7 Legal Dramas That Match Better Call Saul's Quality

Key Takeaways

• The Good Wife offers realistic legal ethics and consistent character development across seven seasons
• Suits became a streaming phenomenon on Netflix in 2023 despite being less realistic than competitors
• Better Call Saul remains the benchmark for dramatic tension in the legal genre

Better Call Saul ran for six seasons on AMC, telling the story of a morally flexible lawyer who tries and fails to resist corruption. The Breaking Bad spin-off earned a reputation as possibly the best legal drama ever made. Its combination of realism and dramatic tension set a standard few shows have matched.

But the show ended. And if you've finished it, you're probably wondering what to watch next. Several legal dramas offer comparable quality, even if they take different approaches to the genre.

The Good Wife: Character-Driven Legal Drama

The Good Wife stars Julianna Margulies as a woman returning to work as a litigator after 13 years raising her family. Her husband's imprisonment following a sex and corruption scandal forces her to restart her career at the bottom of a prestigious law firm while maintaining the facade of the supportive spouse.

The premise sounds soapy, and the show does include soap opera elements. But critics praised it for consistent character development, realistic depictions of legal ethics, and solid writing across seven seasons. The final couple of seasons don't quite match the earlier quality, but the overall package holds up.

If you finish and want more, the spin-off series The Good Fight continues the story.

Suits: Comfort Food That Conquered Netflix

Suits follows a college dropout with a photographic memory (Patrick J. Adams) who lands a job at a major law firm despite lacking a law degree. He and law firm partner Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht) work to keep that secret hidden while winning cases.

Suits is probably the least realistic legal show in this group. But it delivers fun banter, likable leads, and off-the-wall situations that keep viewers hooked. The show got a second life when it hit Netflix in 2023, exploding in popularity years after its original run.

The Practice: Where Legal Drama Got Serious

David E. Kelley's The Practice predates many modern legal dramas and helped establish the template they follow. The show focused on a Boston law firm handling criminal cases, often exploring ethical gray areas that would later become a hallmark of shows like Better Call Saul.

What Sets Better Call Saul Apart

Few shows match Better Call Saul's combination of realism and dramatic tension. Its connection to Breaking Bad gave it a built-in audience, but the show earned its reputation through careful character work and a willingness to let stories breathe across multiple seasons.

The shows on this list take different approaches. The Good Wife leans into workplace drama and family dynamics. Suits prioritizes entertainment over accuracy. Each offers something for viewers who want courtroom tension without demanding the exact same formula.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Better Call Saul the best legal drama ever made?

Many critics consider it the best, citing its character development, realism, and dramatic tension across six seasons. It benefits from its connection to Breaking Bad while standing on its own merits.

Do I need to watch Breaking Bad before Better Call Saul?

No, but watching Breaking Bad first adds context to certain characters and plot points. Better Call Saul works as a standalone show.

Why did Suits become popular on Netflix in 2023?

Suits hit Netflix years after its original run and found a massive new audience. Its comfort food appeal and bingeable format drove the streaming surge.

Is The Good Wife worth watching all seven seasons?

Yes, though critics note the final couple of seasons don't match earlier quality. The character development and legal storylines remain strong throughout.

Source: MakeUseOf