#FF The cast of ‘Friends’: Where are they now? by Sandy C.

With Breaking Bad’s Lydia Rodarte-Quayle appearing on Better Call Saul, we wonder what role she’ll play throughout the rest of season three and beyond.

In addition to the unveiling of Saul Goodman, the latest episode of Better Call Saul featured the debut of another major Breaking Bad character. In Off Brand, it’s revealed that Gus Fring is in the process of purchasing the industrial laundromat that is eventually converted into Walter White’s meth lab. Directly afterwards, we learn that he has a partner in this process, Lydia Rodarte-Quayle. Fans of Breaking Bad will remember her as Walter and Jesse’s main supply of methylamine during season five. Though she never appeared on-screen with Fring, she did mention having business negotiations with him.

Where does Lydia fit into the story?

Gustavo “Gus” Fring (Giancarlo Esposito) and Lydia Rodarte-Quayle (Laura Fraser) in Episode 6 Photo by Michele K. Short/Sony Pictures Television/AMC

As we mentioned above, Lydia doesn’t appear on Breaking Bad until the show’s fifth and final season. Gus Fring, on the other hand, famously dies in the season four finale. Because of this, we didn’t really anticipate her appearing on Better Call Saul. Still, here we are. Now we’re left wondering just how big a role she’ll play in Gus and Mike’s story going forward.

Here’s some quotes from and about Lydia that could help to flesh out her role on Better Call Saul:

Mike to Lydia: My friends here don’t know you like I do, so they are kindly giving you one last chance. (Breaking Bad season five, Dead Freight)

It’s implied by Mike here that he’s had prior dealings with Lydia, which isn’t surprising considering his partnership with Fring. However, Mike saying that they (Jesse and Walt) don’t know her indicates that she’s schemed in the past. Could we see a more cunning and crafty version of Lydia on Better Call Saul?

Walter and Lydia discuss the Czech Republic deal: Walter: If this is such a slam dunk, than why didn’t you pitch it to Fring? Lydia: I did, he said yes, we were in the final stages of working it out…then somebody killed him… You don’t think Gus Fring built his distribution network all by himself? (Breaking Bad season five, Gliding Over All)

This quote is the most helpful in setting up the case for an expanded role for Lydia. What she implied here is that she was instrumental in the construction of Fring’s drug empire. With that empire primarily based in Albuquerque, we could be seeing a lot more of Lydia’s work with Gus Fring in the coming episodes and seasons. In fact, it’s probably more accurate to say seasons considering this tweet from Off Brand Writer Ann Cherkis:

#BetterCallSaul 306 BTS. #LauraFraser flew all the way from Scotland to ABQ for two lines and couldn't have been nicer. #starstruckfan pic.twitter.com/n9TLYlOBVJ — Ann Cherkis (@TheRealCherkis) May 16, 2017

Though she made the trip out for only a few lines, perhaps Laura Fraser will be asked to bring Lydia Rodarte-Quayle stateside for an extended period when Better Call Saul shoots its fourth season. We sure do hope that’s the case.

Though I doubt we’ll be seeing Lydia in the next episode of Better Call Saul, tune in Monday at 10/9c on AMC to catch Expenses.