TV: Better Call Saul

[The Argonaut]

I enjoy this so much more than breaking bad precisely because it doesn't have, or require, any fist pumping moments.

I can see that. But Breaking Bad had the best fist-pumping moments of any tv series ever. And when it wasn't doing dumb stuff for four episodes at a time, it had even more going for it than the fist-pumps. If still pick BB pretty easily. They're really different series, at the end of the day.

[@SkitchP]

I enjoy this so much more than breaking bad precisely because it doesn't have, or require, any fist pumping moments.

I can see that. But Breaking Bad had the best fist-pumping moments of any tv series ever. And when it wasn't doing dumb stuff for four episodes at a time, it had even more going for it than the fist-pumps. If still pick BB pretty easily. They're really different series, at the end of the day.

Very much so.

[@SkitchP]

I enjoy this so much more than breaking bad precisely because it doesn't have, or require, any fist pumping moments.

I can see that. But Breaking Bad had the best fist-pumping moments of any tv series ever. And when it wasn't doing dumb stuff for four episodes at a time, it had even more going for it than the fist-pumps. If still pick BB pretty easily. They're really different series, at the end of the day.

I think what this show has is that is entirely focused on 2 characters at almost all times.. and 2 more are leads but only as it relates to their interactions and relationship to Jimmy (kim and chuck.) It doesn't have a "skylers sister is a klepto!!" or "HANK LIKES ROCKS" side story that has nothing to do with the narrative we actually care about.

Everything in BCS is about telling the story that led to Saul and Mike becoming who we knew in Breaking Bad. Im not sure I can think more than 5 scenes that arent related in some way. Despite being so slow and meandering in its shots and dialogue, the overall story just seems so focused.

[Mecca]

I enjoy this so much more than breaking bad precisely because it doesn't have, or require, any fist pumping moments.

I'd argue that Saul has heartbreaking moments in place of fist-pumping moments. The moment Jimmy finds out chuck held him back all along and watching Jimmy this last episode tear chuck at his core are just the bigger ones

[given2trade]

both are two of the best TV shows of all time. must we rank them?

[wease]

both are two of the best TV shows of all time. must we rank them?

You DO realize where you are, right?

[lennytheweedwhacker]

both are two of the best TV shows of all time. must we rank them?

somehow i've been good about not comparing them

[The Argonaut]

For me, BB's unforgivable sin is the time spent with Skylar buying the car wash. She sat in an adjacent parking lot for one afternoon and was able to determine the business's revenue and worth. Yet, still, they thought this was a good place to hide and launder money. And Walt going along with her plan because Bogdan insulted his wife. The whole thing was done so poorly.

[given2trade]

both are two of the best TV shows of all time. must we rank them?

You DO realize where you are, right?

yah i know it's all fun. ranking generally is absurd but ranking these two seems new levels of absurd.

[Mecca]

For me, BB's unforgivable sin is the time spent with Skylar buying the car wash. She sat in an adjacent parking lot for one afternoon and was able to determine the business's revenue and worth. Yet, still, they thought this was a good place to hide and launder money. And Walt going along with her plan because Bogdan insulted his wife. The whole thing was done so poorly.

Made more sense than laser tag

[VinylGuy]

So far i think BCS is a better show.

[@SkitchP]

both are two of the best TV shows of all time. must we rank them?

I think we're ranking them too a degree, but really i think we're just discussing the strengths and weaknesses of each show. And given they are an extension of one another I think it's a fair topic.

[given2trade]

It's amazing how they made a prequel so different in style yet just as entertaining as the original. Bravo.

[Mecca]

It's amazing how they made a prequel so different in style yet just as entertaining as the original. Bravo.

is the style really THAT different? Breaking Bad obviously gets the evolution of the style as the show went on, but Saul, at least cinematically seems to carry the same style.

[Norah]

i was typing out pretty much the same thing

[given2trade]

yah i don't know what i'm talking about, just sounded good

Spoiler: show

thanks for no spoilers on this page

[tragabigzanda]

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.

[Jorge]

I completely disagree with you guys. I don't see them being much "in the same style". There are a smattering of "Breaking Bad shots" scattered throughout the show-- those trademark extreme POV shots from unlikely places-- but I see them as quite distinct in their shot construction, design and grading.

For one, Breaking Bad was largely shot on handheld cameras, while BCS uses tripods 96% of the time (and interestingly, the use of handheld has been limited to the more "Breaking-Bad-like" scenes, such as the Mexico flashback). This goes hand-in-hand with the fact that the shot designs in BCS are a lot more carefully orchestrated than Breaking Bad, and therefore a lot more "handsome" and clean-looking. There is a lot of care put into every frame of Better Call Saul, in the design and the lighting and the post-production. It's an immaculately photographed and put-together show. I don't feel the same about Breaking Bad. Also, I'm pretty sure Breaking Bad applied some sort of light sepia filter in post, and was shot on 35mm film while BCS is all digital (which is not a stylistic choice, but does contribute to their overall distinct feeling).

[Norah]

oh

[Jorge]

tl;dr: Better Call Saul is prettier and more colorful