Ed Galbraith

Lore & Background

In "Magic Man," after Gene Takavic returns to work, Jeff, the cab driver who picked him up at the hospital, approaches him and reveals he recognizes Gene as Saul Goodman. Gene plans to flee and calls Ed Galbraith for help, but changes his mind and says he will handle the problem himself. This call to Ed Galbraith is the character's only appearance in the episode. The episode was dedicated to Robert Forster, who died in October 2019. Forster played Ed, the disappearer from Breaking Bad, reprising his role in this episode, as well as the film El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie. Showrunner Peter Gould, who had written and directed Forster's prior appearance on Breaking Bad in "Granite State," had wanted to bring Forster's character into Better Call Saul for some time but could not figure out a way to do so. As his writing team found a way to do so within the fifth-season premiere, he learned that Vince Gilligan had written in the character for El Camino. Originally, Forster's role was a vocal cameo only, given the cost of rebuilding the vacuum shop. However, with El Camino's production, producer Melissa Bernstein recognized they would be shooting the vacuum shop and that Forster would be available, and thus arranged for Gilligan to film the Better Call Saul scene concurrently, months before any other Better Call Saul fifth season scenes were to be filmed. Gilligan's production role was uncredited in the episode. In addition to dedicating the episode to Forster, Gould invited several of Forster's family and friends to the screening of the premiere.

In Their Own Story

Gene Takavic, after leaving the hospital, suspects he is being followed and spends several days away from Omaha. He returns and stakes out his apartment but resumes his normal routine after finding nothing suspicious. After Gene returns to work, Jeff, the cab driver who picked him up at the hospital approaches him and reveals he recognizes Gene as Saul Goodman. Gene plans to flee and calls Ed Galbraith for help, but changes his mind and says he will handle the problem himself.

Reader's Guide

Ed Galbraith is the disappearer who helps people vanish and start new lives. He is played by Robert Forster, who died in October 2019. The episode "Magic Man" was dedicated to him. Forster reprised his role from Breaking Bad in this episode, as well as in the film El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie. Showrunner Peter Gould had wanted to bring Forster's character into Better Call Saul for some time but could not figure out a way to do so. As his writing team found a way to do so within the fifth-season premiere, he learned that Vince Gilligan had written in the character for El Camino. Originally, Forster's role was a vocal cameo only, given the cost of rebuilding the vacuum shop. However, with El Camino's production, producer Melissa Bernstein recognized they would be shooting the vacuum shop and that Forster would be available, and thus arranged for Gilligan to film the Better Call Saul scene concurrently, months before any other Better Call Saul fifth season scenes were to be filmed. Gilligan's production role was uncredited in the episode. In addition to dedicating the episode to Forster, Gould invited several of Forster's family and friends to the screening of the premiere.

Did You Know?

• The episode "Magic Man" was dedicated to Robert Forster, who died in October 2019.
• Forster played Ed, the disappearer from Breaking Bad, reprising his role in this episode as well as in the film El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie.
• Originally, Forster's role was a vocal cameo only, given the cost of rebuilding the vacuum shop.
• Vince Gilligan filmed the Better Call Saul scene concurrently with El Camino, months before any other Better Call Saul fifth season scenes were to be filmed.
• Showrunner Peter Gould invited several of Forster's family and friends to the screening of the premiere.