After Lalo’s uninvited intrusion into their lives, Jimmy and Kim make the wise decision to retreat to a hotel, spending most of this final episode in seclusion. Aside from Kim heading to work to wrap up some unfinished business and having an encounter with Howard Hamlin, the couple enjoys some peace and comfort.
While the Jimmy and Kim storyline in this finale is less fast-paced compared to the other events, it doesn’t lack intensity. The plan they devise during their time alone might be one of the most pivotal developments of this episode, and potentially the future of the series.
A rare moment of peace for Jimmy and Kim before everything changes (Photo: Better Call Saul Season 5/Sony Pictures Television)Kim’s brief meeting with Howard at the courthouse has him airing his grievances, sharing how Jimmy has sabotaged him throughout the season — from throwing a bowling ball through his car window to hiring prostitutes to publicly humiliate him.
Rather than reacting with shock or horror, Kim becomes irritated with Howard for speaking ill of her husband. Later, in the hotel, she begins to consider how she could join Jimmy in his vendetta against their mutual adversary.
What starts as harmless pranks — like introducing a hair-loss agent into Howard’s shampoo at the gym — quickly escalates. Kim even entertains the thought, “What if Howard does something really bad? Like committing misconduct, embezzling, or bribing witnesses?”
Before long, what began as an idea they’d never act on turns into something much darker: framing Howard for something unforgivable. Kim argues that if Howard is disgraced and forced to withdraw from the Sandpiper case, the other lawyers will feel pressured to settle quickly.
The elderly plaintiffs in the class-action suit will receive their money sooner, and Jimmy and Kim will benefit from the outcome. Jimmy, however, tries to rein in Kim’s excitement, warning her that what they’re contemplating is a far cry from their usual pranks.
This is real, potentially life-altering, and could ruin Howard’s career. The question then becomes: can Kim live with herself if they go through with it?
What Happens to Nacho?
Leading up to the season 5 finale, it appeared that Ignacio “Nacho” Varga (Michael Mando) might not make it out alive. Nacho has spent the entire season torn between his loyalties to Gus Fring and Lalo Salamanca as both men try to take each other down.
In stories like this, double agents usually don’t have a happy ending, especially ones who don’t want to side with anyone. All Nacho wants is to retire from the drug world, protect his father, and live peacefully.
“Something Unforgivable” doesn’t grant him his wish, but it does spare his life, which is more mercy than we expected for him. Nacho accompanies Lalo to Mexico to recover at the grand Salamanca family estate.
As Mike regularly points out, this could be a perfect excuse for Gus to eliminate Nacho, but Gus, always meticulous, believes there’s still value in him. Gus assembles an elite hit squad to eliminate Lalo but recognizes that it would be helpful to have someone on the inside of the compound.
Following Gus’s orders, Nacho uses a simple but effective technique to unlock a padlock and let the assassins into the compound’s courtyard before slipping away into the night. What comes next for Nacho is unclear.
Gus will certainly have questions about what happened in Mexico, and Lalo will likely wonder where he disappeared during the attack. It’s unlikely that Nacho can return to his previous life with both Lalo and Gus still out for him, but for now, he’s alive.
Lalo’s Great Escape
You might be wondering how Lalo is still alive after Gus dispatched his top assassins to kill him. The answer is simple: Lalo Salamanca is a survivor. Gus’s plan to eliminate Lalo is nearly flawless.
He went to great lengths to ensure that Lalo would be released from prison, allowing him to organize a hit without it coming back to him. He also hired the best assassins money could buy and arranged for one of his men to be inside the compound to ensure a smooth operation.
Kim’s tense confrontation with Howard sets the stage for bigger moves (Photo: Better Call Saul Season 5/Sony Pictures Television)However, Lalo is no ordinary target. The first issue arises when it becomes clear that Lalo doesn’t sleep like most people. He only needs one to two hours of sleep a night, which gives him more time to keep his guard up.
When Gus’s team starts their assault, Nacho has to improvise. Pretending to grab some tequila from the kitchen, he sets up a distraction by filling a skillet with oil. When Lalo notices smoke billowing from the kitchen, he investigates, which allows Nacho to sneak the assassins in. Then, Nacho slips away and vanishes into the night.
Despite Gus’s careful planning, he didn’t account for Lalo’s intimate knowledge of the Salamanca family’s estate. Lalo gets lucky when an assassin’s bullet misses him and hits an innocent bystander. From that point on, Lalo’s survival hinges on his resourcefulness and will to live.
Lalo manages to escape the estate through a tunnel beneath the house. While this could have been a clean getaway, Lalo’s thirst for vengeance won’t allow him to leave things as they are. He returns to the house, where he kills all but one of the assassins with a machine gun.
The lone survivor doesn’t know who hired them, but Lalo makes sure to let him know that the job was completed before disappearing into the night. Despite Gus’s meticulous preparation, the finale subverts expectations.
No major characters die, and Lalo remains alive, angrier, and more dangerous than before. With Gus, Mike, Nacho, Kim, and Jimmy all thinking that this was Lalo’s final act, the fact that he’s still out there adds an element of suspense.
As Better Call Saul prepares for its final season, the stakes have never been higher. With both Jimmy and Kim’s plans against Howard and Lalo’s vendetta against Gus still looming, the series is set to bring even more intense drama.
Don’t miss out on this emotionally charged movie streaming now on Netflix for subscribers.
