Breaking Bad was one of the best television shows, and some of the best characters were created to complement it. Through story development, the character arcs blended in perfectly, sometimes providing bigger roles for minor characters to interact more with Walter White and Jesse Pinkman. Saul Goodman showed up and kicked off the importance of comic relief in a crime drama while also showing the importance of having the additional support of a lawyer who can think like a criminal.
Saul Goodman goes through many ups and downs due to working alongside Walter White in Breaking Bad and provides some of the best moments in the show. While many iconic moments of Saul Goodman reside in the episode titled “Better Call Saul,” the show has numerous scenes with Saul’s greatness on display, typically associated with a ridiculous quote.
10Walt Attacks Saul After Finding Out He Bugged His House
Season 3, Episode 4, “Greenlight”
“Greenlight” Reception
IMDb Score
8.2/10
In Breaking Bad Season 3, Episode 4, “Greenlight,”Walter is running into more issues with his wife Skyler after she figures out that he’s a drug dealer. In retaliation, Skyler has sex with her boss, Ted Beneke, and pridefully tells Walt, hoping that will finalize their divorce. Saul Goodman finds out too, because Saul had Mike Ehrmantraut put a listening device in Walt’s home.
When Walter White realizes Saul Goodman has bugged his house, he angrily tackles Saul in a fit of rage. In a hilarious fight where no punches are laid, Mike rolls his eyes and separates Walt from Saul. This scene showcases the dependence Saul built on Walt once they started making consistent money.
Boo hoo, I won’t cook meth anymore! You’re a crybaby, who needs you?
9Saul Helps Jesse Buy His Aunt’s House From His Parents
Season 3, Episode 2, “Caballo sin Nombre”
“Caballo sin Nombre” Reception
IMDb Score
8.6/10
In Breaking Bad Season 3, Episode 2, “Caballo sin Nombre,” Saul Goodman meets with Jesse Pinkman’s parents to broker a deal for the property that they are selling. The house was taken from Jesse when his parents found out that he was cooking meth in the basement.
Unbeknownst to them, Saul is there on behalf of Jesse in a petty scheme to buy the house way below the price that his parents are offering it. Saul Goodman shines in this episode because he orchestrated the temporary anonymity for Jesse while wrapping the reasoning for a lower price in brilliant lawyer jargon.
How about it counselor, do you concur?
8Walt Intimidates Saul, Telling Him They’re Done When He Says They’re Done
Season 5, Episode 1, “Live Free or Die”
“Live Free or Die” Reception
IMDb Score
9.2/10
In Breaking Bad Season 5, Episode 1, “Live Free or Die,”Saul Goodman has had enough of Walt’s tactics as they’re beginning to grow more menacing and evil. After Walter poisoned a child, Saul no longer wants to be part of Walt’s empire. When Saul tells Walt that he’s out for good, Walt presses him creepily, backing Saul into a corner, and lets Saul know they’re done when Walt decides so.
This moment showed that Saul Goodman was in too deep with Walt’s meth empire. The reliance on one another shifted to be one-sided because Walt needed Saul to do more things, whether Saul wanted to or not. Luckily for Saul, the end of days with Walt was slowly approaching.
Beg, borrow or steal, I’m your Huckleberry. I go the extra mile…Only you never told me the kid would wind up in the hospital! You know, take that thing and get outta here. You and me, we’re done.
7Jesse Pinkman Beats up Saul Goodman After Finding Out About the Ricin
Season 5, Episode 11, “Confessions”
“Confessions” Reception
IMDb Score
9.6/10
In Breaking Bad Season 5, Episode 11, “Confessions,”Jesse is one step away from starting a new life after Saul sets him up with the vacuum guy who provides new identities. At the last moment, Jesse realized that his ricin cigarette had been lifted by Huell Babineaux, which Saul did for Walt. In a fit of rage, Jesse storms into Saul’s office, punching him immediately, and pulling a gun on him for aiding Walt in poisoning Brock.
I didn’t want any of this!
Saul Goodman tries to defend himself from the accusations Jesse throws at him, saying that Walt made him lift the cigarette to help him. This was one of the many moments that Jesse suffered because of Walter White. This moment showed the power and fear that Walt continually held over Saul. It also showed that Saul’s intuition was right that doing this for Walt was going to lead to troublesome results.
6Walter White and Jesse Pinkman Scare Saul Goodman With an Unmarked Grave
Season 2, Episode 8, “Better Call Saul”
“Better Call Saul” Reception
IMDb Score
9.2/10
In Breaking Bad Season 2, Episode 8, “Better Call Saul,” Walter White and Jesse Pinkman kidnap Saul Goodman to get more information as to why he turned them away. When Saul explains that he doesn’t take strangers as clients, he slowly convinces them that he’ll help them. This moment was when Saul Goodman officially became Walt and Jesse’s lawyer in Breaking Bad.
This scene shows the quick-talk negotiation tactics that Saul is heavily known for and his sharpness, since he quickly figures out who the two ski-masked kidnappers are. This episode also features the infamous line that bridged Breaking Bad to Better Call Saul through the characters Lalo Salamanca and Ignacio “Nacho” Varga.
First things first, you’re gonna put a dollar in my pocket, both of you.
5Saul Surprisingly Shows up at Walt’s School
Season 2, Episode 8, “Better Call Saul”
“Better Call Saul” Reception
IMDb Score
9.2/10
In Breaking Bad Season 2, Episode 8, “Better Call Saul,”after their first introduction,Saul Goodman shows up at Walter White’s school where he works. Walt is taken aback by it, wondering how criminal Saul is, and asks Saul if he’s being blackmailed. Saul has his routines when it comes to working with new criminals and had his Private Investigator look into Walt.
Saul reassures Walt that he’s not blackmailing him and instead, essentially doing a check-up to make sure that if he gets into business with him, the law won’t be aware. Saul’s smugness, movie line references, and silly grin are everything but reassuring to Walt.
Oh, my God! You really are a chemistry teacher!
4Saul Tells Jesse His Bruised Face Is His Get-Out-Of-Jail-Free Card
Season 3, Episode 7, “One Minute”
“One Minute” Reception
IMDb Score
9.6/10
In Breaking Bad Season 3, Episode 7, “One Minute,”Saul Goodman visits Jesse Pinkman in the hospital after Hank Schrader attacks him.He snaps a photo of Jesse’s face and makes a wisecrack about it, alluding to him looking like Adrian from the film Rocky. He also showed up to let Jesse know that this was a win for their drug activities.
Yo, Adrian! Rocky called. He wants his face back.
Saul Goodman tells Jesse that this is his get-out-of-jail card because Hank Schrader was on the warpath, watching Jesse’s every move before the incident. The humor in this scene is all provided by Saul Goodman, because soon after, Jesse angrily tells Walt that he plans to sue Hank for everything that he’s got.
3Saul Tells Walt That They’re Done After Walt Almost Collapses From a Cough
Season 5, Episode 15, “Granite State”
“Granite State” Reception
IMDb Score
9.7/10
In Breaking Bad Season 5, Episode 15, “Granite State,” everything has gone wrong, and it’s looking like the end of the line for Walt’s meth empire. Saul sees that, but Walt doesn’t quite yet. Walt quickly tries to come up with a plan but Saul tells him that it’s over and he’s lucky if he’ll be managing a Cinnabon soon enough.
When Walt decides he’s not ready to back down, he tries to intimidate Saul again like he did in “Live Free or Die,” but the roles are reversed and Walt almost collapses from a couch. “Granite State” without a doubt works as one of the best standalone Breaking Bad episodes, letting the show have some calm for Walt, but giving more loss to Jesse.
It’s over.
2Saul Defends Mike as His Lawyer Against Hank and Gomez
Season 5, Episode 6, “Buyout”
“Buyout” Reception
IMDb Score
9.0/10
In Breaking Bad Season 5, Episode 6, “Buyout,”Saul Goodman helps Mike get Hank and Gomez to stop the surveillance they have against him. Saul alludes to lawyer terms and tells the DEA that they’re illegally harassing his client.Saul can file a temporary restraining order against them even though Hank and Gomez were tailing him within the law, since it was always done in public places.
“Buyout” was the last job Saul did for Mike so that Mike could escape the police and get out of the entire situation within twenty-four hours. While it provided a temporary time for him to get his affairs together and leave, it also provided the DEA with reasoning to heat up their pursuit against Mike. Saul did his best for Mike out of fear of him, but also for his safety.
You know who likes this suit? Judge Papadoumian; she thinks I’m a snappy dresser. You know what Judge Papadoumian hates? Police harassment of a senior citizen.
1Saul Goodman Represents Brandon “Badger” Mayhew After He Sells Drugs to an Undercover Police Officer
Season 2, Episode 8, “Better Call Saul”
“Better Call Saul” Reception
IMDb Score
9.2/10
In Breaking Bad Season 2, Episode 8, “Better Call Saul,”the audience gets its first taste of the sleazy criminal lawyer, Saul Goodman. The episode features many iconic lines and gives a feel for who exactly Saul Goodman is. In the episode, he’s hired by Jesse Pinkman and Walter White to represent Brandon “Badger” Mayhew after he gets caught selling meth to an undercover cop.
Jesse Pinkman and Walter White decide they need a criminal lawyer to represent Badger,so they hire Saul for the job. This is the first real introduction of Saul Goodman in all his sleazy, fast-talking glory. He quickly demonstrates that everything is solvable, but at a price. After such an entry in Breaking Bad, it came as no surprise that Saul Goodman became a series regular.
I don’t get it. What’s the kick? Why don’t you do it at home like the rest of us, with a big flatscreen TV, fifty channels of Pay-Per-View?
