Better Call Saul season 3: Gus Fring might be in it, just not in the first few episodes, hints Vince Gilligan

'Arguably the most brilliant character ever to appear on either show'

Better Call Saul’s season 2 finale saw the surprise addition of Breaking Bad’s Gustavo Fring to its universe, with the nefarious chicken shop owner-cum-meth baron leaving a note on Mike’s windshield.

But does this mean Gus will be back in the flesh, with actor Giancarlo Esposito returning, in the next season?

“Just because Fring’s back - technically speaking, if not literally - it doesn’t mean that folks should assume that they’ll see him at the beginning of Season 3,” co-creator Vince Gilligan teased to Vanity Fair.

“This is a character who is very circumspect. Very cautious. He does not reveal himself easily. He makes people work to get to him as we saw him make Walter White work very hard and jump through a great many hoops to get to face-to-face with him in Breaking Bad.


 Fring's message for Mike in BCS

“I don’t think anyone should assume that he’ll move in next door to Mike and borrow a cup of sugar. He’s going to stay Gus Fring, arguably the most brilliant person ever to appear on either show.”

This makes a lot of sense, given the great lengths Gus went to not to deal with Walter White directly, and since the stakes are generally lower in Better Call Saul’s events, it’s hard to imagine him rushing to involve himself in them.

The signs are good that Fring will arrive at some point though. Yes, Esposito is a busy man, working on both TV and film, but I’m sure he could find time to return to the role of a lifetime.

Fring’s return was teased in a code hidden in BCS’ episode titles, which Gilligan couldn’t believe a fan guessed ahead of the finale.