Jesse Pinkman’s First And Final Appearances In The Breaking Bad Universe Happened In The Same Scene

Jesse Pinkman’s (Aaron Paul) first and final scenes in the Breaking Bad universe are technically the same moment, and it was the perfect end for his character. Though Walter White (Bryan Cranston) is the figurehead of Breaking Bad, his largely unwilling assistant Jesse is nearly as iconic. He was responsible for a lot of the show’s humor, as some of Jesse’s best quotes in Breaking Bad served to defuse the tension the show is known for. He was also hugely important to the Breaking Bad timeline, and he appears in quite a few places throughout it.

Jesse was one of the most recognizable and beloved characters in Breaking Bad, and as such, he got a happier sendoff than most characters. That relatively happy ending was well deserved, considering all the tragic things that happened to Jesse in Breaking Bad. Interestingly, however, Breaking Bad and its spinoffs didn’t say goodbye to Jesse in a usual way. Aaron Paul actually got to send the character off on three separate occasions, and one of them also served as Jesse’s first chronological appearance, long before Breaking Bad saw him get involved with Walter White.

Aaron Paul’s Final Jesse Pinkman Scene Is Also Jesse’s First Chronological Appearance

The last time Aaron Paul appeared as Jesse Pinkman on-screen, both in the Breaking Bad universe and in real life, was in Better Call Saul season 6, episode 12. Jesse spoke to Kim Wexler outside of Saul’s office, and since it took place prior to the events of Breaking Bad, it serves as the youngest version of Jesse ever shown. Better Call Saul season 6, episode 12 also aired on August 8, 2022, which makes it the last time Aaron Paul ever played the character. Since there are no more planned Breaking Bad spinoffs, it was also likely the last time he’ll ever take on the role.

Aaron Paul Got To Say Goodbye To Jesse Pinkman 3 Times In Breaking Bad’s Universe

Thanks to his cameo in Better Call Saul, Aaron Paul technically had three final moments as Jesse Pinkman. The first came at the end of Breaking Bad, when Jesse drove away from the Neo-Nazi compound after Walter’s shootout. Then, El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie was essentially made to be a send-off for Jesse, and Paul reprised the role. Finally, nearly three years later, Paul played Jesse for the last time in Better Call Saul. Bryan Cranston also got to say farewell to Walter White in those three projects, but all of Jesse’s goodbyes accomplished quite a bit more.

Paul’s first real-world sendoff for Jesse ended his character arc on a perfectly high note. After years of abuse, trauma, and general misery, the final image of Jesse in Breaking Bad was of him laughing as he drove away from his captors. Then, El Camino finished out that setup, and gave Jesse a chance to not just leave his troubles behind, but actually address them. Through flashbacks with Walt, Jane, and Todd, the ending of El Camino gave Jesse the fresh start he deserved. Paul’s last chance to say goodbye, however, beats out his final two farewells to be the perfect sendoff to Jesse Pinkman.

Jesse Pinkman’s “First And Final” Scene Was A Perfect Sendoff To The Character

Even though both Breaking Bad and El Camino both gave Jesse a fitting end, Better Call Saul gave him a better sendoff. Both Breaking Bad and El Camino showed where Jesse ended up after getting involved in Walt’s criminal empire, and gave him the peace he had wanted for so long. Better Call Saul, however, showed Jesse before Walt ever got to him, before he ever lost the peace he would later search for. After 14 years, Breaking Bad fans finally got to see the real Jesse, one who wasn’t burdened with trauma or anxiety-inducing situations, and it was a great last look at the character.

Aside from the sentimental value of Jesse’s last scene in Better Call Saul, the moment also put a bow on the entire saga. It’s easy to forget just how easily and often Walter and Jimmy McGill ruined others’ lives. By the end of the original show and El Camino, Jesse was broken, serious, and deeply scarred. In Better Call Saul, however, he was energetic, full of life, and friendly. It highlighted just how far Jesse fell due to Walt and Jimmy’s influence, and it highlighted one of their most overlooked crimes in Breaking Bad and its spinoffs: Jesse Pinkman’s fate.