Current Events > Gus was a good boss. (Breaking Bad spoilers)

(+) Yeah! (+)

Just rewatched season 4. They do a great job depicting him as this stone cold reptile that needs to be brought down, but upon my 4th viewing I realize he barely had any really missteps outside of being a psychopath towards Walter.

Like, basically what turned Jesse and Walter on him was him stopping Jesse from killing those gangbangers that killed Tomas.

But I guess as someone pointed out (don't remember who. Mike?) we don't know how Gus would have handled that.

When that chick's son was in the hospital, Gus didn't know about the Ricin. We, as the audience aren't sure if he has something to do with it, but it's revealed he doesn't.

So, the dude lets Jesse be there for the kid in the hospital, sacrifices a week's batch, makes Tyrus clean the lab, and just tells Jesse to show up to work next week. Basically gives him bereavement PTO at the expense of millions to let Jesse sort things out in his head over an event he had nothing to do with, that he probably suspects Walter orchestrated.

Initially I always felt that Walter's descent into villainous territory was kind of rushed, but the dude really does demonstrate some dark and questionable characteristics through the whole series. I am not sure I can say he's any worse than Gus.

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Gus really is a good boss even on the chicken side of things. His employees seem to really love and respect him.

You see more of it in Better Call Saul too. Outside of one episode with some misplaced anger directed to one of his employees he seems like a great boss.

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Gus is a manipulative psychopath, he's just smarter and less egotistical than Walt. He gives Jesse time off because he knows Jesse is taking that time regardless and he can't afford to lose his cook.
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Kastrada posted...

You see more of it in Better Call Saul too. Outside of one episode with some misplaced anger directed to one of his employees he seems like a great boss.

Lol was about to bring up Lyle cleaning the fryer over and over again. I think he was also trying to set up an alibi as well.

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pegusus123456 posted...

Gus is a manipulative psychopath, he's just smarter and less egotistical than Walt. He gives Jesse time off because he knows Jesse is taking that time regardless and he can't afford to lose his cook.

More or less. Not a good dude, but he understood that even useful tools have needs that require sacrifice on his part so that they continue to be useful. Walt had no such notions.

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pegusus123456 posted...

Gus is a manipulative psychopath, he's just smarter and less egotistical than Walt. He gives Jesse time off because he knows Jesse is taking that time regardless and he can't afford to lose his cook.

Less egotistical? I agree.

Smarter? IDK. Walt kind of put that argument to rest.

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Gus is definitely smarter. Walt just got lucky.

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pegusus123456 posted...

Gus is definitely smarter. Walt just got lucky.

Walt recruited a direct enemy to trick and surprise attack Gus. I'd argue Walter took more risks and was the more resourceful in that situation. Gus was very intuitive but in the end his spite and hatred blinded him just enough to lose everything.

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berlyman101 posted...

Walt recruited a direct enemy to trick and surprise attack Gus. I'd argue Walter took more risks and was the more resourceful in that situation. Gus was very intuitive but in the end his spite and hatred blinded him just enough to lose everything.

Yeah, Walt wasn't lucky. Gus just underestimated Walt and the lengths he would go. Plus being blinded by his own vengeance.

I wouldn't say Gus is much smarter than Walt either. I think they are about equal until their areas of expertise are brought in. Gus for economics/political savy and Walt for sciences/engineering.

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berlyman101 posted...

Walt recruited a direct enemy to trick and surprise attack Gus. I'd argue Walter took more risks and was the more resourceful in that situation. Gus was very intuitive but in the end his spite and hatred blinded him just enough to lose everything.

Which Walt was lucky to learn about. It was an offhand comment by Saul that even clued him into it.

Gus' spite and hatred blinded him in this one circumstance, but he maintained an empire for twenty years while Walt didn't even make it a year.

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The first episode of season 4, "Boxcutter" is great. Love that fateful moment when Victor starts mimicking Walter's cook, boasting about how he's been watching him weeks and has every step memorized, only to have Gus slit his throat. Gus was like "Hey Walter, if I could do this to my most loyal henchmen just imagine what I could do to you if you ever cross me again."

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