Saul Goodman Rises.

Starring: Bob Odenkirk, Johnathan Banks, Rhea Seehorn, Michael McKean, Michael Mando

Not a lot of people seem to like this show. That's probably because it's not Breaking Bad. I personally don't think that's fair at all. Whilst Better Call Saul is a prequel show featuring the mismatched lawyer Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk) and his life and not the tales of Walter White and Jesse Pinkman that we all know and love, this show is still very dear to me. It doesn't have the same stakes, same level of intensity or many of the same characters - but that's why I like it, it's different. Two seasons in, I was excited for the return of this show for it's third season: and it's the best yet.

Vince Gilligan brings back another powerful and thrilling season that excels at every level. As always the style and cinematography is very Breaking Bad. It's a way of still keeping the same feel as the show but being something completely different - and of course Better Call Saul is. We rejoin Jimmy as he struggles to keep his job as a lawyer, keep his relationships in check with his brother Chuck (McKean) and girlfriend Kim (Seehorn) and of course be the cunning hustler he is. Meanwhile, Nacho (Mando) struggles with his employment to Hector Salamanca, Mike (Banks) continues his secret double life behind his family's back to help support them and we see a familiar face return in arch-villain Gus Fring (Giancarlo Esposito),

The acting is as always, phenomenal, from all the cast. Odenkirk is great as the charismatic Jimmy and never fails to provide laughs all way around as he does in Bad. He's a complete tool, a man who we know does wrong but we still root for him every step of the way. Michael McKean is excellent in this season, and probably the highlight of it too. He's hated every step of the way but pulls such a compelling performance at every point. Some scenes in particular which I won't spoil but put both Jimmy and Chuck in tense and very emotional situations. Their relationship is incredibly interesting, right up to the final scene of the season, where their performances are appreciated to the fullest extent. 

There isn't a sub plot that doesn't feel boring or out of place. They're all constructed very very well. I think my only complaint has to be that the pacing can get a bit tedious. Some episodes are very long and drawn out and some scenes feel a bit pointless. That and I think some more of Mike wouldn't go amiss either.  He's a great character and he keeps getting better and better, and it would be good for Gilligan to get him some more screen time and some central episodes

And most importantly, what the season finally gets to is not just the sympathy we feel for the evil Gus Fring in an earlier episode, or Mike's falling into the criminal underground - but the rise of Saul Goodman. Jimmy has finally taken the name (not in the way we'd expect, but still exciting) and it definitely gets me excited for whats to come. If you fell out with Saul quite early on, keep watching. It's one of the best shows on television. 

The Good

- Cinematography and style

- Acting is always on point

- Well written characters and relationships

- Different is good

The Bad

- Some vexing pacing

- More Mike!

8/10