Breaking Bad Creator's New Spinoff Plan Makes Better Call Saul's Final Scene More Important

Creator Vince Gilligan's spinoff plans for Breaking Bad make the final scene of Better Call Saul that much more important in hindsight.

Summary

• Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan plans to leave the franchise alone for now, potentially marking the definitive end of the series.
• The final scene of Better Call Saul, in which Jimmy McGill gives Kim Wexler finger guns from behind prison gates, takes on added significance as the possible true ending of the franchise.
• Better Call Saul's finale drives home the message that the crimes and actions of both Saul Goodman and Walter White weren't worth it, emphasizing the cost of redemption after causing pain to themselves and others.

Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan has shared his thoughts about the future of the franchise, and his spinoff plans make the final scene of Better Call Saul that much more important. Breaking Bad debuted back in 2008, quickly accumulating praise from critics and general audiences alike. With Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul in the lead, the series became one of the biggest shows of the 21st century. Given its popularity, it's no surprise Breaking Bad spawned a prequel. In some ways, Better Call Saul is even better than Breaking Bad — and given Gilligan's plans for the future, its ending is also more important.

After chronicling the events that lead to Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk) becoming the infamous Saul Goodman, Better Call Saul concludes after Breaking Bad's main timeline. It sees Saul owning up to his role in Walter White's (Bryan Cranston) drug empire and going to prison for his crimes. The final scene of Better Call Saul finds Jimmy giving Kim Wexler (Rhea Seehorn) finger guns from behind the gates of his prison. With his 86-year prison sentence, Jimmy will die behind that gate. And the final, black-and-white shot of him in prison is even more significant now that Gilligan has spoken about his spinoff plans.

Better Call Saul's Final Scene Is More Significant If It's The True Ending

Although Better Call Saul brings the events of the prequel and its predecessor to a close, there's been plenty of discussion of another Breaking Bad spinoff. While series co-creator Gilligan isn't completely opposed to the idea, he doesn't currently have any plans to return to the Breaking Bad universe. During an interview with Variety, Gilligan admitted, "Maybe we’ll see our way clearer to doing something in the future. But what I’d like to do is leave it be." He went on to emphasize that he doesn't want to "beat a dead horse," especially if there aren't "further stories to tell."

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6 Breaking Bad Spinoffs That Could Happen After Better Call Saul

Better Call Saul had a definitive ending to the Breaking Bad universe, but there are still so many natural ways it can continue with other spin-offs.

If Better Call Saul truly does mark the end of Gilligan's storytelling in the Breaking Bad universe, the prequel's finale is that much more significant. With no other spinoffs to look forward to, Better Call Saul's ending marks the definitive conclusion of both shows. While Jesse Pinkman's (Aaron Paul) heartbreaking final moments on-screen give Breaking Bad a powerful ending, Saul's final finger guns drive home the message of the main show and the prequel. As such, it does seem like the most fitting place for the franchise to close.

Why Better Call Saul's Final Scene Is The Franchise's Perfect Ending (Even Without Walt)

If the Breaking Bad franchise needs a definitive ending, it can't do much better than the Better Call Saul finale. For one, Saul Goodman is arguably the reason that Breaking Bad plays out the way it does. Without the slippery lawyer, Walter White wouldn't have become the drug kingpin Heisenberg. The main series would unfold very differently without Saul's involvement, so it's fitting that its "true" ending is a shot of him behind bars.

Likewise, Better Call Saul's final moments drive home a message that applies to both series. Saul's actions ultimately land him in prison, underscoring the fact that his crimes — and Walter's — aren't really worth it when all is said and done. Both characters admit they're wrong and strive for some sort of redemption at the end of their respective series. The last scene of Better Call Saul reminds viewers that their redemption comes at a cost after all the pain they've caused themselves and others.

Source: Variety