The following article contains spoilers for Better Call Saul season 6.
Better Call Saul returns from its mid-summer break after an exciting cutoff that saw Howard Hamlin become the latest victim of Jimmy McGill’s chaotic legal career, with actor Patrick Fabian putting in a stellar performance as a parting gift for fans. Nevertheless, the road to Jimmy becoming Saul Goodman still has many mysteries to unravel.
In a final season that already killed off Better Call Saul fan-favorite Nacho Varga, Jimmy’s partner in crime Kim Wexler continues to break bad with every passing episode. So what exactly do the masterful minds of Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould have in store to cap off one of the best shows on television? Their past creative choices speak volumes about the kind of ending fans should be preparing for, but could these two actually deliver a happy sendoff for Saul Goodman?
Lalo Salamanca
Breaking Bad left many beloved supporting characters throughout its 5 year run, however, the showrunners could have really outdone themselves in Better Call Saul, at least when it comes to villains, thanks to one Lalo Salamanca. Watching Tony Dalton play this charismatic sociopath has been a treat all this time and as Lalo’s character arc comes to an end, one can only imagine what it’ll take to bring him down.
Of course, Breaking Bad fans know that the Salamancas are an extinct breed by the time the events in the series unfold. The most likely fate for Lalo is to be gunned down by Mike Ehrmantraut, whose disdain for the likes of Lalo is well documented, yet this murderous behemoth clearly won’t go down without an epic fight — plus, this is the winning shot Gus Fring needs to reassert his power and consolidate Mike’s place in his organization as his most trustworthy ally.
Walter White & Jesse Pinkman
As if Better Call Saul needed more hype heading towards the New Mexico sunset, the show’s creators confirmed that both Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul would reprise their legendary roles for the series' final season, but how they will make this happen is what really will have fans excited. Breaking Bad references in Better Call Saul are usually more subtle, so if these two are returning then the showrunners must have really special in mind.
Since it’s been confirmed this appearance will come in the form of a cameo, it’s possible viewers could be getting some extra insight into Saul’s first encounter with the meth-making duo; either that or some instance where they come dangerously close to after Jimmy’s has gone full-on Saul Goodman. Probably something left for the series’ final moments.
Gustavo Fring
As any fan of The Boys will confirm, watching any Giancarlo Esposito performance is simply a treat, so even if Gus’ destiny is well set in stone, some extra footage of a young chicken man could come in handy. This is extra true because Esposito is the first one to advocate for a Gus Fring spinoff, meaning some extra flashbacks to his early life in Chile with Max Arcinieaga could really help setup that project.
Despite some heavy insinuations, Gus’ sexcual orientation has never been fully confirmed. The chicken man and his deceased business partner were referred to by cartel members as “The Butt Brother”, so maybe it’s time to shed a light on Gus’ all but confirmed lover.
Kim Wexler
By far the character with the most fan theories dedicated to her, Kim’s fate is of crucial importance because it pretty much defines what kind of transition awaits Jimmy going from Better Call Saul to Breaking Bad. There are basically three main outcomes for Kim: she’s killed off like everyone who’s ever gotten close to Jimmy; she goes into hiding thanks to the couple’s new key contact, Ed Galbraith (though sadly actor Robert Foster passed away); or, somehow, Kim is forced behind the scenes and ends up being the one pulling the strings behind Saul’s legal practice.
The first two are the most plausible scenarios, and Kim’s death would indeed be the harsh blow that causes Jimmy to spiral into full-on Saul Goodman, yet the fact that Breaking Bad showed so little of Saul’s life does leave the door open for Kim to remain alive. In spite of that, Kim acquiring an anonymous identity would enable a happy ending where she and Jimmy are reunited somehow in Gene Takovic’s future.
Saul Goodman & Gene Takovic
One of the most intriguing aspects about Better Call Saul has always been those brief looks at Jimmy’s dreaded future of becoming a Cinnabon employee, they come far and in between, yet lately Gilligan and Gould they’ve cemented the idea that this is a key part of the series story. Saul’s secret identity is in danger now, that’s what Better Call Saul’s latest teasers have put on the spotlight recently, so maybe it’s time for Gene to get more screen time as he looks to take matters into his own hands.
Everything that’s happened since Breaking Bad first aired should tell fans this won’t be a happy ending, perhaps a tired Saul finally turns himself in, maybe Kim gets a horrific death — the only guarantee is that Better Call Saul is bound to surprise many as one fo TVs best shows waves its final goodbye.
Better Call Saul returns on July 11, 2022.