Which TV series features Saul Goodman?
Quick answer
Saul Goodman appears in Breaking Bad (2008–2013) and is the main character of its prequel, Better Call Saul (2015–2022). He’s played by Bob Odenkirk. Saul is a flashy, morally flexible Albuquerque lawyer whose real name is James “Jimmy” McGill.
In Breaking Bad, Saul becomes Walter White’s lawyer, helping him launder money and escape trouble. He’s a source of comedy in a dark show, with his strip-mall office, inflatable Statue of Liberty and catchy TV ads.
Saul in each show
| Show | Years | Saul’s role |
|---|---|---|
| Breaking Bad | Appears from season 2 (2009) | Criminal lawyer for Walter White and Jesse Pinkman |
| Better Call Saul | 2015–2022 | The lead: how Jimmy McGill becomes Saul Goodman, plus his life after Breaking Bad |
Where the name comes from
“Saul Goodman” is a pun on “S’all good, man” (“it’s all good”), a reassuring phrase that fits his slick, salesman style.
Better Call Saul
The prequel, created by Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould, follows Jimmy as a struggling lawyer in the early 2000s, living in the shadow of his brilliant older brother Chuck and working with Kim Wexler (Rhea Seehorn). It explores how a decent, funny man slowly becomes a criminal’s lawyer.
Many critics consider Better Call Saul as good as or better than Breaking Bad. It received more than 50 Emmy nominations, though famously it never won one.
Bob Odenkirk
Before becoming a dramatic actor, Odenkirk was a comedy writer and performer, co-creating the sketch show Mr. Show and writing for Saturday Night Live. In 2021, he suffered a heart attack on the Better Call Saul set and recovered to finish the series.
Saul’s most famous client was a chemistry teacher; see what Walter White’s job was.
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