Guillermo Del Toro Prefers ‘Better Call Saul’ To ‘Breaking Bad’, And With Good Reason
Over the course of four seasons,Better Call Saulhas somehow evolved into a better show than its predecessor,Breaking Bad. At least, that’s what I think. But don’t just take my word for it – allow Academy Award winning filmmakerGuillermo del Toroto school you onSaul’s brilliance. The filmmaker took to Twitter to proclaim his love for the prequel series, and you can read his thoughts below.
I often tell people I likeBetter Call Saulmore thanBreaking Bad, which usually results in those people telling me I’m insane. Don’t get me wrong:Breaking Badis a phenomenal show – one of the best examples of the glorious age of Peak TV. And whenBetter Call Saulwas first announced, I was skeptical. It seemed to be little more than a cash-in – something to keep theBreaking Badtrain rolling even after that series ended. But onceSaulstarted, I quickly realized that the show was something special.
Part of what makesSaulso great is its inherent tragedy. While bothBreaking BadandBetter Call Saulare about the rise and eventual downfall of their main characters,Breaking Bad’s Walter White never really seemed that sympathetic of a character. Bryan Cranston’s performance was incredible, but Walt was always kind of a jerk – something the series hammers home in its final season, where Walt admits that he became a drug kingpin for his own selfish reasons, and because he liked it. The path for Jimmy McGill, aka Saul Goodman, is different. We know Jimmy is doomed because when we met him as Saul onBreaking Bad, he had morphed into a corrupt buffoon – someone with no moral compass at all. But the character onSaulstarts off a genuinely sympathetic individual. Yes, he’s terribly flawed, and yes, he’s willing to break all sorts of rules (and laws). But you get the sense that deep down, Jimmy is a good guy. And that’s unfortunate, because we know it won’t last. He’ll eventually turn into Saul Goodman.
Guillermo del Toro has a similar approach to the show, and shared his thoughts on Twitter over the weekend. “A small reflection in the middle ofBetter Call Saul’s new seasson [sic]: I like it even more than BB, not to be a contrarian but because the evident stakes seem smaller but the moral downfall strike me as deeper, more poignant,” the filmmaker begins, before delving into things more. You can read his comments below.
With Walter White (who turns Black) you were tracking a massive downfall/transformation. BCS takes you by the hand as Jimmy becomes Saul Goodman (No Good in him) in small painful tumbles.
— Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT)June 15, 2025
Even in his relationship with Chuck, Jimmy was an enabler, he kind of loved seeing Chuck diminished. Both brothers wanted to see the other “down”. Beautifully laid out.
BTW I believe that those two notions are NOT interchangeable.
— Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT)July 05, 2025
Again: this is all a matter of opinion, and I’m sure plenty of people will be vehemently opposed to this idea. Some might even argue it’s unfair to compareBadandSaul, sinceSaulhasn’t ended yet. That’s fair! All that said, it’s interesting to see how farBetter Call Saulhas come over its four seasons.
