S01.E01: Uno

[Fiddler1]

 

 (he mentioned Mr. Spinalzo which I thought was a nice shout-out to the old "Arsenic and Old Lace" movie from the 40s),

 

THAT'S why that name set a little bell ringing in my head!  Nice catch!! :)

[TVFan17]

This is a strange thing to fixate on, but I watched some of this episode again and I don't think I realized last night that the kids that Saul/Jimmy was defending had 'relations' with more than just the cadaver's "throat hole."   I noticed in the video footage that one of them was already humping something (or, at least, that's the movement that can be seen).  After that is when one of the kids suggests the whole "wang in the throat hole" idea, to which one of his friends replies, "I will if you will."  So they really had a full-on necrophilia party, I suppose?  Initially, I thought they only went for the head.

 

I know.  That whole paragraph ^^ just sounds wrong.  So very, very wrong.

Edited February 11, 2015 by Sherry67

[Christina]

The science surrounding it is abundantly clear. It's a crackpot malady. Those who claim to suffer from it have been shown in studies to be unable to tell the difference between exposure to real vs fake electromagnetic fields. It is not recognized by any competent medical organization as a real affliction.

I have Multiple Sclerosis. During a major flare, I am very sensitive to electric fields, especially lighting. When in the hospital, I nearly jumped out of the bed during a lightning strike, pointed out to the nurse it was just lightning, seconds before we heard the clap. I also had trouble not jumping in the MRI machine, and had to be given a sedative.  There is no scientific proof of this phenomena, even though it is reported by others with MS, fibromyalgia, TBIs, and other conditions where our electrical systems don't work correctly.  

 

I don't doubt that it can be a sign of a mental affliction in people, but when you feel it, you feel it. It can be painful, or just make you nauseated, etc., and seems to be recognized by neurologists as a complaint from those of us with neurological disorders, at least by all the specialists I have seen. Since not everyone experiences the same symptoms, I would think it would be hard to get enough people to have a valid sample for a study to prove or disprove it.

[Blakeston]

The science surrounding it is abundantly clear. It's a crackpot malady. Those who claim to suffer from it have been shown in studies to be unable to tell the difference between exposure to real vs fake electromagnetic fields. It is not recognized by any competent medical organization as a real affliction.

 

There was a study at LSU of a person who claimed to be electrosensitive, and determined that she was genuinely sensitive to electromagnetic waves, and could tell the difference between real and fake signals. The results were published in the International Journal of Neuroscience.

 

It's one study of one person, and for all I know it might be severely flawed, but it's enough to make me say that it's not 100% scientifically clear that no one actually has it.

[Bryce Lynch]

The science surrounding it is abundantly clear. It's a crackpot malady. Those who claim to suffer from it have been shown in studies to be unable to tell the difference between exposure to real vs fake electromagnetic fields. It is not recognized by any competent medical organization as a real affliction.

Oh yeah? Tell that to Harlan Pepper. :-)

[dmmetler]

What bugs me is that Chuck's firm is valued at 50 million dollars or so, employs hundreds of people, and apparently does criminal law, but Chuck's brother doesn't have a job there? Heck, they could still send Jimmy down to do PD work pro bono if the goal is to get experience.

[RadiantAerynSun]

 

What I found amusing -- when peeking over on IMDB to see who was arguing about what earlier today -- is that one snippet of a conversation actually seemed centered around the unfairness of the portrayal of working life at Cinnabon as being bleak and depressing.  Lol.  If anything, I think this will draw more attention to Cinnabon's ooey gooey goodness, and make them a part of a critically acclaimed piece of pop culture.  I don't think they have to worry about people thinking Cinnabon is a bad place to work.

 

I actually found the opening completely delicious. Although it sparked a discussion among my friends, are there actually Cinnabons independent of malls, rest areas and airports? Standalone Cinnabons in a strip mall or something?

 

 

"Dying is easy. Comedy is hard." Leavening subtle comedy into these stories helps us hang in there with the dark stuff. While Better Call Saul is so far much lighter in tone than BrBa, it has the potential for great gnarliness.

 

yes I need my dark dramas to have some dark dramedy, it's what makes them worth watching to me.

 

What bugs me is that Chuck's firm is valued at 50 million dollars or so, employs hundreds of people, and apparently does criminal law, but Chuck's brother doesn't have a job there? Heck, they could still send Jimmy down to do PD work pro bono if the goal is to get experience.

 

That seemed weird to me too. I expect there will be some kind of explanation as to why he wasn't employed there. Could be as simple as "not his kind of people" judging by his interactions with the rest of the firm. Or perhaps he did work there before? He did seem very familiar with the staff.

[Boilergal]

I liked them building the pre-BrBa character of Jaul - taking on PD jobs, over the limit credit card, office in the utility closet of the nail salon, hustling for jobs.  So when he went into the house without electric and filling up the cooler with ice - I thought is was another show of how financially strapped he was, and how sad his life was.  Showing Jaul was a schemer, but not savvy enough to fully protect his interests -  by telling the skateboarders  they hit the jackpot because it was a felony and them deciding they didn't need Jaul. 

 

I liked that it's a slow build of  character development instead of hitting us over the head with a monologue on what is wrong with his brother(?)

 

Perhaps his brother has several mental issues going on -  taking the checks from the firm behind Jaul's back and rationalizing it, the electricity thing, I didn't pay close attention to their conversation but I'm sure there are more hints in there about his mental status.

[Dev F]

What bugs me is that Chuck's firm is valued at 50 million dollars or so, employs hundreds of people, and apparently does criminal law, but Chuck's brother doesn't have a job there? Heck, they could still send Jimmy down to do PD work pro bono if the goal is to get experience.

 

I believe that Chuck makes some reference to Jimmy's "buddies in the mailroom," which suggests to me that he did have a low-level job there at some point. But I wouldn't be surprised if Chuck failed to convince the other partners in his prestigious firm to give an attorney position to his sleazy, underachieving brother with a degree from the University of American Samoa.

[Kobo Duram]

Is there a definitive reason as to why Saul went into hiding at the end of Breaking Bad? He was a lawyer for criminals, not a criminal himself. Am I missing something obvious?

 

Whoa.  Regardless of the reasons why Saul went on the run (i.e. fear of being killed), what Saul did as an attorney was insanely criminal.

 

He was not just a "lawyer for criminals" he was a "criminal himself", as you put it.   Just to name a few off my head, he was laundering insane amounts of money, he was arranging for criminals to disappear (both geographically, and mortally), he was helping his clients buy business to serve as a front for drug dealing operations, etc.

 

If Saul is how you think a "lawyer for criminals" is allowed to operate under the law, you need to stop watching so much TV.  ; )

Edited February 10, 2015 by Kobo Duram

[Bryce Lynch]

Whoa.  Regardless of the reasons why Saul went on the run (i.e. fear of being killed), what Saul did as an attorney was insanely criminal.

 

He was not just a "lawyer for criminals" he was a "criminal himself", as you put it.   Just to name a few off my head, he was laundering insane amounts of money, he was arranging for criminals to disappear (both geographically, and mortally), he was helping his clients buy business to serve as a front for drug dealing operations, etc.

 

If Saul is how you think a "lawyer for criminals" is allowed to operate under the law, you need to stop watching so much TV.  ; )

No question, Saul was most certainly a criminal in his BB days.

 

When we are first introduced to him, Jesse tells Walt that he is the guy they need to defend Badger because "You don’t want a criminal lawyer, you want a criminal lawyer."

 

He probably would have been about on the level of Jesse Pinkman as a prime target of the DEA, once it was revealed that Walter White was Heisenberg.  Only Walt, Nazi Jack and his gang and Lydia would possibly be bigger targets if the facts were known (and they were all dead by the end of the show).   

 

Saul, laundered drug money, arranged a million dollar drug deal between Fring and Walt (and a smaller one with Jesse later).  He conspired with Walt and Jesse to help Jimmy in and out frame himself as "Heisenberg".  He helped Mike, Jesse and Walt find a location and criminal partners for their meth operation and took a large cut of the profits. (Remember, before Mike was cut in, Saul, Jesse and Walt were the "Three Amigos") He sent Kuby to defraud Bogdan into selling the car wash and Kuby and Huell to extort Ted into paying his back taxes, at the behest of Skyler.  He continued to receive a cut from Walt on the Declan/Lydia meth operation.  He also suggested hits on Mike, Jesse and Hank at different times, though Walt rejected those ideas. 

Edited February 10, 2015 by Bryce Lynch

[LoneHaranguer]

I liked the visual pun of the nail salon being a front for a laundering operation (the washing machines running in the back room).

[LotusFlower]

No question, Saul was most certainly a criminal in his BB days.

When we are first introduced to him, Jesse tells Walt that he is the guy they need to defend Badger because "You don’t want a criminal lawyer, you want a criminal lawyer."

He probably would have been about on the level of Jesse Pinkman as a prime target of the DEA, once it was revealed that Walter White was Heisenberg. Only Walt, Nazi Jack and his gang and Lydia would possibly be bigger targets if the facts were known (and they were all dead by the end of the show).

Saul, laundered drug money, arranged a million dollar drug deal between Fring and Walt (and a smaller one with Jesse later). He conspired with Walt and Jesse to help Jimmy in and out frame himself as "Heisenberg". He helped Mike, Jesse and Walt find a location and criminal partners for their meth operation and took a large cut of the profits. (Remember, before Mike was cut in, Saul, Jesse and Walt were the "Three Amigos") He sent Kuby to defraud Bogdan into selling the car wash and Kuby and Huell to extort Ted into paying his back taxes, at the behest of Skyler. He continued to receive a cut from Walt on the Declan/Lydia meth operation. He also suggested hits on Mike, Jesse and Hank at different times, though Walt rejected those ideas.

Yup. But can they prove it? That's the question Saul would have to fear. And these are things we the audience know, not the DEA. And with everyone dead....

Edited February 10, 2015 by LotusFlower

[Bryce Lynch]

Yup. But can they prove it? That's the question Saul would have to fear. And these are things we the audience know, not the DEA. And with everyone dead....

I think the keys for post Heisenberg Saul would be:

 

a) Was the recording of Jesse's confession still at the Nazi compound or did they destroy it after viewing it?

b) Would Huell or Kuby talk to the DEA?  Between the 2 of them he could be linked to a conspiracy to poison a child, launder money, extortion, fraud, etc. 

c) Were there any records linking Walt, Jesse and Saul?  Could he be linked to Skyler and if so how would that affect him?  Would Skyler flip on him?

 

Bottom line is, I am pretty sure the DEA, which would be out for blood, would nail Saul for something if he stayed in ABQ. 

[LotusFlower]

 

Bottom line is, I am pretty sure the DEA, which would be out for blood, would nail Saul for something if he stayed in ABQ.

But Saul went into hiding before Walt died. I think it was "bad guys" he was running away from, not the DEA. And the opening scene of Saul in Omaha kinda confirms this, don't you think?

[Bryce Lynch]

But Saul went into hiding before Walt died. I think it was "bad guys" he was running away from, not the DEA. And the opening scene of Saul in Omaha kinda confirms this, don't you think?

I think it could have been a combination, but I thought he was mainly running from the authorities. 

 

Remember, Saul arrived at the Disappearer's place after Walt was already there.   I think he may have been temporarily running from Jesse, before that, but I'm not sure who else he would have seen as a threat.  I guess the Nazis were aware of him, since he helped broker the deal with Vamanos Pest, where Todd worked. but I didn't get the idea they were out to kill anyone, except Jesse, until the whole thing with Walt blew up. 

 

Once Walt was exposed as Heisenberg and believed to be the murderer or Hank and Gomey, Saul would be under tremendous heat from the DEA. 

Edited February 10, 2015 by Bryce Lynch

[CarpeDiem54]

Based on some of the complaints in this thread, there was exactly 0% that Gilligan and Gould could have come up with something that would have satisfied some of you short of coming up with something in 50 minutes that was roughly equivalent in scope to the entire 62 episode output of Breaking Bad.  In other words before the show started it was already 100% set in stone that this forum would be flooded with griping regardless of the merits of the episode. It's a different show with a different lead character and I thought they did a great job establishing how Saul can be a lead that can carry a show.  Basically, there are maybe a handful of other shows in television history with as potent a lead character as Breaking Bad and most of that was developed well after the pilot.  That being said I didn't find any of this slow and didn't think there was anything that hit the wrong notes, save for perhaps the little to on point detail of having Saul literally end up managing a Cinnabon in Omaha... but I can get over that.  Particularly since I really loved seeing Saul's life after Breaking Bad, and I think that introduces some enticing possibilities about how this show can co-exist in the Breaking Bad universe.  I for one am really looking forward to seeing where it all goes.

I loved it! Already bought my Amazon season pass. Off to watch episode 2.

[Hanahope]

I thought I read somewhere that Jimmy did at one time work for Chuck's firm, but for reasons, it didn't work out.  I'm sure we'll learn something of what those reasons are at some point, though I wager generally to do with Jimmy not "fitting in" with "big corporate law" mentality.    Chuck appears to have suffered some sort of mental breakdown, though Chuck thinks its also physical (some sort of electric sensitivity) and that he'll someday "beat it".  I don't quite understand though why Jimmy is rejecting the apparently decent draw checks that Chuck is getting.  True, its not a nice 17 million lump sum, but the firm obviously makes enough money that the weekly/quarterly draws are ok.

 

Whether Saul could ever practice law again is tricky.  Certainly he appears to still have some fear of being killed, I'm guessing Tuco's cousins/family and/or Mexican drug cartel, though I would think that with Lydia dead, Todd and the Nazis dead, Walter dead (presumably), Gus dead, Pinkman who knows where, that fear probably isn't much anymore.  He's also in fear of the DEA, since with all the above dead or unknown where, Saul is the only other person left to prosecute in connection with Hank/Gomie's death (besides Pinkman and he could probably hide well enough), and there's no one 'higher up on the food chain' that Saul could give up in a deal.  Plus, I bet the DEA would love to convict a lawyer as an example to other "criminal" lawyers. 

 

If Saul could somehow 'stay under the radar' as a small time lawyer, he possibly could practice law again elsewhere.  But that has risks.  I'm not sure whether state bar associations share their membership with other government entities.  If they do, and Saul's name is flagged, then he'd never get a license in any other state to practice law (as the DEA would arrest him, and even an arrest can prevent a law license due to the "good character" requirement).  He'd have to change his name again and get good enough 'fake' law school documents, plus take another state's bar exam.  Also, apparently just being a 'small time' lawyer doesn't work for him, he likes to make a splash with his ads, and that would draw attention.

[ALenore]

Ergo, she didn't head in the direction of the school.  Or she went a different way that Saul didn't think about.  She turned left instead of right at the end of her cul-de-sac.  She had to stop at the pharmacy before going to the school.  Any number of explanations that make perfect sense

 

This is what I assumed too.   There are any number of reasons she could have gone a different way than she usually did.  Just because this was her normal routine doesn't mean that she did it every single time. 

[Bryce Lynch]

I thought I read somewhere that Jimmy did at one time work for Chuck's firm, but for reasons, it didn't work out.  I'm sure we'll learn something of what those reasons are at some point, though I wager generally to do with Jimmy not "fitting in" with "big corporate law" mentality.    Chuck appears to have suffered some sort of mental breakdown, though Chuck thinks its also physical (some sort of electric sensitivity) and that he'll someday "beat it".  I don't quite understand though why Jimmy is rejecting the apparently decent draw checks that Chuck is getting.  True, its not a nice 17 million lump sum, but the firm obviously makes enough money that the weekly/quarterly draws are ok.

 

Whether Saul could ever practice law again is tricky.  Certainly he appears to still have some fear of being killed, I'm guessing Tuco's cousins/family and/or Mexican drug cartel, though I would think that with Lydia dead, Todd and the Nazis dead, Walter dead (presumably), Gus dead, Pinkman who knows where, that fear probably isn't much anymore.  He's also in fear of the DEA, since with all the above dead or unknown where, Saul is the only other person left to prosecute in connection with Hank/Gomie's death (besides Pinkman and he could probably hide well enough), and there's no one 'higher up on the food chain' that Saul could give up in a deal.  Plus, I bet the DEA would love to convict a lawyer as an example to other "criminal" lawyers. 

 

If Saul could somehow 'stay under the radar' as a small time lawyer, he possibly could practice law again elsewhere.  But that has risks.  I'm not sure whether state bar associations share their membership with other government entities.  If they do, and Saul's name is flagged, then he'd never get a license in any other state to practice law (as the DEA would arrest him, and even an arrest can prevent a law license due to the "good character" requirement).  He'd have to change his name again and get good enough 'fake' law school documents, plus take another state's bar exam.  Also, apparently just being a 'small time' lawyer doesn't work for him, he likes to make a splash with his ads, and that would draw attention.

Regarding the checks from HHM, I think Jimmy believes that the firm is trying to con Chuck with them, to keep him from cashing out of the firm, which would cost them far, more cash.  I think HHM probably sent the $26,000 check in Jimmy's name, as a sort of bribe, to get him to stop trying to stand up for his brother's interests.

 

Regarding the threats to Saul, between Walt, Jesse, Hank and Fring, pretty much all of the cartel and the entire Salamanca family was killed, so I don't think anyone from that world would be a threat.  At the time he went to the Disappearer, the Nazis and Lydia were still alive, but I didn't get the sense he was afraid of them or that he was on their radar.  I think his immediate concern, when he went on the run before going to the Disappearer was that Jesse would try to kill him and also that Jesse might inform on him, or cause him to be exposed by his carelessness.  Once he met with Walt at the Disappearer's place, he would have believed Jesse to be dead, killed by Jack and his crew, after a good torturing by Todd.  I think he was disappearing from the DEA, certain that his connection to Heisenberg had been or would soon be revealed. 

[TVFan17]

Based on some of the complaints in this thread, there was exactly 0% that Gilligan and Gould could have come up with something that would have satisfied some of you short of coming up with something in 50 minutes that was roughly equivalent in scope to the entire 62 episode output of Breaking Bad.  In other words before the show started it was already 100% set in stone that this forum would be flooded with griping regardless of the merits of the episode. It's a different show with a different lead character and I thought they did a great job establishing how Saul can be a lead that can carry a show.  Basically, there are maybe a handful of other shows in television history with as potent a lead character as Breaking Bad and most of that was developed well after the pilot.  That being said I didn't find any of this slow and didn't think there was anything that hit the wrong notes, save for perhaps the little to on point detail of having Saul literally end up managing a Cinnabon in Omaha... but I can get over that.  Particularly since I really loved seeing Saul's life after Breaking Bad, and I think that introduces some enticing possibilities about how this show can co-exist in the Breaking Bad universe.  I for one am really looking forward to seeing where it all goes. 

 

I almost forgot to comment on this post earlier, but -- unless I missed something -- I don't see an overwhelming barrage of complaints and gripes about Better Call Saul on this specific forum.  Most of us are looking forward to seeing where it all goes -- that's why we're here.  I don't think anyone is hoping that it's a terrible show.  But, as with any TV show, people will have their observations, opinions and critiques, and many folks will not agree. And I think the comparisons to Breaking Bad -- and expectations/hopes that BCS will be as good -- are just inevitable at this early stage.   I'm sure Vince Gilligan was aware of that, which is why there were so many subtle references to Breaking Bad peppered into the first 2 episodes.  Eventually, I think that the show will steer away from those subtle winks and nods to its predecessor (that is, until it's time for another familiar character to show up) and stand on its own for a while.

 

As for whether or not the series is starting off slow... some people are going to perceive BCS or parts of it as slow -- I know that you didn't perceive it that way -- just as they perceived the first season of Breaking Bad to be slow, despite the murders, Tuco and all of that.   I am one of them!   Initially I felt that the first season of Breaking Bad (especially the first few episodes) was a bit slow, or it just had a pace that I couldn't quite adapt to yet.  And now, it's one of my all-time favorite series and I can go back and watch Season 1 with a totally different opinion!  (I also felt that the first season of The Walking Dead dragged at times, despite all of the carnage and mayhem going on, but it's one of my current favorite shows.)

 

The only opinions and observations to which I would probably not assign much merit are the ones that say something like "The series is awful.  I watched the first 5 minutes and will not watch any more."  Those are the people who are probably expecting an "Ozymandias"-level episode of Better Call Saul right off the bat, and don't have the patience to sit through the scenes that they perceive to be slow, or to give BCS a fair chance.

 

The rest of us, though, are hanging in there for the duration!

[Conan Troutman]

It makes perfect sense that Saul is very afraid, of both the DEA and criminals. As has been pointed out, he certainly committed more than enough crimes himself to go to jail if found out, possibly even for life. And while all known/shown members of the crime families are dead, that doesn't mean there aren't any related folks who simply didn't appear on BB (not necessarily family members, just business associates). Now, the question isn't so much if the DEA actually got any evidence on him or if there is indeed some criminal after his head, but the possibility is definitely there and that alone would be enough to justify that Saul has to be deeply terrified of being found (out). Even if it was a bit irrational, that would still be plausible, as fear doesn't have to be completely rational and often enough isn't.

 

In the opening scene, the guy that scares him looked like he could be related to the Nazis somehow, with the bomber jacket and the haircut and all. Makes sense that he would freak Saul out just by staring in his direction. I think that was the main point of the cold open: Saul's scared shitless of being found and wants his old life back.

 

All in all, despite a relatively low pace, a promising start (and the second episode already has picked up speed considerably). The pilot did it's job of (re-)establishing the character and laying the groundwork for the things to come. I really liked the driving scene at the beginning - it's been posted before, but I too fully expected him to hit (or nearly hit at the very least) someone/something, but was expecting to see it onscreen before it hit, to make it clear that Saul screwed up. But nope, that literally came out of nowhere. ETA: I also thought Saul was being late at the court and expected an unshaven, fighting-with-his-tie Saul storming in and apologizing/losing the case. Instead he delivered this ridiculous defense for the three creeps. Plus when he entered his brother's appartment, I thought he was completely broke, with no electricity etc. So the show's already doing a great job of subverting expectations. Same with his the failed scheme at the end, you knew it had to be an epic fail, but it failed even more spectacularly than I possibly could've imagined. Of alle the similarly looking cars, they had to confuse it with Tuco's granny's car! Sure a bit contrived, but who cares? It's fiction, so I can forgive some unrealistic coincidences here and there if the results are like that.

 

Someone mentioned the episode was cut down - I only saw the short version on Netflix, what exactly has been cut out? Anything of importance? I heard something about the law firm.

Edited February 11, 2015 by Conan Troutman

[LoneHaranguer]

 

He'd have to change his name again and get good enough 'fake' law school documents, plus take another state's bar exam.  Also, apparently just being a 'small time' lawyer doesn't work for him, he likes to make a splash with his ads, and that would draw attention.

Or, he could actually go to law school again and pick a specialty where he wouldn't be bumping into anyone he knew. He doesn't have to be in the splashy ads; there's a local firm that uses a recognizable actor from 60's TV to get noticed.

 

 

At the time he went to the Disappearer, the Nazis and Lydia were still alive, but I didn't get the sense he was afraid of them or that he was on their radar.

I would agree about Lydia, whose fate was left unknown, but something Saul could find out about if he cared. I don't think he would be able to know if any of the Nazis were still around or cared about him.

[editorgrrl]

It makes perfect sense that Saul is very afraid, of both the DEA and criminals.… [F]ear doesn't have to be completely rational and often enough isn't.

 

I think that was the main point of the cold open: Saul's scared shitless of being found and wants his old life back.

 

I felt like Saul Goodman (on VHS) was speaking directly to Gene:

Do you feel doomed? Have opponents of freedom wrongly intimidated you? Maybe they told you that you’re in serious trouble and there’s nothing you can do about it. I’m Saul Goodman, and I’m here to tell you that they’re wrong! It’s never too late for justice. Better call…

[Umbelina]

In one version of the first episode, played right before the 2nd episode, they left out Jimmy going head to head with a slick lawyer and his team in a high priced law firm.  Same one that is trying to rip off his brother, and apparently Jimmy worked in for a short time.  Near the end he kicked the shit out of a trashcan.  I'm pretty sure the other replays had it all.  I'm not sure just what else they cut out to make it fit the one hour format.

 

The other repeats all had it I think.

[Conan Troutman]

No, I've seen that scene. Maybe I did see the uncut version, it had pretty much the same runtime as the second episode (~53 minutes). I just wondered because someone said something about an hour and ten minutes - in that case, I would've unterstood the complaints about being much too slow.

[Umbelina]

The original show, with commercials, ran an hour and (something over) 10 minutes.

[Conan Troutman]

That would explain it, but 17 minutes of commercials? That seems like a lot for pay TV.

 

Just thought about it: Why the hell is Saul managing/working at a Cinnabon? At an airport, no less, which pretty much maximizes the chances of any random traveling cop or thug recognizing him. You'd think he'd avoid public exposure and airports like the plague...

I know they wanted to make that brick joke about the Cinnabon, but it makes little sense. Hopefully they'll give some sort of explanation.

[Bryce Lynch]

That would explain it, but 17 minutes of commercials? That seems like a lot for pay TV.

Just thought about it: Why the hell is Saul managing/working at a Cinnabon? At an airport, no less, which pretty much maximizes the chances of any random traveling cop or thug recognizing him. You'd think he'd avoid public exposure and airports like the plague...

I know they wanted to make that brick joke about the Cinnabon, but it makes little sense. Hopefully they'll give some sort of explanation.

It looked like a shopping mall, not an airport.

Actually an airport might be a good place, as if he was tipped off that he was in danger he could quickly hop on a plane. Also, if the Cinnabon was in the area beyond the TSA screening, he could be relatively certain that nobody with a weapon could get to him there.

Honestly, I think they did the Cinnabon in Omaha thing to make loyal BB fans smile. When he said it in "Granite State" I think it was probably intended to be Saul's way of colorfully describing the new, pathetic life that awaited him in Nebraska, as opposed to an actual job the Disappearer had set up for him.

I was a bit disappointed they didn't also show exactly "3 pairs of Dockers" hanging in his closet. :)

Edited February 12, 2015 by Bryce Lynch

[queenanne]

Forgive me if this has been posted elsewhere and I missed it:

 

http://www.adweek.com/news/television/cinnabon-will-hand-out-free-treats-tonight-celebrate-its-role-better-call-saul-162853

 

Clever, very clever. So I think this answers someone's question about how Cinnabon felt about being portrayed. :)

[ghoulina]

Based on some of the complaints in this thread, there was exactly 0% that Gilligan and Gould could have come up with something that would have satisfied some of you short of coming up with something in 50 minutes that was roughly equivalent in scope to the entire 62 episode output of Breaking Bad.  In other words before the show started it was already 100% set in stone that this forum would be flooded with griping regardless of the merits of the episode. It's a different show with a different lead character and I thought they did a great job establishing how Saul can be a lead that can carry a show.  Basically, there are maybe a handful of other shows in television history with as potent a lead character as Breaking Bad and most of that was developed well after the pilot.  That being said I didn't find any of this slow and didn't think there was anything that hit the wrong notes, save for perhaps the little to on point detail of having Saul literally end up managing a Cinnabon in Omaha... but I can get over that.  Particularly since I really loved seeing Saul's life after Breaking Bad, and I think that introduces some enticing possibilities about how this show can co-exist in the Breaking Bad universe.  I for one am really looking forward to seeing where it all goes.

 

Just watched last night, and you said pretty much exactly what I was thinking - only more succinctly. I wasn't expecting Breaking Bad, for sure. I actually wasn't even certain I would watch, because while I liked Saul, I wasn't sure I'd like an entire series devoted to him. But I was hooked. I didn't feel the pace was slow at all. I found it very interesting seeing the development of Saul from Jimmy McGill, even just the little tidbits we've gotten so far.Odenkirk was wonderful.  I'm in for the duration. I agree, it's a completely different show, but I can feel the Gilligan in it, and I just like what he does. You can tell he's very devoted to his craft, down to the last detail. 

 

I loved seeing Mike and Tuco, so much so that I screamed loud enough for my husband to think we were being home invaded. =)

[Hanahope]

Or, he could actually go to law school again and pick a specialty where he wouldn't be bumping into anyone he knew.

 

 

Actually, I'm wondering whether his name change was legal and and thus maybe he could try to get a new law license under his original name of James M. McGill.

 

Going to law school again would still require some faked transcripts (if he's going to use his real school ones, might as well use his real law school transcript, if the name isn't an issue), though I'm sure he could find some 'for-profit' type lawschool that would take a very low bar to get in.  But then he'd have to slog through the years of lawschool (2 years minimum) and still take a bar exam (which still requires some faking of documents because they require state ID and some, at least, require fingerprints too).  Certainly doable, once he got a name issue sorted out.

[editorgrrl]

Forgive me if this has been posted elsewhere and I missed it:

 

http://www.adweek.com/news/television/cinnabon-will-hand-out-free-treats-tonight-celebrate-its-role-better-call-saul-162853

 

Clever, very clever. So I think this answers someone's question about how Cinnabon felt about being portrayed. :)

 

Through March 3, tweet a Cinnabon selfie to #SaulSelfie for a chance to win a year supply of Cinnabon.

[carrps]

 I don't quite understand though why Jimmy is rejecting the apparently decent draw checks that Chuck is getting.  True, its not a nice 17 million lump sum, but the firm obviously makes enough money that the weekly/quarterly draws are ok.

 

The $26K check was a one-time payoff I thought... in lieu of the $17M Jimmy thought Chuck was owed. Chuck was only getting $800 a month from HHM.

[Umbelina]

Yeah, he's a partner, and founded the firm.  Taking that $26K would be idiotic, I'm sure it had strings attached ending all further claims, or offering that amount monthly, hoping the dude would die soon.  Which was it?  Either way, it's not 17 million.

[Bryce Lynch]

Yeah, he's a partner, and founded the firm. Taking that $26K would be idiotic, I'm sure it had strings attached ending all further claims, or offering that amount monthly, hoping the dude would die soon. Which was it? Either way, it's not 17 million.

I doubt the $26K was meant as a buyout, in lieu of the $17mm. It wasn't even made out to Chuck, but to Jimmy.

I took it to be a sort of bribe to Jimmy to stop pushing for a buyout for Chuck and allowing them to maintain the status quo.

Hamlin seemed quite content to perpetuate the fiction that Chuck was merely on a "sabbatical" and would be returning to his role in the firm before long, as did Chuck.

[queenanne]

Yeah, he's a partner, and founded the firm.  Taking that $26K would be idiotic, I'm sure it had strings attached ending all further claims, or offering that amount monthly, hoping the dude would die soon.  Which was it?  Either way, it's not 17 million.

 

IIRC, Jimmy said the $26K was quarterly.  I'd also say the negotiations are heading downward, because if there's any chance Jimmy's bro's former partner doesn't know Jimmy's bro is a little off, that's ruined, now that he's been to the house and got told through a crack in the door to stick his cell phone in a mailbox.

Edited February 13, 2015 by queenanne

[peggy06]

Saul was one of my favorite Breaking Bad characters, but I was very leery of this show. It always seems like a huge gamble to try to spin off a popular series, and BB was iconic. So I went in with low expectations. Maybe that worked in my favor, because I enjoyed it quite a bit. The pacing was deliberate but that seemed like the plan. I was interested in Jimmy, in his brother, and in seeing how they would start pointing Jimmy in the direction of Saul. (I couldn't help but take notice when Chuck was urging him to change his name out of deference to Chuck's firm's name.)

 

Jimmy seemed like a frustrated lawyer trying to build up a practice from nothing. Like a decent guy hitting his head against the wall, dealing with a mentally-ill brother, struggling to get by. Then he has his run-in with the skaters, and we see that Jimmy has a past of being a scammer himself. So, not entirely on the up-and-up. The idea of him transforming into Saul Goodman the criminal lawyer seems a little less far-fetched. I think the show has an interesting premise for BB fans, and can't see why it wouldn't be enjoyable for newbies, too.

 

There's no confusion AFAIC about what went wrong with the scam; the skaters went for the wrong vehicle, and what happened to Betsy is IMO neither here nor there. People do deviate from their regular routes. It's a coincidence for a similar vehicle to pass at about the right time, but I don't have a problem with that. This is fiction, right?

 

I feel also that the show clearly telegraphed that Chuck's illness is psychological; Jimmy repeatedly said he wasn't going to beat it, and the partner at Chuck's firm was saying the opposite to justify not having to make a big payout. Less clear was what Jimmy's role was at the firm, but he seemed quite comfortable talking to various people he met there, read through the receptionist's polite lie about the partner he came to see, and had no qualms about busting into the conference room. It's hard to imagine he worked there as a lawyer, though, because if so, surely he wouldn't be having so much trouble building a practice on his own. I suppose time will tell about that. I kind of like that the show didn't try to establish every single thing all at once. Breaking Bad was like that, too.

 

Lastly, I thought Bob Odenkirk was great. Maybe this character is tailor-made for him, but for whatever reason, I hugely enjoy having him and Jimmy/Saul back on my TV screen.

[Bryce Lynch]

I watched the scenes involving the $26K check again and found:

1) There was no special endorsement language on the back of the check at all, that would mean cashing it would forfeit any of Chuck's interest in HHM. It was simply an ordinary check, made out to Jimmy.

2) The letter that came with it does not mention Chuck at all. It simply said "Pursuant to your discussions with Howard Hamlin, please find the enclosed check."

When they discussed the (now torn up) check at HHM, Howard was vague about what it was for but said it was for Chuck. He said it was just the first and there would be more if Jimmy didn't keep tearing them up.

He claimed it was made out to Jimmy because he assumed Chuck couldn't make it to the bank in his condition. (A ridiculous excuse as Jimmy could deposit it for him). He also said they could do it any way Jimmy liked, meaning they could make the checks out to Chuck.

I am even more convinced it was a bribe to stop Jimmy from fighting for Chuck to get a multi million dollar buy out.

I also think it might have been a ploy to make it look like Jimmy was going behind Chuck's back and extorting money from HHM.

I get the feeling that Jimmy and Howard are in a battle for Chuck's heart and mind, sort of like Walt and Gustavo's battle to win over Jesse.

At this point it seems like Jimmy is losing that battle. I wonder if Chuck has any kids Jimmy can poison. :-)

Edited February 13, 2015 by Bryce Lynch

[ghoulina]

I completely agree with your assessment, Bryce Lynch. I thought it was very shady that the check was made out to Jimmy, if it was intended for Chuck. As long as the guy can sign his name, there should be no problem. They were trying to shut Jimmy up, so they could continue just treating Chuck as if he was on extended leave. It's clear Chuck doesn't feel the need to go after his due; Jimmy is the one trying to persuade him otherwise. 

[carrps]

I feel also that the show clearly telegraphed that Chuck's illness is psychological;

 

Yeah, when Chuck touched Jimmy's shoulder when he was  asleep and flinched like he'd been shocked, I was convinced it's psychological.

 

Thanks for the clarification on checks. I agree.

[Dobian]

Just watched the first one.  I like how in the flash-forward in the opening he sort of ends up as Walter at the beginning of BB, even looking like him some with the mustache.  The show has promise.  I'm a fan of Michael McKean and the quirky relationship between Saul and Chuck should provide a lot of good material.  Great to see them bring in BB alums Mike and Tuco.  My main concern is that Saul is really a supporting character, I just don't see him having the legs to carry a show as the star.  He's comic relief, so the show could run the risk of comic relief being the main focus.

[Umbelina]

I think he can, and I do think it will be ensemble, not just a "star" of the show.  More Mad Men/Breaking Bad than Alias/Scandal/Frazier. 

 

The set up reminds me a bit of why soap operas use hospitals as settings so often.  Easy to introduce life/death situations,  characters, and there is always action available.  That will work on this show, and, because it's only once a week, the door needn't revolve that much.  Saul will meet people who need attorneys, probably the majority of those are criminals, so something will always be happening, with Saul at the center of it all.

[Cheezwiz]

I'm glad these boards exist because I'm a bit dim, and everyone's commentary has helped clear some confusion up.

 

I started this episode a few minutes late, and couldn't tell what the hell the b&w intro was all about - mainly because I didn't recognize Bob Odenkirk at ALL with a mustache. I came in just as he was popping in the video. I was scratching my head and wondering, "why is this in b&w, who is this sad sack, and why is he watching tapes of Saul's TV ads?". Totally missed the Cinnabon reference from Breaking Bad. Now that I understand the time-jump technique with b&w, I suspect they may shift back and forth in future episodes.

 

I also had a hard time understanding the nature of Jimmy's relationship to the Michael McKean character. I knew they were related, but not how - I honestly thought McKean was supposed to be his Dad! I thought it was strange that he called him "Chuck", but some people do call parents by their first names. Was there any dialogue in the ep that explained they were brothers? I kept training my ear to the TV in the hopes of hearing someone at the firm say "your father" or "your brother". The casting was a bit odd: they seemed slightly too close in age to be parent/child, yet too far apart in age to be siblings.

 

Like most people, I found the opener a bit sluggish (not to mention a bit murky and confusing), but I watched the 2nd ep immediately afterward, and things have picked up steam quickly. I was delighted by the unexpected pop-ups of Breaking Bad characters, and plan to keep watching for as long as it goes. Very curious to see how they interweave prequel to Breaking Bad era to present-day. Also, I just love Bob Odenkirk.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

Yup. But can they prove it? That's the question Saul would have to fear. And these are things we the audience know, not the DEA. And with everyone dead....

The paper trail from the car wash to the casino wouldn't be too hard to figure out. I imagine it also wouldn't be that difficult to get the casino guy, if threatened to turn on Saul. From there, combined by the fact that it was known that Saul was Jesse's lawyer, everything would be wide open.

 

This is a strange thing to fixate on, but I watched some of this episode again and I don't think I realized last night that the kids that Saul/Jimmy was defending had 'relations' with more than just the cadaver's "throat hole."   I noticed in the video footage that one of them was already humping something (or, at least, that's the movement that can be seen).  

I thought whatever the kid was doing at first was using a saw or something to cut off the cadaver's head. At first I had the same thought you did but then I realized they cut off the head.

[LotusFlower]

The paper trail from the car wash to the casino wouldn't be too hard to figure out. I imagine it also wouldn't be that difficult to get the casino guy, if threatened to turn on Saul. From there, combined by the fact that it was known that Saul was Jesse's lawyer, everything would be wide open.

 

Can you refresh my memory re: casino guy? I'm drawing a blank.

[Kel Varnsen]

Can you refresh my memory re: casino guy? I'm drawing a blank.

Saul got a buddy who worked at a native casino to fake some receipts showing a big payday for Walt. Then Walt used that money to buy the carwash.

[LotusFlower]

Saul got a buddy who worked at a native casino to fake some receipts showing a big payday for Walt. Then Walt used that money to buy the carwash.

Ok, thanks. But how would the DEA find out about that? Esp. since it was just a story.

[Kel Varnsen]

They knew the carwash was an illegal money laundering operation. I can't see it being to hard to figure out where a broke ass teacher suddenly got the money for it from. He would have to claim the winnings on his taxes right. Not that big an investigative jump to realize that money was probably laundered drug money.

[LotusFlower]

They knew the carwash was an illegal money laundering operation. I can't see it being to hard to figure out where a broke ass teacher suddenly got the money for it from. He would have to claim the winnings on his taxes right. Not that big an investigative jump to realize that money was probably laundered drug money.

I understand that. But my question was about a paper trail to the casino. Since, as you pointed out and we all know, the money used to buy the car was was laundered drug money, not casino winnings.