[TV] Better Call Saul

[countryman]

Maybe BB does get good ( I doubt it) but you cannot seriously tell me series 1 is brilliant TV? It's not even good TV.

Series 1of Breaking Bad was quite bad and series 2 wasn't great either but it got better after that. I thought the problem with it was that there were too many episodes (like a lot of American dramas). If they had only done a quarter of the episodes I think the programme would have been much better. I persisted through the first couple if series because people said it started to get good at series 3 but I did watch it whilst doing other things which helped me getting through it.

I've enjoyed the first two episodes of Better Call Saul and it seems to be moving on at a better pace than Breaking Bad.

 

[spring hall convert]

Really enjoyed epsode 3, felt like it really got going. Important relationships established, plots developing, another interesting flashback.

 

[willyfantastic]

Really enjoyed epsode 3, felt like it really got going. Important relationships established, plots developing, another interesting flashback.

great episode - left me wanting more - especially with how they ended it

 

[StonehamPark]

Episode 3 best of the trio so far.
Still not particularly interested in any of the characters though.

 

[Geestar]

Love it

 

[Bombadier Botty]

It's got 'yer man' from Spinal Tap playing Saul's brother.

Bit far fetched having the Mexican cartel dude from BB getting involved in Saul's early years. Not sure if there was supposed to be history between them that was referenced in BB, but I don't remember it if there was.

 

[GoingUp]

The first episodes was slow, but thats what you expect, as theres always alot of character building, building up story lines and linking things together etc. Whats good is every episode has improved IMO, lasts nights one where Mike played a bigger part was quality! Its just annoying you have to wait a week for the next one, I might wait and let a few build up now so I can session 3 or 4 in a row

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Really enjoyed epsode 3, felt like it really got going. Important relationships established, plots developing, another interesting flashback.

Agree. And crucially for me there is a good balance between the humour and the serious drama. Saul was the comedy element in BB so I worried the spin-off might be too goofy. So far so, very, good.

 

[Munkfish]

Here's Johnny! Loved it.

You know what he becomes and where he ends up, so its good to start building a picture of how he got there, you now know how he first met his right hand man Mike and it looks like he starts to turn bent and win cases if he sorts out this mess with Nacho.

The flashback was interesting, however it was hard to tell how long ago it was.

 

[Bombadier Botty]

Other BB spin offs?

You could have Jesse's two stoner mates in a Cheech and Chong style show.

Marie in a show about her shoplifting sideline.

Gus Fring playing Chris Hughton in a biopic of his Newcastle managerial career and largely set in a fast food restaurant called Byker Fried Chicken that Chris goes to when he finishes up at St James's Park at the end of each day.

 

[Shatner's Bassoon]

Other BB spin offs?

You could have Jesse's two stoner mates in a Cheech and Chong style show.

Marie in a show about her shoplifting sideline.

Gus Fring playing Chris Hughton in a biopic of his Newcastle managerial career and largely set in a fast food restaurant called Byker Fried Chicken that Chris goes to when he finishes up at St James's Park at the end of each day.

Kemy Agustein starring as Saul Goodman's minder.

 

[Stat Brother]

The problem with this, and all prequels, is there's no jeopardy.

Sure Saul was unlikely to get his head blown off while waiting for a front door to open in BB.
But we know for a fact it isn't going to happen in BCS.

I'm enjoying it so far, and will see it right through.
But if all we're given is a smarmy lawyer who's going to slowly get smarmier, while talking himself out of scrapes, it's pretty thin.
They'll end up with the whole audience just waiting for Mr White to walk through his door.

 

[SweatyMexican]

http://i.imgur.com/PvkMgdK.gifv

 

[Bombadier Botty]

The problem with this, and all prequels, is there's no jeopardy.

There's very little jeopardy in any show really, prequel or not. Rarely are any of the main characters ever going to bite the bullet.

 

[spring hall convert]

Other BB spin offs?

You could have Jesse's two stoner mates in a Cheech and Chong style show.

Marie in a show about her shoplifting sideline.

Gus Fring playing Chris Hughton in a biopic of his Newcastle managerial career and largely set in a fast food restaurant called Byker Fried Chicken that Chris goes to when he finishes up at St James's Park at the end of each day.

How about Junior and newly widowed Skyler try and pick up the pieces of their devastated lives? Now that would have been brave.

My complaint about BCS (and it's a fairly minor one) is it is exactly the same story as BB. Main focus on a white male character, doing things for the "right" reasons, getting sucked into trouble as a victim of circumstance.

 

[StonehamPark]

What does everyone think so far?

BCS got me in the mood for Meth so much, I've started re-watching Breaking Bad.

Tuesday's episode was the weakest so far (imo) but interested in seeing where the characters can go from here.
I just can't see how they're going to flesh-out multiple seasons on Saul Goodman's rise to mediocrity.

Still love it though.

 

[Big_Unit]

The problem with this, and all prequels, is there's no jeopardy.

Sure Saul was unlikely to get his head blown off while waiting for a front door to open in BB.
But we know for a fact it isn't going to happen in BCS.

I'm enjoying it so far, and will see it right through.
But if all we're given is a smarmy lawyer who's going to slowly get smarmier, while talking himself out of scrapes, it's pretty thin.
They'll end up with the whole audience just waiting for Mr White to walk through his door.

The bigger problem for me is that the season story arc isn't emerging clearly enough. It's strong on an episodic level, but there's no engaging 'meta' (other than the brother's illness, which doesn't quite cut it). I suspect that will kick in, but they need to hurry up now. It's in danger of becoming vague in terms of the longer narrative.

 

[Stat Brother]

The bigger problem for me is that the season story arc isn't emerging clearly enough. It's strong on an episodic level, but there's no engaging 'meta' (other than the brother's illness, which doesn't quite cut it). I suspect that will kick in, but they need to hurry up now. It's in danger of becoming vague in terms of the longer narrative.

That's kind of my point, we know the story arc.

Jimmy is stumbling around learning the thing we already know, but he doesn't - how to become Saul.

When the pieces fit together and Saul is 'created' the show is pretty much up, because everyone watching then is just waiting for Jessie.

Mike has always been a good character.
They've baited him through the first half of the series, now it would seem he needs a lawyer.
Then we're back to the original prequel problem.

We already know Mike, we know their relationship, there won't be too many surprises along the way.

I'm enjoying Jimmy, maybe I'm over thinking the rest, but it's certainly not 'appointment' TV.

 

[Wilko]

What does everyone think so far?

BCS got me in the mood for Meth so much, I've started re-watching Breaking Bad.

Tuesday's episode was the weakest so far (imo) but interested in seeing where the characters can go from here.
I just can't see how they're going to flesh-out multiple seasons on Saul Goodman's rise to mediocrity.

Still love it though.

I am really enjoying it. Recent episode was slow but you know that it is buildling up to some serious shit.

 

[Bombadier Botty]

Loved BB and the first few episodes of BCS, but it's proving to be a bit disjointed and frankly a bit underwhelming, as much as you don't want it to be. The genius of 'It's all good man' though! Had anyone else realised that before now or is it just me and the missus who are a bit dense?