Better Call Saul (AMC) TV Show • Page 78

I gotta say, this run might be my least favorite set of episodes in the whole series so far :/

 

Yeah I've been thinking back on some of the highlights over the course of the series and so far this season is falling short.
The revenge on Howard plot at least at this point feels lower stakes as it relates to the broader BCS/BB universe even though I'm sure it will be revealed to be consequential.

 

I gotta say that while I don't enjoy these episodes as much as other stretches (especially after how good season 5 was), I disagree with your specifics. I think the main issue with the pacing is just where we are in the story (final season). We've had sections this slow before, but they were okay as there wasn't that 'wait... we're almost at the end here, things should be rolling' feeling.

For your comments though:
- I think it's neat to see how rattled Gus is compared to how he is in BB. I think his eventual triumph over Lalo will be part of how he becomes that unflappable person. And when he was shown as most nervous, we didn't know that Lalo was in Germany (nor does Gus know that at this point) so he has every right to continue to be paranoid.
- There was more to that scene than just Howard being fastidious. As others have said, it's hinting that it's not going to end well for him, and they're obviously trying to get the audience on his side more so than 'hell yeahing' that Jimmy and Kim fucked him over. It was meant to illustrate that he's trying to get his home live under control, and that's what's causing the erratic behavior that Jimmy and Kim have convinced Cliff is drugs.
- Maybe it wasn't you and I that discussed this, but we've had like 40 something episodes of Kim/Howard/Jimmy's relationship. I think the 'reasons' are all laid out and I buy it all. You may not agree, but they're certainly telegraphed.
- I personally have not noticed more dark lighting than usual and trust that all this build up will pay off. It's not been overly riveting, and I have my own scenes I would have cut, but it's still largely enjoyable and again, I have expectations for what's ahead.

 

the scene with Mike watching Kaylee stargaze through the window across the street was so damn good. Stuff like that is why I love this show.

 

Ha, that's why it's always funny talking about shows in a larger group. I would have cut this scene. Not that it was bad acting or a bad shot, but just unnecessary to the plot since we know everyone survives except Mike so what did it add? It's not foreshadowing tragedy, it's not giving us new info on Mike (we know he loves his daughter in law and granddaughter), so what was the point really? Maybe to establish that Mike is not going to cave to Gus and there will be some more tension between them? The only bit of new info is perhaps that it's showing that Mike is not concerned at all that Lalo will be coming for them, he just can't live without seeing them so by staking it out, he gets to see them, but it's still not really a plot advancement.

 

All I can say is not every scene needs to be for plot advancement imo. It was a beautiful scene.

 

For me, not everything has to be plot related. This show is so good with moments of characterization that they always feel substantive.

 

I agree but I think it's just the impatience of it being the final season. I normally don't mind at all that it's a show that takes it's time, and lets the artistry and the characters show, but with it ticking down, I'm expecting every scene to keep things chugging. Maybe just the weight of expectations and that lens I'm watching it with is what's letting me down (though only slightly). We'll see how the final episode is of this first half. If i recall, it's pretty similar to breaking bad was in that the first half of the final season was relatively quiet (it had bigger moments for sure, but it's always been a different show).

 

I've had zero issues with this season.

It's been great as usual.

 

There are still 7 episodes left before it wraps up. There's plenty of time to develop things. Just think about how much happened in the final 7 episodes of Breaking Bad. I don't think there's any cause for concern here whatsoever.

 

i think this season has been fucking awesome. really curious to see what happens next week! wonder if/how many episodes we get of gene post BB?

 

Again, the focus on Kim being from Nebraska/Kansas with the license plate. I would bet everything that she’s alive in Omaha present day.

 

I have the opposite reaction from "concerned", to be honest. I'm happy that there doesn't seem to be a million open plot lines heading into the last handful of episodes (a la Game of Thrones, Ozark). It's on a great trajectory to have a bunch of exciting stuff happen but also wrap up nicely.

 

Cinnabon Gene is gonna see Kim in the mall with her new husband Howard.

 

and their child Saul Jr, named in memory of the man they thought to be dead

 

Yupp. Things are likely going to wrap up nicely.

 

those b/w pictures ARE what they filmed with the fake actor. they get a guy who looks like the judge and took a few photos of him meeting with Saul, they're in black and white to make them look like real photos of Saul doing shady shit. evidently they were going to get those photos to Howard somehow, who's already suspicious of Jimmy because of the 20 grand he withdrew when the PI was following him

the only thing we don't know yet is why Jimmy and Kim want him to believe that Saul's in business with the judge but that's all gonna make sense next week

 

I keep wanting to speculate what happens but I don't bother because I have no idea what they're gonna do really. The only thing I do think is they put the vacuum repair in there to throw everybody off though lol

 

That's what I thought but then some other comments got me confused on if they know if Howard hired a PI or not and how that plays in. I expected they were filming a video with those guys. If it was just a picture, not sure why Saul would need his student production crew in.

 

My theory is that Kim is going to pull one over on Jimmy, which is why she needs whatever to happen to Howard to happen that day. I think that would justify so much focus on this arc imo.

 

Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston are at a bar near me tonight promoting their new mezcal which is cool

 

I've had their mezcal before and it's pretty solid overall. Super light on any sort of smoke, so it skews more toward a traditional tequila which is good for a lager base, but I do prefer my mezcal to be smokey as hell. What thread is this again, sorry.

 

Yeah, I think there has to be a video involved somehow. The b/w photos that Jimmy is looking at (of him interacting with fake judge) looked very similar to the types of photos that Howard's PI was showing him. I initially speculated that maybe part of their plan was causing Howard to hire a PI (or maybe the PI is somehow in Kim and Jimmy's pocket?). Probably a stretch, but that's where I was coming at it from.

 

I didn't realize the second half was only 6 episodes. I assumed it was 7 and 7.

 

Y’all are crazy this season has been spectacular. I love when shows “take a knee” and that’s exactly what this episode was doing while also absolutely advancing the plot. The scene of Howard starting his day, Francesca putting all that work into the interior decorations of the waiting room then showing all the clients not caring, and the Mike scene with his family.