Better Call Saul came to a triumphant end, but despite that, some fans still would have liked a different outcome for Saul Goodman.
Better Call Saul’s series finale has brought the Breaking Bad universe to an end, for now, and as with any ending of a long-running and popular series, there are some who just can’t help but make a social media hashtag for the occasion. Following the conclusion of AMC’s Breaking Bad spin-off, fans immediately started a #FreeSaulGoodman tag trending on Twitter after the show’s conclusion saw the criminal lawyer’s past catching up with him as he was caught by police and sentenced to 86 years in jail in what is a definitive ending for the character.
Breaking Bad was a hard act to follow. As one of the highest-rated TV shows ever, the spin-off Better Call Saul has somehow managed to deliver almost an identical performance as it told the story of honest lawyer Jimmy McGill who finds himself on a downward spiral as he becomes the sleazy and underhanded Saul Goodman. Having been introduced in Breaking Bad when he became entangled with Walter White and Jesse Pinkman, it was fitting that the final season of Better Call Saul featured cameo appearances from Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul to create a final tie to the original series.
With Saul turning his back on his devious life and becoming honest Jimmy McGill again, his decision to confess everything about his criminal activities and face the consequences brought the series to a satisfying conclusion, but that doesn’t mean everyone wants the ending for Saul/Jimmy that they got. With claims that the severe jail sentence was “in-American” there were plenty who want to see the character’s release.
The Breaking Bad Universe Has Ended On A High For Now
While Breaking Bad seemed like a one off series with a complete story that played out in an almost flawless way, the subsequent release of El Camino, a follow-up movie featuring Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman, and Better Call Saul, have proven that there are other stories to be told, and they can be told in the same high quality way as the original series. Obviously with so many other characters appearing over the course of both series, there are still other stories that could possibly be woven from the Breaking Bad tapestry at some point.
With the story of Walt and Jesse already done, Saul now spending the rest of his life behind bars, and the creative team having managed to get away with making two excellent series and a movie, it is not surprising creator Vince Gilligan has said that he is in no rush to return to the Breaking Bad universe, and that means that this is probably the last we have seen of Bob Odenkirk’s Saul. Whether fans can change Gilligan’s mind about another spin-off series with their clear love of the rich characters of the universe coming across from the many comments on social media is yet to be seen, but if not, then the entire Breaking Bad story has been one that stands out from the crowd as a franchise that delivered on all levels.
