Sometimes writing a prequel can produce a few inconsistencies with the original work. That may be the case with Better Call Saul, which has contradicted a few of the facts seen in Breaking Bad. While these are minor points, they have caused audiences to question what the true situation actually is. Many of these are easily fixed though!
When Saul is around lying comes easily. Perhaps some of these facts could actually be changed with the right perspective from the lawyer. Regardless of the fact in question, none of these continuity errors take anything away from one of the best dramas on TV, which continues to push the tension and raise the stakes in its final season.
Honorable Mention: Character Appearances
It's not exactly a fault of the writing, it's just the way that the shows have worked out, that Better Call Saul has been filmed years after the initial Breaking Bad. It's pretty much a fact that audiences know what these characters look like at a certain age. Yet, they look vastly different in the prequel.
The key actors like Bob Odenkirk have of course continued to age and thus look older in Better Call Saul than they do in Breaking Bad. Ultimately this inconsistency is just something fans can ignore. After all, plenty of other spinoffs of popular shows, including El Camino, have had to suspend disbelief in the same way.
Jimmy's Wives
In Breaking Bad Saul jokes about his multiple ex-wives. The number seems to be at three, yet it's quite apparent in Better Call Saul that there's only one wife on the scene. Indeed, Kim Wexler, who some argue to truly be the main character of the show, marries Jimmy in the later seasons.
But the timeline is incredibly confusing. There are some hints that Saul might have previously been married, although it's unclear when that could have been. If Kim is actually wife number two then that raises further questions that will be touched upon later. Ultimately, perhaps the notion of other marriages was one of Saul's many lies.
Nacho's Fate
For those who are up to date with Better Call Saul, they will know Nacho's dark fate. The character took his own life in order to protect his father from the wrath of the cartels. It ended Ignacio Varga's story in a fitting and poetic manner, but it leaves a major question from Breaking Bad.
When Saul is captured in the sequel series he asks whether Ignacio is responsible. This is of course a reference to Nacho, but the fact is he's dead at that stage. Why does Saul talk about him as if he's alive? Perhaps he is never told about the criminal's final moments.
A Step-Father Is Absent
As previously mentioned, there is some drama concerning Jimmy's second wife. He mentions in Breaking Bad that she actually had an affair with his step-father, putting an end to their relationship. That raises so many more questions as that just doesn't add up with Better Call Saul.
There appears to be no step-father on the scene, nor has Saul's mother made any kind of appearance. Chuck is really the only family audiences have seen. Many thought that Kim was the second and actually last wife, but she wouldn't cheat on Saul, meaning there had to be three marriages. It could have all been a lie to cover up what really happened in his relationships, but the facts right now, don't make sense.
Kaylee Ehrmantraut's Age
Kaylee Ehrmantraut is the granddaughter of Mike. Most of Mike's quotes indicate what kind of cold man he is, but there's one thing that he cares about above all else and that's Kaylee. It's a revelation in Breaking Bad and a major plot point in Better Call Saul.
The age of Kaylee in the sequel series is vastly different from that of Better Call Saul though. In fact, her aging is completely inconsistent. It's almost as if she stays the same for a number of years or perhaps even gets younger! Some have theorized that Kaylee dies in Better Call Saul and her mother has a second granddaughter called Kaylee in memory of her, but that seems a bit far-fetched.
Dealing With The DEA
Saul and the DEA have crossed paths before. In Breaking Bad both Gomez and Hank act as if they've never met the lawyer before, yet they have a major moment together in Better Call Saul. Jimmy is brought in to defend Krazy-8 and cut him a deal.
There's a tension between them that seems to go away when they are next on-screen together, but the facts of their relationship seem incredibly inconsistent. Better Call Saul didn't really take into account the next jovial meeting of the group and the fact that they seem to indicate they only know him from his TV ads.
Lalo's Continued Operation
Another name that Saul threw out when he thought he was captured by the cartel was Lalo. He asked whether he was behind Jimmy's abduction, without any understanding of where Lalo could actually be. For many, that suggests that Lalo survives the events of Better Call Saul.
But there is no talk of another Salamanca when the family gets ripped apart. He doesn't appear again and has no role at all in Breaking Bad. With the fact that he's supposedly still alive in Breaking Bad, why would he not show up for revenge? Lalo's very existence in Better Call Saul and his love for his family is a massive contradiction.
Tuco Meeting Saul
Tuco Salamanca is one of the funniest and most dangerous characters in both respective shows. He previously had a run-in with Saul Goodman, nearly killing him and breaking the legs of some teenagers who were running scams on his family.
The fact is, Saul never mentions his shared history with Tuco or indeed the wider Salamancas when they come on to the scene in Breaking Bad. It's as if he's never met them before at all. It could be an elaborate bluff to control the situation, or another incident where the shows had to be inconsistent for better storytelling.
Hector In Jail
Fans are told in Breaking Bad that Hector has spent years in prison before re-arriving on the scene. That's not totally true though. The events of Better Call Saul are quickly catching up to Breaking Bad and Hector hasn't seen the inside of a prison cell yet.
Perhaps the nursing home he's staying in could be metaphorically a prison, but it's another inconsistency that doesn't mesh perfectly. It could be written away that it's another lie; a way to build up the mythos of the head of the Salamanca family!
Jimmy's Childhood
Jimmy's childhood is absolutely up for dispute. In Breaking Bad he talks with a kid about his own early years and how he grew up in New Mexico. The narrative he weaves could be one of his trademark Saul stories with very little truth to it, considering what fans learn in Better Call Saul.
The facts are presented that he actually grew up in Chicago. Either it is a lie and the writing thus establishes that, or there's an inconsistency in the facts that have been given. It's pretty hard to keep track of all of these moments as a writer so it's easy to make small mistakes like these over two shows.