The premise of Better Call Saul was to further explore the character of the titular showman lawyer, whom audiences were introduced to in Breaking Bad. While Saul Goodman was already a crook and a criminal by the time he met Walter White, he certainly goes through a redemptive arc on his own show.
What viewers might not have expected is that plenty of the other characters introduced in the original series have also been given further layers. Each one has had moments of redemption in their own right. Thematically, it’s far more difficult to define who is “good” and who is “evil,” with further shades of grey demonstrating the depth of each of these personalities as they commit further atrocities but also redeem themselves.
Honorable Mention: Hector Salamanca
The fact is, Hector Salamanca is one of the most dangerous criminals in this entire TV universe. He’s a cunning and merciless drug kingpin. Yet, he already gets his redemption in Breaking Bad, becoming the one responsible for Gus’ death — who is arguably an even greater threat to innocent lives.
It should be noted therefore that despite Hector’s redemption having already taken place in the eyes of fans, Better Call Saul goes a long way to try to explain the rivalry between the two men. The hatred between Hector and Gus is clear to see, allowing for their eventual fate to be perfectly set up here and thus linking to Breaking Bad.
Huell Babineaux
Not a great deal is known about Huell Babineaux. It’s clear that he’s a criminal and appears to just be a hired hand for Saul to manipulate throughout his time in Breaking Bad. Yet, Huell has also garnered a bit of a fan following, one that was capitalized on in Better Call Saul. In the spinoff, Huell showed loyalty and a kind heart, redeeming him further in the eyes of the audience.
Krazy-8
While the show has relied heavily on characters from Breaking Bad, one genius move was to bring in Krazy-8. The character famously became the first on Walter White’s long list of murders, putting the character on a dark path. For the most part, Krazy-8 seemed like a seasoned member of the drug trade.
Better Call Saul redeems his character by demonstrating how he ended up in that position to begin with. It’s clear that Krazy-8 is in over his head, unable to find a way out of the dangerous situation he has created for himself. It’s a more sympathetic approach to the character, despite the horrible things he does.
Werner Ziegler
Werner Ziegler was the man hired to build the facility for Gus to cook his drugs. This would be the next step of his empire-building and to start with, Ziegler seemed like a cold-hearted contractor who didn’t care about what his design would be used for.
As the series progresses, though, he begins to miss his family and has doubts about the job he has been given. He even tries to run away, but eventually accepts his fate, getting killed by Mike for his disobedience. It’s a harrowing moment as viewers come to realize how attached they had become to the character.
The Camera Crew
Initially, Jimmy hires a student camera crew to help him design some fake adverts needed for his latest scheme. They are pretty useless and don’t help out too much in Jimmy’s larger plan. Yet, he continues to hire their cheap services and they only build in confidence.
This little crew has become vital to some of Jimmy’s most notable operations. It’s a surprise that they didn’t have a continued role in Breaking Bad, but perhaps they move on to bigger things.
Mike Ehrmantraut
Mike Ehrmantraut definitely has a complex history. He was redeemed somewhat in Breaking Bad, but Better Call Saul has demonstrated that he has wanted to be out of the business for quite some time. The only reason he gets back in is for his family.
His close relationship with his granddaughter is resonant in countless scenes, as his love for his son’s widow also showcases his compassion. Mike really operates so that he can protect those who are most important to him, which is quite the redeeming arc.
Nacho Varga
Out of all of the characters in Better Call Saul, Nacho Varga could certainly be the next in line for his own spinoff. His fate is currently unknown after only the briefest of mentions in Breaking Bad. In Better Call Saul, his character has gone from an ambitious thug to someone in a deep moral crisis.
Nacho too wants to protect his family, with his actions largely driven by his father’s welfare. He even poisons Hector Salamanca in an attempt to get out of the life. He is caught up in a web of lies and is too deep into the business now to perhaps ever emerge intact.
Jimmy McGill
Jimmy McGill is very different from Saul Goodman. Each time Jimmy wants to do something morally dubious he creates an alternate identity — Slippin Jimmy, for instance. However, as Jimmy McGill, the character does a great amount of good with his abilities.
He protects a number of vulnerable people and is a very loving brother to Chuck, despite the hell the latter puts him through. The shift comes as Jimmy is punched in the face by life again and again. Without some of the more tragic moments in his life, perhaps McGill would be enough to redeem Goodman.
Howard Hamlin
Although the show has tried to paint Howard Hamlin as a villain, for the most part, the character is trying to do what’s best for everyone. He might be uptight and snooty, but he also has Jimmy’s best interests at heart. In fact, he offers employment to both McGill and Kim Wexler time and time again.
He supported Chuck as much as he could and has even made changes to the charity programs they run at Jimmy’s request. Howard isn’t perfect and of course, makes mistakes, but he has arguably evolved as a character throughout the show and definitely doesn’t deserve the sabotage coming his way.
Kim Wexler
Kim Wexler started the show as one of the most hated characters in the franchise’s history. She was aloof, completely unreliable, and seemed hellbent on destroying Jimmy’s plans. As the show has gone on, she has grown more than anyone else.
She started standing up for the little guy, protected Saul from Lalo in a completely badass moment, and is perhaps even going to the dark side — who can forget those finger guns? Her arc is the most complex and significant in Better Call Saul and she has been redeemed more than any other character… perhaps until her downfall.
