If IMDB full cast list is any predictor, then no. It lists Tuco in 2 episodes, Nacho in 10, Mike in 10. No other BrBa characters listed that I can see.

Obv if it's a cameo or background shot they wouldn't be listed.

OTOH, BCS will do better to become its own show rather than rely on being a BrBa retrospective. That part of the show will always be there, but in the background. The show will succeed or fail on its own unique merits. if it always has to rely on an overt BrBa connection, it won't last.

I thought the same thing. Maybe they're just teasing us, but I thought it was pretty cool.

Agree, but Gilligan also probably had a blank check to keep BrBa going as long as he wanted, and kept it to 5 seasons to tell the story he wanted.

Based on how it's starting off, I don't know that this show even needs Walt or Jesse to succeed. We probably get them eventually just because why not, but I don't think Gilligan shoehorns anything in at the expense of his plan.

i can't be the only one that avoids looking at imdb of current shows (except for specific episode pages) for this reason.

Early Jesse cooking method before Walt seems like a chip shot to work into an episode or two, if even as a throwaway extra.

entertaining. but not on the level of BrBa. fun plot but hardly anything has happened. and unrealistic Mike would "befriend" Saul like that.

I wasn't aware Mike and Saul were "friends" in the Breaking Bad universe. Mike is probably dying to get back in the action, and that's the opening he needs for them to start a relationship. Remember, unless I missed something or forgot about it the relationship hasn't even started yet, he just didn't press charges.

I really enjoyed the first season of Breaking Bad, but this show is definitely off to a better start overall than that one for entirely different reasons. This one just has a lower ceiling than Breaking Bad did, but even that might not be true as this gives Gilligan a chance to make a huge story out of something that was barely mined in BB.

It couldn't have been more realistic. I mean, Mike initially sees Saul as a self-serving, annoying jackass who can't even remember the goddamn stickers. That's ALL he gets from their interactions at the parking booth. This all changes when he sees how Saul acts with the detectives -- choosing to risk his own career by taking the assault charges, rather than turn on his own client, changes everything Mike knows about Saul. He sees that he's A) an honorable guy in general (although Saul is ultimately driven by self-interest b/c of the whole Nacho situation, Mike doesn't know that), and B) he's smart enough to question the narrative on the Kettleman case... AND Mike believes the alternative Saul proposes based on his own life experience. You think Mike wouldn't immediately respect Saul after this? That's textbook Mike. It's one of the few ways a guy like him COULD establish a relationship with some rando guy.

Is getting the Kettleman's and the money back to civilization gonna go smooth for Saul?

It should be lol.

I don't think Mike took Saul's side because he liked him (he doesn't), or because he believed him (he hadn't even considered that question until Saul put it to him directly).

Mike took Saul's side because he REALLY didn't like those two cops. They said something that made his face change instantly (can't recall exactly), and Mike was clearly thinking that these two are just like the jerks he knew on the Philly PD. "I don't want to press charges," wasn't a vote for Saul, it was a vote against these two guys. Mike meant it when he told Saul "You should quit while you're ahead," he wasn't looking to sign up with Team Saul...err, Jimmy.

Yeah, I wish that had been in spoilers at least. I don't want to know who is or isn't going to be popping up in Season 1

There was also an element of Mike not appreciating the two cop douches trying to use him for their ends. I suspect he didn't terribly respect those two guys, and didn't believe they respected him.

Oops, yeah, what youtalkfunny said.

+1 that's exactly how i interpreted it. pretty sure one of the detectives like condescendingly patted him or grabbed his arm and that's what really made his face change instantly.

It's good to build Mike's character in any way I suppose. Plus he's always been aloof. I guess it works.

I don't see how we can not see Jesse at some point. He's the one who introduced Walt to Saul at the mall, so he knew him before BB events.

Just caught up. Great 3 episodes. From a quality point-of-view this is really close to Breaking Bad, but Breaking Bad's theme and atmosphere was way more my cup of tea than this. Still I am enjoying it a lot, and after watching the trailer I was ready to hate it.

Mike might have had multiple reasons, the cops clearly were treating him like an old useless guy they could manipulate for their benefits, which obv made him pissed off. But I also think he really believed Saul's story and he didn't want to help ****ty cops follow up wrong leads. Mike will end up working for Saul in this show, so it makes sense that Mike will start to respect Saul soon.

Even if they catch up, they always can flash forward to Omaha and start a new world post Walter White and have Odenkirk reinvent himself again.

When was the first time we see Saul in BB?

Badger gets arrested in Season 2 and Saul represents him.

"You don't want a criminal lawyer, you want a criminal lawyer."

Unlike a lot of people here, I only watched BB once, so I have forgotten some things. However, as I recall, in BB, Mike worked for Gus not Saul. Saul might convey Gus' orders to Mike, but at the end of the day Saul was never really Mike's boss in any real sense. At least that's how I remember it. Am I wrong?

Breaking Bad S2 spoilers below:

There should be a vote on whether BB plot points discussed in this thread should be put in spoilers. Since 99% of the people who visit this thread have likely seen BB, I vote no.

Mike was Saul's PI. I wouldn't call Saul Mike's "boss," but he definitely worked for him.