Content Warning: This article contains references to drug misuse and xenophobia
Better Call Saul is reaching the mid-point of its final series, with the events of Breaking Bad inching ever closer. It's a great time to reflect upon how far this universe has come, especially with the addition of El Camino, a fantastic film that concludes a narrative arc of its own. Indeed, the characters in this criminal world evolve perhaps more than most others on the small screen.
With morality constantly in flux, the heroes and villains of these fantastic seasons have come such a long way since audiences first met them. Some of those journeys might have been quite surprising, and others were never intended to go in the eventual direction that they did. Both Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad are continuously evolving, allowing their characters to feel authentic and alive.
Mike Ehrmantraut
Mike's narrative arc really came in two parts. When audiences first met the character in Breaking Bad he was already working for Gus. As the resident fixer, Mike oversaw vast amounts of Gus' operations and seemed pretty merciless. However, as the show progressed, his home life was slowly unveiled and Mike's motivations were uncovered.
That loving relationship with his granddaughter was next reflected in Better Call Saul. Here, the character was resistant to return to his former line of work but was roped into eventually serving under Gus. It was a move that would ultimately lead to his demise at the end of Breaking Bad, his fate getting sealed. Along the way, he has continued to question his actions, especially with Werner Ziegler.
Saul Goodman
Saul Goodman started out life as Jimmy McGill. He might have been involved in a few unsavory cons, but his quest to become a lawyer took him into even shadier territory. Throughout the course of Better Call Saul, the character has been tested, transforming into the Saul Goodman fans know from Breaking Bad.
This evolution was not a straightforward one and there were a number of catalysts that forced him in that direction. While Better Call Saul might track his rise (or fall) in the criminal underworld, Breaking Bad sees the cart come off the tracks. He finally finds a situation he can't con his way out of and backs away into the shadows, perhaps admitting defeat for the first time in his life.
Walter White
Breaking Bad was all about Walter White's journey. Once a science teacher who had begun his battle with cancer, the former family man transformed into the monstrous meth cook, Heisenberg. Along the way, he made new allies, tore his homelife apart, and committed sins he never seemed capable of.
The show is really about ego, and how far one man will go to leave a legacy behind, no matter how sinister it may be. It's a character study at its finest and the somewhat heroic end to this complex character was praised, with the finale marked as one of the greatest of all time. There's something quite Shakespearean about this arc.
Jesse Pinkman
If Breaking Bad was all about Walter's corruption, then it was also about the salvation of Jesse Pinkman. He might have begun his own journey as a petty thief, but his partnership with Walter White took him to riches and into far more dangerous territory.
His ill-fated romances, friendship with Brock, and various experiences within the harsher corners of Albuquerque were enough to break this formerly hopeful teenager. Jesse matures, becomes a better man than Walt could ever be, and escapes with his life after he was captured in a xenophobic compound. El Camino wraps up that story, giving Pinkman the ending he truly deserves after finally crawling out from the grime of his past.
Ignacio Varga
Ignacio Varga never makes an appearance in Breaking Bad but he's arguably a secondary protagonist in Better Call Saul. In some ways, Nacho's story parallels that of Jesse Pinkman. He's a young man that gets in way over his head and suffers the consequences of that.
There's one difference in the story though. Jesse loses everything he loves and has only himself to fight for. Nacho, on the other hand, has his father to protect. That key scenario shift is what leads to a perfect ending for Nacho. His sacrifice demonstrates he was selfless in the end, atoning for the cruel actions of his past and getting solace in knowing he helped to take down the evil Hector Salamanca.
Kim Wexler
Kim Wexler's arc hasn't quite been completed yet. Unlike characters like Saul, there's no telling where her story could end up. That's pretty exciting considering the evolution that audiences have already witnessed. Kim started as a by-the-book lawyer with a little bit of an edge.
She cared for the little guy but high flying opportunities led her astray. A stress-related accident and romance with Jimmy McGill changed all that. Dropping her corrupt big business clients and going back to working people, Kim becomes a catalyst for her husband Saul. Her schemes are perhaps even more calculated and her survival instincts are taking the pair in a dangerous direction. Comparing Kim's first appearance to her verbal showdown with Lalo Salamanca showcases that stunning development.
Walter White Jr.
Walter White Jr. was always presented as a supporting character with very little room for growth. He represented the family that Walter White was seemingly trying to protect, rather than bringing anything to the table himself. That changed so much as the character matured though.
His shift once he finds out the truth about his father is phenomenal. This was a boy that once idolized Walt Sr. but all of that has come crashing down. He shows greater resolve than perhaps even his mother and takes on far more responsibilities. His growth is an emotional one; a coming-of-age arc with a criminal twist.
Skyler White
Skyler White is one of the most hated characters from the Breaking Bad universe. Her initial appearances shows her as loving and supportive, but, as Walt's lives begin to clash, an uglier side emerges from Skyler. Not satisfied with the lot she has in life, she wants more.
She's a driving force for some of Walter's criminal activities, even involving herself. But the explosive breakup of the duo and the way their marriage crumbles also redefines Skyler, whose hands certainly aren't clean in all of this. She's a fascinating character, whose passiveness is replaced with a strong will to get what she wants.
Chuck McGill
Chuck, the older brother to Jimmy, is one of the biggest villains of Better Call Saul. Despite everything Saul has done for Chuck, the latter wants nothing more than to tear his life apart. He succeeds in doing so for a time, taking away his career as a lawyer.
Chuck's arc is so much more subtle than most. It's about understanding, with the two brothers never quite reconciling despite their best efforts. Chuck influences his brother's own journey, but, perhaps he is finally looking for forgiveness in his final days. They never quite heal but the audience is left with the notion that deep down, Chuck did genuinely love his brother.
Hector Salamanca
Hector Salamanca's arc is a vicious one. In Better Call Saul, he's at the head of the family and at the height of his power. His decisions lead to Nacho's own destructive actions, with Salamanca's health getting the best of him. Audiences can still see the strength of Hector behind his eyes though.
While Gus remains consistent throughout both shows, Hector's hatred continues to grow. It's an interesting narrative to watch unfold, as a man who was so obsessed with greed and legacy, decides to throw it all away for revenge. Hector's final choice to sacrifice his life in order to murder Gus Fring demonstrates the sheer bile and venom inside the crime lord.