Unraveling the Epic Breaking Bad Universe Finales: Decoding the True Winners

Summary

In the Breaking Bad universe, the journeys of Walt, Jesse, and Saul end in stark contrast. While Walt tragically meets his demise despite his efforts to seek redemption, Jesse embarks on a new beginning in Alaska. Saul, on the other hand, takes accountability for his wrongdoings and faces a lifetime behind bars.

The outcomes for all three characters were befitting. Walt's demise was gratifying because of his unethical deeds, Jesse deserved a positive resolution following his journey of repentance, and Saul's incarceration showcased his morally ambiguous nature.

Though Walt's ending was exhilarating, the emotional conclusions for Jesse and Saul were even more impactful. Yet, Saul's culmination proved to be the most exceptional within the Breaking Bad universe, given his ethically nuanced character, adept legal strategies, and the additional layer of depth it brought to Breaking Bad's narrative.

Fifteen years after the conclusion of Breaking Bad, the debate continues on which of the show's three main characters - Walter White, Jesse Pinkman, or Saul Goodman - had the most satisfying ending. While the Breaking Bad universe boasted a diverse ensemble cast, it was Walter White and Jesse Pinkman who truly took center stage, driving the narrative forward. However, despite his relatively minor role in Breaking Bad, Saul Goodman's spin-off series, Better Call Saul, granted the cunning lawyer a larger platform than initially anticipated.

As for Jesse Pinkman, his character found closure in the film El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, which delved into his life after the events of Breaking Bad. Each of the three characters had distinctly different outcomes, leading to intense discussion regarding which ending resonated the most. Without further ado, we embark on a definitive examination of which character's conclusion can be considered the most gratifying.

Walter White, Jesse Pinkman & Saul Goodman All Had Very Different Endings

Starting with Saul, Walt, and Jesse's stories, it is valuable to examine the differences in their endings. In the concluding episode of Breaking Bad titled "Felina," we witness the culmination of Walter White's journey. Having started as a timid chemistry teacher and transforming into a prideful drug kingpin, his life unravels as he goes into hiding to evade punishment for his crimes.

Eventually, Walt returns to Albuquerque, New Mexico, with the intention of rectifying his past mistakes. He takes steps such as setting up a trust fund for his son, expressing remorse to his ex-wife Skylar by admitting his involvement in the drug trade stemmed from his ego, and liberating Jesse from captivity by eliminating his captors. As a stray bullet strikes him, Walt collapses onto the floor of a meth lab, finding peace in his final moments.

Jesse's journey reaches its conclusion in El Camino, a Netflix film that takes place immediately after Walt sets him free from Jack and Todd's compound. The movie follows Jesse as he evades the police while desperately trying to gather enough money to contact Ed Galbraith, also known as The Disappearer. By doing so, he hopes to start a fresh life far from the prying eyes of the law. Eventually, Jesse manages to secure the necessary funds and finds solace in Alaska, delivering one of the most uplifting and satisfying endings in the Breaking Bad universe.

On the other hand, Better Call Saul sheds light on the fate of Jimmy McGill, or Saul Goodman, after the events of Breaking Bad. Following the path of using The Disappearer to forge a new existence in Nebraska, Saul's identity is eventually uncovered, leading to his arrest. Skillfully utilizing his legal talents, he manages to reduce his sentence to a mere seven years. In a surprising turn of events, Saul confesses his crimes in court and acknowledges that Walter White's drug empire would not have flourished without his involvement. Taking on his birth name, Jimmy McGill, he displays remorse for his brother's death and reconciles with his ex-wife, Kim Wexler, before fully accepting responsibility for his actions. Consequently, he spends the remainder of his life behind bars.

Walt, Jesse & Saul All Got What They Deserved In The End

The three characters, Walt, Jesse, and Saul, had very different endings, but each received the consequences they deserved. Walt's transformation into Heisenberg, driven by his egotism and narcissism, led him to commit heinous acts that he admitted to enjoying. By the end of Breaking Bad, his moral compass was nearly destroyed, making his death both deserved and satisfying. Conversely, Jesse consistently strived to do the right thing, despite being coerced into terrible actions by characters like Walt. Although he, too, had done awful things, Jesse displayed remorse and was deeply affected by his actions. He was a sympathetic, relatable protagonist who deserved a happy ending, which he found in his disappearance to Alaska. Saul/Jimmy, on the other hand, occupied a more complex moral space. While he showed glimpses of goodness like Jesse, he was also entangled in Walt's criminal empire, influenced by his own troubled upbringing, which brought out a darker side in him.

As a result of this, Saul's ending showcased a complex blend of his dark and light inclinations. He managed to find solace in the wake of his brother's demise and foster a fulfilling relationship with Kim, while also acknowledging his involvement in Walt's empire and shouldering the blame. Consequently, meeting an irreversible fate akin to Walt's irredeemable path appears excessively severe, while leading a joyous existence akin to Jesse's appears excessively lenient. Thus, spending a lifetime imprisoned, yet still alive, emerges as the fitting penance Saul deserved based on his transformative journey.

Jesse & Saul Had More Emotional Endings Than Walt, But His Had More Thrills

When it comes to the emotional impact of their endings, Walt, Jesse, and Saul had vastly different experiences. While Walt's story concluded with a thrilling climax, both Jesse and Saul had more poignant and heartfelt resolutions to their individual journeys. Walt's ending involved him resorting to threats against those who had wronged him, as he sought to secure a future for his son. He then masterfully orchestrated a plan to eliminate a group of dangerous Neo-Nazis with the help of a car-mounted, automated machine gun, ultimately saving Jesse in the process. It is undeniable that this conclusion was much more exhilarating compared to the quieter, yet profoundly emotional scenes that marked the endings of Jesse and Saul's respective journeys.

Why Saul Had The Best Breaking Bad Universe Ending

Given all these factors, it can be asserted that the Breaking Bad universe ended most effectively for Saul Goodman/Jimmy McGill. While Walt's conclusion in the latter seasons of Breaking Bad was action-packed and satisfying, it lacked the emotional impact that Jesse's ending had. Jesse's conclusion, on the other hand, was heartwarming as he finally found the opportunity to lead a life of his own making, liberated from the influence of evil figures like Walt, Gus Fring, and Jack and Todd. Although both endings were impressive, Saul's culmination was on a whole different level.

As previously discussed, Saul Goodman had a more morally ambiguous character compared to Walt and Jesse. In this way, while Walt embodied darkness and Jesse represented light, Saul occupied a middle ground. This made his character both sympathetic and believably flawed, considering his history. Therefore, Saul's ending was the most compelling because it was difficult to determine what he truly deserved. The satisfying conclusion indicated exceptional writing, surpassing the more straightforward resolutions of the other two characters. Additionally, Saul's ending provided a valuable context to the overall narrative of Breaking Bad.

Saul's assertion that Walt would be insignificant without him is a revelation that hitherto eluded many. Moreover, Saul's remarkable talent for reducing a life sentence to a mere seven years exemplifies his true proficiency in legal matters. This retrospective enhancement of Breaking Bad's narrative, coupled with the contextualization of Saul/Jimmy's legal career in Better Call Saul, unequivocally validates the brilliance of this prequel concept. Collectively, these affirmations underscore the unparalleled excellence of Saul Goodman's storyline, surpassing all other conclusions within the Breaking Bad realm.