Better Call Saul Episode 1-2 Review: Slow to Start but Has Potential

I feel like being a fan of this show is a transitory process from being a fan of Breaking Bad. If you liked Breaking Bad, you’ll like Better Call Saul. Going in, my husband and I were open-minded, ready to give the show a shot but also ready to write it off as a bad spinoff.

Whew. What a ride! The first episode begins with a flash forward to Saul’s new identity as a Cinnabon manager. He looks despondent, balding, and we are shown a dismal account of the life that is.

Then, the show takes off into the past, where young Saul is actually James McGill, a struggling lawyer desperately trying to make ends meet while also aiding his mentor who is allergic to electricity? Still not sure what his deal is, actually. The man wraps himself in a space blanket to feel comfort while grounding his house to keep all aspects of technology at bay. Strange and getting stranger.

Mike was there. And hilarious too. A parking attendant that hassles James for not having enough stickers to pass. Of course, James is too poor to pay the $5 and curses and stomps his feet and the ridiculousness of it all. This moment is especially telling to a fan of the series because we know what their relationship WAS; what we are seeing now is the beginning steps in how it came to be. And we’re left wondering how on earth Mike could ever respect the man who becomes known as Saul to work with him.

And Tuco! Remember Tuco? Well, he’s just as angry and difficult to reason with and makes quite an appearance. His crony No-Doz does a bit of talking down, and young James is shown a world in which money can be transacted in a not so legal but highly prolific fashion.

So what do we know? The show is taking place roughly six years before Saul makes his appearance in Breaking Bad, meaning that Better Call Saul has a solid six years of episodes they can play around with.

I love that we’re seeing characters that bridge the two shows; especially because it adds that special zest of ‘oh that guy!’ to moments in the timeline. It makes us wonder how characters came to be, but more, it makes us wonder how they got to where they were in Breaking Bad.

Overall, a very interesting start. It’s slow but filled with meaty goodness and bits of excitement.