Disclaimer: I loved Breaking Bad, thought it one of the best shows ever created. "Better Call Saul" is an entirely different show, though. It works on its own, and that is no small feat considering its heritage. Much like "Breaking Bad" moved a little slow in the beginning, it takes time to sink into "Better Call Saul." I think the defining moment came for me this past week -- hence this review -- when we see Saul in a garbage dumpster salvaging shredded documents, telling another attorney he's "at the opera." Saul has come into his own: if Walter White became a great anti-hero when he blew up Tuco's office with explosive "meth," Saul's become the great redeemer of every working day Joe attorney who gets attorney jokes. There's something poignant and funny and heartbreaking in watching Saul's evolution, the everyday moral dilemmas he faces, to be a good guy and forgo the professional accolades, or to become the caricature of all the bad lawyer jokes. Ironically, Saul chooses his humanity, and yet becomes the quintessential type for the jokes. "Breaking Bad" dealt with timeless moral dilemmas, a modern Macbeth for the small screen; "Better Call Saul" proves more compelling in its subtlety, irony, and pathos. Rather than being hit over the head with mortality's moral dilemmas, we see Saul dealing with the banality of mediocrity, and trying to overcome it. There's no Shakespearean grandiosity here: rather, this is a modern moral literary tale, subtle, and without any answers. If the show continues with this level of writing, acting, and production, it will become a classic in television history.

He wasn't always Saul Goodman, ace attorney for chemist-turned-meth dealer Walter White. Six years before he begins to represent Albuquerque's most notorious criminal, Goodman is Jimmy McGill, a small-time attorney hustling to make a name for himself. He's a forceful champion for his low-income clients, an underdog whose morals and ambitions often clash. Jimmy works with private eye Mike Ehrmantraut, a former Philadelphia cop and recent transplant to the Southwest. Mike has a specialized skill set -- he's a "fixer" of sticky situations -- that Jimmy soon learns to appreciate.

When I heard that the plan for a follow-up/sequel to one of the finest TV shows of all time, Breaking Bad, was to be a prequel featuring sleazy lawyer Saul Goodman, I thought, this is surely going to be a bomb. Fortunately, they dropped the idea to make it a 30-minute comedy, and the result is a show that is nearly as good as the original. Vince Gilligan has done a superb job putting this show together, with just enough members of the original cast, and many great new actors. Great fun and suspense, learning how Jimmy McGill became Saul Goodman.

When the creators of “Breaking Bad” announced that they were creating a spin-off prequel series focusing on none other than Saul Goodman, I was as skeptical as anyone. This should not have worked, but actor/producer Bob Odenkirk is brilliant, so talented in a comedic and more dramatic role. His backstory is arguably more fascinating than Walter White’s, and the editing has been improved since the original show. I could go on about the fantastic performances, writing, but I won’t. Instead, I want to say that this is quite well-packaged, even though I feel the discs don’t need to be stacked on top of each other. If you’re a fan of Breaking Bad, or just great drama, you should check this out!

This is one of the best TV shows currently on! A great first season that's a interesting character study but with a dark sense of humor. Never boring, great performances, beautiful cinematography and clever writing. The blu-ray is great; top tier picture & sound, and special features have cast and crew commentaries for all episodes, including Easter egg features. Highly recommended! Excited for season 2