Better Call Saul WARNING Spoiler Alert

mickeyrat

https://www.amc.com/blogs/better-call-saul-qa-allison-tatlock-on-finding-the-saul-goodman-in-gene--1055260

mca47

Next episode is titled "Breaking Bad".
Looks like we get to see Walt and  Jessie next week!

Saul's first appearance on Breaking Bad was titled "Better Call Saul".

Gern Blansten

mca47 said:

Next episode is titled "Breaking Bad".
Looks like we get to see Walt and  Jessie next week!

Saul's first appearance on Breaking Bad was titled "Better Call Saul".

crazy....should be good

eeriepadave

Gern Blansten

I watched the Better Call Saul episode of BB last night. Interesting to see that after watching all the BCS recently.

Jumb0

eeriepadave said:

Aw man. I was hoping something would actually happen if you called that number.

Gern Blansten

Jumb0 said:

eeriepadave said:

Aw man. I was hoping something would actually happen if you called that number.

a Walter White VM message would have been cool. Or Howard Hamlin

eeriepadave

Jumb0 said:

eeriepadave said:

Aw man. I was hoping something would actually happen if you called that number.

What happens when you try and call the number?

Jumb0

eeriepadave said:

Jumb0 said:

eeriepadave said:

Aw man. I was hoping something would actually happen if you called that number.

What happens when you try and call the number?

Nothing. Says user busy or unavailable 

mickeyrat

Jumb0 said:

eeriepadave said:

Jumb0 said:

eeriepadave said:

Aw man. I was hoping something would actually happen if you called that number.

What happens when you try and call the number?

Nothing. Says user busy or unavailable 

which is a very Saul thing to do...

mickeyrat

elvistheking44

https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2022/07/30/better-call-saul-finally-gave-us-a-genuinely-bad-episode/?sh=6667157f2129

Gern Blansten

interesting....I do think they could have explained new Jeff better but I thought the episode was great. The scam completely made sense as it gave Gene ammo against Jeff.

Indifference71

Gern Blansten said:

interesting....I do think they could have explained new Jeff better but I thought the episode was great. The scam completely made sense as it gave Gene ammo against Jeff.

It's one thing that they had to change the actor but for the character to change into a complete goon was pretty surprising.  Especially for this show with these writers where you rarely find any holes in the story.

Jumb0

Indifference71 said:

Gern Blansten said:

interesting....I do think they could have explained new Jeff better but I thought the episode was great. The scam completely made sense as it gave Gene ammo against Jeff.

It's one thing that they had to change the actor but for the character to change into a complete goon was pretty surprising.  Especially for this show with these writers where you rarely find any holes in the story.

That was my gripe. Have to use a new actor, fine. But he needs to play the same character. 

MayDay10

MayDay10 said:

I liked the episode, although the recasting of Jeff really sucks. The other guy was menacing, in your face, and ender control.  Couldn't tell if he was going to shoot saul, arrest him, or hug him.

This actor and character was like a puddle of shit.

I rarely criticize this show, but that was a miss.


I also thought maybe the episode would have been fine early in season 6.  Maybe even the 1st or 2nd episode.  

Loved some of the little details.  Like how he had to kind of fake his way through conversating about "the game", and by the end, he had studied precise information on Nebraska football.  The specific way that guy ate his Cinnabon was great as well.  

Agreed 100% with the points above, and the first point in that review.  The Jeff recasting was a huge botch.  My thoughts are quoted.



I dont think the episode was weak at all though.  It was a nice setup into a great Slippin Jimmy/Saul scam, that now leads us into the final part of the character arc.  

this made me chuckle

Johnny Abruzzo

I did love that "sports talk" bit.

mca47

Jumb0 said:

Indifference71 said:

Gern Blansten said:

interesting....I do think they could have explained new Jeff better but I thought the episode was great. The scam completely made sense as it gave Gene ammo against Jeff.

It's one thing that they had to change the actor but for the character to change into a complete goon was pretty surprising.  Especially for this show with these writers where you rarely find any holes in the story.

That was my gripe. Have to use a new actor, fine. But he needs to play the same character. 

Vince and Peter are too smart to "miss" this.  My take on new-Jeff acting like he was, had more to do with the fact that Gene was imposing himself directly into his life.  Jeff likely knows that Saul is wanted and had ties to the cartel and the meth king in Walter White.  He, being from ABQ likely saw it all over the news, and as his mom said....Jeff was involved with some bad people in ABQ.  He could have been more "involved" than we know.  Jeff, in Omaha, is probably in a similar situation (just not as bad) as Saul.  Both had to get away from their past and their former demons and start new.
In the mall, where we see old-Jeff, he knew who Saul was so he was just fucking with him.  He at the time probably felt he had an upper hand.  What I suspect is that he had no idea that Gene would insert himself into his family's life.  I think that freaked him out a bit.  Seeing a wanted man with ties to bad people in ABQ as well as the cartel, sitting at his kitchen table talking to his mom.... that alone probably freaked him out.  He at that point had no leverage and one would think any "swagger" that he had would disappear.  Then, when Gene smartly asked him if he wanted "in", it took him no time at all to accept.  Then the plan came to fruition and I think Jeff realized (a bit), this guy is the real deal.  It wasn't until Gene said "This is it boys, you have me, but I also have you" where Jeff realized he was played.
I also believe if the actor who played Old-Jeff had the role in that episode, he would also play it in a more dialed-back manner.

And let's flip it a second.  Look at who/how Gene was up until last week's episode.  Every scene (including the mall scene where Jeff confronted him) he was a super quiet, super cautious, super paranoid guy.  In last week's episode, we all saw Saul again.  Confident, cunning, outgoing....nothing like Gene.  I think it shows the natural progressing of the events at hand.  Jeff got freaked out and lost his confidence and swagger as Gene progressed back into the Saul we've all known and seen.

My only problem with the actor switch was just that.  I didn't know who the F that guy was at first.  haha
If Vince and Peter wanted the new actor to play it like the old actor, that absolutely would have.  These guys are insane about the detail they put into the writing and this show.  It was all intentional.  

elvistheking44

mca47 said:

Jumb0 said:

Indifference71 said:

Gern Blansten said:

interesting....I do think they could have explained new Jeff better but I thought the episode was great. The scam completely made sense as it gave Gene ammo against Jeff.

It's one thing that they had to change the actor but for the character to change into a complete goon was pretty surprising.  Especially for this show with these writers where you rarely find any holes in the story.

That was my gripe. Have to use a new actor, fine. But he needs to play the same character. 

Vince and Peter are too smart to "miss" this.  My take on new-Jeff acting like he was, had more to do with the fact that Gene was imposing himself directly into his life.  Jeff likely knows that Saul is wanted and had ties to the cartel and the meth king in Walter White.  He, being from ABQ likely saw it all over the news, and as his mom said....Jeff was involved with some bad people in ABQ.  He could have been more "involved" than we know.  Jeff, in Omaha, is probably in a similar situation (just not as bad) as Saul.  Both had to get away from their past and their former demons and start new.
In the mall, where we see old-Jeff, he knew who Saul was so he was just fucking with him.  He at the time probably felt he had an upper hand.  What I suspect is that he had no idea that Gene would insert himself into his family's life.  I think that freaked him out a bit.  Seeing a wanted man with ties to bad people in ABQ as well as the cartel, sitting at his kitchen table talking to his mom.... that alone probably freaked him out.  He at that point had no leverage and one would think any "swagger" that he had would disappear.  Then, when Gene smartly asked him if he wanted "in", it took him no time at all to accept.  Then the plan came to fruition and I think Jeff realized (a bit), this guy is the real deal.  It wasn't until Gene said "This is it boys, you have me, but I also have you" where Jeff realized he was played.
I also believe if the actor who played Old-Jeff had the role in that episode, he would also play it in a more dialed-back manner.

And let's flip it a second.  Look at who/how Gene was up until last week's episode.  Every scene (including the mall scene where Jeff confronted him) he was a super quiet, super cautious, super paranoid guy.  In last week's episode, we all saw Saul again.  Confident, cunning, outgoing....nothing like Gene.  I think it shows the natural progressing of the events at hand.  Jeff got freaked out and lost his confidence and swagger as Gene progressed back into the Saul we've all known and seen.

My only problem with the actor switch was just that.  I didn't know who the F that guy was at first.  haha
If Vince and Peter wanted the new actor to play it like the old actor, that absolutely would have.  These guys are insane about the detail they put into the writing and this show.  It was all intentional.  

Totally agree with these points….. still a very sub par episode. Lipstick on a pig is still a pig. IF tonight deals with BB as the title suggests it should be a knock out. I’ve said it over and over, when this show crosses into the BB world it’s phenomenal. 

The Juggler

All caught up. The Jeff guy had me really confused too. Good episode...just oddly placed with only a few left.

I might watch the Better Call Saul ep of BB before i watch this one tonight.