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Breaking Badspent five seasons destroying the likability of the lung cancer-riddled, high school teacher-turned-drug lord Walter White. In the process, many of the show’s other characters grew more and more endearing as they continued to be used by Walt. The kind-natured Jesse Pinkman stuck it out with his former teacher the longest, though he was far from the only character who felt the pain of being in business with Walt. Seasoned grandpa Mike Ehrmantraut and even calculated cartel man Gus Fring paid the price for getting too close to the ruthless chemist, both of whom play an important role in theBreaking Badprequel,Better Call Saul.
Better Call Saulfollows the charismatic Saul Goodman, Walt and Jesse’s underhanded lawyer. Saul’s importance to theBreaking Badstory is evident as, while he’s not introduced until well into the second season, the episode of his first appearance shares the title “Better Call Saul”. Like many ofBreaking Bad’s characters, Saul’s fate at the end of the series remained up in the air as Walt left him in the lurch. TheBetter Call Saulstory line begins in 2002, six years before the premiere ofBreaking Bad, and reveals Saul Goodman’s origin story. The series also oscillates between another timeline, a flash-forward to what became of Saul after the events ofBreaking Bad. What can be gleaned from the prequel’s first season?
How Does Better Call Saul Season 1 End?
Throughout most of season one, HHM’s refusal to work with Jimmy isscapegoated onto Howard Hamlin, one of the Hamlins in Hamlin, Hamlin, & McGill. However, in the season’s penultimate episode, “Pimento”, Jimmy learns that Howard is actually impressed with Jimmy, and his continuous rejection by HHM has in fact been orchestrated by Chuck. Betrayed and defeated, Jimmy relinquishes the Sandpiper case to HHM, agreeing to forego any future involvement in the case and take a small counsel fee, as well as a percentage of any settlement- if one is ever to come.
I know you. I know what you were. What you are. People don’t change! You’re Slippin' Jimmy! And Slippin' Jimmy I can handle just fine, but Slippin' Jimmy with a law degree is like a chimp with a machine gun. The law is sacred! If you abuse that power, people get hurt! This is not a game! And you have to know that, on some level, I know you know I’m right. You know I’m right!
Jimmy also puts an end to his ongoing care for Chuck, forcing his brother to enlist the help of an HHM intern, who certainly doesn’t have the same personal touch. Instead, the season finale, “Marco”, finds Jimmy retreating to his life of scamming that had been alluded to in flashbacks throughout the season. He has a week of thrilling scams before his old friend and partner Marco dies of a heart attack.
The sobering moment is punctuated bynews from Kimthat HHM can’t handle the Sandpiper case on its own and will be working with another firm, Davis & Main. Not only that, but Davis & Main is aware of Jimmy’s rapport with the Sandpiper residents and would like to offer him a job. Jimmy heads back to Albuquerque to meet with Davis & Main, but hesitates at the moment of truth. Chuck’s perception of Jimmy as a less-than con artist has gotten to his head. Jimmy reminisces with Mike, who works as a parking attendant at the courthouse and has gotten involved with the Salamancas alongside Jimmy, about a time when they did the right thing. Vowing to never make that mistake again, Jimmy leaves without meeting with the firm.
What Happens in Better Call Saul Season 1?
A great deal of Saul’s personal information is revealed right off the bat in thefirst season ofBetter Call Saul. For starters, his real name is Jimmy McGill, and he’s a down-on-his-luck public defender. His brother Chuck McGill, on the other hand, is an extremely successful lawyer and partner of his own firm, Hamlin, Hamlin, & McGill (HHM). But Chuck is confined to his house, as well as the use of gas cooking and heat and fire light, as he suffers from a self-diagnosed hypersensitivity to electromagnetism. Despite Chuck’s refusal to support Jimmy’s career in any real way, Jimmy is incredibly loyal to his brother, bringing him weekly groceries- even following the silly procedure of turning his phone off and leaving it outside.
While he tries to walk the straight and narrow, Jimmy’s skill and fondness for scams is also evident from the get-go. In the show’s first episode, “Uno”, Jimmy tries to orchestrate a hit-and-run scam, but in the attempt his path crosses withBreaking Bad’s Tuco Salamanca. This fateful introduction provides the powerful pull throughout the series that tests Jimmy’s commitment to staying on the right side of the law. Despite his original efforts to distance himself, the Salamanca drug organization sets its sights on one of Jimmy’s clients, and key member Nacho Varga insists that Jimmy is “in the game”.
Simultaneously, Jimmy discovers he has a knack for elder law- the old ladies just find him so safe and charming. He leans into this with the support oflong-time friend and HHM attorney Kim Wexler. Despite their closeness, Kim regularly sidesteps Jimmy’s pleas to open a practice together, citing loyalty to HHM. Jimmy makes a compelling business proposal, but his feelings for Kim are no secret.
While working with the ladies, Jimmy unearths what he believes to be a case of elder abuse at the Sandpiper retirement community. After going through their paperwork, it seems the Sandpiper residents are being deliberately and significantly overcharged. Jimmy’s suspicions are confirmed when he visits the facility and prompts a mass document shredding. Meanwhile, Chuck’s reclusiveness has increased to the point that he is considering no longer practicing. Wanting him to return to work for his own good, but also wanting his guidance, Jimmy orchestrates Chuck’s discovery and interest in the Sandpiper documents.
Season one, episode one “Uno”
Season six, episode thirteen “Saul Gone”
Played by
Bob Odenkirk
Better Call Saul
Featuring an exceptional cast, including a standout performance by Bob Odenkirk, this gripping series traces the transformation of Jimmy McGill into the morally ambiguous lawyer, Saul Goodman. The complete series of Better Call Saul delivers every nuanced moment and legal twist in stunning Blu-ray quality, making it a must-have for fans of intense character-driven drama and compelling storytelling.
