Better Call Saul

Having finished the nearly perfect second season, I can say with absolute confidence that this show is better and more interesting than Breaking Bad on every level. And I adore Breaking Bad.

I can feel my interest in this show waning; new episodes are piling up longer and longer unwatched by me. It does a good job emulating the look and feel and vibe of Breaking Bad (and Mike storylines do consistently entertain) but definitely not that show's airtight and gripping plotting. Completely baffled by how anyone could seriously say this is better than Breaking Bad; that's like saying Die Hard 2: Die Harder is better than Die Hard.

Saul was a side character. Now he’s the soul of the saga. Better Call Saul walked in Breaking Bad’s shadow… and still managed to shine.

forgot to make this note when i remembered better lmao basically i wish it was more jimmy, less mike gus nacho. just jimmy was prob 75+

S01-93 S02-91 S03-93 S04-92 S05-96 S06-97

I prefer it to Breaking Bad, actually. Wish there weren't so many blatant Breaking Bad tie-ins, but if you had never seen Breaking Bad, then you wouldn't even know, I guess. Odenkirk comes across as a slimy guy with a streak for doing the right thing when he needs to, and his character development trumps what Walter White went through. Will go down as one of the greatest spin-off series of all time.

Spending sixty hours exploring the psychology and social impact of a born conman will always be more interesting than spending them charting the path "from Mr. Chips to Scarface". It's also a premise tailor-made for this team's penchant for elaborate set-pieces and almost fetishistic prioritization of character. Which leads to a peculiar bloat, especially in the gastro-montageal region, and increasingly in S5, some truly lousy writing. Kaylie asking about her dad is below-the-barrel stuff.

I’m really disappointed by this show. For me, its major flaw is its lack of curiosity. Its world is one of thugs, suckers, and nothing else. The elaborate cons get exhausting after a while, and the show’s supposed deep interest in character feels as though it were gleaned from a screenwriting handbook. There’s nothing to hold the attention or capture the imagination. After six seasons, it all feels claustrophobic and sort of rote.

better than breaking bad

Now that it’s over, I’m unsure whether Better Call Saul surpasses the series from which it was spun off. The returning characters are fleshed out in the best way and the new characters shine just as brightly. The dedication to the art of filmmaking is obvious from every shot. I suspect this will be shown in film schools from now until the end of time because it is so expertly crafted and a high point for the golden age of television.