Better Call Saul is better than its reputation
Many think of it as a spin-off to watch on the side. In fact, Better Call Saul tells its own quieter story across six seasons. Spoiler-free: what to expect.
Spin-offs have a bad reputation, often for good reason. They live off a familiar character and hope that is enough. Better Call Saul is different. It started in 2015 as a prequel to Breaking Bad and grew over six seasons into something of its own, which some even consider the better of the two shows.
What it is about
Jimmy McGill is a lawyer without any shine. He works out of the back room of a nail salon, takes public defender cases and tries to find his feet in the shadow of his successful older brother Chuck. Jimmy is charming, quick-witted and has a talent for small tricks. If you know Breaking Bad, you know that he will one day become Saul Goodman. The series tells how that happens, and takes its time doing it.
A different kind of tension
Breaking Bad is a thriller. Better Call Saul is more of a character drama in which tension builds quietly. A contract, a phone call or a signature can carry as much weight here as a shootout elsewhere. That is slower, and the first episodes in particular need some patience. In return, it hits all the harder when things tip over.
In parallel there is a second storyline about Mike Ehrmantraut, played by Jonathan Banks, whom Breaking Bad fans will recognise. His story leads deeper into Albuquerque's drug trade and gradually ties the series to what comes later.
Kim Wexler
Perhaps the most important character in the series does not exist in Breaking Bad at all. Kim Wexler is a lawyer, Jimmy's colleague and more than that. Rhea Seehorn plays her so precisely that a single look is often enough to understand what is going on inside her. Many viewers say Kim is the reason they kept watching.
Bob Odenkirk
Bob Odenkirk came from comedy, and you can hear it in Jimmy's wit. But he plays the role with a sadness nobody would have expected after Breaking Bad. You laugh at Jimmy's ideas and see at the same time where they are taking him.
Do I need to have seen Breaking Bad first?
No, but it helps. Better Call Saul works as a story of its own. Some characters and moments gain weight, though, when you know what becomes of them later. That is why most people watch Breaking Bad first, and here is why that is worth it.
A word on awards
Over the years, Better Call Saul received more than 50 Emmy nominations and did not win a single one. That says less about the series than about the bad luck of running at the same time as other big dramas. People who have seen it tend to take that record personally.
If you want more in this direction after the series: series like Better Call Saul.
Quick answers
How many seasons does Better Call Saul have?
Six seasons with 63 episodes in total, released from 2015 to 2022. The series is complete.
Is Better Call Saul set before or after Breaking Bad?
Mostly before. Some scenes are set at other times.
Can I watch Better Call Saul without Breaking Bad?
Yes. It tells a story of its own. With knowledge of Breaking Bad, some scenes are more powerful, though.
Where is Better Call Saul streaming?
That changes. The Better Call Saul title page shows where it is streaming right now.
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