Todd Alquist

Last updated

Todd Alquist
Breaking Bad character
Todd Alquist BB.png
Jesse Plemons as Todd Alquist
First appearance
Last appearance
Created by Vince Gilligan
Portrayed by Jesse Plemons
In-universe information
Full nameTodd Alquist
Occupation
Relatives
NationalityAmerican
Date of death September 7, 2010 [1]
Cause of DeathStrangled by Jesse Pinkman

Todd Alquist is a fictional character in the American crime drama television series Breaking Bad . He is portrayed by the American actor Jesse Plemons.

Contents

Introduced in Breaking Bad season 5 as a polite and soft-spoken sociopath, Todd is a pest exterminator for Vamonos Pest Control, which is used by Walter White, Jesse Pinkman, and Mike Ehrmantraut to discretely produce methamphetamine. Todd later joins the trio as he helps rob a train of methylamine, during which he kills a young boy, causing Jesse to leave the business. Todd then becomes Walter's assistant while cooking, eventually becoming a leading producer of meth for Lydia Rodarte-Quayle, whom he has a romantic interest in, after Walter's retirement. Todd commits increasingly violent acts while maintaining a calm demeanour, including holding Jesse Pinkman in captivity and torturing him, and killing his ex-girlfriend when he attempts to escape.

Todd's character garnered praise, being named on several lists for best television villains. He has also been subject to analysis due to his lack of remorse and sociopathic tendencies, and him being a narrative mirror to several characters in the show.

Creation and characterization

Todd is portrayed by American actor Jesse Plemons. [2] : 67  He is depicted as a polite and soft-spoken criminal who is a part of his uncle Jack Welker's white supremacist gang. [3] [4] : 145  Todd has often been described as a sociopath, [a] including by Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan. [10] Plemons described his character as an "ambush predator". [11] Gilligan expressed regret for not featuring Todd more in the main series, which later motivated him to create a sequel, El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie . Gilligan also described Todd as "the most weirdly likeable sociopath" that he has ever seen. [10]

Fictional character biography

Season 5

Todd is the nephew of Jack Welker, a member of the Aryan Brotherhood. [12] : 90  Todd is introduced as an employee of Vamonos Pest, a pest control company used by Walter White, Jesse Pinkman, and Mike Ehrmantraut as cover for their new methamphetamine production operation. Todd demonstrates initiative and discretion, quickly earning Walter's approval. He assists in setting up the equipment during cooks and follows orders without question. [13]

When Lydia Rodarte-Quayle informs the group that their methylamine supply is being tracked, she suggests hijacking a freight train carrying the chemical. Todd participates in the heist alongside Walter, Jesse, and Mike. Although the operation is successful, Todd shoots and kills a young boy, Drew Sharp, who witnesses the heist. [14] Jesse is horrified, while Todd is indifferent. Mike and Jesse decide to leave the business, [15] but Walter continues, keeping Todd on as his assistant. Todd begins to learn how to cook meth under Walter's guidance. Although he is unable to match Walter's product quality, he manages a respectable purity level. [16] Todd introduces Walter to his uncle, Jack Welker. Jack and his men murder ten imprisoned associates of Mike in a coordinated attack to protect Walter from investigation. Todd and Walter work together for several months. [17] After Walter retires, Todd works for meth distributer Declan, however, is soon fired. Lydia meets with Declan, requesting either a raise in the quality of the meth or the rehiring of Todd, both of which Declan refuses. On Lydia's orders, Jack Welker and his gang, including Todd, shoot Declan and his crew dead and steal their lab equipment. [18]

Todd continues cooking meth under the gang's supervision. Lydia hires the gang to maintain production for her distribution network, but Todd struggles to maintain the blue color meth that she wants. [19] When Jesse is captured after the gang murder Hank Schrader and Steve Gomez, Todd suggests keeping Jesse alive to improve the meth quality, despite Walter's request to kill him. Jesse is then held in captivity and forced to cook under threat. [20] Todd develops an unsettling interest in Lydia and attempts to impress her with his professionalism and loyalty. He remains polite and soft-spoken while participating in increasingly violent acts, including the execution of Andrea Cantillo, Jesse's ex-girlfriend, as punishment for Jesse's attempted escape. Todd tortures Jesse while he is held in captivity. [21] Todd is ultimately killed by Jesse during a confrontation at Jack's compound, where Jesse strangles him with a chain. Todd's death marks the end of the white supremacist gang's operation and Jesse's captivity. [22]

El Camino

Plemons reprises his role as Todd in the sequel film El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie in flashback scenes taking place during Jesse's captivity. [23] [b] In the flashback scenes, Todd takes Jesse out of his cage under the pretense of helping with chores. He drives Jesse to his apartment, where he calmly reveals that he has strangled his cleaning lady for discovering hidden money. Todd forces Jesse to help dispose of the body. While they are in the Painted Desert burying the body, Jesse retrieves Todd's gun he left in the car. Todd calmly coerces Jesse to drop the gun, which he does. In the present, Jesse returns to Todd's apartment to retrieve the money Todd hid.

Reception

Critical response

Todd's characterization received widespread critical acclaim. He has been described as one of the most evil characters on television and on Breaking Bad by Rolling Stone [11] and Vulture . [25] Todd was named the best television villain of 2013 by IGN. [26] [27] Entertainment Weekly called Todd the most dangerous villain in Breaking Bad due to his recklessness. [28]

Analysis

Vulture noted that Todd served as a narrative mirror to several characters in the series, including Mike Ehrmantraut, Jesse Pinkman, Walter, and Skyler White due to his reflection of their mannerisms. His fixation on Lydia Rodarte-Quayle, marked by a scene where he lingers over a mug stained with her lipstick, was cited by the website as a rare moment of overt sensuality in a show otherwise known for a desexualized tone. [29] The Atlantic highlighted the fact that Todd kept Drew Sharp's spider after the murder, interpreting it as a symbolic act reminiscent of a killer preserving a trophy. [30] In an interview with Rolling Stone , Jesse Plemons stated that Todd was "really pragmatic" and someone who "likes having jobs to do, likes tasks." Plemons explained that Todd viewed the train heist as "something that was really exciting, something he could really put his energy into," and that killing the young witness was, in Todd's mind, a necessary act to preserve the success of the mission. [31]

Notes

  1. ↑ Attributed to several sources. [5] : 179  [6] : 169  [7] [8] [9] [1]
  2. ↑ After the events of "Granite State". [24]

References

  1. 1 2 Owen, Rob (June 15, 2020). "Bolt From the Blue Brought 'Breaking Bad's' 'Creepy Todd' Back From the Dead". Variety . Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  2. ↑ Bell, Erin; Edelson, Cheryl D.; Gray, Will; Paproth, Matthew (2019). The Interior Landscapes of Breaking Bad. Lanham: Lexington Books. ISBN   978-1-4985-9789-0.
  3. ↑ Brennan, Matt (October 14, 2019). "Being one of TV's best character actors suits Jesse Plemons just fine" . Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on October 14, 2019. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  4. ↑ Mahon, James Edwin; Mahon, Joseph (2017). "Recovering Lost Moral Ground: Can Walt Make Amends?". Philosophy and Breaking Bad. Cham: Springer International Publishing. p. 143–160. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-40343-4_10. ISBN   978-3-319-40342-7 . Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  5. ↑ Bentham, Abby (January 1, 2017). "Art or Science? Formulating Empathy in Vince Gilligan's Breaking Bad". Exploring Empathy. Brill. p. 161–191. doi:10.1163/9789004360846_010. ISBN   978-90-04-35074-8 . Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  6. ↑ Theology and Breaking Bad. The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group. 2022. doi:10.5040/9781978718692.ch-010. ISBN   978-1-9787-1869-2 . Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  7. ↑ Quah, Nicholas (April 23, 2024). "Jesse Plemons's All-American Horror The actor's Civil War role exploits a talent he has honed for years: being the most terrifying presence onscreen" . Vulture . Archived from the original on April 23, 2024. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  8. ↑ Wigler, Josh (October 15, 2019). "'Breaking Bad' Star on Secret 'El Camino' Role: "It Just Felt Classic"". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on December 2, 2024. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  9. ↑ Watkins, Gwynne (September 17, 2013). "A Psychiatrist Analyzes Breaking Bad's Outraged Walt Jr. and Others" . Vulture . Archived from the original on September 20, 2013. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  10. 1 2 Lee, Jess (October 16, 2019). "Breaking Bad creator explains why this returning character prominently featured in El Camino". Digital Spy . Archived from the original on March 10, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  11. 1 2 Tannenbaum, Rob (September 19, 2013). "Todd from 'Breaking Bad': I'm an Ambush Predator" . Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on August 15, 2022. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  12. ↑ Brown, Paula (2017). "The American Western Mythology of 'Breaking Bad'". Studies in Popular Culture. 40 (1). Popular Culture Association in the South: 78–101. ISSN   0888-5753. JSTOR   44779944.
  13. ↑ Adam Bernstein (dir), Peter Gould (wrt) (July 29, 2012). "Hazard Pay". Breaking Bad. Season 5. Episode 3. AMC.
  14. ↑ George Mastras (dir, wrt) (August 12, 2012). "Dead Freight". Breaking Bad. Season 5. Episode 5. AMC.
  15. ↑ Colin Bucksey (dir), Gennifer Hutchison (wrt) (August 19, 2012). "Buyout". Breaking Bad. Season 5. Episode 6. AMC.
  16. ↑ Thomas Schnauz (dir, wrt) (August 26, 2012). "Say My Name". Breaking Bad. Season 5. Episode 7. AMC.
  17. ↑ Michelle MacLaren (dir), Moira Walley-Beckett (wrt) (September 8, 2012). "Gliding Over All". Breaking Bad. Season 5. Episode 8. AMC.
  18. ↑ Michelle MacLaren (dir), Thomas Schnauz (wrt) (August 18, 2013). "Buried". Breaking Bad. Season 5. Episode 10. AMC.
  19. ↑ Michelle MacLaren (dir), George Mastras (wrt) (September 8, 2013). "To'hajiilee". Breaking Bad. Season 5. Episode 13. AMC.
  20. ↑ Rian Johnson (dir), Moira Walley-Beckett (wrt) (September 15, 2013). "Ozymandias". Breaking Bad. Season 5. Episode 14. AMC.
  21. ↑ Peter Gould (dir, wrt) (September 22, 2013). "Granite State". Breaking Bad. Season 5. Episode 15. AMC.
  22. ↑ Vince Gilligan (dir, wrt) (September 29, 2013). "Felina". Breaking Bad. Season 5. Episode 16. AMC.
  23. ↑ Lawrence, Derek (October 16, 2019). "Jesse Plemons talks his extended El Camino return, Todd's admiration for Jesse". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on April 24, 2025. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  24. ↑ Sepinwall, Alan (October 12, 2019). "'El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie' Recap: Jesse Pinkman Is Born Again" . Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on April 15, 2020. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  25. ↑ Romano, Tricia (August 16, 2012). "Jesse Plemons on Breaking Bad and That Time Landry Killed Someone on Friday Night Lights" . Vulture . Archived from the original on August 18, 2012. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  26. ↑ "Best TV Villain". IGN . January 9, 2014. Archived from the original on December 4, 2024. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  27. ↑ "Jesse Plemons". FX Networks. Archived from the original on July 24, 2025. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  28. ↑ Li, Shirley (September 17, 2013). "Forget Gus: Todd is the most dangerous villain on 'Breaking Bad'". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on February 11, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  29. ↑ Lyons, Margaret (September 11, 2013). "Todd Is a Reflection of Breaking Bad's Other Characters" . Vulture . Archived from the original on September 11, 2013. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  30. ↑ Meslow, Scott (August 20, 2012). "How 'Breaking Bad' Covers Up a Child Murder: With Ruthless Efficiency" . The Atlantic . Archived from the original on August 23, 2012. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  31. ↑ Collins, Sean T. (August 20, 2012). "Q&A: 'Breaking Bad"s Jesse Plemons on Todd's Killer Instinct" . Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on June 25, 2022. Retrieved July 25, 2025.

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