Better Call Saul Season 5 (2020) Review

Better Call Saul Season 5 (2020) Review

 After catching up on the previous 4 seasons of the show I have now finished watch new fifth season of Better Call Saul and here is my review. The premise of the season sees Jimmy McGill restart his law practise under the new name Saul Goodman, while Mike and Nacho are in the middle of a war between Gus & Lalo. 

Main Character 

Bob Odenkirk is back as Jimmy McGill and this is the season where he really starts the transition from that character to the more sleezy Saul Goodman that we would see in Breaking Bad. There is so much depth to his character, he is uber charismatic in his Goodman persona but it is the more personal scenes that stand out for me. Jimmy's relationship with Kim is one of the most fascinating relationships on not just this show but any show on television and it really adds to both characters. 

Supporting Characters

As mentioned Rhea Seehorn's character Kim Wexler's relationship with Goodman is a real highlight of the show. She is a great character and one that you truly empathise with as her development over the show has been just as interesting as Goodman's has been. Jonathan Banks as Mike has a great arc this season too, you see how the effects of last season really hits him and makes him question exactly if he is making the right decisions whis adds layer to his performance. Michael Mando has been on the show from the very beginning and he continues to do a great job on the show, he has so much depth to him and you see just how his relationships with the gangsters is really affecting him and you really just want to see him succeed. Tony Dalton gets a larger role as Lola Salamanca and wow this guy is a scene stealer, he is so charismatic and even though he is a terrible person he actually can come across as quite likeable and somebody that you actually would want to hang out with. The one thing that should be said is that the showrunners heavily hyped the return of the character from Breaking Bad Hank Schrader and if you come to see him then don't he isn't really on the show and feels like it shouldn't have been advertised so heavily. 

Story

One of my criticisms of the show has been that the stories have felt quite seperate, but this season really fixes that. You see how Saul Goodman's life is affected by all these things and all the arcs are fascinating and makes these characters feel like people we can care about. It also feels like the stakes are risen this season and that adds some more excitement to the plot, the last few episodes particularly are a real rollercoaster and are truly memorable. 

Script

The script is brilliant, this is probably the funniest and most grim season of the show. The humour works really well especially with Lalo and Saul who are very funny people but the drama is nailed this season. The simple meetings are made more intense by some fantastic writing that fleshes out the characters and truly make them feel like real people in exceptional circumstances. 

Style

Again my other criticism of the show has sometimes been the pacing of the show but it is much improved this season, the 10 epsiodes fly by and feel appropriate to get the most out of all the arcs. The style is also more fast paced and thrilling which adds to to the high quality there are some truly memorable scenes that are editied perfectly and delivered brilliantly.

Overall

Overall I have thought Better Call Saul has been a great show, but this season steps it up in every way, it is a brilliant season that if you have given up on this show then get back on as the characters are truly memorable. 

Rating - 10/10 

Better Call Saul Season 4 (2018) Review

Better Call Saul Season 4 (2018) Review 

 Now I have managed to catch up with Better Call Saul as I have finished Better Call Saul Season 4 and this is my review of it. The premise of the season sees Jimmy suffer a personal tragedy which has him question what is next for him. Meanwhile, Gus Fring attempts to use Mike & Nacho in order to get a greater hand in the drug cartel empire.

Main Character

Bob Odenkirk is possibly at his best as Jimmy McGill in this season, he really does a great job. You can truly see in this season how Jimmy is really transitioning into the character of Saul Goodman and how it is changing him from the way he was in the first episode of the show to how he is now. His character really has a crisis of faith this season and it is interesting seeing how Jimmy reacts to certain circumstances and the schemes that he comes up with to get ahead without trying to cause that much damage.

Supporting Characters

Rhea Seehorn as Kim also possibly has her best season as a character, her character is really torn between how much she cares about Jimmy and her commitment to being a laywer. She has some real shades of grey and you can see the turmoil that she is having and that Jimmy seems to be having a more negative influence on her as a character and how that will lead to what happens to her. Jonathan Brooks as Mike has a really interesting story this season, this season does a really good job of setting up Mike for Breaking Bad and how is character is there. He is such a confident and cool character but you see he does struggle with certain aspects of his job and it shows that he isn't just a hired gun but an interesting person. Gincarlo Esposito as Gus is great and it is really interesting seeing his character in this role when you know how his character is in Breaking Bad. Michael Mand as Nacho & Patrick Fabian have smaller roles this season but they do really good jobs with there characters and they have interesting character arcs.

Story

The story of seeing Jimmy's decline as a human being is a farely predictable one as we know what happens to his character in Breaking Bad but the journey has been interesting to watch for sure. Also the supporting characters have really good arcs in the show and it makes them feel like characters you can care about. However, for sure this season has a slower pacing and around the middle part the show grinded for me and I wondered where the show was going but it picked up towards the end.

Script

The script is really great on this show, the humour when used really works and makes you chuckle the appropriate amount. Also the drama is ramped up especially, towards the end of the season as it makes you feel for Jimmy even though the show clearly tells you that you should have mixed feelings towards the character.

Style

The show this season feels more like a prequel for Breaking Bad then it's own contained story but for fans of that show like me it is great and adds context to things that happen in that show. Also seeing the different schemes that Jimmy comes up with it sets you up to the character that Jimmy will become. However, as mentioned the pacing is a bit slower and I just wish the middle part of the season could have been stronger as it would have been a truly fantastic show if that happened.

Overall

Overall this show is one of the most consistent I have seen, It continues to be great and the further we get in the shows run the closer we get to Breaking Bad and the more interesting the show can become.

Rating - 8/10 

Better Call Saul Season 3 (2017) Review

Better Call Saul Season 3 (2017) Review

 After a little break I have just finished the third season of Better Call Saul and this is my review of the season. After being tricked by his brother at the end of last season Jimmy McGill is forced onto the defensive to protect his future as a lawyer. Meanwhile, Mike finds himself in the middle of a turf war between two drug kingpins.

Main Character

Bob Odenkirk is back as Jimmy McGill and I thought this season might have been his best work yet in the show. You can see throughout this season by some of the actions he decides on he is getting closer to becoming the true Saul Goodman that we saw on Breaking Bad. But he also has more compassion then Goodman which shows that he is still trying to do the right thing even though it sometimes doesn't work out for him. His character is full of shades of grey but overall you root for him even though there are some things he does that make you question why you are rooting for him. 

Supporting Characters

Jonathan Banks as Mike is given a larger role this season and he is fantastic in the role, it is really cool to see the genesis of some of his relationships with characters that will take place on Breaking Bad. His story takes over the majority of the first half of the season and it is great seeing Banks being given a bit more time to shine this season. Rhea Seehorn is Kim Wexler and her character goes through quite a bit this seaosn, she like Odenkirk has real shades of grey to her character but you can tell she is more law abiding then he is. Their chemistry together is fantastic and you are really rooting for them to succeed as lawyers and as a couple. Patrick Fabian as Howard & Michael Mckean as Chuck are real highlights of the show they are great antagonists on the show, they made me dislike them so much that I really wanted to see McGill beat them. But they also have depth to them and you see they have issues themselves that makes them human and even feel a bit sorry for them especially Chuck at times which is handled very well. A character that has been present but not hand much to do is Michael Mando as Nacho but this changes a bit this season, he is given more to do and it is interesting to see how he fits in the gang war between the drug lords who I won't reveal who they are in case you don't know. 

Story

As mentioned it feels like the first half of the season really focuses on Mike and the gang warfare element whereas the 2nd half focused more on Jimmy and his issues. I enjoyed both thoroughly but feel like they maybe could have been condensed to make it more compelling as there is a few parts of the plot I felt was less compelling to watch. Also it takes like the first two episodes for anything to happen in the gang plot but if you have seen Breaking Bad you know more then the characters which makes it a bit of a frustrating watch and you just wish it could move a little bit quicker. The end of the season is really handled well though and it really gets you interested in the next season and what is to come. 

Script

The script is great on this show, the humour is reall well done and seeing McGill charm his way out of lots of potentially dangerous situations is very gratifing to watch. Also the drama is really well handled, the courtroom scenes in particular bring real emotion out of the characters that feels very real and personal. 

Style

This Season the show focuses on the courtroom aspect of the show and I Love it, I am a sucker for great courtroom scenes and episodes of shows as it is fascinating watching it develop with our characters and trying to work out what will happen next. However, my complaint with the show since I started watching it is the pacing, the tension and aggressive pacing of Breaking Bad is not to be seen here and that is fine as this is a different show but there are times when it really does drag and I feel like maybe it could have done with being 8 episodes instead of 10.

Overall

Overall this is another great season of the show, you can really see the evolution of Jimmy McGill's character and this is a great watch of a show that really focuses on interesting characters. 

Rating - 8/10 

Better Call Saul Season 2 (2016) Review

Better Call Saul Season 2 (2016) Review

 In getting ready for the new season coming this month I have now finished Season 2 of Better Call Saul and this is my review for it. The premise of the season sees Jimmy McGill with a slightly less honest practise as he tries to navigate through a big case. 

Main Character

Bob Odenkirk plays Jimmy McGill and he is just fantastic in this role, he is so charming and charismatic in the role and you do really care about him as a character. He does some questionable things in the season but you see why he does what he does and you still root for him despite his flaws which he definitley has as a character. 

Supporting Characters

Jonathan Banks plays Mike and he is given an interesting story this season, it pretty much splits from Jimmy's story but does enough to keep you interested especially when it involves characters that are from Breaking Bad which makes it fascinating seeing them interact before that show. Rhea Seehorn plays Kim on the show and her character is much more interesting this season then she was in the first season. Her and Jimmy's relationship is more advanced this season and seeing them interact is a highlight of the show with them having a good chemistry together on screen. Patrick Fabian plays Howard and he is a good douchebag on the show, he isn't the most complex character on the show but his job is to be unlikeable and it is really easy to not really like him. Michael McKean plays Chuck and he is a really interesting character, he comes across as unlikeable at times but he has much more depth to him then Howard and you see some great debates between him and Jimmy this season.

Story

This season sees Jimmy in a few different locations and companies and I found it interesting seeing him trying to stay the boring good lawyer even though you know he wants to just be himself and be the charismatic guy that he will become when he arrives in Breaking Bad. Also Mike's story is interesting as it deals with the darker parts of the story and the more action heavy parts of the season which is a good compliment of the show. However, as mentioned above these seasons feel really seperate and sometimes you do wonder if they actually connect that well, also when it comes to Jimmy's story it takes too long to get to the main meat of the plot which means the last few episodes are exciting but there are a few episodes that could have been considered as filler this season.

Script 

The script for this show is really good, a fantastic mix of humour and drama to really make some complex characters, the drama was better this season and Bob Odenkirk knows how to add good humour to pretty much anything that he is a part off. 

Style

The show has a very unique style, you are interested in what McGill is going to do next as a character as he is really unpredictable. But I know I shouldn't but I compare this show to it's parent show Breaking Bad and it is just knowhere near as intense and exciting to watch, it doesn't have you on the edge of your seat as that show did. Also as mentioned this season has more filler in it and maybe it could have done with being an 8 episode season which would have made it really strong.

Overall

Overall this is a great season of television, I preffered it slightly to the first season but not by much. If you are a fan of entertaining character driven shows then Better Call Saul Season 2 is worth a watch for sure. 

Rating - 8/10

Better Call Saul Season 1 (2015) Review

Better Call Saul Season 1 (2015) Review 

 In preparation for the 5th season of Better Call Saul coming out next month I have decided to start watching the Breaking Bad spinoff Better Call Saul and this is my review of the first season of the show. The premise of the season sees the origin of eccentric lawyer Saul Goodman as he goes by the name Jimmy McGill and tries to win cases and grow his reputation. 

Main Character

Now I loved Bob Odenkirk's perfromance as Saul Goodman throughout Breaking Bad and with more of the spotlight on him in this show he delivers once again. What is so great about his performance on this show is that he isn't the same character as he was on that show, you can tell he is in a much earlier more innocent place and more of a good hearted character focusing on law instead of the more criminal route he had on Breaking Bad. He is still very charismatic on this show and you do care about him because of how strong his performance is and how likeable he is on this show.

Supporting Characters

Jonathan Banks reprises his role as Mike from Breaking Bad and I just really enjoy watching his character on this show, similar to Odenkirk he is in a different place then he is on Breaking Bad and it is nice to see an evolution of his character over the season. Rhea Seehorn as Kim is a decent character on this show, she has good chemistry with Odenkirk and I thought their characters worked well together. The only thing really lacking for her this season is a major story as she doesn't have that much to do this season but I liked her in the role she has. Patrick Fabian plays Howard on the show and he is just really unlikeable, he comes across as the sleezy suit wearing douchebag that makes it really easy to not like him and root for Jimmy against him. Michael Mckean plays Jimmy's brother Chuck on the show and he is probably the most interesting character on the show as you don't really know much about his motivations and I thought him and Odenkirk had some really dramatic scenes together. 

Story

The story of seeing Jimmy McGill's journey thtoughout the season is really interesting, he really grows and changes as he deals with more and more different challenges throughout the season. However, one criticism of the season is that it lacks an overall story, it sees McGill deal with a few different cases but it never truly focuses on one which would have made it more of a structured season, this is also not helped by what I thought was a pretty weak finale to the season. 

Script

The script is important for this show because Jimmy McGill is a fast talking salesman aswell as a lawyer and it is really good, Odenkirk is so charismatic that he nails the one liners and adds a lot of humour to the show. But also the drama is delivered very well on the show that makes you care about the characters and the plight that they are in. 

Style 

I really liked the style of showing Jimmy attempt to grow his buisness and when the scenes in the courtroom happen I am invested as I really like shows that have a large amount of courtroom scenes as I find it interesting and when this show does it, it is interesting. However, it doesn't do it enough, and I wish this show had more scenes in the courtroom as it teases them but fails to deliver, the show also leaves a few stories unfinished and not referenced which makes some of the cases feel underdeveloped.

Overall

Overall, a first season of a show is very important as it sets the tone of the show and this show has a great first season that lets you know what you are in for and is definitley worth a watch.

Rating - 8/10