4 Years Later, Jimmy McGill's Best Better Call Saul Line Is Still A Top 10 TV Quote

Published Sep 12, 2026, 1:00 PM EDT Kyle is a senior writer at ScreenRant and has been part of the team for over two years. Having led coverage on The Walking Dead projects alongside Rick & Morty, Kyle is well versed in numerous genres. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Kyle is a passionate journalist who has a keen interest in TV and film. He has six years of experience studying journalism including a HND in Practical Journalism and a BA Honours in Journalism, Media and Communication and History. Alongside his love for TV and film, Kyle enjoys video games, football and Formula 1. Alongside being one of the greatest TV spinoffs ever made, Better Call Saul is easily among the best shows of the 21st century, and for good reason. It balances genuinely clever comedy with some of the most intense drama you'll ever see, and its characters are also expertly written, none more so than Jimmy McGill. As the protagonist of the show, Jimmy was always going to stand out, especially having been a fan favorite in Breaking Bad, but it was still hard to imagine this crooked lawyer having so much depth. His witty quips and enraged crash-outs made for great viewing, but one line in particular trumps the rest and will never be forgotten. Many of Better Call Saul's best episodes were true masterpieces, but its finale was one of the best ever made, where Jimmy delivered a top 10 TV quote of all time. Rather than dropping some cryptic metaphor or devising another elaborate scheme, Jimmy came clean in "Saul Gone," where he confessed to his role in Walter White's criminal empire. During his speech, one simple yet meaningful line didn't just sum up Jimmy's entire journey and bring it full circle, but it also tied the Breaking Bad franchise together perfectly when he stated, "Walter White couldn't have done it without me." On paper, it may seem like a simple admission of guilt, but it symbolizes so much more. It drives a dagger through the heart of Walt's ego, who always thought he was the smartest person in the room, while highlighting Jimmy's own misguided pride. Even while finally taking accountability — which also makes this a big moment — he essentially glorifies his own role, making it Saul Goodman's best Better Call Saul quote. Why "Walter White Couldn't Have Done It Without Me" Remains Jimmy's Most Impactful Better Call Saul Quote Jimmy's confession in Better Call Saul's final episode provided an incredible payoff to his character arc, as well as the entire franchise, as someone finally faced justice for this drug empire. Some of the most evil characters involved in creating Heisenberg wound up dead, such as Gus, Uncle Jack, and Walt himself, but Jimmy's sentence at least provides some closure. Hearing him finally tell the truth about his role in Walt's regime was a seismic moment that somehow gave him a better ending than if he walked free. Jimmy certainly wasn't the morally worst character in the Breaking Bad universe, but he still helped ruin countless lives, and deserved to be punished for that. At the same time, it shows that, among all the progress and development he's made, Jimmy still sees himself as a damn good lawyer and con man who was pivotal to keeping Walt out of jail. While doing the right thing, there's still a sense of pride that he was skilled enough to lie and launder money without getting caught. Jimmy could've spent weeks fighting for his innocence, and having spent over a decade getting to know how crafty he is, the lawyer may have even gotten away with his crimes. Instead, he decides to let the world know of both his talents and his sins, destroying Walt's legacy in the process while giving survivors like Marie some justice. It really was the perfect way to end the show and is partly why many believe Better Call Saul is even better than Breaking Bad. Whatever your thoughts, it's impossible to ignore how impactful this single line is, which allowed Jimmy to cleanse himself of the Saul Goodman persona for good while reminiscing one last time. Jimmy McGill's Confession Cemented Him As An All-Time Great TV Character By the time Better Call Saul's finale rolled around, Jimmy McGill, AKA Saul Goodman, was already a phenomenal TV character, but his final act cemented him as an all-timer. There are few others quite as slimy yet charismatic as Jimmy, making it impossible not to like him despite his countless flaws. Better Call Saul did an excellent job fleshing out his character and showing that there was more to him than Breaking Bad showed, yet despite some of the tragic events he endured and signs of progress, he always defaulted to his conniving ways. That all adds to the moment when he finally takes responsibility for his actions. Being murdered wouldn't have really fit the journey he'd been on, and while in theory it may have been nice to see him make amends with Kim and run away together, that ending wouldn't have been an honest payoff. Instead, losing his freedom in a blaze of glory feels more fitting, and it gave Jimmy one last memorable performance before being imprisoned. Getting the chance to tell the courtroom, "Walter White couldn't have done it without me," really cements how much he achieved in the criminal world while simultaneously marking a point of no return. He's one of the only criminals in Breaking Bad who lived to tell the tale, as Jesse will keep his story hidden forever. The fact that he made it so far also proves he was one of Breaking Bad's smartest characters, as well as one of the most exciting to watch, hence why he was given his own spinoff in the first place. For anyone who has seen either of these two shows, it's practically impossible not to have a strong opinion on Jimmy McGill, and with his confession wrapping up his story perfectly, it may be a long time before we see another TV character rivaling Better Call Saul's protagonist. Release Date 2015 - 2022-00-00 Network AMC 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 Franchise(s) Breaking Bad Creator(s) Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould