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Better Call Saul (AMC - Potential Spoilers)

There's something in the timeline that doesn't add up for me. In episode 4 Mike was parked outside his daughter in laws house and she looked quite annoyed with him and wouldn't speak with him. Then the Philadelphia police turned up at his door. In episode 5, he didn't have an argument with his daughter in law until after the interview with the Philadelphia police.
 
fitshaced said:
There's something in the timeline that doesn't add up for me. In episode 4 Mike was parked outside his daughter in laws house and she looked quite annoyed with him and wouldn't speak with him. Then the Philadelphia police turned up at his door. In episode 5, he didn't have an argument with his daughter in law until after the interview with the Philadelphia police.
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Keep in mind that the opening scenes and everything involving his daughter-in-law all take place at least a few months before the main brunt of the show. Him being interviewed by the police is current, the scenes that take place immediately after getting off the train are flashbacks, and the scene in Philadelphia is an even farther flashback.
 
fitshaced said:
There's something in the timeline that doesn't add up for me. In episode 4 Mike was parked outside his daughter in laws house and she looked quite annoyed with him and wouldn't speak with him. Then the Philadelphia police turned up at his door. In episode 5, he didn't have an argument with his daughter in law until after the interview with the Philadelphia police.
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Renzatic said:
Keep in mind that the opening scenes and everything involving his daughter-in-law all take place at least a few months before the main brunt of the show. Him being interviewed by the police is current, the scenes that take place immediately after getting off the train are flashbacks, and the scene in Philadelphia is an even farther flashback.
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Yep, definitely a to be shown rift. Might have to do with the money or how the case plays out. I'm sure we'll find out.
 
Renzatic said:
Keep in mind that the opening scenes and everything involving his daughter-in-law all take place at least a few months before the main brunt of the show. Him being interviewed by the police is current, the scenes that take place immediately after getting off the train are flashbacks, and the scene in Philadelphia is an even farther flashback.
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Yes but it still doesn't add up as the tension between them was there in episode 4 when he drove up to her house and she just looked at him and drove off.
 
I'm really liking Bob Odenkirk's portrayal of Saul. I like his character and the other characters in the show. The policeman's story was well done. :)
 
Huntn said:
I'm really liking Bob Odenkirk's portrayal of Saul. I like his character and the other characters in the show. The policeman's story was well done. :)
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Same here. I'm going to be satisfied if/when Saul ever catches a big break by doing the "right thing". It was frustrating this last episode seeing him turn over all that money and give those "clients" back to HHM, while seeing his dreams of a nice new office being dashed. I'm hoping there's going to be some sort of payoff for him in the coming episodes.
 
sdilley14 said:
Same here. I'm going to be satisfied if/when Saul ever catches a big break by doing the "right thing". It was frustrating this last episode seeing him turn over all that money and give those "clients" back to HHM, while seeing his dreams of a nice new office being dashed. I'm hoping there's going to be some sort of payoff for him in the coming episodes.
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Agreed. I like that he's flawed but not dispicable. In contrast the Breaking Bad story and that character turned me off. :)
 
Huntn said:
Agreed. I like that he's flawed but not dispicable. In contrast the Breaking Bad story and that character turned me off. :)
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Better Cal Saul is practically the polar opposite of Breaking Bad in a lot of ways. In contrast to Walt, who's pretty much a terrible human being with a few redeeming qualities that keep him from being an absolute monster, Jimmy McGill is a good guy who honestly cares about people, but can't seem to get anywhere in life without sacrificing his standards and morals.

His downfall, the moment when he breaks bad, will be when he finally comes to terms with the fact that he'll never be as successful as his virtuous, upstanding brother, but from a professional standpoint at least, he's better at being worse than the one person he loathes most: Hamlin.
 
Renzatic said:
Better Cal Saul is practically the polar opposite of Breaking Bad in a lot of ways. In contrast to Walt, who's pretty much a terrible human being with a few redeeming qualities that keep him from being an absolute monster, Jimmy McGill is a good guy who honestly cares about people, but can't seem to get anywhere in life without sacrificing his standards and morals.

His downfall, the moment when he breaks bad, will be when he finally comes to terms with the fact that he'll never be as successful as his virtuous, upstanding brother, but from a professional standpoint at least, he's better at being worse than the one person he loathes most: Hamlin.
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Walt was a sympathetic character for about one episode. ;) It killed me when he declined a good paying job (as I recall) from a friend, and instead chose a life of crime. I can handle dark characters, currently enjoying Kevin Spacey as Frank Underwood. However I'll be very dissapointed it Saul breaks bad.
 
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Huntn said:
Walt was a sympathetic character for about one episode. ;) It killed me when he declined a good paying job (as I recall) from a friend, and instead chose a life of crime. I can handle dark characters, currently enjoying Kevin Spacey as John Underwood. However I'll be very dissapointed it Saul breaks bad.
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I doubt he'll sink to Walt's depths, but we already know how he ends up. At some point, he's going to push everyone he loves away from him, and become the cynical, sleazy go-to guy we all saw on Breaking Bad.
 
Huntn said:
Walt was a sympathetic character for about one episode. ;) It killed me when he declined a good paying job (as I recall) from a friend, and instead chose a life of crime. I can handle dark characters, currently enjoying Kevin Spacey as John Underwood. However I'll be very dissapointed it Saul breaks bad.
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Frank Underwood. But I could appreciate all of Walts decisions. In the beginning he needed to support his family, he maintained his pride in declining the job offer from Elliot but later became greedy for power in his underworld. Maybe I'm a bit dodgy and would have taken the same decisions he did.
 
sdilley14 said:
Same here. I'm going to be satisfied if/when Saul ever catches a big break by doing the "right thing". It was frustrating this last episode seeing him turn over all that money and give those "clients" back to HHM, while seeing his dreams of a nice new office being dashed. I'm hoping there's going to be some sort of payoff for him in the coming episodes.
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I wonder if there will ever be a transformative moment for him when he becomes "Saul". Either way, I'm looking forward to the rest of the season and season 2.
 
fitshaced said:
Frank Underwood. But I could appreciate all of Walts decisions. In the beginning he needed to support his family, he maintained his pride in declining the job offer from Elliot but later became greedy for power in his underworld. Maybe I'm a bit dodgy and would have taken the same decisions he did.
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I think Walt being justified or at fault for declining Elliot's offer all depends on who was at fault for their falling out back in college. The show never makes a case either way. It's equally as likely that Walt did what Walt always does and makes himself out to be the victim when his pride's hurt, usually leading to him overreacting and doing something extreme in response (something we've seen him do many, many times). Or Elliot could be the conniving scumbag Walt thinks he is, who took his work, and pushed him out of the company before it hit it big.

Everything Walt did was in service of his pride. Even the good things he did would benefit his ego in some ways. Like he loved his family, and he would do anything for them, but it's equally important to him that they think of him as a good provider.

The whole show is, in a way, based entirely upon what happened back then, and what you believe happened colors what kind of person you think Walt is.
 
Renzatic said:
I doubt he'll sink to Walt's depths, but we already know how he ends up. At some point, he's going to push everyone he loves away from him, and become the cynical, sleazy go-to guy we all saw on Breaking Bad.
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Then I might stop watching. Will have to wait and see how the show handles it.

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fitshaced said:
Frank Underwood. But I could appreciate all of Walts decisions. In the beginning he needed to support his family, he maintained his pride in declining the job offer from Elliot but later became greedy for power in his underworld. Maybe I'm a bit dodgy and would have taken the same decisions he did.
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I was just trying to confuse everyone. Actually I don t know how John instead of Frank appeared there. :eek: Walt did not need to support his family by drug dealing as he was offered a good job, or am I remembering it incorrectly?
 
Huntn said:
Then I might stop watching. Will have to wait and see how the show handles it.
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I don't think it's going to go down the same dark path as BB myself. As I've said, the biggest difference between Walt and Jimmy is that Jimmy is an honest to god good guy, and it's more like circumstances are forcing him into the role he'll eventually take. I have a feeling that when he does become Saul Goodman, the criminal lawyer, it won't be for entirely selfish reasons.
 
Renzatic said:
I don't think it's going to go down the same dark path as BB myself. As I've said, the biggest difference between Walt and Jimmy is that Jimmy is an honest to god good guy, and it's more like circumstances are forcing him into the role he'll eventually take. I have a feeling that when he does become Saul Goodman, the criminal lawyer, it won't be for entirely selfish reasons.
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As this is a prequal to Breaking Bad, was it the same actor playing the role?
 
Renzatic said:
I don't think it's going to go down the same dark path as BB myself..
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“Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them.”

Henry David Thoreau
Civil Disobedience and Other Essays
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I often think about that (often-used) quotation in relation to Breaking Bad and now Better Call Saul. Because I think that idea lies at the heart not only of the shows' story arc, but in their appeal to a great many people.

Like Walt before him, the Jimmy McGill we meet in BCS was living a life of "quiet desperation" - hustling for gigs down at the county courthouse and catching catnaps in the nail salon.

I think thats a fear most of us have: the life of "quiet desperation." That we are worker bees or cubicle rats, wage slaves in a faceless corporation thats just waiting for the right chance to downsize us out of existence. That we are married to people we stopped finding sexy a decade or two ago. But we don't do anything. We dutifully pay into our 401(k)s and live lives vicariously through a combination of fantasy baseball and internet porn. (Present company excepted, of course...)

Walt didn't accept his life of quiet desperation. He opted (in fits and starts) for a life that was noisy and violent desperation. Jimmy is at the point of departure. He's never going to be a partner at a white shoe law firm. His dream of running his own firm in the glossy skyscraper just crumbled in his hands. Its going to be interesting to see how he gets to the strip mall with the inflatable Statue of Liberty in the parking lot.
 
vrDrew said:
I often think about that (often-used) quotation in relation to Breaking Bad and now Better Call Saul. Because I think that idea lies at the heart not only of the shows' story arc, but in their appeal to a great many people.

Like Walt before him, the Jimmy McGill we meet in BCS was living a life of "quiet desperation" - hustling for gigs down at the county courthouse and catching catnaps in the nail salon.

I think thats a fear most of us have: the life of "quiet desperation." That we are worker bees or cubicle rats, wage slaves in a faceless corporation thats just waiting for the right chance to downsize us out of existence. That we are married to people we stopped finding sexy a decade or two ago. But we don't do anything. We dutifully pay into our 401(k)s and live lives vicariously through a combination of fantasy baseball and internet porn. (Present company excepted, of course...)

Walt didn't accept his life of quiet desperation. He opted (in fits and starts) for a life that was noisy and violent desperation. Jimmy is at the point of departure. He's never going to be a partner at a white shoe law firm. His dream of running his own firm in the glossy skyscraper just crumbled in his hands. Its going to be interesting to see how he gets to the strip mall with the inflatable Statue of Liberty in the parking lot.
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Great post! :) Tell if I'm wrong, but I did not like Walt because he had options he chose not to take opting to become a criminal instead. Which takes me back to choice. I no longer believe that humans have as much choice as they think they have. Based on the circumstances, we find ourselves on paths with little intellectual choice about it. We are who we are. That does not mean I have to like those characters though. I did not like Walter White and chose not to follow him. I like Jimmy McGill for now and am watching. :)
 
Was pretty dissapointed to see Chuck's attitude towards Jimmy at the end of the past episode. I was hoping it was going to work out and Jimmy get in on HHM. I thought the chemestry with the two of them working together on the case was good and wanted to see it continue.

But I was glad to see Jimmy stand up to him and say seya you are on your own now. I look forward to seeing what happens on the finale.
 
pvmacguy said:
Was pretty dissapointed to see Chuck's attitude towards Jimmy at the end of the past episode. I was hoping it was going to work out and Jimmy get in on HHM. I thought the chemestry with the two of them working together on the case was good and wanted to see it continue.

But I was glad to see Jimmy stand up to him and say seya you are on your own now. I look forward to seeing what happens on the finale.
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Are you coming to Better Call Saul with or without having watched Breaking Bad? Having seen Breaking Bad and knowing where Saul ends up I thought it was consistent with the story to predict what Jimmy was going to do. As you said, it was definitely disappointing and sad to see a brother act that way, but in order for Saul to become the version of himself we see in Breaking Bad he is destined to go down a painful and tragic path.
 
mscriv said:
Are you coming to Better Call Saul with or without having watched Breaking Bad? Having seen Breaking Bad and knowing where Saul ends up I thought it was consistent with the story to predict what Jimmy was going to do. As you said, it was definitely disappointing and sad to see a brother act that way, but in order for Saul to become the version of himself we see in Breaking Bad he is destined to go down a painful and tragic path.
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I watched Breaking Bad so I am familiar with the character of Saul. But I guess I just wasn't expecting it to go the route it did this early on in the show.
 
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