Spoiler alert: This article contains major spoilers for season six of Better Call Saul.
Better Call Saul might have had some slow-burning episodes that left fans wondering when it would pick up, but the midseason finale ended with a bang, literally, with Lalo revealing himself to Jimmy to still be alive, then casually shooting and killing Howard simply for being in the way of a conversation he wanted to have.
It was a shocking midpoint cliffhanger that will keep fans talking while they wait for the final episodes starting back up again on July 11. Naturally, however, fans turned immediately to social sites like Reddit and Twitter to express their thoughts, theories, and intense reactions to the episode and its blood-chilling final moments.
That Look Of Terror
On Reddit, in the u/BetterCallSaul thread, Redditor Herd_Smiley praises the actors Bob Odenkirk and Rhea Seehorn for delivering a convincing performance, looking genuinely horrified not only to see that Lalo is alive but also how calmly he murders Howard right in front of their eyes.
"The sheer look of terror on Jimmy and Kim's faces said it all," they comment. "Wow. They had to make Lalo live up to a lot from that mention in Breaking Bad and how scared Jimmy was of him, and holy s---, they nailed it."
Howard's Death Will Prompt Jimmy And Kim's Separation
In the same thread, Redditor ICookTheBlueStuff reacts to Howard chilling murder by suggesting the events could serve as a catalyst to Jimmy and Kim breaking up.
"Kim can perhaps escape," they say, "but Jimmy is in it for the long run." This event could mark the beginning of an explanation for one of the biggest questions fans who watched Breaking Bad: What happens to Kim between this prequel series and its predecessor? Indeed, many theories about how Better Call Saul will end involve Kim and her future.
We Can't Wait
Like many other fans of the show who realize they have to wait until July for the final episodes of the series, Twitter @SaccaMatt shows a photo of an actor in a courtroom, leaning over to whisper to someone. The caption reads "we can't wait six weeks" and the top mention references that this describes the entire fan base of the show after the midseason finale episode.
With Jimmy now aware that Lalo is alive, and Kim seeing him in the flesh even though she already knew, the events had them both terrified. Howard's death only creates even more conflict for the pair, who will undoubtedly be left to either help Lalo or go on the run.
Sold Your Soul
In a beautifully descriptive drawing, Twitter @madssengland shows just what Jimmy and Kim are in for. In the image, the pair are dressed in suits holding a flickering candle. Both are covered in blood, looking terrified and guilty.
Meanwhile, behind them is a happily grinning Lalo, one of the most intelligent villains on Better Call Saul, looking to plan his next move. In their caption, the poster says the pair have "sold their souls" to the vicious criminal and murderer. Undoubtedly, the final episodes will focus on how both are able to get out of the mess they have created.
Sullying Howard's Name
Several posters in the official Reddit thread point out that the last memory others will have of Howard is his frantic actions during the Sandpiper meeting in the conference room, which will make him look like a bad guy. Jimmy and Kim could spin it or leave his death up to assumptions with others believing that he was a bad guy all along.
Redditor kickstandheadass writes, "He'll forever be known as a drug addict who got killed by his dealer or something along those lines when they come up with a cover story." This will leave an intense mark of guilt on both Jimmy and Kim.
Don't Mess With Lalo
In the main Better Call Saul thread on Reddit, Redditor atmowbray says the final scene gave them a "better appreciation for Lalo's total disregard for human life." While fans had seen him kills others before, typically they were people involved in the criminal underworld who got on his bad side.
In this case, Howard was an innocent party. Lalo did not have a clue who he was and didn't care. He is "ruthless and casual ... at ending life," notes the Redditor. It sheds a whole new light on the character and why Jimmy was always so absolutely terrified of Lalo, even well into Breaking Bad.
Stunned
@trudymorris on Twitter offers a subtle but powerful Tweet with an image to show how they feel after watching the final episode. It's a simple image of Jimmy sitting on a park bench, his briefcase beside him. He is looking sullen. The poster says this is how they looked while sitting on the couch after the final midseason episode.
Ironically, the image is from the scene in which Jimmy is orchestrating a photo op with a look-alike to con Howard into thinking a judge in one of his case is compromised. It was all a fun joke in his eyes, but the situation eventually led to Howard being in the wrong place at the wrong time when he went to confront them. Howard might have been a low-key villain from Better Call Saul, but he did not deserve what they did to him.
Howard Was A Good Guy
One of the underlying themed with Howard was whether he was a good guy or not. He initially came across as a bad guy, then it was revealed that he was actually in Jimmy's corner for a time and it was Chuck who was pushing back. Howard's pompous attitude and privilege made him seem like a bad guy, but he proved over and over that he was not.
In the official Reddit discussion thread, Redditor 16BitNightmare points out the one scene in the final episode when an intern drops sodas and is about to put them in the fridge. Howard at first looks like he is going to berate the young man, but then simply shows him a trick for stopping a shaken can from exploding when you open it. "He turns out to be a truly nice guy on the inside."
Howard Is The Hank
Many fans point out the parallels between Howard in Better Call Saul and Hank in Breaking Bad. Both are constant force throughout the story looking to do good. There were many times Hank almost caught Walt on Breaking Bad, just as Howard was constantly trying to stay a step ahead of Jimmy. Twitter @OrderOfShelby posts side-by-side images of Hank right before his death and Kim right before Howard's death.
Hank told Walt, "You're the smartest guy I've ever met." Similarly, Howard tells Kim she is "one of the smartest and most promising human beings I've ever known." Both those lines alone are enough to leave surviving persons in the equation riddled with guilt and to give viewers chills when they make the tragic connection.
The Cockroach
Viewers might have missed a subtle reference in the episode that signaled Lalo was on his way to find Jimmy, but astute Twitter @HastiPilates picked up on it. In one scene while Lalo is hiding out in the sewer, he stares at a cockroach scuttling by. Fans might recall that, in his first meeting with Kim, Lalo referenced Jimmy as "La Cucaracha," which translates from Spanish to "The Cockroach." The implication is that Jimmy is a low-life lawyer who will take on any job, defending criminals and cutting corners to do what needs to be done.
The Twitter points out the clever callback, calling it "top tier." It's one of the many subtle moments from the show that make re-watching the final episode worthwhile to catch things that might have been missed the first time around.