Television Better Call Saul | Includes Breaking Bad Spoilers

It looks good but it really isnt. Its not bad either, its just not good. I think the BB element keeps people fascinated, but its on par with BB (or imo even a level below it). It just seems to be missing something, which might be direction or progression.

Im not too sure what im watching at times.
 
Sylar said:
It looks good but it really isnt. Its not bad either, its just not good. I think the BB element keeps people fascinated, but its on par with BB (or imo even a level below it). It just seems to be missing something, which might be direction or progression.

Im not too sure what im watching at times.
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Yeah that last bit sums it up for me.

I feel like something just needs to happen, it's been the same stuff for a whole series and the first episode of series 2 wasn't much different. I mean, he's going dodgy yeah, but how long will it be til we start getting some action :lol: very boring at the moment.
 
Sylar said:
It looks good but it really isnt. Its not bad either, its just not good. I think the BB element keeps people fascinated, but its on par with BB (or imo even a level below it). It just seems to be missing something, which might be direction or progression.

Im not too sure what im watching at times.
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I don't think it's anywhere near on par with Breaking Bad. I kind of don't mind it but the story progresses just so slowly. The whole of the first episode of this series feels like it could have been condensed into 15 minutes.

I feel like I have to watch it as I want to know what happens but the actual journey is.....not quite paced correctly and the story doesn't feel complete. I'll still persevere though as there have been some good episodes (e.g the Tuco one)
 
It feels so different to Breaking Bad that apart from the obvious connections, it's bordering on strange that people even compare the two.

To try a draw a parallel, if Breaking Bad was a brilliantly executed piece of painting that adheres to all the standard conventions, this one feels like the experimental second painting that disregards all the rules. Same strokes, but that's about it.

I quite like watching it. It's visually great, and the characters are somewhat interesting. But it's nothing like, nor nowhere near as good as Breaking Bad. As many have alluded to already, it feels at times like you're not really sure what the heck you're watching. But if you're willing to just let that go, and sit back and enjoy it for what it is, and drop all expectations of it turning into Breaking Bad, it can still be an enjoyable experience.
 
That's a near perfect description tbf. I've bitched about it a lot but I don't think it's bad. It's exceptionally made on every level, but it feels like watching an indulgence. The indulgence of talented people, granted, but still an indulgence. And as indulgences go it's at the opposite end of the spectrum to Derek, or that God awful Boycie spin off, but it's still a show that would never be made or likely even tolerated if it wasn't linked to BB. But it is, so the high quality world it exists in gives even its weakest, most meandering parts a kind of automatic gravitas.

That's the problem though, cos while it shouldn't be judged by BB, it also wouldn't work without it. It's kind of having its cake and eating it...but it's an old cake, and it's being eaten really slowly, and not because we're hungry, but just because it's there.
 
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Entirely forgettable finale to season 1 and intro to season 2, so if it keeps going the way it's going I'd be surprised if season 3 was commissioned. It's nice to look at most of the time but it's such a nothing show outside of that.
 
I think most of BCS's problems have been cited in the previous few posts, but I think key is the fact that as amusing as Saul was as a secondary character in BB, he was the light relief and was never the right character to carry a show; or at least not one that supposedly carries the same weight as BB. It's clear already that they can't quite decide where to aim in terms of drama or comedy. BB started off light and the writers admitted that as the show progressed and they were tackling weightier issues and getting deeper into the character arcs, they couldn't avoid upping the drama and reducing the comedy; it just wouldn't have worked any other way. With BCS they clearly have to satisfy fans of BB (while appealing to new audiences) and can't quite decide whether to go back to the comedy of early BB or the drama of the final series. I don't think it's any coincidence that by far the best episodes of Season 1 (imo) of BCS were the ones that focused on Ehrmantraut. Maybe he should have been the spin-off series ... but perhaps, as an actor, Jonathan Banks is a little too close to Cranston and his arc, like Walter's inevitably ending in death, too similar.
 
The main problem is that Saul as a character doesn't have anywhere new to go. This was a problem everyone was aware of from the start, but it's something they should've, and could've dealt with swiftly in the 1st season, leaving them open to explore the far greater potential of a dodgy Saul, building his underground rep through a series of crazy and entertaining schemes, with Mike in tow.

We all excuse the slower, subtler pace by arguing it's necessarily different as we know what eventually happens to Saul, but we knew what would happen to Walter too. We all knew the "Mr Chips to Scarface" pitch several years before the end, but we watched because the transformation was fascinating. It also wasn't that pacy or action packed either, as not every episode of BB dealt with Walter's turn to the dark side as blatantly and frequently as BCS deals with Saul's existential crisis. This is mostly because there aren't nearly as many supporting characters, but also because I personally think they've set up the character wrong.

I'd argue one of the biggest problems was in beginning the series with Jimmy already dodgy, meaning the only "journey" available was one that flitted between two drama-less, repetitive states, with Jimmy perpetually deciding whether to do the right thing (which we know is fleeting) or the not quite as right, but also not that terrible thing (which we know is his fate), which he does as either the cynical Saul we know, or a more optimistic, but otherwise identical and familiar version of Saul, that we also know, in every single episode ...

That was my problem with this ep. Because despite my dissatisfaction with the finale and it's nonsensical logic, the one thing it did right was position Jimmy on the road to Saul for season 2. Yet for some bizarre reason, the first thing season 2 did was pull him back to Jimmy, putting him in a respectable job we know he'll leave, and asking us to pretend to care about an arc we not only know the eventual ending to, but which we've already seen 11 times in 11 episodes. With an added love interest absolutely no one cares about.

It can be as slow as it likes, but give us a story, an arc or a character we haven't already examined in explicit, extensive detail 11 times already. Or failing that, at least give us the amazing adventures of Huell and Bill Burr.
 
Mockney said:
the first thing season 2 did was pull him back to Jimmy, putting him in a respectable job we know he'll leave, and asking us to pretend to care about an arc we not only know the eventual ending to, but which we've already seen 11 times in 11 episodes. With an added love interest absolutely no one cares about.
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Quite valid points. They are milking Saul's origin story much more than I thought was possible.

Still I am enjoying the second season much more. I am finding the rich fabric of characters, events, and places more engrossing than in the first season. For me this show is about immersing myself into their fictional world in New Mexico to experience the mundane and amusing lives of the characters. The action is lacking but the production values are high.
 
Latest one aired last night

WARNING: Do NOT open the spoiler if you are going to watch it - it'll ruin the best bit of the episode!

"Hoboken squat Cobbler. Full Moon Pie, Boston Cream Splat, Simple Simon the Ass Man, Dutch Apple Ass.
Guys, am I not speaking English here?"

"… maybe it's like Hellman's Mayonnaise, it has a different name west of the Rockies, I don't know."

"… not all pie-sitters cry.":lol:

It's getting better and moving a bit faster.
 
Much better episode.
Still think Mike's storyline is more interesting so I'm glad to see him and Jimmy teaming up again.
 
It's getting to the level I hoped it would now. Still a long way to go, but I suppose it'd be a waste of they rushed toward the Breaking Bad timeline and once it's over, that world would be gone forever again and I want to experience more of it :lol:

It's definitely picking up and I've enjoyed the humour in the two episodes thus far, especially a certain dessert related moment in the latest one :lol:

The Mike moments are better overall, but I think most people probably liked his character in Breaking Bad more than they liked Saul anyway.

If it gets slightly better through series 2, then I think series 3 will be when it really comes into its own.
 
Squat cobbler, Boston Cream Splat:lol: That entire scene was brilliant!
 
I'm still enjoying it, although I wonder how much of that is anticipation due to knowing what he becomes and really liking that character. Not sure I'd enjoy it as much if I didn't.
 
That episode was definitely a step in the right direction.

That said, even the slow ones I do kind of enjoy. The production values are fantastic.
 
Guess I´m one of the few here that really like the show. I don't think that it is slow paced because in my opinion the majority of episodes are all well thought out and each scene has a point in terms of the progression. Few scenes I think are filler material with no relevance. Plus I love the production and the little details here and there.
 
I love this show. Both Jimmy and Mike are great characters and I'm enjoying the parallel story threads at the minute. Tbh I really like the pacing of the show, it's not afraid to slow things down a little but when you look back over an episode you realise quite a lot actually happened without knowing it.

I do wonder if I'd have enjoyed it quite so much without already having seen BB, but really that just adds to the enjoyment and shouldn't be seen as a negative. It's interesting watching it whilst ultimately knowing where their characters are heading to.

Can't wait for next week
 
Cracking episode that. Was in stiches during the whole police interview scene!
 
Strange there isn't a new episode on Netflix this week, episode 3 isn't available until March 1st.
 
Castia said:
Strange there isn't a new episode on Netflix this week, episode 3 isn't available until March 1st.
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Episode two only aired on Monday and on Netflix yesterday.

Next Tuesday is the 1st of March.
 
Sparky_Hughes said:
You do realize thats next tuesday?
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I know but episode 2 aired on Netflix last week. I thought episode 3 was going to be on this week but we aren't getting it until the 1st March


Edit: Nevermind I done goofed. I didn't watch all of ep 2 that's where I'm getting confused.
 
Episode 2 was great tbh. Loved the scene regarding the pies. This is what I was expecting more of tbh. I think we need more Mike (and a mix of him and Jimmy / Saul).
 
Good episode today, it's definitely getting better. I still find Mike's storyline more engaging though.
 
Enjoyed that episode, feels like both Saul and Mike's stories are building momentum and getting closer to their characters in BB.

Honestly, as much as the show has been a slow burner, the one thing it has done is make the motivations believable (or as believable as possible for a tv show). Its not like one day they're good guys and the next they're in the meth business, all the little details building over the past 16 episodes (the knock backs, the need for money, the failed attempts to be legit) are slowly forcing their hands.
 
Rado_N said:
I was hoping the meeting at the end was going to be Gus.
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:lol: So was I. So disappointed.

Who do you think he wants Mike to kill though? I'm thinking Gus/Tuco?
 
Had no idea this had started back again. Thought the first season, was interesting enough, though I can't remember anything that happened.

Think I'll keep going with it and start S2 tonight.
 
cold-zebra said:
:lol: So was I. So disappointed.

Who do you think he wants Mike to kill though? I'm thinking Gus/Tuco?
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No idea, been thinking about that.

Could be Tuco, but we know that doesn't happen obviously. With how this show has gone so far it'll be built up over an episode then turn out to just be some irrelevant nobody.
 
I hate having to wait a week for the next episode. Wish they'd just release it all in one go like House of Cards. Have to say I love Jimmy’s 'ways and means' of getting the job done at the 'by the book firm' he’s working for.
 
dcullivanio said:
I hate having to wait a week for the next episode. Wish they'd just release it all in one go like House of Cards. Have to say I love Jimmy’s 'ways and means' of getting the job done at the 'by the book firm' he’s working for.
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They can't because it's not their show, it's an AMC show being broadcast in the US, but Netflix UK bought the rights for it here so it's added to Netflix the morning after it airs in the US.
 
Rado_N said:
They can't because it's not their show, it's an AMC show being broadcast in the US, but Netflix UK bought the rights for it here so it's added to Netflix the morning after it airs in the US.
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That makes sense. I kind of wish I could make myself wait and save them up....no willpower though
 
I'm really enjoying it to be honest, the pacing feels better this season. I've got a feeling one or more of the partners will like the commercial he ran; seems too soon to be knocking him down and them approving of it sets him up for a bigger fall down the line, probably precipitated by Chuck.
 
Episode three was dull as feck.

I'm also finding it very hard to take the Mike stuff remotely seriously.

I mean, we already know he dies, and he looks like he's about to die, because he looks about ten years older than he did in Breaking Bad despite it being set 8/9 years before it. I just can't fathom that this man is somehow still a badass who can beat the shit out of everyone. I'm more worried about him having a heart-attack.

The best bits of the show for me are always the more comedic ones, but this episode had none, really.

Chuck is also a shit, annoying character.
 
Cina said:
Episode three was dull as feck.

I'm also finding it very hard to take the Mike stuff remotely seriously.

I mean, we already know he dies, and he looks like he's about to die, because he looks about ten years older than he did in Breaking Bad despite it being set 8/9 years before it. I just can't fathom that this man is somehow still a badass who can beat the shit out of everyone. I'm more worried about him having a heart-attack.

The best bits of the show for me are always the more comedic ones, but this episode had none, really.

Chuck is also a shit, annoying character.
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I don't think Mike ever does beat the shit out of anyone? He's just really smart and knows how to get things done. I do agree it's kind of silly that he looks older but it's TV, get over it like.
 
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