Season 3 of AMC’s Better Call Saul ended on quite the cliffhanger. However, you don’t have to wait until next season to find out the fate of Jimmy McGill’s older brother, Chuck (Michael McKean). For Chuck, the season 3 finale started off with him smugly believing that he and Howard Hamlin could “let bygones be bygones” and go back to business as usual at Hamlin, Hamlin & McGill. But he was caught completely off guard when Howard - still fuming about the lawsuit - dipped into his own personal account to buyout Chuck, severing all ties with his former friend and business partner. With a check for $3 million in his pocket and another $6 million coming to him, Chuck was predictably miserable when his departure was formerly announced to the rest of the firm. Chuck won, yet he also lost the last thing that meant something to him. His days of being a lawyer are over.
Upon hearing of the news, Jimmy rushed over to check on Chuck. Their relationship deteriorated throughout the series but reached the point of no return when Chuck coldly told his younger brother: “I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but the truth is, you’ve never mattered all that much to me.” Later, Chuck’s downward spiral reached a culmination as he tore his whole house apart trying to locate the one remaining power source. He eventually gave up and destroyed his electrical meter. Feeling sad and broken, we last saw Chuck kick a table repeatedly, causing a lantern to fall to the floor. As the camera panned out, flames began to engulf Chuck’s home - and presumably him as well.
Since viewers didn’t actually see him die, some still held hope that Chuck might make it alive. However, while celebrating his 12th Emmy nomination, Bob Odenkirk - the show’s title star - addressed Chuck’s death and McKean’s Emmy snub with Deadline today.
This past season also saw Jimmy take a big step to becoming the sleazeball attorney he was in Breaking Bad, as he finally adopted the Saul Goodman persona. Is his involvement in Chuck’s demise the thing that finally pushes Jimmy over the edge?
“It was the second-biggest blow to my joy. It seriously bummed me out. That, and my character becoming more evil. But having Chuck exit our show is a big bummer because Michael’s the best actor. He raised everyone’s game, and he’s just a joy to be around. As happy as I am about getting nominated myself, I just can’t believe Michael’s name isn’t in that list.”
Last month, AMC officially renewed Better Call Saul for a fourth season, and it will consist of ten hour-long episodes.
“I think it’s some huge cracks in the ice right now — huge, visible cracks that go real deep. As far as the whole glacier splitting in two, that’s coming very soon.”
Next: Better Call Saul Has Become Breaking Bad
Better Call Saul returns for season 4 in 2018.
Source: Deadline
