Breaking Bad · Head-to-Head

The Heisenberg Battle

Twenty-five head-to-head matchups across Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, and El Camino. Pick a winner. Every answer verified — no cooks half-baked.

— Say How Many —

Every matchup checked against Emmy.com records, Nielsen viewership figures, Wikipedia episode logs, and production interviews. When we say a fact is verified, it is verified.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which ran more seasons: Breaking Bad or Better Call Saul?
Better Call Saul ran six seasons, Breaking Bad ran five. BCS also had more total episodes (63 vs 62).
Which has more total episodes: Breaking Bad or Better Call Saul?
Better Call Saul has 63 episodes across six seasons. Breaking Bad has 62 across five seasons.
Which won more Emmys: Breaking Bad or Better Call Saul?
Breaking Bad won 16 Emmys from 58 nominations. Better Call Saul won zero Emmys from 53 nominations — a record for most losses without a win.
Which Breaking Bad star has more Emmys: Bryan Cranston or Aaron Paul?
Cranston won four Lead Actor Emmys (2008, 2009, 2010, 2014). Paul won three Supporting Actor Emmys (2010, 2012, 2014).
Which Breaking Bad episode aired first: 'Ozymandias' or 'Felina'?
'Ozymandias' aired September 15, 2013 as the 14th episode of Season 5. 'Felina', the series finale, aired September 29, 2013.
Which Breaking Bad episode had more viewers: 'Ozymandias' or 'Felina'?
'Felina' drew 10.28 million viewers — a series record. 'Ozymandias' drew 6.37 million.
Which network originally aired Breaking Bad: FX or AMC?
AMC aired Breaking Bad from 2008 to 2013. FX passed on the pilot in favor of another drama called Dirt.
Which character died first in Breaking Bad: Tuco or Gus Fring?
Tuco Salamanca died in Season 2 Episode 2 ('Grilled'). Gus Fring died at the end of Season 4 in 'Face Off'.
Which Breaking Bad character died first: Gale Boetticher or Mike Ehrmantraut?
Gale was killed by Jesse at the end of Season 3's 'Full Measure'. Mike died in Season 5A's 'Say My Name' — but reappeared throughout Better Call Saul, chronologically before these events.
Which ran longer on TV: Breaking Bad or Better Call Saul?
Better Call Saul ran longer — February 2015 to August 2022, roughly 7.5 years. Breaking Bad ran January 2008 to September 2013, about 5.7 years.
Which won Outstanding Drama Series at the Emmys: Breaking Bad or Better Call Saul?
Breaking Bad won Outstanding Drama Series twice — 2013 and 2014. Better Call Saul was nominated seven times but never won.
Which actor plays Saul Goodman: Bob Odenkirk or Bryan Cranston?
Bob Odenkirk plays Saul Goodman / Jimmy McGill across both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. Cranston plays Walter White.
Which Breaking Bad season premiere came first: Season 1 or Season 5?
Season 1 premiered January 20, 2008. Season 5 premiered July 15, 2012 — four and a half years later.
Which character appears in both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul: Gus Fring or Walter White?
Gus Fring appears in both. Walter White appears only in Breaking Bad and El Camino — though he has a cameo in BCS Season 6.
Who wrote 'Ozymandias': Moira Walley-Beckett or Vince Gilligan?
Moira Walley-Beckett wrote 'Ozymandias' and won the Outstanding Writing Emmy for it. Rian Johnson directed. Gilligan wrote and directed the finale 'Felina'.
Which released later: El Camino or Better Call Saul's finale?
Better Call Saul's finale 'Saul Gone' aired August 15, 2022. El Camino was released October 11, 2019 — almost three years earlier.
Which streaming service released El Camino: Netflix or AMC+?
Netflix released El Camino on October 11, 2019. It aired on AMC months later, on February 16, 2020.
Which Breaking Bad season has more episodes: Season 5 or Season 1?
Season 5 has 16 episodes split into two parts. Season 1 has just 7, shortened from 9 by the 2007-08 writers' strike.
Which held IMDb's highest-rated TV episode spot longer: 'Ozymandias' or 'The Rains of Castamere'?
'Ozymandias' held IMDb's top TV episode spot for over 13 years with a perfect 10.0 rating, until review-bombing dropped it to 9.9 in February 2026.
Which won more Supporting Actress Emmys: Anna Gunn or Betsy Brandt?
Anna Gunn won two Supporting Actress Emmys for playing Skyler (2013, 2014). Betsy Brandt, who played Marie, was never nominated.
Which Breaking Bad actor also directed a series episode: Bryan Cranston or Aaron Paul?
Bryan Cranston directed three Breaking Bad episodes. Aaron Paul directed none during the series run.
Which premiered in January: Breaking Bad or Better Call Saul?
Breaking Bad premiered January 20, 2008. Better Call Saul premiered February 8, 2015.
Which is a Better Call Saul creator: Peter Gould or Rian Johnson?
Peter Gould co-created Better Call Saul with Gilligan. Rian Johnson directed several Breaking Bad episodes including 'Ozymandias' but didn't create BCS.
Which setting did Breaking Bad originally plan to use: Albuquerque or Riverside, California?
The original script was set in Riverside. Sony suggested Albuquerque for the tax incentives, and Gilligan later made Albuquerque the setting too.
Who directed 'Felina': Vince Gilligan or Rian Johnson?
Vince Gilligan wrote and directed 'Felina'. Rian Johnson directed 'Ozymandias' and two other BB episodes.