Ratings might be down for the third season of Breaking Bad prequel Better Call Saul, but the quality remains high. Season 3 explores similar themes to the first two – namely Jimmy McGill’s (Bob Odenkirk) fragile relationship with his brother Chuck (Michael McKean). Both men face the consequences of trying to outsmart each other previously, affecting their careers and mental states. This has a knock-on effect for Jimmy’s personal and business relationship with Kim (Rhea Seehorn) and his bank balance.
It’s been some time coming but Jimmy is edging closer to the amoral, eponymous Saul Goodman. Saul even makes his first ‘appearance’, albeit in a different line of work. On the sideline is the murky world of drug trafficking, becoming insidious in the plot. As a result, we learn more how the paths of Gus Fring (Giancarlo Esposito), Tuco Salamanca (Raymond Cruz), Nacho Varga (Michael Mando) and Mike Ehrmantraut (Jonathan Banks) all cross. Breaking Bad fans are rewarded with the origin and expansion of ‘old’ supporting players, while Saul newcomers have the advantage of getting to know them for the first time.
At 10 episodes, it’s a good length. 24 can take an age and six is never enough. As someone who didn’t think a prequel was necessary, it’s become one of this writer’s favourite shows. I even found myself agreeing with other reviews saying the spin-off is as good as Breaking Bad. (Some argue even better.) But it doesn’t matter if you’ve never heard of Walt Whitman or Jesse Pinkman. This has become a classic on its own. Better Call Saul probably only has another season or two left in it before it catches up with its predecessor, but the joy is in the journey.
Elsewhere, this release features It’s a Bad, Bad World; a 10-minute behind the scenes look at the larger pool of characters entering Better Call Saul‘s world. There are interviews with the cast and even an appearance by Bryan Cranston. Show creator Vince Gilligan neatly describes it all as a ‘Venn diagram’. Signs of Saul is another exploratory short, with the cast and crew discussing how Jimmy is starting to become Saul. Then there’s In Conversation: Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks and Rhea Seehorn, itself self-explanatory, as is the gag reel which really should have been killed off in the ’90s. Los Pollos Hermanos training videos (all 10 of them) are as cheesy as you expect. But with introductions from Gus Fring on such subjects as ‘conflict resolution’ and ‘cleanliness’, they’re definitely worth a watch – especially if you want to know how to dispose of ‘miscellaneous items’ such as a large, moving bag.
BETTER CALL SAUL: SEASON 3 / CERT: 15 / SHOWRUNNER: VINCE GILLIGAN, PETER GOULD / DIRECTOR & SCREENPLAY: VARIOUS / STARRING: BOB ODENKIRK, RHEA SEEHORN, PATRICK FABIAN, MICHAEL MCKEAN, MICHAEL MANDO / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
