Saul Goodman’s confession in Better Call Saul is doubly justified, as it was meant to free Kim Wexler and it also showed that he was accepting who he always was, James McGill.
Better Call Saul is the critically acclaimed sequel-prequel to the equally acclaimed crime thrilling drama Breaking Bad.
In August 2022, Better Call Saul concluded its sixth season with one of the most touching and full-circle final episodes, which was unanimously concurred as fitting to the story.
This is as lead character, James “Jimmy” McGill, accepted his true identity as Jimmy, after years of living his life as his alter-ego Saul Goodman.
His return to his true self happened during his confession at trial, which he did so that he could see Kim Wexler again and to free himself of the guilt of his duplicitous actions in order to accept who Kim always saw him as.
Vince Gilligan lies about Better Call Saul being the end
Better Call Saul’s co-creator and creator of the Breaking Bad universe, Vince Gilligan, said that Better Call Saul would be the last extension of the universe.
In an interview, he told Deadline, “I feel like we probably pushed it doing a spinoff to Breaking Bad [but] I could not be more happy with the results”.
It has now been confirmed that Gilligan has recently signed a deal with Apple TV+ to create another “blended, grounded genre drama…”, which will feature Rhea Seehorn, who played Kim Wexler on Saul, as the lead character in the upcoming series.
The series has already been approved for two seasons.
Better Call Saul: Why did Saul confess?
The series finale of Better Call Saul was a 13-episode season with the last episode aptly titled “Gone Saul”.
The drive that Saul felt to confess the extent of his crimes and those he did not need to confess starts when he makes a phone call to Kim Wexler where the two have a heated exchange, and Kim suggests that Saul turn himself in.
He retorts that she should do the same if she is so guilt-ridden by her past actions, like her involvement in the cover-up of Howard Hamlin’s murder. Kim follows through with confessing her involvement in the Hamlin murder and cover-up.
This happened while Saul was apprehended after six years of fleeing from the law, and initially striking a seven-year plea bargain by playing the victim card, suggesting that he was involved in Walter White’s business under duress.
Upon finding out that Kim had followed through and confessed her crimes, something changed in Saul, which led to what is now considered one of the most compelling court scenes in recent television history.
Saul represents himself and begins to confess all of his past crimes like the true extent of his involvement in Walter White’s empire, his involvement in the Howard Hamlin murder and cover-up, and his actions, which drove his brother to take his own life.
On the surface, Saul’s actions were to see Kim again. But overall, the confession was his return to James McGill by making peace with the guilt of his actions, and releasing his alter ego, Saul Goodman, as seen when he says to the judge, “My name is McGill, James McGill”.
What does Saul lie about in his confession?
In his confession, Saul Goodman lied about the fact that Kim Wexler was involved in the murder and cover-up of Howard Hamlin’s murder.
However, initially, Saul had suggested that he had more evidence on the matter, which was seemingly a ploy to pass time while they waited for Kim to arrive in court to hear his real confessional.
In doing so, he absolved Kim of any guilt, exonerating her of whatever she might have felt after she confessed and shared the truth with Hamlin’s wife.
What did Saul’s confession reveal about his brother?
In season one, Jimmy constantly sought his brother’s approval, respect, and love. But he never got it, which built the animosity that caused Jimmy to destroy his brother’s reputation as a lawyer through the malpractice issue which resulted in his brother’s suicide.
In confessing that his actions resulted in his brother’s suicide, Jimmy could finally admit his love and adoration for his brother and his aspiration to have emulated his once high-flying lawyer brother.
What did Saul’s confession get him?
Initially, Saul Goodman was meant to serve seven years through his plea bargain when he played the victim, but upon confessing all his real crimes, including some which were not even relevant to the case, James McGill was sentenced to 86 years at a maximum correctional service.
But at the end of the series finale episode, James could finally return what he wanted the most, which was to rekindle his relationship with Kim Wexler, as the two share a cigarette in a heartfelt moment mirroring their first appearance together in season one, episode one.