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Television dramas have been an important part of the average American's media diet for the last few decades, with people gathering around the television to catch the latest episode of their favorite shows every week. Television dramas exploded in the late-1990s when prestige television networks like HBO started producing high-quality programming to compete with feature films.

The crowning jewel of HBO's initial line-up, which included excellent series like Oz and Sex and the City, was undoubtedly The Sopranos, which is still considered the greatest television drama of all time. The few series that come close to the quality of The Sopranos are the ones that push the boundaries of serialized television, and brought audiences nuanced and complicated stories.

The West Wing Made Drama Out of Modern Politics 1999-2006

The roller coaster of modern political infighting has elevated cable news channels to some of the most watched media in America,...

As we've reached the 10th anniversary of its premiere, it's become fashionable to claim that Better Call Saul is better than Breaking Bad despite its lack of Emmy Awards and the fact it never had the cultural grip of its predecessor. Initially, spinning off Breaking Bad with a series about the show's comic relief, Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk), seemed like a fraught proposition, but the show by Vince Gilliganand Peter Gould proved to be even more three-dimensional in its characterization and probing in its study of morality. Breaking Bad's humble beginnings evolved into a rich, expanded universe decades later. With these two powerhouse dramas, it's easy to overlook Gillian's sojourn into film. El Camino: A Breaking Bad Moviemay not ascend to the peaks of its source material, but it reminds everyone of Gilligan's artistic craft and provides a satisfying conclusion to a beloved character.

Quick LinksHow Did Breaking Bad Call Out Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium?What is the Story of Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium?Mr. Magorium's Writer/Director Doesn't Care For His Own Film Either

Breaking Bad is considered to be one of the best television series of all time, and the fact that it's still being talked about speaks for itself. Fans are sure to remember the numerous references to well-known films and TV shows that were sprinkled throughout its 5-season run, some of which even served as major inspirations for it. Who could forget Saul Goodman's reference to The Godfather when he compared him and Walter to Tom Hagan and Vito Corleone, or perhaps even Badger and Skinny Pete's humorous discussions about Star Trek? Among all the other examples, however, there was one in particular that stood out quite significantly in more ways than one. While most of these served as...

Bill Burr’s Breaking Bad character, Kuby, was the perfect mix of muscle and sarcasm — so when Better Call Saul left him out, fans were scratching their heads. Turns out, even Burr himself wasn’t clued in on what went down.

Bill Burr as Patrick Kudy in Breaking Bad | Credits: Sony Pictures Television

The comedian-turned-actor made it clear he’d have raced to set if Vince Gilligan had called, but instead, the Bb universe may have just quietly replaced him. A new character filled the same role Kuby once had, and the show didn’t even drop a mention.

Bill Burr’s Breaking Bad character was supposed to return in Better Call Saul: Here’s why it didn’t happen Bill Burr as Patrick Kudy in Breaking Bad | Credits: Sony Pictures Television

Bill Burr’s Patrick Kuby was one of Breaking Bad’s most entertaining side characters, yet he...

Breaking Bad writer Vince Gilligan thinks it's time for more good guys as "bad guys, the real life kind, are running amok." Rooting for, or simply sympathizing with, the bad guy has become increasingly popular, with characters like Deadpool, Tony Soprano, Rick Sanchez, and BoJack Horseman becoming household favorites despite their destructive tendencies and overall "bad guy" behavior. But no show does the antihero quite like AMC's Breaking Bad, which features Bryan Cranston as a high school teacher turned meth cooker struggling to accept his cancer diagnosis and overwhelming regrets about his past. Whether you love him or hate him, Walter White is the ultimate modern antihero.

Now, Breaking Bad writer Vince Gilligan has revealed his feelings about his most iconic, and most problematic, character. In his acceptance speech for the Writers Guild Award’s top writing honor, the Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television Writing Achievement, Gilligan decided to "go political,...

Vince Gilligan will forever be known for creating Walter White, Bryan Cranston's Breaking Bad character who devolved from a harmless chemistry teacher into a dangerous drug kingpin over the course of five seasons. Given today's climate, however, the TV writer now feels he'd rather be known for creating someone a bit more "inspiring."

At the Writers Guild Awards on Saturday night, Gilligan was presented with the Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television Writing Achievement, per THR. During his speech, he observed how he'd earned the honor by writing "one of the all-time great bad guys" by creating Walter White, also known as Heisenberg. Gilligan clarified how he feels differently these days because of the real-life bad guys "running amuck," though he stops short of naming names. Gilligan, who also co-created the prequel series Better Call Saul with Peter Gould, even called for other writers to pull back on making...

Vince Gilligan created one of the most iconic antiheroes of all time: “Breaking Bad” baddie Walter White, as played by Bryan Cranston. But Gilligan created the chemistry teacher-turned-meth-dealing-Heisenberg as a cautionary tale, not someone to aspire to. With so many bad actors now in power in real life, Gilligan says it’s perhaps time to shine the light once again on the good guys.

Accepting the Writers Guild Award’s top writing honor, the Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television Writing Achievement, Gilligan told the audience that he really hopes that the next generation of hit TV shows returns to a bit more of an aspirational world where the heroes are good.

“Walter White is one of the all time great bad guys,” Gilligan said. “But all things being equal, I think we I’d rather be celebrated for creating someone a bit more inspiring. In 2025 it’s time to say that out loud,...

Breaking Badis AMC's popular neo-Western crime drama that follows Walter White's rise and fall as a drug kingpin. Walt teamed up with his previous high school chemistry student who was already involved in the drug-dealing world, but Walt had no idea what he was getting himself into when he wanted to sell his methamphetamine. Throughout its run, Breaking Bad had numerous impactful moments that changed the show's trajectory. The show's creator, Vince Gilligan, had directed many iconic episodes but passed the torch on to numerous talented directors.

Gilligan made it clear that he wanted to provide opportunities for talented people to work on his show. Peter Gould, who wrote many episodes of Breaking Bad, directed a handful of them as well and went on to co-create Better Call Saulwith Gilligan. Even Bryan Cranston, the actor who portrayed Walter White, has directed some major episodes, too. However, many fans had...

Even the most passionate Breaking Badfans had to be slightly skeptical of the prospect of making a spin-off series based on Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk), the "criminal" lawyer who helped Walter White (Bryan Cranston) and Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) expand their meth empire in the Vince Gilliganseries. After all, Saul, along with his special services that got Walt and Jesse out of countless dire circumstances, was more or less a source of comic relief, aided by Odenkirk's background in sketch comedy as a writer and performer. Unless Better Call Saulleaned into Saul's comedic roots and veered into being a half-hour sitcom, how could Gilligan's follow-up, co-created by Breaking Bad writer Peter Gould, match the dramatic stakes and complex characterization of the rise of Heisenberg? In an era where television upended all artistic expectations, Better Call Saul, which celebrates the tenth anniversary of its premiere today, outmatched Breaking Bad by carving out its own path.

Two Breaking Bad stars have reunited 15 years after the episode that culminated with a bloody confrontation between their characters. Though a decade and a half has since passed, it would seem that now much has changed in the years since.

Dean Norris, who played DEA Agent Hank Schrader in the hit AMC drama, may have felt some déjà vu with the recent reunion. On Instagram, Norris shared a video on Feb. 2 of himself at the Swing Inn Cafe & BBQ, the restaurant he owns in Temecula, California. In the video, Norris acts concerned as he shares that one of the Salamanca brothers, played by Luis and Daniel Moncada in the series, was on his way to the establishment. Follow-up posts reveal that Luis Moncada, whose character was killed off by Norris' Hank, had arrived at the restaurant to seek "revenge." Dressing up for the occasion, Moncada even arrived in his Breaking Bad...

You can’t call Saul if there’s no Saul to call.

And Saul Goodman came thisclose to never making it into Breaking Bad. According to Alan Sepinwall’s new book, Saul Goodman v. Jimmy McGill (excepted in Entertainment Weekly), network executives at AMC wanted to deep-six the character before he ever appeared.

Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan, writer/director Peter Gould and “an executive who shall remain nameless” were on a conference call, according to Gould. “And the question came up, basically, ‘We don’t like this character. Could we start again and come up with a different story for this episode?’”

It wasn’t like the show’s creators had invested a lot in Saul Goodman at that stage of the game. “His creation was all in service of Walt’s story,” said Gould. “We weren’t thinking, ‘Here’s an independent character who’s going to have a life of his own.

Saul Goodman is perhaps one of (if not the most) compelling characters in the world of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. The idea of a prequel series to one of the most critically acclaimed and iconic television shows of all time sounds like a horrible concept on paper. Still, in practice, co-creator Peter Gould's spin-off series Better Call Saul ended up being just as impressively written and acted as the legendary show that preceded it. However, if one television executive had his way, Saul Goodman might have never come into existence.

Entertainment Weekly received an exclusive excerpt from Saul Goodman v. Jimmy McGill, a new book written by TV critic Alan Sepinwall, that offers a comprehensive deep dive into the making of this hit prequel series. In a section of the book, it's revealed that Gould was reluctant when first writing the character's debut in Breaking Bad, and...

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In the world of television, it's tough to do better than "Breaking Bad." Created by Vince Gilligan, the tale of a high school teacher with cancer who becomes a drug kingpin is widely considered one of the best TV shows ever made. It also spawned arguably one of the best spin-offs ever in the form of "Better Call Saul," which centers on Bob Odenkirk's crooked lawyer Saul Goodman. As hard as it may be to believe with the benefit of hindsight, though, there was almost a world where Saul never would have made it to air.

Entertainment Weekly recently released a preview of Alan Sepinwall's new book "Saul Goodman V. Jimmy McGill: The Complete Critical Companion to Better Call Saul." In it, he speaks with "Breaking Bad" writer-producer and "Better Call Saul" showrunner Peter Gould. During their conversation,...

Breaking Bad is widely considered to be one of the best TV shows ever made, thanks in part to its phenomenal cast of characters. However, one key character wouldn't have been featured at all if series creator Viince Gilligan hadn't fought to keep him.

On Feb. 4, Alan Sepinwall's new book, Saul Goodman V. Jimmy McGill: The Complete Critical Companion to Better Call Saul, will be released. The book fully explores the run of Better Call Saul, the Breaking Bad prequel series starring Bob Odenkirk as Jimmy McGill, also known as the criminal lawyer Saul Goodman. Per Entertainment Weekly, an excerpt from the book has been released, revealing some new information about the character's original creation for Breaking Bad. Peter Gould, who was a Breaking Bad writer and co-created Better Call Saul with Gilligan, shared how an unnamed executive told Gilligan to scrap the Saul Goodman character.

Related Iconic Breaking Bad...

AMC’s Better Call Saul is a spin-off series of Breaking Bad that managed to exceed our expectations with its storytelling and compelling characters. At the heart of the show’s success is Bob Odenkirk, who owns the role of Jimmy McGill, an earnest attorney who later morphs into Saul Goodman.

Bob Odenkirk in Better Call Saul | AMC Studios

As the series was nearing its end, viewers were anticipating the fates of characters like Kim Wexler and Lalo Salamanca, along with the full transformation of Jimmy into Saul. But there was one incident that occurred in real life, which could’ve possibly derailed the final chapter.

Bob Odenkirk’s health crisis that could have ended Better Call Saul Bob Odenkirk in Better Call Saul | AMC Studios

As per reports from Rolling Stone, Bob Odenkirk had a massive heart attack on July 27, 2021, when he was on break from filming the eighth...

The Covid-19 pandemic made life hell for everybody. The industry wasn’t exempted. Shootings came to a standstill. It ain’t easy getting work done when you have to maintain social distancing. While the pandemic was not making it easy, Better Call Saul had other hiccups along the way as well.

The final season of the show was shot when the pandemic was ravaging the world. Shooting had to be planned meticulously. The workforce had to be significantly toned down. And just when the makers of the Breaking Bad spinoff were dealing with all these headaches, they came face-to-face with one of their worst nightmares.

The final season of Better Call Saul almost didn’t see the light of day Bob Odenkirk had a severe heart attack while the shoot of Season 8 of Better Call Saul was in progress || Sony Pictures

It was on a fateful day in 2021 that Bob Odenkirk,...

As Better Call Saul headed into its homestretch, fans were abuzz with how the acclaimed Breaking Bad prequel would end. What would happen to Saul-only characters like Kim Wexler and Lalo Salamanca? How much would we see of events from the Breaking Bad years, and how much more time would be spent post-Breaking Bad with Saul’s new identity as Gene from Cinnabon? And, most importantly, exactly when, how, and why would Jimmy McGill, a shady but mostly decent attorney, fully transform into the amoral version of Saul Goodman...

“Breaking Bad” creator Vince Gilligan has been tapped to receive the Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television Writing Achievement at this year’s Writers Guild Awards. The award, chosen by the west coast arm of the Writers Guild of America (and its highest TV writing honor), recognizes members who have “advanced the literature of television and made outstanding contributions to the profession of the television writer.”

Gilligan, whose credits also include “Breaking Bad” spinoff “Better Call Saul,” was additionally one of the notable writers on “The X-Files.” A multiple Emmy and WGA Award winner, Gilligan will be recognized at the 2025 Writers Guild Awards ceremony on Saturday, Feb. 15, at the Beverly Hilton.

“‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,’” Gilligan said in a statement. “Cribbing from a better writer is about all I can think to do right now, preoccupied as we all are by what...

For most of Breaking Bad’s run, Walter White’s lawyer hid behind his carefully cultivated Saul Goodman persona; he only returned to his true identity as Jimmy McGill in one episode. Bob Odenkirk first debuted the character of Saul in Breaking Bad season 2, episode 8, “Better Call Saul.” After Badger was arrested for selling Walt and Jesse’s product, Jesse insisted that they didn’t need a criminal lawyer; they needed a *criminal* lawyer, so they recruited Saul’s unscrupulous services. Saul ended up serving as Walt and Jesse’s lawyer and money-laundering consultant for the rest of the series.

After Breaking Bad ended and Saul got his own spinoff, Better Call Saul, it became apparent that “Saul” was just an act he’d been putting on in front of Walt and his other clients. He’s really a vulnerable underdog named Jimmy who was driven to play a corrupt...

Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul are intrinsically linked, and there is one particular viewing order that ensures the most unique experience. As it stands, the Breaking Bad universe includes two series and one movie. Better Call Saul spans across six seasons with 63 episodes, while Breaking Bad concluded in season 5, seeing 62 episodes in total. The critical reception of Bob Odenkirk's spinoff was highly positive, and Better Call Saul is acclaimed for matching or surpassing the quality of its predecessor, Breaking Bad. Therefore, understanding the Breaking Bad universe is heavily dependent on the order in which both series are watched.

Following its run from 2008 to 2013, Breaking Bad achieved a position among the most celebrated television series in history. Creating Better Call Saul, a prequel centered around Jimmy McGill six years before his first encounter with Bryan Cranston's Walter White, was a risk — one that Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould executed flawlessly.

This article mentions suicide.

Better Call Saul is the brilliant follow-up to Breaking Bad, following Jimmy McGill's rise to Saul Goodman. The show featured many callbacks and characters from its predecessor while creating some of the most funny, brilliant, and heartbreaking characters of its own. Each character either crossed paths with Jimmy or furthered his prospects of becoming the criminal lawyer that he's so well known for in Breaking Bad.

Some of the characters from Better Call Saul were self-contained within the show, but still had stories that continued into the Breaking Bad storyline. Others were one-offs in the season to demonstrate inept criminal behavior or morality compared to the other characters they interacted with. Either way, they stood out in Better Call Saul as unique additions to an already well-heeled show.

Daniel Wormald Was One of the Most Unique Secondary Characters

Daniel Wormald

First Appearance

"Pimento"

Last Appearance

"Expenses"

Before Better Call Saul,...

Vince Gilligan initially developed Better Call Saul as a half-hour sitcom, which would’ve been awesome, but the more grounded, dramatic version we got is even better. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Gilligan explained that when he started working on a Saul Goodman spin-off for AMC, it was conceived as a more straightforward episodic comedy. This version of the show would’ve seen Saul in his office with a revolving door of eccentric clients. Each week, a new guest star would come into Saul’s office with a new legal problem, which Gilligan compared to the format of Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist.

As Gilligan and his co-creator Peter Gould discussed this original concept, they quickly realized they didn’t have the skillset for a half-hour comedy, having spent their careers working on hour-long dramas. So, they switched to an hour-long format, but decided to make it “a really funny...

One of the stars of Better Call Saul auditioned for Suits years before the Breaking Bad prequel premiered. Although both Suits and Better Call Saul could be classified as legal dramas, they couldn't be more different. Suits was a procedural with serialized elements, having the courtroom at its center. It's a premise that lends itself to this style, as is the case with the upcoming Suits: LA that's set to premiere on NBC on February 23. A bit darker, with a new cast, the spinoff will nonetheless follow a bit of an established formula.

Better Call Saul did feature a number of cases and firms, but it was always more of a character study that demonstrated how the law could shift and wobble depending on the creativity and morality of the person practicing it. But it was far less interested in the specifics of the law and the day-to-day than other legal dramas,...

Initially commenced as a dark comedy, as Breaking Bad progressed, Vince Gilligan’s creation would cement itself as one of the best crime dramas in the medium. But while at the core, Walter White’s story can easily be associated with a tragedy, given his fall from grace, even in the latter seasons, the show maintained its comedic chops, especially with the character of Saul Goodman.

Breaking Bad | Credit: AMC

But following the release of Better Call Saul, which is on par if not better than its predecessor, it’s easy to see Saul as a tragic hero, as his Saul Goodman facade only served as his way of coping with the events of Bcs. However, per Gilligan and Peter Gould’s original plans, the spin-off was originally pitched as a sitcom.

Better Call Saul Was Originally Intended To Be 70% Comedy Better Call Saul | Credit: AMC

While discussions regarding a...

Better Call Saul was one of the most successful and well-done prequels to a just as brilliant show, Breaking Bad. Sometimes, I would go so far as to say that Better Call Saul is better than Breaking Bad. The fact that Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould could flesh out a character like Saul Goodman so fluently from almost nothing was awe-inspiring. I loved every second of Jimmy McGill's backstory, from his rise to his fall. With an almost flawless season finale, there was one thing I didn't particularly like in the final stretch of episodes. I felt the death of Lalo Salamanca was cheap and easy for such a great character in Better Call Saul.

Lalo Salamanca was by no means a good person. His manipulation and excessive use of violence showed that he was exactly like the rest of the Salamanca. Then there was a charm and charisma...

Nowadays, it is not too uncommon for popular TV programs to inspire spinoff shows. These new series, though they do have self-contained stories of their own, typically feature characters or settings that appeared in the previous shows that inspired them. What is rarer, however, is when the spinoff manages to maintain the same level of quality as the original. Far too often, TV networks merely try to capitalize on the preexisting popularity of a character or setting, and fail to deliver entertaining stories of their own.

Fortunately, some of the best spinoffs do manage to knock it out of the park, using preexisting characters but still managing to create inventive new storylines that captivate their viewers in new, exciting ways. These shows not only stand out as excellent programs on their own, but even manage to attract new viewers to the original series as well. While there will always be...

Breaking Bad is considered one of the greatest television series of all time, and miraculously, creators Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould were able to have lightning strike twice with their spinoff hit show, Better Call Saul. Following the life of criminal lawyer Jimmy McGill before he donned the flashy suits and questionable legal choices, Bob Odenkirk stars alongside several other returning cast members in a show that made the wider Breaking Bad story even more incredible. Some fans argue that Better Call Saul is even better than the original show. But some viewers new to the Breaking Bad universe aren't sure whether they should start with the prequel, which is chronologically first, or the original series, which came out first.

Even though Better Call Saul is a follow-up to the original masterpiece, its not hard for new fans to enjoy the show. Its brilliant storytelling, realistically layered characters, and gray...

In Better Call Saul, Kim Wexler and Jimmy McGill were constantly watching classic films. Their movie love was demonstrated by Blockbuster browsing, quoting lines from films, and references to characters in their favorite films. In addition to this, there are numerous references to cinema throughout the show. From television to films, the show does a masterful job of referencing iconic movies and television shows.

While some of the references in Better Call Saul are direct, others are more of an homage, paying tribute to some of the best pieces of cinema. The creators, Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould, never shied away from either baking in a favorite scene, shot, or line from other great works. Just like the main characters in Better Call Saul, Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould love cinema and did their best to demonstrate that throughout the show's run.

The Usual Suspects Is Referenced More Spiritually Than...

Vince Gilligan is most widely known for creating the Breaking Bad universe, consisting of Better Call Saul, Breaking Bad, and El Camino: A Breaking Bad Story. Before that, he was a prominent figure in the iconic Fox science fiction show, The X-Files. Gilligan was a big fan of the show and wrote an episode that the series picked up in season two of their run. From there, Gilligan wrote over twenty episodes and went on to produce, executive produce, and supervise many episodes of The X-Files.

When Vince Gilligan went on to create Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, he sourced some of the actors from The X-Files for major characters in the world that he was building. The major characters played dramatic roles in the Breaking Bad universe.

Dennis Boutsikaris Played a Scientist in The X-Files and Was a Prominent Lawyer in Better Call Saul

Dennis Boutsikaris' Filmography with...

Sons of Anarchy features many characters who are both fan favorites but also irredeemable. Set in a world of crime and chaos, bad situations lead to even worse choices. Before anyone realizes, things are too far gone to be saved.

Shows with no redeemable characters have their own charm. They tend to tackle dark and forbidden topics like revenge, cannibalism and war. Many shows have irredeemable characters like Jax. They may have done one really bad thing, or they have done several over the course of the entire series. From House of the Dragon to Yellowjackets to Breaking Bad, these pitch-black and morally grey characters have caused fans to think about the damning choices they made.

Walter White Is Far Gone in Breaking Bad

As Breaking Bad's protagonist, Walter White is a sympathetic character, similar to Jax Teller in Sons of Anarchy. However, throughout the course of the crime series,...

Typically, after a successful show or movie, the studio and creators tend to work on a sequel instead of a prequel. Breaking Bad was superbly successful, prompting AMC to expand that world, so Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould were tasked with elaborating on Saul Goodman in Better Call Saul. With the same hard work and talent sourcing they provided for Breaking Bad, they once again put together one of the greatest shows. To this day, Better Call Saul stands as one of the most successful prequels.

Because there wasn't much previous information about Saul Goodman, Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould were able to build his character for Better Call Saul from the ground up. They had only explored the tip of the iceberg of Goodman's character within Breaking Bad, so by creating the prequel, they could create an entire backstory for his character. When they finally put it all together,...

Just because character deaths on serialized television shows are inevitable, it doesn't mean they don't sting some of the most iconic moments in TV history center around the sudden death of a beloved character. Even when a hated villainous character is axed, the shock value echoes throughout the remainder of the series. As Better Call Saul headed towards its finale, audiences knew something had to give, with the Breaking Bad prequel spin-off by Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould teasing a fateful moment in the morally ambiguous life of Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk) as he morphed into the titular shady attorney by getting mixed up in cartel-related activity with his wife and conflicted professional partner, Kim Wexler (Rhea Seehorn). Someone had to pay the price, but few could have predicted that it would be Howard Hamlin (Patrick Fabian), Jimmy's upstanding foil who would suffer the most tragic demise in the Breaking Bad universe,...

Quick Links Mike's Story Arc in Season 2 Changed His Character's Trajectory Season 2's Finale Led To Fan Suspicion Regarding Gus' Return Season 2's Biggest Hint Towards Gus' Return Wasn't Even Part of the Story

Even though Breaking Bad fans knew what the endgame would be for the origin stories of Saul Goodman and Mike Ehrmantraut in the prequel series, Better Call Saul, the show managed to keep surprising them in more ways than they could have imagined. It was the kind of show where fans would analyze the hidden and obvious symbolisms that were placed throughout each episode, and rejoice at the fan service provided by returning characters and Easter egg references. If a fan happened to notice what might have been an ominous piece of foreshadowing, they were usually right about it. The amount of hype that had been built up around the rumor of Giancarlo Esposito reprising his...

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The Lincoln Lawyer is a thrilling legal ride with an unlikely protagonist. The Netflix series is based on Michael Connelly‘s books and has also been adapted into a film starring Matthew McConaughey. The series follows an idealistic lawyer Mickey Haller as he works from the back of his Lincoln car taking on big and small cases in Los Angeles. The Lincoln Lawyer stars Manuel Garcia-Rulfo in the lead role with Neve Campbell, Becki Newton, Jazz Raycole, Angus Sampson, Angelica Maria, and Christopher Gorham starring in supporting roles. So, if you loved the complex legal cases, thrilling courtroom drama, and compelling characters in The Lincoln Lawyer here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Goliath (Prime Video) Credit – Prime Video

Goliath is a legal thriller drama series created by David E. Kelley and Jonathan Shapiro. The...

Saul Goodmans post-Breaking Bad career as a manager at Cinnabon was just ridiculous enough to work in Better Call Saul, but the original plan wouldve been a bit too silly. In Breaking Bads incredible penultimate episode season 5, episode 15, Granite State Walter White had to reluctantly stay in a basement with his slimy lawyer for a couple of days while they waited for disappearer Ed Galbraith to sort them out with new identities. Saul told Walt that the best-case scenario for his new life would be managing a Cinnabon in Omaha.

When Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould teamed up to create the Saul-centric spin-off series, Better Call Saul, they paid off this throwaway line by having Saul actually manage a Cinnabon in a mall in Nebraska under the alias Gene Takavic. But that wasnt always a plan. Gould recently shared an early Breaking Bad draft with a slightly different line: Best-case scenario,...

In "Breaking Bad," we last see criminal lawyer Saul Goodman in the penultimate episode, "Granite State." Like Walter White/Heisenberg (Bryan Cranston), he employs the services of Ed (Robert Forster), a professional who specializes in relocating wanted people and giving them new identities. Saul laments that thanks to Walt, his glory days are over: "From here on out, I'm mister low profile. Just another douchebag with a job and three pairs of Dockers. If I'm lucky, three months from now, best case scenario, I'm managing a Cinnabon in Omaha."

Then came the prequel/sequel series "Better Call Saul". The very first scene shows this is exactly what happened to Saul (now going by "Gene Takovic"). When I first saw this, it felt a little too cutesy and on-the-nose, but it was an easily forgotten complaint.

Peter Gould (writer/director of "Granite State" and co-creator of "Better Call Saul") recently shared...

Better Call Saul almost had Bob Odenkirk dabbling in his emo phase.

Writer and producer Peter Gould recently shared an early draft of a Breaking Bad episode, which would have set up the character to work at Hot Topic in his self-titled spin-off series that ran from 2015 to 2022 on AMC.

“Came across this page from an early draft of #BreakingBad’s penultimate episode. Cinnabon? Not just yet!” wrote Gould on Bluesky.

In Better Call Saul, the titular attorney is introduced as in a flash-forward as Cinnabon manager “Gene Takavic,” a callback to the penultimate episode of Breaking Bad. “If I’m lucky, a month from now, best case scenario, I’m managing a Cinnabon in Omaha,” Saul tells Walter White (Bryan Cranston) in the 2013 episode ‘Granite State’.

After sharing a screenshot of the early script that featured “Hot Topic” in the line instead, Gould explained why they opted not to reference the counterculture retail giant.

After a life of crime that resulted in Breaking Bad's Jimmy McGill (aka Saul Goodman) going on the run, the former attorney wound up managing a Cinnabon in Omaha using the alias "Gene." However, the tasty pastry retailer was not the original choice for where Saul would end up with his new identity.

On social media, Better Call Saul co-creator Peter Gould shared an image from an early draft of the script for the penultimate episode of Breaking Bad. This was the episode that established that Saul (Bob Odenkirk) would be managing a Cinnabon after getting a new identity from the "Disappearer" (Robert Forster). The early draft of the script reveals that Saul's dialogue was altered slightly, as he was originally written to tell Walter White (Bryan Cranston) that he would be "managing a Hot Topic in Omaha."

Related 'I Love This Woman': Breaking Bad's Hank & Marie Actors...

Fans of the crime and gangster genres usually have a couple of movies and shows that first come to mind. They are usually the same hits, such as Goodfellas, The Godfather, The Sopranos and Breaking Bad. All of those gangster classics have something in common with one another: they are all led by powerful men. Henry Hill, Michael Corleone, Tony Soprano and Walter White are iconic figures in the gangster genre.

However, there are equally iconic women characters in the genre that are worth mentioning. While some are driven to crime by the actions of their husbands, like Skyler White, others have greater ambitions or are willing to do whatever it takes to survive, like Teresa Mendoza and Polly Gray. All of these powerful female crime figures have the same thing in common: they run powerful criminal empires in one way or another.

Skyler White Made Walter's Ambitions Possible Show:...

Better Call Saul showrunner Peter Gould reveals that Jimmy didn't work at a Cinnabon in the original plan for post-Breaking Bad. In the original AMC series, created by Vince Gilligan, Walter White and Jesse Pinkman's unscrupulous criminal lawyer, Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk), is introduced in season 2, episode 8. During Breaking Bad's penultimate episode, Saul assumes a new identity and envisions an ordinary future for himself in which he manages a Cinnabon in Omaha. Originally a throwaway line, Better Call Saul shows this very future in which he is living as Gene Takavic, manager of a Cinnabon in Omaha, Nebraska.

However, the original plan wasn't for Saul to work at a Cinnabon, Breaking Bad writer and Better Call Saul showrunner Peter Gould revealed on Bluesky Social. Check out his post below:

Gould shared an early draft of a script for Breaking Bad's penultimate episode and, instead of a Cinnabon,...

“Better Call Saul” begins with a black-and-white sequence showing Saul Goodman working at a Cinnabon in an Omaha mall. Saul has the new identity of Gene Takavic and is in hiding after the events of “Breaking Bad,” before the spinoff series goes back to before he ever met Walter White and Jesse Pinkman. The scene is a make-good on a promise made in the penultimate episode of “Breaking Bad,” when Saul (Bob Odenkirk) and Walter (Bryan Cranston) are waiting to enter witness protection and Saul says, “If I’m lucky, a month from now, best case scenario, I’m managing a Cinnabon in Omaha.”

But according to a script draft of that “Breaking Bad” episode, Saul almost worked at Hot Topic instead. In that early draft, posted by “Better Call Saul” co-creator and showrunner Peter Gould on the social media site Bluesky, Saul tells Walt, “From here on out, I...

It’s been nearly a decade since Breaking Bad, the groundbreaking AMC series starring Bryan Cranston as Walter White, took its final bow. Yet, the show’s impact on popular culture remains as strong as ever. From the enduring popularity of its spin-off, Better Call Saul, to the countless memes and references that still circulate online, it’s clear that Vince Gilligan’s masterpiece has left an indelible mark on the zeitgeist.

Imagine a video game featuring this unlikely duo. | Image Credit: AMC

But there’s one area where Breaking Bad‘s legacy remains curiously untapped: video games. Despite the show’s rich world, complex characters, and thrilling storylines, there has yet to be a truly successful attempt at adapting it into an interactive medium.

The Case for a Breaking Bad Video Game The prospect is intriguing, to say the least. | Image Credit: Telltale Games

On the surface, Breaking Bad...

Giancarlo Esposito has been known around the world for portraying the iconic role of Gustavo Fring in Vince Gilligan’s iconic show, Breaking Bad. After the AMC show, the actor went on to join the Star Wars franchise.

Giancarlo Esposito in Captain America: Brave New World | Credits: Marvel Studios

Being a menacing actor who knows how to nail antagonists, Giancarlo Esposito portrayed the role of Moff Gideon in the show The Mandalorian for quite a while.

Ask Giancarlo Esposito And You Shall Receive

No, he is not a genie (as of now) but the actor does live by the philosophy of simply asking for things. That’s what makes him such a great and terrifying villain in his roles as Gus Fring and Moff Gideon.

Giancarlo Esposito as Moff Gideon in The Mandalorian | Credits: Lucasfilm

According to an interview with The Guardian, Esposito revealed that it was his idea to...

Ever get the feeling that some characters in TV shows are just too good to meet their end? Well, Vince Gilligan had us on the edge of our seats wondering if a certain Breaking Bad character might meet their demise. As it turns out, this character was dodging the Grim Reaper’s scythe, only to reappear in Better Call Saul with a storyline that had us all scratching our heads.

Vince Gilligan, creator of Breaking Bad. | Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons

With Gilligan’s knack for plot twists, the thought of this character getting the axe seemed almost inevitable. But lo and behold, they survived the cut and continued to sizzle on screen. Dive into the whirlwind of plot twists and see why we’re still gripping our seats!

Vince Gilligan Dreads Jimmy McGill’s Tragic Transformation into Saul Goodman in Better Call Saul Rhea Seehorn and Bob Odenkirk in Better Call Saul...

Forget the speculation—Vince Gilligan never planned to kill off a fan-favorite character. While rumors and theories had fans on edge, Gilligan and his team always knew where their characters were headed. The suspense and drama were all part of the ride, but the truth is, some beloved figures were never on the chopping block.

Vince Gilligan, creator of Breaking Bad. | Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons

So sit back and enjoy the show—Gilligan had his characters’ fates in mind all along, keeping the best surprises for when we least expect them.

Vince Gilligan Clears the Air: Kim Wexler’s Fate Was Never in Danger Rhea Seehorn and Bob Odenkirk in Better Call Saul | AMC

Despite fan fears, Better Call Saul creator Vince Gilligan never planned to kill off Kim Wexler, the fiercely independent, morally complex character played by Rhea Seehorn. Squashing rumors that Kim’s fate would be sealed in a brutal twist,...

When it comes to the world of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, if there is one thing fans can expect, it is well-written characters. If a camera is pointed at a character for longer than two episodes, chances are that fans are in for one complexly motivated journey. This is a pattern that has followed through the spin-offs and has consistently impressed fans over the years.

Bob Odenkirk as Saul Goodman in Better Call Saul | Credit: Sony Pictures

While a lot of attention is focused on Walter White and the unraveling of his psyche, fans have been introduced to other characters that provide an equal, if not more intrigue. During an interview, the co-creator of Saul Goodman’s series, Peter Gould, spoke on one character from the original series that set a brand new standard for the spin-off.

Gus Fring raised the bar so high for the writers, that...

When we say that Netflix has something for everyone, we really do mean it as you can find shows from horror and fantasy genres to niche genres like psychological thriller and serial killer shows. Today we are going to dive into Netflix’s vast library of content to pick out the best courtroom dramas for the fans of the genre. So, here are the 7 best legal drama shows you can find on Netflix right now.

The Lincoln Lawyer Credit – Netflix

The Lincoln Lawyer is a legal drama series created by David E. Kelley. Based on the books of Michael Connelly, the Netflix series follows the story of Los Angeles lawyer Mickey Haller as he takes on high-profile cases while working from the back of his Lincoln Navigator. The Lincoln Lawyer stars Manuel Garcia-Rulfo in the lead role with Becki Newton, Neve Campbell, Lana Parrilla, Angus Sampson, Jazz Raycole, Christopher Gorham,...

This article mentions sensitive topics like gun violence and suicide.

Some TV finales are epic in a good way. They deliver a jaw-dropping twist that leaves fans shocked but satisfied. Others, on the other hand, may go too far, either undoing the story arc or completely ruining the entire show. Dramatic TV finales don't always turn out so well.

Like Game of Thrones, some series over-deliver the shock effect and either anger or traumatize fans for life. Other series, like Lost, seem to have gotten lost on the way to a resolution. Sometimes, a show's finale lands on a cliffhanger that will never be resolved.

Breaking Bad's Ending Leaves Fans Second-Guessing What Happened

Related 15 Easter Eggs Everyone Missed In Breaking Bad

Breaking Bad had a successful television run with a huge fanbase, but even most devoted fans might have missed these hidden easter eggs.

Did Heisenberg die or was he still alive?...

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more impressive TV resumé than Melissa Bernstein’s since 2008.

The four-time Emmy-winning producer was right by Vince Gilligan’s side when he got Breaking Bad’s pilot off the ground in 2007 and together with Mark Johnson and Gran Via Productions she helped turn the idiosyncratic crime drama about a high school chemistry teacher-turned-meth kingpin into its own empire. Immediately following the staggering success of the Bryan Cranston-led Breaking Bad, Gilligan, Bernstein, Peter Gould and the rest of Gilligan’s brain trust spun the series off into the Bob Odenkirk vehicle Better Call Saul, which is now considered to be one of the most acclaimed prequels in any medium. Then came 2019’s well-received sequel movie El Camino, chronicling Jesse Pinkman’s (Aaron Paul) quest for freedom.

Throughout that period of time, Bernstein also helped shepherd other critical darlings including Rectify, Halt and Catch Fire...

Giancarlo Esposito is a busy actor these days, with his hit AMC series Parish and roles in Captain America: Brave New World and the Russo Brothers' The Electric State just completed. He has more than half a dozen projects currently in production, but there's one he still thinks about revisiting: Breaking Bad's iconic drug kingpin Gus Fring. In a new interview with Discussing Film, Esposito discussed his recent projects, and his hopes to once again play his most iconic character.

Parish may not be the monster hit that Breaking Bad or Better Call Saul was for AMC, but Esposito personally has earned strong reviews playing a man who returns to a life of crime after a personal tragedy. Whether there will be a second season is still up in the air, but Esposito is on to more projects, including a future guest appearance on Peacock's hit series Poker Face,...