Breaking Bad
Warning : This clause contains mollycoddler for Breaking Bad , Better Call Saul , and El Camino .
Summary
WhileBreaking BadandBetter Call Saulboth feature some of TV ’s most well - written characters , Mike Ehrmantraut has had plenty of setting - stealing moments in both shows that have solidified his blot as one of the best characters of all sentence . Played by veteran character actor Jonathan Banks , Mike is better make out for his morally gray sensibilities , deadpan facial expressions and vocal delivery , and the foster father family relationship he has with the likes of Jesse Pinkman and Ignacio " Nacho " Varga . Mike ’s headstrong personality reach him one of Walter White , Saul Goodman , and even Gus Fring ’s majuscule foil , as check on multiple occasions .
what is more , Mike ’s status as a Marine Corps vet and former career as a Philadelphia police officer lay down him an incredibly thinking and redoubtable presence throughout the show , as he boasts an impressive sense of bravery and duty . Even in his line of work as a career criminal , Mike display allegiance and honor to those who garner his regard , and his insistence on not involving civilians in his criminal activity makes Mike one of the franchise ’s most endearing fiber in that universe . From Mike ’s best quotes inBreaking BadandBetter Call Saulto his more heroic actions , Mike has done a mass to cement himself as one ofTV ’s best character .
10Breaking Bad: Connecting Walt, Jesse, And Saul To Gus Fring
This decision would change everyone’s lives forever
While Saul Goodman suggests to Walt that he and Jesse get in league with Gus Fring ’s methamphetamine empire , Mike at long last arranges the get together between Walt , Jesse , and Gusin a move that would both prove to be one of the best affair Mike could have done and the bad . As seen throughoutBreaking Bad , Walt and Jesse ’s proclivities for grow high - caliber ice makes them a worthful commodity in organise crime despite their incessant bickering . Although Mike ’s conclusion to introduce Walt and Jesse to Gus results in both his and Gus ’s deaths , it tot up another bed to the show ’s character dynamics while heightening the conflicts between war drug lords .
9Better Call Saul: Mike Laundering Gus' Money With The Germans
Mike stands up to Gus in a shocking display of loyalty
When Werner Ziegler is introduce to audiences in theBetter Call Saul Episode , " Quite a Ride , " it becomes unmistakable that he wo n’t last in the cutthroat world of unionized crime , as he ’s far too compassionate and sociable for the forever paranoid Gus Fring to bank . As such , MIke superintend Werner and the other German technologist as they work tirelessly on construct his meth compound . Despite Mike and Werner developing something of a friendly relationship , Mike is at last tasked with kill Wernerin the episode " succeeder , " since he accidentally splay up the secretive nature of his partnership with Gus to his married woman , Margarethe , over the telephone set .
However , the in truth significant moment about Mike ’s meter with Werner is the solemn respect the two men modernize for one another over the time spent work on Gus ’s chemical compound . Mike ’s define trait are his loyalty and strict adherence to his computer code , and the effect that killing a civilian in the name of keeping a ruthless meth dealer affluent genuinely wipe out him up . Even when Gus ascertain Margarethe will be handsomely compensated for Werner ’s death , it nauseate Mike , and the disputation that he has with Gus carries a set of weight unit considering everyone is deathly afraid of him .
8Breaking Bad: Refusing To Cooperate With The DEA
Displays Mike’s intelligence and reinforces his loyalty to Gus
In " Madrigal , " Hank and Gomie interrogate Mike about his cognition of Gus Fring ’s offshore accounts . Even though Mike knows way more than he ’s letting off and Hank and Gomie have it away it , Mike ca n’t be nail by the DEA broker without whole grounds . The glare of Hank and Gomie interrogate Mikelies in the amount of case work done , despite Mike ’s minimal dialog and reliance on his usual deadpan facial expressions . The interrogation is the DEA ’s fashion of seeing who they can get a confession out of , and with MIke ’s prior calling as a bull , he have it away the secret plan and march how to playact it .
7Better Call Saul: Mike Attempts To Steer Daniel Wormwald Away From Crime
Uniquely reinforces Mike’s honor code
Early inBetter Call Saul , chemist Daniel Wormwald takes a warm liking to the flashy facing of the reprehensible Hades and jumps fountainhead - first into it after stimulate enough money to buy a trashy Hummer . Although Daniel ’s oblivious to the gravitation of the vicious underworld . Mike is n’t , and he reinforce this to Daniel after the pharmacist hires him as his bodyguard . Mike assay to manoeuver Daniel awayfrom a life sentence of criminal offense because he live how it ends for its actor . While it is unclear what becomes of Daniel post - Breaking Bad , Mike ’s warnings against a life of offense reward the Church Father - figure role he plays to some of the franchise ’s young man .
6Breaking Bad: Standing Up To Walter
This reinforces that Mike is a man of principle whereas Walter is a man of greed
InBreaking Bad ’s time of year 5 ’s " Say My Name , " Mike meet his unceremonious demise via gunfire from none other than Walt , and the moment serves as one of thesaddest death inBreaking Bad . Before Mike ’s death , he was one of the few characters in theBreaking Bad / Better Call Sauluniverse who stand up to Walt ’s intimidation , thus making himself one of the narcissist ’s least pet mass . However , Mike stand up to Waltmakes him one of the best quality inBreakingBadbecause he ’s able to do what Jesse ca n’t due to the nature of their toxic , yet necessary , relationship .
The episode highlight Mike ’s proclivities for doing what is right on behalf of other people much faint than himself , despite his criminal dealings . to boot , Mike perpetually stick out up to Walt once he work out out his part illustrate Mike ’s principled nature while putting a glare on Walt ’s devouring and egotistical personality . Mike standing up to Walt has a wakeless effect on Jesse , as it helps give him the courage to defend himself against Walt ’s intimidation and even helps him commit to change his life . Even though Mike place upright up to Walt eventually becomes his undoing , see Walt get told the truth about himself more than form up for it .
The best Mike Ehrmantraut cite show just how wise and funny this iconic tough guy can be .
5Better Call Saul: Surrogate Father To Nacho
Mike tries to redeem his failure as a father to Matty
Mike ’s relationship with life history criminal Nacho Varga brook as one of the better pairing in TV story because it uniquelyhighlights Mike ’s role as a fatherly figureonce again . Although Mike ’s son followed in his step , thus leading to his end , Mike still carries on in aliveness and avail others however he can . In the case of Nacho , Mike tardily yet for sure develops a near relationship , thus gain the young homo ’s cartel . Their trust extends to the two of them devising programme to take down both Gus and the ruthless Salamanca family , while also securing secure passage for themselves and their kinsperson .
While this does n’t work out quite the path either of them await , Mike ’s willingness to go out of his agency for Nacho reinforces his foster sire role to Jesse inBreaking Badwhile at the same time making Mike more adorable than before . Once Mike learns that Nacho is involved in unionize crime as a means of supporting his father , he does everything in his exponent to help him . Even though Nacho ’s death is one of themost disgraceful deaths inBetter Call Saul , Mike ’s commitment to keeping Nacho ’s founding father safe for as long as he ’s live displays a loyalty rarely seen in the drug biz , and it serves as Mike ’s best trait .
4Breaking Bad: Surrogate Father To Jesse
Mike helps Jesse realize his true potential
When Mike cope with Jesse inBreaking Bad , he now develop a soft bit for him in his unique way . His compassionateness for Jesse grows after he witnesses at first hand how Walt contumely and mistreats Jesse , thus result inMike looking out for Jesse ’s future and well - being . Although Gus attempts to leverage Mike and Jesse ’s relationship as a mode to countermine Walt even further , their clock time pass together finally get into the men sharing a sincere regard for each other . While Mike sees an opportunity to channelise a untested humans away from criminal offense , it also helps give Jesse the self-assurance to improve his life .
From Bryan Cranston to Aaron Paul to Giancarlo Esposito , the mold of Breaking Bad is full of great actors play virtuously complicated characters .
One of the potent examples of Mike genuinely caring for Jesseoccurs inBreaking Badwhen he goes out of his way to help Jesse decent dispose of Jane ’s cadaver after her fateful drug overdose . The scene is one of Mike ’s early interactions with Jesse , and even though he ’s laconic with Jesse , it helps get him to a run United States Department of State once again . Mike ’s impact on Jesse is so heavy that Jesse remembers him fondly inEl Camino . what is more , Mike ’s compassion and empathy directly affect Jesse ’s ability to make it out of the criminal netherworld alive , thus relieve oneself him one of the few to so do .
3Better Call Saul: Mike Rescues Saul
Despite their differences, Mike maintains his loyalty
Mike and Saul ’s relationship is one of the dealership ’s more tumultuous , as Mike is incredibly stark and somewhat upstage , and Saul ’s a perpetual talker who always assay to one - up everyone he dislike . However , the effectualness of their partnership results in some ofBreaking BadandBetter Call Saul ’s finer moments , such as Mike introduce Walt and Jesse to Gus , and Walt write Saul ’s sprightliness in the time of year 5 episode , " Bagman . " While Mike ’s Marine Corps yesteryear is advert to on social occasion , the episode seesMike put his sniper skills to the testin a bold display of his efficiency and loyalty .
Moreover , the import of Mike pull through Saul ’s life sentence is that it powerfully reinforces his commitment to his family . While the two gentleman’s gentleman choke up Lalo Salamanca ’s $ 7 million through the red-hot desert , Saul elect to give in to the ruthlessness of their portion , butMike delivers a ginger talk that not only inspires Saulto keep moving , it utterly add up what he ’s all about . Furthermore , Mike coaches Saul through his posttraumatic stress disorder in the following episode , " Bad Choice Road , " by distinguish him that he ’ll eventually process his emotion and move forrard . Even with lineament he ’s not peculiarly fond of , Mike demonstrates compassion in their greatest clip of need .
2Breaking Bad: Mike’s Death
Mike’s death perfectly showed how low Walter would sink to be right
After everything Mike put up because of Walt ’s ego and Jesse ’s unfitness to stand up to Walt , Mike lather out at the meth dealer in a mode that is not only cheering but significative of Walt ’s misfortunate character . In improver to Mike ’s loyalty and honor , he ’s also an unbelievably patient man , so see to it him lose his temper with Walt after Gus ’s death hits hard . During their heated rally , Mike eventually tell Walter he does n’t want to see him again , thus resulting in Walt shooting him . When Walt catches up to the choke Mike , he attempts to rationalise , butMike shuts Walt down by telling him to let him die in peace .
What makes the last even sad is the fact that it ’s the least require manner for Mike to meet his oddment . He survived brushing with dangerous corporate trust , trained military force , and sociopaths , but the thing that gets him in the death is a bullet train from a former high schooltime chemistry instructor . Mike ’s demise is as sober as it is sad , and it dead encapsulatesBreaking Bad / Better Call Saul ’s depictions of life-time ’s unexpected present moment and the temperamental nature of a life of offence . Once Jesse study of Mike ’s death , it becomes the last husk for the fibre , thus motivating him to will the condemnable spirit , and making it somewhat of a desperate sacrifice .
1Better Call Saul: Mike’s Heartfelt Story About Matty
Perfectly shows audiences how Mike became the way he is
The 6th episode ofBetter Call Saul ’s first season sees Mike tell Stacey the trueness regarding the dying of his son / her husband , Matt " Matty " Ehrmantraut . In the flashback , witness learn that Mike was a member of the Philadelphia Police Department , and despite knowing well , finally participated in crooked activity while on the military unit . When Matt decided to become a police force officer as well , he initially committed to uphold the law alternatively of participate in depravation . However , under invariant pressure from his colleagues and Mike ’s advice , Matt finally set forth doing the same thing . Still , he was kill anyway .
Mike continues the report by unveil he essay Matt ’s former spouse who murdered him , killed them , and then traveled to Albuquerque , New Mexico for a sweet start . Mike ’s revelation is muscular because it show up audiences why he is so staunchly committed to his codeof ethics as seen throughout both series , and it enter the otherwise deadpan hitman right smart more character reference and astuteness than expected . Mike breaking down as he proclaims he convinced his son to misdirect himself before being mangle hit hard , but it also shows audiences how Mike became the way he is , and it reigns as his honorable moment in theBreaking BadandBetter Call Sauluniverse .
Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul are both streaming on Netflix .
