AMC is well into its airing of the first season of Better Call Saul, and the show has not disappointed yet.

Breaking Bad, the original drama series, has elevated itself beyond television. Critics and fans have turned the show into a cultural phenomenon, equating it to that of fine literature. And I cannot say I disagree.

With that in mind, when it was announced that a fan favorite character, Saul Goodman, was going into his own spin-off, the reception was mostly negative. Fans were scared that an expanded universe would weaken the series that they have come to love. The one hope they had for the series was the original creator, Vince Gilligan, would stay as head writer. That was all the hope they needed.

Better Call Saul is the story of a young, poor, straight-laced lawyer named Jimmy McGill, portrayed wonderfully by Bob Odenkirk, who becomes the morally corrupted and sleazy criminal lawyer Saul Goodman. Odenkirk’s acting is the driving force of the series. Jimmy remains a likable character, making his corruption that much more tragic and hilarious. Yes, he is gaining money and power, but only at the cost of his moral code.

Part of what makes Saul so enjoyable is how it can maintain a consistent tone throughout the episodes. Saul is a comedic character, and while he keeps his humor through the show, it is far from a comedy. The show stays rooted in the same dark crime world as Breaking Bad. Characters are kidnapped and tortured, money is embezzled, and drugs are taken, all while Jimmy tries to keep his cool, sanity and salary.

The other returning character is Mike, the private investigator and all around badass of the previous series. But here he is a little different; in this series, he is a parking attendant at the courthouse. Instead of tracking down millions of dollars in drug money, he is investing $15 in parking tickets. As the series progresses, I am sure he will undergo a transformation like Jimmy; however in this stage of the series, we have yet to see much action.

I have referenced Breaking Bad multiple times in this piece, but I find it hard not to. The characters, themes, setting, and even the plot carry over so nicely with that series. Still, I believe that Saul remains accessible to the casual viewer due to the charisma of Odenkirk and the script by Gilligan.