Better Call Saul has developed into a TV drama every bit as compelling as its predecessor, Breaking Bad.
Not to mention the world class direction and beautiful cinematography.
But how could the story be anywhere near as enthralling when we already knew the outcome?
How could Saul Goodman, the comic relief character, ever be as compelling as Walter White?
Would it be serialised or episodic?
Was there any wayBetter Call Saulcould live up to the legacy that gave it birth?
And if so,how?
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The answer, funnily enough, lay in completely ignoring the promise of its title.
Instead of giving us more Saul Goodman, the series introduced us to Jimmy McGill.
Jimmy and Saul were recognisably the same character, but Jimmy had hope where Saul had cynicism.
Jimmy wanted to be a good person, where Saul couldnt care less.
Consider a version ofHannibal Risingwhere the younger incarnation of the cannibal isnt, well, a cannibal.
WewantJimmy McGill to succeed, but we know he doesnt.
And even if we dont necessarily want him to become Saul, were fascinated to see how it happens.
The drama inBetter Call Sauls second season stemmed from swapping a one and a six on a legal document.
And it was just as compelling.
The stakes inBetter Call Saulare nowhere near as high asBreaking Bads.
The thing is, people often mistake high stakes for life and death situations.
But look atMad Men, which killed its fair share of characters but never in especially explosive ways.
Mike is used to the world he lives in and can handle himself.
Besides, Jimmys is somewhat more relatable; personally, I find his story much more compelling.
One edgeBetter Call Saulhas over its predecessor is a different approach to morality.
Complex, compelling and kind of awesome, yeah, but not remotely a good person.
For a show as dark asBreaking Bad, the ending was surprisingly neat and the morality absolute.
Bad people who do bad things come to a bad end.
Better Call Saul, however, has no such distinction between heroes and villains.
Chuck does the right thing for the wrong reasons, Jimmy the wrong thing for the right reasons.
Jimmy, meanwhile, so much wants to be like his impressive brother who never had time for him.
Is Chuck an awful person?
And why shouldnt she?
At the start of the season, Kim would have accepted this as part of business.
The best thing about reviewingBetter Call Saulfor Den of Geek over these past few weeks was getting screeners.
And both reward rewatching.
It just offers more to enjoy upon the revisit.
And since the second season ended, hes not the only person who has said that.
