Behind the infamous meth-making chemistry teacher is the attorney who helped keep him out of trouble.
Better Call Saul explores the origin and life of James McGill (played by Bob Odenkirk), better known to many as Saul Goodman, the man who served as an attorney and accomplice to Walter White and Jesse Pinkman in Breaking Bad. Better Call Saul also features Jonathan Banks, who played Mike Ehrmantraut in Breaking Bad, as a series regular.
The program generated plenty of attention after Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan and producer Peter Gould announced that they were on board to run the spinoff/prequel project together as an hour-long comedy-drama on AMC.
Since then, it became one of the most anticipated shows of 2015. Though, many fans wondered prior to the premiere if it would live up to Breaking Bad, which is often referred to as one of the greatest television series of all time.Even Gilligan himself expressed his concern and doubts at the Hollywood Reporter’s annual Drama Showrunner Roundtable about whether the spinoff would live up to the audience’s expectations. “I am worried… it may turn out this was a mistake to do this,” Gilligan said. “If it’s AfterMASH rather than Frasier it won’t be for a lack of hard work and wishful thinking, but you just don’t know until the world takes it.”
However, Gilligan may not have to worry so much after all. So far, television critics have been giving the show high praise. While it didn’t surpass the ratings of the Breaking Bad finale, the pilot episode of Better Call Saul broke cable records, debuting with the highest ratings for a premiere and has continued with solid ratings since it first aired last month.
Though it might still be a little too early to tell whether or not Better Call Saul can live up to its predecessor’s success, the show has undoubtedly captured the interest of a large following that tunes in week after week.
Saul better keep his phone lines open because a lot of people are ringing in.
Feature Photo via Washington Post