Where Walt And Jesse's Better Call Saul Cameos Fall On The Breaking Bad Timeline
The "Breaking Bad" universe consists of the title series that started it all, the TV movie "El Camino," and the prequel/flash-forward series "Better Call Saul." One question many fans frequently ponder is the exact timeline for all the events in the universe of shows. This speculation grew even more after the recent cameos of Walter White (Bryan Cranston) and Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) in Season 6, Episode 11 of "Better Call Saul," appropriately titled "Breaking Bad."
Most of the confusion with the various timelines can be traced back to the original airing of "Breaking Bad." The series premiered on January 20, 2008, on AMC and ended during the early autumn of 2013. Although it took nearly six years to tell the entire story, the series begins on Walt's 50th birthday in the pilot and ends exactly 2 years later on his 52nd birthday, which is also his date of death.
But finding the exact dates and years can be challenging outside of fan speculation websites. According to The New Yorker, "Breaking Bad" is set between 2008 and 2010, with Walt's 50th birthday occurring on September 7, 2008, which would be the date of the pilot episode. This would place Walt and Jesse's "Better Call Saul" cameo appearances early within the "Breaking Bad" timeline since Saul first appears in Season 2.
To better understand exactly where their appearances fall on the timeline, let's look at the events of both shows for answers.
Deciphering the timelines
"Better Call Saul" is a prequel to "Breaking Bad." There are numerous black-and-white scenes that feature Jimmy McGill/Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk) living as Gene Takavic, which was the new identity he received at the end of "Breaking Bad." But these scenes are set after the events of "Breaking Bad," and form the most recent events in the overall timeline. Anything set in color constitutes the past.
According to series co-creator Vince Gilligan, "Better Call Saul" begins six years before the start of "Breaking Bad," which places the pilot episode in 2002. By the time we reach Walt and Jesse's cameo in Season 6, Episode 11, the show is in 2008.
Thanks to the comments made by the creators, the fact that the story of "Breaking Bad" covers a concise two years (September 8, 2008, to September 8, 2010), and this episode recap, it's safe to say Walt and Jesse's cameo on "Better Call Saul" likely takes place in late 2008, a few months after the start of "Breaking Bad." After all, Walt and Jesse are still cooking meth in the RV.
Walt and Jesse's cameo is an extension of a scene that takes place during Season 2, Episode 8 of "Breaking Bad" titled "Better Call Saul," which is a nod from the writers since as noted above, Season 6, Episode 11 of "Better Call Saul" is appropriately titled "Breaking Bad," thus allowing things to come full circle.