Lalo Salamanca is going to die… tonight.
But Lalo was able to fight his way to a secret tunnel underneath his bathtub.
“That’s okay,” replied Lalo.
Tony Dalton as Lalo Salamanca on ‘Better Call Saul’.Greg Lewis/AMC/Sony Pictures Television
“I do.”
What is the exact thought going through his mind?
TONY DALTON:He’s pissed, man.
Tony Dalton as Lalo and Michael Mando as Nacho on ‘Better Call Saul’.Warrick Page/AMC/Sony Pictures Television
[Laughs] They killed his cook are you kidding me?!
You don’t do that to a Mexican!
It was like, “Okay, how do we do that?”
Greg Lewis/AMC/Sony Pictures Television
And that’s what I tried to do.
The season literally ends on you, which is a pretty big deal and probably pretty cool for you.
What was your reaction to finding that out?
Yeah, that was really cool.
I was like, “No, I haven’t read it yet.”
He’s like, “Dude, you’re in ita lot.”
So I finally read it, and it was great.
On a scale of one to 10, how scared should Nacho be right now?
Oh man, I think he’s dead!
He should be really scared.
Before all this, what do you think Lalo thought of Nacho?
That dynamic was one of the most interesting elements of this season.
Was there some true affinity there?
Or was Lalo always trying to just keep him close?
He sort of trusted him, but I don’t think Lalo can have an affinity for anybody.
And when Nacho betrays him at the end, it’s time to die, bro.
Then, when Jesse (Aaron Paul) speaks English, Saul responds, Lalo didnt send you?
How much have you and Peter talked about that scene and what that means?
And do we think that we now have our answer to what that reference was?
I asked him, “What is this whole Lalo thing?
You had all this?”
That’s all, we didn’t know how far this would go."
And then here we are.
He thinks everybody is lying to him.
It’s like, “Okay, game over.
No more Mr. Nice Guy.”
How was Lalo pitched to you?
Have his prominence and importance been even more than you could have imagined?
Lalo can be so terrifying, and yet you almost can’t help but like him.
He’s like the most lovable drug cartel killer.
Did you make any choices that werent on the page that helped shape him?
All these looks and smiles you’re doing end up adding so much.
Just to begin with, the writers did a fantastic job in creating Lalo from the get-go.
It’s like, “What the f?”
You’re so right about the charisma.
I never know what they end up doing because we did a whole bunch of options.
[Laughs] Peter kept laughing, he goes, “Dude, don’t say that.”
I was like, “Why not?
He looks like fing Charles Manson.”
He’s like, “It’s just too much.”
I was like, “Okay, okay.”
That did make it in!
[Laughs] That’s funny.
I can’t wait to see how it turned out.
There were so many great Lalo scenes and moments in season 5.
Do you have a personal favorite?
And then right before I get in the car I go, “Klahhh.”
And I like that they left my little scream.
Peter was like, “What the hell is that?
What are you screaming?”
[Laughs] That’s my favorite.
We touched on it briefly, but thescene at the end of episode 9was so incredible.
Was that one where in the moment you guys realized, “Wow, we have something here”?
I knew it was a big deal.
I was like, “Oh man, this is really good stuff.”
Is he just fully on this take-no-prisoners revenge mission?
A lot of these shows, you’re like, “Oh, I know.
This guy is going to die,” or something like that.
Here, they really throw curveballs at you.
So I have no idea what to expect, but I know it will be great.
