Breaking Bad fans, and that includes all of us, have been nervously waiting for the first episode of Better Call Saul to hit. Spin-offs are a dicey business and while Frasier might have thrived, Joey was also a thing.
But the first reviews for the prequel, which follows sleazy lawyer Saul Goodman, are in and, well, we're cautiously optimistic.
Here's what the critics are saying:
"Spin-offs are tricky, but Vince Gilligan has earned the right to extend the Breaking Bad franchise with another drama (yep, drama) that starts with a slow burn but is full of promise and potential" - The Hollywood Reporter
"...if I began watching Better Call Saul as a sceptic, the first three episodes have mostly made me a believer. There are nods to the parent show — and those are among the more emotionally affecting parts of this young series — but "Saul" quickly learns to function as its own thing" - HitFix
"Somehow, executive producers Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould have met the seemingly insurmountable challenge of producing a high-quality, razor-sharp spin-off from one of the most beloved and critically acclaimed TV series ever made" - Media Post
"...right in line with the tone and style of the original" - The Washington Post
"For now, “Saul” contains some attractive elements, fine moments and a fabulous pedigree, but even Jimmy/Saul might be forced to concede the jury’s still out in terms of proving it has the right formula." - Variety
So, it seems to be a strong start to the series with critics fondly comparing it to Breaking Bad. What most are saying is that it's less the comedy it might have initially seemed and more of a drama with darkly comic elements. It's set six years before the start of Breaking Bad and creator Vince Gilligan has stated that they will be "slow burning everything" so don't go in expecting it to be a roller coaster.
You can take a look at a trailer for the show below:
Better Call Saul hits Netflix in the UK in February
