Breaking BadandBetter Call Saulare intrinsically linked, and there is one particular viewing order that ensures the most unique experience. As it stands, theBreaking Baduniverseincludes two series and one movie.Better Call Saulspans across six seasons with 63 episodes, whileBreaking Badconcluded in season 5, seeing 62 episodes in total. The critical reception of Bob Odenkirk’s spinoffwas highly positive, andBetter Call Saulis acclaimed for matching or surpassing the qualityof its predecessor,Breaking Bad. Therefore, understanding theBreaking Baduniverse is heavily dependent on the order in which both series are watched.
Following its run from 2008 to 2013,Breaking Badachieved a position among the most celebrated television series in history. CreatingBetter Call Saul, a prequel centered around Jimmy McGill six years before his first encounter with Bryan Cranston’s Walter White, was a risk — one that Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould executed flawlessly. As expected,Better Call Saulfeatures severalBreaking Badstarsthereby benefiting from the intricate character arcs developed within its parent show. That being said,Better Call Saul’s final season transpires after the events ofBreaking Badand Jesse Pinkman’s (Aaron Paul) motion picture,El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie.
If you happen to be new to theBreaking Baduniverse,beginning the chronicles withBetter Call Saul’s first five seasons can offer a rewarding and insightful experience. This segment of the show acts as a prequel toBreaking Badand establishes the universe as a whole.Better Call Saulexplores the backstory of Jimmy McGill and displays his transformation into the morally compromised Saul Goodman ofBreaking Bad,which provides a deeper understanding of his actions and motivations throughout the original series. Not to mention,Better Call Saulis a compelling standalone series with riveting characters, making it easy to follow.
What’s more,Better Call Saulintroduces many of the characters and events that are referenced inBreaking Bad.When some of these characters meet grim ends inBreaking Bad, getting to know them better through the prequel makes these endings even more impactful.As a result, the first five seasons establish a richer understanding of the connections, and of the foreshadowing that occurs. Additionally, whileBreaking Badis intense and extremely fast-paced,Better Call Sauloffers a steadier, more character-driven narrative. Beginning withBetter Call Saulcan enhance your understanding of both shows' storytelling techniques and provide a smoother entry into theBreaking Baduniverse.
Stop Better Call Saul After Season 6, Episode 9, Then Go Watch Breaking Bad
This Is The Turning Point For Jimmy McGill’s Character
Season 6, episode 9 ofBetter Call Saul,“Fun and Games,” is the moment that Jimmy truly transforms into Saul Goodman. By the end of the episode, long gone is the flawed individual who still actively tries to do the right thing. He is replaced by the money-driven mercenary Saul old fans know fromBreaking Bad. While this much is true,Better Call Saulskips his transformation into Saulwith a time jump that effectively avoids prequel tropes. It was another rather large risk, albeit with exceptional results. Of course, the transformation into Saul is not the purpose ofBetter Call Saul.
There Was A Second Breaking Bad Spinoff After Better Call Saul, But Be Glad You’ve Never Seen It
There was another Breaking Bad spinoff after Better Call Saul that hardly anyone watched — and there’s a good reason why hardly anyone watched it.
Better Call Saulprovides depth and nuance to theBreaking Badworld, which means this is the ideal moment to pause the series and continue withBreaking BadandEl Camino, before returning to the prequel. More importantly,the remainder ofBetter Call Saulafter “Fun and Games” is mostly set after the events ofBreaking Bad. Fully understanding the final episodes ofBetter Call Saulrequires prior knowledge ofBreaking Bad, which provides the essential context to the series. StartingBreaking Badwith prior knowledge of key characters like Gus Fring (Giancarlo Esposito) and Mike Ehrmantraut (Jonathan Banks) will also enhance the viewing experience.
The Last Part Of Better Call Saul Picks Up After Breaking Bad
AsBetter Call Saulserves as both a prequel and a sequel toBreaking Bad, it makes sense to return to the last season of Bob Odenkirk’s series after finishingBreaking BadandEl Camino.Season 6 ofBetter Call Saulintersects directly with theBreaking Badtimelineand provides closure for many of the universe’s characters and storylines. Not only does theBetter Call Saulfinale provide a satisfying resolution, but it demonstrates how Saul’s actions directly changed the events ofBreaking Badand the subsequent consequences he must face. Returning to season 6 finalizes the missing link in theBreaking Baduniverse.
The feature-length film transpires over the course of a day, butBetter Call Saulcomprises the first and last chronological moments of theBreaking Baduniverse.
Meanwhile,El Caminocenters around Jesse and his flight from New Mexico, while filling in the gaps in the story left byBreaking Bad’s conclusion. BothEl CaminoandBetter Call Saulserve as extensions of theBreaking Baduniverse, although they do so in very distinct ways. The feature-length film transpires over the course of a day, butBetter Call Saulcomprises the first and last chronological moments of theBreaking Baduniverse. This arguably rendersBetter Call Saulthe most significant component of the franchise, as it provides a comprehensive overview of the entire narrative.
Alternating Between Shows Creates A Dynamic Viewing Experience
Even with subsequent viewings, rotating betweenBetter Call SaulandBreaking Badmakes for a far more entertaining experience. It creates a more interconnected viewing, where audiences can detect subtle foreshadowing throughout both shows concerning both the characters and minor plot points, which eventually comes to pay off in both. Audiences can delve deeper into the individuals and uncover more intricate connections between them, as they are already familiar with the characters' personalities and actions. Audiences are introduced to the ensemble cast prior to the significant impact of Walter White, too, which amplifies the moral implications of his choices.
The speculation around the working title of the upcoming series fromBreaking BadandBetter Call Saulwriter, Vince Gilligan, says the sci-fi will be titledWycaro 339.The series will star Rhea Seehorn, who previously worked with Gilligan onBetter Call Saul,asKim Wexler.
In addition to this,alternating betweenBetter Call SaulandBreaking Badcreates a dynamic pacethat makes it even easier to stay engaged. Considering its rapid pacing and high-pressure situations,Breaking Badcan be a taxing series to watch. This means alternating between the show andBetter Call Saulcan provide some respite from the somewhat anxiety-inducing narrative. More importantly, taking this approach mitigates viewer fatigue. Combining both shows keeps the viewing experience fresh and helps it keep up its dynamic nature. The interplay between the past and present creates curiosity and invites audiences to weave the timelines together.
