Better Call Saul

:

Season 1
  • Network: AMC
  • Series Premiere Date: Feb 8, 2015
Season #: 6.5, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 1191 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,096 out of 1191
  2. Mixed: 44 out of 1191
  3. Negative: 51 out of 1191
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User Reviews

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  1. Jrud05
    Feb 16, 2016
    4
    I just can't really tell where they are trying to go with this show anymore. Stop dragging it out and get on with it or you'll probably start losing viewers.
  2. ak2381
    Mar 3, 2015
    4
    I am truly baffled by all the high scores this show is receiving.
    Aimless, pointless and void of any real depth or complexity, i (for some odd reason) continue to watch this show, hoping for some semblance of intrigue or a developing story line.
    Instead, what we have here is TV series that obviously is trying to skate by based solely on its association with the brilliant Breaking Bad.    I am truly baffled by all the high scores this show is receiving.
    Aimless, pointless and void of any real depth or complexity, i (for some odd reason) continue to watch this show, hoping for some semblance of intrigue or a developing story line.
    Instead, what we have here is TV series that obviously is trying to skate by based solely on its association with the brilliant Breaking Bad.
    Unfortunately for me, that just doesn't cut it.    … Expand
  3. astrosio
    Feb 14, 2015
    5
    the attempt to humanize saul is terrible and, IMHO, is not consistent with the character that we all loved in breaking bad. probably the writers recovered some stuffs that wrote about the biography at the time of bb. and then they tried to develop it. (this means, perhaps, that the alchemy of a good character can't be justified only by the good work made.) but the series is totallythe attempt to humanize saul is terrible and, IMHO, is not consistent with the character that we all loved in breaking bad. probably the writers recovered some stuffs that wrote about the biography at the time of bb. and then they tried to develop it. (this means, perhaps, that the alchemy of a good character can't be justified only by the good work made.) but the series is totally watchable. yes. but that man is not the saul goodman that we love. (ok, sorry for my english, I'm italian.)… Expand
  4. CosmotheSloth
    Jul 18, 2015
    6
    I find 'Better Call Saul' an incredibly frustrating experience, much like the time I invested in 'Breaking Bad'. As with it's predecessor, 'Better Call Saul' has moments that are fantastically written, thoroughly entertaining and brilliantly acted out. However, for every one of these moments, there's at least 15 minutes of can be loosely classed as character development, but is more akinI find 'Better Call Saul' an incredibly frustrating experience, much like the time I invested in 'Breaking Bad'. As with it's predecessor, 'Better Call Saul' has moments that are fantastically written, thoroughly entertaining and brilliantly acted out. However, for every one of these moments, there's at least 15 minutes of can be loosely classed as character development, but is more akin to filler material. In short, the show is slow. I found that these personal gripes with the writing and execution to be present in 'Breaking Bad', but I managed to persevere as, broadly, the series was more engaging.

    It may be that Vince Gilligan's work just doesn't quite cut it for me, in 'Better Call Saul' (more than with, but still present in, 'Breaking Bad') I can't shake the feeling of certain parts being contrived and the show carrying an air of pretension.

    However, the acting is solid and cannot be faulted; with Bob Odenkirk really pulling off the multiple dimensions to Jimmy's character. As with the acting, the cinematography and music are brilliant, but this is, in my opinion, to be expected when you're following up one of the biggest TV shows of all time.

    To the show's credit, it makes the series accessible to those who haven't seen 'Breaking Bad'. This being said, those that haven't seen the series may have certain elements of the show and cameos lost on them. I did feel that at one time in particular, a cameo was a cheap way to get people interested and was somewhat shoe-horned into an already meandering and muddled storyline (i.e. 'Oh look who's here! It's this character from 'Breaking Bad' - weren't they great!').

    Would I recommend 'Better Call Saul'? I wouldn't steer people away from the series, but there's much better television out there (i.e. House of Cards, Orange Is The New Black). You need patience for 'Better Call Saul', and you need to be willing to invest the time for not much reward - as I felt the series only just got going in the final episode, but this may set up season 2 well.    … Expand
  5. Qldgamer
    Mar 1, 2015
    5
    Even not comparing this to Breaking Bad, this is very slow paced and a bit all over the place. The acting is OK but boring, they do not jump off the screen at you.

    The story line, is as I said, slow paced and really does not develop the characters much. Yes we know who the main characters are and we are waiting for them to start to be what they were in BB, which is not occurring. I know    Even not comparing this to Breaking Bad, this is very slow paced and a bit all over the place. The acting is OK but boring, they do not jump off the screen at you.

    The story line, is as I said, slow paced and really does not develop the characters much. Yes we know who the main characters are and we are waiting for them to start to be what they were in BB, which is not occurring. I know they are building towards that, but really why wait.    … Expand
  6. HonestReviews9
    Feb 18, 2015
    5
    If you where on IMDB when this show aired you would've noticed this show had a 9.5 before it was even 10 minutes in. It goes to show people are rating this show based on how much they liked breaking bad. the first episode was wildly mediocre but the show started to pick up in episode 2. so far the acting is good and the cast isn't terrible. episode 3 was rather predictable. if it continuesIf you where on IMDB when this show aired you would've noticed this show had a 9.5 before it was even 10 minutes in. It goes to show people are rating this show based on how much they liked breaking bad. the first episode was wildly mediocre but the show started to pick up in episode 2. so far the acting is good and the cast isn't terrible. episode 3 was rather predictable. if it continues as it is i don't have very high hopes for it but if it picks up i will be pleased and surprised.… Expand
  7. jmerlinb
    Feb 19, 2015
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This whole show seems a bit farcical. As we know Saul turns out more or less okay (and alive) by the beginning of Breaking Bad, the tension is completely taken out of any life threatening scenes. We also know he has contact with drug cartels in Breaking Bad, which makes the show somewhat predictable - very much unlike Breaking Bad.

    This is a spin off show, and one that lacks the heart, energy, and excitement of the original.    … Expand
  8. suziesilverado
    Feb 25, 2015
    5
    As a Breaking Bad addict, I thought Vince Gilligan was near genius, but he choose the wrong character to make into a leading man in his new series. Yes, the acting is excellent, the sets are great, but the plot just doesn't hold my attention. I really wish I could like this but it ain't happening, at least not yet.
  9. moothemagiccow
    Jan 28, 2016
    5
    As a series, it's aimless and strange. Plotlines go nowhere, characters are forgotten, all in aid of Jimmy never becoming too happy or successful to become the Saul Goodman character in Breaking Bad.
    Any one of these episodes could easily be part of a great series, but the prequel concept is severely limiting, and what results is a jerky season full of sharp left turns and hastily    As a series, it's aimless and strange. Plotlines go nowhere, characters are forgotten, all in aid of Jimmy never becoming too happy or successful to become the Saul Goodman character in Breaking Bad.
    Any one of these episodes could easily be part of a great series, but the prequel concept is severely limiting, and what results is a jerky season full of sharp left turns and hastily abandoned arcs. Odenkirk is great; the writing is not.    … Expand
  10. Juseph
    Jan 4, 2023
    6
    I gotta be honest. I thought that this season was okay. Not really what I expected, but okay. I didn't really enjoy it that much, probably because I thought it was gonna be like breaking bad, but I was completely wrong. It is one of the weaker seasons in the bb universe.

Awards & Rankings

36
#36 Best TV Season of 2015
9
#9 Most Discussed TV Season of 2015
21
#21 Most Shared TV Season of 2015

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 43 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 40 out of 43
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 43
  3. Negative: 0 out of 43
  1. The Daily Beast
    Reviewed by: Marlow Stern
    Feb 9, 2015
    80
    The ball of manic, depressed, negative energy that is Jimmy is a perfect match for Odenkirk’s comedic (and newfound dramatic) chops, as he lends plenty of pathos to this mesmeric loser with a heart of fool’s gold. He’s not Saul Goodman just yet, but the journey there should be a bumpy, thrilling ride.
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  2. The Oregonian
    Reviewed by: Kristi Turnquist
    Feb 9, 2015
    70
    Odenkirk is a gifted comic actor, and the sadness in his eyes hints that he can fill in more dimensions to Jimmy McGill as time goes on. But the first two episodes of Better Call Saul take their own sweet time setting things up.
    Read full review
  3. Yahoo TV
    Reviewed by: Ken Tucker
    Feb 9, 2015
    90
    Better Call Saul has its own tone--it's a different, unique creation.
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