Series Season 1: Slippin' and Slidin'
Right off the bat, Better Call Saul's most efficacious property in that it's one of those precious few prequels that can be enjoyed wholeheartedly without having ever seen its parent show. It doesn't waste one second trying to be Breaking Bad 2.0... in fact, I don't really know exactly what it's trying to be in the first place... and you know something... I kind of dig it. It's like every second or something episode is kind of its own genre excursion unto itself. But I'm getting ahead of myself here...
Jimmy McGill, a.k.a. Saul Goodman, was always a highlight of Breaking Bad. Aside from being a charming and hilarious dude, he was just so refreshingly honest about being a bad guy as opposed to all these other people trying to justify their crimes in some way or other. It equally refreshing then, that this in-depth character study of a younger McGill reveals him to not have always been irredeemably corrupt (though he was a bit of a scam artist in his youth), enhancing his likeability even more. He legitimately wants to become a successful attorney... and the shattering of those dreams seem to be the focus of the show.
He is given several chances to accomplish this goal throughout the first season, which fall through either due to what remains of his increasingly diminishing sense of right and wrong, or due to people judging him due to the mistakes of his past. As the show goes on, his inevitable Heisenberg-esque descent into darkness will no doubt occur, enhancing the tragedy of every betrayal he faces... if only people hadn't treated him like crap, Jimmy might never have ended up managing a Cinnabon in Nebraska.
As a show, it bears all the hallmarks of quality that Vince Gilligan displayed and mastered throughout his time on Breaking Bad. The cinematography has got that little bit of spaghetti western flair to it, and camera angles are calculated and provocative. The clever usage of licensed music ensures more than one instantly iconic TV moment. The script is spectacular, achieving an even better balance of drama and comedy than its progenitor, though this could be chalked up to the show's less serious tone.
Ultimately, it's a great show in its own right, with tons of future potential. If you want intelligent, quality entertainment chock full of heart... better call Saul!
Series Totally Worth It
Better Call Saul is one of those rare spin-offs that manages to stand entirely on its own without being eclipsed or compared unfavourably to Breaking Bad. It has a darkly funny, acerbic tone to it that is entirely unique.
The main character, Jimmy Mc Gill, starts off as a likeable, ambitious attorney. This show seems to be focusing on his rise to a corrupt lawyer involved in criminal activity as he gradually loses his sense of right and wrong. This character greatly enhances the feel of the show, which is slightly more lighthearted and an artistic blend of comedy and drama.
Overall, this show is definitely worth a watch, whether you've seen Breaking Bad or not. It is a clever, nimble show that manages to be darkly comedic; and the tragedy of Jimmy's transformation is subtly emerging as he becomes more disillusioned.