Better Call Saul

[CWCissey]

I'd have thought a clip-on tie would be standard issue for fast food management jobs. I know I had one when I worked at one of the big British supermarkets.

 

[AnOminous]

I'd have thought a clip-on tie would be standard issue for fast food management jobs. I know I had one when I worked at one of the big British supermarkets.

Obviously Gus could wear whatever he likes but he always chooses for the role he's portraying publicly. As Gustavo Fring, model minority and friend of the police and feds, he dresses as the meek and unassuming fast food guy who always has money for all the police charities. "Good Gus" is literally the dude he played on Sesame Street, a harmless camp counselor type who brings the family fun.

 

[Skitarii]

They essentially have three storylines to wrap up. Jimmy transforming into Saul. What happens to Kim and Howard. And then merging the timelines into Breaking Bad and Gene in the future. You can throw Lalo and the cartel into the mix but the endings there are pretty obvious at this point. Mike probably kills Lalo with a sniper rifle. Salamancas never find out that Gus and Mike are planning to take them down. Maybe a cameo of Tuco getting out of jail or Jesse meeting with Krazy8.

If Nacho is still alive for another few episodes it eats into the other stories. They need to have Kim vs Howard and the fallout of that story. And they need to explain why Kim is not around in Breaking Bad and do it in a way that is not a lame retcon or plot hole level bad. Though they are already retconning a lot of Saul's character by making a huge amount of his persona based on Kim's suggestions. And we know that Walt and Jesse are appearing and likely it is more than a quick scene. And finally the show will likely end with Gene.

Nacho's death being crammed into the first couple of episodes opens everything else up. And with two cartels hunting him down his time was short anyways.

Something tells me that Lalo will have an ace up his sleeve and obtain proof of Gus' collusion with Nacho for Hector's eyes only. If Lalo gets merk'd immediately after Hector's revalation, it could explain why the Salamanca patriarch looks so defeated in BB; he's aware of the fact that he's living in a hellscape where Gus can get away with anything, including the death of his most prized child

 

[AnOminous]

Something tells me that Lalo will have an ace up his sleeve and obtain proof of Gus' collusion with Nacho for Hector's eyes only. If Lalo gets merk'd immediately after Hector's revalation, it could explain why the Salamanca patriarch looks so defeated in BB; he's aware of the fact that he's living in a hellscape where Gus can get away with anything, including the death of his most prized child

I actually don't see this. I don't see Hector having held on this long unless he thought revenge was still possible. The instant he realized it was, he jumped (well rolled maybe) right on it. The period I'd be interested in if we ever got a connecting Hector up to BB episode, is what did he do after Tuco died, before showing up from Casa Tranquila again to lure Gus out of hiding?

Nursing homes are not generally places where you have free run of the place and special aides and people to assist you with mysterious meetings you're having at all hours. So he still had to have had fuck you money at that point, to be the weird dude who can't move and can only talk with a bell and somehow vatos locos are showing up every day.

 

[Skitarii]

I actually don't see this. I don't see Hector having held on this long unless he thought revenge was still possible. The instant he realized it was, he jumped (well rolled maybe) right on it. The period I'd be interested in if we ever got a connecting Hector up to BB episode, is what did he do after Tuco died, before showing up from Casa Tranquila again to lure Gus out of hiding?

Nursing homes are not generally places where you have free run of the place and special aides and people to assist you with mysterious meetings you're having at all hours. So he still had to have had fuck you money at that point, to be the weird dude who can't move and can only talk with a bell and somehow vatos locos are showing up every day.

He can't really get revenge when the only movement he can make is ringing a bell and shitting his pants. Gus has him under tight lockdown, Don Eladio doesn't take him seriously anymore, all the knowledge in the world wouldn't help him if he had no way to physically harm Gus. Walt gave him the detonator, but Gus gave him the means to commit the crime free-of-consequence when he poisoned everyone who had leverage over Hector during the party.

 

[TheHarbinger]

Something tells me that Lalo will have an ace up his sleeve and obtain proof of Gus' collusion with Nacho for Hector's eyes only. If Lalo gets merk'd immediately after Hector's revalation, it could explain why the Salamanca patriarch looks so defeated in BB; he's aware of the fact that he's living in a hellscape where Gus can get away with anything, including the death of his most prized child

One thing that may have been spoiled in the previews is that Lalo is traveling in a suit and tie. Meaning he might be in an area, say Germany, where he would need to dress professionally to blend in. Maybe he is looking for Werner's wife or his home to dig around for something. We know that the underground lab is going to return yet again. A lot of people also theorize that Lalo will be buried beneath the lab, but I would argue that that would possibly be retcon in that the DEA would have found some old bones but maybe they pulverize him before cementing him.

But yes, they need to wrap up the Lalo storyline in way where it looks like Gus is innocent or at least in a way where the Salamancas and Bolsa are not looking to murder him at every turn. Hector, Bolsa, Tuco, and even Eladio seem fine with Gus in Breaking Bad as long as he makes them tons of money. Lalo's death has to be done in a way where Gus is not really implicated.

 

[AnOminous]

Hector, Bolsa, Tuco, and even Eladio seem fine with Gus in Breaking Bad as long as he makes them tons of money.

In the scene where Gus permanently disposes of Bolsa he appeared surprised, as if Gus had lowered suspicions of himself somehow between now in show time and BB time. Also lmao they literally named him "John Bag" in Spanish. What a disrespectful name for a character.

 

[K-Hole]

Obviously Gus could wear whatever he likes but he always chooses for the role he's portraying publicly. As Gustavo Fring, model minority and friend of the police and feds, he dresses as the meek and unassuming fast food guy who always has money for all the police charities. "Good Gus" is literally the dude he played on Sesame Street, a harmless camp counselor type who brings the family fun.

I guess he's what you would call a good actor these days. I like him even better in Godfather of Harlem. He plays an unashamed race hustler that I think is based on Al Sharpton. He blacks up well. And he's got that buck-breaking southern drawl down to a T. Then again, I'm a Limey so I might have got that wrong.

I can't stand watching films, let alone TV shit. But every now and again a good series comes along that suspends my disbelief. GoH is like The Sopranos with Forest Whitaker as Tony Soprano, mixed in with I don't know what other combination (take your pick). Probably a mix of a few things. But it's done well.

Whatever, he brings a lot of good humour to the role. Not least his indiscrete sexual proclivities. But maybe most, his sheer naked, unashamed and unabashed hustler game. Guy's a pimp. And proud of it deep down. As only a real pimp could be. They go a long way away from naming names. But we all know who it is. And if the person it was based on was not such an unashamed and unabashed real life race hustling pimp himself, he probably would have sued by now (IANAL). Who knows, he might still, if there's a dollar in it. Expect crowds of blacks carrying pitchforks and torches in your neighbourhood soon, if the writer or director lives there.

But they portray the Iti Wops in a worse light. As usual, the blacks are seen as coming from a disadvantaged background and only doing what they have to do to get ahead, while the greaseballs are seen as vicious and greedy. It's stereotyping, but on that subtle level we've all come to know and love from Hollywood. Of course, the daughter of an Iti crime boss falls in love with a basketball playing american jazz musician who gets murdered. But there you go. Blacks are just the victims here, the sensitive, musical types, beaten down not just by the huwhytes, but by those greaseball wops as well. The wops are even making porn films. The blacks would never do such a thing. Where as the huwhytes do it all the time.

That's too much information I know. It's still a good series and well worth a watch.

Not least for good ol' Gus! The negro's negro!

Sorry for the sperg.

 

[TheHarbinger]

In the scene where Gus permanently disposes of Bolsa he appeared surprised, as if Gus had lowered suspicions of himself somehow between now in show time and BB time. Also lmao they literally named him "John Bag" in Spanish. What a disrespectful name for a character.

Juan Bolsa is clearly named after Johnny Sack from Sopranos. Like half of the scenes in BB are from Sopranos. Even the idea of the main character having cancer was taken from Sopranos. Vince Gilligan even had the cancer doctor, Dr. Kennedy from Sopranos, treat Walt in BB. You can name almost any scene from BB and find where they copied it from Sopranos.

 

[AnOminous]

The one thing that has actually given me trouble is why exactly does Kim currently hate Hamlin so much? He never did anything to her at all, and the only other idea, that he somehow was out to get Jimmy, was blown apart when we found out Chuck was the guy who actually sabotaged him.

Why is Kim so fixated on this?

 

[KillThemCrackasBabies]

Cliff mentioned something about his son being a druggie and how it "changed his perspective", another hint imo about how he's not going to be fooled by the Howard plot and how he'll likely be a key figure in helping Hamlin bust them.

The one thing that has actually given me trouble is why exactly does Kim currently hate Hamlin so much? He never did anything to her at all, and the only other idea, that he somehow was out to get Jimmy, was blown apart when we found out Chuck was the guy who actually sabotaged him.

Why is Kim so fixated on this?

He insulted Jimmy, and because she's now all-in with her husband and his "Saul transformation", he in turn insulted her. The show is making it apparent she's not being rational about it, she's just too far gone as far as the scams go. It also doesn't help that she seems almost sexually thrilled by the scams at this point, and "You kinda insulted my husband" seems about as good enough reason as anything to get one over on someone.

 

[TheHarbinger]

The one thing that has actually given me trouble is why exactly does Kim currently hate Hamlin so much? He never did anything to her at all, and the only other idea, that he somehow was out to get Jimmy, was blown apart when we found out Chuck was the guy who actually sabotaged him.

Why is Kim so fixated on this?

One is that Hamlin went along with Chuck to harass both Jimmy and Kim. He lies to Jimmy's face for years by saying that "the board" did not want to hire Jimmy. Implying that no lawyers at HHM had confidence in Jimmy. Howard also punished Kim a bunch of times for no reason other than Chuck wanted Kim punished to in effect punish Jimmy. Jimmy confronts Chuck with that during the "roll around in the dirt with me" argument. Kim definitely feels taken advantage of by HHM. Basically wasting her youth and career in a law firm that never had her back and was trying to morph her into a corporate robot.

Two is that Hamlin is a corporate banking lawyer and Kim hates those lawyers. Kim most likely hates the entire legal system and profession. Seeing as she was willing to help a cartel murderer escape justice. Kim likely knows that the one girl Kristy who interviewed with HHM for a scholarship was rejected by Howard. She wants to harm HHM as much as she wants to harm Howard. Because HHM was like some sort of prison for her or bad period of her life (at least the way she sees it in hindsight).

Three is that by attacking Howard she can get the Sandpiper money for Jimmy. Potentially a million or more in cash that they will keep most of and get to spend on whatever. House, cars, new office. And jumpstart some new lawfirm to help poor criminals.

Of course the wildcard is that Kim is conning Jimmy for the Sandpiper money. But that style of story does seem to fit the BB/BCS mold.

 

[jacaszek]

Of course the wildcard is that Kim is conning Jimmy for the Sandpiper money.

One last big score...

 

[AnOminous]

He insulted Jimmy, and because she's now all-in with her husband and his "Saul transformation", he in turn insulted her. The show is making it apparent she's not being rational about it, she's just too far gone as far as the scams go. It also doesn't help that she seems almost sexually thrilled by the scams at this point, and "You kinda insulted my husband" seems about as good enough reason as anything to get one over on someone.

That's what it seemed like at first, she was adopting this Mama Bear alpha bitch attitude where nobody fucks with her man, no matter what's wrong with him. But now, she increasingly seems to be doing it because she likes it. A lot. And again, this is how Walt got into this, justifying his behavior initially as being for his family until finally being forced to admit he did it for him.

It clearly doesn't end well and I doubt the pain train is going to slow down after killing fucking Nacho in the second (well third) episode.

Also a really feelsy interview of Michael Mando from some gargantuan wall-eyed autist who still figured out if you're doing an interview and your target wants to talk, you stfu and let them talk.

 

[No0neKnows]

Him? You think the chicken man? What a joke. Alvarez has been paying me for years. Years. But you know what? I would've done it for free because I hate every last one of you psycho sacks of shit. I opened Lalo's gate and I would do it again and I'm glad what they did to him. He's a soulless pig and I wish I killed him with my own hands. And you know what else Hector? I put you in that chair. Oh yeah. Your heart meds? I switched them for sugar pills. You were dead and buried and I had to watch this asshole bring you back. So when you are sitting in your shitty nursing home, and you're sucking down on your Jell-O night after night for the rest of your life, you think of me. You twisted fuck.

 

[AnOminous]

Him? You think the chicken man? What a joke. Alvarez has been paying me for years. Years. But you know what? I would've done it for free because I hate every last one of you psycho sacks of shit. I opened Lalo's gate and I would do it again and I'm glad what they did to him. He's a soulless pig and I wish I killed him with my own hands. And you know what else Hector? I put you in that chair. Oh yeah. Your heart meds? I switched them for sugar pills. You were dead and buried and I had to watch this asshole bring you back. So when you are sitting in your shitty nursing home, and you're sucking down on your Jell-O night after night for the rest of your life, you think of me. You twisted fuck.

HIS NAME WAS IGNACIO!

 

[StrawberryDouche]

Kim definitely feels taken advantage of by HHM. Basically wasting her youth and career in a law firm that never had her back and was trying to morph her into a corporate robot.

Poor lamb.

They paid for her education. They gave her an extremely lucrative, prestigious job. From the scenes we've been shown of Kim's childhood, it's clear she came from white trash and was going to end up nowhere.

Some people bring out the best in us, and some people bring out the worst. Jimmy brings out the worst in Kim and she merrily embraces it, willfully.

I had genuine affection for her, and her turn feels like a betrayal. No one likes to be betrayed, and I hope she pays dearly for trying to ruin an innocent man for shits and giggles.

 

[Ward]

They paid for her education. They gave her an extremely lucrative, prestigious job. From the scenes we've been shown of Kim's childhood, it's clear she came from white trash and was going to end up nowhere.

I don't think helping her in upbringing somehow justifies workplace abuse, unjust treatment and becoming a tool to manipulate a some guy into staying in the mud where some asshole on top wants that guy to be.

 

[Gonzalo Lira]

Howard bros, I'm not feeling so good.

 

[TheHarbinger]

I don't think helping her in upbringing somehow justifies workplace abuse, unjust treatment and becoming a tool to manipulate a some guy into staying in the mud where some asshole on top wants that guy to be.

She was given her law degree by the firm and they basically treated her like shit and played games with her career just to satisfy Chuck's hatred for Jimmy. Jimmy got his degree on his own without the firm knowing it. And was also treated like shit just to appease Chuck. Chuck never apologizes to either of them for his behind the scenes manipulations of their careers. He dies before they can resolve it. Both Kim and Jimmy have their careers derailed because Chuck wanted to ruin them purely for personal reasons. Jimmy lands the Sandpiper case and Chuck tries to take it behind his back. Kim lands Mesa Verde and Chuck immediately begins trying to take the account.

But Chuck and Howard expected Kim and Jimmy to play normal legal politics when it came to competing over accounts and cases. Instead they are now dealing with Slippin Jimmy and Kimmy.

They both know Chuck has attacked them, with Howard's blessing, so they ruin him in court and Chuck kills himself in response. By the time Howard admits to both Kim and Jimmy that he was wrong about how things went down between all of them it is too late. Jimmy wants the Sandpiper money and is a cartel lawyer. Kim is basically an assistant for a cartel lawyer as well and wants that Sandpiper money. Howard is dealing with changed people. Howard also tried to get Jimmy and Kim to meet him halfway over Chuck's death but Kim laughs in his face and Jimmy blames him for Chuck's suicide openly.

They have resentment for Howard that has basically morphed into rage. And now their ways of dealing with things are way outside of the legal system. Lots of crime shows have this storyline. Where some civilian gets into business inadvertently with a mobster or criminal. And instead of resolving the legal dispute in a normal way now the civilian is getting their brake cables cut and their house burglarized.