BETTER CALL SAUL Is A MASTERFUL Character Drama! 

Sticking the landing on a series is a rarity, and difficult enough as it is. Sticking the landing on TWO series is a major feat. Other writers and show runners should take note, Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould are absolute masters.

One thing I loved about this show is that it understood patience. It understood that to make moments more impactful, it had to wait a couple of seasons. We had to wait a couple of seasons before Jimmy started wearing colorful suits and calling himself Saul but when he did it felt earned. We had to wait until the last season to see what would happen to Kim and it felt so much more impactful since we did. The Gene Takovic story has been building up since 2015. People have been wanting to see Walt and Jesse since 2015, and they made us wait until 2022 and it was perfect. Too many shows rush into things too quickly. I’m glad this one took it’s time.

The fact that the writers of this show were able to elevate Breaking Bad, one of the greatest shows of all time, to be even better in retrospect because of Better Call Saul, is a ridiculous achievement that we might not see again anytime soon.

The thing that impressed me the most is how this show adds a shit load of context to breaking bad. Walt truly was a big nobody. He ruined everything. Gus had the Salamancas under control, Mike was making bank. Walt comes in and just shits all over it because he cannot stand being number two. And it's all because of Jimmy. He's the kingmaker really.

Rhea Seehorn better win her goddamn Emmy for this last season. She’s deserved it for being the MVP of TV’s most oddly underrated show for the last seven years. Now who wants Cinnabon?

I firmly believe the most emotionally powerful episode of the entire Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul universe is the one in season 1 where we learn about Mike's backstory with his son. Better Call Saul had an incredible way of building perfectly crafted backstories for characters who were - while not minor - side characters to the main ones in Breaking Bad. That is so rare to see nowadays in a prequel series.

I love how in Breaking Bad, the scene of "IT WASN'T ME, IT WAS IGNACIO!" Scene is a comedy scene and Saul mentioned Lalo's name is so random. Meanwhile, in Better Call Saul, the scene is actually intense because we see in Saul's POV. Jimmy / Saul is still haunted of Lalo and still has no idea that he's dead for good even for many years. Also, the fact that Howard and Lalo are buried under Superlab and then in Breaking Bad, we see Walt and Jesse work at Superlab and then blow it up is so messed up. What if The Fly in The Fly Episode is telling Walt that there are 2 dead bodies under the lab? Or maybe it's the spirit of Lalo tried to disturb Walt while working at the lab?

As a screen writing student, I would like to point out that Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul are currently shows studied and analized during script writing classes for the entire vision of the shows start with the development of engaging characters, full of moral dylemas, emotional traumas and the hurt they bring unto themselves and those around them. Then the directors bring that vision to life leaving the last piece of the puzzle to the actors. What an amazing run! Thanks for the video but i think you didnt shout out the writers. That would have made your video perfect.

I love that the writers for She-Hulk said that they had a hard time writing a MULTI EPISODE TRIAL in a show called SHE-HULK ATTORNEY AT LAW. When like Better Call Saul is right there. And Daredevil. Like....Literally right there.

The reason the last 4 episodes were more "nostalgic" and lent more on BB is because the last 4 episodes or so changed from being a prequel of Jimmy/Saul to a sequel of Gene. So the last few episodes had a big shift

Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul complement each other in a way we'll never see again. What the writers achieved with both shows cannot be put into words. Just incredible

I gotta give mad props to Michael Mando's Nacho. Everyone else was amazing but Nachos story got me the most invested and that ending was absolutely breathtaking.

One of the great things about Howard's character is that he remains pretty static throughout the show. However, our viewpoint on him changes as we learn things about his character. We find out that he actually liked and saw potential in Jimmy, however was forced to remain as Chuck's lackey due to their history. As a result, Jimmy hates him despite his attempts to compensate for it. He's a tragically written character that emphasizes perspective, which is one of the prominent themes the show builds on.

They managed to turn a mostly comic relief side player into one of the most complex TV characters of all time.

The most nostalgia I felt was in the last episode with Saul asking everyone about the time machine. With Mike, it was comforting. With Walt, it made me hate Walt again. With Chuck, it was just sad as hell. Ive heard the whole Scrooge thing and thats amazing as well (with him visiting 3 ghosts)

Two of my favorite shows were Ozark and Better Call Saul. One of them severely disappointed while the other one left me emotionally satisfied.

I remember when this show was first announced as a Breaking Bad spin off. I was legitimately worried it would leave an ugly stain on the Breaking Bad story. Im sure I wasn't the only one that thought this. We all know how well spin off shows do 🥴. I have never been happier to be wrong. Sad its over but ecstatic they finished the Breaking Bad/El Camino/Better Call Saul story archs with a neat little bow. Now its time to binge the entire universe all over again.

Thanks to the excellent Kim Wexler, I will always think of Better Call Saul as essentially a love story… The Saulshank Redemption. And after ten years of good behavior beloved by his inmates and guards like Andy Dufresne, Jimmy was released as Covid spread unchecked in 2020 and is now enjoying Coronas on the beach with Kim in Zhihuatanejo.

Best series I’ve ever seen. People calling parts of the last episodes “fan service” is just instinct. It was done with a purpose to serve the story and explain why things are the way they are. I can’t elaborate here, but I think it works well. Plus they’ve shown incredible restraint in that regard all throughout the show.

They managed to put so much tension into scenes involving characters that we know live into Breaking Bad. Just beautiful writing

I’d love to hear a no holds bar spoiler talk about your favorite moments in the show man. I think this show deserves it.

The brilliant level of writing to know that everyone is waiting for Jimmy McGill to become Saul Goodman, and then when it finally happens, how unrewarding and depressing it feels. The way they made the funny sleezy lawyer guy just a suit of armor for a man who doesn’t know how to process his trauma is just incredible. I love this show so much.

One of the ingenius things about Better Call Saul is how the opening credits become more and more deteriorated as Jimmy McGill becomes Saul Goodman and later Gene Takovic. The artistry and attention to detail is really something. Really it's a testament to the power of a story with a beginning, a middle and an end.

Might be my favourite TV show of all time, the cinematography and writing were just at another level in basically every episode. The characters especially were just amazing, there's also not many TV shows if any where I can confidently say I love every single character.

I love this channel.

What I thought about the whole time while watching most of the series was something Peter Gould said early on in the show, "Once it's over, you'll look at Breaking Bad differently" and the whole time I was wondering what that could be. Perhaps Kim is behind the scenes pulling Saul's strings the whole time? Before Lalo has a part to play? Maybe something with the superlab? But I think it was satisfying to conclude that in reality, the different perspective was this: Saul was behind it all. Every single aspect? No, of course not. But he was right in saying without Saul Goodman, there was no Walter White. Saul made him, whether Walt wants to admit that or not.

The best thing Better Call Saul does (besides being a masterclass drama, arguably one of if not the best) is how it recontextualizes Breaking Bad. Also really puts into perspective how Walter White shows up and just obliterates everything.

Better call Saul definitely had a slower start but at the halfway point of season 2 when Jimmy and chuck are just at each other’s throats it is so much fun to watch and then it starts getting even deeper into the cartel side with Gus and mike and then the throttle just keeps going while still giving a great story for Saul and the civilian side of things alongside the cartel stuff. Great show

The moment when Jimmy gets his bar status back and reveals to Kim that he was not genuine in his hearing was heartbreaking. He had become so good at conning that he fooled his con partner. Also, I loved how much they conned together. It was hilarious and I loved the detection of risk taking and cleverness. But Kim recognized it as a bad path and left, which is the right move. But it still somehow made me sad. What an excellent show.

Love your reviews Jeremiah Jahn-son. You never ruin the plot while still articulating why a show or movie is worth watching. So many RU-vid reviewers simply provide a synopsis.

'end of an era' .. until Vince comes up with a story for Holly White (in canon she's currently 13 its mental realising that) or he could go back and do a cop movie showing Mike's cop career, or even gus going from Chile to America. I recall they cast a younger actor for Giancarlo in the boys they can use him.

The main thing is Vince always starts by establishing how their characters are going to be different by the end if their story. Basically both Saul and BB are very realistic transitions. What also helps is that the writers always "roleplay" as the characters, they always think about what they would do in a certain situation that drives them towards a little closer to the conclusion.

The best part is in a flash back, Mr White says so... you have always been like this!!!!!!!!!! loved that scene

I still need to watch this (and I will) but it’s incredible that Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul both got critical acclaim. Vince Gilligan is really a master at creating TV dramas.

How I love watching you talk about things you truly enjoy. That is worth the price of admission.

Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould: "Want to see us make one of the best TV shows ever?" *A few years later* "Want to see us do it again?"

dont forget, the IMAGERY and Camera work are AMAZING. Some of the scenes in this series were so well shot. just little things, like walking in the desert or a montage, the art and MUSIC. the music was so amazing just like breaking bad. Vince Gilligan and his team are genius. I loved this show in every way

Mad respect to Vince and Peter for giving Steven Bauer and Mark Margolis (Scarface alumni) some new iconic roles. As well as bringing Tony Dalton to an English-speaking audience. Truly amazing work.

It’s incredible to me that the Breaking Bad team can create what is known as one of the best tv shows ever created and then immediately make another one that rivals it.

The thing I love about Better Call Saul that I love about all great prequels is that the journey to the story you already know is so tragic that you feel gut wrenched once you get to the story you’re familiar with. Like we all started watching this show for Saul not Jimmy, but by the time he fully became Breaking Bad Saul, it was a devastating emotional journey and you wish that he was still living his life doing simple cons as Jimmy. Saul’s entire character in Breaking Bad is re-contextualized from comic relief to someone who is a shell of his former self and lost his heart along the way.

Lalo is one of the best tv villains i’ve ever seen

A fun thing juxtaposes BB vs. BCS. BB was about a good man becoming bad. His character changes. In episode 1 as he teaches chem. he explains to students that chem is about transformation. He may as well be speaking of himself. BCS OTOH is about a man who CANNOT change, regardless of changes in circumstance. He pulls defeat from the jaws of victory repeatedly, including at the end. Reminds me of the 1980s film, "The Pope of Greenwich Village".

Out of respect for this AMAZING show, I'm taking the wife and kids out for Cinnabon's after dinner!

Everything was so good here... writing, film art, acting. So glad I gave it a chance.

Been watching Breaking Bad since I was 17, I’m 25 now and watched the BCS finale with my wife and dog in our home, man was that a bitter sweet night in my life

I wanna see the alternate ending. The one where he serves his 7 years and gets out and lives a happy life, instead of taking the heat for other ppl like he always did to make other ppl feel better.

To me, the finale made me feel like BB was a show about ‘Mr. Chip becoming Scarface’, aka Walter White becoming Heisenberg, but BCS was a show about Saul Goodman becoming Jimmy McGill

I think so many franchises in entertainment have made nostalgia and fan service such a crutch to lean on when their story-telling isn't fulfilling that it's painted them as a bad thing - when in reality, when executed well - can be good. Star Wars, Marvel, Jurassic World, etc. have done this so poorly that we just can't help but to roll our eyes at it now. They threw in some random call-back in the form of a long-dead character, musical score, or reused footage from earlier films without adding any real substance. And it's been done so poorly that when a piece of entertainment does it fairly well, it already carries a negative connotation. Better Call Saul, I'd argue, did fan service as well as it could have without relying on it to carry the show and telling you "See? See? We're adding this character here just cause". {{{SPOILER}}} The scenes with Kim and Jesse or Jimmy and Walt served a purpose and gave some pre-existing characters' decisions and dialogue more weight to them.

Your explanation of how you wanted to see him do lawyer stuff right away and it being a slow burn is how I felt watching it when it first aired, but never continued. Gonna have to do a binge run through sometime soon

I love it when a sequel or prequel can be good to watch despite whether or not if you have seen the original. It makes the experience better if you haven't seen it, but you can still love it and have a good time even if you have. That's a great balance to maintain.

Beginning of the show: I want Saul! Cmon, hurry up! Last seasons: Gimme Jimmy!

Vince Gilligan is such a goddamn genius that I believe he can make a compelling character driven 5 season series with Hugo Archilleya (the former custodian/ janitor at JP Wynne High School).

Jeremy Jahns looks like a guy I could talk about movies and entertainment with for two days straight.

Some people say Jimmy redeemed himself at the end, but did he really? he admitted to the things he did, but did he actually do anything to right his wrongs?

4:04 fyi people are used to calling it Gilliganverse (despite the show being made also by Peter Gould and a host of other people)

I think that the character arc for Kim was really amazing. The way her character flips a switch, and becomes kind of psychotic .

Seasons 4-5 were my favorite in the first watch, but in my rewatch I’ve enjoyed seasons 1-3 SO MUCH more than I did the first time. It’s my favorite show, and definitely Top 3 show ever made.

Currently rewatching the whole show and omg I forgot how amazing this was.

One of the best shows ever made, and gone too soon. The ending still haunts me.

Funny enough that the actual recast they did of Jeff did get a bit of backlash, even though there wasn't much they could do about it. I could only imagine the response had they decided to recast the parts. In the end it was the most satisfied I've ever been with a series. Solid from beginning to end.

Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould are legends now - Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul are easily historic achievements

thank you so much vince gilligan and the amazing team behind of better call saul February 8, 2015 -; August 15, 2022 breaking bad January 20, 2008 -; September 29, 2013 el camino breaking bad movie 2019 thank you so much

Season 1 & 2 were one in the same they should have picked one or the other. Season 3-6 you get the breaking bad experience and I loved it! Sad it’s over. I wish it never ended

Love seeing you give your opinons on Better Call Saul 👍

Been trying to get my parents (in their 70s) to watch Breaking Bad for YEARS. They finally broke last month, binged the entire show in weeks. My mother even called off work to stay home and watch. El Camino is today, and then they get to start BCS. Those incredibly lucky bastards. I’d give anything to see these again for the first time.

6:00 So..quoting from assassins "......not everybody that shit on you is you enemy and not everybody that dig you up are yours friends" :)

Finally, the only show that comes close to breaking bad

i honestly saw 2 season and left because i found it a little too slow.. bt then i kept hearing good stuffs and i went back and boy, it was so great and so satisfying. uff.. still intoxicated how good show was and how well it connected between both shows.

Damn straight. Better Call Saul is the gold standard on how to tell a story, period. You don't get better than this.

The scene with Mike and Nacho's father broke me...

Love that you laugh as you try to find words to describe their relationship… they are so weird together yet it works!

in fact, this is definitely an actual masterpiece of modern tv age, 10/10

Was waiting for this. And just like your Breaking Bad video from years ago, this was superb. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the series! 😊❤️

So sad one of my favorite shows is over. Bob Odenkirk and the rest of the cast was phenomenal. It’s sad this may be the conclusion to the Breaking Bad Universe.

The characters and the worlds of Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul and The Boys feel so real to me, it’s actually insane. They have such incredible worldbuilding and you just totally buy that you’re watching real people that exist. The cast, the filmmaking, everything about them is phenomenal. There’s nothing else like them on TV.

4:20 Jeremy what are you talking about? 🙃 Season 5 ended with the attack on Lalo's house. Season 6 is still 2 parts of 7 and 6 episodes.

Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad are both masterpieces 🧡.

I was thinking everything you said. Well done friend

I'm still in the 4th season, I love it! Also, Jeremy your buttons on point!

Love seeing such a big love for this series. And nothing but positive comments. You really can stick a landing and everyone else should take note.

ye, started watching about a month and a half ago and binged it just in time for the finale. personally i think it has the best written and the most human characters i have ever seen

I don't know if this ahas been mentioned but Bob Odenkirk and Rhea Seahorn used to be roommates before they were famous. So once Bob had the chance to bring someone in for BCS she was his choice. Explains their chemistry. I know that Kevin Spacey is canceled but he did have this quote: "When you make it to the top, its your responsibility to send the elvator back down" Bob and Rhea are the perfect example.

I won't be surprised if we'll never get another project in the breaking bad era, but, if we do get one, I definitely want it to be about Gus, how he became the kingpin he is, the rivalry and connections with the cartel, and many more... That would be really interesting

about time you reviewed this great series

Been waiting on your review for this. That finale was poetic.

you're the best movie/tv show reviewer on RU-vid. hands down. keep doing your thing man

what an utterly delightful surprise this show was

I'm about to wrap up season 2, i do indeed feel like it's moving to slow enough to the point where I take some time to get through these season's, but I can't wait for all the upcoming hype!

What I love is that Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad are both very different shows and yet they fit together like a glove. The two greatest tv dramas of the past 20 years. Up there with The Wire and The Sopranos.

Awesome review Jeremy love it

Wasn’t a sub for your last BCS video but went back and watched the video you did after s5 ended and figured id comment here since it’s applicable to the final outcome too. 2:30 ish: I find it interesting that at the very same time you’re talking abt Kim being pulled into Saul’s corruptible orbit you have the last scene of s5 up where Jimmy explicitly says to her something like, “Look, Kim, I just don’t think you’ll feel okay abt this in the cold light of day” and she looks at him, there’s a pregnant pause, and she says, “Wouldn’t I?” Similarly, I am ALSO 💯 guilty of holding Kim up on the angelic pedestal she should be on (well, kinda…) but at the same time and up to this point, Kim has always proven to be her own person, who does her own thing, has her own life, makes her own decisions, and is able to do all of those things with her big, smart, brain - fully aware of the consequences. In that moment on the bed Jimmy is us, pleading with her this isn’t the kind of person she is but when she responded with ‘wouldn’t i?’ my brain kind of screeched to a halt and was like, wait a minute, yes she would and why wouldn’t i believe her? She has been a willing participant both on her own and with Jimmy pulling these scams and this has been made very clear. She is smart and capable and has never been written like a damsel in distress or as someone who is only going along with her man bc of how much she _looooooovvvvveeeessssss_ him 😍😍😍! It’s actually Jimmy (and us, and Howard, and Suzanne Erickson the DA…) who can’t stop looking at her as the innocent lesser than..Jimmy so evil Kim so love struck that she can’t see things for what they are…and in those moments she MURDERS those microaggression expressions every time. Always being underestimated for her ability to both see things clearly but also to willingly choose to do them - much to everybody’s chagrin. So take her finger guns like warning shots fired bc Kim is 150% capable of choosing her own adventure. Not that i think anybody is going to read this much but I’d love to hear other opinions or thoughts abt this for sure!!

Binged it in December, its amazing and it made me Bing Breaking bad again. A most masterful December of watching the greatest TV shows on this planet.

my partner and i just finished BCS and WOW! absolutely loved it! and i agreeeeee with everything on your review!!!

2:28 damn it Jeremy you should've said 99.1%

With BrBa being my favorite show of all time, I couldn't be any happier with this spin off/ prequel show. I was very uneasy going into it, afraid of it leaving a bad taste in my mouth being just a cash grab and nostalgia bait. But honestly, at this point, Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould and crew can do no wrong in my mind. Better Call Saul was everything I didn't think and know I needed, beautifully and very unpredictably wrapped up, knowing when to end and not overstay it's visit. I'm very grateful for being around at a time where those two shows dropped! Thank you Breaking Bad/ Better Call Saul crew for the amazing stories, love, passion, care and quality put into them.

Amazing show and amazing universe. The writing, the actors, the tone, the style, all of it is top notch!

I love the punch at the end! ❤

I think what I liked most about Better Call Saul is it can be ambiguous in what the characters are feeling at any given point. Compared to some other not as well written shows where everything is spelled out for the audience and how they should feel, it is a testament to the writers in how to write thought out complex characters.

BB is the story of the transformation of Walt to Heisenberg. BCS is the story of the transformation from Jimmy to Saul to Gene to Saul to Jimmy; it's a story about a man who lost and then found himself. Great recap!

It was the perfect ending. Been watching clips from past seasons for days now.