Molly Welch

Mr.Smith

Junior ELA

6 November 2023

The Best TV Show

Everyone has a favorite TV show. There are a lot of different opinions about what the

best TV show of the last decade is. I believe that Better Call Saul deserves this title. The

cinematography and character development set it apart from the competition.

The visuals and cinematography of Better Call Saul are inventive and set the show apart.

Cinematography is important in making a show interesting and Better Call Saul is one of the few

shows that prioritizes it. “Marshall Adams, who’s served as the show’s director of photography

since season 3, comments on the benefits of shooting on location in New Mexico's deserts. ‘It’s

hard to point the camera at something you don’t love”(Studio Binder). Better Call Saul was

filmed on location in New Mexico which meant that the show included many scenes where

actors are surrounded by visually striking, and real, views of New Mexico wilderness. This

provides the show with elements of realism and sets it apart from shows that are reliant on CGI

and green screen backgrounds. Another significant reason that the cinematography of Better Call

Saul is better than most shows is its use of camera shots. “Better Call Saul effortlessly mixes and

matches camera shots, from extreme close-ups to extreme wide shots. … And BCS doesn’t just

do it on rare occasions; it’s made a style of matching close-ups”(Studio Binder). Better Call

Saul’s filmography style makes the show more aesthetically interesting than most.

The cinematography, editing and other visual elements of Better Call Saul make it one of the
most visually appealing shows of the last decade. These elements also contribute to character

development by conveying emotion through lighting and editing.

Another reason that Better Call Saul is so successful is character development. The

character development in Better Call Saul is more advanced and thorough than most shows. This

is done through visual elements and by prioritizing character building. “While this show does

serve as a prequel to “Breaking Bad,” it is able to stray away from the common trappings that

come with creating a prequel”(The Poly Post). Better Call Saul develops its own characters

instead of having an excessive amount of cameos from characters featured in Breaking Bad. This

is uncommon for prequels. Because Better Call Saul prioritizes character building some people

believe that it is slow. However, in order to have an engaging and exciting plot it is important for

the audience to have a connection with the characters. “The black and white segments create a

sense of detachment from the characters. They appear like ghosts of themselves, drained of all

color and life.”(The Poly Post). Better Call Saul develops its own characters instead of having an

excessive amount of cameos from characters featured in Breaking Bad. This is uncommon for

prequels. Because Better Call Saul prioritizes character building some people believe that it is

slow. However, in order to have an engaging and exciting plot it is important for the audience to

have a connection with the characters. “The black and white segments create a sense of

detachment from the characters. They appear like ghosts of themselves, drained of all color and

life.”(Heckmann). Artistic editing does not only make for a more visually interesting show. It

also helps further convey the mood of a scene and how characters are feeling. Better Call Saul

makes editing choices that are more creative than those of other TV shows. Better Call Saul has

developed, complex and interesting characters. This is another reason why it is the best show of

the last decade.

 Some may believe that Better Call Saul is boring. Stating that it is very slow paced and

“It can also be tedious. Frequent-depictions-of-tooth-brushing tedious.”(Kornhaber). However

the slow pace of Better Call Saul makes it possible for the show to focus on character

development. Some viewers also believe that “episodes seem to focus more on well-shot

vistas than compelling characters” (Etemesi). The visually pleasing scenes of Better Call

Saul is one of the things that make the show unique.

All in all, the reason that Better Call Saul is the best tv show of the last decade is

that its creators prioritize the development of its complex characters and aren't afraid to

make bold creative choices with visuals. Some may believe that the show is slow and

boring at times but I believe that the pacing and attention to detail of Better Call Saul

make the show and characters compellingly real.

Works Cited

Etemesi, Philip. “Better Call Saul: 12 Unpopular Opinions (According to Reddit).” ScreenRant,

10 June 2022, screenrant.com/better-call-saul-unpopular-opinions-according-reddit/.

 Heckmann, Chris, et al. “Video: The Cinematography of Better Call Saul Explained.”

StudioBinder, 5 Mar. 2023, www.studiobinder.com/blog/better-call-saul-cinematography/.

Kornhaber, Spencer. “Have We Lost Patience for Prestige TV?” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media

Company, 10 Nov. 2022,

www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/05/better-call-saul-season-6-slow-tv/629370/.

“Review: ‘better Call Saul’ Is an Expertly Crafted Character Study - the Poly Post.” The Poly

Post - Cal Poly Pomona’s Student Newspaper, 6 Sept. 2022,

thepolypost.com/arts-and-culture/2022/09/06/review-better-call-saul-is-an-expertly-crafted-chara

cter-study/.

H Argument Essay Rubric

Skill Not Yet Foundational Proficient Advanced

Identifies a basic claim Appears in first Thesis establishes a

Thesis paragraph complex claim

Thesis establishes a Establishes

topic and a claim counter-argument in
claim

Topic sentences Topic sentences have Topic sentences have

Claims/Reasons contain basic claims clear and distinct clear and distinct
claims that relate to claims that relate to
the thesis the thesis and make
nuanced points that
consider alternate
perspectives or
counterarguments
 Uses some brief Uses multiple pieces Uses a variety of
Evidence examples, or one of evidence (personal evidence (see
example, to support experience, anecdotes, previous column) that
each claim; may all be survey, research etc.) supports each claim;
personal experience to support each claim different types of
evidence in each body
paragraph

Use of reliable outside

sources

Brief explanation of Explains how Provides strong

Analysis how evidence evidence supports explanations of how
supports topic topic sentence/claim evidence supports
sentence of individual of individual topic sentence and the
paragraphs paragraphs and the thesis while also
thesis considering
counterarguments
Includes at least 2
concessions in body Seamlessly mentions
paragraphs concession, and offers
response/rebuttal

Counter- Makes some mention Structure Well-structured and

Argument of opposing argument counter-argument effective
which: counter-argument
Mentions the which:
opposing argument, Establishes an aspect
some mention of how of the opposing
opposing argument argument, clearly and
may be disproven logically disproves the
argument
Some elements missing Heading is correctly No errors in MLA
MLA Format or some errors in MLA formatted format
format
Pages are numbered

In-text citations are

correctly formatted (if
sources are used)

Works Cited format:

hanging indent,
double-spaced,
alphabetized, starts on
a new page (if sources
are used)

Works Cited: each

 source entry is in
correct MLA format (if
sources are used)
Shows evidence of Quotes are correctly Quotes are correctly
Conventions basic proofreading integrated most of the integrated
time (if sources are
used) Shows evidence of
careful proofreading
Follows essay
organization (claims in Includes fluid
topic sentence; transitions between
evidence; analysis; ideas
concluding sentences)
Eliminates wordiness
Shows evidence of
proofreading

Utilizes mostly simple Some varied sentence Consistently varied

Fluency sentence structures structures sentence structures

Some use of advanced Advanced use of

vocabulary vocabulary; including
use of active verbs