You will see five stars on this review. And you may be thinking: what now? We are dealing with the closing season of Better Call Saul, which will be released on Netflix in two parts this year, one episode a week. Seven episodes until the end of May. And then from July 11, the last six episodes, until August 15. And then it’s over, after 63 episodes Better Call Saulthe series that itself followed on 62 episodes Breaking Badnot as a sequel, but as a prequel, although there were also occasional disturbing glimpses into the distant future of the characters.
The first episodes of that final season are now available on Netflix and it has to be said again that all episodes (123, when we’re done!) together, from that spectacular overture on January 20, 2008, form a masterpiece about good and evil. , and ultimately only evil, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, frontline of the drug wars along the US-Mexico border. Dear reviewer, I never got around to it, is it worth going into this universe after all? Answer: Yes.
We also had to take another run-up to get back into it, and then there’s no better starting point than the eighth episode of Season 5, titled †The Bagman’, also a masterpiece as a standalone film. Better Call Saul follows lawyer Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk) on his long journey to the underworld after he’s been hit on the nose too many times in the above-ground legal world. Over the course of the series, he grows into his role of alter ego Saul Goodman, who at some point in the future (described in Breaking Bad) becomes the lawyer for crystal meth producer and ex-chemistry teacher Walter White (Bryan Cranston) and his partner Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul).
In ‘The Bagman’ Saul Goodman really experiences what his crossing to the dark side means. What starts as a manageable job for a cartel leader he assists (7 million dollar deposit in the desert) turns into a hellish day in which he barely survives. It helps that he is joined by Mike Ehrmantraut (the brilliant Jonathan Banks) who now uses his considerable skills as an ex-cop for an American crime organization.
‘The Bagman’ was written by Vince Gilligan, the showrunner of Breaking Badwho is now back for the closing season of Better Call Saul to steer in the right direction. And just like in the closing seasons of Breaking Bad the characters are slowly overtaken by the consequences of the choices they have made.
In the first three episodes of Season 6, it is once again striking how amazing the cast is, not only the lead actors (Bob Odenkirk leading the way), but also an actor like Tony Dalton, who as Lalo Salamanca portrays a beautiful and completely unpredictable cartel boss. Like Breaking Bad makes Better Call Saul good use of the comedic talents of the actors, who also give the show the character of a black comedy. And then one with impressive cinematic qualities, in which the merciless landscape of New Mexico plays one of the leading roles.
Gilligan has also gotten better at convincing action sequences, such as in the opening episodes of the new season, when a cartel headquarters is stormed by a competitor. And meanwhile, the series’ timeline moves slowly and inexorably towards the legendary moment Walter White and Jesse Pinkman first step into Saul Goodman’s office. Already the expected highlight of this series year.
Better Call Saul Season 6
Drama
13-episode closing season, created by Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould.
With Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks, Rhea Seehorn.
Season 6 in two parts of 7 and 6 episodes.
To be seen on Netflix.