Why Didn't Jesse Kill Todd in the Desert? Breaking Bad Explained | El Camino

Breaking Bad is Vince Gilligan’s modern day classic action crime drama starring the likes of Bryan Cranston as Walter White, Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman, Dean Norris as Hank Schrader, and Jesse Plemons as Todd Alquist.

The series follows high school chemistry teacher Walter who is diagnosed with cancer, and in order to leave something behind for his family, decides to partner with former student Jesse and cook & sell crystal meth. The series has a prequel (Better Call Saul) and a sequel movie (El Camino). In the movie, Jesse has a chance to shoot Todd but doesn't - why didn't Jesse shoot Todd in the desert in El Camino? Why didn't Jesse pull the trigger? Why couldn't he kill Todd?

[CineRanter]

*How did Gus know there was a bomb in the car? Breaking Bad Explained:*

[Void..]

He was definitely broken. But I figured a big part of it was that he was wanted and he didn't even know for sure where Brock was so he coulda escaped and been arrested while looking for him and been too late. It's almost a certainty that his little brother and parents were on the hook if he tried to run, especially if he hurt one of them. There was just too much uncertainty and potential for innocent people to be hurt. Jesse probably felt deep down he deserved it all for what he did to Gale and the other deaths he was involved with in some way. All that combined made for an invisible chain around his neck.

[soelaborate]

Personally I think the gun was empty and it was just a test to see if Jessie would actually do it. Had he tried and no bullet came out, it would’ve been game over for Brock.

[pucktheblackswordsman]

He realised that shooting Todd would be ineffective due to how much bulk he had at the time. The bullet would've bounced right off and might've ricochet into his direction. The best decision was not to shoot.

[finger]

Easy, no 12 minute video needed, jesse was simply just too broken and scared

[Tusc]

Obviously, Breaking Bad already showed us that Jesse was broken by the gang, hence him failing to kill Todd now even when he has the opportunity. It is even explicitly stated in an earlier scene in this movie that if Jesse tries anything, then Todd will need to visit Brock.

[AspiringHoodrat]

Was there any people ever actually confused by this? It’s pretty obvious if he were to do this then Brock would’ve been killed at the expense. He already had seen Andrea get shot and wouldn’t want the same to happen to him

[jondoe]

He was broken but I dont think it was stockholm syndrome considering how quickly he went to strangle Todd in the finale, my personal opinion is that he knew that if he killed Todd and disappeared he would get away, but that would also put Brock in danger after they already killed Andrea in front of him.

[zacharysmith]

Todd is the definition of "it's nothing personal".

[lindantsie]

Brock is why. That pepperoni response broke my heart realizing the depth of his trauma but even then, children have a special place in Jesse’s heart

[pagawn]

If Jesse had killed Todd, there would be literally nothing he could do by the time Uncle Jack and his gang got back to protect Brock. He’s severely less capable compared to an entire gang and doesn’t have the element of surprise like they do. Plus, even if they ran away, Jacks gang would have found them, as Jesse is too much of an asset and he wouldn’t let his nephew’s killer off that easy.

[briarc]

I just wanna give Jesse a hug, also when he’s crying and says “pepperoni” it just made me cry

[gandalf_thegrey]

I saw the movie today for the first time.

I think it's because of 2 things:
1. Jesse is completely traumatized out of his mind and the simplest thing can creat reactions that are unreasonable, yet emotionally overwhelming (you know, I'm something of a PTSD expert myself.... sorta)
2. Brock

[Delightfully_Witchy]

Prrrretty sure that Jesse "knows" that Walt is an enemy at this point, what with him giving him up for slavery and announcing that he let Jane die.

[shockwave]

Don’t forget had he killed Todd, Jacks gang could of killed Broc and perhaps even Jesse’s family.

[Steve-wogt]

You spend a year having your spirit broken, enslaved, and living in a hole and you won't be able to rebel against your jailers either.

[cstk]

Its because Aaron Paul, the actor that plays jesse pinkman had in script to not kill todd

[legzdiamond]

He’d get arrested immediately…He was starving and withered in the hot sun of the desert…If he somehow avoided the cops and the sun, Jack would 1) Kill Brock and 2) Kill him immediately after. Jesse had no money and nowhere to hide.

[jeffreytackett]

Seems a lot more simple, in my mind.

The threat that got him there never stopped being the threat that kept him there, until that threat was removed. The kid was still out there, and he knows these guys can get to him after what they did in the prisons.

[milksyrup]

I'm... not sure I understand.

Yes, Jesse was completely broken and forced into a submissive mental state that definitely factored into his decision here.
But Jesse *knows* what Jack would've done to Brock had both Jesse and Todd disappeared. Like you said, Jack would've put two and two together and realized what Jesse had done, and while he was broken at this time, Jesse's proven to have one of the biggest hearts of any other character in the series, so I honestly think Jesse didn't shoot Todd because he was still afraid of the repercussions on Brock.

Remember that earlier on in the flashbacks, Todd even reminded Jesse earlier that same day that Jack would in fact "pay Brock a visit" if he acted up again like when he tried to escape.
Jesse literally watched Andrea die due to his attempted escape. That is *not* something you forget.

I'm just extremely surprised that you see his mental state as being the main reason and not even a hint of the thought that he didn't do it for Brock's sake.