Very well done ending. At first, I didn't buy it, that Saul/Jimmy would take 86 years to prove to Kim that he really was a good guy. But then the story is about his redemptive arc (such as it is), so it worked. And what would he do after 7 years in the joint? No Kim, no law degree, no diamonds. In the pen, he became a folk hero. I don't think it's the greatest show ever (first few seasons were sooooo slow), certainly it's not Breaking Bad, but it was pretty damn good.
Agree 100% with you. It's a show that I appreciate more a couple days after watching and listening to a couple podcasts where they can break things down and help me remember the little things that are being done to call back to previous episodes. It wasn't a perfect ending, but close enough. In his mind he gets to be James McGill while everyone else can see him as Saul and a folk hero. Kim has to pay (somewhat) for her sins but gets to still lead her life and hopefully is at peace with her past. It's not peak TV, but I'd put it on the 2nd tier of great shows of all time.
What's on your first tier? Mine would be: Breaking Bad GOT Spranos Seinfeld Curb St. Elsewhere (Dating myself!) Mad Men SNL Larry Sanders Lost
Loved and hated the ended. It was a poetic ending but I really wanted Jimmy to get away with it, although it was pretty obvious he was his own worst enemy and would have just kept messing around till he ended up in jail one way or another. One little thing about Kim confessing bothers me though. She did it out of guilt, she needed to repent and make it right. That being said, would Saul taking the rap for her satisfy that need? I kind of think not. I know they made her a lawyer again to kind of work that angle but it still didn't feel quite right to me. Also there was some untold story going on with Howard and his wife. His wife didn't love him anymore and she was kind of a bitch to him, now that's different than wanting someone dead but she was probably happy to not have him around anymore, and obviously has all the money she ever needed. I kind of think sueing a broke ass Kim wouldn't be on her list.
From this list only BB and MM are on my list. I liked the Sopranos, SNL has it's moments as does Seinfeld. The rest I never got into. I would certainly put the rebooted Doctor Who up to and including the Matt Smith years in the first tier (The Blink episode is probably the best hour of TV ever made, imho). I also have to say that Dark on Netflix is an absolute mind fuck that is worth mention. It is fantastic. But, the Wire, overall, might be the best TV series ever made.
The endings of GoT and Lost ruined the shows for me. GoT was such a disappointment I'm not sure I'm going to watch that new prequel that is coming out.
I'm going to watch it because my wife is all about GOT. She loves everything about it, and didn't even mind the ending much. She's all in. So that means I am, too.
I don't think they made her a lawyer, I doubt she could get her license back after committing to the Howard stuff, but she did find a way to be around the law. Even at the end when she shows up to talk to Jimmy, she's working a con as her NM bar card doesn't have an expiration date, so she worked her way in. The Howard/Wife plot was a little strange and I agree that I don't know if she really would have gone after Kim that hard, but Jimmy confessing wouldn't have made a difference in a civil trial from what I've heard Peter Gould talk about.
Good list ... I never watched St. Elsewhere or Lost and only seen random episodes of Mad Men and Larry Sanders. My list would probably look like: Sopranos Seinfeld The Wire Breaking Bad Simpsons South Park The Office SNL (it's been so uneven but undeniable the cultural impact) GOT (even with the horrible finale and very suspect final season) Friday Night Lights (it's the one for me that I know most won't agree with but so rewatchable) If we just go Mt Rushmore ... Sopranos, Wire, BB I think all HAVE to be there and then the 4th would be the one people quibble about