Better Call Saul shows that Gene Takovic has kept a tape of his old Saul Goodman commercials even after the events of Breaking Bad, causing many viewers to wonder why this is. Gene is living life on the lam, and a tape of this commercial would directly connect him to the crimes he committed in Breaking Bad. However, there is actually a good reason why Gene Takovic didn’t get rid of this incriminating evidence in Better Call Saul.
Better Call Saul is a prequel to Breaking Bad, with it expanding on the story of Saul Goodman as well as several other characters. However, the series also works as a sequel to the original series, with it occasionally giving glimpses into the post-Breaking Bad timeline. As it turns out, Saul Goodman fled Albuquerque and is now living in Nebraska under a new identity as a Cinnabon manager named Gene Takovic. Although he has severed almost every connection to his past life, Gene still keeps one Better Call Saul commercial on tape, and here’s why.
Gene Kept The Commercial Tape Because He Still Needed Saul
In season 1, episode 1 of Better Call Saul, Gene can be seen in possession of an old tape containing a Saul Goodman commercial, to the surprise of many. Although Gene had every reason in the world to get rid of the commercial tape, he decided to keep it because he still needs Saul. Much like how Saul Goodman still had a piece of Jimmy McGill inside him, Saul Goodman still exists within Gene Takovic, and the tape is the last connection Gene has to his former life.
While a lot of terrible things happened throughout Saul Goodman’s life in Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad, a lot of good things happened too, things that Gene isn’t ready to get rid of. The commercial tape reminds Gene of his happy times with Kim and the rest of the friends he made throughout the two shows. However, Gene is also still holding onto the bad parts of his former lives, with Saul truly coming out during his big mall heist in season 6. Although he tries to hide it, Gene’s tape shows that he isn’t ready to let go of Saul Goodman.
Gene’s Tape Makes His Better Call Saul Ending Better
Although it’s a small detail, Gene keeping the Saul Goodman tape actually makes his Better Call Saul ending even better. Having Saul continue to hold onto his past life makes his character even richer while also better connecting the Gene Takovic timeline to the man Better Call Saul timeline. The commercial tape shows that Gene would rather risk getting caught than let go of Saul Goodman, and while this may not be a smart decision on his part, it is an incredibly interesting one.
Holding onto the Saul Goodman commercial tape also makes his choice at the end of the series even more impactful. The tape shows that Gene was never willing to give up Saul even after the events of Breaking Bad. However, Gene/Jimmy/Saul turning himself in shows that he’s finally willing to let go, with his obsession with the commercial giving this decision even more weight. The Saul Goodman commercials have played a huge role in Jimmy McGill’s life, throughout Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul.
