Welcome to the era of breaking curses instead of merely complaining about them. Gone are the days of being shackled by generational woes. We’re shaking off the cobwebs of outdated stereotypes and carving our own paths. In this list, we’re diving into the top ten generational curses Millennials are gleefully shattering. So grab your cold brew, kick back, and let’s celebrate the triumphs of our generation.

Related: 10 Historical Anecdotes That Prove People Never Change

10 Financial Instability

The sweet symphony of financial instability serenades us millennials at every turn. We grew up witnessing the 2008 financial crisis like it was our bedtime story, complete with the villains of subprime mortgages and Wall Street shenanigans. Then, just as we thought we’d caught a break, the student loan debt monster gnashes its teeth and drags us down faster than you can say “compound interest.”

But fear not. For amid the chaos, there’s a glimmer of hope. Millennials aren’t just wallowing in the murky waters of financial despair. No, we’re breaking free from the generational curse of instability.

First off, we’ve become budgeting aficionados. Forget spreadsheets; we’ve turned budgeting into an art form. With living costs skyrocketing faster than our hopes of ever owning a home, we’ve learned to penny-pinch like nobody’s business.

Millennials are also diving headfirst into the world of investing. We may not have trust funds to fall back on, but we’ve got Robinhood and investment apps galore. Who needs a traditional 9-to-5 when you can ride the waves of the stock market from the comfort of your own couch?

And let’s not forget about financial literacy. We’re devouring books, podcasts, and YouTube videos like they’re the last surviving relics of the Library of Alexandria. From understanding the nuances of credit scores to decoding the mysteries of 401(k)s, we’re arming ourselves with knowledge like never before.

9 Work-Life Balance

Work-life balance is that elusive unicorn of the modern professional world. Millennials are shaking up the traditional nine-to-five grind with our unique spin. Gone are the days of being chained to a desk from dawn ’til dusk, sacrificing mental health on the altar of productivity. Millennials are saying, “Nah, we’re good!”

With flexibility as our battle cry, we’re revolutionizing the very fabric of work culture. According to a study by Deloitte, 62% of millennials prioritize work-life integration over career advancement. That’s right, we want a life beyond spreadsheets and deadlines.

Remote work? Oh, it’s not just a pandemic-induced fling; it’s a full-blown love affair. Millennials are ditching the commute and embracing the freedom to work from anywhere with Wi-Fi. The flexibility to balance a thriving career while sipping lattes in France? Sign us up!

But it’s not all about the hustle and grind. Millennials are unapologetically embracing mental health as a non-negotiable priority. We’re destigmatizing burnout and prioritizing self-care like it’s going out of style. After all, what good is climbing the corporate ladder if you’re too frazzled to enjoy the view?

8 Mental Health Stigma

Millennials are like the warriors of mental health stigma, wielding their smartphones as swords against the dragons of ignorance and taboo. We’re slaying the notion that mental health issues should be kept hush-hush, locked away in the attic like some Victorian-era family secret.

Millennials are more likely than older generations to prioritize mental health and seek help when needed. We’ve seen the research—like how therapy reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety. So we’re ditching the stiff upper lip and opting for the soft embrace of therapy sessions and self-care Sundays.

And hey, we’re not just talking the talk; we’re walking the walk. Millennials are leading the charge for workplace mental health initiatives and advocating for affordable therapy options. We’re plastering mental health resources on social media, like inspirational posters in a high school counselor’s office.

7 Relationship Dynamics

Traditional relationship models are being tossed out the window faster than last season’s fashion trends. Millennials are all about breaking free from the chains of old-fashioned expectations and forging their own paths when it comes to love and partnership.

Millennials are shaking things up by embracing diverse relationship structures like polyamory, open relationships, and even platonic partnerships. Equality is the name of the game, and millennials are here to level the playing field. They’re flipping the script on who pays for dinner, who takes out the trash, and who wears the pants in the relationship. Spoiler alert: it’s whoever feels like wearing pants that day!

Consent and communication are the holy grails of millennial relationships. They understand that no means no, and yes means yes, and everything in between requires a healthy dose of dialogue. It’s like they’ve installed a 24/7 hotline of open communication in every relationship, complete with emojis and GIFs for added emphasis.

6 Educational Pressure

The pursuit of the perfect GPA, the anxiety-ridden college applications, and the endless loop of “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Millennials know a thing or two about educational pressure. We’ve been spoon-fed the narrative that success equals straight A’s, a prestigious degree, and a six-figure job waiting at the end of the academic rainbow. But guess what? We’re rewriting that narrative, one witty retort at a time.

Millennials are shattering the generational curse of educational pressure by realizing that life isn’t just about acing exams and climbing the corporate ladder. We’re embracing the fact that there are myriad paths to success, and not all of them involve drowning in student loan debt.

Sure, the facts speak for themselves: Millennials are the most educated generation in history, with more of us holding bachelor’s degrees than any previous cohort. But you know what else we’re holding? A deep-seated skepticism about the traditional notion of success. We’re questioning the status quo and exploring alternative avenues to fulfillment.

5 Environmental Awareness

Environmental awareness is the battleground where Millennials don their eco-warrior capes and charge into battle against pollution, climate change, and all things harmful to Mother Earth. Picture a generation armed not with swords but with reusable water bottles and compost bins.

Let’s talk turkey—er, trees. Millennials aren’t just hugging trees; we’re planting them, too. According to a survey by Nielsen, 73% of Millennials are willing to pay extra for sustainable products. That’s like saying, “Yes, I’ll take the eco-friendly option, and here’s my extra cash to prove it!”

But it’s not just about spending habits. Millennials are also flexing their activist muscles. We’re staging climate strikes, lobbying for greener policies, and raising our voices louder than a chorus of cicadas on a summer evening.

And let’s not forget about technology. Millennials are harnessing the power of innovation to combat environmental challenges. From electric cars to apps that help you track your carbon footprint, we’re using every byte of data and every watt of energy to turn the tide against environmental destruction.

4 Technology Addiction

The modern-day struggle: technology addiction. Millennials, notorious for being glued to their screens, are finally waking up to the digital vortex sucking away their precious time. Scrolling through Instagram until your thumb cramps, binge-watching Netflix until your eyes glaze over, and refreshing Twitter like it’s the only source of oxygen. Sound familiar? Guilty as charged.

But fear not, fellow screen junkies! Millennials are the pioneers of breaking the generational curse of technology addiction. We’re not mindlessly swiping anymore. We’re setting boundaries and taking back control.

Say hello to screen time limits. Millennials are setting digital curfews, giving their smartphones a bedtime, and reclaiming their evenings for more meaningful pursuits. And let’s not forget the digital detoxes—the modern-day equivalent of a soul cleanse. We’re logging off, powering down, and rediscovering the lost art of face-to-face conversation (remember that?).

Here’s the kicker: studies show that excessive screen time can lead to decreased productivity, disrupted sleep patterns, and even increased feelings of loneliness. So, by dialing back our digital obsession, we’re not just saving time—we’re investing in our mental and emotional well-being.

3 Social Justice Activism

Millennials are the trailblazers, boldly dismantling generational curses and reshaping societal norms. At the forefront is the powerful weapon of social justice activism. Armed with passion and a pursuit of equality, millennials are breaking the chains that have bound generations before them.

In the battlefield for racial equality, millennials have been instrumental in challenging systemic injustices. We’ve harnessed the power of social media to boost marginalized voices and shed light on issues that have long lurked in the shadows. From #BlackLivesMatter to advocating for police reform, we’ve sparked conversations that demand change.

LGBTQ+ rights have found fierce advocates in millennials who refuse to accept outdated norms. We’re reshaping the narrative with a witty and inclusive approach, fostering acceptance and understanding. The rainbow flag, once a symbol of defiance, now waves proudly as a testament to our relentless pursuit of equality.

Gender equity is another battleground where millennials are rewriting the rules. We’ve smashed through glass ceilings, challenged stereotypes, and advocated for equal pay. The workplace is evolving, and millennials are leading the charge.

2 Parenting Styles

Social parenting styles among millennials reflect a seismic shift in how we view raising kids. Forget the days of authoritarian rule or the laissez-faire attitudes of yesteryear. Millennials are rewriting the script with compassion, technology, and a dash of old-school wisdom.

Millennials are all about quality time with their little tykes. Research shows that millennial parents spend more time with their children than previous generations. They’re not just chauffeurs shuttling kids to soccer practice but actively engaging in activities and conversations.

Positive discipline is the name of the game. Say goodbye to spanking and hello to constructive conversations. Millennials are embracing techniques that nurture empathy and emotional intelligence in their children. Studies suggest positive discipline leads to better behavior outcomes and stronger parent-child relationships.

But it’s not all serious business. Millennials know how to have fun, too. With the rise of social media, parenting has taken on a whole new dimension. From Instagram-worthy family vacations to TikTok dance challenges, millennials leverage technology to create memorable moments with their kids.

1 Self-Identity and Authenticity

Millennials are all about embracing their individuality like a badge of honor. We say, “Forget fitting in—I’d rather stand out!” This generation is all about celebrating the quirks, the flaws, and the unique traits that make each person an individual. No wonder we’re the selfie generation.

And authenticity? Oh, millennials have mastered that art. We’re not afraid to speak up, stand up, and shake up the status quo. Whether it’s through art, activism, or personal style, we’re making our voices heard loud and clear. Activism isn’t just a hobby. It’s a way of life. According to a study by the Brookings Institution, millennials are more racially and ethnically diverse than any previous generation, which naturally fuels their passion for inclusivity and social justice.

And let’s not forget about rejecting unrealistic standards of beauty and success. Millennials are flipping the script on what it means to be beautiful or successful. We say, “Hey, I don’t need a Photoshop makeover to feel good about myself,” and “Success isn’t just about climbing the corporate ladder—it’s about finding fulfillment and purpose in what I do.”

So here’s to the millennials—the trailblazers of individuality, the champions of authenticity, and the rebels with a cause. Keep breaking those generational curses and paving the way for a brighter, more authentic future.

Sometimes, changing the world means breaking the rules. There have been key moments in history defined by defiant acts, and the results often bring change unlike any that came before.

The people who instigate this kind of global change are frequently persecuted and vilified, but this often encourages them to fight harder.

Whether it was to bring change for one or for all, these ten people broke the rules to make the world a better place, and they’re presented in no particular order.

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10 Galileo Di Vincenzo Bonaiuti De’ Galilei

While the history of scientific observation has many prominent figures, few hold the candle to Galileo. The Italian astronomer, engineer, and physicist followed in the footsteps of Copernicus to find better ways of understanding the universe, and this ultimately resulted in the violation of several rules.

As a champion of Copernican heliocentrism, which was the theory that the Earth rotated daily as it revolved around the Sun, he came into conflict with the Catholic Church by declaring Copernicus’ theories proved that the Bible contained errors. The Church was largely responsible for the furtherance of academic study at the time, and his claims of Biblical errors were in opposition to the Catholic view. It should be noted, however, that the Church did not reject Copernicus or heliocentrism at the time but they did believe that Galileo was presenting his theories without sufficient proofs.

Galileo was tried by the Roman Inquisition in 1633 and found “vehemently suspect of heresy” and was forced to recant his views. He spent the remainder of his life under house arrest. Still, his work influenced others, leading to the further development of observational astronomy, modern physics, and the scientific method. Since his death, Galileo has become known as the father of modern science.

9 Gaius Julius Caesar

Looking back into Roman antiquity, there’s no bigger rule breaker than Gaius Julius Caesar. When Caesar’s Governorship came to an end, he was summoned back to Rome by the Senate. He was also ordered to disband his army and not bring his forces across the Rubicon River.

When he came to the Rubicon on January 10, 49 BC, he stopped for a moment and came to a decision. He crossed the Rubicon with his entire force, breaking a very sturdy Roman rule that prohibited any Roman army from crossing that line into the country.

When he crossed, he said, “Alea iacta est” (The die has been cast), and he wasn’t kidding. His action precipitated the Roman Civil War, which pitted an incredibly popular Roman General against the Senate, who wasn’t as beloved by the people as Caesar.

Breaking that rule resulted in a war, which ultimately saw Caesar declared Dictator for Life. When he was killed (by the Senate), his adopted heir took his place and brought the Roman Republic down. Gaius Octavius (Augustus Caesar) then built the Roman Empire, which stood, in one form or another, for more than 1,400 years.

8 Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks was active in the Civil Rights movement in the 1950s, but she didn’t come to truly break the rules until December 1, 1955. On that day, Mrs. Parks was ordered to leave her seat on the bus to make room for a white man by James F. Blake. He insisted she move to the back of the bus’ “colored” section.

Parks refused and was arrested for civil disobedience. Parks wasn’t the first person to find themselves in a similar situation. Still, she stood out to the National Association of Colored People (NAACP). The organization rallied behind Parks’ challenge to her arrest, which led to the Montgomery bus boycott.

The 381-day boycott of the Montgomery bus system put intense pressure on the city, and the event helped galvanize the people into further action. In 1956, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in Browder vs. Gale, finally putting an end to legal segregation on Alabama’s public transportation system. (LINK 2)

The Civil Rights movement in the United States grew from Parks’ example and the SCOTUS decision. She helped stir the people to further action, resulting in greater progress that finally saw an end to legal segregation in the United States by 1968.

7 Nelson Mandela

South Africa utilized a legal system of institutionalized racial segregation called Apartheid, beginning in 1948. The system was put in place to guarantee the nation’s politics, social structures, and economy all favored the minority white population.

Apartheid was widely despised by the majority black population, but it was challenging to overcome. Many people tried to resist, but they found themselves locked up for their efforts more often than not. Nelson Mandela spoke out against Apartheid from its inception, and he challenged it vocally.

Between 1948 and 1956, Mandela was arrested and jailed on charges ranging from sedition to treason. He joined the South African Communist Party and committed to nonviolent forms of protest. Then, in 1962, he led a sabotage campaign against the government, resulting in his imprisonment for conspiring to overthrow the state.

Mandela continued to break the rules by challenging the legally established doctrine of Apartheid, even after he was imprisoned for life. Finally, he was released in 1990, and his continued efforts helped end Apartheid and establish a new nation in South Africa. In 1994, he won the office of the 1st President of South Africa.

6 Mohandas Gandhi

Mohandas Gandhi studied to become an attorney in London before returning to his native India to practice. This proved difficult, so he moved to South Africa, where he remained for 21 years, building his practice and family. By the age of 45, he returned to India, where he organized peasants, farmers, and laborers to protest against discrimination.

Gandhi became the leader of the Indian National Congress in 1921, launching campaigns to ease poverty and expand civil rights. The following year, he was arrested for civil disobedience and sedition when a protest he organized turned violent. Twenty-two people were killed, deeply affecting Gandhi and his way of thinking.

After serving five of six years in prison, he returned to his role advocating peaceful protest. His adherence to nonviolence helped inspire a massive anti-colonial movement. In 1930, he led the Dandi Salt March, marching 250 miles (400 km) to speak out against the unfair tax.

Decades of nonviolent protest finally saw British rule of India come to an end. Throughout his life, Gandhi broke numerous rules that saw him imprisoned. Still, he continued despite the hardship and helped free a nation from colonial rule without shedding a drop of blood.

5 Martin Luther

Few religious leaders have had as divisive an impact on history as Martin Luther. The Augustinian monk became a priest in 1507, though he never accepted all of the teachings and practices of the Roman Catholic Church. He was particularly disapproving of indulgences, which offered a way for an adherent to reduce the temporal punishment for their sins (in part, in partial indulgences; and in full, in plenary indulgences)

More specifically, a donation to the Church along with prayers resulting in the granting of an indulgence was distasteful to Luther, so he did something about it. In 1517, Luther nailed up his Ninety-five Theses to the door of the Wittenburg Church. The Theses were meant to initiate an academic discussion on the practice of indulgences, but it went way beyond that.

Luther was called to renounce his writings by Pope Leo X in 1520, but he refused. He did so again when the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V demanded it at the Diet of Worms in 1521, resulting in his excommunication. He was declared an outlaw by the Emperor.

From there, Luther became a seminal figure in the Reformation, which ultimately resulted in a schism. This led to the development of Lutheranism and every other Protestant religion that followed.

4 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

If the Civil Rights movement in the United States had a face, it would belong to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Baptist minister from Atlanta, Georgia, stood out among his peers as a national leader who participated and led marches for a number of civil rights issues prevalent in the United States through the 1950s and ‘60s.

King was the leader of the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott that helped bring an end to legal segregation in Alabama’s transit system. He followed this by becoming the first president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which led to further movements in Georgia before he was elevated to national visibility via his 1963 March on Washington.

The following year, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for combating racial inequality through nonviolent resistance. King spent his adult life fighting for the rights of people oppressed because of the color of their skin. His work helped change the world by bringing an end to legalized segregation.

Throughout his life, King was arrested 29 times for breaking various rules. His arrests came from nonviolent protests, prayer vigils, and so-called “civil disobedience” laws that saw him spend his fair share of time behind bars.

3 Susan B. Anthony

Susan B. Anthony was committed to social equality throughout her entire life. Most people think of her as one of the initial leaders of the suffrage movement, but her work towards equality began with a different cause. Anthony started collecting anti-slavery petitions at the age of 17, nearly 30 years before slavery was finally ended in the United States.

In 1856, she became the New York state agent for the American Anti-Slavery Society. She collected hundreds of thousands of signatures in support of the abolitionist movement. She founded the Women’s Loyal National League and initiated the American Equal Rights Association the year after slavery came to an end.

Her work in the Suffrage movement intensified throughout the 1860s, but it wasn’t until 1872 that she broke a rather important rule. Anthony voted in Rochester, New York, and was subsequently convinced in a widely publicized trial. Anthony steadfastly refused to pay the fine for her criminal activity but faced no further punitive action.

Anthony’s lifelong commitment to activism pushed for crucial social change. Fourteen years after she died, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was passed in 1920, giving women the right to vote. It is colloquially known as the “Susan B. Anthony Amendment.”

2 Leonardo Da Vinci

Nearly everything Leonardo da Vinci did was ahead of his time. His works include drawings for submarines, tanks, and airplanes long before any were finally created. His illustrations and paintings are some of the world’s greatest treasures. One aspect of his work that broke the rules and helped change the world was his work in medicine.

Few people think of da Vinci in terms of his impact on medicine, but he was instrumental in helping humanity understand the human body. Da Vinci was fascinated by anatomy and sought to learn as much as he could about it. He collected various body parts and dissected at least 30 corpses while engaged in his study.

Using cadavers for that sort of research wasn’t allowed at the time, resulting in an accusation of “unseemly conduct” and possibly witchcraft upon his return to Rome, which put an end to his anatomical studies. His work remained unpublished and wasn’t discovered for centuries.

Da Vinci’s anatomical studies confirmed that the heart was the center of the blood system (instead of the liver). His work helped further influence 19th and 20th-century medical practices. His anatomical illustrations were so accurate that they helped guide a cadaver dissection 500 years after completing them.

1 Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem around 4 BC to the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph, who raised Him in the Galilean town of Nazareth. While most of the details of His early life remain a mystery, it is believed that He grew up to follow in His father’s footsteps, working as a carpenter and tradesman.

Despite this, He came to declare himself the Messiah, at first in the north of Judea, in Galilee. He was largely accepted there, and He then took it to Jerusalem, where He was referred to by some as “rabbi.”

Ultimately, it wasn’t the fact that Christ preached His ministry that broke the rules; it was the nature of what He spoke about and the fact that He declared Himself God (“Before Abraham was made, I Am.” St John 8:58). Jesus’ teachings centered around rejecting the Talmudic laws of the Pharisees and fulfilling the original Jewish faith as clarified by Him and the apostles He taught (the first Bishops and Popes). Still, many saw His words as subversive and against the doctrinal teachings of the Talmud and the extreme social regulations of pharisaical Judaism, dominant at the time.

He ran afoul of the priests and rabbis in Jerusalem and was vilified. Eventually, He was betrayed, captured, tortured, and crucified by the Romans at the behest of the Jewish leadership. His teachings had a significant impact on Judaism, resulting in the schism that gave birth to the Catholic Church, changing the course of human history for the next two millennia.

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Better Call Saul finished its six-season run earlier this year, making its mark as one of the few TV prequel shows to be considered as good as (or better than) the parent show. Whereas Breaking Bad was a thrill ride of non-stop action, cliffhangers, and plot twists, Better Call Saul was one of the finest character dramas of its era. Not that Better Call Saul didn’t occasionally ratchet up the tension to Breaking Bad levels, but it was mostly lauded for its slow and contemplative pace that allowed for details of the Breaking Bad universe to be painted in.

Even with all the background and character development we saw over 14 years of Breaking Bad, its sequel movie El Camino, and Better Call Saul, there are still some things we’ve been left to wonder about. Here are 10 of those plot points that weren’t explained, leaving the viewer free to theorize about what happened.

A couple of notes before we get started. Bob Odenkirk’s character will be referred to as both Jimmy and Saul, depending on the persona he was using at the time. And spoiler warning—if you’re not caught up on the Breaking Bad universe, major spoilers are to follow.

Related: Top 10 Real-Life Crimes Inspired by the Hit Show Breaking Bad

10 What Happened in Gus Fring’s Past?

Introduced as the ultimate supervillain in Breaking Bad, Gustavo Fring (Giancarlo Esposito) was at first a business partner to Walter White (Bryan Cranston) but later his mortal enemy. Once Gus was done with Walt, he expressed no qualms about eliminating him, leading to a cat-and-mouse game that left Walt victorious. One of Better Call Saul’s greatest accomplishments was humanizing Gus and getting the audience to root for him in his war against the Salamanca family. But even though we got to know Gus a lot better in the prequel, his past in his home country of Chile is still a major mystery.

The lack of information about Gus’s past was first established in Breaking Bad when the DEA brought him in for questioning. Agent Hank Schrader (Dean Norris) questions Gus why there’s no record of his existence before the mid-1980s. Gus plays that off as a side effect of Chile being war-torn and in disarray during the Pinochet regime, but Hank remains suspicious. We later find out that Gus fought in that war with Peter Schuler, the German man who is the head of the fast food division of Madrigal (and that the two use Madrigal resources to distribute meth worldwide). A scene in the Better Call Saul episode “JMM” made clear they faced death together in the war, and making it out alive together forged a lifelong bond.

Fans theorize that growing up in poverty (which Gus did confirm in a few lines of dialogue) and the war turned Gus into the calculating criminal mastermind we came to know. But as far as details, we know as much as the DEA.^[1]

9 What Happened to the Kettlemans?

Appearing in the very first episode, white-collar criminals Craig and Betsy Kettleman (Jeremy Shamos and Julie Ann Emery) were major players in the first season of Better Call Saul. Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk), the lawyer later to be known as Saul Goodman, hopes to break away from the low pay of public defender work and start his own practice by convincing the Kettlemans to retain him. In the end, Betsy declines because Jimmy seems like the type of lawyer “that guilty people hire.” This line, and its effect on Jimmy’s self-esteem, set in motion the series of events that leads to Saul Goodman becoming the most notorious “criminal lawyer” in America.

Given their importance to the birth of the Saul Goodman alter ego, fans were thrilled to see the Kettlemans return early in the final season. After Craig has served his prison sentence for embezzlement, he and Betsy are now running a tax filing service (and scamming seniors out of their tax refunds). One of the most striking things about their place of business is the giant Statue of Liberty inflatable on top of the building, which would later find a home at the law office of Saul Goodman and Associates.

So, how did Saul acquire the Statue of Liberty? Were the Kettlemans busted again for their financial crimes, leaving the inflatable up for sale? Or did Saul take them on as clients to keep them from getting caught and take Lady Liberty as payment? Something happened, but we’ll have to guess just what it was.^[2]

8 How Did Saul Acquire His Cadillac?

With vanity license plates reading LWYRUP, Saul’s white Cadillac was one of the props most closely associated with him. For the majority of Better Call Saul, Jimmy drives a decidedly less-glamorous and run-down Suzuki Esteem. In the classic season 5 episode “Bagman,” Jimmy goes on a dangerous trip into the desert in the Esteem to collect $7 million of cartel money so that Lalo Salamanca can be bailed out of jail. The Esteem never makes it out of the desert. In the same episode, at the Salamance headquarters, a blood-stained white Cadillac is cleaned up.

It seems reasonable to assume this Cadillac will eventually become Saul’s, perhaps as payment for representing the cartel in court at some point. However, Better Call Saul never filled in any more details on this. The first time we see the Cadillac with the LWYRUP plates is a scene set after the events of Breaking Bad when the FBI seizes the car.^[3]

7 How Is Skyler and Marie’s Relationship These Days?

A lot of the tension in Breaking Bad came from the fact that Walt was DEA agent Hank’s brother-in-law, with Hank spending much of the series just about to discover that Walt was the meth kingpin he was looking for. They were related by way of being married to sisters: Skyler (Walt’s wife) and Marie (Hank’s wife). The relationship was always a bit fraught between the sisters, with a sibling rivalry ongoing through much of the series.

In the Breaking Bad finale, Walt gives Skyler the GPS coordinates where the bodies of Hank and his work partner, fellow agent Steve Gomez, can be found. Walt encourages Skyler to use the information to secure a deal that will absolve her of her prosecution for her part in Walt’s crimes. Near the end of Better Call Saul, Saul’s legal assistant, Francesca, mentions that Skyler did indeed get her deal.

So one is left to wonder just how well Marie took hearing the news of this deal. In the final episode of Better Call Saul, we see that Marie was not happy that federal prosecutors were willing to negotiate a deal with Saul. One can only imagine how she felt about her sister getting a deal by trading the location of her dead husband.^[4]

6 Does Kim Ever Return to Practicing Law?

The breakout performance in Better Call Saul was by Rhea Seehorn as Kim Wexler, the smart and savvy lawyer who starts the series as Jimmy’s friend and later girlfriend, wife, and finally, ex-wife. While spending much of the early run of the show as the moral counterpoint to Jimmy’s cutting corners and skirting the boundaries of the law, Kim eventually finds herself wrapped up in the scams and misdeeds that gave birth to the Saul Goodman persona.

That is, until someone gets hurt. After Kim and Jimmy work a convoluted scheme to discredit their colleague Howard Hamlin, Howard ends up at the wrong place at the wrong time and is murdered. Unable to cope with this guilt, Kim gives up being a lawyer and breaks up with Jimmy.

Given Kim’s passion for the law and how good she was at being a lawyer, fans naturally rooted for her to return to practice. But by the end of the show, the closest she came was volunteering at a legal aid center. Still, it’s hard to believe that she wouldn’t try to join the bar again at some point.^[5]

5 Will Howard’s Wife Pursue Legal Action?

As part of Kim’s atonement for Howard’s death—which saw her giving up her law license—she also confessed to Howard’s wife, Cheryl. This included the schemes she and Jimmy perpetrated to sully Howard’s reputation and how Lalo shot and killed Howard. While confession is indeed good for the soul, Cheryl accurately pointed out that her confession opened the door for Kim to be held legally liable for her misdeeds.

But will she actually pursue legal action? The last we hear is in the final episode, when Saul’s standby counsel, Bill Oakley, informs him that word on the street in Albuquerque is that Cheryl is looking for a good lawyer. So maybe we’re meant to think Kim will be taken to court. But whether this does happen, or if there will be any consequences for Kim, is left to our imagination.^[6]

4 Does Jesse Stay on Track in Alaska?

While the entirety of the Breaking Bad universe could be described as a neo-Western set in modern times, that description especially applies to the sequel movie El Camino. The film follows Walt’s old meth-cooking partner, Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul), as he tries to avoid his enemies and law enforcement while raising enough money to pay identity broker Ed (Robert Forster) to set him up with a new life in Alaska. It’s a real “loner hero on the run in the American West” story like many classic Westerns.

In the end, Jesse is successful, and Ed gets him to Alaska. But we have to wonder, what’s next? It’s entirely conceivable that Jesse will do his best to avoid breaking the law and make the most of his new life. But at the same time, the Better Call Saul scenes set post-Breaking Bad show us that living under a new identity in a new place without falling into old habits can be hard. Given Jesse’s history of drug abuse, we hope he can stay on track, but we do wonder.^[7]

3 What Happens to the Albuquerque Criminal Underworld?

Across two TV series and a sequel movie, we really became acquainted with the criminal underworld in Albuquerque. When we were introduced to Saul Goodman and his PI, Mike Ehrmentraut (Jonathan Banks), in Breaking Bad, it was clear that they had all the connections. Better Call Saul gave us an interesting backstory here, showing that Mike first made a lot of those connections via the veterinarian Dr. Caldera. In the final season, Dr. Caldera lets Jimmy know he will retire from his post as an underworld organizer, and his “little black book” full of criminal contacts is up for sale.

This is the same little black book that we see Saul use in Breaking Bad, so we know he did acquire it from Dr. Caldera at some point. And in Better Call Saul, we find out that the FBI tossed the book into a box when they raided Saul’s house and seized his property. With Dr. Caledera, Saul, Mike, and most of the other criminal elements we got to know all gone by the end of the Breaking Bad timeline, this leaves an opening for a new criminal ringleader. But as to who that could be, any guess is as good as another.^[8]

2 What Became of Lyle?

Gus Fring’s front for his meth empire was his chain of chicken restaurants, Los Pollos Hermanos. And he had no more loyal employee than Lyle. When Gus was called out of work to handle more unsavory business, he was always sure to turn over running the store to Lyle. And unfortunately for Lyle, this also meant that Gus would occasionally take out his frustrations on his most loyal employee.

Lyle never seemed to mind, his dedication to Los Pollos Hermanos and Gus never wavering. So one has to wonder… after Gus died and the chicken franchise was no more, how did Lyle recover? Did he go work fast food somewhere else? Was he even able to recover from the loss of Gus? We’ll truly never know.^[9]

1 How Did Jimmy Get Chuck’s Time Machine Book?

The final episode of Better Call Saul heavily featured a time machine motif. Jimmy/Saul is seen having conversations in flashbacks with three of the most important associates in his life, all discussing regrets and what they would do if they could go back in time. His conversations with Mike and Walt directly pose the time machine question; his talk with his brother Chuck (Michael McKean) dances around the topic until we see Chuck is reading a copy of H.G. Wells’s novel The Time Machine.

Earlier in season 6, we see that Jimmy had this exact same copy at the apartment he shared with Kim. This leads us to wonder how he acquired it since Chuck died in a fire that destroyed the entirety of his house. So just how was Jimmy able to retrieve The Time Machine book? He clearly hung onto it to remember Chuck, but how did the book survive the fire? Did Jimmy actually have a time machine all along and go back to get the book? It’s just another of those details that we’ll never have an answer for.^[10]