What Happened To Every Character After Breaking Bad: All Confirmed Details

While Breaking Bad ended decisively with the death of Walter White, the show left many questions unanswered about the fates of its other key characters. The acclaimed show featured a rich cast of memorable characters in its portrayal of Albuquerque's drug underworld, but only a few made it out of the series alive.

Of the survivors, much of their fate is left unknown and uncertain. However, the spinoff Better Call Saul and the Netflix movie El Camino provide at least some idea of what happened to Breaking Bad's core characters after the final episode, "Felina."

One of the elements that made Breaking Bad a commercial and critical success was its strong cast. However, over the course of the series, many of those characters, including several fan favorites, met grisly ends as Walt's all-consuming quest to conquer the meth trade claimed many lives.

Ultimately, this bloodshed included his own, as Walt was killed in the Breaking Bad ​​​​​​series finale following his final act of revenge and goodbyes to the people he was leaving behind. While Walt's story was wrapped up definitively, finding out what happened to Breaking Bad's remaining cast of characters requires looking beyond that final episode.

Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul)

He "Disappeared" & Started A New Life In Alaska

Walter White's cooking partner has one of the most detailed post-Breaking Bad fates, as the sequel movie El Camino: A Breaking Bad Story revealed what happened to Jesse Pinkman next. After escaping from the Aryan Brotherhood's compound, Jesse set up a plan to make authorities think he fled south.

He then arranged to be "disappeared" by Robert Forster's character, Ed Galbraith, the same service that Saul Goodman used in Breaking Bad.

After killing a criminal named Neil over a share of Todd's money, Jesse was able to pay for the service and start a new life in Alaska. He left a letter for his former girlfriend's son, Brock, but otherwise didn't say goodbye to anyone. Ultimately, El Camino left Jesse with a little bit of the freedom and peace he never found during Breaking Bad.

As Breaking Bad went on through the seasons, it became clear that while the seemingly mild-mannered family man Walt was capable of shocking evil, Jesse was a good person at heart. It is fitting then that he got one of the happier endings in the Breaking Bad universe. A throwaway line in Better Call Saul also revealed the authorities suspect Jesse went south, suggesting he succeeded in going into hiding.

Skyler White (Anna Gunn)

It Is Revealed In Better Call Saul That Skyler Accepted A Plea Deal From The Government

Given that Walt's criminal activity initially started to provide for his family, it's heartbreaking to see what happened to Skyler White in Breaking Bad. In the series finale, Skyler was shown living in a government safe house, working as a taxi dispatcher under her maiden name, and serving as the focus of a criminal investigation for knowing the truth about Walt's drug empire.

Anna Gunn didn't return as Skyler for either El Camino or Better Call Saul, but a phone conversation between Saul and his secretary, Francesca, in the latter revealed that Skyler received a plea deal from the government.

The news offered a slight glimmer of hope for her life after the events of the show, but the future does not look good for Skyler even with Walt finally dead. Even if she's legally in the clear, Skyler has no access to the money Walt intended to leave for her, little professional experience, and responsibilities to her infant daughter Holly.

The circumstances suggest plenty of struggles ahead, due in no small part to her late husband's selfishness. Though Walt is responsible for many deaths in Breaking Bad, the damage he caused Skyler is devastating.

While it is tragic to see how his family was left in the wake of his empire’s collapse, it was necessary for Skyler and her children to be victims of Walt’s actions. Because Walt began his drug career to provide for his family, succeeding in that may have allowed his actions to feel justified. Instead, Walt left his family worse off than before, which truly shows the consequences of his choices.

Walt Jr./Flynn (RJ Mitte)

It's Unknown If Walt Jr. Received The Trust That The Schwartzes Set Up For Him

Walter's son got a muted send-off in the Breaking Bad series finale, with his father briefly glimpsing him but not having a conversation. Walt coerced Gretchen and Elliott Schwartz to put his remaining money in a trust for Walt Jr., but it's unknown if Junior ever received his money or if he would accept it, given his anger at his father at the end of the series.

It was also revealed that Walt Jr. is once again going under the name "Flynn" at the end of the series, a hint of his continued disgust with his father. Actor RJ Mitte has suggested that Junior may join the DEA in an attempt to make up for his father's misdeeds, following in the footsteps of Hank, the father figure he deserved.

Walt Jr.'s final appearance in Breaking Bad was when Walt watched him return from school from a distance, showing that Walt Sr. could not even say goodbye to the son who now hates him.

Marie Schrader (Betsy Brandt)

Marie Serves As A Witness Against Saul Goodman & Sought Justice For Hank's Death

Skyler's sister and Hank's widow, Marie, made a surprising appearance in the Better Call Saul series finale as part of Saul's interrogation. Marie blamed Saul for contributing to her husband's death, acting as a reminder of the human damage Walter did with Saul's help. She also appeared in the courtroom during Saul's climactic confession scene, joined by Steven Gomez's widow as well.

On the whole, Better Call Saul depicted Marie as dedicated to finding justice for her husband in her post-Breaking Bad existence.

While Marie could be a flaky and self-centered character at times throughout Breaking Bad​​​​​​'s run, she was a changed person in the aftermath of Hank’s death. She grew stronger and more assured, as shown in how she spoke to Saul.

It is also notable that Marie called Skyler to tell her that Walt had returned in the Breaking Bad finale. Despite Skyler knowing of Walt’s crimes, which led to Hank’s death, it appears that Marie is still in contact with her sister and keeps looking out for her.

Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk)

Reneged On His Own Plea Deal & Is Sentenced To 86 Years In Prison

As the central character of the spinoff series Better Call Saul, Saul Goodman has the most developed future of any Breaking Bad character. While most of the show takes place prior to Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul did provide glimpses into Saul's post-series life under the assumed identity of Gene Takavic, a Cinnabon manager in Nebraska.

However, just a few months after Breaking Bad's conclusion, Saul found himself drawn into a life of petty crime once again when he was recognized by an Albuquerque resident.

In the end, Saul was apprehended by the police and charged with the crimes he committed while working for Walter. Saul initially negotiated a generous plea deal for himself but reneged on it at the last minute to accept his responsibility for the damage Walter did. Saul was sentenced to 86 years in federal prison but was able to find a kind of atonement in returning to his original name of Jimmy McGill.

What is interesting about Saul’s ending is that it seems to be the inverse of Walt’s journey in Breaking Bad. When Saul was introduced, he was a shady criminal lawyer who was certainly not above breaking the law. However, in the end, he became a man who was willing to take responsibility for his actions even though falling back on his old talent of lying would have provided him with a much easier path.

Lydia Rodarte-Quayle (Laura Fraser)

Became Critically Ill After She Was Poisoned By Walt, But Her Ultimate Fate Is Unknown

Lydia played a key role in Breaking Bad's later seasons as part of the Madrigal shell company that helped Walt export his meth to the Czech Republic. In the final episodes of Breaking Bad, Lydia attempted to double-cross Walt, but he instead struck at her by slipping ricin into her coffee sweetener.

El Camino confirmed Lydia's poisoning as Jesse heard a radio report describing a woman tied to Walt's crimes who was critically ill after having been poisoned. While it's not confirmed that Lydia died from the poisoning, it seems highly likely given Walt's knowledge of chemicals. Even if Lydia survived, she would have woken up to a life behind bars.

Interestingly, with the phone conversation that Walt had with Lydia in the finale of Breaking Bad, she was the last person he spoke to in the show.

Breaking Bad's Supporting Characters

Huell Could Very Well Still Be Waiting In The Motel

Badger (Matt Jones) and Skinny Pete (Charles Parker): Jesse's best friends were last seen in Breaking Bad helping Walt threaten Gretchen and Elliott, then revealing to Walt that Jesse is still alive. They returned in El Camino and helped Jesse with his escape. Badger drove a car and hid it near the border to make it seem like Jesse went into Mexico.

Meanwhile, Skinny Pete agreed to wait around for the cops and tell them Jesse's plan to go south. Given that the police believed Jesse went south, as revealed in Better Call Saul, it appears Badger was not caught, but it is possible Skinny Pete was punished as an accessory to Jesse's escape.

Huell (Lavell Crawford): As Saul Goodman's bodyguard, Huell was an intimidating silent type, but he was rattled in his final appearance in Breaking Bad as Hank convinced him that Walt was out to kill him. Huell agreed to help the DEA, and Hank informed him that he should stay in a dingy motel room until it was safe.

Since Hank and Gomez were the only ones who knew about Huell and both men were killed, there was an ongoing joke from fans that he was still waiting in that motel room. However, Huell got a happier ending as Better Call Saul revealed he moved back to New Orleans after the DEA couldn't prosecute him.

Patrick Kuby (Bill Burr): Huell's partner Kuby got one of the more mysterious endings after Breaking Bad. When Hank interrogated Huell, he falsely implied Kuby may have already been killed by Walt, attempting to scare Huell more. This could suggest Hank was unable to locate Kuby and that he might have gone on the run after Walt and Saul left.

This was further backed up in Better Call Saul when Francesca revealed that she doesn't know where he is.

Francesca (Tina Parker): Though Saul's secretary liked to keep out of his more nefarious business dealings, Francesca clearly knew he was a criminal and even remained in contact with Saul after he went on the run. Better Call Saul revealed that she became an apartment building manager and takes money from Saul to update him on events in Albuquerque.

Ted Beneke (Christoper Cousins): Ted was last seen having suffered an unfortunate fate in Breaking Bad. After Skyler risked her own exposure by helping him with his money issues, Huell and Kuby paid Ted a visit to convince him to take care of the matter. However, it led to Ted accidentally breaking his neck and becoming paralyzed.

Though he woke from his coma, he was clearly afraid of Skyler and Walt, promising not to tell the police anything. Given that Skyler remains free, it appears he stuck to that promise even after Walt's death.

Brock (Ian Posada): Following Brock's own poisoning and the death of his mother, Andrea's son was never seen again in the Breaking Bad universe. However, Jesse's letter to him at the end of El Camino suggested that Brock would learn the truth about his mother's death. It is unknown what he will do with that information.

Ed Galbraith (Robert Forster): Despite being introduced late in season 5 of Breaking Bad, Ed Galbraith became a recurring character in the universe, appearing in El Camino and Better Call Saul as well. After last being seen helping Walt maintain his life in hiding, Ed returned in El Camino, using his particular services to help Jesse disappear to Alaska.

His final appearance, which aired after the death of Robert Forster, was in Better Call Saul, as Saul called him to arrange another disappearance, only to change his mind.

There Won't Be Any More Breaking Bad Stories After El Camino And Better Call Saul

No More Jesse Or Kim Stories

Even after finding out what happened to Jesse Pinkman after Breaking Bad, there still feels like more that can be explored with that character and many others within the Breaking Bad universe. However, the chances of seeing another series or movie about Jesse's life in Alaska or a story focusing on Better Call Saul's Kim Wexler seem unlikely.

While he expressed pride in the two spinoff stories, Vince Gilligan has confirmed that the Breaking Bad universe will not continue any further. He insists he was pushing his luck with the expansions he's already made, and it is time to end things.

As tempting as it is to spend more time in this universe, it is easy to see where Gilligan is coming from. El Camino was a necessary follow-up after Jesse's final season story was lacking. Meanwhile, Better Call Saul ended up being a series that rivaled Breaking Bad with its own fascinating arc.

However, not every question needs to be answered, and not every character needs perfect closure, so what happened at the end of Breaking Bad can be a fitting enough conclusion for some of these characters.

What Has The Cast Of Breaking Bad Done Since The Show

The Breaking Bad Supporting Cast Has Gone Onto Big Things

Given the popularity of Breaking Bad, it can be hard to see these actors as anything other than their characters from the series. Nevertheless, the cast of the show has managed to stay busy since the series ended, with several of them even becoming bigger stars after Breaking Bad.

Bryan Cranston showed audiences a new side of his talent in Breaking Bad, which led to several high-profile roles, and he was nominated for an Oscar for his role as the blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo in the biopic Trumbo. He followed that up with a number of blockbuster movies, including Godzilla and Power Rangers, and starred alongside Kevin Hart in the drama-comedy The Upside.

Cranston has returned to television on occasion with Sneaky Pete and Your Honor. He also appeared as himself alongside Aaron Paul in an episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Paul’s reunion with Cranston was a memorable post-Breaking Bad role for the actor, who has also stayed busy over the last decade.

He followed up the end of the series by securing his first lead movie role in the video game adaptation of Need for Speed and also appeared in a couple of star-studded productions, like Exodus: Gods and Kings, Triple 9, and Central Intelligence. Paul’s television roles have also been notable, playing Todd on BoJack Horseman and joining Westworld as Caleb Nichols in season 3.

Paul is also slated to join the cast of Prime Video's Fallout season 3.

After playing Skyler White on Breaking Bad, Anna Gunn returned to another television role, reprising her part as Martha Bullock in the Deadwood movie. Gunn has also recently appeared on a number of television shows, Most Dangerous Game, Physical, and Sugar. Betsy Brandt also returned to television with two sitcoms, The Michael J. Fox Show and Life in Pieces.

Dean Norris has had a mix of movie and television roles, following Breaking Bad with Under the Dome, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, and he recently appeared in the final episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Some of the most impressive post-Breaking Bad careers have come from the supporting cast. Jesse Plemons has proven himself one of the most exciting actors in Hollywood today with many varied projects, from his hilarious scene-stealing role in Game Night to his Oscar-nominated turn in The Power of the Dog to his chilling and complex role in Yorgos Lanthimos' Bugonia.

Giancarlo Esposito has also channeled his unforgettable performance as Gus Fring into several notable villain roles in the likes of The Boys, The Gentlemen, and The Mandalorian. He even joined the MCU as the villainous Sidewinder in Captain America: Brave New World.

While his comparably lighthearted role as Saul Goodman in Breaking Bad played into Bob Odenkirk’s career as a comedic actor, he proved his range in Better Call Saul. Odenkirk helped make Saul Goodman/Jimmy McGill a character as complex as Walter White. Odenkirk has continued to surprise people by also showing that he is a formidable action star in the critically acclaimed Nobody.

Odenkirk's Better Call Saul co-star, Rhea Seehorn, has recently taken the spotlight as the star of Apple's record-breaking Pluribus, a post-apocalyptic story with a fresh and unexpected tone from Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan.

Release Date

2008 – 2013-00-00

Showrunner

Vince Gilligan

Directors

Vince Gilligan, Michelle Maclaren

Writers

Peter Gould, Gennifer Hutchison, Vince Gilligan, George Mastras, Moira Walley-Beckett, Sam Catlin, Thomas Schnauz

Release Date

2015 – 2022-00-00

Showrunner

Peter Gould

Directors

Vince Gilligan, Thomas Schnauz, Peter Gould, Michael Morris, Adam Bernstein, Colin Bucksey, John Shiban, Michelle MacLaren, Daniel Sackheim, Jim McKay, Minkie Spiro, Terry McDonough, Larysa Kondracki, Melissa Bernstein, Gordon Smith, Andrew Stanton, Bronwen Hughes, Giancarlo Esposito, Keith Gordon, Michael Slovis, Nicole Kassell, Norberto Barba, Rhea Seehorn, Scott Winant

Writers

Ann Cherkis, Marion Dayre, Ariel Levine, Jonathan Glatzer

Release Date

October 11, 2019

Runtime

122 minutes

Director

Vince Gilligan

Writers

Vince Gilligan

Franchise(s)

Breaking Bad