Better Call Saul
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- Zarathustra
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Better Call Saul
Well, we're three episodes in for the Breaking Bad prequel series. What does everyone think? I thought it started a bit slow, but it's getting interesting. Nowhere near as good a Breaking Bad, but it has potential.
Joe Biden … putting the Dem in dementia since (at least) 2020.
Loving it. Love the opening scene, love where it's backed up to, love the feel of it.
BB took a while to get into. BCS has the benefit of the BB backstory (futurestory?), but I think it started much stronger.
Prequels are problematic at best, but BCS looks like it could buck that trend and be a great show on its own.
BB took a while to get into. BCS has the benefit of the BB backstory (futurestory?), but I think it started much stronger.
Prequels are problematic at best, but BCS looks like it could buck that trend and be a great show on its own.
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." - PJ O'Rourke
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"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
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"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
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"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
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"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
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- aTOMiC
- Lord
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I am loving Better Call Saul.
I loved Breaking Bad and have been really looking forward to the spinoff series with very few concerns. So far I've been rewarded with 3 strong episodes that have instantly drawn me in.
For me this is rare. I generally have no enthusiasm for spinoff television and am guilty of negatively pre-judging programs for that reason. With BCS that has not been the case and I'm thrilled.
I loved Breaking Bad and have been really looking forward to the spinoff series with very few concerns. So far I've been rewarded with 3 strong episodes that have instantly drawn me in.
For me this is rare. I generally have no enthusiasm for spinoff television and am guilty of negatively pre-judging programs for that reason. With BCS that has not been the case and I'm thrilled.
"If you can't tell the difference, what difference does it make?"
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- Zarathustra
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This week's episode was great. We finally got to see a glimmer of Saul Goodman ["t's all good, man!"] and why he turns to the dark side ["You're the kind of lawyer that guilty people hire"].
The Sunday/Monday/Tuesday combo of Walking Dead, Better Call Saul, and Justified has made for some great evening viewing lately. All three series are getting better (after some very boring Walking Dead episodes).
The Sunday/Monday/Tuesday combo of Walking Dead, Better Call Saul, and Justified has made for some great evening viewing lately. All three series are getting better (after some very boring Walking Dead episodes).
Last edited by Zarathustra on Wed Feb 25, 2015 5:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Joe Biden … putting the Dem in dementia since (at least) 2020.
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The obvious link to his next step seems to be Saul himself. He must do something to earn his respect, grudging though it may be.I'm Murrin wrote:It's making me wonder about how Mike got where he was. How's he go from cop, to parking attendant, to enforcer and hit man?
We know how he left the police force, but the parking lot doesn't seem like the most obvious next step.
Joe Biden … putting the Dem in dementia since (at least) 2020.
You need to add The Americans on Wednesday. Arguably the best show on TV at the moment.Zarathustra wrote:The Sunday/Monday/Tuesday combo of Walking Dead, Better Call Saul, and Justified has made for some great evening viewing lately. All three series are getting better (after some very boring Walking Dead episodes).
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." - PJ O'Rourke
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
- Zarathustra
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Yeah, great episode this week.
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." - PJ O'Rourke
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
- I'm Murrin
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It was a strange title, on the face of it referring only to a figurine one of Jimmy's clients was looking for. I can't think of any alpine shepherds' names ending in O. Otto?
"It is not the literal past that rules us, save, possibly, in a biological sense. It is images of the past. Each new historical era mirrors itself in the picture and active mythology of its past or of a past borrowed from other cultures. It tests its sense of identity, of regress or new achievement against that past.”
-George Steiner
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I am loving how character-driven this show is. You never know where the hell it's going to go, because the plot really isn't important. It follows the characters.
At the end of this last episode, Jimmy is walking toward his interview with the new law firm, about to be hired and have his dream fulfilled (i.e. being a "real" lawyer), and as he is whistling/shuffling towards his destiny like a man without a care in the world, I thought in that moment, what makes him turn? What could go wrong at this point, when his dream is coming true? What I didn't realize was that the turn had already happened [see below].
And just as this question was in my head, Jimmy stops, turns back, and leaves before his interview. He asks Mike why they didn't take the money (earlier episode). Mike says it's because he does his job, that's it. Jimmy says he knows why he didn't take it, and he'll never let it stop him again.
So the answer to the question of what made Jimmy turn into Saul was right in front of us: it was his brother telling him he wasn't a real lawyer, and he never would be. Jimmy was Saul (or "Slippin' Jimmy") all along, but he was trying to be something else for his brother's approval. The problem with that plan is that he was never going to earn his brother's approval, because he was a judgmental prick. Once Jimmy realizes this, he realizes that becoming a "real" lawyer isnt' his dream ... it's his brother's.
So the episode ends with Jimmy being authentic, being himself, ushering in the Saul we know.
Awesome. The writing on this is just stellar. They know what our expectations are, and are able to manipulate them precisely. I can't imagine that my question in that moment was unique. I'm sure lots of people were watching the back of his head as he goes to that interview and were wondering how he goes from top of the world to sleezy, dirty lawyer.
At the end of this last episode, Jimmy is walking toward his interview with the new law firm, about to be hired and have his dream fulfilled (i.e. being a "real" lawyer), and as he is whistling/shuffling towards his destiny like a man without a care in the world, I thought in that moment, what makes him turn? What could go wrong at this point, when his dream is coming true? What I didn't realize was that the turn had already happened [see below].
And just as this question was in my head, Jimmy stops, turns back, and leaves before his interview. He asks Mike why they didn't take the money (earlier episode). Mike says it's because he does his job, that's it. Jimmy says he knows why he didn't take it, and he'll never let it stop him again.
So the answer to the question of what made Jimmy turn into Saul was right in front of us: it was his brother telling him he wasn't a real lawyer, and he never would be. Jimmy was Saul (or "Slippin' Jimmy") all along, but he was trying to be something else for his brother's approval. The problem with that plan is that he was never going to earn his brother's approval, because he was a judgmental prick. Once Jimmy realizes this, he realizes that becoming a "real" lawyer isnt' his dream ... it's his brother's.
So the episode ends with Jimmy being authentic, being himself, ushering in the Saul we know.
Awesome. The writing on this is just stellar. They know what our expectations are, and are able to manipulate them precisely. I can't imagine that my question in that moment was unique. I'm sure lots of people were watching the back of his head as he goes to that interview and were wondering how he goes from top of the world to sleezy, dirty lawyer.
Joe Biden … putting the Dem in dementia since (at least) 2020.
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What got me was where he stopped—right at the edge of the shadow of the court house. Refusing to step into his brother's shadow and being his own man (and ironically staying in the light). Damn. I was pretty sure the show was going to be good but didn't think until right there that it would be as good as Breaking Bad.
Also, the bit with Hamlin reminded me so much of things I've experienced myself. You think someone's the bad guy but don't see the one close to you is actually pulling the strings. In retrospect you feel guilty, not only for your blindness, but how we go about fulfilling our need to create villains and lay blame.
Again, I love how they're playing with irony (since we already know what happens, it's a brilliant move). For a show about a guy with no class, it's f'n classical.
And has anybody else watched Franklin & Bash? I can't stop thinking of Kim as Swatello
Also, the bit with Hamlin reminded me so much of things I've experienced myself. You think someone's the bad guy but don't see the one close to you is actually pulling the strings. In retrospect you feel guilty, not only for your blindness, but how we go about fulfilling our need to create villains and lay blame.
Again, I love how they're playing with irony (since we already know what happens, it's a brilliant move). For a show about a guy with no class, it's f'n classical.
And has anybody else watched Franklin & Bash? I can't stop thinking of Kim as Swatello
"It is not the literal past that rules us, save, possibly, in a biological sense. It is images of the past. Each new historical era mirrors itself in the picture and active mythology of its past or of a past borrowed from other cultures. It tests its sense of identity, of regress or new achievement against that past.”
-George Steiner
-George Steiner
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Weird. I saw something that this series was cancelled after 4 episodes. Now I can find nothing about cancellation, so I guess what I saw was a hoax. Regardless, since you lot have been so positive about the show, I thought it was weird that it was cancelled so quickly.
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The writing and cinematography of this show is off the charts. I think it's the best show on right now.
I'm surprised how long they're playing out the "good lawyer" aspect of his character. Sure, he's not exactly conventional or ethical, but he's not Breaking Bad level yet, either. His evolution is a bit slower than I expected, but I think it's the better for it.
I'm surprised how long they're playing out the "good lawyer" aspect of his character. Sure, he's not exactly conventional or ethical, but he's not Breaking Bad level yet, either. His evolution is a bit slower than I expected, but I think it's the better for it.
Joe Biden … putting the Dem in dementia since (at least) 2020.
Agreed, though I think The Americans is the best show on at the moment.
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." - PJ O'Rourke
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________