I’m beyond excited for this season. Can’t wait to see where things go with the lab next. I’m into Nacho’s character and what happens to him. Mike is my favorite character from this BB/BCS universe, period. Looking forward to Saul going full “criminal” lawyer.
And I still hold out hope that we’ll get more Gus backstory. But any Gus Fring on the screen is always great.
And Lola was a promising character (mentioned on BB!) addition to the show late in season 4. Interested to see more of him this season, and also getting the full understanding of the “Lola sent you?” line - which I’m sure they’ll give us.
I wouldn't be surprised if Lalo is taken out, but somehow Saul isn't told, so Lalo becomes an unnecessary ghost haunting Saul all that BrBad time. Seems like some clever shit Gould/Gilligan might try to add a layer to Saul's story.
13. "The show currently is about 50/50" In response to Reply # 4
split between Jimmy and Mike, or perhaps 60/40 between Jimmy and Mike. But you do have to deal with the earlier seasons delving more into Jimmy. If you don't care for the Jimmy character that deeply, then perhaps Better Call Saul isn't for you, and there's nothing wrong with that. And I don't mean that in a pejorative or insulting manner.
"Sean sparks like John Starks, nah, Sean ball like John Wall" - Rest In Power Forever Sean Price.
14. "I'm impressed how hard they work to make it feel like Omaha" In response to Reply # 9
Little things bug me, like the JCPenney parking lot looking all wrong, the layout of the "Oakview" mall being more narrow, showing the diner's marquee which isn't a location in Nebraska etc. But it's always "felt" like Omaha, and it's just nice to see someone besides Alexander Payne's idea of our city on screen, even if it's all smoke and mirrors.
So I'm also on the edge of my seat for an all-Omaha episode but not just because of Gene, I want to see how they fully transform ABQ into OMA, or if they just go all interior shots to cut out the harder stuff.
10. "Good place setting episode." In response to Reply # 0
I actually think Saul Goodman is an interesting character, so I'm happy that we're finally really getting into Saul being Saul and getting his name out there. And as goofy as the fake "press ambush" of the DA was, it's definitely something Saul would do.
And, as the episode demonstrated, Kim really can't get on a high horse. She may try to tell Jimmy that Saul is beneath him, but when Jimmy proposed that the two open another office together, she fleed immediately to the big firm. And this episode, she did exactly what Saul suggested.
Of course Gus had a super-involved plan to deal with Lalo. And of course that's not going to be the end of it between the two of them. The only thing I didn't like was Mike telling Gus to fuck off. Look, we know how it's going to end up, but stretching things out is getting to be a tired Gilligan move.
And as alluded to above response, the Omaha stuff was great. Very bittersweet seeing Robert Forster. I just really don't want to wait another year or so to find out if Gene goes and kills that taxi driver.
>I actually think Saul Goodman is an interesting character, so >I'm happy that we're finally really getting into Saul being >Saul and getting his name out there. And as goofy as the fake >"press ambush" of the DA was, it's definitely something Saul >would do.
It was extra goofy. I'm not a huge fan of the schemes involving those kids because its when the show feels a little too cute but it's not exactly left field for him.
>And, as the episode demonstrated, Kim really can't get on a >high horse. She may try to tell Jimmy that Saul is beneath >him, but when Jimmy proposed that the two open another office >together, she fleed immediately to the big firm. And this >episode, she did exactly what Saul suggested.
My predictions about this show are always wrong but she's gonna wind up disbarred. He brings out a side of her she's trying to suppress.
>Of course Gus had a super-involved plan to deal with Lalo. And >of course that's not going to be the end of it between the two >of them.
For as much of a goofball as Lalo is, hes pretty smart in his own way, and has a great bullshit detector. He knows Gus is playing him. Also i think this is the first time they flat out referenced Max as Gus's boyfriend. Gilligan has only gone as far as saying he wont deny that was the relationship but never confirmed. Hector kind of vaguely joked about it, and this could be chalked up to Lalo talking shit but he was pretty matter of fact in saying it.
The only thing I didn't like was Mike telling Gus to >fuck off. Look, we know how it's going to end up, but >stretching things out is getting to be a tired Gilligan move.
I'm rusty on last season. Gus was mad at him because he let the head German off the reservation causing Lalo to snoop around and putting the operation on hold. Why is Mike mad at Gus tho?
>And as alluded to above response, the Omaha stuff was great. >Very bittersweet seeing Robert Forster. I just really don't >want to wait another year or so to find out if Gene goes and >kills that taxi driver.
Gene episode or movie. I'm still pulling for it. I dont think he kills the cabbie, just because hes more creative than that. Would be a crazy step for him tho
15. "yeah, from a screenplay perspective, that was the point of the flight pl..." In response to Reply # 12
Some guys say nothing so you think Mike's just got another day in the office, then one guy offends him for besmirching Werner's name which reminds him how much he liked Werner, then the next guy knocks him down for being a lesser man than Werner which hits so hard he can't react since they were essentially equally motivated Mike simply had the power over Werner while also being powerless to handle him any differently.
He realizes he made a firm decision to join the other side, but it was Gus that made him realize just how far into darkness he'd slipped. He's not just schooling people on how to cover themselves up from legal scrutiny and get themselves out of two-bit scraps unscathed, he's a straight up contract killer now and fully a part of Gus' operation whether he takes the money now or not. All he can do is accept work when it comes to him and otherwise take the only moral stand he has left, staying off the payroll when he's not doing the job.
18. "which is why he blew up at the grand daughter...." In response to Reply # 15 Fri Feb-28-20 02:59 PM by KnowOne
Like said above Ziegler is the first "innocent" guy Mike has had to kill. Ziegler tried to do the right thing, unknowing got in too deep, had to be put down as a result. (though it was his own fault for running off). So Mike hates Gus for what he made him do. When the grand daughter brings up her Dad, another innocent guy who unknowingly got too deep and it cost him his life, the pain of his son and Ziegler hit Mike all at once and he couldnt handle it. He realized Gus had made him into the very thing he hated.
_________________________________________ "Too weird to live.... too rare to die..."
19. "This show is so well written." In response to Reply # 18
> When the grand daughter brings up her Dad, >another innocent guy who unknowingly got too deep and it cost >him his life, the pain of his son and Ziegler hit Mike all at >once and he couldnt handle it. He realized Gus had made him >into the very thing he hated.
21. "Didn't love the use of Black folks in the episode though" In response to Reply # 20
From the producers that avoided Black people in BB, to finally have 2 scenes with color and Mike's shitting on both AND the group were assholes. People see different things.
22. "I've noticed this about this show as well." In response to Reply # 21
And thought the same exact thing about both the scenes w/Mike. I was thinking to myself, this seems intentional.
>From the producers that avoided Black people in BB, to >finally have 2 scenes with color and Mike's shitting on both >AND the group were assholes. >People see different things.
33. "It's more about how he was used in white Mike's kkkrusade" In response to Reply # 28
It's almost like they couldn't let their strong white character be a totally powerless pawn in brown people's games, so they let him run through some Black people...but that's my lens.
24. "Can someone help explain where Tuco is in all of this?" In response to Reply # 20
Jimmy got Tuco off, but where is Tuco at now? Is he running another crew? Or is the actor not available so they're biding their time before they show him?
26. "Tuco is still in prison" In response to Reply # 24
He didn't "get off" as much as he got his less jail time after Mike told the cops that the gun was his and not Tuco's. Then in Season 3 they said he was in solitary after stabbing a prison guard.
Stands to reason that he may be off-screen for the rest of the show's run.
Or at least they were locked up together. Been so long since I've seen those season 1 episodes.
>i wonder if they'll show anything
I'm still unclear as to how long before Breaking Bad that Better Call Saul takes place. I want to say that according to Gillgan, Jesse and Pete and Badger would still be high school kids right now at this point in the show, but I could be wrong.
Also, time moves VERY slowly from season to season.
What's Jimmy's motivation to go out of his way to fuck with Howard? Just pure resentment for everything?
Was Gus fucking with that kid so he could feel a sense of control over something while the drop was going down
The Kim stuff is interesting. It seems she's going out of her way to help the old man so she can prove she's decent. She wants the money and success of being a corporate lawyer without being the bad guy. Balancing it with pro bono work clearly isn't gonna be enough for her so now she's trying to rig the game with Saul's help.
Thoughts on who took Mike? Has to be Gus right? I've discussed this before but Gus ain't shit without Mike. Walt was only able to kill Gus because Mike was sidelined
36. "Jimmy was throwing the pizza on the roof" In response to Reply # 35
He could've had it if he wanted it, but A) he knows he's likely a dead man if he walks away from the cartel and B) he gets off on being the best of the bad guys.
Plus, dude, if someone I had history with like Jimmy has history with Howard came to me offering a job and his condolences for the way he left me out to dry, all while blaming it on my relationship with my BURNED ALIVE IN HIS OWN HOME, BY HIS OWN HAND brother?
I might hit the local thrift shop for some disposables too.
38. "I'm not sure he's acutely aware of the danger he's in just yet." In response to Reply # 36 Thu Mar-12-20 09:51 AM by Brew
>He could've had it if he wanted it, but A) he knows he's >likely a dead man if he walks away from the cartel and B) he >gets off on being the best of the bad guys.
At least I didn't personally get that impression from the episode.
I think it was more what you said after, that he's forever resentful of HHM and Hamlin in particular and no amount of apologies will ever really make up for what happened in the years prior. No matter how misplaced we may view Jimmy's resentment to be.
>What's Jimmy's motivation to go out of his way to fuck with >Howard? Just pure resentment for everything?
That I assumed was both resentment for the past and also disliking that Howard has moved on and has peace. They showed that car license plate multiple times. The look on Jimmy’s face when Howard hugged him was one of pure disdain IMO.
>Was Gus fucking with that kid so he could feel a sense of >control over something while the drop was going down
That didn’t make a ton of sense to me. I assumed Gus would want everybody gone while he waited for that call. When he kept the kid around, I was waiting for the reason because it was driving me nuts not being able to figure it out. I still have no idea. We haven’t seen Gus rattled like that too many times.
>The Kim stuff is interesting. It seems she's going out of her >way to help the old man so she can prove she's decent. She >wants the money and success of being a corporate lawyer >without being the bad guy. Balancing it with pro bono work >clearly isn't gonna be enough for her so now she's trying to >rig the game with Saul's help.
Yup. Gotta think she’s going to go down for this too.
>Thoughts on who took Mike? Has to be Gus right? I've discussed >this before but Gus ain't shit without Mike. Walt was only >able to kill Gus because Mike was sidelined
Agreed, that it’s likely Gus. Is it possible it’s the Salamancas? And Gus somehow intervenes, making Mike loyal to him? Just thinking out loud.
>That I assumed was both resentment for the past and also >disliking that Howard has moved on and has peace. They showed >that car license plate multiple times. The look on Jimmy’s >face when Howard hugged him was one of pure disdain IMO.
For sure. And this is a nice subtle callback to Jimmy saying "that's your cross to bear" to Hamlin after Chuck died. Emotionally, Jimmy tried to remove the burden of Chuck's death from his own shoulders and transfer it to Howard's, but when he realized his deflection attempt hadn't worked (Hamlin was at peace, the license plate, etc.) it drove him mad.
>That didn’t make a ton of sense to me. I assumed Gus would >want everybody gone while he waited for that call. When he >kept the kid around, I was waiting for the reason because it >was driving me nuts not being able to figure it out. I still >have no idea. We haven’t seen Gus rattled like that too >many times.
I think that was exactly the point. He transfers the stress he *should* feel re: his insanely criminal empire into an unreasonable level of OCD for his legal work. However briefly, he'd lost control of the drug thing, and to make up for that he sought an irrational level of control over the chicken joint ... the only thing he *could* fully control in that moment.
I was initially thinking the same thing re: him keeping the kid there vs. sending him home. Like why would he want anyone anywhere near him while this was going on ? But giving it some more thought it made some sense. He's maniacal.
>>The Kim stuff is interesting. It seems she's going out of >her >>way to help the old man so she can prove she's decent. She >>wants the money and success of being a corporate lawyer >>without being the bad guy. Balancing it with pro bono work >>clearly isn't gonna be enough for her so now she's trying to >>rig the game with Saul's help. > >Yup. Gotta think she’s going to go down for this too. > >>Thoughts on who took Mike? Has to be Gus right? I've >discussed >>this before but Gus ain't shit without Mike. Walt was only >>able to kill Gus because Mike was sidelined > >Agreed, that it’s likely Gus. Is it possible it’s the >Salamancas? And Gus somehow intervenes, making Mike loyal to >him? Just thinking out loud.
41. "Yeah, I think that’s right" In response to Reply # 39
>I think that was exactly the point. He transfers the stress he >*should* feel re: his insanely criminal empire into an >unreasonable level of OCD for his legal work. However briefly, >he'd lost control of the drug thing, and to make up for that >he sought an irrational level of control over the chicken >joint ... the only thing he *could* fully control in that >moment. > >I was initially thinking the same thing re: him keeping the >kid there vs. sending him home. Like why would he want anyone >anywhere near him while this was going on ? But giving it some >more thought it made some sense. He's maniacal. >
Thought it was interesting how Gus presented himself as “different” than the Salamancas to Mike. Like he’s a more “moral” drug dealer. He was initially presented that way in Breaking Bad too - but we eventually saw him slit Victor’s throat just as a move and threaten to kill Walt’s infant daughter so we know better.
40. "Still not seeing why Mike should go with Gus" In response to Reply # 0
Gus “presented” him with his two choices, but....not really seeing why Mike couldn’t just chill out and in time get a better handle on things and patch it up with his family. Getting over being forced to kill somebody by....signing up to go kill more people?
Gus brought up “revenge” and while Mike was furious when that truck driver was killed, it’s not like he’s been presented as having that eat at him this whole time has it? Something else has to happen to get him to go with Gus, IMO.
Loved that “Mr. X” or whatever return. He was the guy Mike beat up in the parking garage early on in this series. Love the minor characters in this shady BB/BCS universe.
Thought we were going to get another elaborate Mike building something scene and then she cuts it off by giving him a charger.....that was good! Lol.
42. "I tend to agree that it's not super convincing but the "revenge" angle ...." In response to Reply # 40
>Gus “presented” him with his two choices, but....not >really seeing why Mike couldn’t just chill out and in time >get a better handle on things and patch it up with his family. > Getting over being forced to kill somebody by....signing up >to go kill more people? > >Gus brought up “revenge” and while Mike was furious when >that truck driver was killed, it’s not like he’s been >presented as having that eat at him this whole time has it? >Something else has to happen to get him to go with Gus, IMO.
= Gus somehow knows that Mike killed those two cops as retribution for his son's death.
But even with that said, I hope that's not all it takes for Mike to fully jump on board. Because I agree that it isn't all that convincing that he'd jump on board with Gus (especially after what happened with Werner) just because Gus tapped into Mike's conscience just a little bit.
>Loved that “Mr. X” or whatever return. He was the guy >Mike beat up in the parking garage early on in this series. >Love the minor characters in this shady BB/BCS universe.
Agreed. I knew I recognized him and looked him up. I'd assumed Jimmy had worked with him sometime earlier in the series but of course it was Mike. Very subtle brilliance all over the place.
>Thought we were going to get another elaborate Mike building >something scene and then she cuts it off by giving him a >charger.....that was good! Lol.
Hahah yes that was amazing. No way we could've seen that coming.
43. "another funny scene was Mike having no time for Jimmy " In response to Reply # 42
Love how Mike almost always is incredibly short with him and wholly uninterested in his BS. It’s consistent with how Mike came into his office and punked him in BB when he was looking for Jesse.
44. "LOL yes. The "yes ... I'm in a tunnel." was masterfully delivered." In response to Reply # 43
>Love how Mike almost always is incredibly short with him and >wholly uninterested in his BS. It’s consistent with how >Mike came into his office and punked him in BB when he was >looking for Jesse.
48. "Yup. i assumed it was a reference to Philly" In response to Reply # 42
>= Gus somehow knows that Mike killed those two cops as >retribution for his son's death.
I think part of Mike's internal problem is he knows how good he is at killing people, and it's fucking with him. Gus going this far to bring him in despite all the muscle he already has only confirms it more.
I've said this a bunch of times, but Mike is the key to Gus's empire. Walt would have never got to Gus if mike wasn't sidelined. He would've sniffed out the trap. Even now Gus knows he can't best the Salamancas without him.
49. "Really good points all around." In response to Reply # 48
>>= Gus somehow knows that Mike killed those two cops as >>retribution for his son's death. > >I think part of Mike's internal problem is he knows how good >he is at killing people, and it's fucking with him. Gus going >this far to bring him in despite all the muscle he already has >only confirms it more. > >I've said this a bunch of times, but Mike is the key to Gus's >empire. Walt would have never got to Gus if mike wasn't >sidelined. He would've sniffed out the trap. Even now Gus >knows he can't best the Salamancas without him.
46. "I don't necessarily think he was trying to "play" her .." In response to Reply # 45
... so much as he maybe subconsciously loves when they're both playing a little dirty/it's a turn-on for him and clearly her. So I'm thinking he kind of naturally leads her to the water a bit because it's clear their relationship is sort of dependent on that type collaborative dirty work and excitement. When it's just him playing dirty she clearly sort of pulls back from him a bit.
BUT - you bring up an interesting theory for the rest of the season, in that maybe *she* will end up viewing it as him having played her, which may be part of their inevitable (IMO) demise.
47. "yeah he knows she's into it" In response to Reply # 46
so he drops subtle bait.
>BUT - you bring up an interesting theory for the rest of the >season, in that maybe *she* will end up viewing it as him >having played her, which may be part of their inevitable (IMO) >demise.
51. "Alright - the Mike beefing with Gus thing was just stalling" In response to Reply # 0
and not particularly well done either, IMO. One of the few criticisms I’ve had.
They’re back together though - and it was good to see Mike back in action, setting up Lalo. Also, good to see Nacho and Mike interact.
Jimmy pulling that shit on Kim and claiming he “protected her”....kinda drew me back to Walt talking that shit on the phone to protect Skylar near the end of Breaking Bad, though far different circumstances and execution. It just made me think of that.
Rhea Seehorn is a top notch actress IMO, and I also thought it was crazy how her mother nailed Kim’s mannerisms in that flashback scene.
52. "Agree. That may have been the laziest writing the whole series." In response to Reply # 51
>and not particularly well done either, IMO. One of the few >criticisms I’ve had.
Same. Show has been incredibly well done. So I guess I can let it slide that they got a little loose w/this storyline. Wasn't *bad* per se just didn't live up to the standards of the rest of the show.
>They’re back together though - and it was good to see Mike >back in action, setting up Lalo. Also, good to see Nacho and >Mike interact. > >Jimmy pulling that shit on Kim and claiming he “protected >her”....kinda drew me back to Walt talking that shit on the >phone to protect Skylar near the end of Breaking Bad, though >far different circumstances and execution. It just made me >think of that. > >Rhea Seehorn is a top notch actress IMO, and I also thought it >was crazy how her mother nailed Kim’s mannerisms in that >flashback scene.
Seehorn deserves all the Emmys. Incredibly hasn't even been nominated. What a joke.
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