Analysis: “Better Call Saul” Goes In The Right Direction With Its Satisfying Ending

Editor’s Note: This text contains spoilers for the latest episode of the series “Better Call Saul”, which premiered on August 15, 2022.

After six seasons approaching the foreshadowed end of Saul Goodman, “Better Call Saul” presented its final chapter facing the heightened expectations raised by its award-winning predecessor, “Breaking Bad”.

Bringing returns from “Breaking Bad” as it forged its own trajectory, the show presented a thoughtful contemplation of what transformed the protagonist character and whether there was any path to redemption.

As fast as a turtle, the long finale continued to utilize the show’s “slow and steady” strategy.

Still, the series reached a logical, if understated, conclusion that saw Jimmy/Saul (Bob Odenkirk) engage in a single noble, self-sacrificing act to reunite, however fleetingly, with his ex, Kim Wexler (Rhea Seehorn).

His fate has always served as the show’s most fundamental mystery, and the key to Jimmy’s evolution (or downfall) into the fast-talking mercenary he became.

Having been caught all over the place by all possible things, Saul began to do what he does best – namely, manipulate the system.

It was something, as Walter White (Bryan Cranston) noted in a flashback, that he was always prone to doing, which explains why he couldn’t resist returning to his ways of stealing, eventually leading to his capture.

“So you’ve always been like that,” Walt said.

Back in the element arguing on his own behalf, Saul appeared to have overcome the lawsuits once again, securing an absurdly light sentence. That’s despite another “Breaking Bad” character, Marie Schrader (Betsy Brandt), demanding justice for her complicity in the wake of the death of her husband, Hank.

The characters in “Breaking Bad” served a purpose, with Mike (Jonathan Banks) expressing thinly veiled contempt when Saul asks him about a time machine, saying he would use it to shrewdly invest and become a billionaire.

“That’s it? Money?” Mike scoffed.

In the end, though, Saul found something more important, for what seemed to be more about seeing Kim again than rescuing her or rescuing her from possible prosecution.

It was a hefty price in terms of the years added to his sentence, but all in all, it was worth it for him, for regaining at least a piece of his soul.

Written and directed by Peter Gould (who created the show with Vince Gilligan), “Saul” obviously couldn’t provide the same pyrotechnic ending that marked “Breaking Bad,” but it proved satisfying in a way that felt faithful to the performance.

Notably, “Better Call Saul” has never won an Emmy in any category until the current season.

In addition to its outstanding nominations, this second batch of episodes – which fell outside the award eligibility window – will likely put the series, and perhaps especially Odenkirk, who survived a near-death experience to hand over the role of his life, up for grabs for next year, assuming anyone can remember that long.

With his cover blown early in the episode, Saul flaunted his priorities by trying to take his money and run.

Ultimately, though, first Kim and then Saul/Jimmy had to atone for what, in retrospect, was the show’s pivotal moment: how their shared joy in pulling off scams finally resulted, albeit inadvertently, in the death of Howard (Patrick Fabian ).

In that moment, any innocence was lost, drawing a straight line to Jimmy’s “Breaking Bad” years and his drab, colorless future.

Even so, his experience working at the Cinnabon store would come in handy, a skill he has shown to apply in his new role as a prisoner.

Because like “Breaking Bad,” “Better Call Saul” has always found ways to bridge the past, present and future, even if it was something as small as Jimmy’s talent for manipulating a different kind of dough.