Better call soul
Better call soul
Better Call Saul
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Better Call Saul is an American crime and legal drama television series created by Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould. It is a spin-off and an occasional prequel to to Gilligan’s previous series, Breaking Bad. Set primarily in the early to middle part of the first decade of the 2000s in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the series develops Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk), an earnest lawyer and former con artist, into a greedy criminal defense attorney known as Saul Goodman. Also shown is the moral decline of former police officer Mike Ehrmantraut (Jonathan Banks), who becomes a violent fixer for drug traffickers to support his granddaughter and her widowed mother. The show premiered on AMC on February 8, 2015. The sixth and final season consisting of 13 episodes premiered on April 18, 2022, and concluded on August 15, 2022, after six seasons for a total of 63 episodes.
At the start of the series, Jimmy struggles financially while he mostly works on court-appointed cases as a public defender. His romantic interest and former colleague, Kim Wexler (Rhea Seehorn), is an attorney at Hamlin, Hamlin & McGill (HHM), a law firm co-owned by Jimmy’s brilliant but unwell brother, Chuck McGill (Michael McKean) and Chuck’s law partner, Howard Hamlin (Patrick Fabian). After hiring Jimmy as legal representation, Mike provides advice and security for Nacho Varga (Michael Mando), an intelligent drug dealer who later becomes a mole for Gustavo Fring (Giancarlo Esposito), a drug lord and legitimate businessman as owner of the Los Pollos Hermanos fast food establishment. Their operations are disrupted by members of the murderous Salamanca family, including Lalo Salamanca (Tony Dalton). Odenkirk, Banks, and Esposito reprise their roles from Breaking Bad, as do many others who make guest appearances.
Better Call Saul has received critical acclaim, with particular praise for its acting, characters, writing, direction, and cinematography; many critics have called it a worthy successor to Breaking Bad and one of the greatest television series of all time, with some deeming it superior to its predecessor. It has garnered many nominations, including a Peabody Award, 46 Primetime Emmy Awards, 15 Writers Guild of America Awards, 14 Critics’ Choice Television Awards, six Screen Actors Guild Awards, and four Golden Globe Awards. At the time of its airing, the series premiere held the record for the highest-rated scripted series premiere in basic cable history. Better Call Saul has its own set of official multimedia spin-offs and related media within the Breaking Bad franchise. This includes a talk show, several web series and digital shorts, comic books, and an insider podcast.
Contents
Production
Conception
Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould began planning a television spinoff of Breaking Bad as early as 2009. While filming the Breaking Bad episode «Full Measure», Gilligan asked Bob Odenkirk, the actor of Saul Goodman, what he thought of a spinoff of the show.
First publicly released photo from the set of Better Call Saul
In July 2012, Gilligan hinted at a possible Goodman spinoff, stating that he liked «the idea of a lawyer show in which the main lawyer will do anything it takes to stay out of a court of law», including settling on the courthouse steps. During his appearance on Talking Bad, Odenkirk noted that Saul was one of the most popular characters on the show, speculating that the audience likes the character because he is «the program’s least hypocritical figure», and «is good at his job».
Gilligan noted that over the course of Breaking Bad, there were a lot of «what if»s their team considered, such as if the show won a Primetime Emmy Award, or if people would buy «Los Pollos Hermanos» T-shirts. The staff did not expect these events to come to fruition, but after they did, they started considering a spin-off featuring Saul as a thought experiment. Furthermore, Saul’s character on Breaking Bad became much more developed than the staff had planned, as he was originally slated to appear in only three episodes. With the growth of Saul’s character, Gilligan saw ways to explore the character further.
Development
«Better Call Saul tells the story of mall-based super lawyer Saul Goodman in the years before he became Walter White’s attorney. From parking tickets to mass murder, from slip-and-fall to bond fraud, Saul handles it all. » ―Press release [1]
«It’s showtime, folks!»
On April 2013, it was announced that a spin-off series focusing on Saul Goodman was being developed by Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan and writer Peter Gould; the latter wrote the episode that introduced the character.
In July 2013, Gilligan commented that the series had yet to be green-lit, but he and Gould are «full speed ahead on trying to get going.» In developing the series, the producers considered giving the show a half-hour format, but ultimately decided on an hour-long format. The spin-off will be produced by Sony Pictures Television and AMC, air on AMC, and serve as a prequel to Breaking Bad.
During his appearance on Talking Bad, Odenkirk noted that Saul was one of the more popular characters on the show, speculating that the audience likes the character because he is the program’s least hypocritical figure, and is good at his job. In September 2013, AMC and Sony Pictures Television confirmed that AMC have bought the rights to screen Better Call Saul in the US and that episodes would be one hour long. [2]
In December 2013 Netflix announced it had secured the rights to stream the series in all territories after the first season finale airs in 2014. [3] In January 2014, it was announced that Jonathan Banks would be reprising his role as Mike Ehrmantraut as a series regular. [4] On June 19, 2014 the first official set photo was released, featuring Bob Odenkirk, Vince Gilligan, and Peter Gould. It was also announced on the same day that Better Call Saul was renewed for a second season, but the first season was pushed back until the first quarter of 2015. Thomas Schnauz and Gennifer Hutchison, both of which worked on Breaking Bad were confirmed for the writing staff of the spin-off. [5]
Gilligan and Gould found that the character of Saul Goodman was not sufficient to carry the show by himself, with Gilligan calling the character of Saul «great flavoring» for a show but not the substance. They came to realize that Saul, in the Breaking Bad timeframe, was a man that had come to accept himself, and recognized the potential to tell the story of how Saul got to be that person. Gilligan and Gould had already committed to the Better Call Saul title, so that going this route, they believed they had to quickly get from Jimmy McGill to Saul Goodman or otherwise would disappoint their audience. However, as they wrote the show, they realized «we don’t want to get to Saul Goodman … and that’s the tragedy». Gilligan and Gould had learned several lessons related to foreshadowing without writing the foresight for it from Breaking Bad, and so with Better Call Saul, gave themselves more flexibly in how the show’s plot would develop over its run, and had no firm idea where it will end up outside the connection to Breaking Bad. For example, Rhea Seehorn’s performance as Kim Wexler during the first season significantly altered how the writers used her character in later seasons as well as slowed down the pacing of how fast they transitioned Jimmy into Saul, as they gave more focus to the Jimmy–Kim relationship. Gilligan compared this to the impact Aaron Paul’s outstanding acting had on Breaking Bad‘s ultimate pacing.
In writing for Better Call Saul, Gilligan and Gould recognized they were including overlaps with Breaking Bad, and had ideas of characters they would include, such as Gustavo Fring, though on no set timetable within the show’s development. Gilligan described the writing approach as if developing two separate shows, one that centers on Jimmy/Saul, Kim, Chuck, and Howard, and a second on the more familiar Breaking Bad characters like Mike and Gus with some overlap, as if they were giving the audience two shows for one. Where possible, they had written in minor Breaking Bad characters in smaller parts or as Easter eggs to fans, but for major Breaking Bad characters like Walter or Jesse, Gilligan preferred only to include them if their inclusion did not feel shoehorned in and feel less satisfactory to both the production team and to audiences. Because of the closeness to the Breaking Bad storyline, one of the writers was tasked at the start of each season to rewatch all 62 episodes of the show and verify the scripts for the Better Call Saul season did not introduce any conflicts.
The release of Season 5 was delayed due to El Camino, with the episodes instead released in early 2020. Due the COVID-19 pandemic, early production of Season 6 was done virtually rather than physically. In February 2022, filming for Season 6 finished, and it was announced that the season will air from April 2022 to August 2022, and would be split into two parts (like the fifth season of Breaking Bad).
Casting
Bob Odenkirk stars as lawyer Jimmy McGill (known as Saul Goodman in Breaking Bad). In January 2014, it was announced that Jonathan Banks would reprise his Breaking Bad role as Mike Ehrmantraut and be a series regular.
New cast members include Michael McKean as McGill’s elder brother Chuck. McKean previously guest-starred in an episode of Odenkirk’s Mr. Show and Gilligan’s X-Files episode «Dreamland». The cast also includes Patrick Fabian as Howard Hamlin, Rhea Seehorn as Kimberly «Kim» Wexler, and Michael Mando as Ignacio «Nacho» Varga. In October 2014, Kerry Condon was cast as Stacey Ehrmantraut, Mike’s daughter-in-law. In November 2014, it was announced that Julie Ann Emery and Jeremy Shamos had been cast as Betsy and Craig Kettleman, described as «the world’s squarest outlaws.»
Going into Season 3, it was announced that Giancarlo Esposito would return to play his Breaking Bad character Gustavo Fring.
Tony Dalton was announced as Lalo Salamanca for Season 4; Lalo had been a character mentioned only by name, alongside Nacho, in the Breaking Bad episode «Better Call Saul».
Dean Norris, another Breaking Bad alumnus, stated he could not be part of the earlier seasons, partly due to his involvement in the CBS series Under the Dome, but was announced as a guest star reprising his role as Hank Schrader by Season 5.
Other Breaking Bad actors have spoken of the potential of being on Better Call Saul. Both Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul said, as of Season 3, they were both open to reappearing on the show as Walter White and Jesse Pinkman, respectively, if asked, believing that Gilligan would have a sufficiently good reason to bring them in. Paul had previously mentioned the possibility of a cameo during Season 1 but this fell through. In 2022, Cranston and Paul were confirmed to appear in the sixth and final season of Better Call Saul.
Anna Gunn also mentioned a «talk» with Gilligan over possible guest appearances as Skyler White. Gilligan said that by Season 3 that show had been on long enough that any reuse of Breaking Bad characters would require more than «just a cameo or an Alfred Hitchcock walkthrough», and that their appearances would need to be essential for the story.
Season 1
Following the events of Breaking Bad, in a black-and-white sequence, Saul Goodman has fled Albuquerque and hides in Nebraska under the name Gene Takavic. He now manages a Cinnabon and occasionally reminisces about his time in Albuquerque.
In the years before Breaking Bad, Saul, going by his original name of Jimmy McGill, encounters psychotic drug lord Tuco Salamanca and his lieutenant Nacho. Afterward, he schemes to represent Craig Kettleman, who is accused of embezzlement. Jimmy cares for his brother Chuck, who is housebound with a psychosomatic aversion to electricity and electric devices. While pursuing elder law and estate planning cases, Jimmy discovers several seniors being defrauded by the Sandpiper retirement community. As the class action law suit grows, Chuck suggests giving it to his law firm, Hamlin, Hamlin & McGill. Hoping to become a partner at HHM, Jimmy is devastated when he is well compensated, yet shunned, due to his brother’s lack of trust. The case is transferred to a second firm, Davis & Main, one experienced with the complexities of such class-action suits. After the death of a close friend, Jimmy seems to find the legitimate success he craves when D&M offers him a position.
Season 2
Gene accidentally locks himself in the dumpster room when closing out the Omaha Cinnabon for the night. Rather than alerting the police by using the emergency exit, he opts to wait for hours for a janitor to let him out.
Hired by D&M, Jimmy quits after his creative, ostentatious legal style doesn’t quite mesh with their calm corporate demeanour. Kim is demoted because of Jimmy’s actions. She secures Mesa Verde Bank as an HHM client, but Howard marginalises her accomplishment. Kim quits HHM and opens a private practice in an office-space shared with Jimmy. Jimmy surreptitiously creates a clerical error to discredit Chuck and delay a new MVB branch construction; MVB drops HHM and hires Kim’s fledgling firm. Nacho, a Mexican drug cartel lieutenant, hires Mike Ehrmantraut to remove their volatile captain, Tuco Salamanca. Tuco is entrapped and imprisoned, rather than executed by Mike. Cartel elder Hector Salamanca grows suspicious and confronts Mike, who later attempts to assassinate Hector, but is mysteriously interrupted.
Season 3
During a break from managing the Omaha Cinnabon, Gene points mall security guards towards a shoplifter. After returning to work, a stressed Gene suddenly collapses.
Season 4
Gene is raced to the hospital but is discharged after doctors confirm he did not suffer a heart attack. He takes a taxi to where his car is parked, but becomes uneasy when he recognizes an Albuquerque Isotopes air freshener on the rearview mirror and sees the driver making eye contact with him.
Jimmy regains his outgoing demeanour after Howard shoulders blame for Chuck’s death. Jimmy manages a cell phone store but makes more reselling prepaid phones to low-level criminals. His law license reinstatement request is denied over lack of remorse for Chuck. After faking mourning, he successfully appeals, but reveals he is going to practice as Saul Goodman. Gus learns Nacho attempted to kill Hector and blackmails him into undermining the Salamancas. Mike escorts engineers who evaluate the laundry’s potential as a meth lab and Gus hires Werner to oversee construction. Hector recovers mentally and can move his right index finger. Lalo Salamanca arrives to run Hector’s business.
Season 5
While on lunch break at work at the Omaha Cinnabon, Gene is approached by Jeff, the cab driver who had previously given him a ride from the hospital. Jeff brings his friend Buddy with him, revealing he recognized Gene as Saul Goodman from when he previously lived in Albuquerque.
Jimmy’s new business as Saul Goodman draws him into the drug trade within the city of Albuquerque, and he is conflicted when Howard, attempting to make up for his past treatment of Jimmy, offers him a position at HHM. Kim herself balances her Mesa Verde and pro bono work with her own feelings for Jimmy, and finds herself toying with the same conman-style tactics Jimmy employs within her casework. Jimmy and Kim get married to gain spousal privilege. Lalo’s presence forces Gus to halt the superlab construction, and both Nacho and Mike become pawns in the ongoing feud between the Salamancas and Gus. After Lalo is arrested for murder, he requests that Jimmy represent him and arrange bail, which nearly leads to Jimmy’s murder. After an unsuccessful attempt on Lalo’s life by Gus’s hired assassins, Lalo discovers Nacho has betrayed him.
Season 6
Nacho attempts to flee from the Salamancas after the attempt on Lalo’s life, but after Gus falsely implicates Nacho, Nacho sacrifices himself in exchange for his father’s safety. Lalo learns of Gus’ superlab. Jimmy and Kim form an elaborate plan to smear Howard’s reputation and succeed in forcing a settlement of the Sandpiper case. Howard confronts them, but is murdered by Lalo. After forcing Kim to act as a diversion, Lalo ambushes Gus and forces him to reveal the planned meth lab. Gus kills Lalo with a gun he had earlier hidden in the lab. Mike makes Howard’s death appear to be a suicide, and oversees the burial of both Howard and Lalo beneath the lab. A traumatized and guilt-ridden Kim stops being a lawyer, breaks up with Jimmy and divorces him. Kim’s departure is too much for Jimmy to handle and he fully transforms into Saul Goodman.
Gene approaches Jeff and his friend with an offer to bring them into one of his scams. After helping them rob a department store, Gene devises a scheme to obtain the personal and financial identification of rich single men at bars to sell for profit. One of the scams leads to Jeff’s arrest. Jeff’s mother, Marion, discovers Gene’s true identity and calls the police, which gets Gene arrested. Kim leads a mundane life in Florida working at a sprinkler company. After getting a call from Gene, she decides to confess the true circumstances of Howard’s death to the DA and Howard’s widow. Saul manages to negotiate a plea deal down to 7 years, but after learning of Kim’s confession, he decides to confess to all of his crimes as Walter White’s attorney, which results in a sentence of 86 years. Kim visits Jimmy in prison and they share a cigarette.
