The final season of AMC's Emmy-nominated Better Call Saul concluded the complicated journey and transformation of its compromised hero, Jimmy McGill (Breaking Bad character and fan-favorite Bob Odenkirk), into criminal lawyer Saul Goodman. Creators Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould effectively brought the thrilling series to a satisfying conclusion, so it's no wonder Better Call Saul recently cleaned up at the Saturn Awards as well.
What started as a promising Breaking Bad spin-off turned into an epic standalone series that ran even longer than its Emmy-winning predecessor. It's hard to believe star Odenkirk recently turned 60, as the Mr. Show co-creator brought a relentlessly youthful energy to his Better Call Saul titular role. Here's closer look at each season as they're ranked on Rotten Tomatoes.
6 Season 2 — 97% Based on 182 Critic Ratings
Sitting at 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, Better Call Saul Season 2 proved that the quality of the first installment wasn't just a fluke. Like the first, season 2 mainly takes place in 2002, with Odenkirk reprising his role as Jimmy McGill, who has an ongoing feud with his brother Chuck (a standout Michael McKean). Meanwhile, the beloved Kim Wexler (Rhea Seehorn), a Hamlin, Hamlin & McGill attorney who is Jimmy's lover and former mailroom co-worker, leaves the practice of law at HHM to start a solo practice in office space she shares with Jimmy. Emmy-nominee Jonathan Banks reprises his role as Mike Ehrmantraut, who is engaged in a conflict with the Mexican drug cartel after an altercation that was orchestrated by Nacho Varga (the scene-stealing Michael Mando). This results in Mike getting targeted by Tuco's uncle Hector (Mark Margolis, instantly recognizable from some of the finest Breaking Bad episodes). The end of this season effectively sets the stage for more to come.
5 Season 1 — 97% Based on 291 Critic Ratings
The first season of Better Call Saul instantly sets up a clever twist on our expectations: Why is everyone referring to Breaking Bad's Saul Goodman as "Jimmy?" We learn that this first installment takes place six years prior to the events in Breaking Bad and features Odenkirk as Jimmy McGill, a struggling lawyer looking after his successful brother Chuck, a former attorney. Banks' return following his character's sad demise in Breaking Bad brought a smile to our viewing faces. It was certainly striking seeing Mike as merely a parking lot attendant when we first see him here — but of course, there's always more beneath the surface when it comes to his persona.
4 Season 3 — 98% Based on 175 Critic Ratings
The third season of Better Call Saul immediately follows the events of the second. The year is 2003, so flip phones and related gadgets are still very much prevalent. Jimmy is still engaged in that ever-present feud with brother Chuck, who believes Jimmy is unfit to be a lawyer and plots to have him disbarred. Mike, meanwhile, begins a partnership with the infamous Gustavo (Giancarlo Esposito), while Nacho is plotting to murder their menacing rival Hector.
3 Season 6 — 99% Based on 175 Critic Ratings
"Plotting these episodes out was tiny little baby steps in the writers’ room," Vince Gilligan once told The Hollywood Reporter about the Better Call Saul season 6. "This final season, the writers’ room was virtual, but it was just tough. You go down a path, and then you back away from where you’re heading and you go down another path."
The first nine episodes mainly take place in Albuquerque in 2004, four years before Jimmy begins his dealings with Walter White (Bryan Cranston) and Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul). Overall, the season shows the further evolution of Jimmy into "Saul" as he and his now-wife Kim execute their plan to ruin the career of Howard Hamlin (Patrick Fabian) to force a resolution of an ongoing "Sandpiper" case that seems to thread everything together plotwise. The sixth season also depicts the drug cartel's reactions to the assassination attempt on Lalo Salamanca (a standout Tony Dalton).
Then, the final episodes jump to 2010 — after the events of Breaking Bad — and show Saul living in Nebraska under the alias "Gene" and hiding from the authorities after Walter White's death. These episodes are conveniently eligible for next year's Primetime Emmy Awards. After years of mere nominations, we're hoping for a few trophies this time around.
2 Season 5 — 99% Based on 184 Critic Ratings
Most of Better Call Saul season 5 hit the masses amid the COVID-19 pandemic's initial strike in 2020, so these episodes were a rare treat amid tough times. Plot-wise, they take place in 2004, four years before Jimmy meets Walter and Jesse. The season shows the further evolution of Jimmy into the titular role after regaining his law license, while fully rejecting the goodwill that Howard extends to him in the wake of Chuck's death. Meanwhile, Jimmy is driving Kim nuts as well due to his increasingly secretive ways. Added to that, Lalo's presence in Albuquerque continues to disrupt Gus' business operations and reputation with the cartel. Both Nacho and Mike become caught between Gus and Lalo's conflict. Enter Jimmy, and especially Kim, to assist! This season really showed Seahorn's acting chops as Kim, who truly "breaks bad" over the course of these wonderful episodes.
1 Season 4 — 99% Based on 185 Critic Ratings
Better Call Saul season 4 was virtually perfect. Following Chuck's death in the third season (as portrayed by Michael McKean in an awards-caliber turn), Jimmy and Kim struggle in the aftermath. Even Howard believes he's responsible for Chuck's death, and suffers with depression. Actor Patrick Fabian really shines as Howard in this season, giving his unlikeable character more depth. Meanwhile, Gus is suspicious of Nacho after Hector's stroke, so Nacho becomes a mole for Gus inside the Salamanca organization. Gus hires an engineer and construction crew to begin construction of the meth "superlab" under the industrial laundry. And of course, there's Lalo's epic entry into New Mexico as he begins running the family's drug business. Season 4 may take the cake ratings-wise, but each installment arguably surpasses its predecessor. Catch up on Netflix if need be!