Better Call Saul

[BetterFuckChuck]

How can the driver rat on Saul? Theres no evidence of that either. The real question is what cop would care about stolen clothes when you have a guy from FBI’s most wanted telling you about it

 

[BetterFuckChuck]

Yknow a big criticism I had of early season six is Kimmy and Jimmy’s schemes didnt have the charm of the other seasons and I felt they might play it too safe. I kinda liked the episode and even I feel like I used a fuckin monkeys paw lol

 

[anti SJW]

I thought the episode would have been better if Jimmy bought the shirt and tie He was looking at, as he walks out of the store, it changes to color showing Jimmy/ Saul is back.

Also, they still need to show how Jimmy/ Gene got those diamonds they showed way back in the very first episode I think.

 

[CWCissey]

I actually wonder if the final few episodes will all be Gene based now you know.

 

[No0neKnows]

I liked the direction Vince went with this episode, and I was glad the writers took the time to explore Gene's character more, rather than doing muh "JESSER WE NEED 2 COCK METHÉ" like everyone was expecting. We got to see Saul go through catharsis, realization and ego-death throughout the episode, reverting back to his slippin jimmy persona with the clothing store robbery, and alternating back-and-forth between "good guy Saul" (getting chatty with the security guard) and "mean Saul" (straight up threatening his partners in crime with a suicide bomber's gambit in conspiracy and grand theft charges), not really content with who he is on the inside until he has his realization with the shirt and tie at the end.

It was a nice inside look on Jimmy's state-of-mind post-Breaking Bad, some good worldbuilding for the Gene timeline, and an expected subversion of everyone's expectations.

Tbh, I'd watch an entire series on Gene, the small-town, black-and-white feel is very charming

Um? Are we watching the same show guys? The Jeff mystery that's been there since season 4 is completely wrapped up. With this every single plotline is completely wrapped up now. Lalo is dead, Kim is gone, HHM is gone, Gene has taken care of the problem and doesn't have to disappear again.

Nothing happened? You guys are faggots. We have 3 more episodes with literally no more plot left.

Not only that, it also clarified that no matter what happens or how much he tries, he's still Jimmy. E10 also has shown every side of his character that built him up even until now. Just ignore haters (they are still here after 6 seasons), some people just have the attention spawn of a squirrel after watching too much capeshit.

one, Armani suits and run.
two, Air Jordan shoes for you.
three, linen shirts for free.
four, cashmere sweaters out the door.
five, patagonias to survive.
six, swanky sweatsuits in the mix.
seven, spendy dresses sent from heaven.
nine, pricey lingerie is mine.
ten, calfkin briefcases for men.
twelve, luxury pumps to unshelve.
eighteen, Kate Spade's queen.
nineteen, Calvin leather's on the scene.

 

[Mr. K. Dilkington]

I think the episode slotting is a little bizarre. If this episode had been 6x01 instead of 6x10, there'd be a far warmer reception to it imo. I think after three extremely tight and plot-filled episodes back to back, people expect the whole rest of the show to go that way, so naturally an episode like this would raise some eyebrows.

Personally, I love it. It's pure uninterrupted Gene for 50 minutes, pulling a con which he's 100% dedicated to, unlike the one with Howard. Even managed to sneak a Walter White reference in there, bravo vince.
It does leave the show in a weird place though where I'm completely unsure what they even want to show anymore. I've read the leaks so I know that there's more Gene stuff coming, but for the most part it seems like every loose end has been tied up.

 

[Weeb Slinger]

I thought the episode would have been better if Jimmy bought the shirt and tie He was looking at, as he walks out of the store, it changes to color showing Jimmy/ Saul is back.

Also, they still need to show how Jimmy/ Gene got those diamonds they showed way back in the very first episode I think.

In this episode Gene appears to be laying the foundations for some kind of legal escape route from whatever charges he might be facing. The abandonment of the flamboyant clothes is symbolic of him ditching the Saul persona for something else, though whether it will be a better or worse version of himself remains to be seen. I think that is also why the intro music cuts out early.

One noticeable personality change is the replacement of his weaselly and freewheeling demeanour with a disposition that is more coldly authoritative and ruthless. The way that he cynically manipulates mall security, initially by partially repeating the man's sentences back at him, shows his utter contempt. During the post-robbery conversation with his co-conspirators, he addresses them in a manner that is very similar to the way Walter White talked after he went full Heisenberg.

 

[KillThemCrackasBabies]

Not only that, it also clarified that no matter what happens or how much he tries, he's still Jimmy.

Sure, but "SAY NOTHING GET A LAYER" got that exact same point across in 10 seconds that this one spent over and hour doing.

 

[Nique la mere de Macron]

Well, that was super disappointing. I agree that this episode might have gone over better if it had been slotted elsewhere in the season, because part of the reason I hated this episode so much was my recurring and intrusive thoughts wondering why the hell we were getting this with just four episodes left. Particularly because it doesn't seem as though the caper plotline needed to air in proximity to the Howard/Lalo/Kim wrapups. Having not been spoiled, I suppose I could be wrong and we'll find out next week why we are seeing this part of Gene's story now of all times. At this moment, though, it is difficult to imagine how many people (writers, actors, director, producers, etc.) saw this excreble episode before it was in the can and didn't say hey, this isn't the right way to go.

 

[Punchoboe]

Slippin' Jimmy -- or Viktor & Giselle -- would just pull a con and leave.

In s06e10, Gene is left in a hole. Marion, the Carol Burnett character, still expects him to come by for coffee. She might keep asking about the non-existent dog. Those security guards are going to expect free Cinnabons indefinitely. This may hint that he still expects to run, just in his own way.

 

[Magikoopa]

It was alright. Unexpected, but not bad enough to doom out over. It's not like they would have wrapped it up with a shootout -- that part of the show is done, and Jimmy was always a schemer, not a fighter; and it's hard to complain about one last Slippin Jimmy for the road.

Gene's instinctive subject for the outburst to distract the guard says to me that he's still haunted by Chuck after all these years, he misses his wife, and he's not satisfied dying a nobody. These are the thoughts he's been left alone to stew in since he disappeared without the chase of fame and fortune to keep him distracted; and these are the only loose ends left to tie up at this point now that BrBa has been bridged to and Kim and the Cartel's story is finished. And now with the slipup and successful salvaging of the con, Gene was given another adrenaline rush like the old days that he was so hooked on. I think it's pretty likely he'll fall off the wagon and decide to go for one last big stunt, which I still believe could be defending himself in court.

The least likely thing to me is that we'll get a downer ending. Walt of all people didn't deserve to get what he wanted, but he basically did. Jimmy is in the same boat, he has the privilege of being the main character and doesn't play by the same "no one walks away" rule.

 

[skippy]

Slippin' Jimmy -- or Viktor & Giselle -- would just pull a con and leave.

In s06e10, Gene is left in a hole. Marion, the Carol Burnett character, still expects him to come by for coffee. She might keep asking about the non-existent dog. Those security guards are going to expect free Cinnabons indefinitely. This may hint that he still expects to run, just in his own way.

It would be absolutely insane if Saul does not run at this point. TWO guys now know where Saul Goodman is. Both did their first criminal job (as far as we know). They've got the taste, and they WILL DO IT AGAIN. and they will get caught. It may not come out at their first trial, or second, or third, but at some point in the system or in jail they will let it slip to someone they know where Saul Goodman is. Jimmy knows the criminal world, how stupid most of them are, how much they talk.

Thats really my big issue, and its minor since it can easily be resolved next episode if Gene planned to go away after all this went down because he saw ahead. Then again, kinda makes you wonder why he did all this if he knew the end result was that he had to disappear again. Even if everything went perfectly, and it almost didn't due to the fall, all he is doing is buying himself a little extra time. Plus the authorities will know now 100% he is alive (some question before on whether the various groups would have had him killed), and he has the ability to pickup a new name/ID/etc, good enough to get a regular job.

Feels like the episode lessened the Saul Goodman character, which does make sense in some way since it was usually Kim who saved his ass.

 

[AnOminous]

I'm glad everyone's finally on the same 'Wtf is going how why is there so much filler do they just don't know how to end all of this it' bandwagon I've been on for like 5 episodes now.

My problem with this is it literally is just filler, or barely more than filler. It has a couple moments that redeem it somewhat above "Fly" level, like the ridiculous pratfall that was set up in early in the episode (except I had thought it would involve Jeffy encountering a dude with one of those floor buffers), and the painfully awkward weeping act, and of course, just seeing Carol Burnett at all.

And the show can't just be one climax at all. It's almost always a climax followed by something relatively low-tension, followed by a slow build of seemingly nothing happening, followed by a victory for the protagonist, followed nearly immediately by something absolutely fucking horrible happening, usually the instant afterward.

This was more or less a bottle episode, and I just don't like those in this show. It did (barely) advance the greater story line, so not a complete loss, it just isn't what I expected from a Gene episode, or wanted. I'm not sure if they were caught off-guard by having to change the actor and then changed the episode to fit him, but I don't think it's really the actor's fault that he just isn't as creepy and menacing as the first guy.

That's why it feels like a letdown, people have been worrying about this guy since he showed up years ago, and then he turns out to be a complete clown.

And it also fails as comic relief. The only genuinely funny part is the really convincing looking slip and fall (that with Saul Goodman as a lawyer he would have made more money on than the heist he was trying even if he got caught). Gene's pathetic speech to distract the guard could have been funny, but it more or less accurately describes his current life and that's just depressing.

Also, they still need to show how Jimmy/ Gene got those diamonds they showed way back in the very first episode I think.

I always assume he just liquidated whatever he could and bought diamonds with it so he could bring them along with him. Personally I'd prefer something like Krugerrands for that, but whatever. It isn't like diamonds aren't just as traceable, plus they're a terrible store of value. Anyway, a nitpick, unless he actually did get them in some kind of heist we don't know about.

I also notice Marco's pinky ring showed up in the episode again. Another reminder that he has no real friends and everyone he ever cared about is dead or otherwise gone forever, another reason that it's really hard to do anything like comic relief (if that was even the intention) at this point in the story.

Nothing about Gene's life right now is enviable at all. It's not quite as bad as Walt paying $10K just to hang out for an hour with a guy who despises him, while dying of cancer, but it certainly isn't good. He's working a shitty job in a shitty mall, then going home and drinking while being so paranoid he constantly listens to the police scanner, and losing his mind if he's recognized.

Meanwhile, is there anything in the story that indicates anyone is even looking for him? Anyone who would want to kill him is dead and buried (or dissolved or blown up). Anyone important he knew anything about is also dead. Unless they found Howard and connected Saul to his death, who is even looking for him? The DEA? The network Walter White started is dead at this point, along with its principals.

 

[Internet War Criminal]

My problem with this is it literally is just filler, or barely more than filler. It has a couple moments that redeem it somewhat above "Fly" level, like the ridiculous pratfall that was set up in early in the episode (except I had thought it would involve Jeffy encountering a dude with one of those floor buffers), and the painfully awkward weeping act, and of course, just seeing Carol Burnett at all.

Yeah, I definitely agree with you that it's above 'Fly', and it had a few good moments in it. I think the biggest problem isn't necessarily that it's filler, but it's filler in the home stretch. We had four episodes left. This is it? Yeah, if it had been placed S06E01 I wouldn't have been annoyed, because it would have reminded us of the current Gene situation, the problem with Jeff, it would have been a change of pace, etc... and there wouldn't have been all those other scenes that felt like filler in the last scene to go 'Again!?' at.

And the show can't just be one climax at all. It's almost always a climax followed by something relatively low-tension, followed by a slow build of seemingly nothing happening, followed by a victory for the protagonist, followed nearly immediately by something absolutely fucking horrible happening, usually the instant afterward.

Absolutely, but I'd say that once you're in the last... six or so episodes of your final season, it's not time to just go ahead and slam the breaks.

This was more or less a bottle episode, and I just don't like those in this show. It did (barely) advance the greater story line, so not a complete loss, it just isn't what I expected from a Gene episode, or wanted. I'm not sure if they were caught off-guard by having to change the actor and then changed the episode to fit him, but I don't think it's really the actor's fault that he just isn't as creepy and menacing as the first guy.

That's why it feels like a letdown, people have been worrying about this guy since he showed up years ago, and then he turns out to be a complete clown.

And it also fails as comic relief. The only genuinely funny part is the really convincing looking slip and fall (that with Saul Goodman as a lawyer he would have made more money on than the heist he was trying even if he got caught). Gene's pathetic speech to distract the guard could have been funny, but it more or less accurately describes his current life and that's just depressing.

Not only that, but they didn't have to go the comedy route, or spend an entire episode on this. Literally all Saul had to do after Jeff sees him at home is to walk with him outside and go "Yeah, I'm Saul Goodman and I retired. I was a lawyer for the cartels. Do you know how many people were murdered under my word? You say a word about me to anyone, the police show up at my door, anything happens, and a death squad from Mexico are gonna show up here, cut your mother in pieces in front of you and forced feed her to you until your stomach bursts'.

Why take the time to do all of this, and risk getting incriminated in the plot with them (how likely would it be for these chucklefucks to mess it up, get caught, and immediately blame saul?) when he could simply tell him 'I make one phone call and you're getting carved with a chainsaw'?

 

[No0neKnows]

Twenty, speedwatchers aplenty
Twenty one, YOU ARE DONE.
Twenty two, Kaylee's in her room
Twenty three, solid guys spread on /teevee/

 

[StrawberryDouche]

Gene's instinctive subject for the outburst to distract the guard says to me that he's still haunted by Chuck after all these years, he misses his wife, and he's not satisfied dying a nobody. These are the thoughts he's been left alone to stew in since he disappeared without the chase of fame and fortune to keep him distracted;

It's very much reflective of Walt's isolation in New Hampshire.

 

[Brahmin Baron]

So it seems like the story is pretty much wrapped up. Nacho's dead, Lalo's dead, Howard's dead, Kim has left Jimmy, Mike and Gus's story is concluded in Breaking bad, and Gene has dealt with Jeff. I have no idea how they can make 3 more episodes without it feeling like filler. The only thing I'm curious about at this point is what happens to Kim after she quits being a lawyer and what her reaction will be if she sees Jimmy as Saul Goodman.

 

[Trans Fat 41g]

I don't trust the cab driver to keep his mouth shut at all if we have three episodes left and if they involve Gene prominently.

 

[TheHarbinger]

I don't trust the cab driver to keep his mouth shut at all if we have three episodes left and if they involve Gene prominently.

The second that the security guards erase the old tapes he is free and clear of any proof that he robbed the mall as long as he gets rid of the stole merchandise. At that point he just needs to tip the FBI off that Saul Goodman is hiding in his neighborhood and collect a massive reward. He can say that Saul robbed the mall and he has access to the mall because he is a manager of a store there. And was a known career criminal and Jeff is a lowly taxi driver. And that this is more of Saul's theatrics. The FBI will not even care if he robbed the mall because they get a major case delivered to them with no work. A case that can close some massive unsolved crimes including murders.

Also Saul threatened Jeff and his mother. Showing up to his mother's house was a major threat. A cartel lawyer who worked with assassins and represented murderers blindly shows up to your mother's house with obvious sinister overtones. It is more reason for Jeff to go to the FBI or police to protect himself and his family. Sure Gene might be worried about Jeff. But Jeff has just as many reasons to be worried if not more.

But maybe they just dismiss this version of Jeff. The actor played the character like he was a simpleton instead of the menacing and crazy way that the first actor played Jeff portrayed him. So based no how he acted he seems like a mope who would just give in to Saul.

 

[Daniel Wallace]

Honestly with how slow Jeff ran and the short 3 minute time limit, I wasn't expecting him to get away with that heist at all. Up until he slipped and fell and Jimmy did everything he could to distract the security guard, I fully expected that Jimmy's plan was for Jeff to get caught, then deny that he had anything to do with the heist in order to get Jeff out of the picture.