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General Discussion => Television aka TV discussion => Topic started by: Johnny Unusual on July 24, 2014, 05:37:13 PM

Title: Better Call Saul
Post by: Johnny Unusual on July 24, 2014, 05:37:13 PM
Just thought I'd start a thread for this one.  Anyway, there are some interesting billboards popping around the ABQ lately.

http://www.avclub.com/article/better-call-saul-billboard-working-phone-number-po-207261
Title: Re: Better Call Saul
Post by: Johnny Unusual on October 11, 2014, 07:52:27 AM

https://www.youtube.com/v/mGsC_LO3oFY
Title: Re: Better Call Saul
Post by: PsychoGoatee on October 20, 2014, 04:02:49 PM
I'm mindbogglingly, immensely pumped for this show. This will be mindblowingly excellent. Saul is ripe with potential.
Title: Re: Better Call Saul
Post by: Johnny Unusual on November 22, 2014, 07:10:44 PM
Better Call Saul Premiers February 8th.

Also a neat but frustratingly contentless trailer.

https://www.youtube.com/v/hO6TeCBTwBI
Title: Re: Better Call Saul
Post by: Johnny Unusual on December 23, 2014, 07:37:14 PM
Saul meets Mike
https://www.youtube.com/v/ds4FZmVG908
Title: Re: Better Call Saul
Post by: Johnny Unusual on February 08, 2015, 07:13:28 PM
A pretty decent Better Call Saul comic.  Though it's basically The Mike Show.  Not that it's a negative.

http://www.amctv.com/shows/better-call-saul/client-development-comic

Looking forward to seeing the new show!
Title: Re: Better Call Saul
Post by: MightyBombJack on February 08, 2015, 10:36:54 PM
Not a whole lot to say right now, but I'm really liking it so far. I appreciate that it's operating on a somewhat different register than Breaking Bad which makes sense since where that show was about a good person turning bad, this one is about someone who is pretty corrupt from the get-go. A fair amount of the pilot episode is slow and talky, but stick with it. There's a hell of a stinger at the end of the episode. And we only have to wait one day for episode 2!  :highfive:
Title: Re: Better Call Saul
Post by: Johnny Unusual on February 09, 2015, 02:30:25 AM
I love the whole caper feel.  And yeah, the surprise at the end of the episode was an unexpected delight!  I think there's a lot to say: the first court room scene was amazing and hilarious.  It's a brilliant bit of visual comedy of people waiting for things to start (it felt very Coen Bros.)

BTW, I love the guy who drew the barbarian on the unicorn.  I'm developing the theory that the shocking number of characters in this universe are deservedly failed cartoonists (Community helps spread this theory in season 5).

I was never the biggest fan of Breaking Bad's little opening credits sting, but I love Better Call Saul's.

I also love the look he gives the already dented garbage can before his meeting at HHM.

Supposedly, the next episode is where the show really takes off, so after a strong opening, I have high hopes for this show's trajectory.
Title: Re: Better Call Saul
Post by: Kete on February 09, 2015, 12:57:31 PM
Watched it last night while sleepy, and was not impressed.

Rewatched it today, and I loved it.  I had no idea how much of it I missed the first time while not at the top of my game.
Title: Re: Better Call Saul
Post by: Johnny Unusual on February 09, 2015, 04:08:57 PM
Yeah, there's a lot going on.  I feel like an idiot for not realizing he was talking about himself when talking about "Slippin' Jimmy".  BTW, Chuck McGill's weird illness is apparently a very real and very strange thing (though many people somethings THINK they have it when it is really psychosomatic).  Basically, it means being around electromagnetic fields makes you sick, which are everywhere in modern society, which is why Jimmy had to leave his watch and phone in the mail box and ground himself.)  It's such a unique disease choice.

Would you like to know more?

http://www.who.int/peh-emf/publications/facts/fs296/en/
Title: Re: Better Call Saul
Post by: RandyMistie on February 17, 2015, 03:06:37 AM
It's great. It reminds me of "Fargo" The series... bleak, and dark, but with a black humour that I just can't resist.

Plus, I have loved Bob Odenkirk since, "Mr. Show with Bob and David".

I love dark comedy. After all, isn't that where we all live?
Title: Re: Better Call Saul
Post by: Bob on March 01, 2015, 05:47:48 PM
Very impressed so far
Title: Re: Better Call Saul
Post by: Johnny Unusual on March 31, 2015, 03:58:20 AM
That was such a great ending for the last episode. Things did not go the way I expected based on the last episode and I love the fact that the series is so good at being intentionally ambiguous about how much Jimmy's view of Hamlin matches the reality. Here, this episode implies a lot more sympathy for him, though he is still something of a mystery. I hope we never find out that guy. Though anyone who names a color after himself can't be a good human.

It might not be for a couple seasons, but now I know what the series is heading towards:
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
BTW, I was curious over the fact that every episode (except Alpine Mountain Boy, which was originally going to be called Jello) ends in an O. I wonder if that we'll change with the character's successes. Like when he wins his first case, the episode will end with I, after 5 they'll end with V, etc.)

The Mike stuff in this episode is great. I love that any time someone talks before Mike, it shows that he has already won. Not that Mike thinks there's a contest.

Oh, it just occurred to me
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Better Call Saul
Post by: eegah on April 17, 2015, 05:41:09 PM
Jonathan Banks first film credit ("Linda's Film on Menstruation (1974)"):
https://www.youtube.com/v/FTEOpEGvcKA
Title: Re: Better Call Saul
Post by: BathTub on April 18, 2015, 10:47:01 PM
The show was alright. Going in I was wondering 'how many episodes until they casually bring in Breaking Bad guys' and was a little surprised they did it straight away. Just seemed to be lacking a bit of hook. Part of the problem with sequels is knowing that no one is in danger, and he's never going to be able to keep the big paydays.
Title: Re: Better Call Saul
Post by: Nunyerbiz on April 20, 2015, 06:01:21 AM
I'm doing this backwards, as I got burned out on Breaking Bad after marathon DVD viewings and gave up about midway through S2. I still plan on going back on watching the entire series, as more than a few people have told me that S3 is when things really hit their stride... So I'm blissfully ignorant of any significant BB characters waltzing through the Saul shows.

Just finished off the last three eps on the DVR and I really liked the first season... even if I thought it started off strong and then limped a bit to the finish line, but looking forward to the next season where it appears obvious that his Slippin Jimmy con act is going to heavily influence his lawyerin'... and the retired cop / parking attendant / criminal for hire guy always had interesting subplots when he was used... I can only assume he is one of the BB characters of which I am blissfully unaware.

Title: Re: Better Call Saul
Post by: Variety of Cells on April 20, 2015, 07:32:29 AM
That's a very interesting way to go about it. There's a lot of subtext you're missing with Mike. But it'll be cool to watch his story in a more linear fashion.
Title: Re: Better Call Saul
Post by: Nunyerbiz on April 20, 2015, 10:53:08 AM
I've always liked Odenkirk, which is why I decided to watch Better Off Saul right away instead of waiting for however long it would take me to eventually power through BB on demand.
Title: Re: Better Call Saul
Post by: BathTub on April 20, 2015, 11:15:30 AM
Tuco Salamanca is from season 1 of BB.
Title: Re: Better Call Saul
Post by: Johnny Unusual on February 18, 2016, 09:35:16 AM
Who watch the season premiere of Better Call Saul.  This show is the friggin' best: even when so little is happening, so much is happening.
Title: Re: Better Call Saul
Post by: Kete on February 18, 2016, 10:45:58 AM
Geez.  I didn't realize it was back yet.
Title: Re: Better Call Saul
Post by: MrTorso on February 20, 2016, 05:36:29 PM
Quote from: Johnny Unusual on February 18, 2016, 09:35:16 AM
Who watch the season premiere of Better Call Saul.  This show is the friggin' best: even when so little is happening, so much is happening.

Just watched it last night!! So good!
Title: Re: Better Call Saul
Post by: Variety of Cells on February 21, 2016, 04:09:50 PM
Quote from: MrTorso on February 20, 2016, 05:36:29 PM
Quote from: Johnny Unusual on February 18, 2016, 09:35:16 AM
Who watch the season premiere of Better Call Saul.  This show is the friggin' best: even when so little is happening, so much is happening.

Just watched it last night!! So good!

My opinions as well.  I really liked the book ending of the episode.  Showed in a very visual way how the character has changed over the years.
Title: Re: Better Call Saul
Post by: Johnny Unusual on February 24, 2016, 07:46:50 AM
This last one continues the streak of being fantastic.  The opening with Chuck is great in that there's a lot of tension even though if you know the characters you know nothing is going to happen.  But man, you know things being twisting and turning in Chuck's head when he finds out where Jimmy is.
Title: Re: Better Call Saul
Post by: Parker_Hylton on April 08, 2016, 12:53:06 PM
A&E online is pretty smooth downloading for me, so if you miss an episode or two of season two (or it comes on too late for us early morning workers) you can watch it.  They only go back 4 episodes or so though, so you can't really watch the whole season.
Title: Re: Better Call Saul
Post by: Johnny Unusual on April 11, 2016, 04:09:22 AM
Man this show has been killing it with every montage.  The inflatable tube man from a couple episodes back was fantastic.  The forging one from the last episode was good too.  Only two episodes left.  Man, you know things are going to go bad by the season's end (or maybe in the penultimate episode).  I'm very curious to see how the other shoe drops.
Title: Re: Better Call Saul
Post by: Variety of Cells on April 11, 2016, 11:03:47 AM
Quote from: Johnny Unusual on April 11, 2016, 04:09:22 AM
Man this show has been killing it with every montage.  The inflatable tube man from a couple episodes back was fantastic.  The forging one from the last episode was good too.  Only two episodes left.  Man, you know things are going to go bad by the season's end (or maybe in the penultimate episode).  I'm very curious to see how the other shoe drops.

I'm really hoping we get to see how Mike and Gus meet. Maybe not until next season, but I'd love to see Gus back on the show.
Title: Re: Better Call Saul
Post by: Johnny Unusual on April 20, 2016, 10:24:31 PM
Well, did you hear about the episode title theory for this season?
Title: Re: Better Call Saul
Post by: RoninFox on April 21, 2016, 05:32:19 AM
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Better Call Saul
Post by: Johnny Unusual on April 21, 2016, 06:40:23 PM
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Better Call Saul
Post by: MrTorso on April 23, 2016, 06:44:44 PM
I just like we are seeing a non bell ringing hector. I also hope it is Mike and Gus who drive Hector to his stroke on Saul
Title: Re: Better Call Saul
Post by: Kete on April 23, 2016, 08:38:44 PM
I'm surprised that was the finale. Not very much happened.
Title: Re: Better Call Saul
Post by: RoninFox on April 25, 2016, 07:00:05 AM
This whole season has been an incredibly slow burn. Can't look away though.
Title: Re: Better Call Saul
Post by: Johnny Unusual on April 26, 2016, 12:41:06 AM
Yeah, I guess there are some people complaining that "nothing happens" but they seem to be missing the point.  Though there are a lot of "moments" in the show and it is very visual (what with its montages), the focus is very much on the characters rather than "what happens" from episode to episode.  I actually think this is much more compelling episode to episode than Breaking Bad.  I'm not saying it's the better show, but I think scene per scene this is a more consistently compelling show despite the smaller stakes.
Title: Re: Better Call Saul
Post by: Parker_Hylton on April 27, 2016, 03:46:55 PM
Quote from: Johnny Unusual on April 21, 2016, 06:40:23 PM
Spoiler (click to show/hide)

You can get the answer by taking the first letter of every season 2 episode name (rearrange the letters) and reading the two words they form.  I'm surprised no one wrote that already :P
Super-duper spoiler ahead...

Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Better Call Saul
Post by: Johnny Unusual on April 27, 2016, 07:13:24 PM
Yeah, I heard that.  Vince Gilligan and co sure love their secret messages in the episode titles.
Title: Re: Better Call Saul
Post by: Nunyerbiz on June 30, 2016, 07:01:13 PM
Finally got to the Better Call Saul backlog on my DVR... thought the second season was a bit meh.... but it's all so well shot and well acted that you can kind of let things slide. Odenkirk may or may not be a great actor, but he knows this character... and that alone kept me coming back... even if it was delayed by a few months.
Title: Re: Better Call Saul
Post by: Johnny Unusual on January 11, 2017, 05:31:22 PM
Taste the Family!
https://www.youtube.com/v/e_3WzxpdUc0
Title: Re: Better Call Saul
Post by: Johnny Unusual on June 20, 2017, 08:43:57 PM
That may have been one of the best season finales I've seen in a long time.  Which is weird, because outside of the shocking final scene, it's not big or bombastic or audacious the way Breaking Bad tended to be.  It was downright mellow.  And even without that final scene, it could have become one of my favourite hours of TV all year.  But that last scene was disturbing, sad and gut-wrenching.
Title: Re: Better Call Saul
Post by: eegah on June 21, 2017, 03:18:04 AM
It's going to be so disappointing if they don't get another season.
Title: Re: Better Call Saul
Post by: ekw on June 28, 2017, 12:08:41 PM
I'm pretty sure I heard this week that it was renewed.
Title: Re: Better Call Saul
Post by: Johnny Unusual on June 28, 2017, 12:58:30 PM
Indeed it has.  Looking forward to more, though I have a feeling it probably won't start until the Summer of next year, as opposed to April.
Title: Re: Better Call Saul
Post by: Johnny Unusual on July 03, 2018, 10:27:19 AM
New season August 6th!

https://www.youtube.com/v/WWORt2dIYtY
Title: Re: Better Call Saul
Post by: Johnny Unusual on July 28, 2018, 07:04:34 PM
And the show is renewed for season 5!