Breaking Bad spin-off Better Call Saul is dropping some major hints that the notorious Gus Fring is gay
Better Call Saul explored the backstory of Breaking Bad character Gus Fring
Breaking Bad spin-off Better Call Saul is dropping some major hints about the sexuality of everyone’s favourite upstanding chicken shop owner, Gus Fring.
The latest episode of the prequel show, “Dedicado a Max”, sheds more light than ever before on the motives of Gustavo Fring, played by Giancarlo Esposito.
Breaking Bad fans will remember that Fring had major beef with the Salamanca crime family, with his desire for revenge leading to his eventual explosive demise at the hands of the wheelchair-bound Hector Salamanca.
Flashbacks during Breaking Bad revealed that Fring’s Los Pollos Hermanos co-founder Max, played by James Martinez, was shot and killed by Hector Salamanca over the pair’s entry into the meth business.
Other characters on both shows have used derogatory homophobic terms to refer to Fring and Max, calling them “butt brothers” and “boyfriends” – but neither Breaking Bad nor Better Call Saul have fully clarified their relationship.
Better Call Saul drops some hints about Gus Fring.
However, this week’s Better Call Saul gave a major indication that the relationship between Fring and Max was something much more than just business. Warning, spoilers below.
Better Call Saul explored the backstory of Breaking Bad character Gus Fring
The episode sees a wounded Mike Ehrmantraut (Jonathan Banks) whisked away by Fring to a safe community across the Mexican border.
It’s revealed that Fring serves as an anonymous benefactor to the local community, and has built a fountain, bearing the phrase ‘dedicado a Max’, or ‘dedicated to Max’.
Fring outlines his desire to get revenge against the Salamancas to Mike – and when asked what the town is, cryptically replies: “Call it a memorial.”
While it’s not an ironclad confirmation of the pair’s relationship, it does stoke the flames of long-running fan theories about the character’s sexuality.
The quiet reveal would not be a massive twist to Fring’s story, but it does add another layer of tragedy – seeing his boyfriend murdered, dedicating his entire life to getting revenge by any means necessary, only to be blown up by the same man decades later.
Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan says relationship is ‘open to interpretation’.
Speaking previously about Fring’s relationship with Max during Breaking Bad, show creator Vince Gilligan said he kept it deliberately ambiguous, adding: “It’s open to interpretation. It’s whatever the audience wants it to be.”
Asked about the fan theories in 2012, actor Giancarlo Esposito said: “I personally believe that nothing is ever black and white and I believe Gus had a way of cultivating people, whether chemists, school teachers, or as businessmen.
“I had long discussions with Vince Gilligan that it shouldn’t be pointed up either way (and he agreed). And the audience should have to decide.”
