WARNING: This post contains spoilers for Better Call Saul season 6
The events of the lawyer storyline with Howard's shocking death, many viewers assumed the rest of the show's run would follow the ongoing cartel storyline. Jimmy and Kim were caught up in the middle of Lalo and Gus' feud, and there seemed to be more than enough material in that thread to cover the remainder of the season. However, Vince Gilligan and company had another major surprise for the audience.
Better Call Saul season 6, episode 8, "Point and Shoot," features Lalo's death, effectively ending the cartel story. Since Breaking Bad exists, viewers figured Gus would win eventually, but few could have predicted it would happen this early in the season. There are still five episodes left, and the show's primary antagonist has been killed off.
Similar to Howard's death in "Plan and Execution," the decision to kill Lalo now blows the rest of the season wide open from a narrative perspective. For years, Better Call Saul has primarily been defined by its dual plots, both of which were seemingly resolved in consecutive episodes. Even though Howard and Lalo are dead, there's still plenty of ground for Better Call Saul to cover before it signs off the air.
Where Does Better Call Saul Season 6 Go After Lalo's Death?
There is a third thread that's permeated throughout Better Call Saul in the form of the Gene flashforwards, showing Jimmy's life after Breaking Bad. Gene was conspicuously absent in the first half of season 6, so at some point in the next five episodes, audiences will get reacquainted with him, and that storyline will get some sort of conclusion. Gene has been a big part of the Better Call Saul season 6, part 2 marketing campaign, as there are multiple teasers featuring the character. One of them even suggests Jimmy could reunite with Kim (whose own storyline needs to wrap up soon) in Albuquerque. In the past, any Gene appearances have been relegated to short sequences, but now with Howard and Lalo out of the picture, it's possible there's more time dedicated to the Gene plot moving forward. Perhaps even an entire episode could revolve around Gene.
Better Call Saul season 6 is also set to feature the returns of Walter White and Jesse Pinkman, with Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul playing their iconic characters one last time. When news of their involvement first broke, the popular assumption was they'd have a small cameo role, but Cranston has suggested something larger. There are three scenes - one with Jesse, one with Walt, and one with the two of them together. The context of their inclusion is unknown, but Gilligan has never been one for empty fan service. If Walt and Jesse are coming back, they have an important part to play, and it will be interesting to see what the creative team has in store. Having them appear now, after Howard and Lalo were killed off, is smart, as seeing the two onscreen again won't detract from the fascinating stories Better Call Saul carved out for itself. Both of those are finished, and the rest of the season is unpredictable.
Better Call Saul season 6, part 2 is now airing on AMC. New episodes premiere Mondays.