The Impact of Lalo Salamanca’s Survival in Better Call Saul on Breaking Bad’s Storyline

The demise of Lalo Salamanca in the concluding season of Better Call Saul plays a pivotal role in setting the stage for critical storylines in Breaking Bad. However, the entire narrative could have unfolded quite differently had Lalo survived. When Saul Goodman made his debut in Breaking Bad, specifically in season 2, episode 8 titled “Better Call Saul, ”he was unexpectedly abducted by Walt and Jesse in a desert locale. During this tense encounter, Saul casually inquired whether Lalo had sent them—a seemingly innocuous remark that hinted at Saul’s many past adversaries, ultimately paving the way for one of television’s most notorious villains.

The spinoff series Better Call Saul meticulously built up to Lalo’s introduction, revealing his identity as a Salamanca who engaged Saul’s services not only as his lawyer but occasionally as a bagman. Lalo’s escalating conflict with Gus Fring culminated in a series of assassination attempts, leading to Lalo’s eventual death at Gus’s hands. This outcome significantly weakened the Salamanca family’s grip on the drug empire and enabled Gus to seize the drug market. But one can’t help but wonder: what if Lalo had evaded Gus’s fatal shot? How would Breaking Bad have evolved with Lalo in the mix during Walter White’s rise?

Lalo’s Survival Would Have Sealed Gus’ Fate in Better Call Saul

A Different Outcome: Lalo Would’ve Eliminated Gus

Lalo Salamanca character in Better Call Saul

Lalo Salamanca in Better Call Saul Season 5

After Gus’s botched assassination attempt on Lalo at his compound, there was no turning back—their violent rivalry was poised to end in one of two ways: Gus either eliminating Lalo or vice versa. In Better Call Saul, Gus ultimately prevails and kills Lalo in an underground lair that was meant to become his industrial meth operation. This resolution was necessary to align the narrative with the events of Breaking Bad, where Gus continues to thrive while Lalo is absent.

A near-miss for Gus occurred when Lalo returned to New Mexico after escaping the hit, covertly documenting evidence of Gus’s treachery. Lalo’s dogged pursuit of vengeance resulted in a fatal oversight during their showdown. Had Gus’s aim faltered slightly, Lalo could have emerged victorious. This outcome would have eradicated Gus’s meth operation before it even began, preventing any opportunity for him to recruit Walt and Jesse as his cooks.

The Salamanca Family Would Rise Again Without Gus

Gus Maintained Dominance Over the Salamancas

Had Lalo survived and Gus fallen, the balance of power would have undoubtedly shifted back to the Salamancas. Since the murder of Max by Hector, Gus harbored a relentless vendetta against the Salamanca family, vowing to dismantle their cartel completely. By the time Breaking Bad commenced, although the Salamanca operation limped along, it lacked the strength it once boasted, largely due to Gus’s orchestration. Hector remained alive merely as a reminder of Gus’s wrath.

Lalo made his debut in Better Call Saul season 4, episode 8, “Coushatta.”Walt exploited Gus’s rivalry with Hector to orchestrate a deadly plan involving Hector’s bomb. Conversely, had Lalo killed Gus, it would have reversed the trajectory of the two organizations, leading to the potential resurgence of the Salamanca empire. Instead of operating on the fringes, the Salamancas could have regained a significant market share, reshaping the drug landscape.

Walter and Jesse’s Encounter With Lalo Would Have Been Inevitable

A Quest for Revenge: Lalo Would Have Come Knocking

If Lalo had lived through the events of Breaking Bad, Walt and Jesse’s dealings with the Salamanca family would have taken a drastic turn. Following a brief partnership with Tuco during season 1, their venture abruptly ended when Tuco kidnapped them. In the gripping season 2 episode, “Grilled, ”Walt and Jesse seized the opportunity to eliminate Tuco as he contemplated dragging them to Mexico to force them into perpetual meth production.

Had Lalo been present, repercussions for Tuco’s death would have struck swiftly. Instead of enjoying relative safety after Tuco’s demise, Walt and Jesse would have found themselves under Lalo’s watchful eye, and Tuco’s actions would have certainly alerted Lalo, compelling him to pursue revenge—a scenario likely culminating in lethal consequences, given Lalo’s history of violence against perceived threats.

Without Gus, Walt’s Meth Empire Would Have Been Significantly Smaller

Walt Faced Major Distribution Hurdles Pre-Gus

Walt and Skyler observing cash in Breaking Bad

In the absence of Gus’s influence during the course of Breaking Bad, Walt’s drug operation likely never would have expanded to its legendary proportions. From the inception of his partnership with Jesse, their primary challenge remained the distribution of their meth. Although they could generate high volumes from their RV, Jesse lacked the capacity to successfully distribute the product independently amidst rival dealers vying for territory.

Gus leveraged his franchise, Los Pollos Hermanos, to facilitate a distribution operation that reached incredible heights, allowing it to appear on the NASDAQ. He required Walt and Jesse’s production capabilities in order to meet soaring demand, effectively transforming them into wealthy figures in the drug trade. Without Gus’s established distribution network, Walt and Jesse’s enterprising efforts would simply have faltered below their immense potential.

Lalo’s Death Was a Boon for Walt’s Ascendance

Walt’s Success Relied Heavily on Lalo’s Demise

Ultimately, Lalo’s death was incredibly beneficial for Walt White. Had Lalo survived after Gus targeted him, Walt would have faced insurmountable challenges moving forward in the meth business. Throughout the conflict illustrated in the third and fourth seasons of Breaking Bad, Walt harbored growing animosity toward Gus, oblivious to the fact that by killing Lalo, Gus eliminated a significant threat that could have disrupted Walt’s ascension. Walt’s trajectory in the drug world owes much to Lalo’s absence, undeniably shaping his path to success.

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