‘Breaking Bad’ Retro Recap: ‘Better Call Saul’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Something that is truly fascinating about television shows, is how a singular moment or the arrival of a particular character, can change the landscape of a series. Because initially, that moment or that character, were designed in a writers’ room… to be nothing more than an enhancement of the plot. An end to the main character’s means, if you will. But something about that person or what transpires in that all-important moment, resonates with the audience in a manner that no one expected and that allows for those elements to take on a life of their own. To the point where they genuinely influence the overall story in an incredible manner… or help to create an outright universe for the franchise and it just so happens, that this exact surprise, came about in the next episode of Breaking Bad.

For ‘Better Call Saul’ is a story, that introduces us to one James ‘Jimmy’ McGill, a down home, sleazy lawyer that goes by the name of Saul Goodman and well… his introduction changed a great deal for this series. In fact, Jimmy’s arrival here, makes this a keystone episode for certain. One where Saul’s arrival was well-received by fans everywhere, allowing for Bob Odenkirk to eventually be promoted to a series regular by season three and his promotion, would help this saga transform into an outright franchise. Since eventually Jimmy McGill would be granted his own television series that shares the namesake of this episode, and his adventures would expand upon the notion of the Great American Tragedy. Since it would feature Jimmy's slow and methodical transformation, into the morally ambiguous man we meet in this tale. 

But while all of that weighs heavy upon one’s mind when you settle in to rewatch this episode, from an objective perspective, it really is obvious that Jimmy’s arrival was indeed treated as no big deal in the writers’ room. For his introduction here takes a while to get to, and is in fact, set up by Badger and his subsequent arrest by Albuquerque PD. And his actions and desire to get one hell of a pay out from Walter and Jesse, in order to keep their burgeoning empire a secret, makes him appear to be nothing less than a scuzzy dude that is eager to negotiate and do favors for folks, when it will outright benefit him financially. But there really is something quite special about Jimmy and his introduction here, and really what makes it so iconic are two key elements. One of which, is Bob Odenkirk’s stellar performance.

Because Bob simply inhabits the role from the get-go, and he plays Jimmy with a quiet confidence that helps us to understand that the man has seen it all and done it all when it comes to illegal acts. Which brings about a completeness to the character here, since the younger version of himself is still testing the waters when it comes to the dark side. But it is how well he thrives in the grey and how he handles people, that makes his introduction so compelling. Because for a brief moment there, he really does seem as though he’s just a guy who figured out how to make a quick buck by playing the unfortunate. But his ability to read Walter and carefully piece together what’s going here, in order to get a proper payout and eventually set up his financial future, speaks volumes to how well this guy is able to read people and that he knows exactly how to get what he wants out of them. To the point where you’re dying to know how he became this street smart and smooth. Something that is explored in the prequel series. 

In fact, speaking of Better Cal Saul, this particular tale hammers home how good of a job Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould did in assembling it, since the mention of Nacho and Lalo here… immediately help this episode tie into Jimmy’s prior adventures and of course, this relationship will help to shape Jimmy’s future as Gene and well, that really does make this a supremely important episode for Breaking Bad and the franchise as a whole. For this really is the beginning of so much more, and it is also an important step for Walter’s journey into darkness as well. Since he is willing to do some shady things in order to keep his empire thriving and that makes he and Jimmy a match made in Hell. Mainly because they are cut from the same cloth. For both of them are good men that believe the system failed them and they are now eager to stick it to the man, and it will be quite fascinating to see these two, team up and work to accomplish that very goal. Until next time.

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