Better Call Saul – Midseason Review

The hit prequel show to the critically acclaimed Breaking Bad, has reached the halfway point in its debut season. As the show takes filming elements and similar character traits from Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul still exuberates an abundant of originality while still being centered around the overused tv storyline of practicing law.

Bob Odenkirk reprises his role as the funny, somewhat practical, witty, and lovable cheap lawyer from Breaking Bad. The show depicts Odenkirk’s character seven years prior to encountering the drug kingpin Heisenberg in Breaking Bad. This prequel goes back to the days where Saul went by his given name James (Jimmy) McGill as it shows him struggling for clients and making small sums of cash from working for the “people who need help but can’t afford it.” McGill struggles to support his law business, his mentally ill brother Chuck, and even fails to gain enough stickers for parking validation.

In addition to Odenkirk’s character returning, there are a few others as well, including Gus’s old head of security Mike Ehrmantraut and even the deranged, psychotic drug dealer Tuco Salamanca. Although these characters are in different times in their life in this show, the traits are still there, such as Mike’s stern face and attitude as well as Tuco’s desire to break bones.

However, the show does a phenomenal job of incorporating new characters into the Albuquerque setting during Jimmy’s past experiences. The show includes new characters such as Jimmy’s brother Chuck who is suffering from some psychological illness, Chuck’s former business partner in the self-centered Howard Hamlin, and Jimmy’s gal pal in lawyer Kim Wexler. Better Call Saul shows its independence from its father show as it grows with unique storylines with former and new characters.

Better Call Saul does take a few filming techniques from its parent show that proves its dominance in cinematography and writing skills. While Breaking Bad defined the zoomed out and carefully placed cameras to capture the scene to its best capability, Better Call Saul repeats this with equal skill and meaning. In addition, Breaking Bad uses symbolism throughout its five seasons, something that translated perfectly into this prequel. Better Call Saul utilizes this element to enforce the storyline sometimes while being subtle or sometimes stating it with power all the while making it seem casual filming. Sometimes the smallest detail can alter the entire course of the show which makes Better Call Saul one of the premiere shows on TV.

As the show continues on with its first season, Better Call Saul will continue to achieve its critical acclaim as it incorporates the past of its characters and storyline for the parent show Breaking Bad as it adds its own element of witty dialogue and faster development of its plot.

Catch Better Call Saul on Mondays at 10/9 central on AMC.