Better Call Saul premiered its best episode just over two years ago, and I’m still amazed by it. After the success of Breaking Bad, it seemed like it would be a long time before another TV show rivaled its quality and writing, yet Vince Gilligan repeated the magic with Better Call Saul. The spinoff proved exactly how to continue a franchise without diminishing the work of its predecessor, and it is arguably just as good as Breaking Bad, if not even better. Although the show was filled with great episodes, one still has me amazed over two years later.

In August 2022, Better Call Saul aired its season 6 finale, and while the last episode wrapped up the show perfectly, it still wasn’t its best outing. The series is filled with critically acclaimed episodes, as “Chicanery” and “Bagman” are often dubbed the show’s best work, while I have a personal soft spot for “Rock and a Hard Place.” Better Call Saul has a great episode in every season, proving just how good the series is from start to finish, but there is one episode that stands out as the show’s best, and it still blows my mind.

“Plan & Execution” Was Better Call Saul’s Best Episode

The Storytelling & Drama Was Perfect In “Plan & Execution”

Throughout Better Call Saul‘s six seasons, no episode managed to outshine the masterpiece that was “Plan and Execution.” It was one of the show’s final episodes, meaning tensions were at an all-time high, and the series was clearly building towards a climax. While there is always the potential for shocking moments in the Breaking Bad universe, Howard’s death was a huge surprise and was the perfect ending to a brilliant episode. I’ve experienced very few TV episodes as tense and gripping as “Plan and Execution”, with the performances reminding audiences of just how talented Better Call Saul‘s cast was.

With the high expectations that the previous five-and-a-half seasons had set, I didn’t expect “Plan and Execution” to surpass everything that had come before it, but somehow, it managed it. Everything about the episode was fantastic, and its heartbreaking ending was a reminder of how bleak the show could be despite its hilarious moments. With the bulk of the episode focusing on Jimmy and Kim’s scheme to ruin Howard’s reputation, it seemed like it could be fairly forgiving, but as it progressed, it became clear things were heading in an uncomfortable direction, culminating in Howard’s tragic yet memorable death.

Lalo’s plot with Gus seemed to be the more tense aspect of the episode, but his shocking arrival at Jimmy and Kim’s apartment unexpectedly blended the two storylines and delivered a brutal ending. Somehow, “Plan and Execution” wasn’t enough to break Better Call Saul‘s poor Emmys streak, but it remains one of the best TV episodes of all time.

“Plan & Execution” Summarized Everything Great About Better Call Saul

The Episode Captures All The Show’s Best Features

“Plan and Execution” taking place in season 6 was perfectly placed as it summarized everything that made Better Call Saul great. It had plenty of humorous moments, great writing, excellent dialogue, and a truly memorable twist. The episode hit all the highs that audiences have come to expect over the years but displayed some key traits of the show’s most prominent characters. Kim and Jimmy had no real reason to want to ruin Howard’s reputation other than selfishness and personal dislike, yet they went through with their scheme that inadvertently led to Howard’s death.

Choosing to antagonize him and tamper with his career prompted Howard to confront Jimmy and Kim at their home which is the only reason he died. Lalo had no personal grievances with Howard but simply pulled the trigger to intimidate Jimmy and Kim while leaving no witnesses. It also showed how tragic Howard’s character arc was as he was one of the most decent characters on the show who let a lot of things slide, and when he finally reached breaking point, it cost him his life. “Plan and Execution” also demonstrates why Lalo and Gus were such great villains.

Both are cunning individuals, as Lalo managed to find dirt on Gus and was wise enough to suspect Jimmy was involved in his criminal empire. Likewise, it showed that Gus only really cared about himself and his inner circle as he moved security away from low-priority clients. The episode let all of Better Call Saul‘s best characters shine – at least those who were still alive – and gave them all compelling stories that demonstrated why the show was so good, while masterfully utilizing all the series’ best features to create a truly iconic piece of television.

Howard Hamlin’s Death Is Among Breaking Bad’s Most Tragic

Howard Hamlin Was One Of Breaking Bad’s Most Innocent Characters

Although Howard starts off as detestable, he becomes one of the franchise’s most sympathetic characters, making his tragic death even more heartbreaking. Before it was revealed Chuck was the reason Howard was so harsh on Jimmy, Patrick Fabian’s character was easy to hate. I’ll admit, back in the early seasons, I wanted Howard gone more than anyone, but after learning about the character’s true nature, it was hard not to root for him. Sadly, being one of the franchise’s only decent and innocent main characters made Howard’s sudden death hit even harder and proved how depressing his story was.

Howard seemed to genuinely like Jimmy despite being asked to treat him poorly by the protagonist’s own brother. He even offered Jimmy opportunities yet was still mistreated time and time again. Although every character was written perfectly, I hated the way Howard was treated, and the fact that he finally confronted Jimmy and Kim only to die moments later still hurts. His personal struggles only add to the tragedy around Howard’s Better Call Saul death, as Kim and Jimmy’s torment caused him problems at home and ruined his marriage, making his undeserved fate one of the franchise’s saddest moments.

How “Plan & Execution” Compares To Breaking Bad’s Best Episodes

“Plan & Execution” Is One Of The Best Episodes In The Breaking Bad Franchise

Breaking Bad is often recognized as one of the best TV shows ever written, yet “Plan & Execution” competes with even its best episodes as it has a 9.9 rating on IMDb, making it one of the highest-rated episodes of television ever made. Despite the astoundingly high critical score, Better Call Saul‘s best episode still isn’t the highest-rated in the franchise. Breaking Bad‘s finale, “Felina”, also boasts a 9.9 score and is arguably better than “Plan & Execution”, but “Ozymandias” 10 on IMDb makes it the franchise’s undisputed best episode, and it’s debatably the best episode of TV ever made.

While Breaking Bad fans will all have their preferences when it comes to favorite episodes, very few would argue that anything other than “Ozymandias” is the best. “Ozymandias” is to Breaking Bad what “Plan & Execution” is to Better Call Saul, capturing all the show’s best attributes and elevating the plot. It is a truly masterful episode that will be remembered for decades, and while “Plan and Execution” may not quite match these same heights, it’s still a magnificent bit of TV that deserves its flowers, and I’m still not over just how good it is.