Chuck cursed Jimmy to become Saul.

Everyone focuses on the "you never meant that much to me" line, but watching this episode again it's what he says before that is really resonating with me. There is almost a ritualistic setup in the scene - the spookiness of Chuck's sudden "recovery" and the calculatedness of his voice and actions. He pretty much TELLS Jimmy what he will become - and in that "curse" he flawlessly describes Saul. Sometimes people have a father figure/role model they obsess over pleasing their entire lives who, in the end, they give total control over their own self image. I think Jimmy always had a chance to settle into a balanced combo of his good and bad qualities. I don't think any one side was the "real" Jimmy - both sides were real. But Chuck had too much power over him. He knew what he was saying with these words - watching this scene they feel so much like a "curse" to me - one that Chuck seals with the ritualistic sacrifice of his own death.

Jimmy: Something happened, and it made me think about what went down between you and me and... I wanted to say, in hindsight, I could've made different choices.

Chuck: Is that so?

Jimmy: Yeah. I mean, I'm not saying it's all on me. It's not. But if I had to do it all over again, I would maybe do some things differently. And I just thought you should know that.

Chuck: That you have regrets?

Jimmy: Yeah. I have regrets.

Chuck: Hmm. Why?

Jimmy: 'Cause you're my brother. There aren't that many of us McGills left and, uh, I think we should stick together.

Chuck: No. Why have regrets at all? What's the point?

Jimmy: What do you mean?

Chuck: Well, look at you. You're in so much pain. Why are you putting yourself through all this?

Jimmy: 'Cause I wanted to tell you...

Chuck: That you have regrets. And I'm telling you: don't bother. What's the point? You're just gonna keep hurting people.

Jimmy: That's not true.

Chuck: Jimmy, this is what you do. You hurt people, over and over and over. And then there's this show of remorse.

Jimmy: It's not a "show".

Chuck: I know you don't think it's a show. I don't doubt your emotions are real. But what's the point of all the sad faces and the gnashing of teeth? If you're not going to change your behavior, and you won't...

Jimmy: I can change.

Chuck: Why don't you skip the whole exercise? In the end, you're going to hurt everyone around you. You can't help it. So stop apologizing and accept it. Embrace it. Frankly, I'd have more respect for you if you did.

Submitted November 24, 2019 at 08:03PM by slimslowslider74 https://ift.tt/34i8o3U