It's hard to call anyone in the Breaking Bad universe a hero, as almost every character is a criminal, but each project proved that Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) was the real hero. Jesse was introduced in the very first episode of the show and quickly partnered up with his old science teacher, Walter White (Bryan Cranston), and together they made millions. However, Jesse was a victim of circumstance more than anything, and while the Breaking Bad characters with good moral compasses are still cartel members or clean up murder scenes for druglords, Jesse was the ray of hope in the series.

Jesse came a long way given that he was originally meant to be killed off in Breaking Bad season 1. Gilligan revealed that Jesse was simply meant to be Walter's gateway into the criminal underworld and that he was going to be murdered at the end of the first season. However, not only is he one of the few survivors of Breaking Bad, be he is heavily featured in Breaking Bad's extended universe too. Paul reprised his role as Jesse in two episodes of Better Call Saul's final season, as well as El Camino, which followed the character after Breaking Bad's series finale, and every appearance proves he's the franchise's real hero.

Breaking Bad, El Camino & Better Call Saul All Confirmed Jesse Was The Real Hero

Jesse was willing to take down Walter no matter what it took, but after Walter was the reason why Jesse ended up being held captive by neo-Nazis and living in a hole, he still wasn't willing to stoop to Walt's level and murder him. After Walter kills Jack Welker, Jesse simply speeds away in El Camino. And though Jesse's cameos in Better Call Saul's final episodes are short, he's depicted as an honest kid who became involved with the wrong people, as he empathizes with both Saul and Kim. But most importantly, he's depicted in a much better light than Walter in those scenes.

While it's easy to believe El Camino was unnecessary, as it literally ends the exact same way as Breaking Bad with Jesse driving off into the sunset, the movie truly cements him as a hero and gives him the ending that he deserves. Jesse confesses to Brock in a letter about what really happened with his mother, and he no longer has to look over his shoulder. He's also looked up to by Alburquerque's low-ranking criminal network, including junkyard owner Old Joe. While his ending is left ambiguous in Breaking Bad, El Camino does what Gilligan has always pulled off so well: definitively concludes his story without any loose ends.

Breaking Bad & Its Spinoffs Were Right To Confirm Jesse As The Final Hero

Jesse might have been the self-proclaimed Cap'n Cook, but he didn't deserve two years of suffering. The character proved so many times how good-hearted he is, and he even tried hanging up the apron as early as Breaking Bad season 1, but it was Walter who forced him to continue. Though Jesse was held captive by Jack, he was ultimately held captive by Heisenberg for much longer, and in that time, he was forced to kill and even put his own life at risk. Jesse clearly regretted his mistakes, and while Walt and Saul claimed they had regrets, they never learned from them, unlike Jesse.