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Better Call Saul is commonly recognized as a spin-off from Breaking Bad, but for a brief period, it had its own spin-off titled Slippin’ Jimmy. Better Call Saul comprises six seasons and serves as a prequel to Breaking Bad. The series focuses on the ethical degeneration of Jimmy McGill (portrayed by Bob Odenkirk) and his metamorphosis into the renowned defense attorney Saul Goodman from Breaking Bad. Marco Pasternak, played by Mel Rodriguez, is initially encountered in Breaking Bad as a close friend of Jimmy McGill. In their high school days in Cicero, Illinois, Jimmy and Marco formed a partnership as con artists. However, they eventually grew apart over time.

The brief, animated series titled “Slippin’ Jimmy“, a prequel to “Better Call Saul“, revolves around teenage lives of characters Jimmy (voiced by Sean Giambrone) and Marco (voiced by Kyle S. More), set in Cicero. The series got its name from the alias “Slippin’ Jimmy”, a nickname acquired by Jimmy due to his cunning ways as an emerging con artist; he would feign falling to gain sympathy from his targets. It’s surprising that despite having just six episodes, many may have forgotten about “Slippin’ Jimmy“, let alone realizing it’s part of the “Breaking Bad” universe.

Slippin’ Jimmy Has Poor Pacing (& Boring Storylines)

Each Episode of Slippin’ Jimmy is About Nine Minutes, but it Feels Much Longer

As a fan, I appreciate the concept behind “Slippin’ Jimmy,” but I feel the execution could have been stronger. Unlike the gripping narratives found in shows like “Better Call Saul,” “Slippin’ Jimmy” is an animated short-form series that pays tribute to various film genres, such as the Silent Film era (as seen in Episode 4, “City Flights”). At first, I was intrigued by the animated versions of Jimmy and Marco, but unfortunately, my excitement didn’t carry over into subsequent episodes, starting with “Fistful of Snowballs.

In simpler terms, “Slippin’ Jimmy” doesn’t quite match up to the fast-paced storytelling of its predecessors, “Better Call Saul” and “Breaking Bad”. The episodes are brief, typically under ten minutes, but due to the focus on lighter teenage escapades for Jimmy and Marco, “Slippin’ Jimmy” tends to feel slow rather than engagingly quick.

In episode 5 of “Slippin’ Jimmy,” titled “Speed Date,” Jimmy finds himself in a challenging situation as he yearns to invite Dawn Marie to the school dance. However, there are two obstacles that hinder him: Trent, who shares Dawn Marie’s affections, and Mrs. Brockraider, the strict bus driver who disapproves of any mischief on the school bus. The six episodes in total have repetitive plots and inconsistent speed, but “Speed Date” is arguably the most obvious instance of these issues.

The narrative of “Speed Date” unfolds solely within a single setting (the bus), yet the intensity of Jimmy’s primary objective seems insufficient to warrant the nearly ten-minute long confrontation between Jimmy and Trent. With no background or context provided for characters Jimmy, Trent, and Dawn Marie, this fight fails to carry enough emotional heft, impacting neither Jimmy nor the series as a whole significantly. When compared to its precursor, “Better Call Saul”, the show appears less refined and somewhat under-explored in terms of character development.

Slippin’ Jimmy Features Illogical & Uninspired Jokes

Slippin’ Jimmy References Cryptocurrency Despite Being Set in the 1970s

Slippin’ Jimmy strives to resemble Breaking Bad, but its humor often misses the mark. A recurring problem in every episode is that instead of introducing something fresh and captivating, the show leans heavily on physical comedy, brief tricks, and predictable punchlines. The jokes in Slippin’ Jimmy are usually established swiftly, delivered with a single-line quip, and then discarded without further reference.

A significant amount of the comedy in this show often incorporates immature and crass elements; for example, in the episode titled “Speed Date,” there’s a contrast between Jimmy and Trent’s conflict and Mrs. Brockraider reading an explicit novel while driving. In the subsequent episode, “The Exor-sister,” the narrative progression is heavily reliant on an excessive fart gag.

A notable problem with the TV show “Slippin’ Jimmy” is that it seems to be set in the 1970s and 1980s, but it occasionally references things or concepts that did not exist during those years. For example, in “Speed Date,” Marco mentions doing the Macarena dance, but the song “Macarena” by Los Del Rio wasn’t released until 1993. Furthermore, cryptocurrency and Martin Scorsese’s 2013 film “The Wolf of Wall Street” are mentioned in the second episode of “Slippin’ Jimmy, titled “The Exor-sister.

Slippin’ Jimmy Desecrates Jimmy McGill’s Character

Jimmy McGill Feels Like Two Different People in Slippin’ Jimmy and Better Call Saul

Jimmy McGill is one of the most complex and fully developed characters in the “Breaking Bad” series, but the prequel show “Slippin’ Jimmy” seems to simplify him into a stereotype. In Season 2 of “Breaking Bad,” when Saul Goodman first appeared as a character, he was portrayed as self-aware and shrewd, with an underlying humor element. Originally intended as a guest role, the character was so popular that Saul continued to appear throughout the rest of “Breaking Bad.” Later, in the spin-off series “Better Call Saul,” we get a more in-depth look at Jimmy’s character and background.

As a devoted cinema enthusiast, I must confess that while I initially enjoyed the backstory presented in Better Call Saul about Slippin’ Jimmy, it felt like the show was preserving Jimmy’s unique qualities instead of letting them shine. The series portrays Jimmy as an intelligent and charming character, but it seems to be holding onto these aspects rather than fully exploring them. Despite being manipulative and cunning, Jimmy has a knack for connecting with people and is generally faithful to those he trusts. However, Jimmy’s morally ambiguous nature and deep-seated trauma suggest that there’s more to him than what we see on the surface, hinting at a darker transformation yet to come.

In “Slippin’ Jimmy,” unlike “Better Call Saul” and “Breaking Bad,” Jimmy seems less charismatic or bold. Although he manages to achieve his goals, such as in episode 6 of “Slippin’ Jimmy,” titled “Cool Hand Jimmy,” his actions often seem unimportant, illogical, or dull when considering the development of his character. “Slippin’ Jimmy” doesn’t add depth or novelty to Jimmy; instead, it seems to place Jimmy and Marco into a new series without bringing anything fresh or unique, possibly aiming to show something different or simply target the vast “Breaking Bad” fanbase to boost viewership by capitalizing on their existing interest.

Slippin’ Jimmy Is a Disservice to the Breaking Bad Franchise

Slippin’ Jimmy is Everything that Better Call Saul & Breaking Bad are Not

In simpler terms, “Slippin’ Jimmy” is not consistent with the tone of the “Breaking Bad” franchise. While shows like “Breaking Bad” and its spinoff, “Better Call Saul,” blend humor with serious adult storylines, “Slippin’ Jimmy” is a comedic animated series that portrays Jimmy’s early life in a more lighthearted manner. The show, however, seems to be aimed at a younger audience than typical fans of these series. Moreover, despite being intended for an adult audience, “Slippin’ Jimmy” doesn’t significantly develop Jimmy’s character or affect his legacy within the “Breaking Bad” universe in any significant way. If “Slippin’ Jimmy” had never been produced, Jimmy (and Marco) would have ended their association with “Breaking Bad” on a similar note.

Fortunately for me, rather than allowing the animated series to harm Jimmy’s hard-earned reputation, most fans of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul have chosen to disregard Slippin’ Jimmy altogether. Placing Jimmy’s cherished character in a new setting didn’t yield the impact or response that Slippin’ Jimmy had anticipated.

As a die-hard fan of the small screen, I can’t help but reflect on the bittersweet conclusion of Better Call Saul, which took place on August 15, 2022, after six thrilling seasons of witnessing Jimmy McGill’s remarkable transformation. Three years have passed since then, and a spin-off attempt didn’t quite pan out as hoped. Looking back now, it’s clear that the lasting impact of the Breaking Bad franchise has run its course for Jimmy/Saul Goodman. It may be time to bid him farewell, perhaps forever.

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2025-05-27 23:06