Better Call Saul

actually preferring season 2. the character development, especially Kim's, is considerably subtler than I'm used to seeing on television. satisfied with each episode, always a little surprised that it keeps satisfying - this "how did he become the person we know he became?" overarching theme, and the constant suggestion that the person you become is the person you already were....it's something I disagree with personally, but it's so Greek drama, you know...and with that always-lurking "this has to end badly" thing that Breaking Bad did well and that this also does well, but differently.

No, I don't think that was it... She could've just continued working for Hamlin & McGill. I think the point of the whole job offer subplot was that it made Kimmy realize that even with a better position and pay than in her current firm, she'd still be subordinate to someone else. Clearly she's been a bit jealous of Jimmy's freedom, and him casually quitting his safe and steady job made her think, why shouldn't I do the same?

(xpost)

Yeah, really enjoy the character studies, though it's gotten to be more character studies than action, while BB always had one coming out of the other, with the momentum of Gilligan's original high concept, which he described as "Goodbye Mr. Chips turns into Scarface." While the action side of this is just Jimmy-to-Saul's brushes with the BB drug pros, and misc. local weirdos, apparently, like Mr. and Mrs. Kettleman. Yeah, can seem a bit slow, esp. with all the commercials.

I think her little Freudian slip was there to suggest that she has taken jimmy's remarks about a lateral move/Howard mk II to heart

I don't need violence or action to enjoy a show, but I think it's the lack of the local weirdos that's made season 2 somewhat less entertaining than season 1. I like that they're delving into the more mundane drama with Kim's arc, but IMO they could spice things up by having a few of those Coen Bros. style characters pop up every once in a while, like the talking toilet guy or the white secessionist in season 1.

I didn't think that Kim would join up with Jimmy. It was looking like she'd continue on the straight and narrow and that they'd drift apart as Jimmy becomes Saul

I really hope he doesn't do anything reckless and/or illegal and end up fucking her over

I had to step away for a moment but wins wrote my post pretty much verbatim so (DELETE).

I can't tell you how glad I am that they're not spicing things up with Coen Brothers style characters. Let this show be its own unique thing!

I really hope he doesn't do anything reckless and/or illegal and end up fucking her over

― paolo, Wednesday, March 30, 2016 11:07 AM (7 seconds ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I figure this is pretty much a foregone conclusion, seeing as how she's completely out of the picture by Breaking Bad times.

I really hope he doesn't do anything reckless and/or illegal and end up fucking her over

Sadly, this seems like the most obvious course the show will take + explanation why she isn't around in BB.

(xpost)

he's going to keep being Jimmy, and whether they're partners or just sharing an office, she's going to get muck on her

This season has been all about Kim, definitely. The previous episode, starting with the answering machine and continuing with the headhunting lunch and the PUA guy, was basically "Kim gets courted by schmucks"; if she ends up having a tragic arc, it'll be because of jimmy, so I'm more rooting for her than for them - I hope she gets away

*"them" - Kim/jimmy as a couple, I mean

Let this show be its own unique thing!

I didn't mean they were straight copying the Coens, just that they were doing something within the same writing parameters. And the talking toilet bowl and secessionist guy provided the funniest moments of last season, there hasn't really been anything comparable in this one.

Joan OTM, this season is surpassing a S1 that was one of my favorite seasons of tv storytelling ever.

This season had the baseball card guy doing cobbler porn

He was more lame than funny though... He wasn't even into cobbler porn, he just had to do it because Jimmy made up that story.

That is... what is funny... about that

I liked how they used that guy as sort of a shadow Walt though, since they were both ordinary Joes who got rich by dealing with organized crime in chemicals. But he was more like Walt would be in real life: lame and stupid instead of sociopathic and dangerous, not careful at all in flaunting his newfound wealth, unable to handle violent career criminals, etc.

Yes! Overall (way before the cobbler bit) pretty funny, as written and played; hope the character comes back. He's def the stubborn type, so even now, maybe he's still in the biz (gonna need more money for more cards).

Def a pre-Walt; we see pre-Saul's affinity for goofy guys trying to be clever badasses.

The toilet bowl guy and the secessionist were funny because they were doing something ridiculous while being completely serious about it... But this was just a lame dude who was forced to do something that he knew perfectly well was ridiculous, which I don't think is quite as hilarious.

There are still tons of broad-as-fuck supporting characters - everyone in the rest home (to a groanworthy extent), camera bros, others I can't remember - and sitcommy moments, like jimmy playing the fuckin bagpipes! It's amazing how they get away with this in a show ostensibly all about subtle character study. Like I said upthread it's a real mastery of register

For sure, that's the legacy of BB, mastering that register.

jimmy deciding to ape the fashion sense of the car lot blow up doll, replete with a funky soundtrack, was the best moment of the series for me

Yes, it was very nice to see the initial, American Beauty-esque 'inflatable man = freedom, do u see' imagery turned on its ear.

Erin is such an excellent minor character, she just radiates pissy try-hard disapproval in every scene.

everyone has known an Erin

sometimes you gotta unleash your inner Erin, I think she's great

For some reason this show reminds me of Six Feet Under - a number of prominent characters who don't necessarily interact that often, kind of funny but not full on comedy, "slow" with no real driving conflict but not in a bad way, etc. Even the visual style sort of feels like that but it's been at least 10 years so I might be delusional.

There are still tons of broad-as-fuck supporting characters - everyone in the rest home (to a groanworthy extent), camera bros, others I can't remember - and sitcommy moments, like jimmy playing the fuckin bagpipes! It's amazing how they get away with this in a show ostensibly all about subtle character study. Like I said upthread it's a real mastery of register

― Rainer Weirder Faßbooker (wins), Wednesday, March 30, 2016 4:35 PM (4 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Yeah the high-wire act this show manages is pretty incredible. So much of it would fall apart in lesser hands.

Erin was so great because she was otm

The universe keeps giving Jimmy people who want to help and support and shape his talents for good & productive ends, and he pissily resists every one

Erin was there to help him conform to and be successful in his new workplace

The fuckin' system, man.

The actress who plays Erin is John Ennis' (from Mr. Show) daughter btw

I had a wee chuckle to myself when Jimmy threw Erin's can in the non-recyclables bin

hopefully she continues to appear since she's his natural nemesis

Yeah Erin is one of the best little things about this series.

She's so well done I have a hard time believing she's not that character in real life.

fwiw Six Feet Under was amazing in its day but... does not hold up well ime

Yeesh---listening to this All Things Considered coverage of a nursing home scandal, well-documented, in present-day New Mexico, I hope the Sandpiper residents don't get (prematurely) buried in the mix, having served their initial purpose for the writers and lawyers. Can be a tricky thing, on shows about lawyers, doctors, cops, etc. I'd prefer to think of the presentation of elders as wide-eyed children (like those 50s kitsch paintings)is hella ironic: "This is the way a lot of people, especially predators, tend to see old people, or prefer to."

well, very few regular meth users were recurring characters on BB

binge-watched all of this in the past couple of weeks. love it way more than I thought I would.
Thought Kim was being a bit reckless trying that scam in a favourite bar of potential new boss? Thought Jimmy was slightly reluctant to go with it, separate from the 'reluctant' spiel.

Another great episode. The opening was tremendous, just as a standalone short.

Yeah if anyone sees a making-of or behind the scenes for that opening, please post it. Loved it.

Chuck thinking he's a goddamn wolf, Jimmy's gonna clean his clock

I couldn't pick where the camera got off the crane and onto a golf cart or whatever, but you can spot when he gets off that and onto his feet. There's a Rope cut in there as well, I think.

Watched again and the crane -> cart transition is obv when you actually know you're looking for one. The Rope cut comes so far in that I thought "why even bother so close to the end," but it turned out I was just forgetting how long the entire shot is. Fantastic scene.

Oh my god, as soon as Chuck went to his closet I knew what he was up to and wanted to throw him in a bin full of cellphones. What a turd.

great "single take" and montage in one episode - we're not worthy.