Better Call Saul

[rico]

As I am sure many of y'all already know, a spinoff of "Breaking Bad" titled "Better Call Saul" will be airing in 2014. This is going to be a prequel to Breaking Bad and will be based on the character of Saul Goodman from "Breaking Bad."

I, for one, will be watching. I'm sure the majority of all of you other "Breaking Bad" fans will be as well. Might as well get the discussion going sooner rather than later.

So... what are your hopes, expectations and/or concerns with the show? Here are some of mine:

Hopes: I hope to see Saul do his thing in the courtroom. I hope to see strong, unique supporting characters. I hope to see Breaking Bad foreshadowing. I hope he has an intriguing paralegal and/or assistant. I hope to see Breaking Bad characters such as Fring, Mike, etc...whoever. I hope the show kicks ass.

Expectations: I don't expect it to be as good as "Breaking Bad" (because nothing else is, really), but I expect it to be good since Vince Gilligan is writing. I somewhat expect it to have an even balance of comedy and drama...since Saul undeniably provides a substantial amount of comedic relief in "Breaking Bad." I expect to see "courtroom Saul." I expect the "Breaking Bad" references and character cameos to be less than what I hope. If it isn't even a fraction as good as "Breaking Bad," I expect it to be better than 95% of everything else on TV, since there is some shitty shit on TV these days.

Concerns: I'd be a liar if I were to say that I didn't think this show has potential of flopping and certainly failing to meet the presumed high expectations of the audience. Don't get me wrong, I think it will be good... but I think it COULD suck if not executed properly. My main concern is Saul ultimately proving himself to be a "little dab will do ya" type of character, which would lead to a show centered around his character not working out. I am hoping that the character of Saul will not be so over-used and constantly over the top, that he becomes annoying to me, thus ruining his character for me altogether... Not saying I think this will be how it goes down...just saying I think there is a CHANCE of this being the case, which prompts me to believe that a strong supporting cast is VITAL in terms of the amount of success/quality this show will accumulate. All in all, I don't think VG will steer us in an unfortunate direction though...I think they'll pull it off.

Thoughts?

DISCUS!!!!

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by NewChief

This show... I'm on FIFi where Jimmy's brother miraculously goes in and swings the bank client away from Kim and back to his firm

I really hate his character. His stupid bullshit psychosomatic neorosis that he only overcomes when he's motivated by trying to screw Jimmy. Yes, Jimmy is a shyster and awful person, but his brother is a big reason for that. He's despicable.

If you think he's bad now, just wait for the S2 finale and the flashback of their mother's hospital death...

[eDave]

Originally Posted by MahiMike

I thought he planted a phone and his secretary was stepping outside to call him. Would have been more discreet but still effective

Loved chuck getting his payback. Gotta think the case is thrown out and Chuck gets let go from the firm.

Chuck surely would have known a cell phone was in his pocket.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by MahiMike

This was the best court drama since Alice dropped a phone book next to the guy with Whiplash on the Brady bunch!

Really? It was entertaining but I thought the writers missed a more clever opportunity to cross up Chuck than that

[eDave]

Originally Posted by BWillie

Really? It was entertaining but I thought the writers missed a more clever opportunity to cross up Chuck than that

It came across as hokey to me.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by BWillie

Really? It was entertaining but I thought the writers missed a more clever opportunity to cross up Chuck than that

I actually appreciated how methodical the whole thing was. It shows what happens when you mix a meticulous details person like Kim with a crafty guy like Jimmy. Didn't have a problem with that. But it was a little odd that they went a little Perry Mason with Chuck blurting out a confession like Jack Nicholson in a few good men.

I still am not sold that Jimmy is off the hook. The newspaper photo is time stamped. And there still begs the question... If Jimmy was faking a confession to be nice, then why did he go to great lengths to destroy the tape? Can't imagine the court would let that one slide

[kjwood75nro]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

I actually appreciated how methodical the whole thing was. It shows what happens when you mix a meticulous details person like Kim with a crafty guy like Jimmy. Didn't have a problem with that. But it was a little odd that they went a little Perry Mason with Chuck blurting out a confession like Jack Nicholson in a few good men.

I still am not sold that Jimmy is off the hook. The newspaper photo is time stamped. And there still begs the question... If Jimmy was faking a confession to be nice, then why did he go to great lengths to destroy the tape? Can't imagine the court would let that one slide

I think it's entirely in line with Chuck's personality to lose his shit when he's not in control of things.

Notice how he always attempts to interject himself into every process, even going so far as to critique Jimmy's cross-examination as it's happening. Also, he confidently gives Kim information about the tape (despite Howard's objections), thinking he's already ahead of Jimmy's plan.

It's believable that Chuck would lash out when his reputation and method of controlling people is trashed in front of everybody, and by his inferior brother, of all people.

And the best part is, since he already testified that his "condition" is solely physical, he can't claim that the battery affected what he said.

And, OT, is it even possible for one to have a EMF allergy, considering the earth itself (and all people) emit one? Not to mention all rooms with electrical wiring, even with the lights turned off. And his cook stove. And fire. And the sun. And any car he drives.

I know it's a mental illness, but you'd think somebody would've nipped this in the bud by now.

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by kjwood75nro

I think it's entirely in line with Chuck's personality to lose his shit when he's not in control of things.

Notice how he always attempts to interject himself into every process, even going so far as to critique Jimmy's cross-examination as it's happening. Also, he confidently gives Kim information about the tape (despite Howard's objections), thinking he's already ahead of Jimmy's plan.

It's believable that Chuck would lash out when his reputation and method of controlling people is trashed in front of everybody, and by his inferior brother, of all people.

And the best part is, since he already testified that his "condition" is solely physical, he can't claim that the battery affected what he said.

And, OT, is it even possible for one to have a EMF allergy, considering the earth itself (and all people) emit one? Not to mention all rooms with electrical wiring, even with the lights turned off. And his cook stove. And fire. And the sun. And any car he drives.

I know it's a mental illness, but you'd think somebody would've nipped this in the bud by now.

I have STRONG doubts about something so simple as a universal allergy to EMF. But there actually are communities devoted to people who claim a sensitivity to high-frequency EM.* Still in question is if it is a physical manifestation of psychological disturbance or a physical manifestation of physical bombardment.

https://skeptoid.com/episodes/4072

* - if unfamilar, electricity and magnetism are synergistic phenomena. That is, electrons in motion creates magnetism, and magnets in motion create electrical current, . . . and back and forth and back and forth. So the faster these two things occur in proximity, the more complex the fields and currents.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

I actually appreciated how methodical the whole thing was. It shows what happens when you mix a meticulous details person like Kim with a crafty guy like Jimmy. Didn't have a problem with that. But it was a little odd that they went a little Perry Mason with Chuck blurting out a confession like Jack Nicholson in a few good men.

I still am not sold that Jimmy is off the hook. The newspaper photo is time stamped. And there still begs the question... If Jimmy was faking a confession to be nice, then why did he go to great lengths to destroy the tape? Can't imagine the court would let that one slide

RE: a few good men confession.

That's the only way Jimmy was going to show them Chuck was crazy. Remember their defense is brotherly love gone bad. Not felony. Jimmy had to show them Chuck was nuts (he is. He's right, but he's nuts) and this was the only way to get it done.

RE: Jimmy off the hook

We all know he makes the transformation and Kim is out and we are assuming it is forcably. Honestly I think the story goes as far as they get greenlit for. The commentaries I've heard from the writers is that there isn't a set story like Game of Thrones. They're just writing about interesting characters. Long story short I doubt the transformation happens now unless the series is ending.

[Sandy Vagina]

I thought Jimmy was gonna have Mike erase the tape, and make sure no other copies existed.

Instead, Jimmy is going to and has seriously damaged Chuck's rep and credibility. Showing how mentally messed up Chuck is was the only way to reinforce that the admission on tape was Jimmy telling "a kind and self-incriminating lie" to Chuck.. to make Chuck feel less concerned about himself.

After that meltdown, and possibly more to it to come.. I see Chuck on the losing end here, and in more ways than one.

[Zebedee DuBois]

So, when Jimmy had Mike take photos while fixing the door, and finding "that other thing" - was the other thing Chuck's wife's address? or something else?

[B_Ambuehl]

Originally Posted by eDave

Chuck surely would have known a cell phone was in his pocket.

Remember back from season 1 or 2 when he was in the hospital and the female Dr. tested him by keeping electronics on when he thought they were off. Chucks sickness has always been 100% mental.

[Fire Me Boy!]

Originally Posted by B_Ambuehl

Remember back from season 1 or 2 when he was in the hospital and the female Dr. tested him by keeping electronics on when he thought they were off. Chucks sickness has always been 100% mental.

I think he was saying the weight of the cell phone would have been noticed by Chuck.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Buehler445

RE: a few good men confession.

That's the only way Jimmy was going to show them Chuck was crazy. Remember their defense is brotherly love gone bad. Not felony. Jimmy had to show them Chuck was nuts (he is. He's right, but he's nuts) and this was the only way to get it done.

RE: Jimmy off the hook

We all know he makes the transformation and Kim is out and we are assuming it is forcably. Honestly I think the story goes as far as they get greenlit for. The commentaries I've heard from the writers is that there isn't a set story like Game of Thrones. They're just writing about interesting characters. Long story short I doubt the transformation happens now unless the series is ending.

Well the preview has Kim at the end introduce Jimmy as saul Goodman in the next episode. And the intro last week was just the saul Goodman Park bench. Some kind of major transformation looks like it will happen sooner rather than later and plenty of foreshadowing that Kim will get hurt somehow and it will be Jimmy's fault.

[eDave]

Originally Posted by B_Ambuehl

Remember back from season 1 or 2 when he was in the hospital and the female Dr. tested him by keeping electronics on when he thought they were off. Chucks sickness has always been 100% mental.

I meant that he would have noticed it physically. Meaning, how would he not know a cell phone is in his pocket. I'd notice that. Battery is much lighter.

[B_Ambuehl]

Kim heard Jimmy's confession on the tape. That will really bother her and she'll move on soon, likely as soon as this hearing is over. Chuck looks like he might be headed to the loony bin. What I can't figure out is what's the cause of Jimmy changing his name to Saul Goodman. Any ideas?