Better Call Saul
Prequel spin-off exploring Jimmy McGill's descent into Saul Goodman.
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Better Call Saul is a neo-noir legal crime drama from AMC, created by Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould. It belongs to the *Breaking Bad* universe, serving mostly as a prequel to Gilligan’s earlier show, though it also includes scenes set during and after *Breaking Bad*. The series aired from February 8, 2015, to August 15, 2022, across six seasons and 63 episodes.
The story takes place mainly in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the early to mid-2000s, a few years before *Breaking Bad*. It follows Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk), a former con artist trying to become a respectable lawyer, as he slowly transforms into the flashy, unethical criminal defense attorney Saul Goodman. The show also tracks Mike Ehrmantraut (Jonathan Banks), a former crooked cop who becomes a fixer for drug traffickers. Black-and-white flashforwards, set in 2010 after *Breaking Bad*, show the fallout of Saul’s choices across both series. Odenkirk, Banks, and Giancarlo Esposito reprise their *Breaking Bad* roles, with many other guest stars returning. New characters include Rhea Seehorn, Michael McKean, Patrick Fabian, Michael Mando, and Tony Dalton.
Gilligan and Gould first considered a Saul Goodman spin-off in 2009, after Saul’s role in *Breaking Bad* grew beyond their original plans. They initially thought of a half-hour legal comedy about Saul and his clients, but instead created an hour-long tragedy showing how he becomes the character seen in *Breaking Bad*. Development started during *Breaking Bad*’s final season in 2013, with Gilligan and Gould as co-showrunners and much of the same production team. Gilligan left as a writer early in season three, leaving Gould as sole showrunner, though Gilligan continued directing and helped write the final season.
The show was widely praised for its acting, characters, writing, direction, and cinematography. Many critics called it a worthy follow-up to *Breaking Bad*, with some even ranking it higher, and it is often listed among the greatest TV series ever. It earned numerous accolades, including two Peabody Award nominations, 53 Primetime Emmy nominations (the most for a show that never won an Emmy), 19 Writers Guild nominations, 20 Critics’ Choice nominations, 9 Actor Award nominations, and 6 Golden Globe nominations. Its premiere held the record for the highest-rated scripted series debut in basic cable history at the time.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Crime drama / Legal drama / Black comedy / Tragedy / Neo-noir
- Creator
- Vince Gilligan / Peter Gould
- Showrunner
- Vince Gilligan (seasons 1–3) / Peter Gould
- Starring
- Bob Odenkirk / Jonathan Banks / Rhea Seehorn / Patrick Fabian / Michael Mando / Michael McKean / Giancarlo Esposito / Tony Dalton
- Theme Music Composer
- Little Barrie
- Composer
- Dave Porter
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Num Seasons
- 6
- Num Episodes
- 63
- List Episodes
- List of Better Call Saul episodes
- Executive Producer
- Vince Gilligan / Peter Gould / Mark Johnson / Melissa Bernstein / Thomas Schnauz / Gennifer Hutchison / Diane Mercer / Alison Tatlock / Gordon Smith / Michael Morris
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Better Call Saul is set primarily in the early to mid-2000s in Albuquerque, New Mexico, several years before Breaking Bad. It examines the ethical decline of Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk), an aspiring lawyer and former con artist who becomes the egocentric criminal-defense attorney Saul Goodman. The show also follows Mike Ehrmantraut (Jonathan Banks), a former corrupt police officer who becomes a fixer and enforcer for drug traffickers. In addition to the primary storyline, the series includes black-and-white flashforwards set in 2010, after Breaking Bad, exploring the consequences of Saul's actions.
Reader's Guide
Better Call Saul received critical acclaim, with many reviewers considering it a worthy successor to Breaking Bad and some deeming it superior. It has garnered many accolades, including 53 Primetime Emmy Award nominations (setting a record for the most-nominated show to never win an Emmy), 19 Writers Guild of America Award nominations, 20 Critics' Choice Television Award nominations, and 6 Golden Globe Award nominations. At the time of its airing, the series premiere held the record for the highest-rated scripted series premiere in basic cable history. The show's development began during the production of Breaking Bad's final season in 2013, with Gilligan and Gould serving as co-showrunners. Gilligan left as a writer early in the third season, making Gould the sole showrunner for the remainder of its run, though Gilligan continued to direct episodes and returned to help write the final season.
Did You Know?
- Better Call Saul premiered on AMC on February 8, 2015, and ended on August 15, 2022.
- The series holds the record for the most Primetime Emmy Award nominations (53) without ever winning an Emmy.
- Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould created the series, with Gould writing the Breaking Bad episode 'Better Call Saul' that inspired the spin-off.
More in Characters & Personas
Elsewhere in Breaking Bad
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