Better Call Saul (potential spoilers)

[JonLP24]

"Slippin' Jimmy" or Jimmy McGill's(Saul Goodman in Breaking Bad) brother I like a lot. My favorite character for moral reasons out of the 2 shows and it is in a cliffhanger right now but I know he wasn't in Breaking Bad and I'm afraid what ends up happening with him isn't good.

Saul isn't a bad guy yet and I really like the show, I urge to give it a chance -- I've seen all 8 episodes. One thing I like is there is a lot of reality in it. Shows that big companies can get away with a lot of shit because it is difficult for victims to know or do anything to stop it, find a lawyer who even if he agrees it is unlikely. Saul dives in a garbage pin of a retirement home to find the "smoking gun plus the law firm for the big company's shredder overheated. At the end of the last episode his brother just counter-offered with the big firm's lawyers for $20 million. I just have a really bad feeling including the big law firm which we know Saul has a personal history with them.

[NewJeffCT]

1. At the end

I was almost expecting the brother to get gunned down as he went outside to Jimmy's car.

[JonLP24]

2. Me too

it felt like something bad was about to happen - my initial thought the car was being broken too w/ the evidence taken.

[Sheldon Cooper]

3. I think Chuck's going to be well again and will remember that he's a partner

in HHM and will basically have no choice but to take the RICO case from Jimmy. I think that's what will turn Jimmy into Saul.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. I think something like that is what will probably happen.

Jimmy will turn to the dark side after his brother and/or his brother's firm double-crosses him and cuts him out of this big case. Jimmy idolizes Chuck and that could be the last straw.

I really like this show.

[Iris]

18. I think something will happen to the brother because of the law firm.

Jimmy will get revenge and then go underground as Saul.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

21. I called it.

In tonight's episode Jimmy finds out that Chuck double-crossed him by calling Howard and telling him to cut Jimmy out of the case. Told Jimmy he wasn't a "real lawyer." And now Jimmy is done. I think he will become Saul in the season finale.

[JonLP24]

22. Oops, I almost read your post

It should be available to download, usually I don't see it until at the PS Store Tuesday evening so I had no idea when it airs.

Not there yet, by Tuesday it usually is. I didn't get past the subject line & first sentence when I realized I was doing.

[Iris]

36. Oh, no! That's awful!

[NewJeffCT]

9. I think it will be something worse

not sure what, but maybe they're winning the case and something the jerk head of HHM does causes Chuck to revert back to his "crazy" self, and then Saul loses the case and millions of dollars. Or, maybe Chuck reverts, has a heart attack and passes away? Maybe Kim leaves him hanging as well, breaking Jimmy's heart further - first his brother, then Kim - and he goes over the edge and becomes Saul.

No idea, really. I keep expecting something hugely dramatic to happen since it's from the Breaking Bad folks.

[JonLP24]

14. It seems like

Chuck's "allergy" is tied in a way to "Slippin' Jimmy". After Chuck notices the receipt for broken legs, he was a freakout because of the "battery" but Jimmy thinks it was because it looked like he was "backsliding". Same thing when he "saves" the man from the billboard and Chuck ends up the hospital, thinks it was something like that but Chuck was tazed by the police right after he told them no tasers so it is a little too early for me in the series to read too much into that.

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. That episode was particularly well done.

Excellent pacing, did not seem to drag as bits of previous episodes have.

[lunamagica]

5. I'm loving the show

My impression of the ending scene was that when Chuck became aware he was outside he started to look around and his expression was (to me) "I'm out, and I don't feel anything"

[Dont call me Shirley]

7. The filming of BCS is just as impeccable as BB. S'all good, man!

The humor is so dry, I must drink while watching. I am so looking forward to finding out what caused his his name change. Love that show.

[ohnoyoudidnt]

8. I was thinking something similar.

I expect something bad to happen to Chuck. Whatever it is, Jimmy will get even and transform into Saul. Chuck is the person who seems to have been keeping Jimmy good. With him gone, he could change. Mike is already getting involved in some shady business. So the Saul that works with gangs and hit men and gets the job done regardless of moral issues might not be far off.

[NewJeffCT]

10. I'm thinking Howard

is going to be the most hated guy on the show. I could see how hurt Jimmy was when Howard told him HHM wouldn't hire him as a lawyer, but would look at it again in 6 months.

[JonLP24]

24. He's my most hated so far

I don't get why she sold him out to Hamlin right after he was a dick to her. "Take the deal"

[blogslut]

41. Ah, but it was revealed that Howard is doing Chuck's bidding.

When he yelled at Kim, he realized what he'd done. He called her back in and explained to her that it was Chuck and was always Chuck who did not want Jimmy at the firm. Howard idolizes Chuck and willingly opted to be Jimmy's bad guy but I don't think he's going to do it for much longer. Howard's curt manner is no more than little Timmy yelling "Get out of here! I don't love you!" to cute deer he has to set free.

[NewJeffCT]

44. Yes, that was a turn of events

heartbreaking for Jimmy. Still wondering how it's all going to wrap up next week.

[ohnoyoudidnt]

45. Howard, Chuck and HHM are non-existent in Breaking Bad.

And something happens that transforms Jimmy into Saul. Of course, we don't know how long that will take. Do you think Howard will switch sides and team up with Jimmy before that happens?

[blogslut]

46. I don't know.

Too many screenplays are predictable. It's so nice to have a story where you're so involved with the characters that even when you know the outcome, the road there is a revelation. That's how I feel about this program. I am digging the ride.

I will say this: I never felt that Saul Goodman was a bad man. Like Mike said in this last episode - he's a criminal but he's not a bad man. As Breaking Bad came to a close I realized that Walter White was never a good man. Becoming a criminal brought out the bad man who was always there.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

11. I got to thinking about how "Saul" parallels "Breaking Bad"

in the sense that both Jimmy and Walter White were guys who turned to the dark side - they "broke bad." Walter White was a talented but kind of nebbishy chemist who'd been screwed out of his interest in the lucrative company he helped start and ended up teaching high school chemistry and working at a car wash. Nobody, including his own family, respects him very much. He doesn't make much money; he has a disabled son and a pregnant wife, and then he discovers he has terminal cancer. His brother-in-law, who works for the DEA, brags about busting meth labs and mentions how much money meth dealers make, so Walter decides to start cooking meth just to make enough money to support his family after he's dead. But once he gets into it and survives a few encounters with some very bad people, he starts to realize that he really likes the power and the respect (more, even, than the money) he receives as a result of his reputation the best meth cook anywhere. Even when he has the chance to get out of the business he doesn't. He likes it too much.

Jimmy is another guy who doesn't get any respect. He was a petty grifter whose older brother Chuck, a big shot lawyer in a fancy law firm, managed to keep out of jail; Chuck also gets him a job in the mail room of his law firm. Jimmy idolizes his brother, and unbeknownst to Chuck he gets a law degree by taking distance learning courses and manages to pass the bar exam on the third try. But he fails to persuade the managing partner to hire him and apparently Chuck doesn't try to help him. Chuck later goes on leave from the firm because he develops a (possibly psychosomatic) sensitivity to electromagnetism. Jimmy remains loyal to Chuck and does what he can to help him. Although Jimmy is actually pretty smart, nobody respects him, not even Chuck, so he tries to scrounge out a living as a part-time public defender and by writing wills for elderly people - which is how he discovers the nursing home scam that might be a successful RICO case. If Chuck or the firm takes the RICO case away from him, that betrayal and ultimate showing of disrespect would cause him to "break bad," kind of like Walter White. I suspect Jimmy won't break quite as bad as Walter did, though.

[nirvana555]

12. I'm absolutely loving this show. I tried to really miter down my expectations because

I didn't want them to be too high because of the show being a spin-off. I decided I'd just take it as it is. WOW.... I have NOT been disappointed at all. I am so loving' the black stories. My God, last week's show about Mike was just heartbreaking. The writing is amazing! I wish the season wasn't so friggin' short... Only two more shows.

[JonLP24]

13. Same here

initially that from initial reporting on the series when the deal was struck that it would be lighter more like a comedy but so glad they choose to do it like this instead of a cheesy sitcom. I can't say enough about this show.

[Trailrider1951]

15. If you don't have cable (like me), you can stream the episodes here:

http://www.tvstreaming.cc/watch.php?v=9q4qzYrHVmI



You're welcome!

[tularetom]

16. Here's the BCS song to tide you over until the next episode comes on

And if you've forgotten, here's the Heisenberg song from BB

[Dont call me Shirley]

30. Junior Brown and band are excellent in concert.

Saw him a few years ago in a small venue in Santa Fe.

[tularetom]

32. He's been around for a long time

I remember seeing him in San Marcos TX in the late 80's/ early 90's.

And he was an old timer even then.

[Dont call me Shirley]

33. Love his Better Call Saul rendition. Junior just keeps on ticking and his voice still sounds great.

[Baitball Blogger]

17. Thanks for pointing this out.

I was enjoying this relationship between the two brothers. The brother is definitely Saul's conscience. Without him, it would make sense that Saul's desire to succeed may allow him to make some bad choices.

What I don't understand is that this pre-series begins with Saul pretending to be a baker. He's obviously hiding out. So this entire series is a flashback?

What happens when we catch up to Saul in the present time?

[ohnoyoudidnt]

19. I think so.

I don't expect them to go back to present time in this series. I think they began the series with that part just connect the show to Breaking Bad. He mentioned something to Walter before he went into hiding that he would be lucky to end up managing a Cinnabun in Omaha. He presently is a (possibly alcoholic) has been doing just that. So maybe they were just telling the audience what happened to him after things fell apart. There are some great writers working on this. You never know what they are going to do. I'm sure they could make another series later about his post Breaking Bad life, depending on how this series goes. He could get bored of hiding out and somehow get back into the legal (illegal) game.

[JonLP24]

23. I think they could do something like that within this series

I was thinking to myself recently that there are limits in that this part of his life ends with him as Saul with the late night ads but maybe they could do more story with the post breaking bad or more things from his perspective (it is interesting when two different characters or people look at the same thing with a different view) but there are limits when it comes to hiring cast & re-enacting scenes, don't want to cheapen it. I'm looking forward to seeing the writing of the series & the ideas they can come up while staying true to the Breaking Bad universe.

[NewJeffCT]

20. I think the beginning of episode 1

is after he goes into hiding following his leaving ABQ post Breaking Bad. I could be mistaken, though.

[Paladin]

25. I thought the series had a slow start, but it's grown on me.

The dumpster-diving episode was first-rate (good legal advisors on the script, for sure), and last night's show, with the take-down of that obnoxious gun nut, was excellent as well. I'm sorry there's only one more show to look forward to, this season.

[NewJeffCT]

26. I loved that scene with Mike

and the two other "bodyguards" - that second guy was gigantic - is he a pro wrestler or something?

Pimento - the cheese of the south!

[Paladin]

27. I believe the line was "Pimento cheese, the caviar of the South."

Seems to me I'd heard that one before, but it was an awfully long time ago. Yet another food I didn't develop an appreciation for until later in life. Like liver and onions.

Mike has to know he's being played by that young lady, don't you think? Seems like he's just willing to let it happen, for the time being. Great character.

[NewJeffCT]

35. the young woman

is his daughter in law, no?

[PasadenaTrudy]

38. Yes n/t

[PasadenaTrudy]

37. I listened to

the BCS Insider podcast today and Jonathan Banks said that guy is a scientist or engineer. Funny!

[NewJeffCT]

39. I saw a review that called that guy

a "proto" Walter White.

[PasadenaTrudy]

42. You mean Pryce?

The nebbish that hired Mike to guard him during the exchange with Nacho? Yes, that guy, not the BIG guy who runs off in fear of Mike.

[Dont call me Shirley]

28. I'm so mad at Chuck right now. I knew he was the one who didn't want Jimmy in the firm all along.

Jimmy was genuinely a brother to Chuck. Jealous Chuckie just treats Jimmy like scum.

[Baitball Blogger]

29. Chuck may not have been all wrong about Slippin Jimmy.

But I think Jimmy had a narrow window to escape becoming that shady character, and Chuck pulled the rug out from under him.

Just as Jimmy was crucial to Chuck's success, Chuck was crucial to Jimmy's success. And once Chuck betrayed Jimmy, Chuck made it that more likely that he would fail too.

[Dont call me Shirley]

31. I think Jimmy really wanted to do good and not only make Chuck proud of him, but himself too.

I don't think Chuck ever really did believe in Jimmy. And I really see big brother jealous and competitive of little brother. That's why Chuck won't have an honest brotherly relationship with Jimmy.

I love that BCS is not violent like BB. Excited for next week!

[tularetom]

34. It's only the first season, there's lots more time for Jimmy to get back at Chuck

Hopefully it will involve penetration of the tinfoil curtain.

And WTF happened to Kim? She turned on Jimmy pretty damn quick after her come to jesus meeting with her boss.

[JonLP24]

40. I rewatched that scene

I thought the same thing at first but second time he asks her to stop and close the door and I think here is where Hamlin told her it was his brother that doesn't want him at the firm.

[blogslut]

43. I loooove the show!

Bob Odenkirk is playing a tragic clown with the grace of Chaplin. Michael McKean is stunning playing a man so disconnected from his soul it's literally shocking him. Jonathan Banks can communicate an entire soliloquy with a grunt and a glance.

I love that Jimmy lives in the nail salon. I love that old people adore him. I love the writing. I love the cinematography. I love everything about this show.

[NewJeffCT]

47. Better Call Saul - A Show At War with Itself

What the hell is Better Call Saul? Remember back in the series premiere, when it was the kind of show where twin ginger skateboarders got their legs broken by Breaking Bad fan service while Michelle MacLaren swan-songed out of TV by shooting the New Mexico desert like Sergio Leone homaging Salvador Dali? Remember when Jimmy bought a billboard and the Kettlemans went camping and Better Call Saul transformed into a USA network wacky-procedural—Burn Notice with a sunburn, Royal Pains with more pain—complete with a wacky HQ and a wacky suit and a wacky emphasis on the wacky brother with his wacky psychological malady? Remember when Better Call Saul suddenly coughed up a great episode that felt entirely different from everything else and focused specifically on the guy who isn’t Saul?

http://www.ew.com/article/2015/04/03/better-call-saul-die-chuck-die

Interesting article - I kind of agree. I don't think the show has quite found its legs yet.

[NewJeffCT]

48. Kind of disappointed in the finale

and the show, in general. The minor characters have not been developed nearly as much as those on Breaking Bad - it's all about Slippin' Jimmy, it seems.

Seems like Howard is not the complete jerk everybody thought he was - it was always Chuck.

The turn back to Slippin' Jimmy was started by the death of that guy Marco, whom we had only met at the beginning of one episode previously - so, it was hard for me to see the reason for the big jump back. He had the offer and partner track from that other law firm, and then turns it down. Didn't seem realistic to me.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

49. I think what happened was

that he realized Marco had been more of a "brother" to him than Chuck ever was, and he just couldn't stand the idea of working on the RICO case with Chuck in any capacity, even in a different law firm. I think he wants to get Chuck out of his life altogether, which means that now he doesn't want to be like him - he doesn't want to be the same kind of big-firm stuffy lawyer. He's going to do what he's good at and stop trying to be "respectable" to earn Chuck's respect, which he now knows he will never get. Walking away from the job was a big old fuck you to everything Chuck is about.

[NewJeffCT]

50. Yes, I understand that part

but, Marco was really only in one scene prior to this episode, so it seems like an odd choice of somebody more brotherly to him than Chuck. Heck, we've seen a lot more of Mike than we did of Marco. (Heck, when I saw the episode title of "Marco", I had forgotten that was the guy's name until it was mentioned in the episode.)

I guess that's just my long winded way of saying that we didn't see as much development of the supporting cast as we did in Breaking Bad.

In Breaking Bad, after the center of the show, Walter White, we had his wife & teenage son, Skyler and Walt Jr. We had Jesse Pinkman, and we had Hank and Marie. All characters that had their moments in season 1 on the show.

Heck, Hamlin, Kim and Chuck were about as developed as Steve Gomez was in Breaking Bad, it seems. Marco had less screen time than Krazy 8 in Breaking Bad.

[JonLP24]

51. Marco was in a different setting location

from his past before he cleaned up and got a job at the mail room.

I'm not sure what he meant when he said that he knows what was holding him back from taking the money but something with the ring reminded him of what it was and that it wouldn't happen again.

I guess view it differently. The show begins with him quitting as a public defender & ends here & everything in place in between makes sense when it is all pieced together. I'm not sure if he was more brotherly but with the fallout of Chuck & visiting Marco where he dies in front of him, I don't know -- it kinda makes sense.