In Season 5, Episode 7 of Breaking Bad, Walter White, referred to as his business associate, eliminated the composed and methodical assassin and cleaner known as Mike Ehrmantraut.
It was acknowledged by others that it shouldn’t have happened, while some felt conflicted, keeping in line with the recurring theme of people reaping the consequences of their bad actions. The death of Mike served as a major turning point in Breaking Bad and left many people in turmoil, as he was one of the key characters.
Mike, who died in Season 5 Episode 7 of Breaking Bad titled “Say My Name” which aired on August 26th, 2012, was trying to get out of his drug dealings with Walt in order to receive a final payoff of millions of dollars. It is the central theme of the episode, but it is presented in multiple parts.
Ironically, Walt, the partner of White in his business, is not killed by the authorities, despite the seemingly tightening noose around his neck. The DEA, who has been monitoring their operations, plans to capture Mike.
Who Killed Mike in Breaking Bad?
Walter White, the protagonist of Breaking Bad, is also known as Walt, the person who killed Mike in Breaking Bad. He is a high school chemistry teacher who is unmotivated and underpaid. Later, he is diagnosed with a terminal disease, which leads him to distribute and cook meth in order to build his family a fortune before he leaves.
Jesse and Walt, two students of Walt’s business, venture into the drug world together. While none of them are pleased with Walt’s involvement, Mike, on the other hand, is not happy about it either. Later on, Gus, a drug lord, ends up killing Walt. Mike discovers that Walt is working as a hitman for Gus, who is known as a renowned drug lord from Chile.
If they had solely devoted themselves to the drug business and avoided unnecessary attention, Mike believed that they wouldn’t have encountered all the problems they did. Mike strongly disliked Walt’s arrogant and proud behavior, and there was a significant lack of affection between Mike and Walt, despite their professional collaboration.
How Does Mike Die in Breaking Bad?
After being shot in the stomach, Mike dies in the seventh episode of season 5 of Breaking Bad, which leaves Walt incensed by the fact that the DEA is closing in on Mike’s associates. Walt refuses to go along with Mike’s plan to take them out and presumably can contain their demands by naming them, so he blames Walt for the predicament with words exchanges.
The acid in his body dissolves later, causing him to eventually die. Mike asks him to shut up so that he can die in peace, and tries to apologize to him. Mike follows him in hot pursuit, instantly regretting his actions. Nevertheless, Walt manages to drive away to the banks of a nearby river, where he sits by the side of the water, waiting for death. He gets out of his car and shoots himself with his own pistol, then gets back into his car and drives away.
How is Mike Still Alive in Better Call Saul?
The television series Better Call Saul, which aired from 2015 to 2022, serves as a prequel and sequel to Breaking Bad, in which the character Mike met his demise. Mike’s death occurred during Season 5, which premiered in 2012, while Breaking Bad was originally broadcasted from 2008 to 2013. After receiving immense appreciation from both viewers and critics, the creators of the show opted to produce a prequel titled Better Call Saul.
In the prequel of Bad Breaking, called Better Call Saul, we now see that Mike is still alive, where he was eventually killed before the events take place. The chain of events that made him become a shady lawyer, named Saul Goodman, is focused on one of the minor characters in Bad Breaking.
In a flashback scene in the film, Mike advises Jesse on potential destinations if he decides to exit the drug trade. His presence is confined to this specific scene since he has already passed away. Despite his demise in Breaking Bad back in 2012, Mike made an appearance in the 2019 debut of the Breaking Bad Movie, known as El Camino.
Who Plays Mike in Breaking Bad?
Jonathan Banks, the veteran Hollywood actor, was born in 1947 and hails from Washington, D.C. He studied drama in college and started laying the foundation for his Hollywood career in his late 20s. He is known for his role as Mike Ehrmantraut in Breaking Bad.
He received an Emmy nomination for outstanding supporting actor in a series drama and appeared in the show for four years. He became known for playing Frank McPike, a senior officer in a covert FBI agency, in the titled crime drama series Wiseguy. It was only in 1987, when he was 40 years old, that he had his breakthrough. However, he followed it with minor roles in TV films and several TV series.
(2019) The movie Bad Breaking A: El Camino, is not only a sequel to Better Call Saul, but also a prequel to Bad Breaking. Although he did not appear in Bad Breaking, Banks has built an impressive filmography since then and is now working in the Bad Breaking empire, showcasing his best work.