TV: Better Call Saul

Books, movies, television...
Post Reply
User avatar
Jorge
NYUCK NYUCK NYUCK
Posts: 36489
Joined: Tue January 01, 2013 3:35 pm
Location: Buenos Aires

Re: TV: Better Call Saul

Post by Jorge »

tragabigzanda wrote:He's a whiny victim who came from a good home, and opted to pursue this path for reasons that still aren't entirely clear to me.
Addiction?
tragabigzanda wrote:He was free to walk away any time he wanted.
He did!
Anders wrote:I do not have a «neoliberal assessment of geopolitics», so please stop writing that I do.
jwfocker
AnalLog
Posts: 1855
Joined: Thu January 31, 2013 9:44 pm

Re: TV: Better Call Saul

Post by jwfocker »

Mecca wrote:
jwfocker wrote:Constantly impressed by this show. It really is its own little world. I enjoy the subtle connections to Breaking Bad but I seem to enjoy the characters more in Better Call Saul.
Breaking Bad was a character piece for Walt, whereas we're getting more fleshed out support characters in Saul. Mike is as much a lead as Saul in some respects. It's helpful that there are established characters being presented, because they can focus more on their mythology as opposed to getting to know them first.

I get that. I wasn't confused. I think I'm just surprised.
User avatar
Mecca
slower than 82% of US
Posts: 8516
Joined: Wed December 19, 2012 7:17 pm

Re: TV: Better Call Saul

Post by Mecca »

jwfocker wrote:
Mecca wrote:
jwfocker wrote:Constantly impressed by this show. It really is its own little world. I enjoy the subtle connections to Breaking Bad but I seem to enjoy the characters more in Better Call Saul.
Breaking Bad was a character piece for Walt, whereas we're getting more fleshed out support characters in Saul. Mike is as much a lead as Saul in some respects. It's helpful that there are established characters being presented, because they can focus more on their mythology as opposed to getting to know them first.

I get that. I wasn't confused. I think I'm just surprised.
I didn't think you were you confused, just thinking out loud to see if people agree or not.
User avatar
Mecca
slower than 82% of US
Posts: 8516
Joined: Wed December 19, 2012 7:17 pm

Re: TV: Better Call Saul

Post by Mecca »

tragabigzanda wrote:
Mecca wrote:
jwfocker wrote:Constantly impressed by this show. It really is its own little world. I enjoy the subtle connections to Breaking Bad but I seem to enjoy the characters more in Better Call Saul.
Breaking Bad was a character piece for Walt, whereas we're getting more fleshed out support characters in Saul. Mike is as much a lead as Saul in some respects. It's helpful that there are established characters being presented, because they can focus more on their mythology as opposed to getting to know them first.
I just had a tough time empathizing with Walt and Jessie. In BB S1, Walt puts a dollar amount on how much he needs to make from meth to secure his family's future. It's a great moment for his character. But then he gets greedy, and seems to savor the lifestyle. And I always hated Jessie (though I think Aaron Paul did a great job with the character). He's a whiny victim who came from a good home, and opted to pursue this path for reasons that still aren't entirely clear to me. I never felt bad for him, not once. He was free to walk away any time he wanted.
You do realize the show is titled Breaking Bad for a reason, right?
User avatar
tragabigzanda
Production Police
Posts: 51634
Joined: Tue September 24, 2013 5:56 pm

Re: TV: Better Call Saul

Post by tragabigzanda »

Steve Albini wrote:Whenever there's active promotion on the part of somebody else, whenever I see somebody all dolled up for a fancy photograph and someone's handing out flyers or whenever there's active promotion for something like that, as an imposition on my day, I hate all those people and I want them to fail. I have a visceral reaction to advertising and promotion. There's just something about salesmanship that grates on me on a very base level and I react very negatively towards it. I want those people to suffer and I want their enterprises to fail.
Last edited by tragabigzanda on Sun January 11, 2026 4:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Mecca
slower than 82% of US
Posts: 8516
Joined: Wed December 19, 2012 7:17 pm

Re: TV: Better Call Saul

Post by Mecca »

tragabigzanda wrote:
Mecca wrote:
tragabigzanda wrote:
Mecca wrote:
jwfocker wrote:Constantly impressed by this show. It really is its own little world. I enjoy the subtle connections to Breaking Bad but I seem to enjoy the characters more in Better Call Saul.
Breaking Bad was a character piece for Walt, whereas we're getting more fleshed out support characters in Saul. Mike is as much a lead as Saul in some respects. It's helpful that there are established characters being presented, because they can focus more on their mythology as opposed to getting to know them first.
I just had a tough time empathizing with Walt and Jessie. In BB S1, Walt puts a dollar amount on how much he needs to make from meth to secure his family's future. It's a great moment for his character. But then he gets greedy, and seems to savor the lifestyle. And I always hated Jessie (though I think Aaron Paul did a great job with the character). He's a whiny victim who came from a good home, and opted to pursue this path for reasons that still aren't entirely clear to me. I never felt bad for him, not once. He was free to walk away any time he wanted.
You do realize the show is titled Breaking Bad for a reason, right?
I honestly have no idea what that phrase means.
Whitebread, boring Walter White suddenly becoming a criminal is an example of someone breaking bad. Jesse even refers to this early on when he finds out why Walt is cooking meth because a guy like him doesn't just break bad without a reason.
User avatar
Mecca
slower than 82% of US
Posts: 8516
Joined: Wed December 19, 2012 7:17 pm

Re: TV: Better Call Saul

Post by Mecca »

Better put: the show is titled breaking bad because it is about the moral evolution of the characters. Walt is the lead and he suffers from a moral degradation throughout the series.
User avatar
Norah
Poster of the Year
Posts: 37327
Joined: Tue January 01, 2013 2:04 pm
Location: September 2020 Poster of the Month

Re: TV: Better Call Saul

Post by Norah »

Mecca gets it. Not that it's hard to get, but still, he gets it.
User avatar
spike
The Master
Posts: 35446
Joined: Wed January 02, 2013 4:18 am

Re: TV: Better Call Saul

Post by spike »

cutuphalfdead wrote:Mecca gets it. Not that it's hard to get, but still, he gets it.
this trag fellow is rather thip-esque
User avatar
Norah
Poster of the Year
Posts: 37327
Joined: Tue January 01, 2013 2:04 pm
Location: September 2020 Poster of the Month

Re: TV: Better Call Saul

Post by Norah »

spike wrote:
cutuphalfdead wrote:Mecca gets it. Not that it's hard to get, but still, he gets it.
this trag fellow is rather brl-esque
User avatar
@SkitchP
RM Elitist
Posts: 9995
Joined: Tue January 01, 2013 8:43 pm

Re: TV: Better Call Saul

Post by @SkitchP »

cutuphalfdead wrote:
spike wrote:
cutuphalfdead wrote:Mecca gets it. Not that it's hard to get, but still, he gets it.
this trag fellow is rather brl-esque

yeah, but without the douchey college stories. I like trag.
dimejinky99 wrote: Hang on I check on my Grindr
User avatar
Norah
Poster of the Year
Posts: 37327
Joined: Tue January 01, 2013 2:04 pm
Location: September 2020 Poster of the Month

Re: TV: Better Call Saul

Post by Norah »

@SkitchP wrote:
cutuphalfdead wrote:
spike wrote:
cutuphalfdead wrote:Mecca gets it. Not that it's hard to get, but still, he gets it.
this trag fellow is rather brl-esque

yeah, but without the douchey college stories. I like trag.
Me too.
User avatar
The Argonaut
I've been POOSSTTIiiEEnngeeaahh
Posts: 11800
Joined: Tue January 01, 2013 1:53 pm
Location: in the air tonight

Re: TV: Better Call Saul

Post by The Argonaut »

my take on the DIL: I think she's conning him.
That character is not in BB, but I bet she's still around. Mike is not the primary caregiver. He even leaves abandons his granddaughter at a playground that one time when the cops come around. It broke his heart to do it, but he did it.
Please consider voting for me
User avatar
tragabigzanda
Production Police
Posts: 51634
Joined: Tue September 24, 2013 5:56 pm

Re: TV: Better Call Saul

Post by tragabigzanda »

Steve Albini wrote:Whenever there's active promotion on the part of somebody else, whenever I see somebody all dolled up for a fancy photograph and someone's handing out flyers or whenever there's active promotion for something like that, as an imposition on my day, I hate all those people and I want them to fail. I have a visceral reaction to advertising and promotion. There's just something about salesmanship that grates on me on a very base level and I react very negatively towards it. I want those people to suffer and I want their enterprises to fail.
Last edited by tragabigzanda on Sun January 11, 2026 4:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Jorge
NYUCK NYUCK NYUCK
Posts: 36489
Joined: Tue January 01, 2013 3:35 pm
Location: Buenos Aires

Re: TV: Better Call Saul

Post by Jorge »

I think maybe she's suffering from PTSD? Her husband was recently murdered and her father-in-law recently confessed to killing his murderers. She is in Breaking Bad, although only seen briefly during one scene in the fifth season. It's not the same actress but Vince Gilligan confirmed on the Better Call Saul Insider podcast that it is the same character.
Anders wrote:I do not have a «neoliberal assessment of geopolitics», so please stop writing that I do.
User avatar
The Argonaut
I've been POOSSTTIiiEEnngeeaahh
Posts: 11800
Joined: Tue January 01, 2013 1:53 pm
Location: in the air tonight

Re: TV: Better Call Saul

Post by The Argonaut »

theplatypus wrote:I think maybe she's suffering from PTSD? Her husband was recently murdered and her father-in-law recently confessed to killing his murderers. She is in Breaking Bad, although only seen briefly during one scene in the fifth season. It's not the same actress but Vince Gilligan confirmed on the Better Call Saul Insider podcast that it is the same character.
Awesome, even better. As I think about, you guys may be right. Why would she think Mike has the dough to buy her a house? And what's so terrible about that house? Poor girl.
Please consider voting for me
User avatar
numbers
Mind Your Tanners
Posts: 9200
Joined: Tue January 01, 2013 6:44 pm
Location: Franklin, MA

Re: TV: Better Call Saul

Post by numbers »

Mecca wrote:
tragabigzanda wrote:
Mecca wrote:
jwfocker wrote:Constantly impressed by this show. It really is its own little world. I enjoy the subtle connections to Breaking Bad but I seem to enjoy the characters more in Better Call Saul.
Breaking Bad was a character piece for Walt, whereas we're getting more fleshed out support characters in Saul. Mike is as much a lead as Saul in some respects. It's helpful that there are established characters being presented, because they can focus more on their mythology as opposed to getting to know them first.
I just had a tough time empathizing with Walt and Jessie. In BB S1, Walt puts a dollar amount on how much he needs to make from meth to secure his family's future. It's a great moment for his character. But then he gets greedy, and seems to savor the lifestyle. And I always hated Jessie (though I think Aaron Paul did a great job with the character). He's a whiny victim who came from a good home, and opted to pursue this path for reasons that still aren't entirely clear to me. I never felt bad for him, not once. He was free to walk away any time he wanted.
You do realize the show is titled Breaking Bad for a reason, right?
I was going to say this yesterday but I didn't have the strength.
User avatar
VinylGuy
jeeeesus relax already
Posts: 42768
Joined: Tue January 01, 2013 5:10 pm

Re: TV: Better Call Saul

Post by VinylGuy »

I really like this season so far. I appreciate that they are not really trying to copy BB at all, but showing this story at its own peace.
BONE FUCKIN´ TOMAHAWK.
User avatar
Stickman
I've been POOSSTTIiiEEnngeeaahh
Posts: 10263
Joined: Tue January 01, 2013 10:41 am
Location: Calgary, AB, Canada

Re: TV: Better Call Saul

Post by Stickman »

"I'll hold your wallet while you go fuck yourself"-David Letterman
User avatar
DeLima
AnalLog
Posts: 1721
Joined: Mon February 18, 2013 4:40 pm
Location: Cracktown, Great White North

Re: TV: Better Call Saul

Post by DeLima »

Really been enjoying this...I'm enjoying digging the slowness
Post Reply