“That’s the guy (or lady) from Breaking Bad!” Such a statement has been said by many people numerous times whenever they see an actor that they recognize from the 16-time Emmy-winning AMC series. The show made many careers, mainly because each character is so well-written. From Walter White and Jesse Pinkman to minor figures like Spooge and Gale Boetticher, it’s clear that a lot of effort went into the characterization.
However, any major show tends to have many cogs in the wheels. Understandably, not all of them leave an impact. In his journey from chemistry teacher to methamphetamine drug lord, Walter White interacted with some people whom you may have forgotten about. Other minor and forgettable characters were tied to the antihero’s friends and family members. While some of these individuals are boring or annoying, others don’t leave a lasting impression because they didn’t stick around long enough to establish a legacy.
Here are the 10 most forgettable characters from the entire run of Breaking Bad.
10
Pamela Orbic
In Season 3, Skyler gets fed up with Walt and his antics, so she considers parting ways. She consults a divorce lawyer named Pamela and divulges crucial personal information to her, including the fact that Walter White is a manufacturer of methamphetamine. Alarmed, Pamela advises Skyler to divorce her husband and turn him over to the police. However, she opts not to go this route.
Keeping It Professional
Skyler’s disgruntlement is an essential part of the plot. After all, no one would be okay with knowing their spouse has morphed from a chemistry teacher to a drug lord. Thanks to this particular arc, we are treated to many scenes better than what’s present in award-winning divorce movies. Unfortunately, Pamela doesn’t do much. It would have been more interesting for her to wield a lot of influence over the desperate Carmela to the point where she almost ruins Walt’s empire. Still, we can appreciate the fact that hers is a realistic portrayal. Most divorce lawyers are likely to give similar advice.
9
Tim Roberts
Roberts is a detective with the Albuquerque Police Department. We first see him at the White household inquiring about Walt’s disappearance. Hank had requested him to look into the matter as a personal favor. Roberts next appears when Marie Schrader is arrested for kleptomania. He is later part of the team that investigates Gale Boetticher’s murder.
A Calm, Seasoned Lawman
It’s a shame that Tim Roberts has limited screen time, considering that Nigel Gibbs, the actor who portrays him, has done pretty well in cop shows. You can catch him in shows like CSI and The Shield. But in Breaking Bad, the focus remains on the criminals, so it wouldn’t have been appropriate for law enforcement officers to take up too much space. Hank Schrader was okay as the show’s star lawman, piecing together all the clues that had been lying around.
8
Clovis
Clovis is Badger’s cousin who runs a vehicle towing and repair service. He agrees to fix Jesse’s RV when it stops running, only for Jesse to become dodgy with the payments. A back and forth between the two key scenes: one involving Jesse breaking into the gated lot and driving out without paying, and another where Clovis destroys the RV in a junkyard.
Overcharging Is the Name of the Game
Clovis is one of the few characters that exist to accentuate Jesse’s woes. Through the mini-feud, we get to see just how bad things have gotten for Walt’s sidekick. On top of that, Clovis is a reminder of how cutthroat the world of business is. He doesn’t think twice about overcharging Jesse, aware of how desperate he is. Besides that, Clovis commands the viewer’s respect because he is wise enough not to get involved in Jesse’s personal drama. Perhaps if he weren’t Badger’s cousin, he’d have a greater impact.
7
Louis Corbett
Walter Junior’s best buddy, Louis Corbett, is only seen a few times on the show. He frequently gives Walter Jr. rides to school and banters with him over teenager tops. Louis is also seen helping him set up a PayPal account for donations to Walter White’s cancer fund.
Everyone Needs a Great Friend
Thanks to Louis, we get a peek into Walter Jr.’s social life. For most of the series, Walter White is the only character from the White family through whom we get to see the outside world. Thanks to Louis, the show can create meaningful little breaks for itself and lose itself in a few teen tropes. If there’s someone who ought to be given a larger arc, it’s him. Given how stressful life in the White family was, Walter Jr needed a friend he could hang out with regularly.
6
Dr. Barry Goodman
Dr. Barry Goodman is the personal doctor of Gus Fring, but is only seen twice. He treats Gus and Mike after the showdown at Don Eladio’s home, where the Los Pollos Hermanos owner wipes out his enemies. He is later spotted informing Mike about Gus’ death following the incident with Walter White at the retirement community.
Fring-Care
Dr. Goodman’s presence says a lot about Gus than the character himself. Every criminal mastermind values discretion; that’s why Gus got a physician who can keep his mouth shut. Through Goodman, the show acknowledges Fring’s meticulousness and keenness for survival. He understands that in this business, you have to do your best to survive. But since neither Gus nor his men gets injured too many times, viewers never get to see Dr. Goodman a lot.
5
Duane Chow
Golden Moth Chemical owner, Duane Chow, plays a small but essential role. His industrial chemical manufacturing company supplies Gus Fring’s drug empire with the necessary materials. During Gus’ conflict with the Juarez cartel, enforcers ambush Chow and hold him hostage, but he is later saved by Mike.
A Useful Supplier
A close analysis of the differences between Breaking Bad and less popular crime dramas can be boiled down to this: this show provides a proper explanation of why each part of the machine moves the way it does; the others simply expect viewers to assume. In any other show, a character like Duane Chow might not have existed, but here, it’s emphasized that the drug manufacturers need proper, legitimate sources for all ingredients, including methylamine. Chow embodies that mid-area that’s ever-present during criminal operations. He is neither a villain nor a hero. Not even an antihero. He simply wants to make a buck and mind his business.
4
Unnamed J. P. Wynne Student
After the Wayfarer 515 flight disaster, J. P. Wynne students gather for a school assembly, during which an unnamed student is called upon to speak. As she passionately talks about the matter, she questions why God would allow so many people to die in such a manner and reveals that she is traumatized and amnesiac because of the disaster.
Tragedy Touches Everyone
Unknown to many, the student is played by Bryan Cranston’s real-life daughter, Taylor Dearden. Her presence makes for an interesting moment, considering that she is mourning over an incident indirectly caused by the character her father plays. While brief, the student’s speech helps paint Walter as an even bigger monster. If you are wondering where Dearden is nowadays, you can find her in the critically acclaimed medical drama, The Pitt, where she plays Dr. Melissa King.
3
Hugo Archilleya
Former JP Wynne janitor, Hugo, is one of the first people to show concern for Walt when cancer starts taking a toll on him. When Walt leaves class to vomit (a side effect of his chemotherapy), Hugo comforts him and cleans up after him. Unfortunately, the janitor is wrongfully singled out as the key suspect when the DEA connects missing school equipment to methamphetamine production. He is late fired.
Walter White: Ruining Lives Since Season 1
Hugo is the earliest example of how the actions of criminals always harm innocent people. The police think he is too good to have stolen any lab items, yet he is the culprit, and the man they arrest happens to be one of the nicest people alive. Through Hugo, the show also gets an opportunity to condemn the criminal justice system. Here’s a man who loses his job because he simply looks like he needs money the most. #JusticeForHugo
2
Cynthia
Cynthia manages the Albuquerque branch of Los Pollos Hermanos but appears infrequently throughout the show. She first interacts with Walter White in Season 2 when he asks about the name of the manager. She then reappears in Season 3, concerned about The Cousins sitting around without paying. In Season 4, she tries to calm Walter down when he storms the restaurant, demanding to speak to Gus.
Nothing Is as It Seems
So many intense proceedings play out before and after each of Cynthia’s scenes, making it easy to forget she is there. But she is still a crucial piece in the jigsaw, representing the big legitimacy lie that Gus Fring has built around himself. Her warmth and welcoming nature fool anyone into thinking Los Pollos is a proper restaurant chain like McDonald’s. In reality, it’s just a front.
1
Jesse’s Unnamed Lover
During the pilot episode, Jesse escapes arrest during a DEA raid on the lab because he is busy making love to a woman. As the raid is going on, he jumps out of the window, and the woman throws his clothes down towards him. Walter White, who is waiting outside in the car, quickly recognizes Jesse as his former student and gets the idea to have him as a distributor.
The Early Bonnie to Jesse’s Clyde
Many fans remember Jane Margolis as Jesse’s lover, but the pilot episode proved that he had been good with the ladies for a while. After all, it takes a true and loyal ‘Bonnie’ kind of woman to help you escape when the police are after you. This particular lover never gets an extended arc. Blink and you’ll miss her. She’s only included to let viewers know that Walter’s soon-to-be business partner isn’t a straight arrow. He sure has a lot going on.
- Release Date
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2008 – 2013-00-00
- Network
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AMC