One thing that makes BCS a fantastic prequel show is its consummate level of respect for what was established in Breaking Bad. They've been able to expand on the backstories of characters like Mike and Saul/Jimmy without violating the expectations of fans of the original series. They really haven't struck a wrong note or done anything that would make old fans upset with their choices. I think that's because Mike and Saul, even though always depicted as skilled in their respective fields, were essentially presented as human beings. I also feel that viewers didn't have strong preconceptions about their backstories and were therefore more open to new directions the writers might take them in. For example, no one was really writing crazy fan theories about why Saul Goodman changed his name from McGill or what exactly happened to Mike in his time in Philly.
I don't think the same can be said for Gus Fring though. From his first appearance on the Breaking Bad he was treated as this almost preternaturally meticulous criminal genius who always thought three steps ahead of his rivals. I think it is fair to say he is the most mythic and unreal character in the whole of the Breaking Bad universe. He sets in motion a decades long revenge plot against the Cartel, invests potentially millions in establishing an international drug empire that includes a state of the art laboratory and a vast distribution system, has connections to legitimate multinational corporations, etc. And he does it all while posing as a mild-mannered fast-food franchisor who works to better his community through charitable good works.
On paper Gus is practically a comic book villain almost akin to Lex Luthor, the kind who would be completely out of place on a more realistic show like The Wire. Viewers even spun wild theories about his backstory, positing that he must have had some kind of background in Chilean military intelligence. So in addition to all the other unbelievable things about him, viewers were willing accept that he might have been a literal spy as well! All of this is not a complaint on my part, I think Gus worked wonderfully as a villain on Breaking Bad. His mythic, larger-than-life presence made him incredibly compelling and the ultimate antagonist for Walter White.
But as a result of all that, he has attained a kind of legendary status with the fans. I think it is somewhat comparable to Darth Vader's status with Star Wars fans. And we all remember how people reacted when George Lucas filled in Vader's backstory with his own set of prequels. Young Vader being depicted as sullen and conflicted did not jibe with what people had come to expect from Vader. So does Gus pose a similar challenge to the BCS writers? Can they ever depict him as vulnerable, being outmaneuvered, or even failing? Or are they trapped by his legend and will always feel the need to show fidelity to what has come before? So far nothing they've done has contradicted the image of Gus we all have. But if they continue that way, what are the dramatic possibilities of Gus's arc on BCS? Can he grow as a character or will he be trapped in stasis? How will they surprise us?
Submitted August 27, 2018 at 05:59PM by StateYellingChampion https://ift.tt/2wjGYvm
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