Better Call Saul has six seasons, which aired from 2015 to 2022 on AMC. The series is a prequel and sequel to Breaking Bad, following Jimmy McGill’s transformation into the criminal lawyer Saul Goodman, with each season marking a distinct stage in that change.
Season Overview and Structure
The show is often described as a slow-burn drama, with each season containing 10 episodes except the final one, which has 13. The first three seasons focus on Jimmy’s legal career and his strained relationship with his brother Chuck, while the later seasons increasingly intersect with the drug-cartel storyline from Breaking Bad. The sixth season is split into two parts, with the first seven episodes airing in early 2022 and the final six in mid-2022.
Each season also includes black-and-white flashforward scenes set after the events of Breaking Bad, showing Saul living under the alias Gene Takavic in Omaha, Nebraska. These scenes build throughout the series and conclude in the final season.
Season 1 (2015) – The Origin Story
The first season introduces Jimmy McGill, a struggling lawyer working from a nail salon’s back room. He takes on small cases, including a elderly-care fraud scheme, while trying to win the approval of his older brother Chuck, a former lawyer now housebound with a mysterious electromagnetic sensitivity. The season establishes Jimmy’s con-man instincts and his friendship with Mike Ehrmantraut, a parking-lot attendant and former Philadelphia cop. It ends with Jimmy discovering that Chuck secretly blocked his job offer at a prestigious law firm, setting up the central conflict of the early series.
Season 2 (2016) – The Slippin’ Jimmy Problem
Season 2 deepens the brotherly feud. Jimmy gets a job at a copy shop to sabotage Chuck’s legal case, leading to a bitter confrontation. Meanwhile, Mike begins working for the cartel’s logistics man, Nacho Varga, and takes his first steps into the criminal underworld. The season ends with Jimmy deliberately getting himself disbarred from practicing law for a year, a self-destructive act that foreshadows his eventual embrace of the Saul Goodman persona.
Season 3 (2017) – The Breaking Point
This season focuses on the fallout of Jimmy’s actions. Chuck sues Jimmy for malpractice, and their legal battle culminates in a dramatic trial where Jimmy uses a doctored recording to discredit Chuck. Mike becomes entangled with the cartel’s enforcer, Tuco Salamanca, and later with the mysterious German engineer Werner Ziegler, who is building a secret underground lab for the cartel. The season ends with Chuck’s death by suicide (or self-inflicted fire, depending on interpretation), and Jimmy legally changing his name to Saul Goodman.
Season 4 (2018) – The Transformation
Season 4 follows Jimmy as he re-enters the legal world, but this time as a sleazy, commercial lawyer. He takes on petty criminal cases and begins building the Saul Goodman brand. Mike, now working for the cartel’s leader Gus Fring, oversees the construction of the meth lab that will later appear in Breaking Bad. The season ends with Jimmy getting his law license reinstated, but he tells the bar association he will no longer use the name Jimmy McGill – he is now Saul Goodman.
Season 5 (2020) – The Criminal Lawyer
Season 5 is the darkest yet, as Saul fully embraces his role as a lawyer for criminals. He represents Lalo Salamanca, a violent cartel member, and becomes a key player in the drug war. Mike and Gus work to eliminate Lalo, but the season ends with Lalo surviving an assassination attempt and vowing revenge. Meanwhile, Kim Wexler, Jimmy’s wife and moral anchor, begins to embrace her own darker impulses, setting up her arc for the final season.
Season 6 (2022) – The End and the Aftermath
The final season resolves the cartel storyline and the Gene Takavic timeline. The first half deals with the aftermath of Lalo’s return, leading to a dramatic confrontation at Gus’s lab. The second half jumps forward to the Gene timeline, showing Saul’s life as a Cinnabon manager in Omaha. He is eventually recognized and arrested, and in a surprising turn, he chooses to confess his crimes and accept a long prison sentence, rather than cutting a deal as he had planned. The series ends with Saul in prison, but with a sense of redemption, as he reconciles with his past.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to watch Breaking Bad first?
No, but it helps. Better Call Saul is a standalone story, but it references characters and events from Breaking Bad. Watching the original series first will enhance your understanding of the cameos and the significance of certain plot points, especially in the final season.
Is Better Call Saul as good as Breaking Bad?
Many critics and fans consider it equal, or even superior, to Breaking Bad. The show is praised for its character development, cinematography, and writing, though it is slower-paced and more character-driven than its predecessor.
How many episodes are in the final season?
The sixth season has 13 episodes, making it the longest season. The show’s total episode count is 63.
What is the correct viewing order for both shows?
For a chronological experience, you can watch Better Call Saul seasons 1–6, then Breaking Bad, then the movie El Camino. However, most fans recommend watching Breaking Bad first, then El Camino, and then Better Call Saul, as the prequel assumes you know the fate of certain characters.
Is Kim Wexler in Breaking Bad?
No, Kim Wexler is a character created for Better Call Saul and does not appear in Breaking Bad. Her absence in the original series is a point of speculation, but the prequel explains it in its final season.
What happens to Saul Goodman after Breaking Bad?
In Better Call Saul’s final season, we see that Saul is arrested and sentenced to 86 years in prison. He chooses to confess his crimes, including his role in Walter White’s empire, and is last seen on a prison bus with inmates chanting his name.
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