The highly anticipated Breaking Bad spin-off Better Call Saul finally arrived to our screens this week, which for fans of the original series is pretty much like getting a warm hug from a long lost friend. We're back in Albuquerque in Vince Gilligan's wild and wonderful world and everything is just as we remember it, although we do find ourselves absentmindedly looking around for Walt and Jesse every so often...
Thing is though, there are some of you out there who probably don't have a breeze what we are talking about, those marginalised members of society who dare not speak their one shocking and horrifying truth - they didn't watch Breaking Bad.
Never fear, our newbie friends, there is time to amend your ways as you can in fact start from scratch with Better Call Saul, as this is, as you may know, a prequel we are dealing with.
Just in case you are still worried though, Netlfix have put together a cheat sheet of sorts for those that want to know all there is to know about our favourite crooked lawyer, Saul Goodman.
Who knows, after watching, you may even find yourself going back and watching Breaking Bad... no pressure like.
It wasn't until near the end of season two we first met Saul Goodman, and here's how if all went down...
1) In the beginning, Saul was a regular lawyer. His clients were small size thiefs and crooks
Saul: “Did you know you have rights? Constitutions says you do. And so do I. And that’s why I fight for you, Albuquerque!”
Season 2, Episode 8 - Better Call Saul - Badger is caught by the DEA. Walt and Jesse hire the best criminal lawyer in town, Saul Goodman, to defend him so Badger doesn't rat them out.
2) But then, he is hired by Walt and Jesse (under gunpoint no less) to help deflect the DEA (which he does) and soon becomes embroiled in their drug dealing.
Saul: “Son, I’ll promise you this: I’ll give you the best criminal defense that money can buy”
3) And he soon starts to realize that he has a huge market in his hands!
“How is your inventory?’, he asks to Jesse and Walt. ’38, it changes’, says Jesse. ’38 ounces? grams?’, asks Saul. ‘Pounds’, says Pinkman. Saul is amazed; "Guys, why the long faces here? You are sitting on a gold mine!”
Season 2, Episode 11 - Mandala - Combo is found dead. Walt and Jesse's little empire begins to crumble. Saul tries to set them up with a mysterious distributor (Gus Fring).
4) But Saul is not that invincible. And can't help them when they need to make a RV (where they made the meth) disappear.
Walt: “Where do I go to make a RV disappear? I am not David Copperfield!. And Saul answers ‘What do I look like? The RV disposal people? Did you not plan for this contingency? Next time plan for it, would ya? The Starship Enterprise had a self-destruct button, I am just saying.”
Season 3, Episode 6 - Sunset - Walt's new business and assistant, Gale, are making his life much easier. Hank trails the RV back to Jesse. When Walt finds out, he tries to destroy the RV.
5) Saul soon discover that it can be a dangerous lifestyle and becomes paranoid
Saul: “Oh, you are chatty today, Skyler!”
Season 4, Episode 1 - Box Cutter - Walt and Jesse are held captive by Gus, after Gale's death. Meanwhile, Skyler tries to find out what happened to Walt and meets Saul.
6) But he still loves money and wants even more, despite the dangers
Saul: “The only thing is, it's not gonna be free. There is a 5 grand fine, 600 for towing and disposal and another 3 grant for steam and clean the black tops, so…bottom line your little joy ride is gonna set you back about 52 thousand bucks, so, was it worth it?”
Season 4, Episode 7 - Problem Dog - Ordered to return the car he bought for his son, Walt strikes back by putting Skyler in a tough spot with their new money-laundering operation. Saul finds someone to organise things for them.
7) He is creative and there isn’t a single issue that he won’t find a solution for!
Saul: “Bad idea...this is a bad idea’. ‘I’ll cut right to the chase, Mr.Beneke. I have some bad News. Your grand-aunt Brigit passed away. Apparently she passed away in Diekirch, Luxembourg..and this was, hmmmm, wow, eight years ago.”
Season 4, Episode 10 - Salud – Jesse, Gus, and Mike fly down to Mexico, and Jesse cooks the blue meth for the cartel.
8) But then, he realizes it is the end. Things are getting out of control. And he has a conscience
Walt: “If a guy wins the lottery, the one thing he doesn’t do is go and buy another lottery ticket the next day”
Season 5, Episode 2 - Madrigal – Walt and Jesse decide to start things up again. Mike meets an old friend, who is worried about the outcome of the DEA's investigation on Gus and how it will affect them all.
9) Saul worries about how things can turn bad. And doesn’t want his clients to put themselves and himself in danger
Saul: “I live to serve you”
Season 5, Episode 9 - Blood Money – Walt is out of the meth business and trying to move on with his life. Jesse tries to get rid of his money.
10) During Saul’s last time with Walt, we realise he cares about people and we wants the best for his friend Walt, who he knows is in a dead end. He tries to help set Walt up with a new identity.
Saul: “Stay. Face the music. How much time have you got left? You walk with your head held high, you’ll be John Dillinger Metro Pole Detention Center. I mean how bad is that? And you will bring a barrel full of drug money. Maybe that soothes some troubled water. Maybe they let you family stay in the house.”
Season 5, Episode 15 - Granite State - Walt struggles as he adapts to aspects of his new identity that Saul created for him. Jesse plans an escape against Jack and his crew.
You can watch new episodes of Better Call Saul every Tuesday on Netflix, while all seasons of Breaking Bad are also available to view.
