows what the score is,  

and Gus has sent a warning message to Walter  and Jesse by killing Victor in visceral fashion.

You see, we’d never seen Gus do anything  like that up until that point, and Walter,  

even in this very scene, had always relied on the  assumption that Gus was ultimately a pragmatist,  

a man who could be reasoned with and manipulated  through discourse, a far cry from the kind of  

lunatics we’ve seen on the show like Tuco. Gus  can’t do this, because he’s a businessman. You  

can’t kill me because A + B = C. See Gus, its  all so logical! And Gus is showing him here, no,  

you don’t know me, you can’t read me, you’re not  save just because your loyal and you can make me  

money, I am just as unpredictable and dangerous  as any cartel boss out there. I am the danger. I  

can even kill my useful employees who’s been with  me for years, that’s how disposable you all are.

Also, if he just walked out of the lab, it would  essentially be an admission that Walter had won.  

He had to do something, and Walter was right that  he couldn’t quite kill him yet in that moment.

But going back to Victor himself – the man  handled the situation all wrong. His demeanor  

shows he mis-read Gus completely – he smiles  when Gus enters as if he thinks Gus will be  

jumping for joy seeing him cook. Rather, he should  be begging for his life to be spared. Instead he’s  

smiling at Gus, walking around as if he can do the  ultra-precise job that Walter does. Who cares that  

Gale, a kind of chemist who Gus would have spent  years looking for, is dead. These two dimwits,  

you can kill them, cuz I’ll do their job with  ease. In hindsight, this guy really didn’t know  

how to read the room. Although saying that,  deep down he clearly knows his head might be  

on the chopping block, hence why he’s trying to  prove his worth. Earlier on, he didn’t seem to be  

fazed by his handling of the Gale situation, so  maybe its something he pondered over as everyone  

waited for Gus to arrive, and he started  to slowly realize he was in some deep ****.

But also, the very act of attempting to cook was  an own goal for Victor for a number of reasons.  

He is now acting of his own accord without Gus’  permission. This is actually the reason Walter  

gives to Jesse later on as to why Gus killed  Victor, saying he “flew too close to the sun”,  

though at the time Walter had his own agenda for  coming up with this line of reasoning. Victor,  

by cooking and ultimately wasting a multi-million  dollar batch, is going off script, he’s taking  

liberties. Gus does not like people taking  liberties, he wants loyal soldiers who follow  

orders. The idea that someone takes the initiative  suggests they may have plans in the future for  

bigger and better things, they may become a  dangerous competitor, they may become another  

Walter White with bright ideas. Not to mention  Victor has shown he was studying the cooking  

technique, something he kept from Gus. Gustavo  doesn’t want that – what else does Victor know,  

what else is he capable of hiding. It’s gone  to a stage where Gus can no longer trust him.

It's interesting that Gus stares down both  Walt and Jesse while he is killing Victor.  

Walk avoids looking at him, blinking, shuffling,  clearly uncomfortable. Jesse however, is starring  

right back at Gus without blinking – he’s angry.  He even leans forward. In this moment Gus learned  

something about the two men in front of him,  he studied them and saw that Walter just wanted  

to be at peace, to escape, to just go back to  cooking if it means all this trouble can go away.

But Jesse was furious. He was forced to kill  because otherwise Gus would kill him, and now  

Gus was taking another life needlessly in front  of him. Jesse has tried to take revenge before,  

he is surprisingly more principled than Walter,  he takes responsibility, and perhaps Gus wasn’t  

lying when he later says that he sees something  in Jesse. Maybe this was a vetoing session,  

an elaborate job interview where Jesse would  start being groomed – as later proven – to step  

up and play a major role. This is of course  what starts to happen with Pinkman going with  

Mike on missions, including a fake carjacking to  prove Jesse’s metal. Its very much possible that  

Jesse’s reaction, on a level, impressed Gustavo.  After all, he took out Gale to save Walter more  

than himself – after successfully tailing  Victor. And unlike Victor, he can cook. Heck,  

Victor is so dispensable, Jesse could end up  being a new and improved Victor. Gus even tilts  

his head when he’s eyeing Jesse, as if he’s  noticed the fire that’s been lit in the boy.

Its also worth mentioning, taking a step back,  that this is the season opener, of a new season  

on Netflix for the first time, available to a  wider audience after increased popularity. What  

better way to hook an audience than to show how  hardcore things are with a succulent throat slash?

So why do you think Gustavo Fring  killed Victor? Let me know in the  

comment section below, subscribe to the channel,  

and let me know if you’d like to see more  videos on Breaking Bad. Thanks for watching