The Spoiler-Free Review.
"Better Call Saul" Season 3 is easily the show at its best so far.
The subtle, slow-burn character drama has never been more effective. The polarity of Jimmy and Chuck's relationship is strongly defined and has created the best courtroom drama on the show thus far.
The introduction of certain characters long-awaited pays off to provide "Breaking Bad" backstory/context.
While the show is at its best, it still lacks the major, climactic thrills that most dramas would have throughout. It is also difficult to tell if there is a pre-planned endgame to the show, or if the writers are figuring things out as they go. This does not guarantee an unsatisfying series finale, but does not bode well. This could be fixed with a more focused story that moves faster.
Overall, "Better Call Saul" proves that a spin-off can achieve both critical and commercial acclaim without becoming a money-grabber.
I give this season 4.3/5 stars.
The Spoiler-Full Review
Since the show began, fans have been waiting for Jimmy McGill to, at least, namedrop his Saul Goodman persona, and this season finally delivered on it, when he created the character to help peddle his unusable ad space at the TV station to local businesses. It was satisfying, not only because the show is titled, "Better Call Saul," but because there is certainly a unique, distinguishable personality in the Saul Goodman from "Breaking Bad" that Jimmy McGill has only been partially exhibiting thus far.
Unfortunately, for "Better Call Saul," it still lives in the shadows of its predecessor, which is probably an unfair standard to hold. "Saul" feels, at times, like the lesser brother to "Breaking Bad," as Jimmy is to Chuck at law.
It is hard to discern whether the show's limited number of overt, shocking thrills compared to its competition is a strength or a weakness. While its focus on character drama reduced mostly to petty bickering is unique, we live in the golden age of television where most people watch a drama series to see three major characters get stabbed at a wedding or to see reporters get pushed in front of trains. These shocking events serve as payoff for patience during "filler" episodes.
However, the great thing about "Better Call Saul" is that even though it might not be quite as adrenalinized as Walter White's drug lord escapades, it is, at least, entertaining. The experimental camerawork that exploits on-screen, visual patterns magnetizes the eyes. The lighthearted script, particularly when Jimmy visits the ladies at the retirement home, is not edge-of-your-seat drama, but it is engaging in a more empathetic way.
While Season 1 lacked a really climactic finale, Season 2 truly began the show's rising suspense when it revealed that Chuck recorded Jimmy's confession to forgery. The results of that have been played out in Season 3 to a surprising twist of events. It was certain Jimmy would escape conviction at some point, but the "how" was what surprised us. The way Jimmy exploited Chuck's mental illness to get a lesser sentence was ingenious and intense television (and was the heartbreaking straw that broke the camel's back in their sibling rivalry).
Season 3 also paved the way for more severely shocking events, with Nacho finally overpowering the demonic Hector Salamanca by replacing his medication with a sugar pill.
Perhaps what was the most thrilling, however, was Chuck's story arc throughout the season finale, where his slow descent into madness not only scared us but made us sympathize with someone who before then had come off as an overbearing, condescending older brother. Chuck's apparent suicide by fire in the finale's last moments was the perfect event to pave the way going forward and added a long-awaited sense of danger to the show.
If Chuck will be dead come Season 4, which would be very likely, then it will be fascinating to see how Jimmy takes it. Despite their differences, Jimmy has always loved his brother. That much is certain. It is probable that he will carry the weight of Chuck's death with him for years to come.
Another missed cue on Season 3's part was the lack of exploration into Saul Goodman's network of criminals. In "Breaking Bad," one of the trademark characteristics of Saul was his connections. He claimed he "knows a guy" for almost any situation that Walter and Jesse got themselves into. But "Better Call Saul" has only briefly touched on this subject during its run. This will have to be something that the writers address sooner or later.
What Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould have to decide before Season 4 is this: Do they want to maintain the course and become more of a "Breaking Bad" prequel? Or do they want to go back to basics and maintain the show's unique feel? Whichever avenue they choose, "Better Call Saul" will now face more pressure than ever to deliver the titular character it promises us.
