Better Call Saul
Better Call Saul
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Better Call Saul

"Putting the "criminal" in "criminal lawyer.""

8.7
Yr 2015
Status Ended
Crime Drama
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Series Brief

Overview

Six years before Saul Goodman meets Walter White. We meet him when the man who will become Saul Goodman is known as Jimmy McGill, a small-time lawyer searching for his destiny, and, more immediately, hustling to make ends meet. Working alongside, and, often, against Jimmy, is “fixer” Mike Ehrmantraut. The series tracks Jimmy’s transformation into Saul Goodman, the man who puts “criminal” in “criminal lawyer".

Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 95 /100

Better Call Saul is widely regarded as a masterful achievement that stands on its own while honoring its predecessor. Critics consistently praise the series for its measured, purposeful pace, noting that it prioritizes deep character exploration and moral ambiguity over the high-stakes action typically associated with the Breaking Bad universe. Bob Odenkirk's performance is frequently highlighted for its ability to humanize Jimmy McGill as he navigates his reluctant slide toward a grayer morality.

The show is noted for its artistic precision, with every frame curated to match the emotional weight of the storytelling. While some reviewers initially pointed out that the series moves slower than expected, the consensus is that the patient, introspective approach allows for a more profound and compelling narrative. By the series finale, it is hailed for providing a morally complex conclusion that satisfyingly resolves Jimmy's transformation through personal sacrifice.

“The series moves at a slower pace, focusing more on character depth than high-stakes action.”

“The show is, artistically, impressive. Creator Vince Gilligan doles out each episode at a languid, purposeful pace.”

“Odenkirk is able to illustrate Saul’s shabby humanity, the ways a decent guy can do indecent things.”

“It offers a more introspective and morally complex conclusion, which aligns with the series’ character-centric nature.”

Transmission Paths

Where to Watch

Netflix
US • CA • UK
Netflix Standard with Ads
CA • UK • US
Why fans love it

Better Call Saul occupies a distinct space within the neo-western genre by grounding its legal drama in the slow-burn moral decay of a single man. Set in New Mexico, the narrative functions as a meticulous character study that trades typical courtroom theatrics for the quiet, grinding friction of family relationships. The tension rarely stems from explosions; instead, it builds through the complex, often antagonistic dynamic between brothers. Every legal maneuver and criminal entanglement serves as a building block for an inevitable transformation.

Bob Odenkirk anchors this descent with a performance that balances charismatic hustle against profound personal conflict. The series maintains a sharp, forceful grip on its audience by focusing on the small, human decisions that lead toward a life of illicit practice. While the stakes frequently involve high-level crime, the heart of the story remains a gritty exploration of ambition and the erosion of conscience. It is a patient exercise in storytelling that refuses to simplify the difficult path from a struggling underdog to a morally bankrupt fixer.

Featured Players

Cast

Credited 75
Regulars 7
Longest run 63 eps
Bob Odenkirk
Bob Odenkirk
as Jimmy McGill
63 episodes
Jonathan Banks
Jonathan Banks
as Mike Ehrmantraut
63 episodes
Michael McKean
Michael McKean
as Chuck McGill
33 episodes
Rhea Seehorn
Rhea Seehorn
as Kim Wexler
63 episodes
Patrick Fabian
Patrick Fabian
as Howard Hamlin
57 episodes
Michael Mando
Michael Mando
as Nacho Varga
49 episodes
Tony Dalton
Tony Dalton
as Lalo Salamanca
26 episodes
Giancarlo Esposito
Giancarlo Esposito
as Gus Fring
40 episodes
Show 67 more
Omar Maskati as Omar 7 episodes Mark Proksch as Daniel 'Pryce' Wormald 4 episodes Kim Lan T. Pham as Salon Employee #2 4 episodes Bau Thi Duong as Salon Employee #4 4 episodes Victoria Pham-Gilchrist as Salon Employee #1 5 episodes Le Hai Dang as Salon Employee #3 4 episodes Manuel Uriza as Ximenez Lecerda 4 episodes Carol Herman as Mrs. Strauss 4 episodes Jose E. Pintor as Manager 4 episodes Sarah Minnich as Brenda 6 episodes Luis Bordonada as Brian Archuleta 5 episodes Ann Cusack as Rebecca Bois 5 episodes Laura Fraser as Lydia Rodarte-Quayle 4 episodes Abigail Zoe Lewis as Kaylee Ehrmantraut 8 episodes Vincent Fuentes as Arturo 11 episodes Debrianna Mansini as Fran 4 episodes Racquel Pino as Raquel 4 episodes David DeLao as Diego 5 episodes Max Arciniega as Domingo Molina 7 episodes Cara Pifko as Paige Novick 16 episodes Rainer Bock as Werner Ziegler 6 episodes John Christian Love as Ernesto 11 episodes Robert Douglas Washington as Gabriel 4 episodes Matt Roszak as Thomas 4 episodes Hans Obma as Adrian 5 episodes Jilon VanOver as Sebastian 5 episodes Robin Ward Holloway as Udo 5 episodes Ian Goebel as Renke 5 episodes Ammie Masterson as Stef Carvaines 5 episodes Rex Linn as Kevin Wachtell 13 episodes Katerina Tannenbaum as Amber 5 episodes Poppy Liu as Jo 4 episodes Julie Ann Emery as Betsy Kettleman 5 episodes Jeremy Shamos as Craig Kettleman 5 episodes Eileen Fogarty as Mrs. Nguyen 9 episodes Lavell Crawford as Huell Babineaux 6 episodes Nadine Marissa as Contract Counsel Administrator 4 episodes Keiko Agena as Viola Goto 6 episodes Kerry Condon as Stacey Ehrmantraut 18 episodes Stefan Kapičić as Casper 6 episodes Joe DeRosa as Dr. Caldera 7 episodes Juliet Donenfeld as Kaylee 4 episodes Ben Bela Böhm as Kai 5 episodes Jeremiah Bitsui as Victor 17 episodes Harrison C. Thomas as Lyle 5 episodes Ray Campbell as Tyrus Kitt 17 episodes Eric Steinig as Nick 10 episodes Philip Fornah as Sam 4 episodes Ed Begley Jr. as Clifford Main 14 episodes Javier Grajeda as Juan Bolsa 11 episodes Juan Carlos Cantu as Manuel Varga 11 episodes Dennis Boutsikaris as Rich Schweikart 15 episodes Luis Moncada as Marco Salamanca 10 episodes Daniel Moncada as Leonel Salamanca 10 episodes Mark Margolis as Hector Salamanca 22 episodes Josh Fadem as Camera Guy 14 episodes Jessie Ennis as Erin Brill 10 episodes Julian Bonfiglio as Sound Guy 14 episodes Hayley Holmes as Make-Up Girl 10 episodes James E. Dowling as Francis 8 episodes Jean Effron as Irene Landry 5 episodes Audrey Moore as Julie 9 episodes Howard Ferguson Jr. as Arthur 9 episodes Tina Parker as Francesca Liddy 14 episodes Peter Diseth as Bill Oakley 12 episodes Carol Burnett as Marion 4 episodes Julie Pearl as ADA Suzanne Ericsen 6 episodes
Production Board

Crew

Thanks
Richard J. Berry
Hairstylist
Ruth Carsch
Director
Colin Bucksey Gordon Smith John Shiban Daniel Sackheim Thomas Schnauz Adam Bernstein Minkie Spiro Terry McDonough
Production Design
Mark S. Freeborn Paula Dal Santo
Assistant Property Master
Trina Siopy Matthew Feight
Costume Supervisor
Michael A. Russell
Makeup Artist
Kat Bardot
Stunts
Anthony Reynolds Cesar Garcia
Construction Coordinator
William 'W' Gilpin Steve Brown
In Memory Of
Robert Forster Eric Justen
Director of Photography
Marshall Adams
Still Photographer
Ursula Coyote
Costume Design
Jennifer Bryan
Special Effects
Werner Hahnlein
Property Master
Mark Hansen
"A" Camera Operator
Paul Donachie
Set Decoration
Libbe Green
Makeup Department Head
Cheri Montesanto
Signal Match

Similarity

Where Better Call Saul overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

new mexico moral conflict crooked lawyer prequel romance dark comedy family relationships tragedy lawyer brother against brother spin off neo-western albuquerque, new mexico criminal lawyer fall from grace neo-noir mexican cartel legal drama gritty offbeat forceful aggressive hilarious
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
February 08, 2015
Status
Ended
Origin
US
TMDB Votes
6,761