Before I get started, a couple of quick updates. I’ve been absent because I’ve been putting a lot of focus on my novel over the past month and a half. Then a couple of games came out so I took a break to play them. The other update is I’m abandoning my episodic review idea for now. I might get back to it some other time down the road but for now, I’m just going to stick with my current format. I’ve watched a bunch of movies and TV shows recently so I have plenty of content to write about, and updates should start happening more frequently. So, without further delay, let’s get into it.
Created by Vince Gilligan, Better Call Saul premiered February 8, 2015 and the final episode aired August 15, 2022, ending after six incredible seasons. If you’re unfamiliar with Vince Gilligan, he created Breaking Bad, arguably one of the best TV shows ever made. Better Call Saul centers on Saul Goodman, the sleazy lawyer who worked with Walter White and Jesse Pinkman; however, this show takes place six years before he meets the notorious duo and focuses on his journey on how he became the character we see in Breaking Bad.
The show is a prequel, which at first, when it was announced, I was hesitant since most prequels are a shot in the dark. Through word of mouth, though, I decided to give the first season a go when it was put on Netflix. I could not have been more wrong.
Breaking Bad is one of my favorite shows of all time. I don’t need to get into it here because if you’ve seen the show, you know what I mean. The acting, writing, directing, etc. is just incredible from start to finish. I was surprised at how good the first season of Better Call Saul was after I watched it. Although, I shouldn’t have been surprised at all given that the series was created by Vince Gilligan.
Once again, I’ll try to avoid spoilers but please proceed with caution just in case.
There are a lot of similarities between the two shows, but the most important of which is the overall tone. The tone feels very similar to Breaking Bad since it deals with people doing awful things in order to survive or make a name for themselves. I think it’s important that the tone matches because you get the sense that these two different stories are set in the same world, and I think the creators achieved this remarkably. The same can be said for the cinematography, music, and storytelling. They aren’t exactly the same but the way they are portrayed onscreen keeps both shows cohesive with one another.
The real issue with most prequels is that you already know what ultimately happens to the main character. Black Widow had this problem. The movie premiered after Avengers: Endgame but is set before those events so we already know that the main character lives by the end of the movie. Better Call Saul is different in that we don’t know exactly how Saul’s story concludes at the end of Breaking Bad since all we see is that he is having his entire life uprooted and getting as far, far away from Albuquerque as possible. Plus, the show features a slew of new characters and only a few returning characters that we’ve seen previously.
In Better Call Saul, we are introduced to Kim Wexler (Rhea Seehorn), Charles McGill (Michael McKean), and Harry Hamlin (Patrick Fabian). These three characters never appeared in Breaking Bad so the show already sets high stakes for them on whether or not they live until the end. This concept alone was enough to keep me watching the show because I had to know what fates awaited these characters for getting mixed up with Saul Goodman and his shenanigans. There are a few returning characters as well. Mike Ehrmantraut (Jonathan Banks) and Gus Fring (Giancarlo Esposito) also have prominent roles in this series even though we ultimately know what happens to both of those characters. But it’s nice to sort of see how they got their start.
The acting is phenomenal all around. Bob Odenkirk gives the performance of his career in this role. We get to see different aspects of his character that provide a greater understanding to who he was in Breaking Bad. By exploring an already established character and adding more layers to them, the creators were able to make his character more sympathetic than when we first met him, and Bob Odenkirk pulls this off flawlessly.
Speaking of flawless acting, Rhea Seehorn is outstanding as Kim Wexler. The subtle nuances she brings to the character is nothing short of masterful. Kim is constantly keeping you guessing throughout the series and her performance is captivating to watch. She never appeared in Breaking Bad so her character was one of the main reasons I kept watching the series. I had to know what happens to her. She is clearly a huge part of Saul’s life and for her not to make an appearance later on means something happened between the two of them that we don’t yet know.
I don’t think they could have cast those two characters any better. Their onscreen chemistry is perfect. Some of the best scenes (and my favorites) in the entire series are between the two of them. If Bob Odenkirk and Rhea Seehorn are eligible for Emmys this year, they both deserve an award. They seem like the most unlikely duo but they play off each other well and it makes sense.
I am unsure what Vince Gilligan’s next project will be but whatever it is, I will be there from day one. He has proven twice now that he is a master storyteller. I had my doubts about Better Call Saul in the beginning but it ended up being one of my favorite shows. If you’ve seen Breaking Bad but yet to try this show out, I highly recommend it. I don’t think you will be disappointed. All seasons of Better Call Saul are now streaming on Netflix.
Rating: 7/7
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