The Surprising Parallel: Jimmy McGill’s Dark Transformation in Better Call Saul

Summary

Jimmy McGill, the lead of Better Call Saul, is just as bad as Walter White from Breaking Bad, despite receiving more slack.

As Walt undergoes his transformation into Heisenberg, he becomes less relatable. On the other hand, Jimmy's intentions are usually well-intentioned, but he still reveals his dark side. This is evident as Jimmy betrays his own family, destroys Kim's life, comes close to causing harm to an elderly woman, and deceives innocent individuals. These actions demonstrate that Jimmy is just as morally compromised as Walt.

Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad chronicle the journeys of their main characters toward becoming notorious criminals. Despite the perception that Jimmy McGill receives more leniency compared to Walter White, the prequel to Breaking Bad demonstrates that Jimmy is just as morally compromised as Walt, if not more so. Initially introduced in Breaking Bad as the lawyer for Walter and Jesse, Saul is known for injecting humor into the narrative. However, Better Call Saul delves deeper into his past, revealing a more tragic and repulsive side to his character.

Walt garners less sympathy than Jimmy due to his transformation into Heisenberg, which distances him from the average viewer. Jimmy, however, generally has good intentions and takes a longer time to fully embrace his infamous alter ego, Saul Goodman. Moreover, Jimmy displays remorse for his most egregious acts in Better Call Saul, while Walt shows little regret until the very end of Breaking Bad. Nevertheless, the characters are not as dissimilar as they initially seem. Through various scenes in Better Call Saul, Jimmy proves that he is just as morally corrupt as Walt, uncovering the darker aspects of his amiable persona.

6 Jimmy Betrayed His Own Family In Better Call Saul

In one of Walt's most damning scenes in Breaking Bad, he violently attacks his wife Skyler (played by Anna Gunn), leaving her and their son Walt Jr. (played by RJ Mitte) terrified. This incident emphasizes the extent to which Walt has harmed his own family, and his subsequent kidnapping of Holly further exacerbates the situation. Walt's actions also inadvertently lead to the death of his brother-in-law Hank (played by Dean Norris) in Season 5. However, it is important to note that Walt does attempt to prevent Hank's murder and ensures that Skyler is not implicated in his criminal activities. While Walt's treatment of his family is despicable, he does not actively betray them. This cannot be said for Jimmy.

In Better Call Saul Season 3, Jimmy betrays his own brother, which ultimately results in Chuck's death (played by Michael McKean). Although Jimmy does not intentionally cause his brother's demise, his actions play a significant role in it. Chuck, despite being an unlikable character who actively works to ensure Jimmy's failure, does not deserve the humiliation and subsequent firing that Jimmy subjects him to. This dark moment in Jimmy's life paints him as worse than Walt.

5 Jimmy's Actions Got Howard Hamlin Killed

Walt bears responsibility for Hank's tragic demise in Breaking Bad season 5, whereas Jimmy also contributes to the death of a close associate in the final season of Better Call Saul. Despite Jimmy's turbulent relationship with Howard being more strained than Walt and Hank's, Howard still strives to maintain civility with Jimmy. However, Chuck obstructs any genuine assistance from Harold, prompting an act of vengeful retaliation from Jimmy. Together with Kim, they spend the first half of Better Call Saul season 6 devising a plot against their former superior. Upon successfully humiliating him, Howard pays them an unexpected visit, resulting in Harold's murder by Lalo Salamanca.

Although Jimmy and Kim both experience guilt regarding Howard's demise, Jimmy swiftly moves past these emotions compared to Kim. He suppresses his feelings and proceeds on his journey to become Saul Goodman, even choosing to align himself with the cartel again despite understanding their ruthless nature. Clearly, he does not harbor significant remorse for his involvement in Howard's premature end. Even when he finally confesses, it is mainly driven by his and Kim's own motivations rather than any genuine concern for Howard.

4 Jimmy Ruined Kim's Life At The End Of Better Call Saul

One of the most devastating actions by Walt in Breaking Bad is the absolute destruction of Jesse Pinkman's life. The repercussions are immense, as he not only causes the death of Jane Margolis (played by Krysten Ritter), which sends Jesse down a dark path, but he also manipulates and forces his former student to remain involved in the dangerous world of meth production. Walt ultimately hands Jesse over to the ruthless gang led by Jack Welker (portrayed by Michael Bowen), resulting in Jesse being held captive and subjected to torture. It becomes painfully evident that Walt is the primary reason for Jesse's suffering. Although Walt eventually frees Jesse in the end, it is too little and too late to truly repair the damage done. Jesse is left shattered and traumatized, with the lingering effects of the events in Breaking Bad destined to haunt him for years to come.

In a parallel manner, Kim Wexler's journey in Better Call Saul echoes that of Jesse's. Jimmy, through his devious schemes and scams, manages to ruin Kim's life as well. Similar to Jesse, Kim willingly becomes entangled in these activities. However, while Jimmy ultimately becomes a renowned lawyer following the fallout with Howard, Kim makes the heartbreaking decision to abandon her entire career and escape. Viewers witness Kim's potential greatness fade away, as the opportunity to fulfill her lifelong dream of being a successful lawyer slips through her fingers. Instead, her story in Better Call Saul concludes on a somber note, with her reduced to performing mundane administrative tasks for a sprinkler company rather than pursuing her true calling.

3 Jimmy Almost Killed An Old Woman

A significant reason why Walt is perceived less favorably than Jimmy is due to Walt's direct responsibility for multiple deaths throughout the series Breaking Bad, including some that were premeditated. On the other hand, Jimmy tends to avoid killing and mainly engages in non-violent crimes. Even the deaths that Jimmy unintentionally causes are not premeditated. Comparatively, Jimmy has a minimal number of casualties, while Walter deliberately kills a number of individuals who pose threats to him and his family.

However, the future timeline portrayed in Better Call Saul reveals that Jimmy is not entirely averse to killing if it serves his own interests. As he assumes the identity of Saul Goodman, he contemplates murdering Marion (played by Carol Burnett) in order to maintain her silence. However, he ultimately decides against it, which could potentially place him above Walt. Nevertheless, Walt's victims mainly consist of drug lords and their associates who posed significant dangers. When comparing Jimmy's willingness to harm an elderly woman who can only call the police, it appears more cunning by contrast.

2 Jimmy Conned A Cancer Patient

While Walt's victims typically provoke him in some manner, Jimmy engages in numerous scams targeting innocent individuals throughout the duration of Better Call Saul. His most reprehensible act occurs while he assumes the identity of Gene Takovic. Together with his cab driver companion, Jeff (Pat Healy), they deceive seemingly unsuspecting businessmen. Their scheme involves drugging these individuals, subsequently trespassing into their residences, and pilfering their credit card details.

It is revealed that one of Gene's intended victims is a cancer patient, yet he proceeds with the robbery regardless. Considering this event unfolds in the post-Breaking Bad timeline, it is probable that Gene is driven to exploit this cancer patient due to his lingering animosity towards Walter. Nevertheless, this action remains highly deplorable, even by Jimmy's standards. Unlike Walter, who refrains from preying on innocent individuals facing adversity, Jimmy adopts a habit of doing so.

1 Jimmy Enabled Walt By Agreeing To Work With Him

Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad depict Jimmy's voluntary involvement in Walter White's meth empire. In the finale of Better Call Saul, he willingly joins forces with Walt, which ultimately sets the stage for the events in Breaking Bad. In essence, all the suffering caused by Walter can be traced back to Jimmy. Unlike Walt, Jimmy acknowledges his own responsibility for the consequences of his actions, as well as those of others.

This aspect of Better Call Saul highlights its brilliance, while also asserting that Jimmy is just as morally compromised as Walt. Although he may not directly engage in drug trade or murder, he passively aids and abets Walt's illicit activities. Additionally, he assists Breaking Bad's protagonist in evading justice, thereby reinforcing that he is deserving of the fate that befalls him in the conclusion of Better Call Saul.