Why The Better Call Saul Episode Titles Mean More Than You Think
"Better Call Saul" is having a banner year as it takes its victory lap with Season 6. Critics and audiences alike have been heaping praise on the "Breaking Bad" spin-off for years, but both are at an all-time high with this incredible closer of a season (via Rotten Tomatoes).
Even the small details in "Better Call Saul" get an almost obsessive level of attention. Showrunners and co-creators Peter Gould and Vince Gilligan, both "Breaking Bad" alumni, have made their signature style for the series one where every little thing matters concerning the big picture. Their diligence is not only refreshing but in service of their fans, who help them set the bar. "It certainly reminds us again that we better keep all our i's dotted and our t's crossed in every aspect of the show," noted Gould in an interview with Vanity Fair.
As it turns out, this doesn't merely apply to plotlines or dialogue but even extends to the titles of each episode of "Better Call Saul." If you've ever noticed patterns in how the episodes are named throughout the series, then you are not alone, but you might be surprised to discover their hidden meanings.
The titles definitely have significance
For instance, every episode of the first season ends with the letter "O" except one that had to be changed for legal reasons. While many might believe this decision to be a fun naming convention, each episode title parallels its protagonist's journey and pays respect to its Albuquerque location (via Den of Geek). Season 2 packed in an even more interesting reveal, with the first letters of each episode title forming an anagram that was eventually revealed to spell "Fring's Back" (per Independent).
Yet, while the message had fans overjoyed, the series creators had a long-term plan for the anagram that didn't quite play out how they originally envisioned it. According to Vince Gilligan, "In a perfect world ... the way this would have worked is people would have said, 'Oh, man, who left that note?' And then, weeks or months from now, Peter would have tweeted out, 'Hey, look for a clue,' and people would have said, 'Oh, was that Fring?' (via Vanity Fair).
Eagle-eyed fans will also note that Season 6 titles seem to follow a pattern, with every episode named in a binomial pair. Fans truly cottoned on to the fun and added their own episode titles for consideration on a Reddit thread. While we can't quite pin down the significance of this naming approach, it will likely be revealed or discovered moving forward.
This isn't the first time Vince Gilligan and his fellow writers have pulled this trick of revealing plotlines before or after the fact. And who's to say if that trend will continue, but one thing fans do know is to watch closely when they tune in, as details like these can make you wonder what other things might be hidden throughout the series.