[Closed] Better Call Saul

Watched 1st episode of 2nd series last night.
Very slow. Hopefully that is just the base story line, and it will liven up soon.

Thought the last series was pretty good but slow at times. I'll try to catch this one too.

Wee question, do I need to have watched breaking bad previously before BCS?

Not really. It helps as there are a few nods of the head to Breaking Bad but I think they're not so vital to the plot. I don't know whether not knowing who a couple of characters are when they're introduced in BCS would be a huge problem but my feeling is no (I can't unwatch Breaking Bad to test the theory)

I like knowing what Mike is capable of from BB. But the real question, nobeer, is why would you feel you needed to deny yourself the pleasure of watching breaking bad?

Just finished watching the first series on Netflix. I enjoyed it. It is quite different to BB in that each episode is a complete story in its own right but has various plots running through the series. I think there is a lot of potential to have more cross over with BB from a different perspective and it will be interesting to see if they do it in the new series.

Not really. It helps as there are a few nods of the head to Breaking Bad but I think they're not so vital to the plot. I don't know whether not knowing who a couple of characters are when they're introduced in BCS would be a huge problem but my feeling is no (I can't unwatch Breaking Bad to test the theory)

I'd disagree. I think so many things would go completely over the viewers head if they hadn't seen BCS

- the black and white intro scene
- Tuco
- Mike

etc. All key crossover elements that are pretty vital to the show

Enjoyed it, with a hint of disapointment - I really liked the first series, but like the first series of BB it's slow burn, what I really wanted to see is Saul, not Jimmy - the first series seemed to draw Jimmy to a close - but this one pretty much starts exactly where the last one ended.

Saul Goodman is just so much fun to watch!

I'd disagree. I think so many things would go completely over the viewers head if they hadn't seen BCS

- the black and white intro scene
- Tuco
- Mike

I agree that it adds something knowing the characters but if you didn't know them, wouldn't you just accept them as gangster and slightly odd and increasingly useful ex-cop turned security guard and see them develop further as characters?

I like knowing what Mike is capable of from BB. But the real question, nobeer, is why would you feel you needed to deny yourself the pleasure of watching breaking bad?

No way can I bring myself to sit down for that length of time (9 series is it?) in front of the box. Not really a box set type of guy, don't mind watching something weekly but not massive sofa sessions.

No way can I bring myself to sit down for that length of time (9 series is it?

5 seasons/ 62 episodes

I couldn't imagine watching BCS if I hadn't seen BB. It's a completely different show, enjoyable, but very slow paced. You know Mike takes a trip to Belize and Saul finds his destiny at Cinnabon, the fun is seeing how they get to where they're going.

don't mind watching something weekly

Then watch one a week, you'll be done by May 2017 😀

They're 42 mins (a US hour minus ad breaks) so I found them pretty easy to find time for. If I'd have time for a movie I'd just watch 2 or 3 back to back.

I first watched it two episodes at a time while on the turbo - headphones. 3 sessions a week over winter...

Worth it in every way.

I enjoy the slow burn. The dialogue is really excellent, the camera shots and colour pallette are fantastic and Bob Odenkirk was born to play this character - he's so damn likeable.

I still can't believe I didn't get the "s'all good, man" joke in the name until watching the first series of BCS 😐

I didn't get it until now

Now what does that switch do?

Aye, forgot about that - maybe it's a test & he gets the sack for "shenanigans"

There's a series 2

I think the switch was a test. Flips a light in the bosses office.

Yeah, a test
Hopefully it's to see if he can be an untrustworthy bastard so he can be mentored in the way of all things Saul.

The switch was a call back/ call forward to the B&W flash forward at the start.

Jimmy now - can't resist disobeying the sign and flickung the switch, consequences be damned

Future Jimmy would rather sit in the bin room all night then risk the consequences of disobeying a sign

Ah but maybe the result of him flicking the switch made him think about ignoring that sign, maybe the consequences were great, we shall find out

The switch was a call back/ call forward to the B&W flash forward at the start.

Jimmy now - can't resist disobeying the sign and flickung the switch, consequences be damned

Future Jimmy would rather sit in the bin room all night then risk the consequences of disobeying a sign

Exactly. And Season 1 early Jimmy may not have flicked the switch either. But Slippin' Jimmy would have.

So he goes from dodgy con man to good'n'righteous lawyer to "what the hell" Saul and by the end of BB, he's scared of everything.

I took a more practical outlook to the issue of the emergency exit -

the sign said that "if you exit this door you will activate the alarm, and the police will be notified"

he's not going to want the police asking questions/checking his ID is he?

he's not going to want the police asking questions/checking his ID is he?

Exactly, but he did graffiti the wall with "SG was here". He has to hide as a corporate drone, but Slippin Jimmy is still lurking under the surface.

mooman - Member

Watched 1st episode of 2nd series last night.
Very slow.

Hopefully that is just the base story line, and it will liven up soon.

Just had to comment on what is turning into another classic series. In fact, its just brilliant TV.
The writing is so good, and I think i'm routing for Jimmy more than possibly any other character before.

The fact you are already aware of the fate that will eventually befall him takes nothing away from the build up of suspense.

We've just started to watch breaking bad again on the back of this.

Just realised that the guy Jimmy was drinking tequila or whatever with in the bar (the stock broker type fella) is the same person who Walt shorted the car battery of on the petrol station forecourt in one of the early BB's.

Wonder if that will become of any use later on?!

Im wondering how many links to BB I may have missed!

I think we are going to take on the BB catalogue again on the strength of BCS.

Mike is just starting to warm up.

Mike is just starting to warm up.

Mike looks like he about to drop dead. He's aged significantly!

yeah, poor fella looks like he's melting.

It's back.

Argh! Just cancelled Netflix in favour of Prime and can only have one at once 🙁

For the price of two pints or two shite coffees from costa Netflix is really quite affordable/justifiable

Fantastic and genre defying. Loved every steady minute of it. Like someone has said - great characters that you are bothered about coupled with surprising plotting, and that New Mexico setting makes it irresistible.

Watched it last night. Absolutely brilliant. Worth the Netflix fee alone.

Sat down to watch it last night after my post but as I'd been on nights I nodded off so now have no idea what bits I watched and what was a vivid dream. 😕

I love this show, as I loved Breaking Bad before (after?) it. Luckily it is a brilliant show in its own right though. Was a slow season opener, but really enjoyed it and setting the tone nicely for the remaining episodes

I can't quite share this out pouring of love for it, it's good, I wait for it with baited breath, enjoy it when it's on but usually feel a little short changed when it's finished.

Sometimes it feels like a directors having a bit of a tug with himself, lots of beautifully lit, great looking lingering shots of fairly mundane stuff like abandoned factories.

For an opening episode of a series that ended on a cliff hanger what did we learn? Very little, it's 90% art house cinema and 10% story.

Still, there must be something to it, I'm still watching.

Archer is back too might be time to fire up the TV

Argh! Just cancelled Netflix in favour of Prime and can only have one at once

*whisper* Showbox *whisper*

Losing patience with this now. Do we really need to sit with Mike on his stakeout in realtime!? Zzzzzzz 3rd series 2 eps and he's still not even conceived Saul yet!? Don't get me wrong I've enjoyed it so far, but fully expected them to crank up the pace this series!?

I think it's brilliant. I like the slow pace of and all the mundane details. I like that you really aren't sure where it's going until it happens. Why do people have such short attention spans these days and just want constant action?

It needs more scenes with Kim in them......just talking.......about anything.......

her voice is lovely!

kims out now, the new naughty girl in fargo 😀

could probably cope with the pace if we were given the full series to binge on!! in fact reckon i might let a few episodes build up now...

I'm loving it - wondering if his brother having that tape is part of an effort to get him disbarred & he changes his name to Saul Goodman to get round it somehow...

myti - Member

I think it's brilliant. I like the slow pace of and all the mundane details. I like that you really aren't sure where it's going until it happens. Why do people have such short attention spans these days and just want constant action?

Best thing on TV!! No spoilers but the last couple of weeks have really started to get focused on where we assume it's likely to head over the coming seasons. Brilliant in every way.

Season 2 was certainly better than season 1 and will probably get better still over time.
Bob Odenkirk has come a long way since his time on The Ben Stiller Show all those years ago (show was axed after only one season)

Just finished watching episode 5 of season 3. Slow, even for BCS, but fantastic! Loved it. Another week of waiting now 🙂

After 2 years and 3 episodes I was ready to throw in the towel with this, there's a trait amongst some of the big US shows, 'Lost' started it - start a series / season with an explosive (sometimes literally) episode, then spend the next 10 episodes teasing before the equally explosive finale to keep viewers on the hook for the next series, The Walking Dead has gone that way, even Game of Thrones is showing hints of it.

Better Call Saul though took the biscuit, it managed to cram a backstory into series 1, something that most TV series would cover in episode 1 maybe with a few flash-backs later on for substance.

It ended with Jimmy on the cusp of becoming Saul, the fast-talking, slick, sometimes best thing about BB – one of those Film School Chubby shots of him turning his back on ‘the light’ or some such thing and I think most people expected series 2 to kick into gear, nope – another 10 episodes of teaser, with a humdinger of a cliff hanger ending… which of course, because it’s BCS, didn’t amount to much for 3 episodes.

Now finally, on the 3rd episode of series 3 – something has happened, they don’t have to rely on fancy camera work or great lighting, they employed a writer and stuck some plot on screen – thank bawls for that, and yes I know it’s all wonderfully artistic and this and that blah blah blah, but when I hear people gushing about how it’s so perfect it’s beyond comprehension, I just hear a naked emperor. Now at least, something is happening.

Truth is, unless you’ve seen Breaking Bad, it would be excruciating to watch and if you have – do you need 33 hours of beautifully lit footage to introduce characters you already know?

It’s good TV, and I think in years to come when people are able to binge watch it, like most did with breaking bad it will be better, but genre defining? Nah – it’s exactly the 2nd best TV show featuring a former cop and crooked lawyer based in Albuquerque ever made.

Watched today's episode and loved it. I like episodes that tell a story and the one where Mike told us about his son was I think just superb and up there with the best of any from Breaking Bad. Just got wait now until next week.

Don't agree with a bit of what you have just written. Think it has been very good from the start.

So... why did Kim say "Bingo!" What leverage has she found? Any guesses?

(I haven't watched number 5 yet).

So... why did Kim say "Bingo!" What leverage has she found?

Chuck has a fondness for squatcobbler, with a secret stash of videotapes that only his porn buddy knows the location of. Jimmy knows about Chuck's dirty secret, but not the location of the stash. Once he confirmed that there was another copy of the tape, it was obvious that it would be with the rest of the porn stash. All that's left now is to find the identity of the porn buddy.

I really like it. Different to almost everything else I've watched and I enjoy the slow burn of the show.
I also really like Saul. Something about him. I can't place it.

Love it too, prefer it to breaking bad, better paced and less farce.

I even liked the bit in the 'hearing' in the last episode where everyone just sat around fiddling with stuff.

Maybe it is because I loved Breaking Bad, but I don't care, if it carries on like this I'd be happy to watch 10+ seasons.

Great episode (last Tuesday's). It's been building towards that for a while.

"a while". Yeah two and a half years.

No new episode today? What's the deal?

Next episode Tuesday 6th 🙁

I'm 2 weeks behind. 😐

taxi25
Next episode Tuesday 6th

I was disappointed too.

No new episode today? What's the deal?

Bah

And

Humbug!