Better Call Saul (2015 — 2022)

Better Call Saul (2015–2022) is a show that branches off from Breaking Bad, a popular crime drama series that aired from 2008 to 2013. It follows the story of Jimmy McGill, an ex-con artist striving to make a name for himself as a public defender. The show captures his gradual transition into his eventual Breaking Bad persona of Saul Goodman, the ostentatious criminal lawyer who has ties to the drug cartel. Most of the events take place six years prior to those in Breaking Bad, from around 2002 to 2008. Jimmy’s brother Chuck McGill serves as his inspiration to leave his past as ‘Slippin’ Jimmy’ behind when he lived in Chicago. Initially, he starts working in the mailroom at Hamlin, Hamlin & McGill (HHM), where managing partner Howard Hamlin becomes his arch-rival. During his time at HHM, Jimmy develops an intense bond with fellow mailroom employee Kim Wexler, who later becomes one of the firm’s associates and their relationship turns romantic.

Season 1 (2015). In 2002, Jimmy represents Craig Kettleman, accused of embezzlement. This leads to encounters with psychotic drug lord Tuco Salamanca and his lieutenant Nacho. Additionally, Jimmy devotes his time to caring for his brother Chuck, who suffers from electromagnetic hypersensitivity. While working in elder law, Jimmy discovers that the Sandpiper retirement community is defrauding its seniors. As the class action lawsuit against Sandpiper grows, Chuck suggests giving it to Hamlin, Hamlin & McGill law firm. Although Jimmy receives a small of counsel fee and a share of any future settlement, he is not allowed to participate due to Chuck’s sabotage out of resentment. Following the death of an old friend, Jimmy’s luck changes when Davis & Main offers him a job after HHM brings them in to assist with the Sandpiper case. In 2010, Gene manages a Cinnabon during the day but spends his evenings reliving his past as Saul through watching old VHS tapes of his television advertisements.

Season 2 (2016). In 2002, Jimmy quits his job as an associate at D&M because his flashy legal style clashes with the firm’s conservative culture. Kim gets demoted by Howard Hamlin, a partner at Chuck’s firm, due to Jimmy’s actions. Despite not receiving credit from Howard, Kim successfully secures banking firm Mesa Verde as a client for HHM. Fed up with HHM, Kim leaves and joins forces with Jimmy to open their own private practice. While trying to harm Chuck’s standing with Mesa Verde, Jimmy ends up inadvertently helping Kim secure them as a client instead. However, when Chuck exposes Jimmy’s involvement and tricks him into confessing, things take a dramatic turn. Additionally, Nacho asks Mike Ehrmantraut to eliminate Tuco for him, but Mike has other plans and manipulates the situation to get Tuco out of the Salamanca organization instead. In the end, Hector Salamanca (Tuco’s uncle and head of the cartel) confronts Mike over his actions. As Mike attempts to take Hector out once and for all, something unexpected interrupts him.

Season 3 (2017). In 2003, Jimmy’s law license is suspended as a result of the disciplinary hearing, while Chuck’s hypsersensitivity is revealed to be psychosomatic. Following Jimmy’s sabotage of Chuck’s insurance, Howard advises him to retire, but Chuck disregards this and sues HHM. Ultimately, Howard buys out Chuck’s share of the firm, which leads to Chuck taking his own life. Meanwhile, Gus intervenes in Hector’s assassination attempt and Mike executes a robbery on Hector’s trucks at Gus’ request. In order to conceal the stolen money, Mike is hired by Madrigal as a contracted security consultant. Hector then plots to take over Nacho’s father’s business and Nacho attempts to kill him by tampering with his angina medication. However, this plan goes awry when Hector suffers a stroke during a confrontation with cartel lieutenant Juan Bolsa and falls into a coma. In 2010, during his lunch break as Gene, he directs mall security guards towards a shoplifter before suddenly collapsing from stress while at work.

Season 4 (2018). In 2003, Jimmy reverts back to his outgoing persona when Howard takes the fall for Chuck’s death. He manages a cell phone store while also making extra cash by reselling prepaid phones to criminals. However, a year later, his law license reinstatement request is denied due to his lack of remorse for Chuck. After pretending to mourn, he successfully appeals and begins practicing under the name ‘Saul Goodman’. Meanwhile, Gus discovers that Nacho attempted to kill Hector and uses this information to blackmail him into sabotaging the Salamancas. Mike is tasked with accompanying engineers as they evaluate Gus’s industrial laundry site for potential use as an underground meth lab. Gus hires Werner Ziegler to oversee construction, but later orders Mike to eliminate him after he goes missing to spend time with his wife. Hector recovers from his stroke but is left mute and only able to communicate through hand gestures. His nephew, Lalo Salamanca, arrives on the scene and begins managing Hector’s business while also gathering information about Gus’s construction project. In 2010, Gene suffers a collapse and is hospitalized before being discharged. He becomes anxious when a taxi driver with an Albuquerque Isotopes air freshener appears to recognize him.

Season 5 (2020). In 2004, Jimmy’s law practice as Saul Goodman becomes intertwined with Albuquerque’s drug trade. He is faced with a difficult decision when Howard offers him a position at HHM. Meanwhile, Kim must balance her work for Mesa Verde and pro bono cases while also grappling with her feelings for Jimmy. She finds herself resorting to similar conman tactics in her own professional endeavors. Together, Jimmy and Kim orchestrate a plot to ruin Howard in order to settle the Sandpiper case. Gus is forced to put construction of his meth lab on hold due to Lalo’s presence in Albuquerque. As the feud between the Salamancas and Gus continues, Nacho and Mike become pawns in their dangerous game. Lalo eventually hires Jimmy to represent him after being arrested for murder, but this puts Jimmy’s life at risk. After Lalo is released from jail, an attempt is made on his life by hired assassins from Gus. Lalo suspects that Nacho has betrayed him and seeks revenge. In 2010, during a lunch break, Gene (previously known as Saul Goodman) runs into a taxi driver and his friend who recognize him from his past life in Albuquerque.

Season 6 (2022). In 2004, Nacho attempts to escape the Salamancas following their attack on Lalo. However, after Gus falsely pins the blame on him, Nacho sacrifices himself to protect his father. Meanwhile, Jimmy and Kim damage Howard’s reputation in order to reach a settlement for the Sandpiper case. Howard confronts them but is later killed by Lalo. Taking advantage of a diversion caused by Kim, Lalo makes his way to Gus’s meth lab construction site. But Gus is armed and fatally shoots Lalo in defense. To cover up Howard and Lalo’s deaths, Mike stages it as a suicide and oversees their burial under the lab. The traumatic events cause Kim to leave her law career and file for divorce from Jimmy. Fast forward four years, Jimmy has fully transformed into Saul Goodman as seen in Breaking Bad. By 2010, Gene approaches Jeff and Buddy about robbing a department store. He reaches out to Kim in Florida and together they come up with a plan to scam rich single men at bars for financial gain. However, when things go awry, Buddy quits while Jeff gets arrested leaving Gene vulnerable.