“Better Call Saul” is a critically acclaimed television series created by Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould. The show premiered on AMC in February 2015 and serves as a prequel to the highly popular series “Breaking Bad.” The narrative primarily focuses on the transformation of Jimmy McGill.
The series explores Jimmy McGill’s journey as he navigates the legal landscape in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Set in the early 2000s, it delves into Jimmy’s personal and professional struggles, shedding light on his relationships with his older brother Chuck McGill,
played by Michael McKean, and love interest Kim Wexler, portrayed by Rhea Seehorn. As the story unfolds, viewers witness the emergence of Saul Goodman, Jimmy’s colorful and unscrupulous alter ego.
I had only seen the first season of Breaking Bad when it aired in 2008. I liked it, but for some reason didn’t pick-up season two when it aired in 2009. My friend Tim suggested that I watch Better Call Saul then Breaking Bad in that order.
I’m glad I did and I do recommend this viewing order to other newcomers. They are both great TV series. There are lots of flashbacks and looks into the future, Just watch them and don’t worry as everything is explained nicely.
Main Cast Members
- Odenkirk, Bob as Jimmy McGill / Saul Goodman / Gene Takavic, a lawyer and a former scam artist, who becomes involved with the criminal world. - (born October 22, 1962) Wayne’s World 2, The Truth About Cats & Dogs, The Cable Guy, Dr. Dolittle 2, My Big Fat Independent Movie, Operation: Endgame, Ass Backwards, Freaks of Nature, Incredibles 2, Little Women, TV episodes of Saturday Night Live, Roseanne, The Larry Sanders Show, Mr. Show with Bob and David, Seinfeld, NewsRadio, Everybody Loves Raymond, Tenacious D, Just Shoot Me!, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Arrested Development, How I Met Your Mother, Weeds, Breaking Bad, The Office, Better Call Saul, The Simpsons
- Banks, Jonathan as Mike Ehrmantraut, a former Philadelphia police officer working as a parking lot attendant at the Albuquerque courthouse, and later a private investigator, bodyguard and “cleaner” – (born January 31, 1947) Coming Home, Who’ll Stop the Rain, The Rose, Airplane!, Stir Crazy, 48 Hrs., Gremlins, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension, Beverly Hills Cop, Armed and Dangerous, Freejack, Under Siege 2: Dark Territory, Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles, Dark Blue, Bullet, Horrible Bosses 2, Incredibles 2, El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, TV episodes of Barnaby Jones, Lou Grant, The Waltons, Little House on the Prairie, Best of the West, Hill Street Blues, Whiz Kids, Cagney & Lacey, Hunter, Falcon Crest, Designing Women, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Highlander: The Series, Matlock, Walker, Texas Ranger, Tales from the Crypt, Diagnosis: Murder, Alias, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Ghost Whisperer, Without a Trace, Dexter, ER, Lie to Me, Cold Case, Castle, Breaking Bad, Modern Family, Two and A Half Men, CSI: Miami, Parks and Recreation, Better Call Saul, MythBusters
- Seehorn, Rhea as Kim Wexler, a lawyer who became a close friend of Jimmy’s as she worked her way through the ranks at the Hamlin, Hamlin & McGill (HHM) law firm. She becomes Jimmy’s confidante and later the two develop a romantic relationship and marry – (born May 12, 1972) The Shaggy Dog, Inside Man: Most Wanted, TV episodes of I’m with Her, Dollhouse, Burn Notice, The Closer, House of Lies, Better Call Saul, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Roseanne
- Fabian, Patrick as Howard Hamlin, the managing partner at Hamlin, Hamlin & McGill, who appears to be Jimmy’s nemesis until it becomes clear that he was acting under Chuck McGill’s orders – (born December 7, 1964) End Game, The Last Exorcism, Bad Ass, Atlas Shrugged: Part 2, Bad Ass 2: Bad Asses, The Death of Superman, Reign of the Supermen, Eat, Brains, Love, Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham, TV episodes of Silk Stalkings, Beverly Hills, 90210, Murder, She Wrote, Melrose Place, Star Trek: Voyager, General Hospital, Xena: Warrior Princess, Friends, Two of a Kind, Dharma & Greg, Nash Bridges, Without a Trace, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Just Shoot Me!, 24, Will & Grace, CSI: Miami, Reba, Veronica Mars, Close to Home, Bones, NCIS, Boston Legal, Burn Notice, According to Jim, CSI: NY, Hot in Cleveland, Hawaii Five-0, Criminal Minds, Castle, Grey’s Anatomy, Better Call Saul, Elementary, Lucifer, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Code Black, Special
- Mando, Michael as Nacho Varga, an intelligent, ambitious member of Hector Salamanca’s drug ring who also works for his father’s upholstery shop – (born July 13, 1981) The Colony, Elysium, Spider-Man: Homecoming, TV episodes of Flashpoint, Psych, Orphan Black, Better Call Saul
- McKean, Michael as Chuck McGill (seasons 1–3; special guest seasons 4 and 6), Jimmy’s elder brother and a founding partner of HHM who is confined to his home because of his electromagnetic hypersensitivity and expresses disdain for his brother’s legal career – (born October 17, 1947) 1941, This Is Spinal Tap, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Short Circuit 2, Earth Girls Are Easy, Flashback, Coneheads, Airheads, The Brady Bunch Movie, That Darn Cat, True Crime, Dr. Dolittle 2, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, TV episodes of Laverne & Shirley, Happy Days, Saturday Night Live, Empty Nest, Murder She Wrote, Dream On, Dinosaurs, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Duckman, The Nanny, Friends, Star Trek: Voyager, Caroline in the City, Johnny Bravo, 101 Dalmatians: The Series, The Closer, Murphy Brown, The X-Files, Boy Meets World, Smallville, Alias, Boston Legal, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Castle, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Better Call Saul
- Esposito, Giancarlo as Gus Fring (seasons 3–6), the owner of the fast food restaurant chain Los Pollos Hermanos, which is a front to distribute cocaine for the Mexican cartel, in uneasy cooperation with the Salamanca family. He nurses grudges against cartel boss Don Eladio and Salamanca patriarch Hector Salamanca. Fring wants to switch from cocaine to locally produced methamphetamine so he can end his dependence on the cartel – (born April 26, 1958) The Changeling, Taps, Trading Places, The Cotton Club, Desperately Seeking Susan, Maximum Overdrive, Malcolm X, The Usual Suspects, Ali, Son of Batman, Batman: Assault on Arkham, Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, Maze Runner: The Death Cure, TV episodes of Guiding Light, Miami Vice, The Equalizer, Spenser: For Hire, New York Undercover, Law & Order, NYPD Blue, Nash Bridges, South Beach, Ghost Whisperer, Bones, CSI: Miami, Breaking Bad, Lie to Me, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, Once Upon a Time, Community, Revolution, Dear White People, Better Call Saul, Westworld, Harley Quinn, The Mandalorian, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, Kaleidoscope
- Dalton, Tony as Lalo Salamanca (seasons 5–6; recurring season 4), Hector’s charismatic and psychopathic nephew, who helps run the family drug business after Hector’s stroke. He is the cousin of Tuco, Leonel, and Marco – (born February 13, 1975) is an American and Mexican actor TV episodes of Better Call Saul, Hawkeye, Ms. Marvel
- Margolis, Mark as Hector Salamanca, Tuco’s uncle and high-ranking member of the cartel (seasons 2–6) – (November 26, 1939 – August 3, 2023) Dressed to Kill, Scarface, The Cotton Club, The Secret of My Succe$s, Tales from the Darkside: The Movie, The Pit and the Pendulum, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, I Shot Andy Warhol, The Pallbearer, Absolute Power, The Thomas Crown Affair, End of Days, Hannibal, Daredevil, Black Swan, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, TV episodes of The Equalizer, Quantum Leap, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Columbo, Law and Order, New York Undercover, Guiding Light, Oz, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Sex and the City, Californication, Breaking Bad, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Person of Interest, American Horror Story: Asylum, Gotham, Elementary, Better Call Saul, The Blacklist
- Cruz, Raymond as Tuco Salamanca, a ruthless, psychopathic drug distributor in the South Valley (seasons 1–2) – (born September 10, 1964) Gremlins 2: The New Batch, Under Siege, Clear and Present Danger, Operation Dumbo Drop, The Rock, Broken Arrow, Alien Resurrection, Collateral Damage, TV episodes of Cagney & Lacey, Knots Landing, Hunter, Matlock, Murder, She Wrote, Walker, Texas Ranger, NYPD Blue, The X-Files, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, CSI: Miami, 24, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Nip/Tuck, My Name Is Earl, Breaking Bad, Major Crimes, Better Call Saul
Other characters that play big roles during the series are Lavell Crawford as Huell Babineaux, a professional pickpocket hired by Jimmy (seasons 3–6), Jim Beaver as Lawson, a black market weapons dealer in Albuquerque (season 2), Kerry Condon as Stacey Ehrmantraut, Mike’s widowed daughter-in-law and the mother of Kaylee Ehrmantraut, Eileen Fogarty as Mrs. Nguyen, owner of a nail salon which houses Jimmy’s law office in its utility room,
Joe DeRosa as Dr. Caldera, a veterinarian with ties to the criminal underworld, Mark Proksch as Daniel “Pryce” Wormald, a drug company employee who begins supplying Nacho and hires Mike as security,
Josh Fadem as Marshall/Joey Dixon (“Camera Guy”), one of the three University of New Mexico (UNM) film students who help Jimmy film various projects, Julian Bonfiglio as Phil (“Sound Guy”), one of the three UNM film students Jimmy hires for various film projects, Hayley Holmes as Cheri (“Make-Up Girl”/”Drama Girl”),
one of the three University of New Mexico film students Jimmy hires for various projects, Jeremy Shamos and Julie Ann Emery as Craig and Betsy Kettleman, a county treasurer and his wife, accused of embezzlement, Ed Begley Jr. as Clifford Main, managing partner at Davis & Main where Jimmy worked during season two,
Juan Carlos Cantu as Manuel Varga, Nacho’s father, who owns an Albuquerque upholstery shop, Rex Linn as Kevin Wachtell, chairman of Mesa Verde Bank and Trust and a client of HHM and Kim, Cara Pifko as Paige Novick, senior legal counsel for Mesa Verde Bank and Trust and a friend of Kim,
Barry Corbin as Everett Acker, an old man living on leased property belonging to Mesa Verde whom Kim has to evict to make way for the bank’s new call center, Carol Burnett as Marion, Jeff’s mother who takes a liking to Gene, Daniel and Luis Moncada as Leonel and Marco Salamanca, Tuco’s cousins and Hector’s nephews who are hitmen for the cartel (seasons 2, 4–6), Tina Parker as Francesca Liddy, Jimmy’s receptionist (seasons 3–4, 6),
JB Blanc as Dr. Barry Goodman, a doctor on Gus Fring’s payroll (seasons 3–5), Steven Bauer as Don Eladio Vuente, the head of a drug cartel (seasons 3, 5–6), David Costabile as Gale Boetticher, a chemist who is consulted by Gus (season 4), Dean Norris as Hank Schrader, a DEA agent and Walter White’s brother-in-law (season 5),
Steven Michael Quezada as Steven Gomez, Hank’s DEA partner and best friend (season 5), Bryan Cranston as Walter White, a middle-aged high school chemistry teacher who, during the events of Breaking Bad, becomes involved with the drug trade and enlists the services of Saul to help launder his money (season 6),
and Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman, a former student of Walter who, during the events of Breaking Bad, helps Walter with cooking meth (season 6).
The shows creator, Vince Gilligan, born on February 10, 1967, is an American writer, producer, and director best known for creating the critically acclaimed television series “Breaking Bad” and its prequel “Better Call Saul.” Gilligan began his career as a writer on the series “The X-Files,”
where he gained recognition for his creativity and storytelling skills. His work on “Breaking Bad” solidified his reputation as a master storyteller in the television industry. Gilligan’s ability to craft complex characters and intense narratives has earned him numerous awards, including multiple Primetime Emmy Awards.
In addition to his television projects, he has also ventured into film, directing the neo-noir crime thriller “El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie.” Gilligan’s contributions to the entertainment industry have left an indelible mark, and his works continue to be celebrated for their innovation and quality.
Peter Gould, born on January 20, 1957, is an American writer, producer, and director renowned for his significant contributions to the television industry. Gould is best known as the co-creator of the critically acclaimed series “Better Call Saul” alongside Vince Gilligan, and he has been actively involved in shaping the narrative of the show. Prior to his work on “Better Call Saul,” Gould was a key creative force on “Breaking Bad,” serving as a writer and producer. He contributed to the critically acclaimed series “The X-Files,”
where he served as a writer and producer. Gould’s collaboration with Vince Gilligan began on “The X-Files,” establishing a creative partnership. His storytelling prowess and ability to create compelling characters have been pivotal in the success of both series. Gould’s career includes various writing and producing roles, showcasing his versatility and talent in the entertainment industry.
Principal photography for Better Call Saul’s six seasons took place from June 2, 2014, to February 9, 2022. Like Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul is set in and around Albuquerque, New Mexico, with filming primarily taking place at Albuquerque Studios. Notable exterior locations include the Twisters restaurant used previously in Breaking Bad for Gus’s Los Pollos Hermanos,
a parking lot kiosk at the Albuquerque Convention Center for where Mike worked in the first few seasons, the Old Bernalillo County Courthouse as the local courthouse, and two nearby office buildings in the North Valley, including Northrop Grumman’s,
that collectively are used for the HHM office spaces. Jimmy’s back office is located in an actual nail salon, which the producers accommodated by working with the owners. The Salamanca’s restaurant is a real business in the South Valley that production modified slightly for the show, but which otherwise remained open. The scenes set in Omaha are filmed at Cottonwood Mall in Albuquerque;
production worked with Cinnabon to bring in the period-specific equipment and service items for the segments, and the extras in the store during these scenes are Cinnabon employees. Each episode’s title sequence features a different low-quality image that recalls Saul Goodman’s days on Breaking Bad.
This includes the inflatable Statue of Liberty balloon that sat atop Saul’s office, a drawer of burner phones kept in his desk, and a bus stop bench that advertised his business. The complete series was issued on Blu-ray and DVD in region 1 on December 6, 2022.
The set spanned 19 discs and included 70 hours of bonus features. Better Call Saul received critical acclaim and is considered to be an outstanding example of how to successfully produce a prequel and spinoff work that defies expectations.Better Call Saul has received 53 Emmy Award nominations. Lead actor Bob Odenkirk revealed that fellow cast members Rhea Seehorn, Patrick Fabian, and Josh Faden stay at his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Odenkirk mentioned that the four of them often have dinner or go out hiking together between shoots.
Further Reading
Sources
- “Better Call Saul” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Better_Call_Saul
- IMDb. “Vince Gilligan.” https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0319213/
- Biography. “Vince Gilligan.” https://www.biography.com/producer/vince-gilligan
- AMC. “Better Call Saul.” https://www.amc.com/shows/better-call-saul
- IMDb. “Better Call Saul.” https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3032476/
- IMDb. “Peter Gould.” https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0332800/
- Biography. “Peter Gould.” https://www.biography.com/producer/peter-gould
- “10 Behind The Scenes Facts About Better Call Saul” https://screenrant.com/better-call-saul-behind-the-scenes-facts/
