Better Call Saul recently concluded its television run with the reveal of Saul’s fate during the series finale, as he was sentenced to 86 years at ADX Montrose.
Breaking Bad is the classic series that first premiered in 2008 with a five-season run until it concluded in 2013. To date, Breaking Bad remains one of the best television series of all time.
It was premised, “A high school chemistry teacher diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer turns to manufacturing and selling methamphetamine in order to secure his family’s future.”
Therefore, many were excited about the announcement of a sequel, which was a prequel to the events that take place in Breaking Bad.
Better Call Saul premiered in 2015 and after a six-season run, it concluded with protagonist Jimmy McGill, also known as Saul Goodman and Gene Takavic, arrested and sentenced to 86 years at the federal prison, ADX Montrose.
This all transpired after he recanted his initial statement to protect Kim Wexler.
Is Better Call Saul a prequel or sequel?
Better Call Saul is a sequel-prequel to Breaking Bad. The reason for this is that it is a sequel to Breaking Bad, as it premiered two years after the conclusion of the hit series that inspired the characters of the sequel.
However, in the same breath, it is a prequel based on the premise of the series which is, “The trials and tribulations of criminal lawyer Jimmy McGill before his fateful run-in with Walter White and Jesse Pinkman.”
Better Call Saul: ADX Montrose and Saul’s death
Better Call Saul concluded its six-season run with a total of 63 episodes on Monday, 15 August 2022, with the series finale titled “Saul Gone.”
As the episode title suggests, it provides details about the fate of Saul Goodman. This is as Breaking Bad ended with his narrative as he and Walter White received their new identities with him being Gene, who is a baker at a Cinnabon in a small-town shopping mall.
In Better Call Saul’s series finale, we learned that Jimmy was apprehended after being discovered hiding in a dumpster. This is a subtle reference and full-circle moment as each of his previous personas had a dumpster experience.
In season one, Jimmy looked for shredded evidence in the Sandpiper case, and Saul when his cut out was thrown in the dumpster in season’s six premiere episode as Jimmy loses everything. Following his apprehension, Saul was initially meant to go to a cushy prison that has a golfing program.
But at the end of the series, the character let go of his Jimmy/Gene personas and admitted to his crimes, for which he was sentenced to 86 years at the ADX Montrose maximum prison. A prison which he has initially stated he did not want to go due to its appalling conditions.
Better Call Saul ending explained
When Gene/Saul was initially apprehended, he showed the FBI and DEA that he had the upper hand if the matter was presented in front of a jury, as he would be able to raise reasonable doubt.
This is as his initial statement suggested that he was kidnapped by Walter White and Jesse Pinkman, and subsequently threatened to work for them or risk losing his life.
This statement allowed his plea bargain to be a seven-year sentence at the prison of his choice. But when he was in front of the judge, Saul changed the ending of his story by asserting that he made the choice to work for Walter White and, in turn, he reaped the rewards.
He also confessed his hand in his brother’s suicide to protect Kim and redeem his old self as when he was referred to as Mr Goodman, he asserted that he was James McGill, emphasising the title of the episode, “Saul Gone” and why he was sent to ADX.
Is ADX Montrose real?
ADX Montrose is not a real prison, but it is believed that the prison is inspired by the United States Penitentiary, Florence Administrative Maximum Facility (USP Florence ADMAX).
Opened in 1994, the prison is regarded as the most impenetrable prison in the world. As a result, the prison reportedly has the most dangerous criminals on its premises.
In total, there are an estimated 341 inmates housed at USP Florence ADMAX. While the prison may be known as USP Florence ADMAX, technically, it is more commonly referred to as The Alcatraz of the Rockies.
USP Florence ADMAX controversy
In 2012, The Alcatraz of the Rockies faced controversy. This is as the inmates are reported to be in solitary isolation for 23 hours a day and each prisoner is given five hours of recreation for a week, which means an hour each day.
There is no communication between the inmates, and they do not get to see each other as only the sky and outside is visible through the windows.
Therefore, 11 inmates filed a federal class-action suit against the Bureau of Prisons in Cunningham vs. Federal Bureau of Prisons, as seven inmates died by suicide, which was believed to be due to a misdiagnosis of mental issues by the medical professionals of the prison.