The Valeyard

I really thought one of the bookcases was going to fall on him when he was taking the ax to them.

Josh-da-man

They actually pretty much spoiled the ending a couple of weeks ago when they announced it was going to be called "Lantern."

Bandoman

Exactly. I thought the extended scene showing Chuck's descent was powerful and emotional. Not a wasted moment.

Also, now that Chuck is (presumably) dead, is Jimmy his only next of kin? If so, that means Chuck's estate goes to Jimmy. That would include buyout money from HHM, which now has another wrinkle - what does the partnership agreement say about what happens when a partner dies? I'm pretty sure Chuck didn't deposit the check, and HHM can claim that, while there was an agreement on a buyout, that agreement terminated on Chuck's death.

However it goes, Chuck certainly had money, and it seems that Jimmy is going to get it.

And what's with the talk about the show not coming back? This is a jewel for AMC, it will run for as long as Vince Gilligan wants.


Edit: season 3 ratings can be found here.

CPA-ESQ.

I thought this was going to be his demise. I thought that he was going to "find" some buried junction box in the wall and get electrocuted..

Which in my opinion would have been somewhat poetic - that the thing he feared the most, coupled with his neurotic hunt to end the 'pain' was what ultimately killed him. When he went to smash the electrical meter - I cringed thinking - there he goes.. but that was not the case.

I think this was a missed opportunity not to have him electrocuted, or falling down the steps in the dark hunting for this phantom source of 'pain'

CPA-ESQ.

We know Chuck - and there is no way in hell that he would 'reward' Jimmy with willing him anything. He was very clear in the trial that he felt Jimmy took the easy way in life, and handing him money, would be rewarding that...

so I think this will be another kick in the teeth for Jimmy - that his brother left his money to some legal foundation.

DWilson

There's the ex-wife...

Timber

I thought it was an amazing episode. The extended view of Chuck's decent made the episode. We saw how the house was when the series started but now we've seen how he got there.

I thought Kim had lost pretty much all respect for Jimmy this past season but it looked like she was actually still in love with him.

They've done such a good job with the Nacho character, he's come such a long way since his first appearance depth wise.

DWilson

It would seem from their conversation that Kim is aware (or somewhat aware) of what Jimmy did to Irene.

Bandoman

Yeah, you're both right. The ex-wife and some legal foundation will get the $.

Josh-da-man

I would assume that HHM's buyout of Chuck's partnership would have been finalized and the moneymwould be owed to his estate.

Jimmy would, presumably, be Chuck's next of kin. I don't think the ex-wife would be entitled to any of his estate unless it was specified in his will, or they still held joint assets. Chuck seems like the type who would have a will (and shut Jimmy out of it), but he might not have bothered getting one written while he was married, and as his marriage and mental health broke down, it might not have been a priority for him to get one written.

RichC2

http://screenrant.com/better-call-sa...son-4-renewal/

It just hasn't been renewed yet is all. I think AMC would be foolish to cut it off now despite the slight dip in ratings between Seasons 2 and 3.

DWilson

I'm sure Chuck would have some type of will, but with regards to his wife, we don't know exactly what happened there, and if he has some regrets, -or he's still pining for her, he might have left something to her (and possibly a large something) if he was trying to prove something to her.

andicus

I thought that would happen, too. Just seemed like it would be fitting.

And of course Chuck would have a will. He knows better than to not have one. And, yeah, the ex-wife is the obvious choice.

I'm not convinced he'll die, but I'll be kind of disappointed if he doesn't.

cleaver

The meter was moving but I think it said 374 every time he checked it.

Groucho

Although I'm guessing that the push to bring a lot more "Breaking Bad" characters was a failed attempt to get those numbers to go up, and it's got to be disappointing to AMC execs that it didn't happen.

CPA-ESQ.

Yes!! and Jimmy burned that bridge when he 'used' her in court to push his brother over the edge... so there is NO way she would take pity on him that Chuck cut him out of his will and then give him some money.

So this would be fitting in how Jimmy is good at "tearing things down." and ultimately screwed himself in the long run.

slop101

I could've swore I heard the sound of the gas on while Chuck was trying to kick the lantern over, so I was expecting a huge explosion or something instead. But since it was a regular fire, Chuck could easily have gotten up and walked out without suffering much damage.

mugwump

That was the sound of the lantern fuel burning. I'm having a hard time buying Chuck as suicidal since he's so self-centered and domineering. It makes sense from a plotline standpoint but it would be more in character for him to stroll out of his burning house and blame everyone else for what just happened.

Red Dog

So did I. I was thinking the season would end with him dead and I thought that was going to be it.

funkyryno

I was certain he was going to several times in this episode -- jumping off the balcony at the law firm, electrocuting himself pulling wiring or bashing the meter, falling from the ladder -- by the time the lantern scene rolled around, it struck me as much less tragic simply because of so many letdowns.

When he was kicking the table to knock off the lantern, it looked like he could barely move. I wonder if having his flesh burned would have shocked him out of his lethargic state. I think he's dead, but my wife is much less certain (the old TV rule of character will only die if you actually see his death on screen).

Coral

I'm really not seeing Chuck surviving. At this point there'd really be no purpose to having him survive after all that's happened with his personal and professional demise. Chuck's piece of Jimmy's story line has been exhausted now - there's nothing left to explore.

chowderhead

I definitely don't think Jimmy screwed himself over in the long run by using Chuck's ex-wife at the disciplinary hearing. He knew he was going to have to burn that bridge but
1). Jimmy was fighting for his law license. He could have been disbarred for life if Chuck had gotten his way.
2). He covered for Chuck many times i.e. flashback of the dinner when the ex-wife was in town again and Chuck had his episode with the phone
3). the ex-wife traveled all over the world and seem to be pretty much out of the picture. If she did get an inheritance, I doubt she would have given Jimmy any thought and would have assumed Chuck took care of it and Jimmy got his share.

4). Chuck was a complete dick so I am not sad he is gone.

Bill Needle

You raise an interesting point about Chuck not being the suicidal type, though he was obviously riding the crazy train for a good part of the episode. But it could be just a cry for attention/sympathy, a way to re-establish some form of control on those around him. Otherwise, who is going to bring him his daily newspaper?

Timber

I can easily see Chuck being suicidal. Not only could he not beat his "disease", he got a glimpse of what it was like to be normal. Not now, he's lost his wife, lost his brother, lost his career, and lost whatever ability he had to live a normal life. What else did he have to live for?

musick