When hit the hit TV series Breaking Bad ended in 2013, the world’s TV audience seemingly went into mourning. The tale of Walter White and his drug-fuelled existence captured the imagination with a cast of very memorable characters. One of them was Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk), a shady lawyer reluctantly becoming involved in White’s insane world. One of the more sympathetic and least hypocritical characters in the series, Saul soon became a popular favourite.
Better Call Saul effectively utilises his following with a prequel series exploring his origins. Finding his feet in the legal world, Saul continually aims for the big score. This isn’t made easy as he has to deal with a myriad of problems including his reclusive brother Chuck (Michael McKean). Dealing with Chuck’s former legal co-workers Kimberly (Rhea Seehorn) and Howard (Patrick Fabian), Saul soon learns the art of negotiation. Whilst sorting out these issues, dangerous criminal Nacho (Michael Mando) walks into Saul’s life with a proposition testing his steely resolve.
As with Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul is a multi-layered, complex piece. Deftly mixing comedy and drama, creators Vince Gillian and Peter Gould have crafted a solid follow-up. Set before the events of its predecessor, Better Call Saul is allowed to move out from its shadow. Whilst having the same flavour, it’s a different beast full of interesting characters. Small reminders of Breaking Bad surface, especially in the form of tough PI Mike (Jonathan Banks), but overall the new cast is just as compelling.
Headed by Ordenkirk’s excellent performance, Better Call Saul offers plenty of unpredictable surprises. Steeped in gritty realism with a lightness of touch, the narrative swiftly spins a solid tale. To give any of its secrets away would be a disservice, although fans should be pleased with Saul’s latest (or that should be, previous) adventures. The scripts are of a high standard with the cinematography infused with the same intense quality which made Breaking Bad so watchable.
With a second season confirmed, Saul’s many devotees should rush out to watch his stylish first series. Consistently entertaining and interesting, the verdict on this show is resoundingly in its favour.
Reviewed by Patrick Moore
@PatrickMoore14
Rating out of 10: 8
- Better Call Saul official website
- Season 1 Trailer: https://youtu.be/9q4qzYrHVmI
Season 1 of Better Call Saul is available this month on Blu-ray and DVD.
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