by Alex Henderson, Contributing Writer
It’s incredible to me that this really is the beginning of the end of Better Call Saul. I never remember thinking to myself that a Saul Goodman spinoff would be necessary, but now we’re five and a half seasons in, and I don’t think I’ve been this satisfied with the quality of a show since Game of Thrones was at its peak. Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould have cooked up something really special here, and with six episodes left to go I’m left here just sitting and counting down the days until part two of the final season begins. I think there’s so much to unpack here and talk about, so let’s just get into it.
Coming right off the cuff of season five, tensions are high. We’ve got Nacho (Michael Mando) on the run after betraying Lalo (Tony Dalton), Jimmy (Bob Odenkirk) and Kim (Rhea Seehorn) in the early phases of their big plan to take down Howard (Patrick Fabian), and Gus Fring (Giancarlo Esposito) looking over his shoulder 24/7 in the fear that Lalo could be coming after him at any minute. For a prequel that has the fate of a lot of these characters set in stone, I think Better Call Saul succeeds so well because it has these original characters that don’t require them to show up later. On top of that, we also have a lot left to be desired with the Gene storyline that takes place after Breaking Bad that still holds the fate of Jimmy/Saul/Gene.
Based on the three different kinds of storylines that this season is tackling, I’d definitely have to say that the Nacho stuff was my favorite part so far. Even in the small doses that it’s used, I think what carries it the most are the great executions of suspense and the fantastic performances from Mando and Jonathan Banks. Going into this corner of the universe, I feel that the audience has no clue where the outcome could take us. Considering that the first time we meet Saul in Breaking Bad, he name drops Nacho and Lalo, there was no telling how this piece of the puzzle was ever going to connect, and I was more than satisfied when it all finally clicked. I feel that before I move on I just have to take a moment to shout out how fantastic Mando truly was in this season. He’s always been brilliant, and it’s a genuine pleasure knowing he’s officially cemented somewhere in the universe surrounding Breaking Bad.
Aside from this, we have Gus currently looking over his shoulder at all times since his assassins failed to take out Lalo in Mexico. We are all aware that Gus is going to survive because he’s alive in Breaking Bad, but the thing that keeps this storyline engaging is that we’re able to see a character that was almost always portrayed as fearless, and now feels a bit vulnerable. The last time we ever got this from Gus was typically back during his flashbacks and before he was ever close to becoming as successful as he is now. So adding a bit of depth and showing in one moment this season a bit of regret for him adds a little bit more to Gus Fring that I didn’t even know that I wanted. Also while we’re on the topic of Esposito, I’d like to shout out just how fantastic he was as a director for episode six. Both he and Seehorn got to direct this season, and while it’s never uncommon for stars to direct a show they’ve been working on, considering that every episode this season was firing on all cylinders and the quality only felt like it was improving with each one, I thought it deserved a mention.
Last but not least, we have the grand plan between Kim and Jimmy to finally take down Howard Hamlin. It’s taken me so long to recognize, but Fabian as Howard has always been great. This season really allows more time for him in the spotlight and it really makes you feel bad considering he’s always intended to do the right thing. When it’s said and done and we enter the finale, it felt like the equivalent of having to suffer through a train wreck that was drawn out for 20 whole minutes. I mean that in the best way possible. Thomas Schnauz is always famous for stepping into these episodes where a lot happens, so I knew from the moment his credit popped up that we were in for quite a ride.
As of where it stands right now, part one of the final season for Better Call Saul is top tier TV. While the show is different in many ways than its predecessor, if the writers can stick the landing on these last six episodes, then I’d have to argue that this is the better show of the two. While I’m waiting here for these next five weeks to go by, I can’t help but keep guessing what’s in store next. There’s still so much left to be desired, and you can bet I’ll be there every Monday night to tune in.
Score: 10/10
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