History of Better Call Saul in Timeline
Better Call Saul, a spin-off and prequel to Breaking Bad, chronicles the transformation of Jimmy McGill, a small-time lawyer, into Saul Goodman, a morally flexible criminal lawyer. Over six seasons, the show explores Jimmy's relationships, particularly with his brother Chuck and his romantic partner Kim Wexler, and the ethical compromises he makes that lead him down a dark path. The series also features storylines that intersect with Breaking Bad, showing the early criminal activities of Gus Fring and Mike Ehrmantraut. The story concludes with Jimmy facing the consequences of his actions, ultimately choosing to accept responsibility.
2002: Jimmy's Schemes
In 2002, Jimmy schemes to represent Craig Kettleman, accused of embezzlement, leading to encounters with psychotic drug lord Tuco Salamanca and his lieutenant Nacho. Jimmy also cares for his brother Chuck, who is housebound with electromagnetic hypersensitivity.
2002: Jimmy's Work at D&M and Kim's Career
In 2002, Jimmy works as an associate at Davis & Main, but quits. Kim is demoted by Howard Hamlin, secures Mesa Verde as an HHM client, but Howard denies her credit. Kim quits HHM and opens a shared private practice with Jimmy.
2002: Primary Timeline Begins
In 2002, the primary timeline of Better Call Saul begins, six years before the first episode of Breaking Bad.
2002: Show timeline start
The show takes place over a two-year period before the events of Breaking Bad, starting approximately in 2002.
2003: Jimmy regains his outgoing demeanor
In 2003, Jimmy regains his outgoing demeanor after Howard shoulders the blame for Chuck's death. Jimmy manages a cell phone store but earns more by reselling prepaid phones to criminals.
2003: Disciplinary Hearing and Chuck's Condition
In 2003, the results of the disciplinary hearing have Jimmy's law license suspended and Chuck's hypersensitivity condition is revealed to be psychosomatic.
2004: Saul Goodman's Law Practice
In 2004, Jimmy's law practice as Saul Goodman draws him into Albuquerque's drug trade and he is conflicted when Howard offers him a position at HHM. Kim balances her Mesa Verde and pro bono work with her own feelings for Jimmy, and finds herself employing similar conman-style tactics. Jimmy and Kim later devise a plan to ruin Howard to settle the Sandpiper case. Lalo's presence in Albuquerque forces Gus to suspend construction of his meth lab. Nacho and Mike become pawns in the feud between the Salamancas and Gus. After Lalo is arrested for murder, he hires Jimmy to represent him and arrange bail, which almost kills Jimmy. After an unsuccessful attempt on Lalo's life by Gus's hired assassins after his release, Lalo deduces that Nacho has betrayed him.
2004: Nacho's sacrifice, Jimmy and Kim smear Howard's reputation
In 2004, Nacho attempts to flee from the Salamancas after the attempt on Lalo's life, but after Gus falsely implicates him, Nacho sacrifices himself in exchange for his father's safety. Jimmy and Kim smear Howard's reputation, thereby forcing a settlement of the Sandpiper case. Howard confronts them, but is murdered by Lalo. After forcing Kim to act as a diversion, Lalo ambushes Gus and accesses the construction site of Gus's meth lab. Gus kills Lalo with a hidden gun. Mike makes Howard's death appear as a suicide, and oversees the burial of Howard and Lalo beneath the lab. A traumatized Kim quits the law and divorces Jimmy. Some time later, Jimmy has fully transformed into Saul Goodman, setting the groundwork for his appearance in Breaking Bad.
2004: Show timeline end
The show takes place over a two-year period before the events of Breaking Bad, ending approximately in 2004.
2008: Breaking Bad's Run
From 2008 to 2013, Breaking Bad, a popular crime drama television series, aired, and Better Call Saul is a spin-off of this series.
2008: Saul deduces Walter White is Heisenberg
In 2008, during the events of Breaking Bad, Saul deduces early on that Walter White was the mysterious "Heisenberg" who is producing the high-quality crystal meth in the New Mexico area. Armed with this knowledge, and despite Mike's warnings, Saul decides to recruit Walter and Jesse Pinkman as his full-time clients, figuring it would be good for business.
2008: Selected scenes in Breaking Bad timeline
In 2008, selected scenes in the show take place within the Breaking Bad timeline.
2009: Considering a Saul Goodman spinoff
As early as 2009, Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould considered a Saul Goodman spinoff following his first appearance in Breaking Bad.
2009: Spin-off Consideration
In 2009, Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould considered a Saul Goodman spin-off due to the expansion of Saul's role in Breaking Bad.
2010: Gene's incident
In 2010, Gene accidentally locks himself in the dumpster room when closing out the Cinnabon for the night and spends the night waiting for the janitor to open the door.
2010: Gene schemes with Jeff and Buddy
In 2010, Gene approaches Jeff and Buddy with an offer to rob a department store. After reaching out to Kim, who now lives in Florida, Gene devises a scheme to obtain financial identification of rich single men at bars he can sell for profit. When the scheme goes wrong, Buddy quits the operation, Jeff is arrested, and Gene is eventually caught. He is extradited to Albuquerque for the trial and feigns testimony implicating Kim so she can be summoned to court. Jimmy confesses to Kim and those at the trial about his crimes during the events of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, as well as his role in Chuck's death. He is subsequently sentenced to 86 years in prison. Jimmy is recognized as Saul in prison and gains popularity with the inmates. Kim visits him and they share a cigarette before parting again.
2010: Gene's Actions and Collapse
In 2010, Gene points mall security guards towards a shoplifter during his lunch break, and later, a stressed Gene suddenly collapses during his work.
2010: Gene confronted by Taxi Driver
In 2010, during another lunch break, Gene is approached by the taxi driver, Jeff, and his friend Buddy. Jeff reveals he recognized Gene as Saul Goodman from when he previously lived in Albuquerque. Gene admits he is living with a secret identity.
2010: Secondary Timeline Begins
In 2010, the secondary timeline of Better Call Saul takes place following the events of Breaking Bad's finale.
2010: Flashforwards set after Breaking Bad
In 2010, the show includes flashforwards, set after the events of Breaking Bad, which explore the consequences of Saul's actions across both series. These flashforwards are shown in black and white.
July 2012: Hints at a spinoff
In July 2012, Vince Gilligan publicly hinted at the idea of a lawyer show where the lawyer will do anything to stay out of court.
April 2013: Development Confirmed
In April 2013, the development of Better Call Saul was confirmed by Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould.
July 2013: Working Out Ideas
In July 2013, before the second half of Breaking Bad's final season aired, Vince Gilligan said he and Peter Gould were still working out ideas for the spin-off, but a deal had not yet been made.
December 2013: Netflix announces streaming of Season 1
In December 2013, Netflix announced that the entire first season of Better Call Saul would be available for streaming in the U.S. after the airing of the first-season finale, and in Latin America and Europe each episode would be available a few days after the episode aired in the U.S.
December 16, 2013: Series Acquired by Netflix in UK and Ireland
On December 16, 2013, Netflix acquired the series Better Call Saul for distribution in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
2013: Breaking Bad Ended
From 2008 to 2013, Breaking Bad, a popular crime drama television series, aired, and Better Call Saul is a spin-off of this series.
2013: Development Begins
In 2013, the development of Better Call Saul began during the production of Breaking Bad's final season, with Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould serving as co-showrunners.
January 2014: Jonathan Banks to Reprise Role
In January 2014, it was announced that Jonathan Banks would reprise his Breaking Bad role as Mike Ehrmantraut and be a series regular.
April 2014: Rhea Seehorn Cast as Kim Wexler
In April 2014, Rhea Seehorn auditioned and got the role of Kimberly "Kim" Wexler.
May 2014: Patrick Fabian Cast as Howard Hamlin
In May 2014, Patrick Fabian was cast as Howard Hamlin in the show.
June 2, 2014: Principal Photography Begins
On June 2, 2014, principal photography for Better Call Saul's six seasons took place in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
June 19, 2014: Season 2 Renewal
On June 19, 2014, AMC renewed Better Call Saul for a second season of 13 episodes to premiere in early 2016, which was later reduced to 10 episodes.
August 10, 2014: Teaser Trailer Debuts
On August 10, 2014, the first teaser trailer for Better Call Saul debuted on AMC, confirming its premiere date of February 2015.
November 20, 2014: Two-Night Premiere Announced
On November 20, 2014, AMC announced that Better Call Saul would have a two-night premiere; the first episode aired on Sunday, February 8, 2015.
February 8, 2015: Better Call Saul Premieres
On February 8, 2015, Better Call Saul, a spin-off of Breaking Bad, premiered on AMC.
February 9, 2015: Better Call Saul Premieres on Stan
On February 9, 2015, Better Call Saul premiered on the streaming service Stan in Australia, acting as the service's flagship program.
February 2015: Premiere Date Confirmed
In February 2015, the premiere date of Better Call Saul was confirmed.
April 6, 2015: Season 1 Concludes
On April 6, 2015, the first season of Better Call Saul concluded.
February 1, 2016: Season 1 released on Netflix US
On February 1, 2016, the first season of Better Call Saul was released on Netflix in the U.S.
February 15, 2016: Season 2 Premiere
On February 15, 2016, the second season of Better Call Saul premiered.
March 15, 2016: Season 3 Renewal
On March 15, 2016, AMC announced that Better Call Saul was renewed for a 10-episode third season.
April 18, 2016: Season 2 Concludes
On April 18, 2016, the second season of Better Call Saul concluded.
April 19, 2016: TV Series Finale
On April 19, 2016, TV Series Finale published "Better Call Saul: Season Two Ratings".
2016: Rolling Stone updated its list
In 2016, Rolling Stone updated its list where Better Call Saul was ranked as the 32nd greatest TV show of all time.
April 10, 2017: Season 3 Premiere
On April 10, 2017, the third season of Better Call Saul premiered.
June 19, 2017: Season 3 Concludes
On June 19, 2017, the third season of Better Call Saul concluded.
June 27, 2017: Season 3 end
On June 27, 2017, after the end of the third season, AMC renewed Better Call Saul for a fourth season.
July 28, 2018: Renewal for Season 5
On July 28, 2018, just before the airing of the fourth season, Better Call Saul was renewed for a fifth season.
July 29, 2018: TV Series Finale
On July 29, 2018, TV Series Finale published "Better Call Saul: Season Three Ratings".
August 6, 2018: Season 4 premiere
On August 6, 2018, the fourth season of Better Call Saul premiered on AMC.
October 8, 2018: Season 4 conclusion
On October 8, 2018, the fourth season of Better Call Saul concluded after airing for 10 episodes.
October 9, 2018: TV Series Finale
On October 9, 2018, TV Series Finale published "Better Call Saul: Season Four Ratings".
September 2019: Ranked No. 48 by The Guardian
In September 2019, The Guardian ranked Better Call Saul at No. 48 on its list of the 100 best TV shows of the 21st century, describing it as a "supremely measured character piece".
January 16, 2020: Season 6 Renewal
On January 16, 2020, AMC renewed Better Call Saul for a sixth season, which was scheduled to premiere in 2021.
February 23, 2020: Season 5 Premiere
On February 23, 2020, the 10-episode fifth season of Better Call Saul started airing with a special Sunday broadcast.
February 25, 2020: TV Series Finale
On February 25, 2020, TV Series Finale published "Better Call Saul: Season Five Ratings".
April 20, 2020: Season 5 Conclusion
On April 20, 2020, the fifth season of Better Call Saul concluded its airing on Mondays.
June 2020: AMC+ Launch
In June 2020, AMC launched its streaming service, AMC+.
November 13, 2020: Archived from the original
On November 13, 2020, "Better Call Saul: Season Three Ratings" was archived from the original.
2020: Move to Neon in New Zealand
In 2020, Better Call Saul moved to Neon in New Zealand when Lightbox and Neon were merged, remaining exclusive to video-on-demand services.
2020: Paul Donachie served as a cinematographer on episodes
In 2020, Paul Donachie served as a cinematographer on the "Namaste" episode.
November 15, 2021: Archived from the original
On November 15, 2021, "Better Call Saul: Season Two Ratings" was archived from the original.
2021: Season 6 scheduled premiere
In 2021, the sixth season of Better Call Saul was scheduled to premiere, but it experienced delays due to COVID-19 and Bob Odenkirk's health issues.
February 9, 2022: Principal Photography Ends
On February 9, 2022, principal photography for Better Call Saul's six seasons concluded in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
March 2022: Additional Filming
In March 2022, additional filming was done after principal photography ended, for the opening teaser of the season six episode "Point and Shoot" at Leo Carrillo State Beach, California.
April 18, 2022: Season 6, Part 1 Premiere
On April 18, 2022, the first half of the sixth and final season of Better Call Saul premiered with back-to-back episodes.
April 19, 2022: TV Series Finale
On April 19, 2022, TV Series Finale published "Better Call Saul: Season Six Ratings".
April 21, 2022: Retrieved on April 21, 2022
On April 21, 2022, "Better Call Saul: Season Two Ratings" was retrieved.
May 23, 2022: Season 6, Part 1 Conclusion
On May 23, 2022, the first half of Better Call Saul's sixth and final season concluded.
July 11, 2022: Season 6, Part 2 Premiere
On July 11, 2022, the last half of the sixth and final season of Better Call Saul premiered.
September 2022: Rolling Stone ranked Better Call Saul as the 32nd greatest TV show of all time
In September 2022, Rolling Stone listed Better Call Saul as the 32nd greatest TV show of all time, in its updated list from 2016.
October 18, 2022: Series Begins Airing on TG4 in Ireland
On October 18, 2022, Better Call Saul began airing on Irish TV network TG4.
December 6, 2022: Complete Series Blu-ray and DVD Release
On December 6, 2022, the complete series of Better Call Saul was released on Blu-ray and DVD in region 1, spanning 19 discs and including 70 hours of bonus features.
2022: Paul Donachie served as a cinematographer on episodes
In 2022, Paul Donachie served as a cinematographer on the "Carrot and Stick" and "Hit and Run" episodes.
2022: Streaming availability on AMC+
In 2022, during the final season of Better Call Saul, each episode became available to stream on AMC+ the day it premiered. The premiere resulted in a large increase in new subscribers.
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