Grade: 5/5
Genre: Crime/Drama
Seasons: 6
Ages: 18+
Prequel to the best show ever on TV, Breaking Bad. If you were a fan of Breaking Bad (who isn’t) and have a yearning to see more of it (as I did), Better Call Saul is the show! It’s essentially the backstory of all the crossover villains in Breaking Bad with Saul Goodman’s character (played exceptionally by Bob Odenkirk) being the main focus. Character development of each bad guy is done brilliantly and my favorite, Gus Fringe (Giancario Esposito) of Pollos Hermanos fame, makes his introduction in Season 3.
Story centers around Jimmy Mcgill (before he turned into Saul Goodman). A non serious individual by nature whereas his older brother, Chuck McGill (Michael McKean), a gifted and talented attorney, never respected his younger brother’s attitude towards work and life. Eventually Chuck gets Jimmy a job as a mail clerk at his firm where Jimmy also gets a taste of the law and decides to sit for the bar exam and then passes it, much to the chagrin of his older brother who feels Jimmy’s shady past will be a stain on the profession. The turbulent relationship between the brothers unfolds beautifully throughout the first 3 seasons. Jimmy starts his law practice helping the elderly but uses unorthodox and underhanded means to get his way leading him to represent some very distasteful characters.
At the same time, the potpourri of villains are navigating drug distributions from one center to another resulting in infighting, murder and betrayal. Another great character is Michael Ehrmantraut (Jonathan Banks) – a respectable and loyal former cop who becomes Gus Fring’s chief of security and right hand man.
Must watch series. First 4 seasons on Netflix, fifth and sixth seasons will come to Netflix on Feb 2022.
