This Breaking Bad Timeline Detail Makes Walter White Even Scarier In Hindsight (2025)

Breaking Bad

This Breaking Bad Timeline Detail Makes Walter White Even Scarier In Hindsight (1)

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Breaking Bad

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This Breaking Bad Timeline Detail Makes Walter White Even Scarier In Hindsight (5)

The timeline of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul highlights just how destructive and terrifying Walter White (Bryan Cranston) was, and how he changed everything in just a few short years. The Breaking Bad timeline spans quite a few years, from when Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk) first encountered Tuco and the Salamancas to when Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) finally made his escape to Alaska. The early years of the timeline, however, expose the truth about the entire Breaking Bad saga, and especially Walter White.

Walter committed countless crimes in Breaking Bad, but he also serves as the series' main character. It can often be difficult to remember just how terrible he was, and how frightening he could be as a villain. There are, of course, some very salient moments that highlight just how awful Walter was - like his abuse of Skyler, his attempted poisoning of Brock, and more. One detail really highlights just how powerful and destructive Walter truly was to the underworld of Albuquerque: how quickly he destroyed everything in his path.

Better Call Saul Had Already Happened When Walter Was Still Just A High School Teacher

During Better Call Saul's Various Tragedies, Walter Was Leading A Normal Life

Better Call Saul is, obviously, a prequel to Breaking Bad. While it's easy to remember that Jimmy McGill's fall from grace happened before Walt, it's easy to forget that Walt was still around at the time, he just hadn't become a criminal yet. For most of Better Call Saul, aside from the scenes in black and white, all of Jimmy's exploits and crimes took place at a time when Walt was living a boring life as a chemistry teacher. Walt wasn't important to the criminal underworld of Albuquerque at the time, so it's easy to forget that he was essentially just chilling through it all.

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There are a few different orders to watch Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, and El Camino. Here’s the correct way to follow the Breaking Bad universe.

There are a few instances that really illustrate how hard it is to realize just how different Jimmy and Walt's situations were throughout Better Call Saul. For example, when Jimmy and Mike were trying to survive being stranded in the middle of the desert, Walt was probably worrying about his credit card bill. While Lalo and Gus were attacking one another, Walt could have been having a barbecue with Hank and Marie. The timeline of Better Call Saul creates a stark contrast between Jimmy and Walt, but it also makes Walt an even scarier crime lord.

Better Call Saul’s Cartel War Puts In Perspective How Destructive Walter White Was

After Years Of Gang Wars, Walter Tore It All Down In 2 Years

The war between the Salamancas and Gus lasted for several seasons of Better Call Saul, and it took several years to become the kingpin he was in Breaking Bad. Similarly, it took years for Mike to go from a retired cop to Gus' right-hand man, and for Jimmy to become Saul Goodman. Better Call Saul established so many different things about the crime world of Albuquerque and hinted at a long history of subtle moves, secretive power plays, and high tensions. Then, within just two years - Breaking Bad began on Walt's 50th birthday and ended on his 52nd birthday - Walt had demolished it all.

That stark difference in Breaking Bad's timeline - before and after Walt became Heisenberg - highlights the fact that he was a nearly unstoppable destructive force.

After years of scratching and clawing, of Jimmy, Mike, Gus, and more experiencing the worst life had to offer, Walt tore it all down in a fraction of the time. What's more, Walt was no one before Breaking Bad. While everyone else was fighting for control of the drug trade in Albuquerque, Walter was having breakfast with his family. While Nacho, Lalo, Howard Hamlin, and several other people were dying from a long-running gang war, Walt was working at a car wash. That stark difference in Breaking Bad's timeline - before and after Walt became Heisenberg - highlights the fact that he was a nearly unstoppable destructive force.

Better Call Saul’s Placement In The Timeline Also Makes Jimmy McGill’s Story More Tragic

Jimmy Had Gone Through So Much, & Walt Only Gave Him More Suffering

Not only does the Breaking Bad timeline highlight just how powerful of a force Walter was, it also highlights just how tragic Jimmy's story was. Jimmy was suffering for years before Walt was even diagnosed with cancer, and Walter only made that suffering worse. By the start of Breaking Bad, Jimmy's life had been threatened multiple times, he had gotten embroiled in a gang war, he had survived his trip through the desert with Mike, and he had watched several people he knew and loved die, some as a direct result of his own actions.

This Breaking Bad Timeline Detail Makes Walter White Even Scarier In Hindsight (7)

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7.4/10

Better Call Saul

Comedy

Drama

Crime

Set in times before, during, and after Breaking Bad, the AMC crime drama spinoff follows the trials and tribulations of criminal lawyer Saul Goodman (Odenkirk) as he looks to make a name for himself at his firm located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The show digs deeper into the events that crafted Saul and the repercussions of his actions.

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*Availability in US

Cast
Bob Odenkirk , Rhea Seehorn , Jonathan Banks , Patrick Fabian , Michael Mando , Giancarlo Esposito

Release Date
February 8, 2015

Seasons
6
Network
AMC

Franchise(s)
Breaking Bad

Writers
Peter Gould , Vince Gilligan

Directors
Vince Gilligan , John Shiban , Keith Gordon

Showrunner
Peter Gould

Yet Walter made Jimmy's suffering worse. On Walt's orders, Jimmy had made a false threat against Marie's life, he had assisted Walt in Gus' assassination and, unknowingly, in Brock's poisoning, and many more sins. After dealing with Walt, at the end of Better Call Saul, Jimmy was essentially guaranteed to die in prison. Even Jimmy, a man who bore most of the blame for his transformation into Saul Goodman and his own corruption, was still brought even lower by Walt. The timeline of Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad proves that Walter White could destroy anyone in a way no one else could.

This Breaking Bad Timeline Detail Makes Walter White Even Scarier In Hindsight (12)

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This Breaking Bad Timeline Detail Makes Walter White Even Scarier In Hindsight (13)

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9.7/10

Breaking Bad

Crime

Drama

Thriller

Breaking Bad, created by Vince Gilligan, follows a chemistry teacher turned drug kingpin named Walter White (Bryan Cranston) as he attempts to provide for his family following a fatal diagnosis. With nothing left to fear, White ascends to power in the world of drugs and crime, transforming the simple family man into someone known only as Heisenberg.

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Cast
Bryan Cranston , Aaron Paul , Dean Norris , Betsy Brandt , Anna Gunn , RJ Mitte , Bob Odenkirk , Jonathan Banks , Giancarlo Esposito , Steven Michael Quezada , Charles Baker , Christopher Cousins , Matt Jones , Michael Shamus Wiles , Lavell Crawford , Jesse Plemons , Ray Campbell , Tina Parker , Carmen Serano , Emily Rios , Krysten Ritter , Laura Fraser , Jeremiah Bitsui , Mark Margolis , Ian Posada , David House , David Costabile , michael bowen , Kevin Rankin , Aaron Hill , Harry Groener , Patrick Sane , Daniel Moncada , Luis Moncada , Marius Stan , Bill Burr , Todd Terry , Jessica Hecht , Tait Fletcher , Rodney Rush , Kaija Roze Bales , Matt Metzler , John de Lancie , Tom Kiesche , Jere Burns , Maurice Compte , Morse Bicknell , Nigel Gibbs , Tess Harper , Raymond Cruz , Max Arciniega , Cesar Garcia , Jesus Jr. , Michael Bofshever , Julie Dretzin , Mike Seal , Christopher Dempsey , Javier Grajeda , Mike Batayeh , Chris Freihofer , Louis Ferreira , Gonzalo Menendez , Jason Douglas , Adam Godley

Character(s)
Walter White , Jesse Pinkman , Hank Schrader , Marie Schrader , Skyler White , Walter White Jr. , Saul Goodman , Mike Ehrmantraut , Gus Fring , Steven Gomez , Skinny Pete , Ted Beneke , Badger , ASAC George Merkert , Huell , Todd , Tyrus Kitt , Francesca , Carmen Molina , Andrea Cantillo , Jane Margolis , Lydia Rodarte-Quayle , Victor , Tío Salamanca , Brock Cantillo , Dr. Delcavoli , Gale Boetticher , Uncle Jack , Kenny , Jock , Dr. Chavez , Frankie , Leonel Salamanca , Marco Salamanca , Bogdan Wolynetz , Kuby , SAC Ramey , Gretchen Schwartz , Lester , Combo , Kaylee Ehrmantraut , Matt , Donald Margolis , Clovis , Group Leader , Gaff , Declan's Driver , APD Detective Tim Roberts , Mrs. Pinkman , Tuco Salamanca , Krazy-8 , No-Doze , Gonzo , Mr. Pinkman , Pamela , Rival Dealer #1 , Hospital Medic , ER Doctor #1 , E.M.T , Juan Bolsa , Dennis Markowski , Dan Wachsberger , Declan , Detective Kalanchoe , Detective Munn , Elliott Schwartz

Release Date
January 20, 2008

Seasons
5
Network
AMC
Streaming Service(s)
Netflix

Franchise(s)
Breaking Bad

Writers
Peter Gould , Gennifer Hutchison , Vince Gilligan , George Mastras , Moira Walley-Beckett , Sam Catlin , Thomas Schnauz

Directors
Vince Gilligan , michelle maclaren

Showrunner
Vince Gilligan
  • Breaking Bad
  • Better Call Saul

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