Better Call Saul: Series Recap & Review (Spoilers) 

It's honestly embarrassing how much the Emmys have ignored this show.

“Love can bring the best in all of us. Or the worst.” The sentence that can summarize this entire show

Every frame of this show is beautiful .Sadly BCS marks an end of era of exceptional television, hope bob wins his well deserved emmy this season.

Better Call Saul’s finale makes me think that El Camino, Jesse’s movie came out at the perfect time. Far enough removed from Breaking Bad that it didn’t feel like part of that show, but releasing a few seasons into BCS which helped prove they weren’t going to ruin what they created with BB. Plus letting BCS be the true finale to this universe just feels right.

What I love about this show just like Breaking Bad is every little story beat matters. It all plays into the summation of the show and done with respect and care. Sad that we won't get more stories in the breaking bad timeline but it has been a joy to watch.

The Blade Runner 2049 of television. You can't believe it lives up to the original and even in some aspects, surpasses it!

After a couple re watches, I appreciate and respect chuck and Jimmy's story so much more. I'm gonna miss this breaking bad universe

Tony Dalton was so great as Lalo, I hope Marvel does more with his MCU character.

Best series of all time, surpassing Breaking Bad. The perfect prequel, deepening the story of the original, bringing layers on layers of character development. RIP, the golden age of television.

The time and water analogies were so masterfully integrated into the character study: 3 different periods/phases, same man all along

Making the last 4 episodes in black and white was a bold but genius choice it gives it a noir feeling and atmosphere that there’s no promise left in the show

My take on Howard is I felt bad for him as soon as chuck died and you got to see the armor he built up constantly chop away

I just binged the final season and I just have to say Vince Gilligan is a master of his craft. I LOVE, in both shows, all the little cold opens with super vague imagery and you wonder what that was all about and then you piece it all together later and it just… clicks. Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul had everything working in harmony; the writing, directing, acting all blended together in near perfection and we will suffer for a TV show of equal quality in their absence.

Watching the final season week-to-week as each episode aired was an amazing experience… the true exploitation of the medium of television. I got to live with and reflect on the evolution of the characters, their actions, and the consequences of their behavior sooooooo much longer and with so much more reflection and appreciation as the result. The shock and awe of the immediacy and brutality of Howard’s death and having to wait during the mid-season break, the true villainy of Lalo and his dance w Gus, Nacho’s death, Kim leaving Jimmy, the Gene timeline…. and the perfect finale. It was all beautiful, torturous, and so satisfying.

This show was a marvel, a miracle. That the network supported it through 6 seasons, despite the Emmys ignoring what was clearly the best show by a mile (MICHAEL MCKEAN WAS ROBBED!). That the writers realised what an absolute gem they had in Rhea Seehorn in S1 and making sure Kim stuck around until the end. Odenkirk and Seehorn are the modern day Bogart and Bacall. We already knew and loved Gus and Mike, so this show making us just as invested in the new characters was awe inspiting. Michael Mando was amazing, Patrick Fabian was unforgettable, Tony Dalton - ICONIC.

Interesting how differently you reacted to some of the characters. I always hated Chuck and was kinda happy to see him go. Howard, on the other hand, I always thought was a sympathetic character.

Breading Bad is Red Dead Redemption. Better Call Saul is Red Dead Redemption 2

Easily my favorite show for the past six seasons.

Thank you Dan. I heard you briefly mention this show before in passing and was hopeful that you would talk about it in depth. I was right to think this way. Love this show so much!

So happy to see you go in depth on BCS. I came into the show with the same mindset you did. Asking when was he going to become Saul. I even found myself growing impatient but at some point I realized this show wasn't about Saul it was about Jimmy and Chuck and Howard and Kim and a real character driven story. I think it is a masterpiece and will go down as one of the greatest tv series ever made. The lack of award season success does bother me but at the same time 'The Wire' never got any credit when it was on the air either. My big hope is to see Rhea Seehorn win something for her role as Kim.

Going to miss this show so much. There's nothing quite like it on TV.

honestly on a rewatch Howard is a hated character for no real reason he may be a bit smug but he is not really that bad of a person

Thank you for mentioning Chuck and how incredible that relationship was. Especially the betrayal at the end of the first season. Michael McKean really should have won an award for this show.

quite possibly the best prequel work ever.

Like Chuck told Jimmy in 3x10 "Jimmy this is what you do, you hurt people, over and over and over and then there's this show of remorse... In the end you're going to hurt everyone around you, you can't help it" No one knew Jimmy like Chuck did

I don't think Walter was ever a "good man," I think he just didn't have the MEANS or platform to allow his worst attribute loose.

The RV scene did seem to break the rule of not bringing back characters without a good reason at first. But, after the final episode it becomes clearer that it had a good reason to be there because that was a key moment in the testimony. So it has value... as a reminder for people that have seen Breaking Bad, but also so that people that haven't and are watching BCS first get to see it. Although watching BCS first is going to be very confusing. With the flash forewards/backs it can be tricky to know exactly when scenes are occurring even if you have seen BB.

Vince and peter are masters of their craft

I think I will fall short by saying this show is masterpiece

This was a very satisfying series! Excellent! Great start and great landing! Thanks for your commentary on the series! I really hope more people discover the show and give it more love!

Yes I’ve been waiting for this so bad! Thanks Dan. This and Mad Men are the greatest tv series of all time for me.

I definitely liked BCS more than BB. I think there isn't a flaw in BCS and especially with cinematography kicking BB's butt, I don't see how Better Call Saul will not be ranked one of the best shows of all time

I finally binge watched the final season. LOVED IT! Really enjoyed hearing your thoughts on this season and the series as a whole. Really disappointed with the lack of Emmy nominations. Thank you Dan for this video!

Better than any shows I have ever seen and I have seen a lot!

Such amazing performances. I appreciate you gave a shoutout to Patrick and Michael...they really brought in the last season, both absolutely AWESOME!!!

Really was a master class in great acting

It’s one of the most slept on shows of all time

I would like to see what they could do with a show based around Kim post the ending.

Love the breakdown of the show. I was a bit behind and just watched the series over the last couple months. It was superb and on par with BB

Better Call Saul is the best written show of all time.

You have some very different readings of the characters. It's interesting. To me this was a romance story between Kim and Jimmy, she wasn't addicted she genuinely loves him and post finale Rhea even said she believes that Kim is helping to reduce Jimmy's sentence the legal way so hopefully they can have a few years left together on the outside. Howard is another character I found your take interesting on, my spouse and I both loved Howard. They did a lot of good work early on the establish that he's not actually arrogant, theres a professional mask he wears that is heavily influenced by his complete adoration, near deification of Chuck, which led him to do things he didn't agree with to Jimmy. The characters were so complex and amazing, this show was ridiculous.

I'm so happy you did a video about it. It's the last of the Golden Era of TV in my mind

Better Call Saul is a masterpiece!!!

I've been waiting for this all week! Can't wait to watch this video. It's Dan time.

The Chicanery episode was the real Battle of the Bastards.

Dan bro I love you and this channel lool its only you that talk about stuff that I am actually thinking too.like the editing with Howard walking in with the flame and how it was repeated for Lalo

Given the focus of both shows on small actions having large consequences, I think the Kim/Jesse scene implies that Kim basically set Breaking Bad in motion by nudging a skeptical Jesse towards hiring Saul. As Jimmy says, Walter would have been dead or in prison without him; he enabled Walter to move up the food chain and thrive. So most of what happened on that show can be tied back to Saul (and then Kim), even the airliner crash. This universe is quite a tapestry.

The strange energy allures us into this life of Jimmy s .The creation he builds with evolving into Saul Goodman is incredibe writing , it’s the stepoff point that makes the journey so sweet at the end . A work of artistry writing as all flawed characters stand Aware , Saul has it all figured out as deeper thoughts develop , all entrusted within a calculated risk

Gotta say I’m disappointed you didn’t touch on Mikes story arc! It was incredible to see how Mike got to the apathy he has in breaking bad.

25:27: I wouldn't say the RV scene was simply about tying up loose ends, I would say it was more about establishing for the "Better Call Saul" exclusive viewer just who Walter White and Jesse Pinkman were, that way there's a context for them exclusive to the show when they interact with Kim and Saul. The structure of "Breaking Bad" and "Better Call Saul" has always operated this way, where they spread set up and pay off across at least two episodes.

Finally we agree on something!

"The emmiest emmy show that ever emmied..." LMFAO.

Very well done. I've never seen your channel before and thoroughly enjoyed your assessment.

Note...Pat Healy is also the name of Matt Dillon's Character in Something About Mary, which oddly I find is similar to Saul

I feel like the Walt and Jesse RV scene shows how Saul was "more than a willing participant" in building Walts's empire as well as his criminal ways. Then it flashes forwarded to Gene breaking into the guy with cancer's house. Just shows how it was all his own choice.

I read somewhere that because Carol Burnett appeared in at least half of the episodes of the second part of season six, that she isn't eligible to be nominated in the 'Guest' category, and it's more likely that she will be considered 'Supporting'. Which would put her in direct competition with Rhea Seehorn.

Better Call Saul is easily the best spin-off!!!

Yeah it’s probably the best show ever made

Dan you sweet summer child, don't you know that NO ONE pays any attention to the Emmys anymore. I don't think I have watched a broadcast in 25 years. Your Emmy references in this video should be a drinking game.

A great testament to Vince Gilligan's judgement is that he has stated he is 'wrung out' of story to tell in any other BBU stories/series.

Loved the review, Dan! It is always great when someone encapsulates your exact opinion on a show in such a concise way. Greetings from Argentina

Thanks for this review Dan. I was so hyped when you mentioned you were doing this review. You're incite is always so on point.

I don't appriciate the Howard hate I sense in this review, when he was clearly the best and nicest character in the show.

Great review for a truly beloved show. I'm gonna miss the world Vince and Peter created, however looking forward to their next venture.

Better Call Saul has been extremely underrated for the entire run of its show... then all of a sudden the show ends and now it's getting so much attention on it again... seriously, that's how it feels. The show was underrated in awards because they want to acknowledge the popularly spoken of shows... because of how underrated the show was, it just flew under a lot of people's radars... the show was often dismissed for not being "Breaking Bad 2.0" even though it's a prequel... it's too slow for some people.

"long winded thoughts" man this was too short, hope there is a longform deep dive from Dan sometime in the coming years

BCS is almost Shakespearean Tragic/Comic drama theater.

For me the moment he walks out of the courtroom after getting re-instated, Jimmy was gone. He could reach Jimmy when he needed him, but he was Saul Goodman. “It’s all good man” was both clever and absolutely heartbreaking

It has to be the greatest prequel anything of all time! just a fabulously written and well acted show. Ties in perfectly with breaking bad and gave us background stories for characters that were only in breaking bad very briefly. I love that they ended this show with Saul finally doing the right thing by giving himself up for all the horrible things he did. He is serving his time but you feel its the right thing for him. He finally didn't try to lie his way out and just accepted what he had coming.

Great review, thanks!

I wasn’t a huge fan of the first couple of seasons and I was the opposite in that I didn’t really care for the Chuck stuff at first and latched on much more when they re-introduced all the cartel stuff. But I absolutely loved Lalo as a villain, maybe even more than Gus, and the way they turned Howard into the character you feel for the most by the end was genius. I also agree I loved Walter’s line about how that’s just how he’s always been. Still love Breaking Bad more but overall a wonderful show.

I think credit goes to Vince in making everyone feel terrible for Howard by raising the stakes of what a "bad guy" is. Initially in the first seasons the villains are haughty lawyers, in the end, the villain is bloodthirsty drug lord willing to hop continents to get what he wants and it feels completely natural.

You know, I love this show, but I had never seen it through this lens that Chuck was right all along, or actually, as Walter puts it in the finale, Saul was 'always like this'. I guess Bob Odenkirk is so lovable that I could never not love Jimmy! 😅

17:24 It was this moment that sold me on Michael Mando as Logan/Wolverine. It won’t happen but he’s my fan casting.

This show is sticking with me as much as Breaking Bad, but in a different way. Bob Odenkirk is so relatable as Jimmy McGill. His alter-ego, Saul, is just a charade. It reminds me of my first day of teaching. I had no experience with it. I never spoke in front of anyone outside of speech class. I never had formal training in education. I was a nervous wreck and was worried about getting fired for my incompetence, but I snapped my fingers and busted into that classroom as a different person. I thought, "If this is my last day, at least I can say I was a college instructor for a day." I instantly became confident and charismatic, completely backward from who I am. My boss said I was a breath of fresh air. My student survey numbers were phenomenal. I didn't know where this came from, but it was something that took over me. Other instructors got let go, but I was there until the doors finally got boarded up four years later. I honestly don't think that I could ever do that again.

Beautiful recap! :) Perhaps you can come back to this in 1-2 years. Like you said, it will take a little time to see where this series stands. For me it's already ranking pretty high. There are very few series out there which deliver such a well thought out complete package. Even if a series is good, in the end when the finale is done, you often leave unsatisfied. This wasn't the case with "Better Call Saul". The only sour note it left me with was the realisation, that I will probably never see those characters again. Which only speaks for the show's quality and how wonderful the characters were written. Greetings from Germany :)

My guess is Emmy-wise, this last part of season 6 will get some awards (acting, writing, ...) like The Americans got a few years ago. I agree with the "Better Call Saul" ep flashbacks... but in that way... how many shows do you have that contains each an episode with the name of the show. --- Carol Burnett is a great reminder on how Vince Gilligan is for using traditional (to the moment) comedic actors (from Cranston to McKean) into heavily dramatic roles.

I dont remember Howard being vindictive or evil in any of the seasons.

Carol Burnett was so awesome in this

Every tragic event in Jimmy's life lead to the creation of saul goodman as we see him in breaking bad. Chuck's multiple betrayals and eventual death, Howard's death and Kim abandoning him all contributed to the soulless Saul in BB. Kim leaving him is the straw that broke the camel's back. Saul is Jimmy's emotional refuge. Gene is an even more dangerous version of Saul, he's like a junkee at that point. Doing it because it's the only thing he has left. You can tell in episode 11's montage how sad he is even when doing scams that previously gave him joy.

Thorough review, thank you for your insight 👏

Fantastic video, Dan. Your discussion on the series as a whole was really great to listen to😁

The first flashback to the RV and the dug up grave to me had more impact than the others. It is heavily used in his admission in court. When he confronts Marie - he says he was a victim to Walter White. When he's in court - he changes it and boasts about how he saw an opportunity. In breaking bad, yeah you can somewhat see the "opportunity" in it, but it felt more as a survival aspect. With this new take on it, seeing him enter the RV, be willing to learn more and protect them - that showed Jimmy's true nature of grabbing any opportunity. It was reinforced with the scene where he goes himself to the school to talk to Walt.

Sorry but Breaking Bad is a Better story and the fact that Saul Goodman is part of that story means it's more entertaining.

Given your history with cables being cut in your neighborhood, I think it's fair that they'd get you with that intro sometimes.

I’m going through withdrawal. I’ll be going through the series for the third time, I guess. Best show ever. And it makes me have to rethink BB. Amazing storytelling!

Lalo had so many more scenes that were worth talking about! Other than that I loved the review. He stole the show for me. Example, raid on his house.

Thank God we have Dan Murrell who uses his audience and reach not to pat himself on the back but to fully engage with these stories, themes and characters. This breakdown was such a delightful and comprehensive discussion.

Thanks Dan Murrell

Mike is my favorite character from this show. He grows on you like a fungus.

I was today years old when I realized that the photos of Dan which appear in his thumbnails were taken long before his videos were filmed and get recycled frequently. 🤦🏻‍♀️ However, love the idea of Mara behind the camera, coaxing out and capturing the many faces of Dan. ❤️

Dan that was a brilliant review

To follow on your analogy, I think Jimmy and Kim were a binary star system. They each had it within them to be terrible and/or good and they brought it out of each other throughout the series. The mistake is to take the same condescending attitude as Howard - that she "was so promising, but something happened *to* her", which is a disservice to her character. She was just as broken as Jimmy and made her own choices and determined her own fate just as much as he did.

Dan discussing this in video is big time folks

I always liked Howard. I only thought he was smug in season 1. But later found out it was because of Chuck. At that point, I did a 180.

I think comedians and comedic actors are usually great dramatic actors. Bob, adam sandler, steve carell in foxcatcher, bill murry, robin williams and so many more in hollywood.

Vince and his writers are amazing after watching the last episode I just started the entire BB shows and movie all or again.

One of my favourite shows to date, I hope Vince and co give us some more gems in the future

Loved I definitely transcended what I thought it would be. I'm torn as to which is better but often it was BCS. I'm now re watching BB to see the links and how it fits. Will need to come back to BCS once the dust has settled. but powerful show with amazing performances. Currently thinking it's slightly better 😁

We learned his name was James McGill when Walt first met Saul when he was pretending to be Badgers father.