I’ve practically stopped watching all broadcast television, but there’s a huge exception for anything involving Vince Gilligan, the creator of Breaking Bad. Naturally, I’m addicted to the series Better Call Saul, a prequel (sometimes sequel) series, which follows the lawyer Saul Goodman, played by Bob Odenkirk.
Now the series is unfolding in its sixth and final season. And I’ve found it immensely rewarding viewing. The major characters on the show have all brought out performances in the actors — Bob Odenkirk, Rhea Seehorn, Michael Mando, Patrick Fabian, and Tony Dalton — that deserve recognition.
Breaking Bad unfolded through its plotting, almost like a video game at times. The chemistry-teacher-turned-drug-maker Walter White had to constantly up his game to survive in his new criminal enterprise, eventually revealing himself, undeniably, as a full-fledged villain. It was delicious fun watching him go from somewhat sympathetic anti-hero to sheer evil. And the adjoining arc of his brother-in-law Hank, from a deluded caricature to full-fledged hero.
Better Call Saul is practically Shakespearean in comparison. This dramatic series is almost lit-comic fodder of his first appearance on Breaking Bad — a handful of names and phrases, “Lalo,” “Ignacio,” and “amigo de cartel.” In the original Breaking Bad scenes, these come across as pathetic stereotyping and braggadocio from Saul — of course this ignoramus thinks it’s Mexicans, and of course he thinks he can escape by claiming his false friendship with a drug cartel.
The amount of drama and world-building the series creators have wrung out of those few lines is astonishing. If you catch the bug like I do, you will find yourself moved by Ignacio’s story, and powerfully drawn in by Lalo. The first five seasons are available on Netflix. I’m purchasing season six episode by episode as it dribbles out on Amazon Prime. Highly recommended.