Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Better Call Saul: Season One Blu-ray Movie Review

This Blu-ray release? 'saul good, man.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman November 7, 2015

It wouldn't have been much of a surprise had the spin-off Better Call Saul gotten lost under the colossal shadow of AMC's massively successful and just-wrapped Emmy-winning show Breaking Bad, the show with which it shares a detailed and beloved universe. With almost no time separating the shows and a sharp focus away from Walter White's drug business to a ten-episode look at an up-and-coming Saul Goodman, nobody would have been shocked had the show not flopped but instead just treaded water, basking in the ratings glow that was sure to come with it, and content to survive in a crowded TV marketplace, packed even with Breaking Bad's recent exit. But that's not the case. Not at all. Better Call Saul nearly lives up to its pedigree, transitioning secondary character into deeply developed star. The series, through its initial ten-episode first season, anyway, establishes a uniquely fascinating world of greed, sibling rivalry, and personal growth as it follows a struggling low-rent lawyer in search of his big break and the next moneymaking scam but, at the same time, discovering his center and, sometimes, even, wearing his heart on the sleeve.

Opening new doors.

Before he was Saul Goodman, he was Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk), an aspiring hotshot lawyer who, even with a law degree from a third-rate online school, has one foot in the door with his older brother Chuck (Michael McKean) a partner at the major firm of Hamlin, Hamlin & McGill and close friends with its top attorney, Howard Hamlin (Patrick Fabian). But for reasons unknown to Jimmy, he's not wanted at HHM, leaving him to step out on his own and work with what he has, which isn't much: a clunker of a car with mismatched doors and a broom closet of an office in the back of a nail salon. To make Jimmy's life more complicated, his brother his forced to leave HHM and live as a recluse for whom he must care. Chuck suffers from an exceedingly rare condition that's left him completely allergic to electromagnetism and sunlight. Jimmy is often forced to run scams on the side to make up for the lack of legitimate business and the pittance that public defense work pays. He pairs up with a couple of young scammers to squeeze money from the embattled Kettleman family; Craig Kettleman (Jeremy Shamos) is a county treasurer accused of embezzling $1,600,000. The scam goes wrong, however, but it sets in motion a series of events that puts a little more change in Jimmy's pocket, anyway (after a few legit scares), and opens up a few interesting possibilities, including a nicer workspace, a rekindled relationship with an old flame (Rhea Seehorn) with a bright future at HHM, a working relationship with a tough-guy parking attendant named Mike Ehrmantraut (Jonathan Banks), and a case that could lead him to untold heights at HHM...or open an old wound that should have been aired long ago.

Better Call Saul might have gotten out of the gate riding on the coattails of television history, but the show quickly establishes its own identity and, even as there's a connection to Vince Gilligan's other brainchild, there's never a sense of dependence. Even as the show builds towards Breaking Bad -- though it's nothing but a looming juggernaut that the characters never even imagine at this point -- and paints in a few details and inserts a few winks, it stands on its own as an exceptional character study in which Jimmy (Saul) builds a future in a present that's an always evolving landscape defined by his past. This isn't simple backstory -- basic how's and why's -- but instead involved, richly detailed human drama that manages an intensely defined and evolving foundation set against an oftentimes breezy and humorous overlay. The show enjoys an interesting contrast in how it depicts Jimmy and Mike, painting the latter in a far darker light while leaving Jimmy's story a little more open and approachable but with a physical and metaphorical darkness hovering about it (viewers will understand when season one reaches its key revelation and turning point at the end of episode nine). This is exacting, precisely crafted television and easily one of the most endearing, engaging, and engrossing shows of the post-Breaking Bad era.

Below is a list of all season one episodes. Summaries are provided courtesy of the Blu-ray packaging. Minor spoilers follow.

Disc One:

• Uno: Jimmy works his magic in the courtroom. A run-in with a pair of young scam-artists leads him to an unconventional pursuit of potential new clients.
• Mijo: As his troubles with Tuco escalate to a billing point, Jimmy finds himself in dire straits. An act of carelessness puts Chuck at risk.
• Nacho: Under pressure, Jimmy sets out to prove that his new friend and lethal client Nacho is innocent, even though it causes friction with Kim.
• Hero (Uncensored): Jimmy conjures up a bold plan to solicit new clients, but has to face the consequences when the billboard scheme strains his relationships.

Disc Two:

• Alpine Shepherd Boy: When his efforts to drum up new business are interrupted by alarming news about Chuck, Jimmy is pressured to make a difficult choice.
• Five-O: Mike's tragic past comes back to haunt him, and he's forced to tell his daughter-in-law the truth about what happened to his son. Jimmy's moral compass is put to the test.
• Bingo: Jimmy receives an unexpected call from the Kettlemans. When given the opportunity to do the right thing, Jimmy cashes in a favor from an unlikely ally.

Disc Three:

• RICO: Jimmy demonstrates to Chuck that he's willing to do almost anything to win a case, even if it means dumpster-diving.
• Pimento (Uncensored): Jimmy discovers the harsh truth about Chuck. A deal threatens to go off the rails when Mike's ability to complete a job is called into question.
• Marco (Uncensored): In the aftermath of his confrontation with Chuck, Jimmy overshares at a bingo game. Taking a journey into his past as "Slippin' Jimmy," he returns to Cicero and reconnects with an old friend.

Better Call Saul: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Better Call Saul: Season One features a 1080p, 1.78:1-framed transfer. The digitally sourced image reveals a touch of background banding in places and plays with a mild gloss/digital sheen, but it's otherwise stellar. Details are precise and intimate. Fine facial features are evident in every close-up. Precision clothing lines and seams, particularly on nicely appointed suits, are terrific. Necktie textures, notably the heavier fabric seen on those worn by Howard Hamlin, reveal every fine fabric nuance. Image clarity excels. Outdoor scenes are breathtaking, whether out in the desert where fine sandy terrain and breathtakingly bright blue skies dominate or many urban areas where concrete, brick, and other heavy textures reveal every fine crevice and tactile surface feature. Colors are robust and healthy. The palette springs to life to reveal varied and true natural greens, clothing hues, and various support bits around homes, business, and city exteriors with remarkable ease and precise definition. Skin tones are naturally accurate and black levels are inky deep and never prone to crush or a push in the other direction towards unwanted brightness. Noise, aliasing, macroblocking, and other eyesores are absent. Sony's hit another one out of the park.

Better Call Saul: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Better Call Saul: Season One's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack is detailed and involved. Music is dynamic and well defined, yielding crisp, lifelike instrumental details, excellent stage separation and placement, healthy surround features, and a balanced low end weight. High energy and impactful sound effects are terrific. Gunshots, such as several heard in episode six, ring out with striking authority and a crisp and hefty surround support. A rumbly, braking train and a sharp, piercing bell begin that same episode. A whirring copy machine aggressively dominates the stage -- including a robust surround element -- to start episode eight, intentionally drowning out a key moment in the relationship between Jimmy and Howard. The track's most prominent feature, however, comes by way of ambient support effects. Nearly every location springs to life with an aggressive, rich, and full sense of place. Insects and a light breeze define a desert outdoor location. Traffic din shapes a sequence taking place just off a freeway. Fluorescent lights buzz, leathery seats creak, and observers cough in an otherwise hushed courtroom. Office effects populate the speakers in various HHM sequences. Dialogue is well prioritized, clear, and articulate with consistent center placement and lifelike reverberation when necessary, such as when Jimmy announces bingo games. All told, this is a terrific soundtrack from Sony and a reference presentation for television programming on Blu-ray.

Better Call Saul: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Better Call Saul: Season One contains supplements spread across all three Blu-ray discs, including audio commentary tracks for each episode. A UV digital copy code is included with purchase.

Disc One:

• Better Call Saul: Day One (1080p, 4:12): The supplement begins with a brief look at Saul Goodman's portrayal in Breaking Bad and moves on to look at life on the (familiar) set of Better Call Saul. The piece also features a brief discussion of Jonathan Banks' return.
• Audio Commentaries: Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould, Bob Odenkirk, Michael McKean, Stewart Lyons, Diane Mercer, and Thomas Golubic for "Uno.". Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould, Jonathan Banks, Michelle MacLaren, Tony Fanning, Kelly Dixon, and Dave Porter for "Mijo." Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould, Julie Ann Emery, Michael Mando, Mark Johnson, and Thomas Schnauz for "Nacho." Vince Gilligan, Patrick Fabian, Rhea Seehorn, Gennifer Hutchison, Colin Bucksey, Nina Jack, and William Powloski for "Hero."
• Deleted Scene (1080p): What Were You Thirsty For? from "Mijo." Includes optional Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould, and Thomas Schanuz commentary.
• Jimmy in the Courtroom with Introduction by Director Michelle MacLaren (1080p, 11:59): A montage featuring Bob Odenkirk performing an improv portrayal of Jimmy McGill in the courtroom. This extra may be found under the "Mijo" tab. It also includes optional Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould, and Thomas Schanuz commentary.

Disc Two:

• Creating the First Season (1080p, 24:19): A behind-the-scenes overview piece that looks at the character, bringing him to his own show, the pressures of building off a legendary show, developing the main character, performances, casting and the other characters in the series both new and returning, the role of wardrobe in defining characters, editing, sound, and more.
• Good Cop, Bad Cop: Becoming Mike (1080p, 12:37): A closer look at Jonathan Banks and his character arc through both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul.
• In the Studio (1080p, 5:13): A look at the making of the Better Call Saul song performed by Junior Brown.
• Music Video (1080p, 2:46): Better Call Saul by Junior Brown.
• Audio Commentaries: Peter Gould, Patrick Fabian, Rhea Seehorn, Bradley Paul, Nina Jack, Skip MacDonald, and Jennifer Bryan for "Alpine Shepherd Boy." Vince Gilligan, Jonathan Banks, Gordon Smith, Tony Fanning, Kelley Dixon, and Dave Porter for "Five-O." Peter Gould, Jonathan Banks, Patrick Fabian, Rhea Seehorn, Larysa Kondracki, and Skip Macdonald for "Bingo" and an in-character "Kettle Kommentary" with Craig & Betsy Kettleman, also for "Bingo."
• Deleted Scenes (1080p): I Just Need Five Minutes (5:32) and This Way (0:33) from "Bingo.". With optional Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould, and Thomas Schnauz commentary.

Disc Three:

• In Conversation: Bob Odenkirk & Michael McKean (1080p, 33:40): The actors who portray Jimmy and Chuck, respectively, sit down to discuss their work in the series, the art of acting, and more.
• Uno Table Read (1080p, 53:10): Much of the primary cast and crew sit down to read through the premiere episode's script.
• Gag Reel (1080p, 3:38).
• Audio Commentaries: Peter Gould, Gordon Smith, Diane Mercer, and Colin Bucksey for "Rico." Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould, Michael McKean, Michael Mando, Mark Proksch, Thomas Schnaz, and Curtis Thurber for "Pimento." Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould, Bob Odenkirk, Michael McKean, Diane Mercer, Thomas Golubic, and Chris McCaleb for "Marco."
• Deleted Scenes (1080p): This MoFo Is on Fire! (1:04) from "Pimento" with optional Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould, and Thomas Schanuz commentary. I'll Wait (0:42) from "Marco" with optional Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould, and Thomas Schanuz commentary.
• Jimmy Kaleidoscope (1080p, 2:22): Peter Gould introduces a montage from episode 1-10. With optional Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould, and Thomas Schanuz commentary.

Better Call Saul: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Better Call Saul arrives in the Lone Gunmen mold, that show also a secondary character(s) spinoff from a massively successful, culturally infused TV legend. But Saul is a much deeper, richer show that goes its own direction and explores a wildly fascinating figure as he's only just starting on the path that will lead him to Walter White. Spinoffs don't always work, but everything here does. Gilligan's character is endlessly rich, Odenkirk's performance is exceptional, the plot is riveting, and the themes are approachable yet complex. This is standout television and must-see for all audiences, not simply those fresh off the high that was Breaking Bad. In fact, one not even need see a second of that show to appreciate the brilliance in Vince Gilligan's latest creation. Sony's Blu-ray release of Better Call Saul: Season One is everything fans could want in a current-running TV release. The show is fantastic, picture and sound are pristine, and supplements are many. Better Call Saul: Season One earns my highest recommendation.