Karl Puschmann: Why Better Call Saul could be 2015's best show

With exclusive screening rights to Better Call Saul, one of 2015's hottest new shows, Lightbox have scored a hell of a scoop. But will it be enough to fend off the looming threat of Netflix? Karl Puschmann investigates.

From deep within the dark of Netflix's looming shadow, rival online streaming service Lightbox recently manned up and drew a pretty bloody attractive line in the sand. Or dark. Whatevs.

Let's not get bogged down in details here. The location of said line is of little import. What is of importance is that there is now a line. It's right there. Beside that wall. Wall? WTF? What wall?

Well, that would be the wall that Netflix - without doing anything other than saying, "See you in March New Zealand!" - has backed all the alternative online streaming crews up against.

Because have no doubt, Lightbox is backed so far up against Netflix's wall that you can almost see its flabby ass bursting through the other side.

So, as the song says, what do you do when your back's against the wall? Better call Saul.

Good advice, as anyone who has watched Breaking Bad will attest. The Saul in question is Saul Goodman. And you'd be calling him because you've just been caught out doing something shady and dubious and he's a shady and dubious lawyer who is anxious to help you with all your shadily dubious lawyering needs.

Played by comedic actor Bob Odenkirk, Saul became Breaking Bad's breakout character. A highly skilled yet hugely unethical lawyer, Saul added a touch of humourous light to the increasingly dark surrounds of the show.

The sketchy lawyer proved so popular he is now getting his own spin-off series, which, without having even screened anywhere yet, has achieved the almost unheard of task of already having its second season confirmed.

You want a telling endorsement of a show's quality? That right there is a damned good one.

Deriving its title from Saul's jaunty catchphrase - delivered at the end of his excruciatingly cheesy TV ads or plastered on city benches alongside his grinning face, thumb encouragingly up - Better Call Saul is a prequel of sorts, taking place six years before the events of BB, and starring a few familiar, fan favourite faces.

In what can only be called a move of diabolical brilliance, series co-creator Vince Gilligan (sole creator of BB) has taken the other breakout character from BB, the private investigator/hitman Mike Ehrmantraut, and made him a major part of the new show.

As a BB fan it's an offer I couldn't refuse. A shameless two-for-the-price-of-one deal that someone of Saul's questionable character would be rightly proud of.

Actor Jonathan Banks plays Mike as a droll, quietish, slightly bemused, but not-to-be-trifled-with fellow. The perfect foil to Odenkirk's fast-talkin', energetically exasperated Saul.

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So far not much about the show has slipped out or leaked or been spoiled - thankfully - but a great scene showing a frustrated Saul wanting to park his car in a parking building while a resolute Mike refuses to raise the entry barrier has only just been officially released (watch it at the top of this story).

As well as being quite funny it also does a fantastic job of both teasing the series and showing the dynamic between the two characters.

Why Mike is working as a parking attendant is a question that remains unanswered. For now anyways.

Putting the new clip together with the stonkingly good country theme song - yes song! - that released last month has completely alleviated any fears I had that Better Call Saul was better not made.

It looks fantastic and seems to have totally captured that BB magic. For Lightbox it really is one hell of an enticing scoop.

I'd hesitate to go as far as calling it a 'game changer' but, at the very least, we now know there's actually going to be a game.

Lightbox are showing they came to play. If this announcement garners the awareness it should do from New Zealand's more discerning viewers it could turn out to be their Mighty Ducks moment.

A few more moves like this and it's gonna be hard who to know to root for. Unfortunately for us the only real loser in this game could very realistically turn out to be our wallets.

• Are you looking forward to Better Call Saul? Post your comments below.