Better Call Saul
Spoiler Warning : This article contains spoilers for good Call Saul and Breaking Bad .
This article contains multiple references to mental health and suicide .
Summary
Better Call Saulcenters around the exploits of unscrupulous strip mall lawyer Saul Goodman / Jimmy McGill and how his activity lead to tragic moments in the lives of characters like Chuck McGill and Howard Hamlin . Throughout the series , audiences are reacquainted withBreaking Badcharactersas well as encounter new single . Chiefly among the new characters are Jimmy ’s older brother , Chuck McGill , and fellow attorney / opposer , Howard Hamlin . Rife with the same stage of nicety asBreaking Bad , Chuck and Hamlin share a common theme of tragedy , as their life are act upon with desperation despite their portrayals as mostly upright citizenry . to boot , Jimmy ’s presence as a spectacular source of their tragedy further binds their fates together .
On one deal , Chuck ’s relationship with Jimmy as his old brother pass water it hard for him to entirely trim Jimmy out of his life , despite the impact his criminal ways have on his genial health . to boot , Howard ’s status as Jimmy ’s Lake Superior ab initio means the two have to suffer each other in some capacity . However , as Jimmy ’s mischievous ways worsen , the outcome of his actions on those around him also worsen , thus resulting in Jimmy ’s put-on gradually creating bigger progeny for characters beyond Chuck and Howard . From the get-go moments to its last minute , viewers aretreated to the gradual character assassination of both Chuck and HowardthroughoutBetter Call Saul .
The Breaking Bad enfranchisement consists of two shows and a movie . Here ’s a breakdown of the timeline for all , including expert Call Saul and El Camino .
10Chuck’s Condition Is Psychosomatic
Chuck struggles with his mental health throughout Better Call Saul
AlthoughChuck was n’t presuppose to be a villain inBetter Call Saul , the determination to make him one of Jimmy ’s greatest violence of antagonism paid dividend , since he was adequate to of affecting Jimmy on a mystifying , worked up level . Nevertheless , Chuck ’s mistreatment of Jimmy did n’t discourage Jimmy from front after him as check throughoutBetter Call Saul ’s former moments , thus expose audience toChuck ’s acute sheath of agoraphobia , that is , Chuck ’s consideration in which he does n’t feel comfortable leaving his home , and his hypersensitivity to electronics that forces Chuck to be a very simple-minded , hermit - like lifestyle . While it endears audiences to Chuck early on , Jimmy call into question the authenticity of his consideration .
Despite Jimmy ’s impression that Chuck ’s circumstance are psychosomatic , he goes along with it because it helps keep the brother together despite their chequer chronicle . While Jimmy ’s selflessness is honorable , Chuck never really shows genuine appreciation for Jimmy ’s efforts , thus take in many of their interactions awkward . Furthermore , Chuck ’s insistence that his stipulation is legitimate further parkway a submarine between himself and other multitude as well as keep the I who want to help him away . In the season 3 sequence , " wile , " Jimmy and Huell think of a plot to bring out Chuck ’s delusions about his condition , thus lead to a full - blow nuclear meltdown in a minor courtroom in front of their family and peer .
9Howard’s Dwindling Marriage
Howard’s failing marriage is one of the many things he’s internalizing
In the season 6 episode , " Axe and Grind , " Howard Hamlin ’s wedding with his wife Cheryl is n’t in a safe plaza despite the chipper veneer Howard wears around his confrere and equal . WhileBetter Call Sauldoesn’t get into the marriage ’s finer point , itadds another layer of tragedy to Howard ’s life story , as he ’s already undergoing therapy to ameliorate himself yet is still afflicted by a embarrassment of hardships - many of which are right away related to to Jimmy and Kim . However , despite the takings in their marriage , Cheryl is seen defending Howard ’s damage reputation in the episode " Waterworks , " thus displaying that their issues were n’t groovy than her love for Howard .
8Chuck’s Pride Ruins His Relationships
Chuck’s poor relationship with his wife and Jimmy is a direct result of his bruised ego
Chuck ’s inability to bury his pridefulness and take other multitude and even undesirable situations for what they are support him back . Chuck ’s insistence on always being right in any verbal conflict and the patronise tone he speaks to people in shows his superbia ahead of time on , and his mistreatment of Jimmy and Ernesto reinforces it . However , the second time of year episode " Rebekah " exhibit audience that Chuck was once espouse to a woman named Rebecca Bois , who revalue Jimmy ’s quirk despite Chuck ’s disapproval . While it ’s unclearwhy Rebecca left Chuck , it ’s strongly impliedhis bruised self over Jimmy take in her laughhad a lot to do with it .
7Howard Enduring The Blame For Chuck Stunting His Career
Jimmy holds a grudge against Howard after Chuck’s death
Arguably one of Howard ’s most tragic tone is the fact that he ’s a solid guy despite the disconfirming luminance Jimmy paint him in . While he initially comes across as an spartan and humorless valet , it ’s later uncover that Howard maintains this facade because he think it will bring out the best in his subordinates , thus contribute positively to his firm , HHM . However , because Howard refuses to offer Jimmy an entry - floor lawyer post at the prestigious HHM as seen in the season 1 episode , RICO , Jimmy develops a lifelong hatred of the esteemed attorney . However , interview finally learn thatChuck was the one responsible for for stunt Jimmy ’s career increment .
What makes the uncover even more tragical for Howardis the fact that he start the brunt of Jimmy ’s misdirected hatred without ever revealing Chuck ’s responsibility in the matter . What ’s worse , is that even after Chuck confesses to his persona in Jimmy ’s inability to get started at HHM , Jimmy still fail out of his means to ruin Howard ’s life . Nevertheless , Howard speaks with his healer regularly and takes up boxing class as a healthier means of managing his stress . While Howard ’s death inBetter Call Saulseason 6is tragic , the lengths he went through to keep up club and decency with the people responsible for his slaying make thing much worse .
6Chuck Jealousy Over Jimmy Being Their Mother’s Favorite Child
This is arguably the reason why Chuck’s relationship with Jimmy sours
Although Chuck never outright vocalize things , his obvious green-eyed monster over Jimmy ’s achiever highlight one of the large sources of fight in the siblings ' relationship . While Jimmy ’s conning ways as Slippin ' Jimmy and his morally belly-up Saul Goodman role ’s misuse of the law are justifiable reasons for Chuck to view Jimmy in a less - than - favourable light , it does n’t apologize him going the extra mile to prevent Jimmy from redeeming himself . As revealed in " RICO , " Chuck refers to Jimmy , with a legitimate sound degree , as a"Chimp with a machine gun,“thus foreground his inability to believe Jimmy can make a convinced change .
A flashback to the time of year 3 finale , " Lantern , " render a time in which Chuck and Jimmy had a better relationship in their younker , thus highlighting the tragical nature of their kinship as adults . Jimmy ’s power to leave a significantly more positive impression on the cleaning lady in the McGill ’s spirit also contributes to the deterioration of their relationship . The season five finale , " Klick , " shows viewer that , despite Chuck arrive on time to see their female parent on her deathbed , her last words are Jimmy ’s name . This results in Chuck withholding this from Jimmy when he does come , and it serves as one of the earliest black eye to Chuck ’s self-importance .
5Howard Losing The Respect Of His Peers
Jimmy and Kim’s plan causes Howard to fall out of favor with his peers
Despite the obstruction that Jimmy and Kim put in Howard ’s lifespan , one of the last things he has going for himself is his relationship with his fellow worker and peers as seen throughout the series . From fellow attorneys and partners at HHM to the top organisation at the evenly honored Davis & Main , Howard consistently brokers pacification within the legal community and maintains a favorable family relationship with just about everyone . However , Jimmy and Kim ’s sexual urge worker setup and plant drugs in his country social club storage locker room does irreparable damage to his report , thusreducing Howard ’s bequest from a shining illustration of a attorney to an addict after his death .
4Chuck Bailed Jimmy Out Of Jail In The 90s
A flashback shows that Chuck agreed to help Jimmy if he promised to clean up his act
A flashback in the time of year 1 episode , " Nacho , " reveals that Chuck put his reputation on the line by bailing Jimmy out of clink after he defecated through the sunshine-roof of someone ’s car in the other 90s . Despite the flashback ’s humorous flavour , it underlines an underrated quality that Chuck once own , his power to believe Jimmy could change for the unspoiled . Chuck only check to bail Jimmy out after he swears he ’ll meliorate himself , and he concord to take a line in HHM ’s post room . Although things do n’t work out , this abbreviated momentmakes Chuck and Jimmy ’s relationship more tragicbecause it implies what kind of human relationship they could have had .
3Howard Was Willing To Forgive Jimmy And Kim
Despite Jimmy and Kim’s antics, Howard still saw their potential and was willing to forgive them
Howard ’s persona shines through as seen in the time of year 6 installment , " Point and Shoot , " when he offers scathing yet truthful Bible to Jimmy and Kim . After addressing the couple ’s shenanigans like cast bowling balls at his car and engage sex activity workers to seem at his business sector lunches , Howard reveals that he does n’t hold any grudges because he will overcome those issues the same manner he ’s get the best debt and the complications in his wedding . Although he meet his untimely demise shortly subsequently , Howard ’s ability to still view Kim as someone with potentialrecontextualizes him from a misinterpreted scoundrel to a tragic hero .
2Chuck’s Mental Breakdown Leads To Him Taking His Own Life
Chuck’s ending is very tragic
Chuck ’s self-destruction in the time of year three close , " Lantern , " play up two major elements inBetter Call Saul , the lengths Chuck is willing to go to to prove his point , and the impact Jimmy ’s recklessness has on near anybody he interacts with . From the beginning , Chuck consistently belittles Jimmy and pop off out of his way to prevent him from becoming a legitimate attorney , mostly because he does n’t believe Jimmy should hold such a preeminence . combine with his worsening mental health as a result of his psychosomatic family relationship with his hypersensitivity to electronics , viewers see Chuck grow increasingly more agitated in his efforts to expose Jimmy , while bit by bit spiraling out of ascendancy .
As Chuck ’s genial health exasperate , he becomes less quiet in his interactions with those around him , with one of his most prominent instance rivet around him telling Jimmy,“The accuracy is , you ’ve never mattered all that much to me,“thus service as one of thequotes that perfectly tot up Chuck . After leave Jimmy with those final give-and-take , he go through a full - blown breakdown that interpret him tear asunder his business firm before at last adjudicate to take his own life . Chuck ’s suicide is easily his most tragical moment because of the event that culminate in him make the decisiveness , and Jimmy ’s descent into Saul Goodman as a coping mechanism highlights its wallop .
1Howard’s Untimely And Unfortunate Demise
Howard became a victim of right place, wrong time
While Howard deciding to give Jimmy and Kim a patch of his mind would be perfectly fine under normal setting , it rise to be fatal for the shamed attorney since the duo is involved with unsafe members of organized criminal offense . Howard ’s demise is one ofBetter Call Saul ’s most shocking and unfortunate events , but it also acts as one of the show ’s greatest display in its common theme of the Fats Domino effect of one ’s careless activeness . Throughout the entireness ofBetter Call Saul , Jimmy conceive he can schmooze his way into and out of any situation with minimal repercussions .
However , Jimmy and Kim take thing too far when they for good damage Howard ’s reputation while also having relationships with cold - blooded killer . Lalo Salamanca ’s unexpected return on the same night Howard decide to scold Jimmy and Kim is one of the franchise ’s right place , wrong clock time moments , andhis senseless murder utterly highlight the catastrophe of Howard . Even when Howard had every chance to take serious legal action at law against the brace , he deferred to politeness , and as see in " Point and Shoot , " he was willing to resolve things peacefully . However , Bette Call Saulemphasized the unfortunate nature of its most tragical character in the most unforgettable room .
