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!!!!

[lcarus]

That recording was clever and all, but couldn't Jimmy just say he really WAS lying to make Chuck feel better? In his mind, Chuck was going through a huge crisis and mental breakdown. Jimmy would have said anything to help him in that moment.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by lcarus

That recording was clever and all, but couldn't Jimmy just say he really WAS lying to make Chuck feel better? In his mind, Chuck was going through a huge crisis and mental breakdown. Jimmy would have said anything to help him in that moment.

Yes. Entrapment.

[Buehler445]

Ah, yes. Entrapment. Catherine Zeta Jones looked REALLY good in that movie.

[mdchiefsfan]

Originally Posted by frankotank

wow....I feel like such a dipshit!
of COURSE Hector had a stroke (or got a muscular disease). DUH!!!! and I was sitting there thinking Mike was gonna shoot him in the spine. NOPE! because that isn't why he's in a wheel chair.

I'll bet Mike NEVER shoots him!

I'm thinking the same thing his inability to talk completely escaped me.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by Buehler445

Ah, yes. Entrapment. Catherine Zeta Jones looked REALLY good in that movie.

Perhaps that's the definition BEP was using.

[BucEyedPea]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

Perhaps that's the definition BEP was using.

You just can't stop can ya'?

[Sandy Vagina]

Originally Posted by lcarus

That recording was clever and all, but couldn't Jimmy just say he really WAS lying to make Chuck feel better? In his mind, Chuck was going through a huge crisis and mental breakdown. Jimmy would have said anything to help him in that moment.

Yes, can't see the recording being enough.. not directly. Problem is, could be enough to ignite a full press on that employee at the copy store.

All rather stupid. Jimmy not seeing that set-up by his bro is inconceivable.. and frankly, insulting to try and pass off to the viewers.

Will keep watching.. and the show has its moments.. but they really drag the show out with a lot of snooooze.

[Anyong Bluth]

Originally Posted by Sandy Cheeks

Yes, can't see the recording being enough.. not directly. Problem is, could be enough to ignite a full press on that employee at the copy store.

All rather stupid. Jimmy not seeing that set-up by his bro is inconceivable.. and frankly, insulting to try and pass off to the viewers.

Will keep watching.. and the show has its moments.. but they really drag the show out with a lot of snooooze.

They're not going to have Chuck go after the copy guy. Pointless sideplot, the tape is to damage Jimmy to play it for:

Kim - to once again drive her out of Jimmy's life.

Howard / HHM - to reclaim his believed infallibility.

Mesa Verde - redemption for Chuck's ego.

State Bar - to punish Jimmy publicly.

He'll for sure play it for Howard.
I'm fairly certain at some point he'll look for an opportune time to play it for Kim down the road when she and Jimmy hit a rough patch. Revenge served cold when she's the most malleable.

It’s 50/50 on playing it for Mesa Verde, and 2:1 he'll sit on the recording and knows he needs more than circumstantial proof before getting cops or the bar involved.

My guess is he's going to end up using it mostly to tarnish Jimmy informally with his personal and professional relationships.


I don't know if it would be expected that his brother would have an electronic device in there. Chuck obviously methodically planned on selling the notion that he was going off the deep end by feigning quitting HHM and the law, laying on the sob story to play on Jimmy's sympathy and heart, and staging the room with his Faraday cage nonsense to sucker Jimmy into a false sense to let his guard down.

Chuck seems to rail against Slippin Jimmy, but it’s pretty obvious Chuck knows how to be just as manipulating when he feels the ends justify the means.

Which is why Chuck is a sactimonious, jealous laden prick whose irrationally driven by the joy of seeing his brother fail to put himself on a pedestal since Jimmy was always the favored son.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Sandy Cheeks

Yes, can't see the recording being enough.. not directly. Problem is, could be enough to ignite a full press on that employee at the copy store.

All rather stupid. Jimmy not seeing that set-up by his bro is inconceivable.. and frankly, insulting to try and pass off to the viewers.

Will keep watching.. and the show has its moments.. but they really drag the show out with a lot of snooooze.

I don't think it's stupid. Chuck is extraordinarily smart. He knows Jimmys one weakness... He will save chuck even if it means ruining his own life. The fact that chuck would use Jimmys love for him against Jimmy shows how low chuck has fallen. It was actually pretty clever because that sequence was set up nicely by Jimmys reaction at the copy store.

[MikeMaslowski]

Originally Posted by Anyong Bluth

They're not going to have Chuck go after the copy guy. Pointless sideplot, the tape is to damage Jimmy to play it for:

Kim - to once again drive her out of Jimmy's life.

Howard / HHM - to reclaim his believed infallibility.

Mesa Verde - redemption for Chuck's ego.

State Bar - to punish Jimmy publicly.

He'll for sure play it for Howard.
I'm fairly certain at some point he'll look for an opportune time to play it for Kim down the road when she and Jimmy hit a rough patch. Revenge served cold when she's the most malleable.

It’s 50/50 on playing it for Mesa Verde, and 2:1 he'll sit on the recording and knows he needs more than circumstantial proof before getting cops or the bar involved.

My guess is he's going to end up using it mostly to tarnish Jimmy informally with his personal and professional relationships.


I don't know if it would be expected that his brother would have an electronic device in there. Chuck obviously methodically planned on selling the notion that he was going off the deep end by feigning quitting HHM and the law, laying on the sob story to play on Jimmy's sympathy and heart, and staging the room with his Faraday cage nonsense to sucker Jimmy into a false sense to let his guard down.

Chuck seems to rail against Slippin Jimmy, but it’s pretty obvious Chuck knows how to be just as manipulating when he feels the ends justify the means.

Which is why Chuck is a sactimonious, jealous laden prick whose irrationally driven by the joy of seeing his brother fail to put himself on a pedestal since Jimmy was always the favored son.

I don't see it being for Kim. She 100 percent knows right? I mean, where did Jimmy get up and go after she gave that comment in bed. Not sure she would care about the tape and may run away with her fingers in her ears NOT to hear it.

[sedated]

Originally Posted by salame

if you watch the scene in the grocery where he has a meltdown after the truck robbery her gets all worked up and has to take a pill. I think someone just takes away his pills and lets him have a big one. My guess is Nacho.

This is what I was thinking as well - that scene had to have some significance.

But I bet its Gus. Gus has hated Hector since he killed his...gay lover? But I don't think he can kill him because of the cartel. Or at least can't make it appear that it was him doing the killing, hence why he stopped Mike from pulling the trigger; it would be assumed that Gus did it.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by Sandy Cheeks

Yes, can't see the recording being enough.. not directly. Problem is, could be enough to ignite a full press on that employee at the copy store.

All rather stupid. Jimmy not seeing that set-up by his bro is inconceivable.. and frankly, insulting to try and pass off to the viewers.

Will keep watching.. and the show has its moments.. but they really drag the show out with a lot of snooooze.

Nah, we know that is Jimmy's soft spot. He's shown that if it comes down to it, he'll put his own interests on the back burner even if he is shady. When it comes down to it, he cares about the people in his life.

I don't fault Chuck actually either in this instance, I'd be pissed to if a loved one did that to me. I don't know that I would go so far as to get him disbarred, but I'd have no problem showing it to Mesa Verde, Kim and HHM.

[BucEyedPea]

Originally Posted by Anyong Bluth

Which is why Chuck is a sactimonious, jealous laden prick whose irrationally driven by the joy of seeing his brother fail to put himself on a pedestal since Jimmy was always the favored son.

I think I'm coming around to this viewpoint about Chuck.

[Gonzo]

Originally Posted by BucEyedPea

I think I'm coming around to this viewpoint about Chuck.

Depends on your definition of pedestal.




****, I couldn't help myself. Sorry Bep.

[Anyong Bluth]

Originally Posted by BWillie

Nah, we know that is Jimmy's soft spot. He's shown that if it comes down to it, he'll put his own interests on the back burner even if he is shady. When it comes down to it, he cares about the people in his life.

I don't fault Chuck actually either in this instance, I'd be pissed to if a loved one did that to me. I don't know that I would go so far as to get him disbarred, but I'd have no problem showing it to Mesa Verde, Kim and HHM.

In black and white, Chuck did nothing wrong to try and win back Mesa Verde's business. Put in context, Chuck has basically checked out from HHM and believes he suffers some debilitating condition.

Chuck ONLY trys to come back to work once it's apparent Jimmy could be moving up and on some path to succeed. He's all about heading that off. He's then willing to endure going in and acting perfectly normal in order to pry away Kim's client. This is all precipitated by turning the screws to Jimmy. Chuck only puts in a kind word for Kim to Howard after he tears down Jimmy to her.

It's all out of manipulation, so Kim will see Chuck as just looking out for her best interest. Except he immediately goes after her client knowing full well that that business is a game changer in terms of their practice being able to get off the ground.

Everything he does is derived from wanting to knock Jimmy down. Not the actions of a brother, and certainly not the actions of a loving brother. Chuck thinks because he's technically within the legal boundaries that his behavior is morally just compared to Jimmy.

Chuck may not break the law, but he's not a good person, while Jimmy may bend and break it, but he's generally a good guy- at least at this point in his life.