You probably know Poppy Liu as the chaotic, scene-stealing Kiki from Hacks. Or maybe you've seen them in The Afterparty or Dead Ringers. But if you're a hardcore fan of the Vince Gilligan universe, you might’ve done a double-take during a rewatch.
Wait. Was that Kiki?
Yes. Before the Emmy-nominated hits and the high-profile Netflix roles, Poppy Liu had a gritty, understated stint in Albuquerque. Specifically, Poppy Liu played Jo in Better Call Saul.
It wasn't a huge, "I’m going to change the course of legal history" role. It was something much more grounded and, honestly, a little heartbreaking.
Who Exactly Was Jo?
In the fifth and sixth seasons, we get a closer look at Nacho Varga’s personal life. It’s a mess. He’s living in this high-end, sterile house, trapped between his loyalty to his father and the suffocating thumb of the Salamanca family.
Part of that domestic "trap" included two women living with him: Jo (Poppy Liu) and Amber (Katerina Tannenbaum).
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Jo isn't a criminal mastermind. She isn't a lawyer. She’s portrayed as a drug user—someone Nacho is basically "keeping" in a cycle of addiction and domesticity. It’s one of those subtle Better Call Saul details that makes you realize how dark Nacho’s world really is. He isn’t just a "cool" lieutenant; he’s a guy presiding over a very sad, very quiet tragedy in his own living room.
Why Poppy Liu’s Performance Actually Mattered
You might think a role with limited dialogue wouldn't require much. You’d be wrong.
In the episode "The Guy for This," we see Jo just... existing. She’s spaced out, watching TV, playing a handheld game. Liu brings this specific, vacant energy to the role that feels incredibly real. There's no "Hollywood" version of addiction here. It’s just boredom, chemical haze, and a strange, hollowed-out kind of comfort.
The contrast is wild.
If you watch Jo in Better Call Saul and then immediately flip to Poppy Liu as Kiki in Hacks, you’ll see the range. Jo is a shadow. Kiki is a neon light. The fact that Liu could disappear into such a muted, almost invisible character speaks volumes about why their career exploded shortly after.
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The "Nacho's Girlfriends" Mystery
Fans on Reddit and Twitter have spent years debating the "throuple" dynamic in Nacho’s house. Was it a relationship? Was it a business arrangement?
Honestly, it felt like a survival tactic.
Nacho treats Jo and Amber with a weird kind of gentleness—at one point, he even tries to get them to eat something other than junk food—but the power imbalance is undeniable. When Nacho’s father, Manuel Varga, visits the house, the shift in Jo’s energy is palpable. There’s this desperate attempt to look "normal" that Poppy Liu nails with just a few nervous glances. It’s uncomfortable to watch. It’s supposed to be.
Where Can You See Jo in the Series?
If you’re looking to spot Poppy Liu in the wild, you’ll find them in a handful of episodes across Seasons 5 and 6.
- Season 5, Episode 3: "The Guy for This" – This is where we really see the domestic dynamic.
- Season 6 Appearances – As Nacho’s storyline reaches its brutal climax, the house (and its inhabitants) becomes a flashpoint for the tension between the Salamancas and Gus Fring.
From Albuquerque to Superstardom
It’s kind of poetic.
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A lot of actors use the "Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul" pipeline as a finishing school. Think about how many people started as "Thug #2" and ended up leading their own shows. While Jo didn't have a redemptive arc or a shootout, the role allowed Liu to showcase a different side of their acting toolkit—the ability to tell a story without saying a word.
Since then, Poppy Liu has become a fixture of prestige TV. They've moved from the bleak living rooms of New Mexico to the glitzy dressing rooms of Las Vegas.
What to Do Next
If you want to appreciate the full spectrum of Poppy Liu's work, here is your homework:
- Rewatch "The Guy for This" (Better Call Saul, S5E3). Watch Liu’s body language. Notice how they inhabit the space of someone who is physically present but mentally miles away.
- Binge Hacks on Max. The whiplash you’ll get seeing the same actor play the vibrant, weed-dealing, fashion-forward Kiki is the best testament to their talent.
- Check out Dead Ringers on Prime Video. Liu plays Greta, and it’s yet another example of them taking a supporting role and making it absolutely essential.
Don't just look for the big names on the call sheet. Sometimes the most interesting performances are the ones hiding in the background of a cartel lieutenant's living room.