Advance review:

Debuting this coming Sunday, Better Call Saul carries with it the pedigree of Breaking Bad, the series that created and popularized its central character, Saul Goodman. It’s also burdened with the weight of fan expectations and – to varying degrees – a sense of cynical doubt. There are those who may assume that the spinoff series is a money grab manufactured by a studio and a network unwilling to let go of a successful series. Still others will attest that Vince Gilligan was simply unable to let go of the beloved universe he designed.

There may be a kernel of truth in each notion. However, if Breaking Bad taught us anything, it’s that we can trust Gilligan and Saul co-creator Peter Gould’s vision and integrity. Indeed, the team took the extra time they needed to home in on the crux of the story they wanted to tell, delaying the series’ debut.

Could Saul Have Scenes Set During Breaking Bad?

In any event, as many have said, and I’ll repeat it here, even if Saul were a disaster of biblical proportions, we’d still be able to savor the bittersweet perfection of Walter White’s simultaneous rise in power and descent into hell. It’s still there, complete, unsullied, and available to enjoy.Here’s the good news: Saul is great. At the very least, it delivers one hell of a strong open. I’ve seen the first two episodes and look forward to the opportunity to delve deeper into the specifics of what Saul is exploring – and how – once we’re into our regularly scheduled spoiler-filled weekly reviews.

Better Call Saul: Bob Odenkirk & Creators Vince Gilligan/Peter Gould Spill on That Big Reveal!

For now, I’ll say that Saul is both unique and highly reminiscent of Breaking Bad. That may sound like a paradox, but the truth is that the tonal and thematic links, as well as the distinctions, between the two series are both inevitable and organic. This is a shared universe, after all, with the same creative team. Gilligan and Gould co-wrote the premiere with Gilligan directing, while Breaking Bad alum Michelle McLaren helmed the second episode. Jonathan Banks reprises his role as unparalleled fixer Mike Ehrmantraut and there's a Breaking Bad character who show's up early on that will likely have the fan base buzzing (no, it's not Walt or Jesse; Gilligan and Gould have already said that neither will make an appearance in the first season.) However, Saul also firmly establishes itself as its own entity. Ehrmantraut's role is minimal, initially, and the relationship between Jimmy and Mike will likely be a slow burn.

Saul Goodman's Best Breaking Bad Quotes

One question viewers have is: How can a show create a sense of tension when we know the final outcome?Saul’s cold open answers that particular concern handily. The truth is: We don’t know this man’s ultimate fate. We know what happens to him…to a point. I won’t go into details, yet, but the show lays the foundation for some very tantalizing possibilities in terms of how it will play with time periods. The first sequence offers us just a taste of the various sides of Saul that the series may examine, all while creating a palpable atmosphere of melancholy and danger.The stakes for the man who was Goodman are there, even before we meet the man who will become Goodman. It’s a fascinating bit of storytelling sleight of hand, because that sense of immediate peril is transferred to the remainder of the episode, adding a propulsive force to a show that might have otherwise lacked it. As for the pace, Saul’s same kinetic energy and humor is there, which helps to move things along, but it’s more erratic, and less skilled than the man we’ve seen previously. For, as Breaking Bad fans know, Saul Goodman was a persona created by a man named Jimmy McGill, and it’s Jimmy’s story that this series is telling.As is quickly revealed, there are hidden depths to this man we thought we knew: This slippery, fast-talking, charlatan who, above all else, knows how to survive. There’s a raw vulnerability to Jimmy -- a struggling lawyer who’s always three steps behind where he needs to be -- one that Saul Goodman clearly eradicated. Flashes of the man he will become are there, of course, because Saul’s ability to see and take advantage of an opportunity and his skill as a negotiator are his innate gifts. Jimmy simply isn’t as fully willing to utilize them, nor is he aware of how to - yet.Bob Odenkirk is an immensely talented comedic and dramatic actor, but many will still primarily associate him with the former. Gilligan and Gould are likely aware of this, and use Odenkirk’s skills as a hidden weapon, surprising viewers with the perhaps heretofore unknown complexities and layers of both the actor and the character.The heart of the series is Jimmy’s relationship with his brother Chuck, played by Michael McKean, another actor primarily known for his comedic work. Chuck is a formerly successful and respected lawyer on medical leave. It’s clear that he was once Jimmy’s caretaker, but now the roles have been irrevocably reversed with neither man quite sure how to handle their new dynamic.For now, Jimmy’s central conflict is created by his desire to be good - as in the standup citizen his brother wants him to be - and his need to bend the rules in order to effectively care for him. It’s interesting, there’s an idea in multiple philosophies and faiths that we - each of us – carry within us the seed of our own, singular genius; an ability that we’re meant to use in the world. For Saul, that gift, the place where he shines, is alive, and thrives is in navigating the perilous waters of societies seedy underbelly, as is clearly demonstrated in these first couple of episodes. The idea that his criminal acumen is his true purpose poses a really interesting question about being “blessed” with a particular ability, the same way that Breaking Bad did with Walter White's less than savory - but profound - talents. As to that, there are some inherent similarities and parallels between the two men, but in just these few episodes, it feels as if Jimmy is driven as much by love and care as Walter was by ego.Jimmy is no saint, however. He is first and foremost a performer who hasn’t yet found his stage. His birthplace, Cicero, Illinois is no mistake, as Gilligan explained during the TCA (Television Critics Association) press tour. Al Capone hails from the city, which also shares the name of a great Roman orator, a man with the gift of gab. In that way, Cicero essentially represents the core of what Jimmy is good at: talking and crooking. Of course, Odenkirk also happens to be from the Chicago area.What’s clear here is that Jimmy is an “actor” in search of both the perfect character and his ideal audience. There’s a sense of longing pervading the entire first episode. We see a man on the run, waxing forlorn for his old life as Goodman. Then we’re introduced to Jimmy, a scrappy but cash poor lawyer aching to hit his stride; a man who’s trying to fit his square peg self into the round hole of a life that his brother wants for him. The theatrical nature of this man plays into the structure of the story, as well as the look of the show. Gilligan and Gould are cinema lovers. The good news is, so is Saul Goodman/Jimmy McGill. He quotes films openly just as often as the creators do visually.Fans will immediately recognize the Albuquerque landscape and cinematic aesthetic of the series, which again, is evocative of Breaking Bad. However, upon examination, the subtle shifts and distinctions will emerge. Jimmy is often seen against looming geometrical structures that seem to overwhelm him, and where he certainly does not belong. He’s a man drowning and suffocating in a created self that simply doesn’t work for him. It's as if his entire persona is an ill-fitting suit. Ironically, it’s the very man that he’s doing it for – his brother – that ultimately suggests that Jimmy “carve out his own identity.” Be careful what you wish for, Chuck.