Better Call Saul vs Breaking Bad: Which Is Better?

Number of seasons: 6 ·
Number of episodes: 63 ·
Premiere date: February 8, 2015 ·
Finale date: August 15, 2022 ·
IMDb rating: 9.0/10 ·
Rotten Tomatoes score: 98%

Six key facts tell the story of Better Call Saul at a glance:

Is Better Call Saul as good as Breaking Bad?

Critical reception of Better Call Saul vs Breaking Bad

The consensus among critics is that both shows sit at the top of television. Better Call Saul holds a 98% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes (Collider (film and TV coverage)), while Breaking Bad stands at 96% (Collider (film and TV coverage)). Many critics argue BCS surpasses BB in character depth (Collider (film and TV coverage)).

Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb scores

• Better Call Saul: 98% RT, IMDb 9.0/10 (Collider (film and TV coverage))
• Breaking Bad: 96% RT, IMDb 9.5/10 (Collider (film and TV coverage))

Narrative complexity and character development

Better Call Saul’s slow-burn pacing allows deeper exploration of Jimmy McGill’s transformation. Its prequel structure restricts some Breaking Bad characters but gives Jimmy freedom to evolve independently (Collider (film and TV coverage)). The trade-off: Breaking Bad’s “Ozymandias” (S5E14) is considered more devastating than any BCS episode (Collider (film and TV coverage)).

The implication: critical consensus may favor BCS, but peak drama remains with Breaking Bad.

Is Better Call Saul a hit or a flop?

Viewership numbers and ratings

Better Call Saul averaged steady viewership over six seasons, though exact numbers per season are not all publicly released (Collider (film and TV coverage)). The critical consensus calls it critically acclaimed but underrated in awards.

Awards and nominations

BCS received 46 Emmy nominations, winning zero — a controversial outcome (Collider (film and TV coverage)). This awards shutout contrasts with Breaking Bad’s 16 Emmy wins.

Cultural impact

Despite the Emmy drought, the show’s influence is undeniable. It spawned its own fan theories, a dedicated Reddit community, and continued Vince Gilligan’s reputation for meticulous storytelling.

The pattern: awards snubs do not diminish a show’s cultural impact.

Why did Better Call Saul end so abruptly?

The series finale “Saul Gone” explanation

The finale was planned as a logical conclusion, not a cancellation. Jimmy McGill (now Gene Takovic) chooses 86 years in prison to redeem himself (Den of Geek (geek culture outlet)).

Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould’s creative decision

Co-creators Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould said the series had a defined end, not a cancellation. As Gilligan explained: “We wanted to give Jimmy a chance at redemption” (Collider (film and TV coverage)).

Ending that completes Jimmy’s arc

The finale ties back to Jimmy’s core conflict — his desire for approval and his fear of being a good man. His final act (confessing to additional crimes) mirrors but inverts Walter White’s self-destruction.

“He finally does the right thing, even if it costs him everything.”

— Bob Odenkirk (Collider (film and TV coverage))

Should you watch Breaking Bad or Better Call Saul first?

Chronological order vs release order

Recommended release order: Breaking Bad first, then Better Call Saul (Collider (film and TV coverage)). Chronological order (BCS first) spoils some Breaking Bad elements.

Pros and cons of watching BCS first

• Pro: You experience the timeline in story order.
• Con: You miss the tension of knowing which characters survive.

Creator Vince Gilligan’s suggestion

Gilligan himself advises watching Breaking Bad first, then Better Call Saul (Collider (film and TV coverage)).

Who is more evil: Walter White or Saul Goodman?

Walter White’s transformation from teacher to drug lord

Walter White directly causes deaths, while Saul is an enabler (YouTube analysis (fan analysis)). Walt’s actions are active and destructive.

Saul Goodman’s moral descent from Jimmy McGill

Saul’s actions have indirect consequences — he launders money, provides legal cover, and conspires. But he rarely pulls a trigger.

Comparison of their crimes and motivations

Both are morally gray, but Walter is more directly evil. Saul’s final arc shows remorse; Walt never fully repents.

Did Jimmy McGill get 7 or 86 years in prison?

The plea deal vs the final sentence

Jimmy was initially offered 7 years, but he rejects it and confesses to more crimes (Den of Geek (geek culture outlet)).

Why Jimmy chose 86 years

The final sentence is 86 years — effectively life. The number reflects his full accounting for his actions.

The significance of the number

Jimmy’s choice mirrors Walter White’s: both men take control of their end, but Jimmy’s is an act of penance, not pride.

The pattern across both shows: one man accepted responsibility; the other never did.

Better Call Saul vs Breaking Bad: side by side

Six attributes, one pattern: Better Call Saul matches or exceeds its predecessor in critical reception but falls short in awards and peak violence.

The comparison shows that while BCS excels in critical reception, it lags in awards.

Upsides and downsides of Better Call Saul

What this means: viewers seeking deep character work will enjoy BCS despite its slower pace.

Timeline of key events

• February 8, 2015 – Series premiere on AMC (Collider (film and TV coverage))
• 2015–2022 – Six seasons aired (Collider (film and TV coverage))
• August 15, 2022 – Series finale “Saul Gone” (Collider (film and TV coverage))
• 2002 (within show) – Jimmy McGill meets Kim Wexler (Den of Geek (geek culture outlet))
• 2009 (within show) – Jimmy fully adopts the Saul Goodman persona (Den of Geek (geek culture outlet))

The timeline shows how BCS’s story spans from 2002 to 2010.

What we know and what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

• Better Call Saul is a prequel to Breaking Bad (Collider (film and TV coverage))
• Jimmy McGill’s real name is James McGill (Den of Geek (geek culture outlet))
• The series ends with Jimmy in prison serving 86 years (Den of Geek (geek culture outlet))

What’s unclear

• Whether the series was always planned to end at season 6 from the start (Collider (film and TV coverage))
• Exact viewership numbers for each season (Collider (film and TV coverage))
• Whether Breaking Bad’s “Ozymandias” is more devastating than any BCS episode (medium confidence) (Collider (film and TV coverage))

“We wanted to give Jimmy a chance at redemption.”

— Vince Gilligan (Collider (film and TV coverage))

“He finally does the right thing, even if it costs him everything.”

— Bob Odenkirk (Collider (film and TV coverage))

For fans of character-driven drama, the choice is clear: watch both, but Better Call Saul rewards patience with deeper emotional resonance. The catch: you cannot fully appreciate BCS without first seeing Breaking Bad. For new viewers, the recommendation is to start with Breaking Bad, then move to Better Call Saul — or face the alternative: a story that spoils its own mysteries, affecting how you judge Jimmy McGill’s redemption.

If you’re torn between the two shows, this detailed comparison guide provides an excellent breakdown of their strengths and viewing order.

Frequently asked questions

These FAQs address common viewer questions about the series.

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