If the surplus of procedural dramas featuring lawyers is any indication, TV series about lawyers are pretty much always a safe bet when it comes to intriguing viewers. As a TV series about a lawyer, Better Call Saul actually doesn't spend that much time in the courtroom, but that's about to change with Kim representing Jimmy in his disciplinary hearing with the New Mexico bar association. And through its thoughtful portrayal of the law, Jimmy and Chuck's battle on Better Call Saul may just become one of the most fascinating legal story lines to ever hit fictional TV.
I am fully aware that the petty disagreement between the McGill brothers over a tape and transposed numbers doesn't sound like it would make for the most dramatic court hearing, especially when there are so many examples of epic courtroom scenes throughout the history of movies and TV. However, there is something so thrilling in Better Call Saul's depiction of the law that shows that — contrary to Chuck's belief — when humans are involved, nothing is as simple as black and white. (My apologies to Atticus Finch.)
As shown in Season 2 with the Mesa Verde files, Better Call Saul can add suspense to something as dull as legal documents. And this focus on things like paperwork also proves that the devil is in the details when it comes to being a lawyer — and Chuck, Howard, Kyra (portrayed by Kimberly Hebert Gregory, who is excellent as the new addition to Chuck's legal team just as she is in Vice Principals), and Kim are all ready to dive headfirst into those details to try to win this case. Exhibit A? Kim having Jimmy change his statement to say he "damaged the victim's property" rather than "destroyed property" and Chuck jumping on it immediately during the May 1 episode, "Sabrosito."
While I am no lawyer and will not pretend to be, Better Call Saul's attention to detail makes me believe this is one of the more accurate portrayals of lawyers in entertainment (and lawyers believe that too, as indicated by this writer for Above the Law). But that's not the only thing that will make the upcoming episodes so excellent — especially since the nitty-gritty of legalese may not do it for everyone. The other dynamic is the levels of manipulation that both sides will go to to win. Although Jimmy was introduced to Breaking Bad viewers as the ultimate scammer, Chuck's actions in Better Call Saul indicate that the shifty apple doesn't fall far from the tree. And I fully expect that these brothers will go to masterful levels of deception in order to defeat one another.
Considering how Chuck disrespects and underestimates Kim all while pompously taunting his brother, I, of course, want Jimmy and Kim to emerge victorious from this legal battle. But something else that Better Call Saul excels at is not giving neatly-packaged endings — because just like the law, life isn't as tidy as all that. So while "Sabrosito" shows how Jimmy's hearing will come about, expect the outcome to be even more entertainingly complicated and smart.
