Ep 1. Uno

In the first episode of Better Call Saul, titled "Uno," viewers are introduced to Jimmy McGill, a struggling lawyer in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The show is a prequel to the hit series Breaking Bad and follows the life of Saul Goodman before he became the shady lawyer we all know and love.

The episode opens with a flash-forward to post-Breaking Bad, where we see Saul (Bob Odenkirk) working at a Cinnabon in Omaha, Nebraska, under an assumed name. The scene quickly transitions back to the early 2000s, where we meet Jimmy (also played by Odenkirk) as a public defender representing a group of teenagers caught joyriding. Despite his best efforts, Jimmy is unable to get the charges dropped, and the boys are forced to face the consequences.

From there, we see Jimmy scrambling to make ends meet, pulling off minor cons and scams in order to pay the bills and keep his head above water. He works out of the back of a nail salon, where he meets Kim Wexler (Rhea Seehorn), an attorney at a rival law firm. They share a past history and an obvious chemistry, but it's clear that they are on opposite sides of the career ladder.

Jimmy's big break comes when he's given a shot at representing three elderly clients who were swindled out of their life savings by a retirement home. Jimmy is determined to win the case, but he's up against a seasoned attorney from a much larger law firm, Howard Hamlin (Patrick Fabian). Howard is smug and condescending, but Jimmy refuses to be intimidated.

As the case moves forward, Jimmy starts to show flashes of the Saul Goodman we know from Breaking Bad. He pulls a stunt in the courthouse bathroom to give himself an advantage, and even delivers a trademark "Better call Saul!" to one of his clients. But he also shows genuine compassion for his clients and a desire to do right by them.

Overall, the first episode of Better Call Saul sets the stage for what promises to be a fascinating exploration of a character who was one of the highlights of Breaking Bad. Jimmy may not be quite as slick as Saul just yet, but he's well on his way to becoming the lovable scoundrel that fans of the show have come to know and love. The episode does an excellent job of establishing the cast of characters and the tone of the show, which is both darkly humorous and surprisingly heartfelt. Fans of Breaking Bad will find much to enjoy here, as will viewers who are coming to the show fresh.