Review: Better Call Saul, The Two-Night Premiere

I’m not the least bit surprised that Better Call Saul is turning out to be an artistic, thoughtful, and very entertaining show.

Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould have outdone themselves, and Bob Odinkirk, of course, remains fabulous in his role as Saul. Only here, he is Jimmy McGill, and in many ways, he’s a totally different character. It’s going to be fascinating to see that character evolve into the one we came to know so well in Breaking Bad.

The first two episodes, “Uno” and “Mijo” show Saul Goodman, originally Jimmy McGill, as a struggling lawyer with terrible luck and extenuating family circumstances. He’s just a guy trying to make an honest living, but it seems like the world is against him.

Remind you of anything?

The story is actually very similar to that of Walter White from Breaking Bad, who also starts out as a regular guy trying to make an honest living. Better Call Saul seems to be taking that same general idea with Jerry McGill, to create yet another anti-hero who we won’t be able to get enough of.

There are appearances by Mike and Tuco (who, it turns out, held a gun on Jimmy / Saul the moment they first met), giving the appropriate nod to the original series.

Oh, and Mike as the guy who gives Jimmy a hard time about his parking stickers on a regular basis — completely hilarious.

Something else I appreciate is the artistic nature of the show. Again, it’s very reminiscent of Breaking Bad, but it’s also got its own unique, quirky feel. The beginning of the first episode shows Saul in his current situation, in black and white, alone, working as a Cinnabon employee. It’s poetic in the most depressing way. The switch to color as we head back in time to see where his story as an attorney began is pretty significant, too.

There are also some unique camera angles that make the show that much more interesting to watch. Even the credits are something to pay attention to.

What did you think of the premiere of Better Call Saul? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Better Call Saul airs Mondays at 10/9c on AMC.

Ashley Bissette Sumerel

Ashley Bissette Sumerel is a television and film critic living in Wilmington, North Carolina. She is editor-in-chief of Tell-Tale TV as well as Eulalie Magazine. Ashley has also written for outlets such as Rolling Stone, Paste Magazine, and Insider. Ashley has been a member of the Critics Choice Association since 2017 and is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic. In addition to her work as an editor and critic, Ashley teaches Entertainment Journalism, Composition, and Literature at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.