Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Number of episodes: 10
Year: 2020
Starring: Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks, Rhea Seehorne, Patrick Fabian, Michael Mando, Giancarlo Esposito, Mark Margolis, Tony Dalton, Dean Norris
Description: The trials and tribulations of criminal lawyer Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk) in the time before he established his strip-mall law office in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Review: “Better Call Saul” is a spin-off and a prequel to (and to a very limited extent it has some sequel elements) the series “Breaking Bad”, a series considered by many to be the best series ever made. It is therefore all the more impressive that “Better Call Saul” is often also considered one of the best series of the moment. Both “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul” are certainly among my favorite series and I think the latter is THE best show of the moment. “Better Call Saul” ‘breathes’ “Breaking Bad”, but has its own identity. This is partly because of the cast’s excellent performance, but also because the series takes its own route, separate from “Breaking Bad”.
“Better Call Saul” focuses on the eccentric lawyer Jimmy McGill, who was introduced as the corrupt lawyer Saul Goodman in season 2 of “Breaking Bad”. “Better Call Saul” is about how Jimmy is slowly changing into Saul, but also offers a lot of background information about other well-known “Breaking Bad” characters, such as Gustavo Frink, the Salamanca family and Mike Ehremantrout.
At the end of the previous season, we first heard of Jimmy’s plans to become Saul Goodman and at the start of season five Jimmy definitively evolves into Saul Goodman. Apart from the fact that he has his name changed, his moral compass is becoming more and more absent. He continues to come up with ideas to win lawsuits that are on the boundary of what is permissible. The market Saul will focus on is that of petty criminals. In addition, this season he becomes more involved in the drug world in Albuquerque, New Mexico. As a result, the transition from “Better Call Saul” to “Breaking Bad” is closer than ever.
Besides Saul, his girlfriend Kim Wexler and handyman Mike are also going through important developments. Mike seems to get used to the role of handyman for the underworld and Kim, who used to serve as a moral compass for Saul, seems to get used to stretching boundaries. The gradual development of these characters has been underway since the first season, but has been built up in a very credible way that the viewers will still sympathize them.
Bob Odenkirk is at its best, but it’s Rhea Seehorne’s season. She is incredibly good as Kim Wexler in this fifth season. And Odenkirk is fantastic too, especially in the season’s 8th episode “Bagman”, which is the best episode of the show so far.
Despite the fact that “Better Call Saul” as a stand-alone series is perfectly watchable, it is advisable to watch “Breaking Bad” first, if you haven’t seen it yet. Season six will most likely be the last season of “Better Call Saul” and the references to “Breaking Bad” will become more frequent, to a point where the shows will meet or overlap each other. Season five will be more enjoyed with the foreknowledge, since one new big character from “Breaking Bad” makes a surprise entrance and the feud between the Salamanca family and Gus Frink will be deepened a lot.
It is inevitable to compare “Better Call Saul” with “Breaking Bad”. Many characters are similar, it takes place in the same region and the cinematographic similarities are not to be missed. “Better Call Saul” is a bit slower than “Breaking Bad”, but that’s one of the strengths of the series. But season five is their best season so far and just as good as the entire series of “Breaking Bad”. This season proofs that “Better Call Saul” is the best series running today. I can’t wait for season six, what it most likely going to be the final season. Hopes are that Walter White and Jesse Pinkman will make an appearance.
Geen opmerkingen:
Een reactie posten