'Better Call Saul' - Season Three Primer

Written by Zeke Perez Jr.

Are you itchin’ for a fix of the good stuff? Could you use some entertainment in your life? Are you in need of a new show with comedy, action, and emotion? Well, you better call Saul!
 
AMC’s Emmy-nominated spinoff returns for its third season on April 10th. If you’re not on board yet, you should be. Better Call Saul stands on its own as a spectacular show with great writing, award-worthy performances, and compelling new characters. And, if you’re a Breaking Bad fan, Saul rewards you with plenty of callbacks to the original series. This will be especially true in Better Call Saul season three, which will be filled with connections to and familiar faces from the original series.
 
One great aspect of the show is the title character’s personal journey. We’ve seen him try and shed his Slippin’ Jimmy persona – one of deceit and con-artistry – to transition into that of James McGill – an ambulance chasing lawyer seeking approval and success. James McGill is on the fence with his morality, showing flashes of being a person that does the right thing but he is slowly becoming the sleazy, conniving attorney known as Saul Goodman that we know and love. As a (sad and dismal) bonus, we’ve gotten glimpses into Saul’s distant future as Gene the Cinnabon manager in Omaha, a reference to the character’s remark about where his life is inevitably headed when trouble is brewing in the last season of Breaking Bad. There are many sides to the Saul Goodman character, and Bob Odenkirk has brought each one of those to life with range and emotion.
 
The show has further developed other Breaking Bad characters too. Season one’s 'Five-O' is easily one of the best episodes in the series, as it delves into Mike Ehrmantraut’s background with a touching story that reveals why Mike is such a no-nonsense badass and it features an unbelievably captivating performance by Jonathan Banks. Tuco Salamanca and Hector 'Tio' Salamanca have gotten the same treatment, and a certain fan-favorite restauranteur will reprise his role in the upcoming season.

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Vince Gilligan and his team have always been great about hiding secret codes and easter eggs in their shows. For instance, clever Better Call Saul fans realized that the first letters from each episode name in season two spell out 'Fring’s back'. Promos and footage from the new season have confirmed that we’ll get a heavy dose of supervillain Gus Fring. Time will tell what sort of hints the season three episode names will give away.  
 
While the return of familiar characters should lend itself to some intense storylines – and should enhance the experience for Breaking Bad fans – the spinoff has been a masterpiece in its own right. From Chuck McGill – Jimmy’s brother and foil – to Kim Wexler – a brilliant attorney and a potential love interest for Jimmy – Better Call Saul has introduced several significant and interesting characters of its own. The series did the right thing by not immediately jumping all the way into the Breaking Bad universe, but rather toeing the waters while building its own solid foundation.
 
If you haven’t yet given Better Call Saul a chance, you should get in touch with New Mexico’s best lawyer and hop on board before what should be a roller-coaster of a season coming up. Season one is already on Netflix and season two will be added in just a few days on March 27th. That should allow for plenty of binging, catching up, or re-watching before season three debuts on April 10th on AMC!

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