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Yeah, yeah. I'm glad to see you still have your twisted sense of humor.
― Steven Gomez to Hank Schrader.[src]

Steven "Steve" Gomez (also known as Gomie) is Hank Schrader's partner at the Albuquerque DEA office, as well as his close friend. He has a wife named Blanca Gomez. He is knowledgeable about the inner workings of Mexican gangs, and does not seem to mind Hank's off-color remarks about his ethnicity. Having been Hank's right-hand man in the "Heisenberg" case since the beginning, Gomez develops leads with him on the investigations into Heisenberg, Gustavo Fring's empire, and the notorious "Blue Sky" meth, initially unaware alongside Hank that Heisenberg was Hank's own brother-in-law, Walter White.


Warning, the following may contain spoilers.
In 2004, Gomez and Hank interview Domingo Molina after Molina is arrested following the discovery of a drug house belonging to the Salamanca family. Jimmy McGill, representing Molina as Saul Goodman, convinces Hank and Gomez to allow Molina to go free in exchange for Molina becoming a confidential informant. Information provided by Molina leads to the discovery of "just shy of a million dollars" in drug money.


In 2009, Gomez was promoted to El Paso after Hank witnesses a deadly attack on the Mexican border. Afraid of going back to the deadly environment there, Hank delayed his transfer. After the Salamanca Brothers nearly kill Hank, Gomez starts performing tasks that Hank cannot perform due to his handicap. On Hank's request, Gomez inspects Gus's industrial laundry with K9 units, but finds no trace of the underground meth lab.

After Hank found out Heisenberg was his own brother-in-law, Walter White, Gomez assisted Hank with trying to bringing Walt to justice once and for all. With the help of Walt's former partner Jesse Pinkman, Gomez and Hank nearly succeeded in this task before eventually getting caught up in an intense gunfight with Jack and his gang, which ended with Gomez being killed shortly before Hank.

History[]

Background information[]

Steven Gomez was born in 1971, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He befriended Hank Schrader after he joined the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in the 1980s. At some point, he married his wife Blanca, with whom he had three children.

Better Call Saul[]

Season 5[]

Steven in The Guy For This

Steven Gomez arrives to talk to Jimmy McGill and Krazy-8.

Hank arrives to work after the arrest of Krazy-8, complaining to Gomez about Marie. Hank and Gomez question Krazy-8 who offers information on dead drops in exchange for their help with his charges before the meeting is interrupted by Saul Goodman. Hank is amused by Saul's name, recognizing the pun Saul used when choosing it. Despite Krazy-8's insistence that he doesn't need a lawyer, Saul pulls him aside and they briefly argue before Saul states that Krazy-8 wants a deal. However, Hank and Gomez prepare to leave, believing that they are just being strung along. Saul offers to have Krazy-8 give up the information in exchange for all charges being dropped once the DEA confirms it. Hank agrees and Saul adds on that he wants Krazy-8's identity as a snitch protected. After some haggling, Hank agrees to make Krazy-8 his and Gomez's person confidential informant and make it appear as if the charges were dropped due to simple lack of evidence before Krazy-8 tells them about the dead drops. Unknown to the agents, Lalo Salamanca, through Saul, purposefully set up Krazy-8 as an informant to use the DEA to disrupt Gustavo Fring's operation. ("The Guy For This")

At night, Hank and Gomez run a stakeout on one of Gus' dead drops which is located in a culvert. Hank complains about the location, causing Gomez to suggest that its moved during monsoon season. As the two men banter, they receive word that the target is approaching and Hank expresses confidence that Krazy-8's information is correct given the fact that the last two dead drops have also turned out to be real. The two agents watch and take pictures as Gus' henchman Diego retrieves the money from the dead drop before taking off, having apparently spotted the DEA agents. Correctly guessing where Diego will go, Hank is able to cut him off, forcing him to flee on foot. Hank and Gomez lose Diego, but recover the money which proves to be over $700,000 making the total recovered from the dead drops "just shy of a million dollars." Though Gomez is pleased by the result, Hank isn't as Diego got away. Hank then invites everyone who took part in the operation out for drinks. ("Namaste")

Breaking Bad[]

Season 1[]

1x03 - Hank finding Walt's meth

Steven Gomez and Hank Schrader find a sample of Walt's meth. ("...and the Bag's in the River")

Gomez is with Hank during the raid of Emilio Koyama's house, making a bet with Hank on the ethnicity of "Cap'n Cook". ("Pilot") He also tried searching Krazy-8's car, but was unable to find the small bag of meth that Hank found. ("...and the Bag's in the River")

Season 2[]

Hank finds himself frequently missing the camaraderie between him and Gomez when he begins his part-time assignment in the DEA's Tri-State Border Interdiction Task Force. ("Breakage") When Hank returns to Albuquerque after being ambushed in Mexico, he and Gomez resume their hunt for Heisenberg. The hunt culminates in a street bust that, unbeknownst to either agent, was orchestrated by Walter White's shady attorney Saul Goodman. Though Gomez is satisfied with the arrest, Hank suspects the real Heisenberg is still out there. ("Better Call Saul")

Season 3[]

Gomez38

Gomez and fellow DEA agents wait for news of Hank's recovery after being shot by The Cousins.("I See You")

Gomez is later ASAC George Merkert's alternative choice to go to El Paso, after Hank bails out due to his fears. ("I.F.T.") Because of the new upcoming position, he is the subject of mild jealousy from Hank. Nevertheless, he gives him a warm farewell party, complete with a statuette of Jesus Malveder (the patron saint of drug dealers). ("MƔs") Within the time Hank is shot and recovering in the hospital, Gomez is able to track the resurgence of blue meth throughout the Southwest, and brings the map to Hank. ("Kafkaesque")

Season 4[]

Gomezb

Gomez talks his way into inspecting Gus' laundry facility. ("End Times")

When he is past the halfway point in his healing process, Hank revisits Merkert and the newly promoted Gomez, who is now sporting a goatee and corporate attire. He initially refutes Hank's theory that Gus is a drug kingpin, but based on their friendship, agrees (albeit reluctantly) to perform a couple of minor investigations into the properties that Gus owns. He ultimately finds nothing, as he originally suspected. ("Problem Dog") He and Hank later are given the news of Gus' death, which shocks them both and at last opens up Gomez's eyes to the theory's potential validity. ("Face Off")

Season 5[]

Episode-4-lydia-hank

Steven Gomez (center), Hank (next to right), and two officers meeting with Lydia (left) at the Madrigal warehouse.

Hours after hearing the news that Hank's theory about Gus being a drug kingpin was proven to be correct, Hank and Gomez investigate the superlab and stumble upon a surveillance camera. ("Live Free or Die") When they later meet with Madrigal executives under the supervision of Merkert, Gomez is informed of APD's discovery of Fring's offshore bank accounts and takes it as a primary lead. They later fail at their attempt to interrogate Mike for his involvement with all chains of Los Pollos. ("Madrigal") Gomez helps Hank construct a map of Gus' Drug Empire before they are informed to shut the operation down since Gus has been killed. ("Fifty-One")

Walt, Jesse, Mike, and Lydia overhead Gomez tell Hank that they did not place GPS coordinates on crates inside the Madrigal Electromotive GmbH warehouse in Texas. ("Dead Freight") Gomez tails Mike Ehrmantraut and is tricked into finding a "dead drop" note that reads "fuck you." Mike sues the DEA for a restraining order which is overturned, and Gomez and Hank plan their next move. ("Buyout") Hank is reprimanded for continuing to chase the Gus case but he and Gomez decide to follow Dan Wachsberger to see if he leads them to the new source of money. Gomez greets him in a bank vault as he is paying off the jailed members of Gus' toppled meth empire. ("Say My Name") When Walt hires Jack Welker's Gang to murder the 10 men in various prisons, Gomez had to break the bad news to Hank. ("Gliding Over All")

Days later, after Hank has found out Walt's true nature, Gomez informs him that Jesse Pinkman was just caught throwing tens of thousands of dollars out of his car. ("Buried") Hank hasn't told Gomez the truth about Walt so Gomez asks Hank why two DEA agents are tailing Saul. ("Confessions") Hank brings Gomez into the fold and the two record Jesse's confession on a camcorder. The two men are astounded at how dark and twisted Walter White truely is. Gomez stresses that they need solid proof to convict Walt and Hank suggests using Jesse as bait. Gomez asks what will happen if Walt kills Jesse, and Hank replies that it will be evidence to put Walt away. Gomez helps with the sting but Jesse calls it off when he felt threatened. ("Rabid Dog")

Bb-ozymandias-5x14-gomezdead

Gomez lies dead after an intense gunfight with Jack and his gang.

Hank and Gomez meet with Jesse to plan their new steps. They end up conning Huell by pretending that Jesse has been killed and Saul has given up his men in exchange for protection against Walt. Huell tells them Walt took his money in barrels and later returned with a dirty van. After Hank fools Walt into leading them to the money, Gomez and Hank arrest Walt. Unfortunately, Walt had called Jack and his gang and they arrive (despite Walt calling them off) heavily armed and begin opening fire on the two DEA agents. ("To'hajiilee") After the shooting stops, Gomez lies dead in the dirt, dead from two shots to the chest. After Hank was killed by Jack moments later despite Walt's pleas to spare him, Gomez was buried by the gang with Hank in the middle of the Tohajiilee Indian Reservation. ("Ozymandias")

Legacy[]

Months later when Walt was tying up loose ends before going after Jack, Walt went to Skyler and gave her the lottery ticket containing the location of Hank and Gomez's bodies. Both Hank and Gomez's deaths were avenged when Walt killed Jack and all his henchmen with an automatic machine gun in his car ("Felina"). After Walt's death, Skyler exchanged the ticket for a deal with the prosecutor, indicating Steve and Hank's bodies were later recovered by the DEA and given a proper funeral and burial ("Breaking Bad"). At some point after his death, a picture of Gomez was hung in the DEA office alongside Hank's. ("El Camino")

After Saul is finally arrested, one of the crimes that he's charged with and ultimately imprisoned for is accessory after the fact to Hank and Gomez's murders. During the plea negotiations, Marie tells Saul that Gomez and his widow Blanca's three children are now fatherless because of him and she is disgusted at the idea of Saul getting a plea. ("Saul Gone")

Personality and traits[]

"Congratulations, buddy."
―Gomez to Hank about catching Walt.[src]
Cast bb 700x1000 steven-gomez-lg

Promotional image of Steven Gomez.

Gomez is shown to be a highly intelligent man who is a skilled and respected agent of the DEA and is shown to be a loyal and caring friend as seen by his partnership with Hank. Like Hank, Gomez is sarcastic and likes to joke around though he is shown to be more serious and professional at times and sometimes is even disgusted by Hank's vulgarity. Regardless Gomez loves Hank like a brother and once even expressed a desire to personally murder Leonel Salamanca in retribution for his and his brother Marco's attack on Hank that nearly killed him. He also shows concern for Hank when he was acting irrationally following his near death experience with Tuco Salamanca. Gomez is shown to despise criminals and expresses a willingness to bring them to justice at all costs and even takes pleasure in seeing them in misery as seen by his and Hank's taunting of Mike Ehrmantraut after seizing his off-shore assets.

Despite his friendship with Hank, Gomez is shown on numerous occasions to doubt Hank's claims, notably his theory of Gustavo Fring potentially being the head of one of the largest meth distribution networks in the Southwest and fell for Gus' alibi rather easily. After Hank is proven correct however, Gomez acknowledges his mistake and praises Hank for his investigative skills that clearly surpass Gomez's and he willingly aids him in investigating the remnants of Gus' operation.

After learning that Walter White is the meth kingpin and mastermind "Heisenberg" that Hank has been chasing all along, Gomez expresses a strong willingness to bring Walt to justice like Hank at all costs. He even shows concern for Walt's partner, Jesse Pinkman, when the latter is fearful of going to a meeting proposed by Walt which is in complete contrast to Hank who couldn't care less if Pinkman is killed. Gomez also appears to be tired of and frustrated by Walt's manipulation of law enforcement and openly reveals he will defy Hank and end the entire situation himself if Huell Babineaux, Saul Goodman's henchman, attempts to "lawyer up" when they try to extract information about Walt's activities. When the three are finally able to outsmart Walt and arrest him Gomez is shown to be pleased, though he allows Hank to take all the honors and credit for it.

In his final moments, Gomez displayed his brave and fearless side as seen by engaging in a shootout with Jack Welker's gang despite being outgunned and outnumbered and facing almost certain death, dying a brave man and loyal comrade to Hank.

Deaths[]

Murders connected to Steve[]

Appearances[]

Better Call Saul[]

Episodes 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Season 1
Season 2
Season 3
Season 4
Season 5
Season 6

Breaking Bad[]

Episodes 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Season 1
Season 2
Season 3
Season 4
Season 5A
Season 5B

Quotes[]

"I told you, numbnuts. This guy's OG. (...) Kept his mouth shut for 17 years in San Quentin. Stroke or no stroke, old-school gangbang Mexicans don't help feds."
―Steve Gomez describing Hector Salamanca to Hank after refusing to get information from him regarding Jesse.[src]

"Yeah, yeah. I'm glad to see you still have your twisted sense of humor."
―Gomez to Hank Schrader[src]

"Burn in hell, you piece of shit."
―Gomez after Leonel Salamanca is pronounced dead[src]

"If your guy had his meeting at KFC, you wouldnā€™t immediately assume that heā€™s sitting down with Colonel Sanders."
―Gomez about Hank's investigation on Gustavo Fring[src]

"So, do we take a run at Lydia Rodarte-Quayle? Vamonos Pest? Follow up with the Drew Sharp killing? Where do we start?"
―Gomez questioning Hank on how to catch Walt.[src]

Gomez: "I'm surprised you didn't strangle him. So, now what? Book him? I'm sure the AUSA have plenty to say on how to play him against Walt."
Hank: "Knowing what we know about how Walt deals with rats behind bars? No."
Gomez: "Yeah. Punk has to be safer with the Marshals watching his back than out here where it's open season."
―Gomez and Hank discussing Jesse[src]

Hank: "Kid's got an idea."
Gomez: "What kid? That kid? Timmy Dipshit there? The one that screwed up our sting? Oh, I'm all ears."
―Gomez to Hank after hearing about Jesse's idea to catch Walt.[src]

"I gotta tell you this up front, Hank. If this guy decides that he wants to lawyer up, I don't care if you are my boss, I'm gonna put a stop to this."
―Gomez to Hank about Huell.[src]

Hank: "Agent Gomez, shall we flip a coin for the honors?"
Gomez: "No way, man. It's all yours."
―Hank and Gomez about reading Walt his Miranda rights after catching him.[src]

"Congratulations, buddy."
―Gomez to Hank about catching Walt.[src]

"You heard the man! Put 'em down!"
―Gomez's last words after Hank tells Jack and his crew to drop their weapons.[src]


Trivia[]

  • Gomez is the only character besides Walter White and Hank Schrader to share a scene with every main character.
  • Gomez is one of three characters (along with Badger and Skinny Pete) to appear in all five seasons, despite not being a main cast member.
  • Gomez was originally supposed to die in the first season. However, the writers reworked their ideas and he remained alive until the last season.
  • Gomez drives a 1997 GMC Yukon.
  • In "MĆ”s", Gomez's cake features him holding a shotgun, which would later be the final weapon he used prior to being killed by Jack Welker's Gang in "To'hajiilee". It was also the only time he was seen in combat.
  • Gomez' actor, Steven Michael Quezada, shares the same first name as the character.
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