Even Jimmy’s own health is put at risk by his fundamental nature. This time around, faced with a similar choice, his sense of self-preservation gives way and while the police don’t investigate further or question him, it looks like the stress and terror of that choice might have got him. Last year’s season opener started with Gene, trapped in the dumpster room, making the tiniest concession to his true self with the scratched out ‘S.G. Confronted with the choice to protect a petty criminal and risk exposing himself when caught in the lie or to be a law abiding citizen, Jimmy/Saul/Gene first makes the smart choice but, seconds later, as the cops lead the youth away, he jumps to his feet and explodes ‘get a lawyer!’ It characterises the central tug of war at the heart of Jimmy between who he is and who he thinks he should be. Jimmy McGill, on the other hand, is a more tragic figure because he wants to change but he just can’t help himself and, as the cold open shows, even going on the run and losing everything won’t alter that. It’s arguable that Walt was always more or less the person he became by the end of the series.

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