Better Call Saul vs. Breaking Bad: Determining the superior drama series

Despite ongoing discussions among fans, there is no clear consensus on which series, Better Call Saul or Breaking Bad, reigns supreme. Both shows, created by Vince Gilligan, have intriguing origin stories. The saga came to a close with the release of El Camino on Netflix, bringing closure to the expansive Breaking Bad Universe.

Throughout its five-year run from 2008 to 2013, Breaking Bad, featuring Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul, became one of the most adored television shows of all time.

**Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers. The author’s opinions are the sole expression of the text.

The plot of Breaking Bad centers on Walter White, a former chemistry teacher turned drug kingpin. As he became more engrossed in his newfound authority in the drug world, the once-meek man suffered severe consequences when he resorted to producing and selling meth to support his family before his eventual death from a terminal illness.

The original intent of Better Call Saul was to depict the origins of Saul Goodman, therefore focusing solely on his past. However, the series took an unexpected turn by starting with Saul Goodman’s post-Breaking Bad journey. As a result, Better Call Saul can no longer be classified as just a prequel, as it continues the narrative of Breaking Bad.

After two seasons and 63 episodes, BCS became both a prequel and a sequel to Breaking Bad. The show concluded with its series finale, bringing an end to the Breaking Bad Universe on a memorable note, after also including a stand-alone Netflix film that spanned 15 years of television.

What factors contributed to Better Call Saul’s success in surpassing Breaking Bad?

Despite the dark and violent themes of Breaking Bad’s second season, Bob Odenkirk brought a much-needed lightheartedness to the show with his portrayal of Saul Goodman, the avaricious and fast-talking criminal lawyer. Viewers quickly recognized Odenkirk’s main role in the groundbreaking series was to provide some comedic relief as the show delved deeper into its blue meth-fueled storyline.

Initially, it appeared unnecessary to develop a spin-off featuring Walter White’s deceitful lawyer since the character was never taken seriously, despite his involvement in aiding Team Heisenberg in their most significant illegal activities.

Despite initial doubts, Better Call Saul has transformed into a multifaceted, visually striking, and captivating drama that stands on its own and is equally worthy of recognition in the TV Hall of Fame.

As Saul gained traction, the initial opinion shifted from one of singular focus to a more complex analysis of the show’s elements. This was especially evident in its seamless integration of the Greek tragedy of Jimmy McGill’s disintegrating soul and the cartel subplots led by Mike Ehrmantraut and Gus Fring.

Not only did Better Call Saul excel, but it also exceeded Breaking Bad in terms of quality.

The Role of Breaking Bad in the Success of Better Call Saul

Despite the lack of guarantees, Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan was initially filled with excitement and thrill when the show debuted in season 1. While the story may seem well-crafted and coherent, it wasn’t until season 4 that the conclusion truly began to take shape.

Despite debuting in 2015, Better Call Saul was able to maintain the same foundation and tone as Breaking Bad. While the spinoff may have a slightly different tone, it still possesses the same level of maturity that can only be attributed to having a successful TV show as its predecessor.

Against all odds, Better Call Saul successfully achieved what was deemed impossible over the course of its six seasons: breaking free from the looming presence of Breaking Bad and developing a distinct and compelling storyline. This is especially impressive considering the massive popularity of Heisenberg and Jesse Pinkman’s journey, which captured the hearts of audiences everywhere.

Both BCS and Breaking Bad’s casts are exceptional and their stories are masterful examples of television artistry. The production quality is top-notch in both shows. However, while Breaking Bad set the standard for an outstanding television show, its successor not only met but exceeded that standard.