Better Call Saul: 10 Major Details About The Breaking Bad Cast That The Spin-Off Reveals
Better Call Saul has put characters from Breaking Bad into a whole new light with many interesting, shocking revelations.
Prequels are a tricky business. Some prequels bomb hard (Star Wars anyone?), whereas others add to the original in various unique and interesting ways. By their very nature, prequels must measure up to something incredibly popular – in this case, Breaking Bad, AKA one of the greatest television shows ever made.
Luckily, Better Call Saul is far better than it has any right to be. Mostly forgoing Breaking Bad‘s relentless pace and bloodshed, Better Call Saul instead devotes itself to character introspection and moral degradation. And everyone learns a lot about the Breaking Bad cast along the way. These are ten major details about the Breaking Bad cast that the spin-off reveals.
Jimmy McGill
Throughout Breaking Bad, Jimmy McGill is known by his alias, Saul Goodman. The name was an obvious and hilarious play on the phrase “it’s all good, man!” and it’s meant to represent Saul’s cheesy personality and highly illegal business practices.
It’s not until Better Call Saul that we learn his real name – James Morgan McGill, also known as Jimmy McGill. The use of “Jimmy” is particularly interesting, as it paints Saul as childish and immature when compared to his big brother, a theme that would continuously recur throughout the series.
Saul Had An Older Brother (Who Killed Himself)
One of the biggest revelations in Better Call Saul is that Saul had an older brother named Chuck. Jimmy always lived in the shadow of Chuck, as he was by far the more traditionally successful brother.
However, Chuck suffered from a condition called electromagnetic hypersensitivity, which eventually led to his demise. Chuck relapses into his delusions after being forced to retire from HHM and fighting with Jimmy, causing him to commit suicide by setting fire to his house.
Saul Had A Wife
Another major revelation comes in the form of Kim Wexler, Saul Goodman’s (presumably) ex-wife. Kim begins the series as a love interest and business partner of Jimmy’s working at HHM.
She eventually leaves the company to join Saul in starting their own law firm, Wexler & McGill. Unfortunately, audiences are still to learn what exactly happened to Kim, as she does not appear, nor is she even mentioned, in Breaking Bad.
Jimmy Used His Saul Goodman Persona Before
“Saul Goodman” isn’t just a name that Jimmy uses for his law practice. Turns out, he’s utilized the name on various occasions.
He initially uses the alias in a series of commercials that he filmed while suspended from practicing law, and he later uses it to sell burner phones to Albuquerque’s criminal element. It’s not until the season four finale that Jimmy’s law license is reinstated and he officially takes the name Saul Goodman.
Saul Works At Cinnabon
One of the unique aspects of Better Call Saul is that it works both as a prequel and a sequel to Breaking Bad. The latter aspect is told via “flashforwards” that are filmed in black and white.
We learn that Saul was relocated to Omaha and began working as a manager at a mall Cinnabon while taking the name Gene Takavic. He also adopted large circular glasses and a thick mustache to help conceal his identity.
Nacho & Mike Put Tuco In Prison
Tuco Salamanca was the first true Breaking Bad villain, and he made a return in the first two seasons of Better Call Saul. Season 2 sees Nacho and Mike conspiring together to put Tuco in prison, as Nacho grows paranoid that Tuco will kill him.
Mike calls the cops and proceeds to instigate a fight with Tuco outside El Michoacáno. Mike takes a beating from Tuco, but the plan works and Tuco is taken to prison for assaulting a senior citizen and carrying an illegal firearm.
Matt Ehrmantraut
Viewers may have had ideas about Mike’s tragic past in Breaking Bad, but his past is given an entire episode in Five-O.
Mike had a son named Matt who was a rookie police officer in Philadelphia. Matt married Stacey, confirming that Stacey is Mike’s daughter-in-law. Unfortunately, Matt got caught up in some dirty money and crooked cops and was subsequently murdered, as the other cops feared that he would rat them out.
Mike Avenged His Sons And Moved To Albuquerque
Another great revelation we discover in Five-O is that Mike eventually avenged his son’s death. Following Matt’s murder, Mike fell into alcoholism and depression but eventually decided to take decisive action against his son’s killers, Troy Hoffman and Jack Fensky.
He met them in an alleyway and killed them before fleeing to Albuquerque to be with his daughter-in-law and granddaughter.
Mike & Gus Meet Through Their Mutual Hatred Of Hector
Many people wondered how it was that Mike and Gus came to be acquainted, and that question is answered in seasons two and three of Better Call Saul. Mike wished to kill Hector Salamanca, but Gus wanted him alive (as seen in Breaking Bad).
Gus explained to Mike that he needed Hector alive, but he allowed him to continue infiltrating Hector’s supply line. The two subsequently embarked on a loose partnership, which eventually blossomed into Mike becoming Gus’s right hand man.
Mike & Saul Meet In A Parking Lot
Another meeting is revealed far earlier – that of Mike and Saul. And the answer of their meeting is far more mundane than viewers may have imagined.
After fleeing to Albuquerque and retiring from the police business, Mike became a modest parking lot attendant. He was stationed at the Albuquerque courthouse, where he frequently ran into Jimmy McGill, who at the time was working as a self-employed lawyer.
