Better Call Saul

Deep into Season 5 of this darkly comedic character study is what Stephen King has called “one of the better 50 minutes of TV this quarantine year.”  That’s high praise from the man whose books have spawned nearly 100 film and TV adaptations.

Late to Saul’s game? Here’s what you need to know:

Here we see his origin story as Jimmy McGill, a small-time attorney working the angles to make a name for himself, that is before he decided to change his name.  Along with his fixer, Mike Erhmantraut (Jonathan Banks), and Albuquerque drug boss Gus Fring, the series peels back the bark to reveal what created these now-iconic characters.

In season five, Jimmy’s decision to re-brand himself as lawyer “Saul Goodman” sets off a shock-wave of events, rattling his lawyer-wife Kim Wexler (Rhea Seehorn). Plagued with a creeping conscience, Mike begins to spiral.  Gus Fring’s covert war on the cartel becomes a life-or-death showdown with the ruthless Lalo Salamanca, leaving his double agent Nacho Varga (Michael Mando) fighting to survive.

Stick it out for the “Bagman” episode, which earned Stephen King’s praise for its “amazing trek through the desert.”