What Happened to Better Call Saul?
Better Call Saul, a critically acclaimed prequel and partial sequel to 'Breaking Bad,' chronicled the moral descent of lawyer Jimmy McGill into the morally ambiguous criminal attorney Saul Goodman. The series concluded its six-season run on August 15, 2022, earning widespread praise for its writing, acting, and character development, solidifying its place as one of television's greatest dramas.
Quick Answer
Better Call Saul concluded its highly successful six-season run on August 15, 2022, with the series finale 'Saul Gone.' The show saw Jimmy McGill fully embrace his Saul Goodman persona and ultimately face the consequences of his actions, receiving an 86-year prison sentence. Despite numerous nominations, it famously holds the record for the most Emmy-nominated drama series without a single win, though it did secure two Peabody Awards. As of 2026, there are no plans for further spin-offs in the 'Breaking Bad' universe, with creators and cast moving on to new projects.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline15 events
Series Officially Greenlit
AMC officially greenlights 'Better Call Saul' as a spin-off prequel to 'Breaking Bad,' with Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould at the helm.
Series Premiere
The first season of 'Better Call Saul' premieres on AMC, introducing audiences to Jimmy McGill's life six years before 'Breaking Bad.'
Season 2 Premiere
The second season begins, continuing Jimmy's struggles with his legal career and moral choices, further developing his relationship with Kim Wexler.
Season 3 Premiere and Gus Fring's Return
Season 3 premieres, notably featuring the highly anticipated return of Giancarlo Esposito as drug kingpin Gus Fring, a major antagonist from 'Breaking Bad.'
Season 4 Premiere and Lalo Salamanca's Introduction
The fourth season debuts, introducing Tony Dalton as Lalo Salamanca, a charismatic and dangerous new cartel figure who quickly becomes a fan-favorite villain.
Final Season Announced
AMC announces that 'Better Call Saul' will conclude with its sixth and final season, comprising 13 episodes.
Season 5 Premiere
The fifth season premieres, showcasing Jimmy McGill's full embrace of the 'Saul Goodman' identity and the escalating dangers of his criminal associations.
Bob Odenkirk Suffers Heart Attack on Set
Lead actor Bob Odenkirk suffers a heart attack while filming a scene for the final season. Production is temporarily halted, but Odenkirk makes a full recovery and returns to set five weeks later.
Season 6 Premiere
The sixth and final season begins, split into two parts, leading to the ultimate conclusion of Jimmy McGill's story.
Series Finale 'Saul Gone'
The critically acclaimed series concludes with its final episode, 'Saul Gone,' bringing Jimmy McGill's journey to a definitive and poignant end.
Wins Second Peabody Award
'Better Call Saul' receives its second Peabody Award for its final season, recognizing its outstanding creative excellence and its ability to transcend its predecessor.
Becomes Most Emmy-Nominated Show Without a Win
With 53 Primetime Emmy nominations and zero wins, 'Better Call Saul' sets a new record for the most-nominated drama series in Emmy history to never win.
Vince Gilligan's New Series with Rhea Seehorn Wraps Production
Co-creator Vince Gilligan's new untitled sci-fi series, starring Rhea Seehorn, wraps production and is expected to be released on Apple TV+ 'soon.'
Bob Odenkirk Expresses Doubt on Revival
Bob Odenkirk states he doesn't believe a 'Better Call Saul' revival is likely, suggesting that if one were to happen, it would be set inside prison.
Bob Odenkirk Reflects on 'Saul' and New Projects
Bob Odenkirk discusses his new action film 'Normal' and how his character's attributes are rooted in his portrayal of Saul/Jimmy, also reflecting on his heart attack during 'Better Call Saul' filming.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Better Call Saul, created by Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould, premiered on AMC on February 8, 2015, as a spin-off and prequel to the acclaimed series 'Breaking Bad.' The show meticulously explored the transformation of earnest public defender Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk) into the flamboyant, morally compromised criminal lawyer Saul Goodman. Set primarily in the early to mid-2000s in Albuquerque, New Mexico, it also delved into the backstory of 'Breaking Bad' character Mike Ehrmantraut (Jonathan Banks) and introduced compelling new characters like Kim Wexler (Rhea Seehorn), Jimmy's colleague and eventual wife, and the menacing cartel enforcer Lalo Salamanca (Tony Dalton).
The series was lauded for its exceptional writing, direction, cinematography, and performances, particularly by Odenkirk and Seehorn. Many critics considered it a worthy successor to 'Breaking Bad,' with some even deeming it superior. The narrative carefully balanced legal drama, dark comedy, and crime thriller elements, slowly unraveling Jimmy's ethical decline and the intertwining fates of its characters within the 'Breaking Bad' universe. A significant challenge for the creators was to craft a compelling prequel where the audience already knew the ultimate fate of some characters, yet they succeeded by focusing on character depth and the 'why' behind their transformations.
Key turning points included Jimmy's disbarment and subsequent reinstatement, the tragic death of his brother Chuck McGill (Michael McKean), and his decision to fully adopt the 'Saul Goodman' identity. The show also expertly integrated characters from 'Breaking Bad,' such as Gus Fring (Giancarlo Esposito), further enriching the shared universe.
The production faced challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, which delayed filming for the final season. A notable event during production was lead actor Bob Odenkirk suffering a heart attack on set in July 2021 while filming a scene for the sixth season. He made a full recovery and returned to complete the series.
'Better Call Saul' concluded with its sixth and final season, which premiered on April 18, 2022, and ended on August 15, 2022. The finale, 'Saul Gone,' saw Jimmy McGill, now living as Gene Takavic, finally taking responsibility for his actions, leading to an 86-year prison sentence, but also a measure of redemption and a poignant reunion with Kim Wexler. Despite receiving 53 Primetime Emmy Award nominations over its run, 'Better Call Saul' famously never won an Emmy, setting a record for the most-nominated drama series without a win. However, it did receive significant accolades, including two Peabody Awards for its third and sixth seasons, and five American Film Institute Awards for Television Program of the Year.
As of April 17, 2026, the 'Better Call Saul' series remains concluded. While there's ongoing interest in the 'Breaking Bad' universe, co-creator Vince Gilligan has moved on to a new sci-fi series starring Rhea Seehorn, which wrapped production in February 2025 and is expected on Apple TV+. Bob Odenkirk has also expressed skepticism about a direct 'Better Call Saul' revival, suggesting in August 2025 that if another show were to happen, it would likely be set inside prison. The cast members, including Odenkirk, Seehorn, and Giancarlo Esposito, have since taken on various new film and television projects.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Better Call Saul made different choices?