Season 6 of Better Call Saul is pulling out all of the stops as it looks to end the show
with a bang and episode 7 certainly gave us that.
Howard Hamlin has been a key character in the series since it first started airing and
he’s been a constant thorn in the sides of both Jimmy McGill and Kim Wexler.
However, the most recent episode of Better Call Saul also proved to be Howard’s final
outing in the series as he had an unfortunate run-in with Lalo Salamanca.
But following the jaw-dropping scene, fans have been left asking exactly why Lalo decided
to kill Howard in cold blood?
HOWARD HAMLIN’S FINAL SCENE Season 6 of Better Call Saul has revolved
around Jimmy and Kim’s plan to discredit Howard Hamlin in order to bring about a quick
settlement in the Sandpiper Crossing case, which would see Jimmy receive a $2 million
payout.
In episode 7, the pair’s plan goes off without a hitch and Howard is left licking his wounds.
In the final scene of the episode, he pays Jimmy and Kim a visit, to congratulate them
on their plan’s success but also offers a warning that he will not only land on his
feet but make their lives a living hell.
However, at that moment, the door to the apartment opens, causing the candle on the table to
flicker, and in walks Lalo Salamanca.
Jimmy and Kim are obviously terrified by the arrival of the cartel kingpin and warn Howard
to leave but he decides to stay and jokes that Lalo needs to find himself better lawyers.
Those words turn out to be Howard’s last as Lalo mercilessly shoots the attorney in
the head, splattering blood and brains over Jimmy and Kim’s apartment.
WHY DID LALO KILL HOWARD?
Lalo killed Howard for several reasons, the first of which being that he didn’t want
to leave any witnesses at the scene.
Until episode 7, Lalo had been away from Albuquerque as he ventured to Germany to learn more about
Gus Fring’s superlab and wanted to keep his return a secret.
Leaving a talkative Howard alive would have jeopardised that.
Secondly, killing Howard would also scare the living daylights out of Jimmy and Kim,
which he succeeds in doing, giving him the upper hand in the conversation they are about
to have.
And thirdly, because he saw what kind of person Howard was.
Initially, Lalo appeared open to allowing Howard to quickly leave after Jimmy and Kim’s
warning before Howard had the chance to memorise his face.
However, when arrogant Howard started joking that Lalo needed to find better lawyers and
didn’t heed the warning, Lalo’s bloodthirsty nature kicked in and he shot Howard.
BETTER CALL SAUL FANS REACT TO HOWARD’S DEATH
As a character who has been present in Better Call Saul from the very beginning, Howard’s
death has certainly proven to be a huge talking point among fans.
One fan on Twitter wrote: “That ending of Better Call Saul was insane.
The look of pure terror on Kim and Saul’s faces when Lalo walked in and poor Howard
having no idea what was coming.”
While another added: “One thing that Howard hasn’t accounted for — that there are
monsters in this world far more soulless than Jimmy McGill.”
This fan, who noticed the severity of Jimmy and Kim’s plan commented: “That was actually
perfect.
If they didn’t pull the scam then Howard wouldn’t have been there.
Shows the unintended consequence of their actions, and how dark their plan really was.”
“I cannot believe it!” wrote another fan.
“Howard Hamlin was one of my ultimate favourites from Better Call Saul.
I didn’t want it to end like that!”
This fan pointed out how the show highlighted Jimmy and Kim’s success, only to be left
feeling sympathetic for Howard in his final moments: “Now that is storytelling.
Feeling the thrill of seeing Jimmy and Kim take down Howard only to have it turn into
sympathy & guilt in a single episode.
I feel totally manipulated.
And I love it!”