How To Watch ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Better Call Saul’ in Order

When Breaking Bad premiered in 2008, nobody expected the story of Bryan Cranston’s character, Walter White, to have as big an impact on culture as it did. Created by Vince Gilligan, the series became one of the greatest television shows of all time. After the series ended in 2013, a prequel titled Better Call Saul was announced, focusing on Bob Odenkirk’s crooked lawyer, Saul Goodman, formerly Jimmy McGill. Gilligan’s original creation would soon spawn two spin-offs, which could make the viewing order a bit confusing, especially since one is a prequel and the other a sequel.

Thankfully, the watch order for Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul is straightforward, and the feature film El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie can be added to enhance the story of Walter White’s rise and fall. The overlapping characters are what make watching both series so rewarding, especially since the appearance of Breaking Bad characters in Better Call Saul isn’t for the sake of fan service, but instead for the overall story and driving the character work and drama.

The ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Better Call Saul’ Watch Order, Explained

As previously mentioned, to watch Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul in the correct order, all viewers need to do is watch them in the order they aired. So, after watching five seasons of Breaking Bad in a row, viewers can then move on to Better Call Saul, whose six seasons primarily take place before the events of Vince Gilligan’s original series.

Fans may want to watch Better Call Saul first, since most of the show is considered a prequel. However, this could actually be a disservice to the overall story of Albuquerque’s criminal underworld. This is primarily because every season of Better Call Saul begins with black-and-white flash-forwards and takes place furthest in the timeline compared to Breaking Bad and El Camino.

Some episodes overlap with critical events in Breaking Bad, featuring brief appearances from original characters that make the world feel more lived-in and immersive. Moreover, certain characters, like Giancarlo Esposito’s Gus Fring and Jonathan Banks’ Mike Ehrmantraut, are almost completely different characters in Better Call Saul than they are in Breaking Bad. Their arcs are the most effective and tragic because you already know what becomes of them in the previous series.

Hindsight is incredibly important when watching Better Call Saul, and knowing what becomes of Jimmy McGill as he descends into his Saul Goodman persona is part of what makes the prequel series so engrossing. The series, co-created by Peter Gould, tells a story across several time periods. As the series approached its end, it would also move closer to Breaking Bad in both its timeline and aesthetic (whereas the earlier seasons of Better Call Saul were lighter in tone and more comedic).

‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Better Call Saul’ Both Feature Flashbacks

Viewing Them in Chronological Order Simply Wouldn’t Work

AMC

The main issue with watching Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul in chronological order is that the flashback scenes in both series are inconsistent. Flashbacks can appear in either Breaking Bad or Better Call Saul, depending on the plot or thematic relevance, making strict chronological viewing tricky. One of the earliest flashbacks/points in the series features a young Jimmy McGill. However, it’s only one scene at the beginning of an episode of Better Call Saul, and watching a single scene from a single episode just for the sake of continuity is derivative.

So, the best watch order is that of release date. For those who want the complete Breaking Bad experience, there is also El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, which details what happens to Aaron Paul’s character Jesse Pinkman after the events of Breaking Bad. Written and directed by Vince Gilligan, the film plays out like a Neo-Western and is much more unique in tone than either television series. Given the finality of El Camino‘s ending, it’s the perfect film to watch after both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. The world Gilligan created centered on the three characters — Walter, Jesse, and Saul — with each project providing definitive beginnings and endings for all of them.

The overlapping characters and themes are what make watching all the projects in succession so satisfying, as well as the creative vision behind each project, which makes each feel individual and unique. While Breaking Bad puts a lot more emphasis on the crime elements and a character’s willing dark descent, Better Call Saul is all about the slow fade of Jimmy McGill, and the layered and intimate relationships (or lack thereof) that eventually drive him to his darkest impulses before ultimate redemption in the most unexpected of ways.

Vince Gilligan’s Next Television Project Is a Culmination of His Previous Work

Apple TV

While it may have been well over 10 years since Breaking Bad ended, fans won’t have to wait long for Vince Gilligan’s next project. Titled Pluribus, the upcoming Apple TV series feels like a culmination of everything Gilligan has done up to this point. Starring Rhea Seehorn (whom Gilligan worked with when he directed one of the final episodes of Better Call Saul) and based in the sci-fi genre (which Gilligan first got his start in with his writing on The X-Files), Pluribus looks to be one of the most exciting projects of the fall television season.

There is still time to watch Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, and El Camino before jumping into the next series from Vince Gilligan. With rich narratives, complex themes, and morally grey characters, the two television series and the movie are a captivating watch from beginning to end. Overall, the best way to watch the projects is in release order, except for El Camino, which can be viewed after you’re done with both television series.