"Better Call Saul" premiere episode opened to solid reception and ratings.
According to data gathered by Nielsen, "Better Call Saul" had the "best-ever cable premiere delivery in key demos." It had 6.9 million viewers, 4.4 million of which are from the 18-49 adult bracket.
This record topped the previous one that USA's "The Dead Zone" had in 2002 wherein it attracted 4 million viewers in the demo. Some say that it helped that the new AMC series followed "The Walking Dead." While others think the better explanation is the fact that it is a spin-off series of hit drama "Breaking Bad."
Although series creator Vince Gilligan insisted his new series is different from its mother show, it should go without saying that there will have inevitable connections between the two. In fact, in the "Better Call Saul" premiere episode, there are already a lot of elements that could be connected to "Breaking Bad."
Of course, there is Bob Odenkirk's James McGill who will turn out as the famous bad lawyer Saul Goodman who became Walter White's savior in several legal battle. There is also Jonathan Banks as Mike Ehrmantraut, a "BB" character who worked for Gus Fring and later on for Walter White. It was Saul Goodman who introduced Mike to the man who became the meth king. At the end of "Better Call Saul" premiere episode, one major "BB" villain appeared, Tuco Salamanca (Raymond Cruz). Tuco's appearance in the show didn't have much hype and definitely caught fans by surprise.
Another nod for "Breaking Bad" in the "Better Call Saul" premiere episode is the shirt worn by one of the two twin skaters. He was wearing a black and green attire, colors that are associated to "Breaking Bad" logo. They were also heard while hitchhiking at the back of a pickup car saying they are headed at the Juan Tabo Boulevard, similar place where the unfortunate Heisenbeg student Gale lived.
Another "Breaking Bad" Easter egg in the "Better Call Saul" pilot was the "African Pancake Tortoise" McGill was watching on TV.
The image on the tube was not clear but it could be a nod to Danny Trejo's character Tortuga's whose head was chopped off and put on a tortoise's shell before exploding. The nail salon where McGill erected his office could also be a nod to Bad series. Nail Salon is the kind of business Goodman suggested to the White couple on how they can hide their dirty money. The couple Jimmy was trying to win also have a splitting image of Walter and Skyler White. Interestingly, they are caught in an embezzlement charges from his government job.
