That0therGeorge delves back into 'The Brilliance of Better Call Saul' whilst analysing the finale. Letterboxd - letterboxd.com... Instagram - / that0thergeorge
You know what? I absolutely LOVED that as well. Cranston and the writers were *SO* dialed in to how Walt's scientific mind worked, you just KNOW that was precisely the way he'd have replied. Anything else would have been disingenuous.
It’s funny how little Walt is in Better Call Saul but every scene with him posits him as such an insufferable asswipe instead of the potential badass he could be most of the time.
El Camino doesn't get enough love and some fans even dislike it. It's sad. I always trusted the writers to get this stuff right and they consistently blew me away. And they found amazing talent like Michael Mando and Tony Dalton to play pivotal roles and played to those performers' strengths and factored them into the story. This is how you DO a "cinematic universe". It's a shame more studios don't encourage this kind of approach because it results in amazing storytelling.
It's not terrible but it feels unfocused, sadistic (the torture scenes and cleaning lady's death felt a bit cartoonish imo), and a little contrived at times (mainly looking at that end duel, which, while I'm mostly fine with, did feel a little too much like "Look it's a Western!"). Still overall enjoyable tho, no hate, just my take.
@@The_Left-Hand_PathEl Camino came before point and shoot but the twist of texas standoff motif with the main antagonist being defeated with a cleverly planted hidden gun (or bomb) did get tired imo. it felt kinda uninspired when Jesse did it, essentially repeating the same way Walt killed Gus, but Lalo's death suffered the most from this.
@@The_Left-Hand_PathSorry if this comes off like an interrogation, but just out of friendly curiosity, why would you say El Camino was unfocused, the torture scenes and cleaning lady scenes were cartoonish, or that the ending shootout was contrived? The last of those points, I’ll honestly admit is one I’ve struggled with in the past, but your point about the torture scenes and the cleaning lady scene being “Cartoonish” is actually rather interesting. I’ve never thought of that before tbh, so I am curious.
Marie's character was meant to challenge how petty the men look when they lie and steal. She is just like Saul in the way that she needs to be grandiose and narcissistic. But imagine you nurse a loved one back to health after a horrific cartel attack. All the money, all the arguments over caregiving, all the pain you watch them go through, just for a con-man like Saul to rip him away. She had a right to be in the finale, I wish Anna Gunn had been treated better since Skylar and Saul do interact in breaking bad. I wish she felt safer to return.
I think Marie's stealing arc is as a subplot character to Walter. That's a stylistic device to better expose someone's character. She also commits crime. She also harms Skyler with it. She also gaslights Skyler about it. But when finally push comes to shove, she apologizes. A genuine apology. She doesn't repeat harming Skyler. The same way that Cliff is a subplot character to Chuck: Also leading a highly competitive law firm, but instead of not hiring and trusting Jimmy, he does. In no way whatsoever does Cliff do anything bad to Jimmy. He gives him a chance, almost anything he asks for. And is punished by jimmy's instincts for it.
@@Socragames I like your thoughts! I agree. Marie is just a bit grandiose and self centered but she loves her sister. It’s such a shame when the events unfold and she is torn between honoring her husband or staying loyal to her sister who was involved in the escalation.
Yeah. Walt and Jesse were kinda like Chuck and Jimmy. They tried so hard to get the other one's respect, but Chuck always saw his brother as Slippin Jimmy, and Walt saw Jesse as a junkie
That "One. All I need is one" line was so goddamn cold. One of the hardest hitting lines in either BCS or BB, you can really tell he doesn't care and just wants to be on top, even when going to prison.
@@That0therGeorge Exemplary artists often do. And I have to reinforce that your video analysis here is SPOT-ON. It's really incredible to see more and more people catching all of the nuances in legendarily expert-level storytelling. As another example, we could consider a film like "Blade Runner 2049"; there's *SO* much to detect, and yet in most cases... I'd easily argue that 96% or more of any viewer, reader or whatever will NEVER detect more than the "iceberg's tip". :) Seriously. WELL DONE. And just for reference, my background is 30+ years in production (acting, directing, writing, sound design, video editing, fight choreography, V.O., etc.). Nothing via Hollywon't nor Didnay nor the "richy rich" folks, but let me tell ya... I'm glad for that six ways to Suunsday, son. ;)
14:25 Jimmy is a petty man and so much of his Saul Goodman persona was a snub at Chuck for looking down on him not always doing the right thing. But after Kim left it also became about disproving the “we’re bad for each other” line. Saul is constantly sinking himself lower and lower, in part, to prove that he is a worse monster without her. He cannot accept that the best relationship he ever had was bad for him. What ‘cures’ Saul was learning that Kim confessed. Suddenly, his motives are at odds with one another. However cynically, he had convinced her to do the right thing, and if he allowed himself, for once, to drop his resentment and do the right thing as well, then at least he would finally have some small comfort in knowing they had made each other better people and not worse.
There is a saying in my country: only the grave can straighten up the hunchback. Even thought BCS ended the way it ended, Jimmy will continue to be Saul Goodman there in prison. Something tells me he will keep on doing his shenanigans and schemes through others, and he will be Saul Goodman until he dies. After all, he s in America. He has the right to study, he has the right to practice a profession, he can teach others and give the Saul gene further. Some people have such a toxicity level, that the air is only cleaner only after they physically disappear from the face of the Earth. Jimmy is one of them.
Gotta say. The editing of the specific clips you used when you said specific things like the "he's climbed a lot since" and showing him climbing the ladder, and other shots like that are great. Im always fascinated by the ability to single out just the right clip for the context of what you're talking about.
i used to think he just took the money because his dad was just gonna end up giving it all away to scammers and chuck just always saw what jimmy did in a negative way
I truly LOVE BCS better than breaking bad. Only because they have so much depth to each character. Even answering questions that we had when breaking bad ended. It’s a prequel and it truly shows in the detail and I really appreciate it.
Better Call Saul will forever be my favorite drama not only because I always loved the character of Saul Goodman in Breaking Bad because of how impressive it is as a prequel, stand alone show and drama. It truly is peak fiction and I am proud to call it my favorite television show of all time!
23:42 - FUN FACT: The ironic music cue as a film making technique was first used by John Carpenter in Halloween 2. Specifically, when the song "Mr. Sandman" by the Chordettes is played over Michael Meyers stalking Laurie through a hospital.
@@That0therGeorge It's fascinating to think that for the first 50 years of audible movies (talkies as they originally called them), the music was always 100% sincere in its intention. Because why wouldn't it be? It seems so obvious to us now but imagine being the first person to go, "Hey, how about instead of scary music over a scary scene, we play HAPPY music?!" "...Are you high?"
45:01 One thing that always makes me think about how much of the connections to BB are made up as they go is the character of Dan Wormald aka Pryce. He was supposed to be the "Danny" who runs the Lasertag which Saul keeps trying to make Walt use for his money laundering. So, not unlike Nacho and Lalo, it's a fun character who was created exclusively from just a couple of mentions in Breaking Bad, and indeed in episode commentary for BCS the creators mention multiple times how Dan could represent a connection to the original show in future episodes... but by the end they didn't do anything with it and it became just an interesting bit of trivia.
Yeah I think it just depends on how relevant said character can be to the current story. Nacho was pretty important throughout the whole series and Lalo was extremely important in those latter 3 seasons. However, I do still appreciate the smaller details like the "Danny" one that you mentioned.
I wish you were a much bigger and more popular creator. The care and creativity you put into every video of yours is amazing. I really hope this video especially blows up, though I do feel this way about all your videos
That's extremely kind of you to say, thank you. Thing is I do simply enjoy making these projects, how they perform in terms of views is more so a bonus for me. But I appreciate the kind words regardless.
The "we had a good thing" speech that Mike makes isn't really 100% accurate. Walt couldn't actually keep his head down and cook, because JESSIE screwed up. Walt wanted to color in the lines for a bit, but then Jessie fucked up when he wanted to get revenge for combo. Even before that when Jessie lead Hank to the RV. After the whole situation with Jessie wanting to kill the dealers who corrupted that child, Gus was aiming to kill and replace Walt. There was no "keeping his head down and cooking" after he had to save Jessie from getting himself killed. After that everything spiraled because Gus wanted to replace Walt with Gale, then after Gale he wanted to replace Walt with Jessie. So was Walt supposed to just let Gus kill him? Walt isn't blameless but Mike saying he could've just cooked and relaxed is bs.
Yeah, it's kinda easy to blame Walt while Jesse and even Gus play their parts of Gus Fring empire destruction since Gus would killed him one way or another anyway, and he did even stated that with The Cousins.
Bloody OUTSTANDING analysis. Absolutely bang-on, dead-to-rights catching every detail. Great work. I mean, yes, we all know that Gilligan's work (and his team's efforts) over the decades has been brilliant. But these kinds of in-depth analyses are truly awesome to find. :) Reminds me of when people REALLY look closely at "Blade Runner 2049", or even things as far back as "Traffic", or "Inside Man". When exemplary work is on the docket, there's almost no end to the hidden underpinnings, golden but gloriously shrouded nuances, and powerful thematic underpinnings.
@@That0therGeorge All good. And hey, if you're ever interested in more exemplary work which does indeed emphasize dramatic structure, powerful character arcs, deep thematic underpinnings, relevant world-building, and far more, give DD1-4 a shot... 🐲✨🐲✨🐲✨ "Before I start, I must see my end. Destination known, my mind's journey now begins. Upon my chariot, heart and soul's fate revealed. In time, all points converge; hope's strength, resteeled. But to earn final peace at the universe's endless refrain, we must see all in nothingness... before we start again." 🐲✨🐲✨🐲✨ --Diamond Dragons (series)
It was pretty interesting to see Walt again in Saul Gone. For the entirety of Breaking Bad, a part of me was rooting for him, even though I understood that he'd become a bad and selfish person, he still felt like a close friend. But in Saul Gone he was shown from a perspective outside of himself and it was only then that I truely understood how rotten he'd become. I guess its always easier to justify your own behaviours than others.
True, but he also could've stayed and faced the music. If he walked in with his head held high, he would've be the John Dillinger of the Metropolitan Detention Center.
When I watched the scene of Mike advising Saul to not associate with Walk something click for me, one, hes stubborn, second, I belive Saul saw in Walt his possible fall down, as amature likely to get arrested and not verse in the criminal world of silence or get silenced he would eventually not by "his own" mouth get arrested, stopping his spree of "getting away with", Saul is the psychological of Jimmy, hence not evil but a part of his personallity that's been represed by Jimmy's action, low self-steem and ego. Thus, the shadow is pushing towards unity, so by taking accountability as the Saul persona, Saul and Jimmy unify an inner peace is achieved, that's why I think he lets go, accepts his fate and reconciliates why himself. Yes, a lot of people is hurt in this individual process, that's why I believe this is the most clear example of the pain we cause others by not accepting ourselves and the ugliness that is us. Amazing video bro :D
The connection with Chuck and Walt, both people with bad health conditions making choices that negatively effect people around them. Saul to me was looking to redeem what happen to chuck but in that time travel question when he is being threatened and walt started coughing. "It's over." I think he realized that just like with his brother he's relationship with Walt was over before it even started. They also had both the exact same view on him. He and walt are also poplar opposites of each other, Saul being good accepting his sins and Walt breaking bad. Kinda like Kendrick's album "DAMN" the order you watch the the series in picks weather they're gonna Live or Die.
Jessie represents in DAMN being forced into the situation and having no choice, in the end he was finally able to choose the life he wanted to live and got another shot at life.
I like to imagine that while in prison Saul helped the other inmates with their cases and might have even released a lot of innocent people who were taken advantage of. Reminds me of the insane lawyer who tried to take over the US lol
As you stated in the video some people don't like how BCS is slow paced compared to BB, don't get me wrong i think both story telling types have their own merits but I think the reason my love for BCS is exactly that. As i have just finished watching the final episode a few days ago (my second binge but where i actually watched the final episode) i have come to appreciate how beautifully crafted BCS is through the slower pacing; where it therefore enables more fletched out characters, more focus on symbolism, music, and especially the calm inbetween the chaos. I love both shows and all the action they inherit but i tend to appreciate all the inaction aswell where there can be more focus on the cinematography and world-building. (Also Kim is the best character ❤)
I don’t feel that Saul (Jimmy) would have ever admitted to his crimes unless it fit the circumstances of how he lived his entire life. As the underdog, sticking it to the man and as a hopeless romantic convincing Kim that they’re on the same team. He wanted to be prosecuted as a CRIMINAL not a lawyer because he switches between the two however it suits him best at the moment.
"Walter may have done some awful things" **Him saying "I watched Jane die" is mouthed on screen** Dude my biggest props to you for this video is the editing. I LOVE just seeing the characters describe past events and you edited it to show what they're referencing for some reason haha.
3:45 But unlike Walt Mike meant it. For all the horrible things Mike did he actually wanted to provide for Stacy and Kaylee whereas Walt just wanted money, power and to be feared and used Skyler, Jr and Holly as an excuse.
Mike is absolutely more genuine, but I don't feel like he needed more than 2 million dollars for them to be supported. I believe there are two sides to Mike and one of those sides simply enjoyed working for Gus.
I believe there was a point where Walt was doing it for his family. But i think that reasoning expired fairly quickly into him learning to love the game
20:00 i get Mikes rant referenced so often... and i am not really behind it. It only went south because Gus used Kids AND wanted to kill Jesse. At one point when stuff was settled Walter had to take actions to save his partners life. Even before that to get him in. I refuse blaming it on Walter alone. Also the scene with regret seemed a bit too shallow for Walter and felt out of character. In BB he himself went over the idea when he had to stop, regretting, and came up with the moment he watched that African Documentary.
I see your point, but I think the issue with that is that we would just be back to square one. He would just be alone again, working another normal job in a different state.
I didn't want him to get away, but 86 years in prison? I was thinking 10 or 20 years, so there's a chance he can get out and turn his life around. Why sacrifice his whole life for a woman who left him
The song at the end of face off actually isnt really cheerfull and positive. Some lyrics are, "Until you travel to that place you can't come back" and "Looking up at no stars in the sky, those white clouds have turned it black" implying that walt has done something that is so dark and despicable and that he has crossed a line that he cannot go back from.
Anna gunn as skylar white aced the role. Rewatching breaking bad as a 30 year old changes my view of her as a character who had really nothing much in her control
I think I understand the complaints about the show being slow. I feel like what most casual viewers of BB enjoyed was the constant anxiety over the mortal peril that Walt put himself into. In BCS we know from the start that Mike, Gus, and Saul will survive the show, and the only consistent bit of ongoing mortal peril came from Nacho. Kim's life was only in danger from S5E8-S6E8, and both Howard and Chuck's passing were so unexpected that both hits felt like they came out of nowhere. Don't get me wrong, Better Call Saul was a great show, and had some amazing payoffs for true fans of Breaking Bad - but most people who watched Breaking Bad weren't those true fans and dropped off of BCS when it was clear that the dopamine hits were few and far between.
I love both shows, but I agree that Breaking Bad is a lot more exciting. People need to understand that they are in the same universe but they are different shown
Too bad they had to assassinate his character in the court scene. There is absolutely no universe he ever would have done it (hell, seemingly every character in the show when asked does nothing but stress this idea), plus it was WAY too cinematic. Everything was tied up too cleanly. Honestly, if the first Gene scene (ie the first scene of the show) was the way his character ended, with him sitting alone drinking his sorrows away while watching his old commercials, it would've been much more fitting. Sure, he'd have technically gotten away with it, but he lost his only family, his wife, his career, even his name. That bleak empty feeling is exactly what he deserved and what they should have done with him. Don't get me wrong, this is a well made video and I agree on several points, but that scene honestly ruined the end for me.
But the prisoners could have been subjected to severe discipline in the prison. Their privileges could have been restricted or they could have been put in solitary.
Huh. I really would like to make a video going into detail about why I love Better Call Saul and believe that it's a superior show to Breaking Bad... While also being of the opinion that 'Saul Gone' is a thoroughly disappointing, mediocre let-down of a finale and vastly inferior to Felina in almost every way imaginable, at least on the basis of what constitutes a great finale *or* a great episode of their respective shows. I have a very low opinion in general of the final season of BCS, and feel that it's easily the worst season in the series for a number of reasons and in a number of ways. Which is definitely a shame, because I have nothing but the utmost praise for the first five seasons.
"Walter white was a good man at some point.". Nope, go back and watch BB SE01EP1 knowing what you know now and tell me he wasn't a prideful self-centered POS from the start. It's the reason Better Call Saul is the better of the Two shows. Because Saul and Kim and Howard are actually sympathetic characters, unlike Walter, who, by the end of Breaking Bad, we just want him to get caught so he'll leave poor Jessie alone.
I said "seemed like a good man at one point" - I wasn't saying one way or the other if he was that, I think that's down to the individual viewer. I have seen 'Breaking Bad' a few times now and have my own thoughts on it.
![Eminem - Like My Shit [Official Audio]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/vx_IMvFkrfA/mqdefault.jpg)
"Fact is, Walter White couldn't have done it without me."
We know he's faking it
Legendary line
Saul: Walt! You sussy Baka.
Fact is, Walter couldn’t have gotten white if he was away with it
Fact is, Saul Goodman Couldn't have done it without me!
By : Mike Ehrmantraut
Walt getting so worked up over the mechanics of the time machine instead of engaging with Saul's thought experiment is so in character.
Absolutely. There was also a lot of added stress at that time.
You know what? I absolutely LOVED that as well. Cranston and the writers were *SO* dialed in to how Walt's scientific mind worked, you just KNOW that was precisely the way he'd have replied. Anything else would have been disingenuous.
It’s funny how little Walt is in Better Call Saul but every scene with him posits him as such an insufferable asswipe instead of the potential badass he could be most of the time.
@@Novastar.SaberCombat this was also right after ozymandia's Walt is not in the mood for his shit.
So is sauls, he only thought of money
El Camino doesn't get enough love and some fans even dislike it. It's sad. I always trusted the writers to get this stuff right and they consistently blew me away. And they found amazing talent like Michael Mando and Tony Dalton to play pivotal roles and played to those performers' strengths and factored them into the story. This is how you DO a "cinematic universe". It's a shame more studios don't encourage this kind of approach because it results in amazing storytelling.
It's not terrible but it feels unfocused, sadistic (the torture scenes and cleaning lady's death felt a bit cartoonish imo), and a little contrived at times (mainly looking at that end duel, which, while I'm mostly fine with, did feel a little too much like "Look it's a Western!"). Still overall enjoyable tho, no hate, just my take.
@@The_Left-Hand_PathEl Camino came before point and shoot but the twist of texas standoff motif with the main antagonist being defeated with a cleverly planted hidden gun (or bomb) did get tired imo. it felt kinda uninspired when Jesse did it, essentially repeating the same way Walt killed Gus, but Lalo's death suffered the most from this.
@@The_Left-Hand_PathSorry if this comes off like an interrogation, but just out of friendly curiosity, why would you say El Camino was unfocused, the torture scenes and cleaning lady scenes were cartoonish, or that the ending shootout was contrived? The last of those points, I’ll honestly admit is one I’ve struggled with in the past, but your point about the torture scenes and the cleaning lady scene being “Cartoonish” is actually rather interesting. I’ve never thought of that before tbh, so I am curious.
@@luaugod420 To be fair Gus' OCD makes it much more likely he'd leave a gun hidden in random areas
Marie's character was meant to challenge how petty the men look when they lie and steal. She is just like Saul in the way that she needs to be grandiose and narcissistic. But imagine you nurse a loved one back to health after a horrific cartel attack. All the money, all the arguments over caregiving, all the pain you watch them go through, just for a con-man like Saul to rip him away. She had a right to be in the finale, I wish Anna Gunn had been treated better since Skylar and Saul do interact in breaking bad. I wish she felt safer to return.
damn shame really, always felt strange that we didn’t see her in court with Marie at the end
@@jengbiffIt wasn't strange to me at all. Marie lost her husband because of Saul's conspiracy with Skyler's husband.
I think Marie's stealing arc is as a subplot character to Walter. That's a stylistic device to better expose someone's character. She also commits crime. She also harms Skyler with it. She also gaslights Skyler about it. But when finally push comes to shove, she apologizes. A genuine apology. She doesn't repeat harming Skyler. The same way that Cliff is a subplot character to Chuck: Also leading a highly competitive law firm, but instead of not hiring and trusting Jimmy, he does. In no way whatsoever does Cliff do anything bad to Jimmy. He gives him a chance, almost anything he asks for. And is punished by jimmy's instincts for it.
@@denisesudell2538 Not to mentions Skylar being just as guilty as Saul at that point, makes sense she wouldn't be there.
@@Socragames I like your thoughts! I agree. Marie is just a bit grandiose and self centered but she loves her sister. It’s such a shame when the events unfold and she is torn between honoring her husband or staying loyal to her sister who was involved in the escalation.
My theory on why Saul wanted to connect with Walt so much is because he reminds him of Chuck
simple fact; it was about money
Yup, even Bob Odenkirk confirms about it.
Yeah. Walt and Jesse were kinda like Chuck and Jimmy. They tried so hard to get the other one's respect, but Chuck always saw his brother as Slippin Jimmy, and Walt saw Jesse as a junkie
@@bajorekjon if you watch the saul recapp youll see it was all about money thrills
The way he pronounces "and i made millions" is one of the best acting I've seen.
Oh yeah, it is a brilliant emphasis on the "millions".
If I were Saul, my answer to the back in time icebreaker would be to stop myself from doing the Chicago sunroof.
But then he wouldn't have met Kim. It makes more sense that he chose his missed opportunity to make peace with his brother.
"If I were " has got to be the most pointless hypothetical. If you were you would do exactly what did because you wouldn't be you, you would be .
@@real.sugarconeYou sound like Walt when he responded to the “Time-Machine-Question”.
(I see your point, but still)
@@Gioveggie it was at that moment that sugarcone became heisenberg
The slow pace makes the story feel more realistic.
Agreed.
The editing is really good in this. The way you match up the footage to what you’re saying is very satisfying
Thank you! The editing process can take a long time, but I think it's worth it.
That "One. All I need is one" line was so goddamn cold. One of the hardest hitting lines in either BCS or BB, you can really tell he doesn't care and just wants to be on top, even when going to prison.
Yeah, Bob nailed the delivery of that line.
@@That0therGeorge Exemplary artists often do. And I have to reinforce that your video analysis here is SPOT-ON. It's really incredible to see more and more people catching all of the nuances in legendarily expert-level storytelling. As another example, we could consider a film like "Blade Runner 2049"; there's *SO* much to detect, and yet in most cases... I'd easily argue that 96% or more of any viewer, reader or whatever will NEVER detect more than the "iceberg's tip". :)
Seriously. WELL DONE. And just for reference, my background is 30+ years in production (acting, directing, writing, sound design, video editing, fight choreography, V.O., etc.). Nothing via Hollywon't nor Didnay nor the "richy rich" folks, but let me tell ya... I'm glad for that six ways to Suunsday, son. ;)
14:25 Jimmy is a petty man and so much of his Saul Goodman persona was a snub at Chuck for looking down on him not always doing the right thing. But after Kim left it also became about disproving the “we’re bad for each other” line. Saul is constantly sinking himself lower and lower, in part, to prove that he is a worse monster without her. He cannot accept that the best relationship he ever had was bad for him.
What ‘cures’ Saul was learning that Kim confessed. Suddenly, his motives are at odds with one another. However cynically, he had convinced her to do the right thing, and if he allowed himself, for once, to drop his resentment and do the right thing as well, then at least he would finally have some small comfort in knowing they had made each other better people and not worse.
This is a good take.
There is a saying in my country: only the grave can straighten up the hunchback. Even thought BCS ended the way it ended, Jimmy will continue to be Saul Goodman there in prison. Something tells me he will keep on doing his shenanigans and schemes through others, and he will be Saul Goodman until he dies. After all, he s in America. He has the right to study, he has the right to practice a profession, he can teach others and give the Saul gene further. Some people have such a toxicity level, that the air is only cleaner only after they physically disappear from the face of the Earth. Jimmy is one of them.
Gotta say. The editing of the specific clips you used when you said specific things like the "he's climbed a lot since" and showing him climbing the ladder, and other shots like that are great. Im always fascinated by the ability to single out just the right clip for the context of what you're talking about.
And the “analyzing writing” part… and it’s Jimmy editing / copying the letters. Perfect
Thank you both! I'm really glad you enjoyed the visual editing.
28:44 I've always wondered if Chuck knew his dad kept falling for the sob stories of con men even before Jimmy started stealing from the till.
That's a good point. I'd imagine so because Chuck has always been able to see how things really are in those sorts of situations.
@@That0therGeorgeI'm not so sure. I think Chuck's perspective was skewed because of his bitterness toward Jimmy.
@@That0therGeorgell
i used to think he just took the money because his dad was just gonna end up giving it all away to scammers and chuck just always saw what jimmy did in a negative way
I truly LOVE BCS better than breaking bad. Only because they have so much depth to each character. Even answering questions that we had when breaking bad ended. It’s a prequel and it truly shows in the detail and I really appreciate it.
Oh yes, it's a perfect prequel in every way.
Better Call Saul will forever be my favorite drama not only because I always loved the character of Saul Goodman in Breaking Bad because of how impressive it is as a prequel, stand alone show and drama. It truly is peak fiction and I am proud to call it my favorite television show of all time!
Same, it checks all the boxes.
23:42 - FUN FACT: The ironic music cue as a film making technique was first used by John Carpenter in Halloween 2. Specifically, when the song "Mr. Sandman" by the Chordettes is played over Michael Meyers stalking Laurie through a hospital.
That is a good fun fact.
@@That0therGeorge It's fascinating to think that for the first 50 years of audible movies (talkies as they originally called them), the music was always 100% sincere in its intention. Because why wouldn't it be?
It seems so obvious to us now but imagine being the first person to go, "Hey, how about instead of scary music over a scary scene, we play HAPPY music?!"
"...Are you high?"
I didn’t need another reason to think John Carpenter is the greatest director of all time my friend…. But thanks anyway.
9:46 Saul: "He offered me money. I declined. Any lawyer would"
Saul, at the time: "I don't take bribes from strangers; it was kinda low anyway!"
Yeah it is amazing how many lies he told in that scene.
@@That0therGeorgeand Marie knows it was a lie since She is also has a Criminal mind just like Saul.
"It'saul goodman!" 😁
"It'saul gone..." 😐😢😭
45:01 One thing that always makes me think about how much of the connections to BB are made up as they go is the character of Dan Wormald aka Pryce. He was supposed to be the "Danny" who runs the Lasertag which Saul keeps trying to make Walt use for his money laundering. So, not unlike Nacho and Lalo, it's a fun character who was created exclusively from just a couple of mentions in Breaking Bad, and indeed in episode commentary for BCS the creators mention multiple times how Dan could represent a connection to the original show in future episodes... but by the end they didn't do anything with it and it became just an interesting bit of trivia.
Yeah I think it just depends on how relevant said character can be to the current story. Nacho was pretty important throughout the whole series and Lalo was extremely important in those latter 3 seasons. However, I do still appreciate the smaller details like the "Danny" one that you mentioned.
6:15 “this is my own private domicile and I will not be harassed”
we could’ve had 2 more seasons
I wish you were a much bigger and more popular creator. The care and creativity you put into every video of yours is amazing. I really hope this video especially blows up, though I do feel this way about all your videos
That's extremely kind of you to say, thank you.
Thing is I do simply enjoy making these projects, how they perform in terms of views is more so a bonus for me. But I appreciate the kind words regardless.
Perfect show and a perfect finale. Great video :)
It is indeed. Thank you!
this video is a MASTERPIECE!!!!! ur absolutely goin places
That is extremely kind of you to say. Thank you!
Walt definitely should have treated Saul better. Shit , listen to Saul sometimes
Yeah, Saul often had great advice and could've kept him in check.
This was truly the moment it was s'all gone man
Saul is probably giving legal advice to his fellows inmates.
That wouldn't surprise me.
For a price
The "we had a good thing" speech that Mike makes isn't really 100% accurate. Walt couldn't actually keep his head down and cook, because JESSIE screwed up. Walt wanted to color in the lines for a bit, but then Jessie fucked up when he wanted to get revenge for combo. Even before that when Jessie lead Hank to the RV. After the whole situation with Jessie wanting to kill the dealers who corrupted that child, Gus was aiming to kill and replace Walt. There was no "keeping his head down and cooking" after he had to save Jessie from getting himself killed. After that everything spiraled because Gus wanted to replace Walt with Gale, then after Gale he wanted to replace Walt with Jessie. So was Walt supposed to just let Gus kill him? Walt isn't blameless but Mike saying he could've just cooked and relaxed is bs.
Yeah, it's kinda easy to blame Walt while Jesse and even Gus play their parts of Gus Fring empire destruction since Gus would killed him one way or another anyway, and he did even stated that with The Cousins.
I just finished rewatching the series 2 days ago
This video came in the right time
Awesome to hear - what did you think of the show?
BCS really blew me away. As a long time Breaking Bad fan I think Sauls story has overtaken it as my favourite. Fantastic writing amd performances
I love both as well, but prefer Saul slightly more.
This is such a well made video. Probably my favorite BCS/BB analysis
That is very high praise - thank you so much!
When people let myself believe this is better than Breaking Bad, the main series you know you did something special
Much like 'Alien' and 'Aliens', both are brilliant but in their own way. It doesn't matter which one you prefer.
Better call Saul is phenomenal one of the top twenty shows I’ve ever watched, however breaking bad is a little better
Amazing video keep making more.
Thank you and will do!
15:24 Had me cracking up!
Great video mate! I hope to see the viewership numbers explode soon ;))
Glad you liked that visual haha. I thought it was very fitting.
Thank you very much, that's kind of you to say.
Love your videos. Excited to watch this one!
Thank you! This is by far the most time I've spent on one project, so I hope you enjoy this one as well.
Bloody OUTSTANDING analysis. Absolutely bang-on, dead-to-rights catching every detail. Great work. I mean, yes, we all know that Gilligan's work (and his team's efforts) over the decades has been brilliant. But these kinds of in-depth analyses are truly awesome to find. :) Reminds me of when people REALLY look closely at "Blade Runner 2049", or even things as far back as "Traffic", or "Inside Man". When exemplary work is on the docket, there's almost no end to the hidden underpinnings, golden but gloriously shrouded nuances, and powerful thematic underpinnings.
That's extremely kind of you to say, thank you.
And yes, there's certainly a lot to unpack with masterpieces such as this and 'Blade Runner 2049'.
@@That0therGeorge All good. And hey, if you're ever interested in more exemplary work which does indeed emphasize dramatic structure, powerful character arcs, deep thematic underpinnings, relevant world-building, and far more, give DD1-4 a shot...
🐲✨🐲✨🐲✨
"Before I start, I must see my end. Destination known, my mind's journey now begins. Upon my chariot, heart and soul's fate revealed. In time, all points converge; hope's strength, resteeled. But to earn final peace at the universe's endless refrain, we must see all in nothingness... before we start again."
🐲✨🐲✨🐲✨
--Diamond Dragons (series)
Damn dude I watch a lot of Video Essays & this one's good keep it up.
Thank you, I appreciate that!
It was pretty interesting to see Walt again in Saul Gone. For the entirety of Breaking Bad, a part of me was rooting for him, even though I understood that he'd become a bad and selfish person, he still felt like a close friend. But in Saul Gone he was shown from a perspective outside of himself and it was only then that I truely understood how rotten he'd become. I guess its always easier to justify your own behaviours than others.
I think most people relate to that. Ultimately, he is the protagonist in 'Breaking Bad'. But protagonist ≠ good person in that specific case.
34:56 he got away with it by dying
True, but he also could've stayed and faced the music. If he walked in with his head held high, he would've be the John Dillinger of the Metropolitan Detention Center.
I love the little edits you made on Mike, Walt, Saul, quotes. 💪💪
Thank you!
I am high watching this and I just want to say I love how good your editing is
This was a good show. I miss it. There will be plenty of good shows in the future, but there is nothing like Better Call Saul.
Agreed. Out of interest, what other shows do you like?
Been waiting on this ever since watching all the previous commentaries on BCS and the study of Gene Takovic
Thank you, I hope the wait was worth it.
Thatsa very good BCS video good job man im following u!
Thank you! Hope to see you about in the future.
Yeah I liked the slow burn and more comedic tone of better caul Saul, and Mike was my favorite character so loved seeing him get fleshed out.
Glad you agree, thank you for watching.
When I watched the scene of Mike advising Saul to not associate with Walk something click for me, one, hes stubborn, second, I belive Saul saw in Walt his possible fall down, as amature likely to get arrested and not verse in the criminal world of silence or get silenced he would eventually not by "his own" mouth get arrested, stopping his spree of "getting away with", Saul is the psychological of Jimmy, hence not evil but a part of his personallity that's been represed by Jimmy's action, low self-steem and ego.
Thus, the shadow is pushing towards unity, so by taking accountability as the Saul persona, Saul and Jimmy unify an inner peace is achieved, that's why I think he lets go, accepts his fate and reconciliates why himself.
Yes, a lot of people is hurt in this individual process, that's why I believe this is the most clear example of the pain we cause others by not accepting ourselves and the ugliness that is us.
Amazing video bro :D
That's an interesting theory.
And thank you!
Great work. Really enjoyed this.
Thank you! I'm happy that you enjoyed it.
Amazong video, thank you so much for this
No, thank you. That's very nice of you to say.
The connection with Chuck and Walt, both people with bad health conditions making choices that negatively effect people around them. Saul to me was looking to redeem what happen to chuck but in that time travel question when he is being threatened and walt started coughing. "It's over." I think he realized that just like with his brother he's relationship with Walt was over before it even started. They also had both the exact same view on him. He and walt are also poplar opposites of each other, Saul being good accepting his sins and Walt breaking bad. Kinda like Kendrick's album "DAMN" the order you watch the the series in picks weather they're gonna Live or Die.
Jessie represents in DAMN being forced into the situation and having no choice, in the end he was finally able to choose the life he wanted to live and got another shot at life.
Saul really didn’t interact with Ignacio that much
Yeah it was mostly season 1 and then season 5 with Nacho introducing Saul to Lalo.
He was the first guy in that life he represented. And he kidnapped Saul in the first episode
0 clue why my bells got turned off, great to see a new vid!
Thank you!
No we don't want the show to end. Wanna to see Jesse's life after and jimmy years later out of jail and how he does in the modern world of his time.
June 1982. That's when it all went wrong for me.
52:40 project zomboid reference‼️‼️
It left me so empty... that i have a hard time enjoying it for its greatness
loved the nobody clips
Haha, thanks! They seemed appropriate to include.
I like to imagine that while in prison Saul helped the other inmates with their cases and might have even released a lot of innocent people who were taken advantage of. Reminds me of the insane lawyer who tried to take over the US lol
I think that is very likely the case.
As you stated in the video some people don't like how BCS is slow paced compared to BB, don't get me wrong i think both story telling types have their own merits but I think the reason my love for BCS is exactly that. As i have just finished watching the final episode a few days ago (my second binge but where i actually watched the final episode) i have come to appreciate how beautifully crafted BCS is through the slower pacing; where it therefore enables more fletched out characters, more focus on symbolism, music, and especially the calm inbetween the chaos. I love both shows and all the action they inherit but i tend to appreciate all the inaction aswell where there can be more focus on the cinematography and world-building. (Also Kim is the best character ❤)
Yeah I do agree with people who call it a "slow-burn" but only in a positive way.
To think about it, Kim has indirectly saving Jimmy's soul just like how Luke has indirectly saving Anakin's soul.
It is interesting that Mike does work for Saul even while working for gus
Working for Saul is more of a side hustle I guess haha.
This was such an experience.. breaking bad and then this like it was so epic..
Most TV series don't even end well once. We got three different endings in this universe and all of them were great.
I don’t feel that Saul (Jimmy) would have ever admitted to his crimes unless it fit the circumstances of how he lived his entire life. As the underdog, sticking it to the man and as a hopeless romantic convincing Kim that they’re on the same team. He wanted to be prosecuted as a CRIMINAL not a lawyer because he switches between the two however it suits him best at the moment.
"Walter may have done some awful things"
**Him saying "I watched Jane die" is mouthed on screen**
Dude my biggest props to you for this video is the editing. I LOVE just seeing the characters describe past events and you edited it to show what they're referencing for some reason haha.
Thank you. Yeah I always try to get the best possible visual match for each line in my scripts. The one you highlighted felt very appropriate.
@@That0therGeorge NP mate I just tell it like it is :) Have a great one!
@@Zyborggian Thanks again and you too.
Great video
Thank you!
Didn’t watch last series of BCS because it was spoiling my good impressions…thanks for explaining. Makes sense now…should have watched it.
I guess you know the ending now, but I would still say it's worth going back and watching.
Great video dude
Thank you!
16:39 🤓🤓🤓🤓
Poor Saul.
3:45 But unlike Walt Mike meant it. For all the horrible things Mike did he actually wanted to provide for Stacy and Kaylee whereas Walt just wanted money, power and to be feared and used Skyler, Jr and Holly as an excuse.
Mike is absolutely more genuine, but I don't feel like he needed more than 2 million dollars for them to be supported. I believe there are two sides to Mike and one of those sides simply enjoyed working for Gus.
I believe there was a point where Walt was doing it for his family. But i think that reasoning expired fairly quickly into him learning to love the game
@@That0therGeorgetrue
The the Bacteria
20:00 i get Mikes rant referenced so often... and i am not really behind it.
It only went south because Gus used Kids AND wanted to kill Jesse. At one point when stuff was settled Walter had to take actions to save his partners life. Even before that to get him in. I refuse blaming it on Walter alone. Also the scene with regret seemed a bit too shallow for Walter and felt out of character. In BB he himself went over the idea when he had to stop, regretting, and came up with the moment he watched that African Documentary.
It’s a sweet ending, but I really wanted Saul to get away
I see your point, but I think the issue with that is that we would just be back to square one. He would just be alone again, working another normal job in a different state.
I didn't want him to get away, but 86 years in prison? I was thinking 10 or 20 years, so there's a chance he can get out and turn his life around. Why sacrifice his whole life for a woman who left him
Does anyone know the name of the song that starts 38:44 ?
Coffee Cold.
The song at the end of face off actually isnt really cheerfull and positive. Some lyrics are, "Until you travel to that place you can't come back" and "Looking up at no stars in the sky, those white clouds have turned it black" implying that walt has done something that is so dark and despicable and that he has crossed a line that he cannot go back from.
Howard and Hank deaths were not similar at all. A DEA agent accepts that they are essentially in the game.
They were both shot and dumped in a hole. Definitely very similar in that regard
Anna gunn as skylar white aced the role. Rewatching breaking bad as a 30 year old changes my view of her as a character who had really nothing much in her control
Yeah she's a great actress.
Please anyone, what's the name of the piece that starts playing at 39:15????
Coffee Cold.
@@That0therGeorge thanks a lot, really enjoyed the video
@@kubaklajmon7635 You're welcome, it's a great song. And thank you!
I think I understand the complaints about the show being slow. I feel like what most casual viewers of BB enjoyed was the constant anxiety over the mortal peril that Walt put himself into. In BCS we know from the start that Mike, Gus, and Saul will survive the show, and the only consistent bit of ongoing mortal peril came from Nacho. Kim's life was only in danger from S5E8-S6E8, and both Howard and Chuck's passing were so unexpected that both hits felt like they came out of nowhere.
Don't get me wrong, Better Call Saul was a great show, and had some amazing payoffs for true fans of Breaking Bad - but most people who watched Breaking Bad weren't those true fans and dropped off of BCS when it was clear that the dopamine hits were few and far between.
I love both shows, but I agree that Breaking Bad is a lot more exciting. People need to understand that they are in the same universe but they are different shown
Too bad they had to assassinate his character in the court scene. There is absolutely no universe he ever would have done it (hell, seemingly every character in the show when asked does nothing but stress this idea), plus it was WAY too cinematic. Everything was tied up too cleanly. Honestly, if the first Gene scene (ie the first scene of the show) was the way his character ended, with him sitting alone drinking his sorrows away while watching his old commercials, it would've been much more fitting. Sure, he'd have technically gotten away with it, but he lost his only family, his wife, his career, even his name. That bleak empty feeling is exactly what he deserved and what they should have done with him.
Don't get me wrong, this is a well made video and I agree on several points, but that scene honestly ruined the end for me.
“I didn’t like it” = “they ASSASSINATED his character!”
@@j.c.jeggis1818correct, i didn't like them assassinating his character
Inmates: Better! Call! Saul!
CO: SHUT UP!
Inmates: What're you gonna do to us if we don't, throw us in prison? Oh, wait, remind me where we're going.
But the prisoners could have been subjected to severe discipline in the prison. Their privileges could have been restricted or they could have been put in solitary.
I wonder what Mike was referring to when he first said December 8th, could that be when he enlisted to serve in Vietnam
It was the first time he took a bribe
Dam!
Huh. I really would like to make a video going into detail about why I love Better Call Saul and believe that it's a superior show to Breaking Bad... While also being of the opinion that 'Saul Gone' is a thoroughly disappointing, mediocre let-down of a finale and vastly inferior to Felina in almost every way imaginable, at least on the basis of what constitutes a great finale *or* a great episode of their respective shows. I have a very low opinion in general of the final season of BCS, and feel that it's easily the worst season in the series for a number of reasons and in a number of ways. Which is definitely a shame, because I have nothing but the utmost praise for the first five seasons.
What don't you like about the finale?
I’m ashamed to say I couldn’t watch the last episodes because they were in black and white lol
"Walter white was a good man at some point.". Nope, go back and watch BB SE01EP1 knowing what you know now and tell me he wasn't a prideful self-centered POS from the start. It's the reason Better Call Saul is the better of the Two shows. Because Saul and Kim and Howard are actually sympathetic characters, unlike Walter, who, by the end of Breaking Bad, we just want him to get caught so he'll leave poor Jessie alone.
I said "seemed like a good man at one point" - I wasn't saying one way or the other if he was that, I think that's down to the individual viewer. I have seen 'Breaking Bad' a few times now and have my own thoughts on it.
Beautifully put together video essay, George!
Thank you! That is very nice of you to say.
There were far better episodes than this but insta and tiktok has made this over hyped
great video
Thanks!