‘Breaking Bad’ spinoff breaks the mold

It’s time for “Breaking Bad” fans to rejoice the return of their favorite criminal lawyer, Saul Goodman. But this time we get to see his past, before he screwed up his life.

Bob Odenkirk is reprising his role as Goodman, and is now the main attraction instead of merely providing comic relief.

The creators of “Breaking Bad” are feeding off of the popularity of the original show with their spin-off, “Better Call Saul.”

Instead of having to reach a new fanbase and slowly gain new viewers, the show is expected to be one of the most popular shows of the 2014 fall season because of the large number of “Breaking Bad” addicts not ready to let go of the original show.

Goodman is a lawyer for criminals, but he’s a bit of a criminal himself. He’s greedy, but still good at heart.

In the original “Breaking Bad” viewers saw him spit out one-liners like nobody’s business and handle Walter White’s tantrums with class and sass. He helped White launder his money through car washes and websites. He also helped Jesse Pinkman buy a house and handle his business problems.

Goodman played a vital role in helping them build their meth empire by providing them connections to very important characters such as Gus Fring and Mike Ehrmantraut.

“I’m excited for the show because Saul is a great character,” said senior Rainier Austin. “I’m hoping we’ll learn more about his backstory.”

Most people are looking forward to learning how Goodman became a criminal lawyer. Viewers will see his old cases and his interactions with some earlier characters.

Creator Vince Gilligan said making the spin-off a prequel was a decision that could provide more room for comedy, especially in explaining Goodman’s odd life choices. Why is he a lawyer in a strip mall? How did he become so well connected in the criminal world?

Odenkirk has mentioned that besides being a prequel to “Breaking Bad,” “Better Call Saul” could show Goodman’s life following the end of “Breaking Bad.”

When the show ended, “Breaking Bad” fans were left with Goodman deciding to leave his old life and assuming a new identity as a Cinnabon owner in Omaha, Nebraska.

But Odenkirk wants the show to stand on its own and to have fresh storylines independent of the arcs in “Breaking Bad.”

Some students aren’t as enthusiastic to hear that Goodman is getting his own show.

“I’m not excited for it because Saul wasn’t really the character that stood out, he was just the bridge that linked the plot together,” said junior Peter Wei.

“Better Call Saul” was originally planned to be half an hour long, but creators Gilligan and Peter Gould decided to extend each episode to an hour. Each episode will be filmed in the same style as “Breaking Bad” but without as much violence and drama.

Fan-favorites characters Walt, Jesse, and others from the original show could make cameos in the spin-off, scheduled to air next August through October on AMC.