Better Call Saul - Prequel to Breaking Bad
Discussion
simonrockman said:
They picked the wrong BB character to build the spin-out series on. All the Mike stuff is much better than the Jimmy stuff.
Not sure, Jimmy is a pretty interesting character, looking forward to him becoming Saul 
Saying that.....Mike's freekin awesome!!!!! My fave character from both series
Miguel Alvarez said:
I don't know how I feel about this show. I go through moments of thinking it's genius to moments of thinking "come on pick up the pace". Last night was one of those speed it up please moments.
I think when the next season comes round I'm going to avoid it till it closes and watch the lot over a couple of days.
+5 is that allowed?I think when the next season comes round I'm going to avoid it till it closes and watch the lot over a couple of days.
BCS does feel rather indulgent at times.
As has been said already BB didn't really start off slow, it just didn't really grow an audience until later. They were melting bodies by episode 3..
BCS has the benefit of a captive audience and a broadcaster who greenlit it for at least 2 seasons straight off the bat. It doesn't have to work at getting picked up for the next season, and in my opinion it shows.
As a big BB fan I do enjoy the whole slow burn aspect of it, and I'm predisposed to like the character of Saul anyway, but I struggle to recommend the show as a standalone watch, and particularly to anyone who hasn't seen BB already.
It feels kindof like cheese and crackers after a nice steak main course. Nothing remarkable in an of itself, but a pleasing dessert in context.
As has been said already BB didn't really start off slow, it just didn't really grow an audience until later. They were melting bodies by episode 3..
BCS has the benefit of a captive audience and a broadcaster who greenlit it for at least 2 seasons straight off the bat. It doesn't have to work at getting picked up for the next season, and in my opinion it shows.
As a big BB fan I do enjoy the whole slow burn aspect of it, and I'm predisposed to like the character of Saul anyway, but I struggle to recommend the show as a standalone watch, and particularly to anyone who hasn't seen BB already.
It feels kindof like cheese and crackers after a nice steak main course. Nothing remarkable in an of itself, but a pleasing dessert in context.
I have to say that I enjoyed it. It could have been terrible, but it isn't.
Part of the enjoyment is in seeing the links with Breaking Bad, but it is a good character piece. The acting of Saul and Mike is very good
I do wonder how much of Better Call Saul was in the minds of the writers when they wrote Breaking Bad and how much of it has just been back-fitted. Cleverly done, though.
Part of the enjoyment is in seeing the links with Breaking Bad, but it is a good character piece. The acting of Saul and Mike is very good
I do wonder how much of Better Call Saul was in the minds of the writers when they wrote Breaking Bad and how much of it has just been back-fitted. Cleverly done, though.
I've just watched the whole lot over a week, and really enjoyed it. I certainly think some of the episodes were a bit flat but it's a different kind of show to BB.
The last episode finished and I wondered why Netflix was taking me season 1 episode 1. Total lack of any suspense or energy really. I'll look forward to season 2 though but will only watch it in one go when the whole lot is available again.
The last episode finished and I wondered why Netflix was taking me season 1 episode 1. Total lack of any suspense or energy really. I'll look forward to season 2 though but will only watch it in one go when the whole lot is available again.
Breadvan72 said:
I liked the subtle and downbeat vibe of the show. Very different to BB, but very good in its own right.
I agree entirely. The show is very different to Breaking Bad but has to be as it needs to explain the series of events that turned the originally well-meaning Jimmy into the amoral (comedy) monster that is Saul.I enjoyed the show, but wouldn't say you'd need to have seen Breaking Bad to appreciate it. If you haven't seen BB then you'll not appreciate some of the characters who are there (who also appear in BB) but its a self contained show in its own right. I do wonder how long they'll go with it though before reaching the time of BB.
When it was announced there'd be a prequel to BB, Saul wouldn't have been my first choice. In BB he was one dimensional...crooked lawyer. Mike and Gus might've been safer bets.
But having watched all 10 episodes over a number of weeks (I binge-watched BB and it may be time to re watch it now) I absolutely loved it. I love movies that take time and care with character and plot development...and they have to squeeze that into no more than 3 hours.
So Gilligan and Gould have the luxury of spreading this out over 10 hours and as fans of their writing via BB, we shouldn't be surprised by this and ought to have already bought into it.
And like others on this thread, after the first couple of episodes I stopped watching for BB characters and locations to pop up. I'd be disappointed and surprised if, in later series, we see more of these; they ought to be more relevant as the time gets closer to the BB timeframe and by then, Jimmy/Saul should be a fully rounded character.
I echo other views on Dexter and would also throw Luther into the ring on that too. Both pretty much are at the limit of their development.
But having watched all 10 episodes over a number of weeks (I binge-watched BB and it may be time to re watch it now) I absolutely loved it. I love movies that take time and care with character and plot development...and they have to squeeze that into no more than 3 hours.
So Gilligan and Gould have the luxury of spreading this out over 10 hours and as fans of their writing via BB, we shouldn't be surprised by this and ought to have already bought into it.
And like others on this thread, after the first couple of episodes I stopped watching for BB characters and locations to pop up. I'd be disappointed and surprised if, in later series, we see more of these; they ought to be more relevant as the time gets closer to the BB timeframe and by then, Jimmy/Saul should be a fully rounded character.
I echo other views on Dexter and would also throw Luther into the ring on that too. Both pretty much are at the limit of their development.
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