The strength of this story comes mostly from Paul who truly does give a remarkable turn. Writer/director Vince Gilligan, creator of Breaking Bad does a great job of setting his story in two worlds, the worlds of the fans who clearly will get a great deal of satisfaction from this story, ending one part of the journey, and in the world of the casual viewer who is up for a personal story of an almost ruined life seeking a fresh start.
Crime movies are often about this arc, a time worn criminal hoping to end his run and find peace, running up against obstacle after obstacle. They are morality plays showing us crime doesn't pay. Their success is tied to how well they make us care for the central figure, how tragic his arc is and if there is redemption how cathartic it is. El Camino follows a fairly traditional arc but does so in a very satisfying way. The combo of Paul's performance and Gilligan's sober, restrained yet deeply intense style makes this a very engaging watch. I didn't know what would befall Jesse. Would this be a tragic tale of self-destruction or a rebirth narrative.
I imagine fans of the show will find this very satisfying but I can't speak to what ways it plays fan service. I can attest to the fact that you don't need to be a viewer of the show to get a lot out of this story. El Camino could exist without Breaking Bad although I am sure it is even richer with it all together.
El Camino
Starring: Aaron Paul, Jesse Plemons, Kryston Ritter, Robert Forster, Bryan Cranston
Writer/Director: Vince Gilligan
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