“𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙖 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙚, 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙜𝙤?”

This question pretty much sums up Better Call Saul’s finale. What would Jimmy do if he had a chance to change what he’s done? Does he regret anything? Is redemption even possible for him? Through a remarkable use of cameos and flashbacks, Gould masterfully answers this question in what’s to me, the greatest episode of all time. 

First off, We’re back in Bagman times, and we see Mike for one last time. In this scene, the question is presented for the first time: what would you do if you could travel in time? Mike says he would go to the day his son died, but quickly changes his answer to the day he took his first bribe. Mike doesn’t like the path he has taken, and if given the chance to change it, he would do it in a heartbeat. However, Jimmy’s answer is completely different from Mike’s. Jimmy says that he would go back in time, invest in a company, and become rich in the present, which is something strange to Mike because he pretends to not regret anything he has done. This answer is something that is even better explored in Jimmy’s conversation with Walt. 

When Jimmy asks the question to Walt, Walt is quickly offended by being asked about such a scientific improbability, and tells Jimmy that he’s actually talking about regrets. To answer the question, Walt obviously says that he regrets leaving Gray Matter because of all the money that he could’ve got, although he shows some remorse for what he has done to Jesse. This time, Jimmy says he would not have done a slip-and-fall that irreparably ruined his knee. Walt’s “so, you were always like this” is what makes this scene hit home. Has Jimmy always been a bad person? Again, does he truly regret anything bad he has ever done? 

Next, we meet Chuck again. In the scene with Chuck, the real answer is presented. Jimmy regrets something, and it is how his relationship with his brother was ruined. Chuck and Jimmy’s conversation ends like their conversations always do: with them arguing and disagreeing over the law and their morals. This scene being preceded by Jimmy’s confession is no coincidence. Jimmy has finally changed his path. He’s finally accepted his mistakes, and wants to pay for them. I love how the following scene shows that people will still call him Saul Goodman. It doesn’t matter how much he tries to change, he can’t escape the past and his mistakes. 

Now, it’s time to talk about the final scene. I love how it parallels the first season, and how the flame is the only thing in color. There was no need for a kiss or for everything to turn to color, the cinematography just says more than a thousand words. The flame between Jimmy and Kim has been reignited, and Better Call Saul concludes in its true spirit, as a love story.

Happy anniversary to my favorite episode of all time.

Specials

Season 1