The Joys of Discovering “Better Call Saul”

Better Call Saul was a recent surprise discovery.  And, a revelation.  And, ultimately — a joy.

I started binge-watching the popular Netflix series just last week.  I get it.  Now, I understand why it enjoys such a cult following.  Few television programs are so thoroughly outstanding–and instantly addictive.  Right now, I’m in the middle of Season 2 (and will likely watch the next few episodes immediately after writing this brief review).  Oh, and I haven’t ever seen an episode of Breaking Bad, which inspired Better Call Saul, the show’s spinoff, as well as the nonsensical title.  Great!  This all means I have another new series to discover after I finish this one.  Hooray!

Never mind why I was so late to the party in Albuquerque.  Let’s just say that so many excellent programs are airing on different platforms right now, cleaning out the storage cabinet was long overdue.  As they say, better late than never.  Better to arrive late to a great party than never to show up.

Created by Peter Gould and Vince Gilligan and fronted by an astounding cast that includes Bob Odenkirk, Rhea Seehorn, and others Better Call Saul is like a crowded bus station at midnight full of shady lawyers, con artists, drug pushers, pigeon feeders, and cold-blooded killers.  The quirky characters, all their lives in transition and some even in crisis, amplified with the occasional car crash,  It’s impossible to peel your eyes away.  Set in New Mexico’s high desert, the breathtaking but often desolate landscape offers a constant reminder that beneath all the natural beauty and glorious mountain sunsets are plenty of rattlesnakes and scorpions on the prowl for a fresh meal.

Even though I’m not that far into the series (five seasons have been completed, to date — all are available on Netflix) I’ve enjoyed shadowing characters I thought I knew and understood as they evolve into different people.  Or perhaps it’s just a revelation of their true selves as to who they really are.  Along the way, each faces moral quandaries with no clear answers.  Inevitably, there are unexpected plot twists.  No story ever lasts long enough to go stale.  The writing, the acting, the music — all are near-perfect.

There’s some irony to my discovering Better Call Saul during the same week that reportedly the final show is about to air.  This was entirely by coincidence.

If you haven’t seen this terrific series yet, I urge you to tune in.  A warning– it’s addictive.  Now, time for me to get back to binge-watching and finish season 2.