Better Call Saul

Better Call Saul
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the Breaking Bad episode of the same name, see Better Call Saul (Breaking Bad).
Better Call Saul
Better Call Saul (TV Series) LOGO.jpg
Genre Drama

Created by Vince Gilligan
Peter Gould

Starring:

Bob Odenkirk
Jonathan Banks
Rhea Seehorn
Patrick Fabian
Michael Mando
Michael McKean
Theme music composer Little Barrie
Composer(s) Dave Porter
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 3 (List of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s) Vince Gilligan
Peter Gould
Mark Johnson
Melissa Bernstein
Producer(s) Bob Odenkirk, Nina Jack
Diane Mercer
Location(s) Albuquerque, New Mexico
Cinematography Arthur Albert
Running time 46 minutes
53 minutes (pilot)
Production company(s) High Bridge Productions
Crystal Diner Productions
Gran Via Productions
Sony Pictures Television
Broadcast
Original channel AMC
Original run February 8, 2015 – present
Chronology
Related shows Breaking Bad

Better Call Saul is an American drama television series that premiered on AMC on February 8, 2015. The series was created by Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould, and is a spin-off, prequel, and sequel to Breaking Bad, which was created by Gilligan. Set in 2002, Better Call Saul is about small-time lawyer James McGill (Bob Odenkirk), seven years before his appearance on Breaking Bad, though events during and after the original series are also explored.

The first season premiered in February 2015 and consists of ten episodes. In June 2014 a second season of 13 episodes was ordered, with the episodes expected to air in early 2016. The debut episode set the record for the highest-rated scripted series premiere in basic cable history, with 4.4 million viewers in the 18–49 demographic, and 6.9 million viewers overall.

Conception

In July 2012, Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan hinted at a possible spin-off about Saul Goodman.

In April 2013, the series was confirmed to be in development by Gilligan and Gould; the latter wrote the Breaking Bad episode that introduced the character. In a July 2012 interview, Gilligan said he liked "the idea of a lawyer show in which the main lawyer will do anything it takes to stay out of a court of law" including settling on the courthouse steps.

Development history

By July 2013, the series had yet to be green-lit. Netflix was one of many interested distributors, but ultimately a deal was made between AMC and Breaking Bad production company Sony Pictures Television. Gilligan and Gould serve as co-showrunners and Gilligan directed the pilot. Former Breaking Bad writers Thomas Schnauz and Gennifer Hutchison joined the writing staff, with Schnauz serving as co-executive producer and Hutchison as supervising producer. Also on the writing staff are Bradley Paul, and Gordon Smith, who was a writer's assistant on Breaking Bad.

In developing the series, the producers considered making the show a half-hour comedy, but ultimately chose an hour-long format more typical of drama.[8] In October 2014, Odenkirk called the show "85 percent drama, 15 percent comedy." During his appearance on Talking Bad, Odenkirk noted that Saul was one of the most popular characters on the show, speculating that the audience likes the character because he is the program's least hypocritical figure, and is good at his job. Better Call Saul also employs Breaking Bad '​s signature time jumps.

As filming began on June 2, 2014 Gilligan expressed some concern regarding the possible disappointment from the series' turnout, in terms of audience reception.

On June 19, 2014, AMC announced it had renewed the series for a second season of 13 episodes to premiere in early 2016, with the first season to consist of 10 episodes, and that the series premiere had been delayed to early 2015. The first teaser trailer debuted on AMC on August 10, 2014, and confirmed its premiere date of February 2015.[18] In November 2014, AMC announced the series would have a two-night premiere; the first episode aired on Sunday, February 8, 2015, at 10:00 pm (ET), and then moved into its regular time slot the following night, airing Mondays at 10:00 pm.

Michelle MacLaren and Bryan Cranston are slated to direct episodes.

Better Call Saul is filmed in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where Breaking Bad was also filmed.

Casting

Bob Odenkirk stars as Saul Goodman, the eponymous character of the show. In January 2014, it was announced that Jonathan Banks would reprise his Breaking Bad role as Mike Ehrmantraut and be a series regular. Aaron Paul announced having had "serious talks" with Gilligan for possible guest appearances, but later told The Huffington Post it was not going to happen. Dean Norris, another Breaking Bad alumnus, announced that he would not be appearing, partly due to his involvement in the CBS series Under the Dome. Anna Gunn also mentioned a "talk" with Gilligan over possible guest appearances.

Michael McKean, who previously guest starred on an episode of Odenkirk's Mr. Show, was cast as Saul's brother Chuck. The cast also includes Patrick Fabian as Hamlin, Rhea Seehorn as Kim, and Michael Mando as Nacho. In October 2014, Kerry Condon was cast in an unknown role. In November 2014, it was announced that Julie Ann Emery and Jeremy Shamos had been cast as Betsy and Craig Kettleman, described as "the world's squarest outlaws."

Cast and characters

Bob Odenkirk portrays titular character Saul Goodman in Better Call Saul, reprising his role from Breaking Bad.
Main cast

Bob Odenkirk as James Morgan "Jimmy" McGill/Saul Goodman/Gene, a small-time lawyer, later a manager at a Cinnabon in Omaha, Nebraska, following the events of Breaking Bad.

   Jonathan Banks as Michael "Mike" Ehrmantraut, Saul's private investigator. Also a returning character from Breaking Bad.
   Rhea Seehorn as Kim Wexler, a lawyer working at the Hamlin, Hamlin & McGill law firm who has a history with Jimmy.
   Patrick Fabian as Howard Hamlin, the co-founder of Hamlin, Hamlin & McGill, whom Jimmy can't stand.
   Michael Mando as Nacho Varga, an intelligent, ambitious criminal.
   Michael McKean as Charles "Chuck" McGill, Jimmy's brother, who is forced to leave his job at his law firm, Hamlin, Hamlin & McGill due to the sudden onset of what Chuck describes as electromagnetic hypersensitivity.

Recurring cast

   Jeremy Shamos and Julie Ann Emery as Craig and Betsy Kettleman, a county treasurer and his wife, accused of embezzlement.[29]
   Steven Levine and Daniel Spenser Levine as Lars and Cal, twin skateboarders and small-time scam artists.
   Miriam Colon as Tuco's grandmother.
   Eileen Fogarty as Mrs. Nguyen, owner of a nail salon which houses Jimmy's law office (and home) in its back room.

Breaking Bad character reprisals

   Raymond Cruz as Tuco Salamanca, a trigger-happy gangster.
   Cesar Garcia as No-Doze, Tuco's henchman.
   Jesus Payan Jr. as Gonzo, Tuco's henchman.

Episodes

No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date U.S. viewers (million)
1 "Uno" Vince Gilligan Vince Gilligan & Peter Gould February 8, 2015 6.88[31]
2 "Mijo" Michelle MacLaren Peter Gould February 9, 2015 3.42[32]
3 "Nacho" Terry McDonough Thomas Schnauz February 16, 2015 3.23[33]
4 "Hero"[34] Colin Bucksey Gennifer Hutchison February 23, 2015
5 "Jello"[35] March 2, 2015
6 "Alpine Shepherd Boy" March 9, 2015

In December 2013, Netflix announced that the entire first season would be available for streaming in the U.S. and Canada after the airing of the first season finale, and in Latin America and Europe each episode will be available a few days after the episode airs in the U.S..[36] In Australia, Better Call Saul premiered on the streaming service Stan[37] on February 9, 2015, acting as the service's flagship program.[38] In the United Kingdom and Ireland, the series was acquired by Netflix on December 16, 2013[39] and the first episode premiered on February 9, 2015, with the second episode scheduled for release the following day. Every subsequent episode will be uploaded each week thereafter.[40]

The series premiere became the biggest in cable history, drawing in 4.4 million and 4 million in the 18–49 and 25–54 demographics, respectively, and received an overall viewership of 6.9 million.
Reception

Early reviews for the first season of Better Call Saul are positive. On Rotten Tomatoes, the series has a score of 100%, based on 53 reviews, with an average rating of 8/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Better Call Saul is a quirky, dark character study that manages to stand on its own without being overshadowed by the series that spawned it."On the review aggregator website Metacritic, the first season thus far has a score of 78 out of 100, based on 43 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

In his review of the two-episode premiere, Hank Stuever of The Washington Post graded it a "B+" and wrote the series "is right in line with the tone and style of the original, now-classic series", and that it "raises more questions in two hours than it will readily answer". Stephen Marche of Esquire wrote that the first few episodes were better than Breaking Bad. Kirsten Acuna of Business Insider declared the initial episodes "everything you could possibly want from a spinoff television series".
References

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