At times, Better Call Saul Season 6 struggles to ever ignite the slow burn it aims for, but ultimately finds the perfect conclusion for Slippin’ Jimmy McGill
Minor Spoilers Ahead (but no real surprises)
Better Call Saul has always been a snail’s paced style of story telling with a slow burn that always seems like its building toward something spectacular.
It’s predecessor, Breaking Bad, always did. The burn was filled with purpose and anticipation. The story of Walter White was compelling episode moving the story one step closer to its ultimately tragic outcome.
However, Better Call Saul, while always incredibly acted and wonderfully shot, never quite seems to have the same payoff. The burn almost seems to serve to extend the runtime of episodes rather than purposeful storytelling.
The greatest anticipation of this final season is wondering with we will see Walter and Jesse again, as we know its coming. And, yes, we finally do. The tale of Walter White and Jesse Pinkman remains on the fringes of Better Call Saul while never asserting itself as the primary focus.
The story of “Slippin'” Jimmy McGill has been interesting with the promise of his becoming Saul Goodman to be compelling. While there have been moments (an unexpected death here and there), there have never been consequences that seem, uh, consequential.
Breaking Bad was slow paced too, but it had a uniqueness to its storytelling that built that anticipation from episode to episode and week to week. When they did the final season hiatus and split it into two parts, I was near furious, not wanting to wait that long for the final outcome.
But with Better Call Saul, the mid-season finale had me hoping I’d remember to watch the series conclusion, but I did. The last half of the season had its share of meandering too, but it is more purposeful as we get toward the series finale.
While Breaking Bad had no choice but to reach an inevitable violent ending, Better Call Saul and Jimmy McGill choose a different path. A path perfectly satisfying to all characters involved.
While the season has its weaknesses, the conclusion is perfect.
Gordon’s Grade: B+
