Kaylee Ehrmantraut’s Age: A Continuity Error?

Overall, Better Call Saul has done a great job at incorporating Breaking Bad characters into their original story. That being said, there is one glaring issue that I can’t wrap my brain around.

Kaylee Ehrmantraut appears to be the same age in both shows

Allow me to preface the rest of the article by saying: The continuity error doesn’t take away from the show whatsoever. I’m just curious as to the how and the why of the error.

In season five’s “Madrigal,” Hank Schrader and Steve Gomez question MIke about his involvement with Gus Fring. It’s revealed here that his granddaughter Kaylee is 10-years-old at the time. Below is a short clip of of Kaylee from season three’s “Full Measure.”

Considering the majority of Breaking Bad takes place over a one year time period, Kaylee can be no younger than 9.5-years-old here.

Better Call Saul’s Kaylee Ehrmantraut

While not a major factor in Breaking Bad with minimal speaking lines, Kaylee’s role in Better Call Saul is expanded. Perhaps this expanded role is what makes her appear older, but I’m not convinced. According to this Entertainment Weekly article, which cites show creator Vince Gilligan, Better Call Saul is set in 2002. Additionally, this timeline from the Breaking Bad wiki appears to be pretty concrete. Lets break it down.

-Kaylee is between 9 and 10-years-old during Breaking Bad.

-The majority of Breaking Bad takes place between 2008 and 2009.

-Better Call Saul takes place around 2002.

-Kaylee, therefore, should be around 3 or 4-years-old in Better Call Saul.

In addition to the photo at the top, here is a video of Kaylee Ehrmantraut in Better Call Saul season two.

I’ll be the first one to admit that I’m terrible with reading ages, especially young children’s. That being the case, I checked the IMDB page for Abigail Lewis, the actress who portrayed Kaylee in season two. While there wasn’t an exact birth date, her biography reveals that she is at least 7-years-old.

So now that we’ve blown the lid off this grand conspiracy, I’m still left asking “why?” Are the writers responsible for this oversight? Could it have been a misjudgment of casting’s part? Either way, it seems odd that this came to pass. It’s especially odd considering that the role Kaylee Ehrmantraut plays in Better Call Saul could be just as easily be filled by a baby/toddler. Kaylee is Mike’s link to his deceased son, that impact would be the same regardless of her age. As I mentioned before, this discrepancy doesn’t impact the show’s quality, I’m just confused by it.

Mike Ehrmantraut (Jonathan Banks) in Episode 6 Photo by Ursula Coyote/Sony Pictures Television/AMC

So, am I crazy?

If you guys took notice to this too let me know, I’d like to think I’m not the only one. Regardless of the continuity error, I’m excited to see how Kaylee plays into the next phase of Mike’s story when Better Call Saul returns on April 10th.