“Whatever happens next, it’s not gonna go down the way you think it is.”
Those ominous words, firmly uttered by Mike Ehrmantraut in the second episode of Better Call Saul‘s sixth and final season, wholly set the tone for the riveting drama’s last act.
Like its predecessor Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul has always found success by striking a masterful balance between slow, meticulous moments of contemplation and adrenaline pumping escapades. From the looks of its first two episodes, Season 6 faithfully follows that fan favored formula while continuing to build towards a conclusion still largely shrouded in mystery. Though the basics of Better Call Saul‘s outcome can be inferred from the original series, the final season wastes no time reminding fans there’s still plenty of closure to be desired.
Before the invigorating twang of Better Call Saul‘s title music hits your ears, your brain will be swirling with new questions. After an intriguing cold open, the season premiere, written by showrunner Peter Gould, picks up right where we left off. Nacho (Michael Mando) had just slipped out the back gate of the lavish Salamanca family compound so a team of gunmen could ambush Lalo (Tony Dalton), who was still very much alive before credits rolled. Jimmy (Bob Odenkirk), who recently decided to lean into his alter ego Saul Goodman full time, was visibly shaken up from his “Bagman” ordeal. We last saw him hiding out in a hotel with Kim (Rhea Seehorn), who seemed torn between a devilish desire to scheme and a righteous calling to pursue pro bono work. And Gustavo (Giancarlo Esposito) and Mike (Jonathan Banks) felt confident their Lalo problem would soon be taken care of.
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For several key players, the stakes have never been higher. Reputations, relationships, and lives are on the line, and mounting tension in the first two episodes alone exposes seldom-seen sides of characters we thought we had all figured out. Self doubt, fear, and unease swell in some, while others defend and assert themselves in unexpected ways. As loyalty is tested, old faces return, and body bags pile up, you’ll be reacquainted with the thrill of always being one step behind the masterminds of Better Call Saul‘s world.
Credit: GREG LEWIS / AMC / SONY PICTURES TELEVISION
Though Season 6’s debut features stunning performances from supporting actors like Madno, it also cements what we’ve always known to be true: Jimmy and Kim make one hell of a team. Whether they’re brushing their teeth in unison, lifting each other up after a crushing setback, or plotting to con whichever sorry sap dares tick them off, their connection and elaborate schemes seem effortless. Odenkirk and Seehorn’s chemistry is palpable, and the range of emotions they tap into for these roles is awe-inspiring. As Jimmy settles into his Saul moniker and new “friend of the cartel” title, we catch limited glimpses of his internal struggles with morality. The first five seasons show his derivation of sheer delight from a life of scams, but he returns to the screen worn out from one too many close calls — like he’s sick of slipping and longs to stand on stable ground for once.
Kim, on the other hand, is fully embracing her identity crisis and welcoming self-destructive antics with open arms. The scene where she tosses the bullet-pierced “World’s 2nd Best Lawyer (again)” mug she gifted Jimmy in the trash feels like the end of an era. She’s done playing by the rules, and if her face-to-face confrontation with Lalo in Season 5 was any indication of the hell she’s capable of unleashing, everyone better watch their backs.
Credit: GREG LEWIS / AMC / SONY PICTURES TELEVISION
As individual narratives start to take shape, the start of the season stays true to the unique pacing of the series. It gives viewers ample time to ruminate on what’s to come, but in true Better Call Saul fashion, there are more than a few moments of gripping suspense that will send your heart rate skyrocketing. The show is as carefully calculated as ever, yet there’s an unshakable sense of turmoil in the air. At one point, a character delivers the line, “We are on the verge of chaos,” and the idea that chaos hasn’t yet arrived is both laughable and a chilling reminder that these final 13 episodes have a lot to tackle.
Season 5 introduced Breaking Bad‘s DEA agents Hank Schrader (Dean Norris) and Steven “Gomie” Gomez (Steven Michael Quezada), but the series promises to bring Walt (Bryan Cranston) and Jesse (Aaron Paul) into the mix before it wraps. Fans crave insight into the fates of characters like Howard, Lalo, Nacho, and crucially, Kim, all of whom were notably absent from the original series. And it’s hard not to wonder what kind of ending the black-and-white flash forwards have in store for Jimmy’s post-Breaking Bad persona, Gene Takovic.
Credit: GREG LEWIS / AMC / SONY PICTURES TELEVISION
Though the final season is supersized, the show’s writers will have had to put their all into crafting jam-packed scripts that offer satisfying, convincing conclusions that don’t feel hurried. They’ve proven themselves up to the challenge thus far, but no matter how the season shakes out, Better Call Saul‘s legacy will endure long after we leave the deserts of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Successfully executing an enthralling spinoff prequel that paves its own path without using its predecessor as a crutch is no easy feat.
I have no idea what happens next or how Better Call Saul‘s final hours are gonna go down, but I do know this is an auspicious beginning to what will almost certainly be a bitter end.
Better Call Saul‘s two-part final season debuts April 18 on AMC.
