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

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When Breaking Bad first aired in 2008, no one predicted how hugely popular it would become. Created by Vince Gilligan, the show is now considered one of the best TV series ever made. After it ended in 2013, a prequel called Better Call Saul was announced, centering on Bob Odenkirk’s character, the shady lawyer Saul Goodman (originally Jimmy McGill). Gilligan’s original show has since expanded with two spin-offs, which can make it tricky to figure out the best way to watch everything, especially with a prequel and a sequel in the mix.

Luckily, it’s easy to figure out the best way to watch Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. You can also include the movie El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie to get a more complete picture of Walter White’s story. What makes watching both shows so enjoyable is how the characters connect – and when characters from Breaking Bad appear in Better Call Saul, it feels natural and adds to the story, rather than just being a fun nod to fans. It genuinely deepens the characters and increases the dramatic tension.

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


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To enjoy Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul as they were meant to be seen, simply watch them in the order they originally aired. Start with all five seasons of Breaking Bad, and then move on to Better Call Saul. While Better Call Saul has six seasons, most of the story happens before the events in the original Breaking Bad series.

Many viewers prefer to watch Better Call Saul before Breaking Bad and El Camino because it’s largely a prequel. However, starting with Better Call Saul might actually spoil some of the story. That’s because Better Call Saul frequently uses scenes set after the events of Breaking Bad and El Camino, shown in black and white, and these scenes take place furthest along in the timeline.

Series/Project Release Date/Length
Breaking Bad 2008-2013/5 Seasons
Better Call Saul 2015-2022/6 Seasons
El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie October 2019

Certain episodes of the show connect with important moments from Breaking Bad, including quick cameos from familiar faces that help create a richer, more believable world. What’s especially compelling is how characters like Gus Fring and Mike Ehrmantraut are reimagined in Better Call Saul – they’re drastically different from their Breaking Bad counterparts. Because we already know their eventual fates, their stories are particularly powerful and heartbreaking.

One of the most compelling aspects of Better Call Saul is knowing how Jimmy McGill eventually becomes Saul Goodman. This creates a powerful sense of anticipation throughout the show. Co-created by Peter Gould, the series jumps between different time periods. As it progressed, Better Call Saul increasingly mirrored the style and timeline of Breaking Bad, shifting from the earlier seasons’ lighter, more comedic tone.

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

Viewing Them in Chronological Order Simply Wouldn’t Work


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As a big fan of both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, I’ve thought a lot about watching them in order of events, not release date. The problem is, the flashbacks jump around a lot. You’ll see moments with younger Jimmy McGill pop up in Better Call Saul, but then other flashbacks relevant to his backstory show up in Breaking Bad. Trying to piece it all together chronologically feels forced, like you’re chasing one scene from Better Call Saul just to get a tiny bit of backstory – and honestly, it takes away from the experience. It’s better to just enjoy the shows as they were intended to be seen.

The ideal way to watch the series is in the order they were released. If you want the full story, including what happens to Jesse Pinkman after Breaking Bad, be sure to watch El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie. Written and directed by Vince Gilligan, it’s a unique, Western-style film. El Camino provides a conclusive ending, making it best viewed after both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. Gilligan’s interconnected stories focus on Walter, Jesse, and Saul, each with a clear beginning and end.

Watching these shows back-to-back is incredibly rewarding because of the shared characters and ideas, and each one still feels distinct thanks to the creative approach. Breaking Bad focuses heavily on crime and a character’s deliberate turn to evil, while Better Call Saul is a more nuanced story about Jimmy McGill’s gradual transformation, and how his complex relationships—or lack of them—ultimately lead him down a dark path before a surprising redemption.

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


Apple TV

Even though Breaking Bad finished over a decade ago, fans won’t have to wait much longer for Vince Gilligan’s new series. Called Pluribus, it seems to bring together everything he’s learned throughout his career. The show stars Rhea Seehorn, who previously worked with Gilligan on Better Call Saul, and returns him to the science fiction genre where he began his career with The X-Files. Pluribus is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated TV shows this fall.

If you haven’t seen Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, and El Camino yet, you really need to! Seriously, they’re amazing – the stories are so well-written, they tackle some really interesting and complicated ideas, and the characters are just so flawed and realistic. I’d recommend watching everything in the order it came out – Breaking Bad first, then Better Call Saul, and finally El Camino after you’ve finished both shows. Trust me, it’s the best way to experience it all!

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2025-11-05 04:19