Mike's Tragic Loss: Unraveling the Heartbreaking Fate of His Son in Better Call Saul

Summary

Mike Ehrmantraut's son, Matty, was killed by corrupt cops before the events of Better Call Saul, shaping Mike into the hardened character he becomes.

Matty's storyline in Better Call Saul receives insufficient attention, which is a wasted chance to delve into Mike's past and enhance his character's complexity.

Mike regards his time as a corrupt cop as his greatest remorse, holding himself accountable for his son's tragic demise. This pivotal moment propels him toward a criminal path in Breaking Bad.

Mike Ehrmantraut's early life gained attention in Better Call Saul, unveiling further information about the fate of his son. Jonathan Banks portrays Mike, who initially appeared in Breaking Bad before becoming a crucial character in the prequel series. The tragedies from Mike's past significantly influenced his character development, leading up to his encounters with Walter White and Jesse Pinkman. Unluckily, the tormenting events in Mike's past revolved around his son, Matty. The Better Call Saul storyline not only reveals the events surrounding Matty's death but also showcases its profound impact on Mike's future.

During his debut in Breaking Bad's second season, the seasoned private investigator Mike Ehrmantraut was connected to Saul Goodman and served as a skilled hitman. It was known that Mike financially supported his daughter-in-law, Stacey, and young granddaughter, Kaylee, following his son's death. However, the true nature of the incident turned out to be even more heartbreaking. Through Mike's backstory in Breaking Bad, viewers learn about his corruption as a police officer and the circumstances that led to his son's demise.

Matty Was Killed By Corrupt Cops Before Better Call Saul

Before the events of Better Call Saul, Mike's son, Matty, made the decision to follow in his father's footsteps and join the Philadelphia Police Department. However, he quickly found himself caught in a compromising situation, being pressured to accept illicit funds. Seeking guidance, Matty turned to Mike, who expressed concern that standing up for what was right might make his son vulnerable. Unfortunately, Mike's worries were not unfounded, as Matty was later ambushed by his fellow officers who feared he might expose their corrupt activities. Though the ambush was orchestrated to appear as an unrelated incident, Mike had a strong intuition that the police officers were responsible. In his quest for justice, Mike eventually tracked down and killed those responsible for his son's murder.

With the weight of grief and revenge on his conscience, Mike decided to start anew in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he reunited with his remaining family members, Stacey and Kaylee. However, his past caught up with him when Philadelphia detectives attempted to apprehend him. Fortunately, Saul (known as Jimmy McGill at the time) came to his aid, helping him navigate the situation. The tragic loss of Matty forever changed Mike, leaving him hardened until his last days. Unable to save his son from a difficult choice, Mike felt a connection to Jesse in Breaking Bad, empathizing with another young man trapped in a no-win predicament.

Better Call Saul Could Have Used Matty More

The story behind Mike's son in the earlier seasons of Better Call Saul revealed the expectation of gaining further insight into his past with Matty, including additional flashbacks of Matty as a child. Throughout the prequel, Mike deeply carried the wound of Matty's death, which was depicted as a fresher pain compared to Breaking Bad. However, by the conclusion of Better Call Saul's sixth season in 2022, Matty had only made two appearances. Apart from the exposition flashbacks in season 1, Matty was featured once more in season 4, episode 4, titled "Talk." This particular scene showcased a younger Mike allowing Matty to leave his name in wet cement on the driveway that had just been filled. While this moment was touching, it serves as a reminder of the missed opportunities to explore Matty's story further. Nonetheless, this observation does not take away from the commendable characterization of Mike Ehrmantraut in Better Call Saul, as he has garnered unanimous acclaim in both Breaking Bad and its prequel for good reason.

However, not delving deeper into Matty's character, particularly his early days in law enforcement, feels like a missed opportunity. Providing insight into the person Matty was destined to become would have heightened the audience's perception of Mike's grief and guilt. Nevertheless, the glimpse of Matty presented in Better Call Saul still had a profound impact on Mike's development — although it fell slightly short of the show's anticipated level of impact.

Mike's Time As A Corrupt Cop Is His Biggest Regret

The unfortunate incident involving Mike's son did not automatically transform him into the ruthless criminal he later became in Breaking Bad. He openly confessed to his own corruptions as a cop, revealing a disturbing incident where he came close to executing a suspect who was already apprehended. However, what becomes evident is that amidst all the wrongs Mike has committed and the immoral acts he has participated in, the death of Matty serves as a definitive moment, solidifying the fact that his greatest remorse lies in being a corrupt law enforcement officer.

In the finale of Better Call Saul, a significant revelation occurs. Jimmy spends the entire episode asking various individuals in his life what they would do if they had a time machine. They all reflect on a turning point where their paths diverged, with Walt confessing that he would not have left Grey Matter and the potential wealth it could have brought him. However, Mike initially chooses to revisit the day Matty died, presumably with the intention of preventing it, but then changes his mind to the first day he accepted a bribe as a police officer.

Mike's descent into corruption began gradually at that moment. His adjustment in perspective regarding the time machine question demonstrates his awareness and acceptance of the role he played in his son's demise. Accepting that initial bribe marked Mike's pivotal "breaking bad" moment. In the universe of Breaking Bad, from Walt to Jimmy, numerous characters experience a similar moment that inevitably leads to the loss of what they hold dear. Yet, Mike is perhaps the only one who genuinely holds himself accountable.