Better Call Saul
- Cameron Norris
- Oct 13, 2024
- 1 min read
Updated: Jan 2
How do you live up to one of the greatest shows of all time? Rehire Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould. As far as this review goes, Better Call Saul stands as the greatest prequel ever created - an extraordinary companion to Breaking Bad that not only respects its predecessor but cleverly expands its own universe. The show leans into everything that made Breaking Bad so compelling: slow-burn writing, convincing character development, and dramatic tension between morality and ambition. While it may not have the explosive opening Breaking Bad had, Better Call Saul takes its time to prove why it is a worthy precursor, allowing the transformation of Jimmy McGill into Saul Goodman to unfold with heartbreaking precision. The decision to focus on Saul - Breaking Bad's morally ambiguous lawyer - was brilliant, as it gave a deeper, more intimate look at the choices that shape a man's desperate need for identity and validation. We, as viewers, spend so much time anticipating Jimmy's transformation that, by the time it occurs, we can't help but mourn the loss of the man we once knew. At its heart, Better Call Saul is a rumination on the cost of compromise and the gradual erosion of one's character. Ultimately, Walter White couldn't have done it without him!
Rating: 9/10
Standout Season: 6 Standout Episode: 3x5
Standout Performance: Rhea Seehorn
