frelling_tralk (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
frelling_tralk) wrote2015-02-11 03:45 am
frelling_tralk) wrote2015-02-11 03:45 am
Entry tags:
Better Call Saul
I absolutely LOVED Better Call Saul! Clearly I should have read up more on what they were planning to do, I don't know why lol, but I always pictured it in my head as being a kind of sitcom of Saul's ducking and diving, and I assumed that it would be a ton of gags that would eventually start to feel overplayed, but it was so much better than that. The filming of the desert and the general atmosphere really reminded me of Breaking Bad's vibe, along with the premise of course of watching Saul's (or Jimmy's I guess!) fall from a basically law-abiding citizen who didn't want to get involved in anything criminal, into the criminal lawyer that we all know that he will eventually become
I loved the sad black and white opening showing how pathetic Saul's life is now and how paranoid he has become, and of course then seeing him watch those old Better Call Saul commercials in the dark, that was all so well-done. And not to keep comparing it to BB, because it's obviously going to stand on its own, but that courtroom reminded me so much of BB's black comedy when Saul is passionately defending the kids and their silly prank, and then cut to the reveal of the procescuter silently showing the video of them having sex with a decapitated head!!!
It was awesome to see Tuco again as a slightly less psychotic version of what he will become in the future (presumedy he's not snorting meth at this point in time!), but still with some nods to it (the cold menace in him warning his lackeys not to interfere, his fury at someone disrespecting his family). I did wonder why his Gran didn't stop at the scene though! Those annoying scam artists clearly got what was coming to them in trying to take advantage of her, but at the same time she did seem to be aware that she'd hit someone when they first came to the house to confront her, she told Tuco as much? She seemed basically harmless and unaware of Tuco's true nature, so I wasn't sure why she didn't stop at the time to check that whoever she hit was okay. It was sweet how protective of her Tuco was though, and hee at how she kept popping back up to remind him to use club soda on the blood stain!
And the scene in the desert was so tense and scary, but also ended up kind of awesomely funny when Saul tries to negotiate a better deal for them and praises herself as the best lawyer ever XD It was nice to see that he did have a conscience in the beginning and wasn't always so comfortable with hits being ordered. I liked the added touch of Saul having PTSD afterwards with the breadsticks snap reminding him of the breaking legs
I also appreciated how much it humanises Saul to have a brother to take care of. While I was watching I was assuming that Chuck was supposed to be schizophrenic or something, but I've since read comments suggesting that he could have a real physical condition relating to needing to avoid electro magnetic waves? Saul not treating the phone as that big a deal, and telling him to take the aluminium off, made me think that the threat was supposed to be all in Chuck's head though?
I loved all of Saul's references to movie and pop culture, and how he had to talk himself up in the bathroom ("It's showtime" "It's from a move!") before every case. I get the sense that the show is laying the groundwork for him to build up Saul Goodman as more of a character that he's going to create, rather than the real him? And aww, I'm finding him a little heartbreaking with how clearly desperate he is for new clients and a break of some sort, there was something so sad about seeing him drinking from that pilfered plastic cup at the end :(
And finally LMAO at Saul's rants on Mike being a troll under the bridge!
I loved the sad black and white opening showing how pathetic Saul's life is now and how paranoid he has become, and of course then seeing him watch those old Better Call Saul commercials in the dark, that was all so well-done. And not to keep comparing it to BB, because it's obviously going to stand on its own, but that courtroom reminded me so much of BB's black comedy when Saul is passionately defending the kids and their silly prank, and then cut to the reveal of the procescuter silently showing the video of them having sex with a decapitated head!!!
It was awesome to see Tuco again as a slightly less psychotic version of what he will become in the future (presumedy he's not snorting meth at this point in time!), but still with some nods to it (the cold menace in him warning his lackeys not to interfere, his fury at someone disrespecting his family). I did wonder why his Gran didn't stop at the scene though! Those annoying scam artists clearly got what was coming to them in trying to take advantage of her, but at the same time she did seem to be aware that she'd hit someone when they first came to the house to confront her, she told Tuco as much? She seemed basically harmless and unaware of Tuco's true nature, so I wasn't sure why she didn't stop at the time to check that whoever she hit was okay. It was sweet how protective of her Tuco was though, and hee at how she kept popping back up to remind him to use club soda on the blood stain!
And the scene in the desert was so tense and scary, but also ended up kind of awesomely funny when Saul tries to negotiate a better deal for them and praises herself as the best lawyer ever XD It was nice to see that he did have a conscience in the beginning and wasn't always so comfortable with hits being ordered. I liked the added touch of Saul having PTSD afterwards with the breadsticks snap reminding him of the breaking legs
I also appreciated how much it humanises Saul to have a brother to take care of. While I was watching I was assuming that Chuck was supposed to be schizophrenic or something, but I've since read comments suggesting that he could have a real physical condition relating to needing to avoid electro magnetic waves? Saul not treating the phone as that big a deal, and telling him to take the aluminium off, made me think that the threat was supposed to be all in Chuck's head though?
I loved all of Saul's references to movie and pop culture, and how he had to talk himself up in the bathroom ("It's showtime" "It's from a move!") before every case. I get the sense that the show is laying the groundwork for him to build up Saul Goodman as more of a character that he's going to create, rather than the real him? And aww, I'm finding him a little heartbreaking with how clearly desperate he is for new clients and a break of some sort, there was something so sad about seeing him drinking from that pilfered plastic cup at the end :(
And finally LMAO at Saul's rants on Mike being a troll under the bridge!
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I assumed Tuco's grandma didn't stop maybe because she's just a bit senile.
I also really liked the scene in the desert, and how Saul managed to walk away, but just couldn't leave those two guys to be killed. I wonder if he just gets more comfortable with hits later, or whether in this case (even though he's still law abiding at this point) he felt direct responsibility because he got the boys into the mess to begin with.
I also like how, similar to BB, what starts off as a simple premise and easy money rapidly spirals out of control and then you're in the desert with drug dealers.
I read some things that suggested that Chuck's illness is all in his head, that there are people who say electromagnetic waves are bad for them, but that there's been no medical correlation, and it's generally treated as a psychological thing.
I'm assuming being a toll booth operator is just Mike's day job, and that he's already in with Gus at this point. That's one character I'd really like to see, though Gus would have no reason to do business with a small time attorney like Saul.
no subject
And heh I guess, I just thought it was kind of weird how she told Tuco that she was driving and she thinks that she must have hit someone as there was a noise, but then didn't even stop to check?? Concerned Tuco was so cute in his apron though looking out for her :P
And at first I was expecting Saul to just scuttle off, so I was impressed that he put himself at so much risk, especially as they were honestly really annoying and dropped Saul in it earlier. In BB he was pretty comfortable with suggesting that Walt and Jesse could get rid of Badger to stop him from talking, so it was surprising for me to see a Saul that would put himself in danger to try and get them out of there in more or less one piece
And hmm I was confused because the actor who play Chuck was talking in an interview like it was a real thing, but maybe he was just being method? Some reviews have also talked about it being an actual condition as well, but Idk on the show it seemed to me like it was a tinfoil hat kind of delusion
no subject
I did read Chuck's illness as psychological, given the things you pointed out.
I think abuela didn't stop because she was overwhelmed and confused and scared. She really shouldn't be driving at all.
Haha, yeah, watching Saul and Mike's relationship begin is wonderful.
And, yeah, I really loved seeing Saul's skill at convincing people in action, and that he's got a good, brave heart underneath it all. It's going to be painful to watch that take a beating.
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Very true!
And I think that Saul definitely sees Chuck's illness as being all in his head, and clearly believes that he's never going to be able to go back to work because of that, but I'm not sure if the show wants us to see it as a real physical condition for him or not, just because afterwards I was reading a lot of links on how sensitivity to electromagnetic waves is a real condition :shrug:
And yes, I've been surprised at how bad I've been feeling for Saul so far. He'll skirt too close to the edge with trying to get a new client, but he seems like a basically good guy, so it's going to be interesting to watch him evolve into Saul Goodman
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eta: I just remembered I had other things to say!
I assumed Tuco's grandmother didn't stop because she was afraid of immigration complications and/or she's got a disqualified (for age/eyesight/whatever reason) license/not got a license at all...
And I defintely interpreted Chuck's situation as a mental illess, potentially paranoid schizophrenia.
I've read a few reviews online of the episodes, all of them positive, but I think lots of people have missed the point of a number of things that happened. It makes me want to sit them all down and say NO, DON'T YOU SEEEEEE!!! Particularly interpretations of Jimmy.
I am pleased to report that I pretty much agree with everything you said! I do not need to sit you down and have words! Haha!
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YES! I feel like I'm watching a similar show to BB all over again :D It sounds bad to keep comparing them, but it's just got so much of that cinematic vibe and feel now that we're back in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and following the journey of another mans ruin.
I assumed Tuco's grandmother didn't stop because she was afraid of immigration complications and/or she's got a disqualified (for age/eyesight/whatever reason) license/not got a license at all...
That makes sense, I've just been a little surprised at everyone basically being like "poor Granny doing nothing wrong", even though she did commit a felony in hitting and running and she really should have stopped
I am pleased to report that I pretty much agree with everything you said! I do not need to sit you down and have words! Haha!
:D
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Yes! That was why I was unexcited when they announced the show. But wow, it's totally not that.
Huge agreement with everything you say. I guess I had no expectations going in, which is funny because BrBa is probably my favourite show of all time, and so everything that happened made me unreservedly happy.
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I heard about it but since I've never seen BB either, I didn't think it was something for me :)
no subject