Better Call Saul - Season 1 Review
This review of Season 1 of Better Call Saul is spoiler-free!
I'm going to come right out with another sin that I've committed over my TV watching history: I've never watched Breaking Bad. I've attempted to do it multiple times since the show went off the air but I've just never felt the draw others have felt with the show. That's what makes my love for Better Call Saul that odd. Being a prequel to Breaking Bad makes the connection rather common and characters are even shared between the two shows. The thing that really drew me to this show though, is Bob Odenkirk's James McGill. Having a supporting role in Breaking Bad, his history was never explored. Better Call Saul allows us to take the time to see how Saul Goodman came to be, and a few other characters get their history as well.
As I said above, Bob Odenkirk as James McGill is just stellar television. What he brings to this role in Better Call Saul elevates this series. James McGill is a man who is trying to turn his life around after being known for the majority of his life as "Slippin' Jimmy." Season 1 is his attempt to course correct and create a good name for himself by becoming a lawyer like his brother, Chuck (Michael McKean). Throughout Season 1 the story changes significantly and it's up to Odenkirk to portray a McGill who while down on his luck, still has that smart and sniveling mind that he was known to have in the past. He burrows his ways out of issues by the skin of his teeth, and it really seems like Odenkirk is having the time of his life playing this role. It truly was made for him.
There are a few other major players throughout the season, the main of which are Mike Ehrmantraut (Jonathan Banks), Kimberly Wexler (Rhea Seehorn), and Chuck James's brother. Mike is a unique character in that before the series, there is no real relationship between him and James outside of a few encounters they have at a parking till. They don't really like each other over very trivial matters, and their conversations are often times a source of comedy for the show. Rather dry humor overall, you would think this would reflect the character himself but it does not. There is an episode in season 1 that focuses primarily on Mike and his history. While some of this may have been explored in Breaking Bad, it felt necessary because we know he was a main character but his story never went anywhere until that point. That episode was a standout of the season for me and gave me a whole new interest in the character of Mike.
Kim and Chuck can be discussed together as they're both integral parts of James' life. Kim being James' love interest throughout the season often times plays a supporting role for him. Often times she is the voice of reason due to her influence in the major firm that is working against James, but also as a friend to him. Chuck on the other hand is a unique character with a very... odd ailment. Saying it would ruin a great surprise but this ailment prevents him from going back to work at the same firm that Kim works at. He is a partner at this firm, and James and him repeatedly butt heads over his practices. James sometimes resorts to less than responsible practices to get his name out there which Chuck does not like. Their back and forth feud goes throughout the season, and has a surprising result.
Mentioned in sprinkles throughout this article, the story of Better Call Saul doesn't have huge stakes, but it is intriguing. James is attempting to make his way in the world as an attorney after his brother's firm denied him partner, resulting in him working out of the back of a nail salon. James ends up getting dragged into some very bad situations that are exactly what he is trying to avoid, and force him to do what he does best to get out of them: conning. I was interested throughout the entirety of the season to see where it was going, but I never was exactly in a hurry to finish it. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, as I've done it in the past to take time to enjoy each episode. There is a lot of detail put into this show and it should not be rushed through as you'll miss out.
Better Call Saul is a unique show. Taking a supporting character and spinning off into a new story isn't something new, but the way it is handled is outstanding. With a story that manages to keep viewers interested without being overly intense and dramatic, it presses the envelope of what television can be without huge CGI budgets or crazy action sequences. Saul creates a niche of it's own for fans of the aforementioned Breaking Bad and TV in general to enjoy over time, for rushing through would be a crime.
