1. Breaking Bad
Let’s get the obvious one out of the way. If you somehow watched the prequel without seeing the original, this is your first and only stop. 'Breaking Bad' is the other half of the story, chronicling the tragic transformation of Walter White from a mild-mannered
chemistry teacher into a ruthless drug kingpin. It’s faster-paced and more overtly violent than 'Saul', but it’s the foundational text, showcasing the same stunning cinematography, meticulous plotting, and moral consequences that define the Albuquerque universe.
2. Mad Men
If the part of 'Saul' you loved most was watching a complex man build a new identity to escape his past, meet Don Draper. Set in the high-stakes world of 1960s advertising, 'Mad Men' is the undisputed champion of the slow-burn character study. Like Jimmy McGill, Don is a profoundly talented but deeply haunted man, running from a past that defines him in ways he can't admit. The show trades shootouts for pitch meetings, but the psychological depth, period detail, and focus on identity are a perfect match.
3. Ozark
This Netflix thriller shares a surprising amount of DNA with the criminal side of 'Saul's' world. Jason Bateman as Marty Byrde, a financial advisor who must relocate his family to the Missouri Ozarks after a money-laundering scheme for a cartel goes wrong. The show is all about the grim logistics of a life of crime. It explores how an outwardly normal man uses his professional skills to solve impossibly dangerous problems, all while trying to keep his family and soul intact. Sound familiar?
4. Fargo
The FX anthology series, inspired by the Coen Brothers film, is perhaps the best tonal match for 'Saul' on this list. Each season tells a new story of seemingly ordinary people in the Midwest who get entangled in extraordinary, often brutal crimes. It masterfully blends quirky, dark humor with shocking violence and features a rogue’s gallery of unforgettable criminals and beleaguered heroes. If you appreciate the way 'Saul' finds absurdity and tragedy in the criminal underworld, 'Fargo' will feel right at home.
5. Succession
While it lacks the street-level crime, 'Succession' is an elite masterclass in character-driven drama, much like 'Saul'. The series follows the power struggles within the Roy family, owners of a global media empire, as the aging patriarch’s health fails. The dialogue is arguably the sharpest on television, and the show is a brilliant, often hilarious, and deeply cynical look at the moral compromises people make for power. It's a different kind of decay, trading meth labs for boardrooms, but the rot is just as profound.
6. Barry
HBO's dark comedy about a depressed hitman who decides he wants to become an actor is a perfect chaser. Co-created by and starring Bill Hader, 'Barry' excels at the same kind of genre-bending that made 'Saul' special. It’s a story about a man desperately trying to escape his violent nature and build a new life, only to find his past constantly pulling him back in. The show brilliantly balances laugh-out-loud moments with scenes of shocking brutality and genuine pathos, creating a tragicomedy of the highest order.
7. Justified
Based on the stories of Elmore Leonard, 'Justified' is a modern Western with some of the best dialogue you'll ever hear. It follows U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens, a lawman who operates in a morally gray area, not unlike Mike Ehrmantraut. The show is rooted in its strong sense of place—the criminal hollers of Kentucky—and its genius lies in the complex relationship between Raylan and his charismatic arch-nemesis, Boyd Crowder. It’s a smart, stylish, and character-rich crime drama that 'Saul' fans will devour.
8. Patriot
This is the deep cut on the list, a tragically underseen gem. 'Patriot' is a dark comedy-thriller about an intelligence officer who must pose as a mid-level employee at an industrial piping firm to complete a secret mission. The show captures the same sense of crushing melancholy and absurd humor found in Jimmy’s story. The protagonist, John Tavner, is a good man forced to do terrible things, leading to a series of cascading disasters that are as hilarious as they are stressful. It's a slow, meticulous, and utterly unique series.
