Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Better Call Saul!
The debate over whetherBetter Call SaulorBreaking Badis better has been raging ever since the spinoff started, but there is one exact moment where the prequel became better than the original series.Breaking Badand its prequel seriesBetter Call Saulare two of the most critically acclaimed shows of all time, with them being consistently beloved throughout their runs. Now that theBreaking Baduniverse has concluded, a lot of analysis is going into which show is better, with the obvious answer beingBetter Call Sauldue to this one scene.
Upon the announcement of aBreaking Badprequelfocusing on Saul Goodman, many fans of the original series were left confused. It didn’t seem as if there was enough story to warrant an entire show focused on the comedic side character, and after the legendarily high-quality run ofBreaking Bad, creating a spinoff series risked tarnishing the original show’s legacy. However, whenBetter Call Saulstarted,it quickly became apparent that the team knew what they were doing.Better Call Saulwas praised throughout its early seasons, but the show’s true quality became known in this scene.
“Chicanery” Changed Everything
For about half its run,Better Call Saulattempted to outdo the legacy ofBreaking Bad. However,it finally managed to pull off reaching this goal inBetter Call Saulseason 3, episode 5, “Chicanery.“The episode centers around a hearing that is tasked with deciding if Jimmy McGill should be disbarred, with this coming from him allegedly tampering with Chuck’s evidence. This is already an incredibly interesting story, as Jimmy getting disbarred would immediately raise the stakes of the show.
The 8 Better Call Saul Moments That Defined The Show
Better Call Saul was full of definitive moments that linked it to the story of Breaking Bad and gave insight into the character of Jimmy McGill.
However,Better Call Saul’s “Chicanery"truly becomes a masterpiece when Chuck decides to testify against his brother. Jimmy’s scheme to reveal Chuck’s condition as fake is one of the most clever bits of writing in the show, and Chuck’s ranting monologue in the scheme’s aftermath is possibly the most iconic scene in the series. Jimmy’s clear pain in exposing his brother makes this one of the most emotional scenes inBetter Call Saul, with the emotional complexity of this Jimmy and Chuck climax elevating the prequel overBreaking Bad.
“Chicanery” Elevated Better Call Saul And Changed The Show Forever
It Was The True Start Of Jimmy’s Downfall
Jimmy exposing Chuck is the true turning point ofBetter Call Saul, with Jimmy’s betrayal of his brother being the push that sends Jimmy down the dark path that he can be seen on inBreaking Bad. WhileBreaking Badwas an incredible series, the complexity of the emotions seen in “Chicanery” can only be found in this episode, with the prequel not having to rely on tension in order to be compelling. “Chicanery” is the true start of Jimmy’s downfall inBetter Call Saul, which is why the show gets so much better after this point.
Better Call Saul Somehow Continued To Get Better After Season 3
The Show Continued To Improve
Although “Chicanery” was an incredible episode,Better Call Saulsomehow managed to get even better after season 3.Better Call Saulseason 3 was still heavily focused on the legal aspect, and while Nacho was around,the beloved crime storylines didn’t come back in full force until even later. The reintroduction of Gus Fring inBetter Call Saulmade the terrifying villain even more interesting, and the addition of Lalo Salamanca to the prequel series led to a villain who was able to be just as interesting and fun as Gus was inBreaking Bad.
Better Call Saul’s Best Spinoff Idea Continues 1 Crucial Breaking Bad Trend
A popular Better Call Saul spinoff idea would continue an important Breaking Bad trend that has been established in both of the series so far.
Jimmy’s arc for the rest ofBetter Call Saulalso only got more interesting after season 3. Jimmy’s descent into criminality only continued to get worse after discrediting Chuck, with this bringing him closer to Jimmy and Kim’s final plan to discredit Howard Hamlin. Jimmy and Kim’s romantic relationship was also incredibly interesting, with the tragic conclusion of it inBetter Call Saul’s future timeline not playing a part in the series until the very end of the show. So many ofBetter Call Saul’s best moments didn’t come until after “Chicanery,” proving that there was still room to grow.
Both Shows Are Near Perfect
Although everyone has a favorite,Breaking BadandBetter Call Saulare still both fantastic shows. The two series are easily some of the best TV shows ever made, with comparing the two near-perfect programs being a hard task. It is hard to find a flaw with either series, and the most interesting part is that neither would work without the other.Better Call Saulwouldn’t make sense withoutBreaking Bad, and knowledge of Jimmy’s fate inBreaking BadmakesBetter Call Saulso much better, and this only works because both shows are as good as they are.
Better Call Saul
Cast
Better Call Saul follows small-time lawyer Jimmy McGill as he navigates the legal world to make ends meet. The series, set six years before his encounter with Walter White, chronicles Jimmy’s evolution into Saul Goodman, with notable interactions alongside fixer Mike Ehrmantraut.
