Ed the Vacuum Repair Man Is Quietly the Most Important 'Breaking Bad' Cameo in 'El Camino'
As if the mere existence of El Camino weren't enough of a treat for Breaking Bad fans, the long-awaited sequel movie was packed with surprise appearances from characters we know and love. Some of the familiar faces were huge, while others were more minor (what up, Junkyard Joe)—and one of the most significant of all was a character who became a huge part of the Breaking Bad universe despite having very limited screen time in the series.
The main thrust of the movie is Jesse, traumatised and on the run after his escape from captivity, trying to come up with enough money to make himself "disappear". He plans to do this by enlisting the help of a man named Ed, played by the legendary actor Robert Forster–who tragically died on Friday 11 October, the same day El Camino was released.
Forster is a hugely significant presence in the film—flashbacks aside, his scenes opposite Paul are some of the weightiest in terms of Jesse's character development. If you're somehow watching El Camino without having seen Breaking Bad (in which case, I have questions), then you were probably confused when Jesse started looking up vacuum cleaner repair stores in the phone book – or maybe you just haven't rewatched the show in a while. Either way, here's a quick refresher on Ed, who's also casually known as "The Disappearer" in BB fan circles.
Who is Ed Galbraith in Breaking Bad?
Ed is first referenced—though not by name—early in Season Four, when Walt begins to suspect that Gus Fring wants him dead. Saul tells him that as a last resort, he can enlist a "disappearer", who essentially runs an off-the-grid and highly illegal version of a witness protection program. For $125k, the disappearer will wipe you off the grid and give you a new identity in a new state. Later in the season after Gus Fring has threatened to kill Walt's entire family, a panicked Walt tries to take Saul up on the offer to hire the disappearer for them all, but realises he doesn't have enough money because Skyler gave it to Ted, of all people. (This was the scene that preceded Walt's iconic crawl space breakdown, BTW).
The disappearer doesn't get a name until the second half of season five, which is also when Jesse, Saul, and Walt all enlist his services. Jesse doesn't go through with being disappeared, but a few episodes later Saul and Walt both do. Saul becomes Gene the Cinnabon manager in Omaha, while Walt gets an even more depressing new life at an isolated cabin in New Hampshire, where the entertainment includes not one, but two DVD copies of the movie Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium.
When does Robert Forster appear in Breaking Bad?
Surprising though this is considering how iconic the character of "The Disappearer" became in the show, Forster only appeared in a single episode. Saul and Walt are both disappeared in the penultimate episode of the whole show, "Granite State", which is also when Forster shows up. After delivering Walt to his cabin of existential despair, Ed tells him not to leave the property under any circumstance, and comes back once a month to bring him supplies, newspapers and chemotherapy drugs.
What's Ed's role in El Camino?
After Jesse tracks down the correct vacuum cleaner repair store, Ed is none too thrilled to see him, since Jesse backed out on him back in Season Five. He tells Jesse that he'll have to pay double the amount in order to be disappeared, since he already owes $125k from last time. Jesse apologizes for backing out, telling Ed how much he regrets that decision—and given the absolute horror show he's been through since, you can only imagine he really, really does.
Ed doesn't seem swayed by Jesse's plight, and pretty reasonably points out that he brought this situation on himself: "From where I’m sitting, you made your own luck. As did your partner. As did your lawyer.” Ed calls the police when Jesse refuses to leave—but when Jesse flees, Ed deliberately gives the cops misleading information about what the intruder in his store looked like and which way he went. So deep down, Ed is rooting for Jesse just like the rest of us.
Once Jesse gets the requisite $250k together, Ed works his magic and gives Jesse a whole new identity as "Mr Driscoll", then delivers him to Alaska, the destination Mike once recommended he choose ("It’s the last frontier. Up there, you can be anything you want.”) Jesse gives Ed a letter for Brock, and Ed sincerely wishes Jesse luck before leaving him to start his new life.
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