Better Call Saul

[Jackalope1977]

They're really building the backstories methodically this season, they didn't just jump into intense drama. It says to me that they're in this for the long haul. It'll be one of the greatest spin offs of all time.

I agree. The first couple of episodes I was a little disappointed, thinking the show was just trying to capitalize on BB's success. It seemed a little slow. I thought Jimmy would become Saul right away. Now I can't wait for the next episode. I'm not surprised "Lenny" turned out being a dick.

 

[greyhammer90]

I'm an interesting test case with BCS. I have never seen Breaking Bad. So my opinion isn't based of preconceptions or linked to my enjoyment of it being a "back story".

I decided to get into the show because I listened to an interview where the Peter Gould talked about the show and said that it stood on it's own. That if someone hadn't seen BB, they would be able to follow it and enjoy it.

So here's my take so far. I enjoy the show. I think that Saul is an interesting character and that this week's show was the best one so far. That being said, i'm kinda "meh" on the series. Maybe it picks up and since I haven't seen BB, i'm missing a bunch of backstory ties that Peter Gould underestimated in his interview. Don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed the show and will continue watching it. I'm just saying that it's just been "ok", not great.

I think a good amount of the excitement BCS is informed by BB, but not in the way you might think. It's not in a plot/characters/inside jokes way that I'm pumped for the future of the series because of BB. It's because I remember how BB started and how it was able to masterfully ramp-up the tension week after week. If BCS is starting this good, and BB is any indication, then this should be a wild ride.

P.S. Wizard is crazy. Watch BB. It's considered one of the best shows ever for a reason.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

I don't think you have to watch BB first, but part of my BCS enjoyment stems from learning back stories of characters I'm already familiar with. Already knowing how they turned out, but now learning how they started is what's kept me interested in BCS. Because I'll admit, the show seems slow right now.

Slow is good though. As mentioned above, maybe Vince is in this for the long haul and isn't looking for short-term success on the coat tails of BB. Character and story development are what made BB so amazing. Rushing it is never the way to go. I do hope they bring in more BB characters though. Not necessarily as main characters, but at least "in and out of the office" type cameos. We all know Saul had strong relationships with Walt and Jesse...but also Mike and Gus, among others, as well.

 

[Corry]

I don't think you have to watch BB first, but part of my BCS enjoyment stems from learning back stories of characters I'm already familiar with. Already knowing how they turned out, but now learning how they started is what's kept me interested in BCS. Because I'll admit, the show seems slow right now.

Slow is good though. As mentioned above, maybe Vince is in this for the long haul and isn't looking for short-term success on the coat tails of BB. Character and story development are what made BB so amazing. Rushing it is never the way to go. I do hope they bring in more BB characters though. Not necessarily as main characters, but at least "in and out of the office" type cameos. We all know Saul had strong relationships with Walt and Jesse...but also Mike and Gus, among others, as well.

I've never watched a minute of BB, and I love BCS. BCS is making want to watch BB. I think I'm going to wait until BCS is over, and pick it up from there.


Question, is Jimmy a bit character in BB or does he play a major role?

 

[greyhammer90]

I've never watched a minute of BB, and I love BCS. BCS is making want to watch BB. I think I'm going to wait until BCS is over, and pick it up from there.


Question, is Jimmy a bit character in BB or does he play a major role?

Bit-ish. It really depends on the season. Sometimes he's on the show a lot, other times he doesn't show up for a long time. There are lots of other good characters though.

 

[JTLA]

Why do I watch this show?

One reason still after 9 episodes... Breaking Bad's Saul Goodman.

That's a really bad sign after 9 episodes.

Sorry, but this show is BORING. Is Jimmy going to keep his fraud lawsuit against a retirement home or hand it over to the big firm? Is his brother crazy or what? Did I mention Jimmy works with old people? How about the way he handled those dopey embezzlers.

Man that's some great stuff. Riveting.

I think Bob Odenkirk is very talented and Ehrmantraut has moments of interesting, but the simple truth is that if this show existed in a world where Breaking Bad never existed, it would be the most boring show on TV. Everyone was so excited for it and predisposed to like it, we can't yet look past the fact that Saul isn't wearing any clothes.

 

[woolybug25]

Why do I watch this show?

One reason still after 9 episodes... Breaking Bad's Saul Goodman.

That's a really bad sign after 9 episodes.

Sorry, but this show is BORING. Is Jimmy going to keep his fraud lawsuit against a retirement home or hand it over to the big firm? Is his brother crazy or what? Did I mention Jimmy works with old people? How about the way he handled those dopey embezzlers.

Man that's some great stuff. Riveting.

I think Bob Odenkirk is very talented and Ehrmantraut has moments of interesting, but the simple truth is that if this show existed in a world where Breaking Bad never existed, it would be the most boring show on TV. Everyone was so excited for it and predisposed to like it, we can't yet look past the fact that Saul isn't wearing any clothes.

I've been keeping pretty quite, since I never saw Breaking Bad. But I totally agree. As someone with no emotional ties to BB, I have found this show rather slow and lacking in plot.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Bit-ish. It really depends on the season. Sometimes he's on the show a lot, other times he doesn't show up for a long time. There are lots of other good characters though.

I'll second this, but add that in BB, Saul plays a huge role in Walt and Jesse's "plan." While he may not be in every episode, his importance to the story warrants a "1-b" label...in my opinion.

 

[phork]

Why do I watch this show?

One reason still after 9 episodes... Breaking Bad's Saul Goodman.

That's a really bad sign after 9 episodes.

Sorry, but this show is BORING. Is Jimmy going to keep his fraud lawsuit against a retirement home or hand it over to the big firm? Is his brother crazy or what? Did I mention Jimmy works with old people? How about the way he handled those dopey embezzlers.

Man that's some great stuff. Riveting.

I think Bob Odenkirk is very talented and Ehrmantraut has moments of interesting, but the simple truth is that if this show existed in a world where Breaking Bad never existed, it would be the most boring show on TV. Everyone was so excited for it and predisposed to like it, we can't yet look past the fact that Saul isn't wearing any clothes.

I think its starting out just like BB started out. If any of you remember BB was slow out of the gate as well. I find it very entertaining. The entire show, camera angles, the sounds they use in the background. Its well done. We also already know how it ends.

I've been keeping pretty quite, since I never saw Breaking Bad. But I totally agree. As someone with no emotional ties to BB, I have found this show rather slow and lacking in plot.

You would say the same thing for BB the first season.

 

[Crazy Balki]

I like this better than BB so far. I don't know where this "boring" talk is coming from. It's not as action-packed as BB, but that's fine, and it's just starting out too. I think the big thing that makes it better is Jimmy. I love Walt and his transformation is cool, but Jimmy is a much more multi-dimensional character. Walt embraces the slide into greed and become someone completely different in the process. Jimmy desperately wants to be good and wants to get his brother's approval, only to have all of that thrown back in his face.

 

[GATTACA!]

Why do I watch this show?

One reason still after 9 episodes... Breaking Bad's Saul Goodman.

That's a really bad sign after 9 episodes.

Sorry, but this show is BORING. Is Jimmy going to keep his fraud lawsuit against a retirement home or hand it over to the big firm? Is his brother crazy or what? Did I mention Jimmy works with old people? How about the way he handled those dopey embezzlers.

Man that's some great stuff. Riveting.

I think Bob Odenkirk is very talented and Ehrmantraut has moments of interesting, but the simple truth is that if this show existed in a world where Breaking Bad never existed, it would be the most boring show on TV. Everyone was so excited for it and predisposed to like it, we can't yet look past the fact that Saul isn't wearing any clothes.

You're out of your mind. I dont understand the "boing" critique at all? The show is character driven and at this point it's as good as any show in that department. Christ just for the cinematography alone BCS has earned all the praise it's getting.

 

[Buster Bluth]

I think its starting out just like BB started out. If any of you remember BB was slow out of the gate as well. I find it very entertaining. The entire show, camera angles, the sounds they use in the background. Its well done. We also already know how it ends.

Not necessarily. It's likely that Better Call Saul can run before, during, and after Breaking Bad's story. Remember the series opened up with Saul/Jimmy in a post-Breaking Bad Cinnabon in Nebraska.

You would say the same thing for BB the first season.

True. The great thing about Breaking Bad is that every season was better than the one before it. I don't think that's been done too many times before.

I think people calling Better Call Saul boring have a point, I mean two minutes into Breaking Bad [SPOILERS...sorta] you have a man in his underwear putting a gun to their own head in the middle of a desert, and there was certainly a stretch in the middle of the season where I wondered where it was going.

And yet, considering the A+ cinematography and general production value of the season, as well as the build up of Breaking Bad and the faith one must have in Vince Gilligan, I'm pretty excited about where this is going. This first season sets the stage and he has all of Breaking Bad's world to use, plus of course additional pieces of this bizarro Albuquerque that he wants to create.

 

[Buster Bluth]

Some of these are pretty wild:

BuddyTV Slideshow | 'Better Call Saul': 11 Foreshadowing Moments to 'Breaking Bad' You Probably Missed

 

[Irish YJ]

Some of these are pretty wild:

BuddyTV Slideshow | 'Better Call Saul': 11 Foreshadowing Moments to 'Breaking Bad' You Probably Missed

Good stuff, horrible site. The long scripts take a minute + moving from slide to slide. Got through 6 and had to take a frustration break.

 

[Buster Bluth]

Those were my thoughts too haha

I imagine, like most clickbait sites, it's just a collection of points from Reddit (r/bettercallsaul), but I don't subscribe to that subreddit because I think it takes away from the viewing experience.

 

[Henges24]

Everyone has a right to their own opinion but I have to laugh at everyone saying this show "is not good" or "slow" or not as good as BB. People are forgetting this is a show about a lawyer not a meth-dealer.

I was actually expecting this show to be less action-less than it has been. I am amazed at how well the writers have been able to bring the story together and am with the people saying this show is "great" because it is great and it could challenge BB as one of the bests. (IMO of course )

 

[IrishinTN]

Not necessarily. It's likely that Better Call Saul can run before, during, and after Breaking Bad's story. Remember the series opened up with Saul/Jimmy in a post-Breaking Bad Cinnabon in Nebraska.

Yep, this is what they said it would cover. Makes it that much more interesting.

 

[phork]

Not necessarily. It's likely that Better Call Saul can run before, during, and after Breaking Bad's story. Remember the series opened up with Saul/Jimmy in a post-Breaking Bad Cinnabon in Nebraska.

Yah thats what they said. But I am not sure how much farther they can roll after that point. I have faith in the writers however that we'll get there.

 

[GATTACA!]

Yah thats what they said. But I am not sure how much farther they can roll after that point. I have faith in the writers however that we'll get there.

Then we will be rebuilding James McGill

 

[notredomer23]

I thought the finale was rather disappointing.

 

[NDinL.A.]

I thought the finale was rather disappointing.

I can see that. Very slow and dry. But as has been said, this is the same way BB started out. BB didn't get started for me until season 3...that's when it became must watch TV IMHO. Still liked the first 2 seasons, but they weren't ground-breaking television (which is why for me The Wire still remains the GOAT, followed by BB).

So personally, I liked Better Caul Saul's first season as a whole better than BB's first season, even with the subpar finale, which was obviously used to set up future seasons. These dudes simply know how to make great television, and I for one can't wait for season 2...

 

[notredomer23]

I can see that. Very slow and dry. But as has been said, this is the same way BB started out. BB didn't get started for me until season 3...that's when it became must watch TV IMHO. Still liked the first 2 seasons, but they weren't ground-breaking television (which is why for me The Wire still remains the GOAT, followed by BB).

So personally, I liked Better Caul Saul's first season as a whole better than BB's first season, even with the subpar finale, which was obviously used to set up future seasons. These dudes simply know how to make great television, and I for one can't wait for season 2...

I agree on all your points. I liked this first season much more than the first season of Breaking Bad. I did like the ending for two reasons though, with one being that it seems Jimmy McGill is gonna finally be Saul Goodman, and two, Mike is on the phone with a new employer, and I don't know if it is just me hoping this, but I think its gonna be Gus.

 

[IrishinTN]

I agree on all your points. I liked this first season much more than the first season of Breaking Bad. I did like the ending for two reasons though, with one being that it seems Jimmy McGill is gonna finally be Saul Goodman, and two, Mike is on the phone with a new employer, and I don't know if it is just me hoping this, but I think its gonna be Gus.

Yes!

 

[Andy in Sactown]

I agree on all your points. I liked this first season much more than the first season of Breaking Bad. I did like the ending for two reasons though, with one being that it seems Jimmy McGill is gonna finally be Saul Goodman, and two, Mike is on the phone with a new employer, and I don't know if it is just me hoping this, but I think its gonna be Gus.

I wondered this as well, but seriously doubt Gus would employ an ex-Cop without a criminal resume. I bet it's someone smaller, or maybe a proxy for Gus' organization, someone way down the chain of command. I think it'll be awhile, but Mike will prove his worth and work his way up the ladder; so to speak.

 

[GATTACA!]

I thought the finale was rather disappointing.

They went with the classic BB climax on episode 9. Also I feel like they used 10 as a wrap up in case the show didn't make it to season 2.

 

[Henges24]

They went with the classic BB climax on episode 9. Also I feel like they used 10 as a wrap up in case the show didn't make it to season 2.

Very true. I forgot that the 2nd season wasn't renewed until after the 1st was already made. The 2nd season should give them a lot more room to expand the story and bring in new major characters, possibly ones that we seen on BB (more Tuco, Nacho, Twins, Gus, Gale, etc.).

 

[wizards8507]

They went with the classic BB climax on episode 9. Also I feel like they used 10 as a wrap up in case the show didn't make it to season 2.

Game of Thrones does the same thing. The big event is always in the second-to-last episode. Ned Stark, Blackwater, Stannis the Mannis, The Red Wedding, etc.

 

[IrishinTN]

I wondered this as well, but seriously doubt Gus would employ an ex-Cop without a criminal resume. I bet it's someone smaller, or maybe a proxy for Gus' organization, someone way down the chain of command. I think it'll be awhile, but Mike will prove his worth and work his way up the ladder; so to speak.

I thought Mike was with Gus in some of the flashback episodes with Hector Salamanca?

edit: never mind, I guess that was later.

 

[Irish YJ]

I'm glad I read this thread before watching the DVR tonight. I was expecting bad, but actually enjoyed it going in with lower expectations. Lack of action, but still good acting and set up for next season.

 

[gkIrish]

Pretty excited for season 2 premiering tonight. This is the best show on TV IMO.