Every cycle has its ‘water cooler’ program. Just recently it was Game of Thrones, before that it was The Walking Dead (more or less), etc. Breaking Bad was one of those shows that everyone was talking about for a minute, and I was one of them. It was one of those shows that was brilliant at the time, although I can argue that my memory of it becomes less than flattering every year. That being said, Breaking Bad ended on such a high note that it would be hard to argue that it ended in any way that wasn’t complete.
Since then, the void of the Breaking Bad universe had been successfully filled by what I would argue a superior product with Better Call Saul. Vince Gilligan is known for spinning off his shows since the X-Files, but I think in this particular universe that Saul is more than enough for me.
Some time last year it was announced that a Breaking Bad movie had already been shot and would be premiering on Netflix. The details regarding the show were somewhat scant except that it would immediately follow Bad‘s events as the character Jesse Pinkman is on the run. I guess my curiosity factor was up, but I can’t exactly say I was excited. Realistically, Breaking Bad ended on such a cathartic note that I didn’t really see the need for it. I haven’t read any other reviews as of this writing, but my sentiments have seemed to be confirmed.
El Camino: A Breaking Bad Blahblah begins immediately after the fallout of Breaking Bad‘s conclusion. Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) is fleeing the nazi compound, racing into the dark, and overcome by fear. As the news reports are flooding the airwaves regarding the massacre, Pinkman finds his way to the only friends he has left with Skinny Pete and Badger.
I think that’s all I’ll say about the plot. Nobody reading this is going to want spoilers and realistically I don’t have much to say anyway. I would even argue that there isn’t much to spoil. This is a highly simplistic plot which feels like an unnecessary extended episode. The series ended on such a complete note, El Camino only serves to cheapen the experience. Most people would be satisfied seeing their favorite characters again, but I really do think that if you are going to follow such a season finale that you should really have a story that holds a candle to it. El Camino does not.
Not even close.
El Camino is a pointless exercise in pointlessness. This is the kind of direct-to-streaming crime potboiler that you may find on Tubi or other free streaming services. Gilligan should know better. He already has such a fine series with Better Call Saul, that I can only imagine that the paycheck overrode his senses. I don’t want to sound overly cruel, because as a crime thriller it is going to be fine for most viewers. As a follow-up to Breaking Bad, however, this is just a forgettable cash grab.
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