Breaking Bad ended years ago, but Vince Gilligan decided that the story wasn’t over yet. Walter White died, and Brian Cranston moved on to other things, but Aaron Paul was still available and Jesse Pinkman still had some story left to tell. Now as there are undoubtedly TV fans who are still late to the party where Breaking Bad is regarded, it’s probably safe to assume there are Breaking Bad fans who have yet to see the story’s final conclusion, El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie. The movie which debuted on Netflix in 2019 definitely opened to millions of viewers on its release week, but as it stands, it’s still worth a mention here.
El Camino picks up where Felina left off, with Jesse linking up with former friends ‘Badger’ and ‘Skinny Pete’ who like true friends
As stated prior and so reiterated in the movie, Walter White has finally met his end. His story ended, and as much as viewers would love to see more of him, the general consensus is that his story couldn’t have ended any better. That, still leaves Jesse. Jesse Pinkman, who was White’s right hand man and partner, is finally released from captivity due to White’s intervention to where he then drives off in his captor’s El Camino and off into the night. El Camino picks up where Felina left off, with Jesse linking up with former friends ‘Badger’ and ‘Skinny Pete’ who like true friends, both give Jesse enough cash to vacate the area and evade the police in the hopes of getting in touch with Ed Galbraith, who can help him disappear and start a new life.
For those expecting this movie to be some sort of epic story designed to be “better” than the series, think again. This wasn’t the design, nor the intention. Its sole purpose was to give fans some much needed closure on one of the show’s most popular characters, and it absolutely does that. The movie, written and directed by show creator Vince Gilligan, serves as Jesse Pinkman’s last ride and send off. It’s beautifully shot, powerfully plotted and directed on Gilligan’s end, and Aaron Paul turns in a solid performance reminiscent of some of his best moments on Breaking Bad that fans had become so accustomed to. The use of flashback scenes were a nice touch, so as to show both Jesse’s struggles whilst in captivity and to also see some of the happier and simpler moments of Jesse’s past that serve as a reminder of how things began and of just how bad things ended up.
Still playing on Netflix, El Camino is that last little bit that gives fans one final goodbye to Jesse, and some of those shows other characters. Though some were probably expecting some surprise scenario where Walt and Jesse team back up, the movie does exactly what it’s supposed to do and it does it well, with also preserving the legacy of Breaking Bad and the integrity of Brian Cranston’s portrayal of Walter White. It can also show that even though redemption isn’t always possible, there’s always a chance for a fresh start.
