Breaking Bad: The 5 best Saul Goodman episodes

Breaking Bad is one of the great masterpieces of 2010s television, bringing the post-Sopranos model of anti-heroic TV drama to new critical highs (and terrifying new moral lows). What makes it even more impressive is that—in an era defined by ever-more-gigantic ensembles—Breaking Bad unfurled its epic American tale with a relatively small cast of characters. While other shows opted for cast breadth, Bad explored each character's depth, sending them on fascinating byzantine journeys into the interior of their souls. We've taken a close look at all the show's main characters and presented a suggested viewing list of the five episodes that best define their arc. We started with alpha-male DEA agent Hank (Dean Norris), then: Skyler White (Anna Gunn), Walter's (Bryan Cranston) wife and sometime accomplice, who went from unwitting victim to money-laundering queenpin. Now, it's time for Walt and Jesse's (Aaron Paul) cockroach of a lawyer, Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk).

"Better Call Saul" (Season 2, Episode 8)

In Odenkirk's first episode of the series, he made an indelible impression as the sleazy—but highly capable—lawyer with an unforgettable TV ad that ends with the ubiquitous "Better call Saul!" After Badger (Matt Jones), one of Walt and Jesse's dealers, got caught by the police, Goodman appeared as Badger's attorney. Walt and Jesse tried to bribe Saul into making sure Badger didn't talk to the DEA, but Saul refused the gesture. After being kidnapped by the meth-cooking duo, however, Goodman turned the tables, convincing Walt and Jesse to hire him as their counsel. By the end of the hour, Saul not only fixed the Badger situation—by setting up Jimmy In-n-Out (Jimmy Daniels) to take the fall as a fake Heisenberg—he also maneuvered his way into the White-Pinkman drug business, and established himself as the go-to dark comic relief that continued throughout Bad's run.

"Mandala" (Season 2, Episode 11)

Saul connected Walt and Jesse with a mysterious client, who wanted to buy a large amount of their product. (The mysterious client later turned out to be Gus Fring—played by Giancarlo Esposito—who became a very important part of Walter's descent.) Also of note—Odenkirk's ability to deliver a one-liner is deliciously on display: "As to your dead guy: occupational hazard. Drug dealer getting shot? I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say it's been known to happen."

"Caballo sin Nombre" (Season 3, Episode 2)

Many facets of Saul's personality shined in this episode, where he played trusted adviser, slick attorney, and problem solver. He kept Walt from worrying about Skyler's threat to go to the police and deviously purchased a house for Jesse from his parents, while also deploying Mike (Jonathan Banks) to spy on the White family. It's here we learned that Saul works for his clients, but he also puts his needs before anyone else.

"Sunset" (Season 3, Episode 6)

How low will Saul go? Low enough to trick Hank into thinking Marie (Betsy Brandt) was in a bad car accident, using his secretary in the process. Saul received a desperate call from Walt, who was trapped inside his RV, with Hank practically beating down the door. Saul made his secretary pose as a police officer on the phone, telling Hank his wife was badly hurt. Hank immediately left the scene, and Saul once again saved his clients from being discovered.

"Live Free or Die" (Season 5, Episode 1)

In a surprising display of his ethical limits, Saul grew tired of his partnership with Heisenberg, especially after realizing Walt poisoned a child in his ruse to maintain Jesse's allegiance. He told the meth kingpin he wanted out. "You're done when I say you're done," Walt said, refusing his lawyer's resignation. Thus began Saul's realization that he's just along for the ride on Mr. Chips' journey to becoming Scarface. Goodman set Walt, Jesse, and Mike up with a new business cover, and the cooking began anew. Saul, however, was never the same.