Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Better Call SaulBetter Call Saul is known for its attention to detail, and season 6, episode 12, "Waterworks" is just another example, with Gene's robbery victim having a surprising connection to Breaking Bad's Walter White. The episode follows Saul Goodman (now under the alias Gene Takovic) as he scams an unnamed wealthy man with cancer, with Gene breaking into his house in order to photograph financial records. While this is an incredibly tense scene on its own, keen-eyed viewers may notice a subtle parallel between Better Call Saul's cancer patient and Breaking Bad's Walter White.
The latter part of Better Call Saul season 6 focuses on the post-Breaking Bad Gene timeline, following Saul's new life as Gene Takovic, Nebraskan Cinnabon manager. Although he appears to be a new person, Gene is still a con artist at heart, as he forms a new crew to help him with a new scam, this time knocking out wealthy single men and stealing their information. Although several operations run smoothly, one of Gene's men back out of stealing from a cancer patient, causing Gene to enter the home himself. While Gene pulls it off, getting all the info he needs, one shot hints that this Better Call Saul scene has some thematic secrets to unfold.
While taking photos of financial records, a paper can be seen that lists the value of the cancer patient's financial portfolio, being $737,612.62. While this is a seemingly random number, it actually contains a surprising Breaking Bad connection: it's the same amount of money Walter White wants to leave his family. Early in Breaking Bad, Walt estimates that $737 thousand is the amount he needs to collect while making meth. This parallel is subtle, but not the only Walter White connection, with Gene even being reminded of Walt when finding out the man he's scamming has cancer. However, these parallels between Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad seem to be more than just mere references.
What Better Call Saul Connecting Gene's Story To Walter White Really Means
Walter White was a destructive force, one that Saul fell for, ruining his life in the process. When Saul is first introduced in Breaking Bad, he seems to be driven by money, believing that he is exploiting a dying cancer patient (Walt) in order to pad his pockets. Unbeknownst to Saul, though, this endeavor brings about his downfall. It seems like Saul hasn't learned his lesson, though, as Gene breaking into the cancer victim's house proves that he is still willing to exploit vulnerable people for money. Once again, though, the series of events resulting from this scam seem likely to result in tragedy for Gene, as the mother of one of his partners has found out that Gene is actually Saul Goodman.
Better Call Saul uses the similarities between the cancer patient and Walter White in order to make a point about Saul's life, showing that something about him will never allow him to leave his life of crime. This cancer patient is undoubtedly a better man than Walt, but the financial state and illness that both these men share make a connection between the two that is noticed by both Gene and the audience. Better Call Saul's Walter White and cancer patient connections are just another way to bring exciting scenes and important themes together.
Better Call Saul continues Monday on AMC