Better Call Saul

TheVision · **Posted:** Thu Mar 03, 2016 0:34

I've just caught up with episodes 2 and 3 and my word, it's brilliant.

Can't wait for next week!

Hearthly · **Joined:** 11th May, 2008 **Posts:** 13382

Episode 4 another absolute cracker, the last ten minutes in particular were grippingly exciting - the only downer with this is they just can't make them fast enough.

As myp noted a couple of posts back, Jonathon Banks is visibly older than he was in Breaking Bad (and he doesn't look particularly well either), but I'm cool with that as we know what character he's supposed to be playing, even if he 'looks' wrong compared to how he looked in BB.

TheVision · **Posted:** Tue Mar 08, 2016 23:37

I've just finished watching episode 4 and yes, I agree. It was cracking!

It's really interesting knowing where the characters end up, but it's fascinating seeing how they get there. We knew that Mike wouldn't do what he was hired to do, but how he got round it was ace.

Zardoz · **Posted:** Wed Mar 09, 2016 10:59

I love Mike.

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Hearthly · **Joined:** 11th May, 2008 **Posts:** 13382

More quality from Episode 5, and a decent splash of humour in there too.

I'm inspired to go back and watch all of Breaking Bad again, you can feel its DNA running right through Better Call Saul.

Splendid telly, love it to pieces.

Doctor Glyndwr · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 32619

Renewed for a third season.

On top of Hearthly's praise, I'd add this continues to be one of the most beautifully shot shows since, well, Breaking Bad. The very, very wide shot in the car park in Ep5 was just gorgeous.

LewieP · **Joined:** 29th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 7600

Pretty cool to see

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Hector Salamanca show up again, Mark Margolis is a fantastic actor, even though he obviously gave an amazing performance in Breaking Bad, I'm interested to see what the character was like pre-paralysis.

Zardoz · **Posted:** Wed Mar 16, 2016 13:41

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I found his pre-paralysis performance very moving.

Hearthly · **Joined:** 11th May, 2008 **Posts:** 13382

I've resubscribed to Netflix, it just feels wrong to be *cough* acquiring Season Two of Better Call Saul when it's so damn good, you need to be paying for the good stuff.

EDIT - Ooohhh, Jessica Jones, I could watch that as well.

Bamba · **Joined:** 25th Jul, 2010 **Posts:** 11128

Hearthly wrote:

Ooohhh, Jessica Jones, I could watch that as well.

You totally should. Also the new season of Daredevil is released this Friday.

Cras · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 49232

Hearthly wrote:

I've resubscribed to Netflix, it just feels wrong to be *cough* acquiring Season Two of Better Call Saul when it's so damn good, you need to be paying for the good stuff.

EDIT - Ooohhh, Jessica Jones, I could watch that as well.

God yes, JJ is amazing

The Great Tyrant · **Posted:** Mon Apr 04, 2016 13:16

Is everyone caught up? Astounding cinematography in the latest episode, Inflatable.

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The wacky waving inflatable arm-flailing tube man vs. crazy suits montage was utter genius.

The writing was also FANTASTIC, with Kim giving her and Jimmy's relationship a serious load of foreshadowing - including when she spoke about the messy divorce litigation in her interview, then proceeded to tear the business card when she has the 'McGill & Wexler' brainwave. I usually find Vince Gilligan's female chars quite annoying and preachy, but Kim is awesome.

This has probably been my favourite episode of Season 2, which I've found a little slow tbh.

myp · **Posted:** Mon Apr 04, 2016 13:21

I'm not caught up yet. But the cinematography is incredible. There is something in every episode that makes my jaw drop.

Doctor Glyndwr · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 32619

Re: Kim's awesomeness, let's talk about how both this and Breaking Bad have had flawless casting. Except for the people cast against type (ex-comedians Bryan Cranston and Bob Odenkirk), I don't think I'd seen any of the major characters from either show anywhere else. Yet so many of the actors were cast perfectly; from Tuco's barely contained psychosis, to Mike's world-weary professionalism, to Jesse's puppy-like excitability and eventual evolution into Walt's conscience, and now to Rhea Seaborn who is just enthralling as Kim Wexler.

Grim... · **Posted:** Mon Apr 04, 2016 16:36

Doctor Glyndwr wrote:

I don't think I'd seen any of the major characters from either show anywhere else.

You'll have seen Hank in movies: T2, The One, Starship Troopers. He cropped up in The West Wing a few times, too.

DBSnappa · **Posted:** Mon Apr 04, 2016 16:55

Grim... wrote:

Doctor Glyndwr wrote:

I don't think I'd seen any of the major characters from either show anywhere else.

You'll have seen Hank in movies: T2, The One, Starship Troopers. He cropped up in The West Wing a few times, too.

And if I recall correctly, Mike was Steven Berkoff's henchman in Beverly Hills Cop.

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14356

And Tuco in My Name is Earl.

LewieP · **Joined:** 29th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 7600

Hank was also in Total Recall, and amusingly Cranston was in the remake.

myp · **Posted:** Mon Apr 04, 2016 17:24

Doctor Glyndwr wrote:

Except for the people cast against type (ex-comedians Bryan Cranston and Bob Odenkirk)

And Michael McKean.

LewieP · **Joined:** 29th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 7600

And Bill Burr.

Doctor Glyndwr · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 32619

Grim... wrote:

Doctor Glyndwr wrote:

I don't think I'd seen any of the major characters from either show anywhere else.

You'll have seen Hank in movies: T2, The One, Starship Troopers. He cropped up in The West Wing a few times, too.

OK, I revise my initial statement to: although not unknowns, they had previously only done minor roles, and you probably wouldn't remember them from anywhere else.

Hearthly · **Joined:** 11th May, 2008 **Posts:** 13382

Doctor Glyndwr wrote:

OK, I revise my initial statement to: although not unknowns, they had previously only done minor roles, and you probably wouldn't remember them from anywhere else.

I saw a 'TEN CHARACTERS FROM BREAKING BAD YOU'VE SEEN IN EVERY MOVIE EVER' fluff piece on a website somewhere a few months ago, and for every single entry, even the most ubiquitous one (Hank, apparently) - I (a) Needed the benefit of pictorial evidence and (b) Was like, 'Oh right, really, I'd never have known.'

IIRC they were almost all very minor roles too.

LewieP · **Joined:** 29th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 7600

Mark Margolis is getting a lot of TV work these days, presumably off the back of Breaking Bad. Although I've loved him in pretty much every Arronofsky movie for years.

He's Ace Ventura's landlord, too.

Edit: Although some of heavy references to Scarface in Breaking Bad are a little cheeky given that Margolis was in it.

TheVision · **Posted:** Tue Apr 05, 2016 0:28

I agree and it's a very good point. There isn't a single actor or actress that I can think of in both Breaking Bad and Better call Saul that isn't perfect for the role.

The Great Tyrant · **Posted:** Tue Apr 05, 2016 10:30

Doctor Glyndwr wrote:

Re: Kim's awesomeness, let's talk about how both this and Breaking Bad have had flawless casting. Except for the people cast against type (ex-comedians Bryan Cranston and Bob Odenkirk), I don't think I'd seen any of the major characters from either show anywhere else. Yet so many of the actors were cast perfectly; from Tuco's barely contained psychosis, to Mike's world-weary professionalism, to Jesse's puppy-like excitability and eventual evolution into Walt's conscience, and now to Rhea Seaborn who is just enthralling as Kim Wexler.

Rhea Seaborn's excellent!

LewieP · **Joined:** 29th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 7600

Edit: wrong thread :belm:

markg · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 16558

and I replied to it :belm:

Hearthly · **Joined:** 11th May, 2008 **Posts:** 13382

S02E09 is barnstormingly brilliant, kind of like Breaking Bad before it, Better Call Saul makes everything else look a bit rubbish.

Properly fab telly.

TheVision · **Posted:** Tue Apr 12, 2016 22:37

I agree. Brilliant throughout but, I have an issue...

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If I remember rightly, Mike went into a factory in Breaking Bad and killed a load of people with no problems. Remember the guy he shot through the wall after his hostage was telling him where to shoot?

Anyway, if he can do this, why was he being Batman and not killing anyone in Better Call Saul? Perhaps he's going to change his demeanour as the series goes on? Am I missing something?

And not an issue but something I'd like to talk about...

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Do you reckon Chuck's dead?

Hearthly · **Joined:** 11th May, 2008 **Posts:** 13382

Spoilertastic:

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#1 I guess there are two main character arcs going on here, we need to see how Jimmy becomes Saul, and how Mike pre-BB becomes Mike of the BB-era, both are fascinating journeys to witness.

In Jimmy's case we know that Kim is gone one way or another by the BB era and he's fully morphed into Saul, I'm really interested to see how that happens.

#2 If I were having a bet on it I'd say 'no', but then again it could be one of the main drivers for Jimmy's conversion into Saul if Chuck is badly hurt or even worse dead.

Incidentally the three-way scene between Jimmy, Chuck and Kim was superb wasn't it? Utterly consuming, so well written and acted, and the camerawork is peerless too.

I don't know how people get all excited about twaddle like TWD when there's infinitely better telly being produced such as BCS.

Bamba · **Joined:** 25th Jul, 2010 **Posts:** 11128

Hearthly wrote:

I don't know how people get all excited about twaddle like TWD when there's infinitely better telly being produced such as BCS.

It's almost as if different people like different things for different reasons, and sometimes those reasons may seem illogical to others, or weird, even.

Also: it's possible to watch and enjoy more than one TV show. I know, shocking isn't it?

Hearthly · **Joined:** 11th May, 2008 **Posts:** 13382

BCS is objectively better than TWD though, on all key performance indicators it wins. Except zombie count.

Bamba · **Joined:** 25th Jul, 2010 **Posts:** 11128

Hearthly wrote:

BCS is objectively better than TWD though, on all key performance indicators it wins. Except zombie count.

Bamba wrote:

Also: it's possible to watch and enjoy more than one TV show. I know, shocking isn't it?

Doctor Glyndwr · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 32619

Hearthly wrote:

BCS is objectively better than TWD though, on all key performance indicators it wins. Except zombie count.

Zardoz · **Posted:** Wed Apr 13, 2016 10:15

This show gets better and better.

Mike is fucking badass.

Hearthly · **Joined:** 11th May, 2008 **Posts:** 13382

A panel of experts would say BCS is better than Ali, anti-lock brakes, and TWD. PUT TOGETHER.

Hearthly · **Joined:** 11th May, 2008 **Posts:** 13382

ZOMG SEASON TWO FINALE.

Literally the only thing wrong with Better Call Saul is how bloody long we're now going to have to wait for the next season, other than that it's effectively perfect telly.

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Maybe I was a bit slow on the uptake, but right at the end of the CONFESSION I suddenly thought, 'Oh my goodness me, Chuck's taping it.' AND HE WAS.

Curse waiting months for Season Three.

myp · **Posted:** Wed Apr 20, 2016 1:48

Kim is in an episode of Dollhouse I've just watched.

LewieP · **Joined:** 29th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 7600

Wait that's the end of season 2? It's gone so quickly.

The Great Tyrant · **Posted:** Wed Apr 20, 2016 9:20

Oh man. That was the finale? It can't end there!

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I really swing between hating and sympathising with Chuck, and have swung back into the hate camp. What I got from the last episode is that as much as Jimmy puts him through shit, Chuck puts him through shit tenfold and then has the gall to take the moral high ground. He's not a very nice person. I reckon if the roles had been reversed and it had been Jimmy on the copy shop floor, Chuck would have walked away.

Morte · **Posted:** Wed Apr 20, 2016 9:22

Agreed, It's flown by...but it has been brilliant.

Hearthly · **Joined:** 11th May, 2008 **Posts:** 13382

On some levels I think it's better than Breaking Bad, and that really is saying something.

BB\BCS best telly ever IMO.

Zardoz · **Posted:** Wed Apr 20, 2016 10:16

I was dubious about the spin off at first but so pleased that it's turned out far better than I expected. Bloody brilliant.

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How many times did you try and squeeze off a round on Mikes behalf into Hector?

Hearthly · **Joined:** 11th May, 2008 **Posts:** 13382

Zardoz wrote:

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How many times did you try and squeeze off a round on Mikes behalf into Hector?

It was so tense I almost forgot to breathe. They've invested so much in these characters, given us so much history, so much motivation, we're so 'with' them as it were, you're willing things to go right for them on such a fundamental level.

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The scene with Chuck in the hospital, that long, upside-down shot of his anguished face, another piece of masterful production. And then at the end when I realised (before the actual reveal) that Chuck was taping Jimmy's confession, and that's what he'd been out in the garage for, I felt a proper gutpunch on Jimmy's behalf.

It's almost impossible to pick out the good bits, because it's all fantastic, I don't think I've ever watched a programme that does everything so absolutely resolutely on its own terms - and it's all the better for it.

LewieP · **Joined:** 29th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 7600

I had a degree of trepidation at the notion of not only a spin off, but a prequel spin off. There was a lot of scope for it going horribly wrong. But the resulting show really is fantastic.

I still think the moments that I least like are when they try to tie it into the Breaking Bad story too much, in ways that stretch believablity. Yes the cheeky nods and winks are amusing, and it's nice to see a few familiar faces in somewhat different circumstances, but I think it's good enough to stand alone, and it's at it's best when it's trying to do that.

Presumably they are building to the next season detailing with:

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Mike somehow getting recruited by Fring (who I suspect might have written the "Don't" note), and I guess depicting whatever happened to Tio to paralyze him. I'm not actually sure if there is anything in Breaking Bad to imply a timeline of whether Mike started working for Fring before or after he started working for Saul, or how Saul managed to get hold of Fring's contact details. I know he says "I know a guy who knows a guy who knows a guy", but it's not really clear if that's just an attempt to not divulge their connection, if he's talking about Mike, or some other connection. I must say that I'd expected to see Saul dipping his toe into the world of criminal underworld lawyering by this point, but the drama between him, Chuck, HHM and the other players in the reputable side of lawyering is plenty entertaining to watch unfold.

Edit: Further potential spoilers for the future of the show.

asfish · **Joined:** 5th Dec, 2010 **Posts:** 3353

This was a very good season, as you start to see characters from Breaking Bad show up its sort of making me want to watch that again!

TheVision · **Posted:** Thu Apr 21, 2016 20:51

asfish wrote:

This was a very good season, as you start to see characters from Breaking Bad show up its sort of making me want to watch that again!

I've got a great excuse as my wife hasn't seen it yet.

Dr Lave · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 5979

I think I prefer it to Breaking Bad. I love it's glacial pace. And I want nothing to speed it up. But at the same time, without meaning to be cruel, Mike's and Salamanca's age (69 and 76 respectively) has to mean it can't just run and run.

I think Season 3 has to be the last before they have to jump forward. (although, I would prefer it if they had a timeline split where a sliding doors-esque choice happens one towards BB and one towards new pastures.)

lasermink · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 1883

Funnily enough, I haven't been at all perturbed by the aging of the actors. I guess it has something to do with my bad memory for faces.

TheVision · **Posted:** Thu Apr 21, 2016 22:51

We never did find out what that switch did in his old office, did we?

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