I love everything about breaking bad. And I love everything about better call Saul, but I think what uplifts better call Saul for me to like it more down to a few reasons
- is how it blows my mind how amazing they got everything from a prequel aspect, that strong characters such as chuck, nacho, KIM, LALO.
Every one of the main cast is so strong and brings so much.
To think they all exist in the same world as Walter white. It’s just insane to me how right they got it.
tragic history is implemented before Walter even got there. It adds more weight to the ending of s4 where he technically kills Hector and gus, he ends the game that everyone’s a part of in better call Saul.
This is more so credit to the writing team and the actors for their performances. But when something is so good, everything works in its favour(hence why my title is a factor for me).
The moving parts in this show are just all amazing, multiple 10/10 storylines moving back and fourth at once (mikes storylines, nachos, jimmys) such great entertainment
- Another reason for the title is because of Mikes story in BCS. We see him enter the game, and his whole story in that respect specifically is just amazing to watch when you have the hindsight of BrBa. I especially like his storyline with the bug implanted in his car, when he stays up all night to find the people and follows them on their route. IT just makes sense that the mike from breaking bad does that !
So cool seeing a grizzled old man become an insanely competent private investigator
- Jimmy being the main character as opposed to Walter.
The character of jimmy and the way bob odenkirk acts. He is able to play the emotional beats well and also the jazzy Saul Goodman act perfectly (his charismatic nature)
He is refreshing to see as a main character in this world compared Walter who was such a piece of shit it was hard to watch at times.
It’s much easier to root for Saul because it feels like the world is out to get him (chuck and Howard)- he obviously does fucked up things but not to the extremes as Walter. And so for a lot of the show you sympathise with him
- Cinematography and cameras
This one is kind of unfair but breaking bad looks like a tv show of its times, which is beautiful and nostalgic, the cameras of the time make the look. i have no issue with that. But I think BCS just benefits from having higher quality technology. It gives the creatives better blocks to build with
I also think the cinematography is beautiful in BCS, it’s much more artistic in this show compared to breaking bad, I think the way they using lighting in the show is a major reason- the night scenes look magical to me.
( I love the wide shots this show sometimes does this shot , where there’s a single character by a big wall or in the middle of nowhere, and they really pop in the frame it’s a shot I love seeing whenever, ever- it feels very melancholy).
- The concept of the show being a prequel that loops back round and gives you the continuation of jimmy’s story after breaking bad is so smart and a beautiful cherry on top. It’s like the whole show is feeding you the context for why jimmy does what he does in that courtroom at the end.
It’s like “we’re gonna show you Saul’s conclusion, but first we’re gonna show you why his conclusion is what it is”. As if his conclusion (with Kim walking into the courtroom is the reason for this shows inception)- like the conclusion was predetermined, and fans were gonna see her and be like “who the fuck is that” so they had to go make a whole show about why the moment is so significant 😂. THATS JUST A FUNNY WAY OF LOOKING AT IT
I’m not a Star Wars fan but i think it’s similar in how well the prequels fit the original like a glove it’s like the prequel was written before.
honourable mention (making lalo who he was from a throwaway line in breaking bad is so great)
CONCLUSION- both shows immaculate quality uplifts the others, and adds to the tragedy of the other