The television series Better Call Saul is often considered a prequel to Breaking Bad, but its connection to the latter goes far beyond just the timeline. While Breaking Bad follows the dramatic transformation of Walter White from a humble high school chemistry teacher to a ruthless drug kingpin, Better Call Saul delves into the life of one of the most memorable characters in the Breaking Bad universe: Saul Goodman. As the lawyer who navigates the criminal underworld, Saul is a central figure in Breaking Bad. However, Better Call Saul explores the evolution of the man behind the flashy persona, showing how he became the morally ambiguous lawyer we come to know and love (or hate) in Breaking Bad.
The Shared Universe and the Timeline
The most obvious connection between Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad is the shared universe. Set in Albuquerque, New Mexico, both series occur within the same geographical space and depict the consequences of the region’s growing drug trade. Better Call Saul begins in 2002, six years before the events of Breaking Bad, providing audiences with a glimpse of Saul Goodman’s life before he became the morally questionable lawyer we see in the latter series. At its core, Better Call Saul explores the backstory of Jimmy McGill, Saul’s true identity, and how he gradually sheds his previous persona to adopt the flamboyant and unscrupulous character of Saul Goodman.
The timeline overlap between Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad is significant because it allows the two shows to build on each other. While Better Call Saul explores Jimmy’s transformation, Breaking Bad shows the consequences of his actions. The progression from one show to the other feels seamless, and fans of Breaking Bad will notice numerous connections, both direct and indirect, between the two series. These include recurring characters, key plot points, and the gradual introduction of elements from Breaking Bad that eventually become pivotal in the original show.
Exploring the Development of Saul Goodman
In Breaking Bad, Saul Goodman is introduced as a criminal lawyer who is both humorous and corrupt. His moral flexibility and flashy persona make him a fan favorite. However, when viewers first meet him in Breaking Bad, Saul is already fully entrenched in the criminal world. The transformation from Jimmy McGill to Saul Goodman is one of the central narratives of Better Call Saul. It’s not just about the rise of a lawyer; it’s about the collapse of a man’s moral compass and the eventual embrace of a world where ethical lines become blurry.
Better Call Saul begins with Jimmy McGill as a struggling lawyer who has spent much of his life living in the shadow of his successful older brother, Chuck. Jimmy’s early struggles, as well as his attempts to live up to his brother’s expectations, create the foundation for his eventual descent into the world of crime. Initially, Jimmy is portrayed as someone who genuinely wants to help people, but his path is fraught with obstacles that gradually push him toward the more unscrupulous behavior we see in Breaking Bad. The show explores how the legal and moral choices Jimmy makes eventually lead him to abandon his true identity and fully embrace the role of Saul Goodman.
Throughout Better Call Saul, we see Jimmy’s transformation in stages. Initially, he is a well-meaning but often morally dubious individual. Over time, however, he becomes more comfortable with bending the law, manipulating people, and embracing the flashy persona of Saul Goodman. His transformation is not sudden, but rather a slow burn that makes the eventual shift feel inevitable, yet tragic.
Key Characters and Their Connections to Breaking Bad
While Better Call Saul focuses primarily on the character of Jimmy McGill, it also introduces many other characters who later play significant roles in Breaking Bad. One of the most prominent of these characters is Mike Ehrmantraut. In Breaking Bad, Mike is the quiet, methodical fixer who works for Gus Fring. He is a key figure in the criminal underworld, and in Better Call Saul, we see the development of Mike’s character and his connection to the drug trade.
Mike’s character arc in Better Call Saul sheds light on his motivations, his background, and his moral code. He is not merely a tough enforcer but a man with his own set of principles. As we watch Mike’s character evolve, we understand how he becomes so integral to Gus Fring’s empire in Breaking Bad. Mike’s relationship with Jimmy/Saul is also crucial, as they develop a professional bond that plays out in both shows. The dynamic between these two characters is central to both Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad, and their interactions deepen our understanding of the morally gray world they inhabit.
Another important character introduced in Better Call Saul is Gus Fring, the ruthless drug kingpin who runs Los Pollos Hermanos in Breaking Bad. While Gus is a more prominent figure in Breaking Bad, his backstory is explored in greater detail in Better Call Saul. The series gradually reveals how Gus builds his criminal empire, providing insight into his cold, calculated nature. The show also explores his relationship with Hector Salamanca, a character who plays a significant role in both Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad. The intense rivalry between Gus and Hector forms the backbone of much of Better Call Saul’s narrative, adding depth and tension to the show.
In addition to these key figures, Better Call Saul also reintroduces familiar characters from Breaking Bad, including Hector Salamanca, Tuco Salamanca, and the cartel. These characters help to bridge the gap between the two shows, and their storylines in Better Call Saul build toward the events that unfold in Breaking Bad.
Thematic Connections Between the Two Shows
While the plots of Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad differ in many ways, both shows explore similar themes. One of the central themes in both series is the moral ambiguity of the characters. In Breaking Bad, Walter White’s transformation from a mild-mannered teacher to a ruthless drug lord is one of the most compelling aspects of the show. Similarly, Better Call Saul examines Jimmy McGill’s descent into Saul Goodman, highlighting the choices that lead him down a dark path.
Both shows also explore the consequences of one’s actions. In Breaking Bad, the choices made by Walter White have far-reaching consequences, not just for him, but for those around him. Better Call Saul explores the ripple effects of Jimmy’s actions, as his decisions shape the lives of those closest to him, including his brother Chuck, his love interest Kim Wexler, and his professional relationships with people like Mike and Gus. Both shows emphasize the idea that actions, no matter how small, can have significant and often disastrous consequences.
Another important theme in both shows is the idea of identity. Better Call Saul spends a considerable amount of time examining Jimmy’s struggle with his own sense of self. His desire to be a legitimate, successful lawyer is constantly in conflict with his tendency to resort to underhanded tactics to get what he wants. In contrast, Saul Goodman is a persona that Jimmy adopts as a way of coping with his failures and frustrations. Over time, Saul becomes more than just a persona; it becomes who he is. Similarly, Breaking Bad explores Walter White’s evolving identity as he transforms from a family man into a ruthless criminal mastermind. Both series examine the complex relationship between personal identity and the choices we make.
The Final Connection: The Fate of the Characters
While Better Call Saul has yet to fully conclude, it’s clear that the show’s ending will inevitably tie into the events of Breaking Bad. Fans have long speculated about how Jimmy McGill will ultimately transition into Saul Goodman, and whether any of the characters from Better Call Saul will appear in the later stages of Breaking Bad. In the final season of Better Call Saul, we begin to see glimpses of the more hardened, cynical Saul that fans of Breaking Bad are familiar with. These moments serve as a reminder that while the two shows are distinct, they are ultimately connected by the same characters, the same themes, and the same world.
In addition to exploring the backstories of familiar characters, Better Call Saul also answers questions that were left unanswered in Breaking Bad. For example, fans of Breaking Bad were left wondering what happened to Saul after the events of the show. Better Call Saul explores the post-Breaking Bad fate of Saul Goodman, providing closure to his character arc and offering a more complete picture of his journey.
Conclusion
In many ways, Better Call Saul is more than just a prequel to Breaking Bad; it is a deep dive into the complexities of character development, moral ambiguity, and the consequences of choices. While Breaking Bad focuses on the rise and fall of Walter White, Better Call Saul takes a closer look at the transformation of Jimmy McGill into Saul Goodman, shedding light on the man behind the lawyer. Through its compelling storytelling, complex characters, and thematic depth, Better Call Saul complements Breaking Bad in ways that elevate both series. Fans of Breaking Bad will find much to appreciate in Better Call Saul, while those new to the world of Walter White and Saul Goodman will gain a deeper understanding of the characters and their motivations.
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