| “ | „ | |
| ― Jesse Pinkman confronts Gustavo Fring. |
The "Rival Dealers" are two street-level crystal meth dealers who work for Gustavo Fring and sell meth on behalf of Los Pollos Hermanos.
History[]
Breaking Bad[]
Season 2[]
The two dealers pulled up in their car to a street corner where Combo was selling meth for Walter White and Jesse Pinkman. Combo came over to ask if they were buying, but the two said nothing and simply stared menacingly at Combo. Combo then told them to leave, showing his pistol concealed in his waistband. The dealers then drove off down the block where they sat waiting, and shortly afterwards, Combo was shot and killed by an 11 year-old boy named TomƔs Cantillo on behalf of the dealers, who then quickly drove away. ("Mandala")
Season 3[]
After learning from Andrea Cantillo that Combo was killed by her younger brother TomĆ”s only a block away, Jesse investigated and found TomĆ”s selling. After Jesse showed $300, TomĆ”s signaled for the two dealers to drive up. Jesse then bought a bag from the two, who still said nothing and then drove off. TomĆ”s then gave Jesse the bag of meth and told him to bounce. Walking away, Jesse looked at the bag and found that it was the Blue Sky that he and Walt were cooking. ("AbiquiĆŗ")
Later, Walt and Jesse met in a bar where Jesse showed Walt the bag of meth. Saying that the dealers needed to die for both Combo's murder and for using TomƔs, Jesse asked Walt to help him make ricin to poison the dealers. However, Walt refused, stating that the dealers posed no threat to them. Regardless, Jesse remained adamant that he still planned to kill the two.
With no help from Walt, Jesse found poison from the Internet and conspired with Wendy (who frequented the dealers as customers) to assassinate the dealers with ricin-laced hamburgers that Wendy would bring to them that day. However, while they were waiting in Jesse's car for the dealers to arrive, Mike Ehrmantraut and Victor interrupted them, with Gus having been informed by Walt earlier of Jesse's plan. Wendy was told to leave while Mike and Victor drove Jesse to meet with Walt, Gus, and the dealers at the chicken farm. Gus, tired of Jesse, ordered him to make peace with the dealers. However, Jesse refused and snapped that despite Gus's persona of being a reasonable businessman, he allowed his employees to use kids to kill and deal meth for them. Attempting to find a compromise, Gus gave an ultimatum to the dealers -- "No more children." The dealers obliged and Jesse agreed to keep the peace.
That night however, the dealers killed TomƔs. It is unknown if they were given the order to do this by Gus himself or if they acted alone to bait Jesse into crossing Gus by retaliating. Later, both dealers arrived at the disputed street-corner. Cranked up from a fresh bump of blue sky, Jesse left his car in an alley and began walking toward their car, armed with a pistol and bracing for a showdown. Both dealers stepped out of their vehicle and stood expressionless, fingering their weapons as Jesse stepped to them.
Walt driving his Pontiac Aztek into the dealers. ("Half Measures")
Just as they moved to draw their guns, a Pontiac Aztek driven by Walt, barreled out of nowhere and ran down both dealers. One of them was killed instantly, having been crushed underneath the car. The other was severely injured after being thrown over the car and landing on the pavement. Walt jumped out of the car and ran over to the survivor, who was reaching for his fallen pistol, but Walt beat him to it and immediately executed him with a single bullet to the head. Looking at Jesse, who was in shock, he ordered him to "Run." ("Half Measures")
Season 5[]
The Rival Dealers are scarcely mentioned after their deaths, but it is revealed later that Walter, while having his Aztek fixed, told the mechanic that the "gunk" lodged underneath the car was from hitting a deer, even though it was actually from the bald dealer. ("Fifty-One")
When Walter is going to Tohajiilee to prevent Jesse from burning his money, he mentions that he committed murders to save Jesse as well as himself, mentioning the rival dealers. ("To'hajiilee")
Deaths[]
Murders committed by the Rival Dealers[]
- TomƔs Cantillo: Shot to death after Gustavo Fring ordered the dealers to stop using children in their operation ("Half Measures").
Murders connected to the Rival Dealers[]
- Combo: Shot by TomƔs Cantillo on the orders of the dealers for selling methamphetamine on their territory ("Mandala").
Quotes about the dealers[]
- "Those men outside are my trusted employees, and when I learned what you intended to do... If it wasn't for this man and the respect I have for him, I would be dealing with this in a very different way."
- ―Gus to Jesse over his plan to murder his two dealers.
Appearances[]
Breaking Bad[]
| Episodes | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | |||||||||||||
| Season 2 | ✔ | ||||||||||||
| Season 3 | ✔ | ✔ | |||||||||||
| Season 4 | |||||||||||||
| Season 5A | |||||||||||||
| Season 5B |
Trivia[]
- Neither of the "Rival Dealers" is ever addressed by a name. They also never speak a word of dialogue.
- Their car is a 1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Interestingly, it is a rare 'Aerocoupe' model, as seen with the rear window, of which 6,052 were made.
- The dealers may somewhat mirror the Cousins in their characters and demeanor, though the Cousins are undoubtedly a far more threatening, professional, and dangerous presence than them.
Production[]
- The filming location used for the Rival Dealers' corner was 2nd St SW & Hazeldine Ave SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102.