Why ‘Better Call Saul’ Didn’t Quite Work…
The multiple failures that prevent one of the most talked about shows on television from being one that will be remembered by many…
When I first heard about Better Call Saul, I was extremely excited. I loved Breaking Bad, and I was intrigued by the idea of a prequel focusing on one of the show’s most colorful characters. But after watching the first season, I was disappointed.
But, why? What exactly was it about Better Call Saul that didn’t work for me? After taking a lot of time to think about it, I realized that there were about 10 reasons why I didn’t like the show, and why I think it’s one of the worst shows on television. Here they are.
The pacing is incredibly slow
Better Call Saul is a slow show. In fact, it’s probably one of the slowest-paced shows I’ve ever seen. And while I understand that the show is trying to take its time to tell a complex story, the pacing is just too slow for my liking. This is coming from someone who appreciates slow-burn content, but “slow-burn” doesn’t even begin to describe the pacing of Better Call Saul.
For example, the first season is 10 episodes long, and it feels like it takes forever to get to the good stuff. In Breaking Bad, we were introduced to Walter White in the very first episode, and we were immediately hooked. But in Better Call Saul, we’re introduced to Jimmy McGill (AKA Saul Goodman), and we don’t really get to see him in his element until the very last episode of the season. And even when we do finally see Jimmy in his element, the show still feels slow.
This is because the show is so focused on Jimmy’s backstory, and while I understand that it’s important to understand where he came from, I don’t think the show needed to spend 10 episodes on it.
The acting is poor
I’m not going to lie, I was really disappointed with the acting in Better Call Saul. I expected great things from Bob Odenkirk, but he just didn’t deliver. His performance was wooden, and he didn’t seem to be having any fun with the role. And it’s not just Odenkirk who was disappointing. The rest of the cast was pretty bad as well.
Jonathan Banks was the only one who was remotely watchable, but even he was phoning it in.
The writing is uninspired
I think the biggest problem with Better Call Saul is that the writing is just uninspired. The show feels like it’s trying to copy Breaking Bad, but it’s not doing it well. For example, the first season is full of scenes that feel like they’re ripped straight from Breaking Bad.
There’s the scene where Jimmy tries to sell meth to a group of teenagers, the scene where he tries to get a job at a fast food restaurant, and the scene where he tries to scam an old lady. These scenes are all well and good, but they feel like they’re just copycats of scenes from Breaking Bad. And, to make matters worse, they’re not even done well.
The characters are unlikable
I think the biggest problem with Better Call Saul is that the characters are just unlikable. Jimmy McGill is a slimy lawyer who will do anything to make a quick buck. And while I understand that he’s supposed to be an anti-hero, I just can’t root for him. And it’s not just Jimmy who’s unlikable. The rest of the characters are pretty unlikeable as well. Mike Ehrmantraut is a cold-blooded killer, and Gus Fring is a ruthless drug lord. Even the more likable characters, like Chuck McGill and Kim Wexler, are pretty unlikeable.
The humor is forced
Better Call Saul is a comedy, but the humor is just forced. It feels like the writers are just trying too hard to be funny, and it’s not working. For example, there’s a scene in the first season where Jimmy tries to sell meth to a group of teenagers, and he does it by pretending to be a drug dealer. He says things like “I’ve got the best meth in town” and “this is some top-quality stuff.” The scene is supposed to be funny, but it just falls flat. It’s not funny, and it doesn’t add anything to the story.
The show is too dark
Better Call Saul is a dark show. It’s about drug dealers, murderers, and corrupt lawyers. And while I understand that the show is trying to be realistic, it’s just too dark for my liking. I like my television to be escapist, and Better Call Saul is just too gritty and realistic for me.
The show is too depressing
Better Call Saul is a depressing show. It’s about a man who’s struggling to make it in the world, and it’s just too sad for me. I like my television to be uplifting, and Better Call Saul is just too depressing for me.
It’s not Breaking Bad
This is probably the biggest problem with Better Call Saul. It’s not Breaking Bad. It’s a prequel, but it’s just not as good as Breaking Bad. Breaking Bad is one of the greatest television shows of all time, and Better Call Saul is just a pale imitation.
It’s not El Camino
Speaking of Breaking Bad, El Camino is a much better sequel. It’s a movie, but it’s still better than Better Call Saul. El Camino is a gripping, emotional, and thrilling ride, and it’s everything that Better Call Saul is not.
It’s just not that good
At the end of the day, Better Call Saul is just not that good. It’s a slow, dark, and depressing show that’s just not that enjoyable to watch. I’m sure there are people out there who enjoy the show, but I’m just not one of them.
