In a recent appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul creator Vince Gilligan playfully revisited the fates of his iconic characters. When host Rich Eisen asked him what Saul Goodman would be up to today, he delivered a surprising quip that doubled as a political jab.
I think Trump pardoned him… I think he’s out, that’s what I think… kinda tracks doesn’t it?
He stated, remarking that Saul, also known as Jimmy McGill, would not be behind bars after the series finale. His statement humorously suggests that his character’s scheming charm would align perfectly with a high-profile presidential pardon.
As for what Jimmy would be doing, he added that he would have likely made a return to doing infomercials or leaning back into his talents as a fast-talking salesman.
Why Did Bob Odenkirk’s Character Get Jailed in Better Call Saul?
To better understand Vince Gilligan’s joke, it is worth revisiting why Jimmy McGill/Saul Goodman ended up in prison in the first place.
In the finale of Better Call Saul, Bob Odenkirk’s character finally confronts the consequences of his years of manipulation, fraud, and involvement with dangerous criminal enterprises. He is caught by the police after Marion turns him in.
He is extradited back to Albuquerque to face federal charges for his role in Walter White’s empire and decades of criminal activity. As Saul Goodman, Jimmy uses every trick in the book to negotiate a 7-year lenient plea deal.
However, on the way to the sentencing, he learns that Kim confessed, ultimately chooses to tell the truth in court, fully confessing to his participation in money laundering, obstruction of justice, and aiding a criminal organization.
Most importantly, he admits the truth about Howard Hamlin’s death and that he and Kim destroyed his reputation for selfish reasons.
Because of his full confession and cooperation, but also because he destroyed his plea deal, Jimmy is sentenced to 86 years in federal prison. Thus, when Gilligan jokingly said that President Trump pardoned him, the humor lies in how dramatically that would overturn Saul’s self-chosen path to redemption.
Vince Gilligan’s Pluribus Sets a New Record for Apple TV
A still from Pluribus | Credits: Apple TV
While discussing past characters, Gilligan is also making headlines for his new Apple TV+ series, Pluribus, a project that has already generated buzz for setting internal records at the streaming platform.
As Deadline reports, the series has broken the biggest global drama series launched across Apple TV in more than 100 territories, led by the US, UK, Canada, Brazil, Australia, Germany, Mexico, India, and France. The record was previously helmed by Emmy-winning Severance Season 2.
Reportedly, the series logged in 6.4 million hours with its first two episodes over the first seven days of release in the United States. This milestone underscores Gilligan’s track record in storytelling and world-building, especially after creating character-driven dramas that have now become cultural phenomena.
What are your thoughts about Gilligan’s recent remarks and Pluribus’ streaming record?
Better Call Saul is available for streaming on Netflix, while Pluribus is streaming on Apple TV.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
