The Student News Site of Neshaminy High School

The Playwickian

The Student News Site of Neshaminy High School

The Playwickian

The Student News Site of Neshaminy High School

The Playwickian

‘Breaking Bad’ spinoff gives fans new obsession

By Maddy Rodak
Staff Writer

The season finale of ‘Better Call Saul’ premiered on Monday, Apr. 6 and set the stage for a plethora of possibilities in season two.
‘Better Call Saul’ crushes the very idea of a spin-off. It is strong enough to stand alone. AMC reported that ‘Better Call Saul’ was cable’s highest-rated series premiere to date with 6.9 million viewers. By the season finale, it was tallied that the entire first season averaged a rating of 5.9 million viewers.

In the first season of ‘Better Call Saul’ we find Jimmy McGill—the actual name of Saul Goodman—a simple lawyer in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Living in the small closet of a nail salon, Jimmy struggles to get by in the lawyer business. Desperate for money, Jimmy teams up with a pair of young con artists, only to later suffer the consequences. Even in the first episode, it doesn’t take long for Jimmy’s life to spiral out of control.

The episodes give us a look into the early life of Jimmy McGill. Viewers get to watch his adjustment from ‘Slippin’ Jimmy’, a succesful con artist in Chicago, to struggling lawyer. Jimmy’s brother, Chuck McGill, is introduced, and over time it becomes clear how much influence he has over Jimmy’s life choices and his presence in the later days of ‘Breaking Bad’. When Chuck tells Jimmy “You’re not a real lawyer,” it changes him forever.

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Throughout the season we get a look into the life of Mike Ehrmantraut, another character from the show ‘Breaking Bad’. Before becoming a hit-man, fans get to see Mike working at a parking ticket booth, harmlessly chastising Jimmy. This perspective into Mike’s earlier days is interesting, considering how versatile a criminal he is in ‘Breaking Bad’. Viewers also get a glance into as to why he moved from Philadelphia to Albuquerque, and his involvement in a murder case of two cops.

The episodes are intricately written, designed to not give too much away, but to leave the audience waiting at the edge of their seats for more. Using signature camera work and intense scenes, the plot is built up heavily for the fantastic season finale.

Gabby Rodak, a junior at Neshaminy High School and avid ‘Breaking Bad’ fan expresses her feelings about the show. “‘Better Call Saul’ is one of my top shows now. Saul was one of my favorite characters in ‘Breaking Bad’, so getting to look into his past is a really interesting experience. We finally get to see why he is the way he is in ‘Breaking Bad’.

Though ‘Better Call Saul’ is not as dark a show as ‘Breaking Bad’, it is just as original. The storyline is unlike anything else, with its cast of dynamic, intriguing characters and unconventional plot twists. Nothing can be predicted.

There is more tension and action in the first few episodes of the season than throughout the middle, where more background information is laid down and character development is made. “Breaking Bad’s” Tuco makes an appearance, but unfortunately does not stir as much trouble. As the season progresses. ‘Better Call Saul’ is not ‘Breaking Bad’, though fans might expect it to be similar. It is a completely different creature, soft in its climb to insanity, but more than worthy of the ‘Breaking Bad’ praise and world-wide acknowledgment.

The series will return in 2016 for its second season.

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‘Breaking Bad’ spinoff gives fans new obsession