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What's Better About Better Call Saul? In this video essay I take a look at the way Better Call Saul uses visual storytelling, to show instead of tell.
Chapters:
00:00 Why Ants?
03:41 Props As Symbols
07:02 Visual Performances
11:45 Characters in Process
14:04 Storytelling with Cinematography
// Additional Editing by Jackson from Skip Intro
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comment is from 3 days ago even though the vid came out 7 hours ago ?
Spoiler: Jimmy calls Kim again to apologize. Kim agrees to meet Jimmy. Jimmy is thrilled. Jimmy opens the door and sees Kim. He smiles. Then the police appear. The smile disappears. Jimmy is taken into custody. He is tried and convicted. Sitting in his cell, he whispers to himself “I need a dust filter for a Hoover Max Extract® 60 Pressure Pro" over and over again. Fade to black.
spoileame la temporada seis dale tomi
@@arfuckle1694 yeah how did that even happen?
Nah
The "World's Best Lawyer" mug was also used as symbolism for Jimmy not fitting in with Davis & Main - his mug wouldn't fit in the cupholder of the company car.
That was a bit heavy handed
Bravo Vince. Masterful symbolism! Brava!
That was so obvious bro...
@@the.bog. Symbolism doesn't need to be hidden to all but the most attentive film detectives. The whole point is for people to like it.
@@the.bog. film is a visual medium so it’s literally all surface level
One of my favourite show don't tell moments is Jimmy and Kims first meet when they share the cigarette. The way he takes it from her mouth then gives it back is clearly more intimate than just friends, without some terrible heavy handed dialogue like "we used to date" like a lesser show would need
And that cigarette scene in repeated with variations throughout the whole series up to the very last episode.
Plus, right after that, Kim goes inside and puts the trash can Jimmy was furiously kicking back in its place. It's such a simple action that says so much about both Kim and Jimmy's relationship and Kim's character itself. She's someone who understands and sympathises with Jimmy's frustrations with HHM, and also someone who is (at that point) orderly, reserved and plays by the rules.
i love how your comment sounds like how Vince keep repeating his point on "show don't tell" in the BCS official podcast. he always said something like "don't make Jimmy said to Chuck "How long have we been brothers now?"" lmao
I thought she was just a random employee at HHM, as the show goes on, Kim gets some speaking lines then backstory.
Yeah
And as they go to work the next day, the road is littered with broken bottles. Jimmy says to Kim: “ leave it, we pay to have other people clear it up”. Kim nods, but she tells Jimmy to go to work before her and then stays to sweep up all of the broken bottles. Which says it all.
It might be better to know this hidden truth 👉The Connections (2021) [short documentary]🔥
The damage he did, and she's left picking up the pieces.
@@prot07ype87 she did it to herself and actually turned out even worse than Jimmy with her pointless vendetta against Howard. She effectively killed him.
@@conor3361 I know that, but that was before she broke bad. It was before the moment she changed. Back then she was decent, and hadn't started her descent.
@@conor3361 No she did not. You're conveniently forgetting that Lalo didn't force Jimmy to be his bagman. In fact Jimmy was about to leave jail when Lalo said that the bagman would get 100,000. Jimmy turned round. The fateful turn. No bagman. No Lalo turning up wanting to know what happened. Howard would've been okay. Everyone knew that. Didn't Jimmy start the whole thing on Howard in the first place? Everyone gives Jimmy a free pass. Chuck's to blame, Kim's to blame. Does he have ANY agency?
The creators of BCS have also said that color works a lot differently in BCS than in BB, but its still significant, but instead its focused on cool colors (blue tones) and warm colors (red tones), and with blue representing law, and red representing crime. It makes the icecream shot a lot more interesting. Saul is wearing a purple shirt, a cross between red and blue, and at this time in the show he is at a moral crossroads between law and crime, sort of teetering the line of which direction he wants to go with this new persona (which we know by episode 8 of season 5 which path hes really chosen). Anyways, Saul drops the blue-green mint chip icecream cone right as the criminals pick him up, he is figuratively dropping law for crime. When he gets dropped off again, he sees that red ants have infested the cone, just as Lalo and Ignacio have infested Saul to do criminal behavior. And as we know, this is literally the beginning of the end for his character.
Yes! It was Nacho that made me realise this and caused me to go back and reevaluate the colour scheme in the show. Nacho was always in black and burgundy, his car, his apartment etc. Until the final time we see him.😢
@@dobrilabijelic1631 This was heavily used in Breaking Bad, maybe even more so than in bcs. Walter was always wearing some shade of green but went darker and bolder as the seasons progressed he even changed colour scheme a couple of times depending on what was going on in his life (crim/civ). Same with skyler and her blue that also turned darker. Hank was always in orange and Marie was never seen without some shade of purple, even every detail in their house was purple. I loved how they used colours to tell a story and the characters progression, the colours of good and evil and the area in between. they often used that in BCS as well, but maybe more so in colour grading, objects and other details.
@@Yesterdayslie Is Walter wearing green indicative of his envy, believing that he got cheated out of his due recognition and success at Gray Matter Technologies?
@@riffdex Maybe. It could also be in the early stages, because he is wearing light green to indicate he is in his "inocent" part of life but goes darker as he becomes more "evil". Could also be a symbolism of money and greed. Also the breaking bad logo/intro is green, representing he is the one that is "Breaking Bad". But I think the show is so good at showcasing all those colours in such a fantastic way. I love it.
oooh i knew the ants and color meant something but i was too into the story to get it. Comments on BCS and BB are always so interesting to read! Thanks
The main reason for me is just that the team behind BB got even better at their job. It's all just better. But I totally understand those who give the nod to BB.
Yeah, they had a lot of practice with BB, and it shows with BCS. It's a more thoughtfully made show, which is hard to believe considering how amazing BB is.
You can talk as much as you want about how “well made” and “thoughtful” better call Saul is but at the end of the day the story simply isn’t as exiting, unpredictable or captivating as breaking bad was
@@TheRausing1 that's purely subjective
@@TheRausing1 in terms of being iconic, Breaking Bad wins. period. but if we look at every other aspects, Better call Saul is definitely better, i agree it isn't as flashy or as badass as Breaking Bad, but there is a sense of "realisation" in the story of better call saul which hits you slowly and patiently, leaving you just sitting on your couch or your chair, feeling absolute shocked due to what you just witnessed, i read a comment that said something like:- Breaking bad was like "Holy Shit!!", and better call saul is like ".....shit" but that's my opinion ofcourse
So you're saying Better Call Saul is the best show of all time?
My soul isn't ready for the conclusion of this milestone in TV. A truly incredible show.
It will be so interesting to see what Vince Gilligan cooks up next.
Just hours away!
@@peb475 They are already working on a sequel called Breaking Bad
Agreed. There are other good shows right now, but nothing compares.
My saul*
My favorite instance of visual storytelling in Better Call Saul is the end of 2x01 "Switch". Jimmy takes the job at Schweikart & Cokely and is shown his office. On the wall, he sees a switch, covered by the label "ALWAYS LEAVE ON! NEVER TURN OFF!". He looks around, removes the label, and flips the switch. Nothing happens. He flips the switch back. He smiles a little. Cut to black, end of episode. It's so simple and yet conveys so much. Brilliant writing and directing.
I probably would have had that exact same impulse to be honest...
He took the Davis and Main job, not Schweikart & Cokely. That was Kim's job.
They never showed what that switch do, did they?
@@tommyvercetti891 Nope, because it doesn't matter. It's an apparently arbitrary rule which Jimmy can't help himself from breaking. It's how he sees all rules, as arbitrary restrictions placed on him by those in power. His view is that all rules are created by the Wolves, the grifters in power, to get the better of the Sheep, the blind innocents like his father. He's not gonna be taken advantage of like that. Wolves set their own rules.
How did you managed to get Davis & Main and Schweikart & Cokely mixed up? The former is much easier to remember than the latter
Imagine making a show as amazing as Breaking Bad, and then upping your game another level.
"Wanna see me make the greatest TV drama of all time?" "Wanna see me do it again?"
better call saul has the most well crafted characters on tv, by far. It's incredible that we haven't seen a character (chuck) for three entire seasons, and yet their presence is still felt, we can see that memory and hurt haunting Jimmy. There's so many events that seem insignificant at the time, but looking back, clearly contribute towards characters becoming the people we eventually know them to be. Incredible show; sad it's ending, but looking forward to rewatching Breaking Bad in a whole new light.
And alll the best characters are original….Kim, Nacho, Lalo, Howard, Chuck….hell, even Jimmy since we really never met him in Breaking Bad…..then Mike and Gus and Hector elevate it to another level
It might be better to know this hidden truth 👉The Connections (2021) [short documentary]🔥
@@VeganSemihCyprus33 Might be better not to spam your shit in comments completely unrelated
the way chuck hurt jimmy by seeing beyond the loveable goodball 😔😔
Theres so many shows with way better characters recency bias at its finest
Another bit I loved is in Bagman when Jimmy didn’t take Mike’s space blanket. They don’t need to bother telling you that he’s reminded of Chuck, they let you know by him refusing to use it.
But then he uses it when he wants the last guy in the car to spot him.
@@NotTheRambo yes that's a very good point. we can say Jimmy refusing to use the space blanket is his way of protecting his values. he prefers to be cold than to use something that reminds him of his brother. but when he's tired of being in the desert and in a moment of desperation. he doesnt care and uses it to survive. that's a perfect representation of his character IMO. he has his feelings and values but in the most decisive times he will be pragmatic, cold and selfish not because he enjoys being like that but because hewants to survive
@@karadanianoIaren’t we all like this?
I always thought the Davis & Main water bottle being used to hold Jimmy’s pee in the desert was really funny symbolism for how badly he treated them to get out of the job.
Never noticed that, LOL, but will keep my eyes open for it when I will watch BCS for the third time!
low flow flush toilet
Also, the bottle which he's carrying around his neck, is a symbol that he is having to carry his own filth. To survive, he literally consumes his own filth. Shortly afterwards, he uses his "trickster" nature to lure the driver to his death, via Mike. From there, he leaves the last symbol of his brother (the "space blanket") behind in the desert.
This spinoff really has lived up to the main show in every way. It's masterful.
It's all good, man.
@@jamesmmcgill 💯💯
It's a masterpiece to another masterpiece.
The finale could still screw it up...
@@jaykdos9521 don't be so pessimistic
It's bittersweet knowing it's over in less than 12 hours from now, but I'm genuinely grateful to the BrBa/BCS team for creating not just one but two of the best shows ever made.
It might be better to know this hidden truth 👉The Connections (2021) [short documentary]🔥
3 hours, ten minutes, i’m simply not ready
the 2 best shows imo
El Camino is great too
Honestly I didn't really like Breaking Bad very much. Better Call Saul is in a league of its own.
I love this show’s patience. Letting the characters sit and breathe is so rich and fun to watch, at least for me.
it was a tad too slow for me tbh. It was amazing but wouldn’t jump into it again anytime soon. Maybe if it was condensed into 4 seasons rather than 6. Tho I’m biased and generally prefer the pace of films over shows
@@nintendokings I see.
I prefer Breaking Bad in terms of the general story. However, I think BCS is the more impressive writing because it was limited by the prequel aspect. To reverse engineer a story without breaking anything and in fact allowing you to recontextualize Saul, Mike and Gus is such a monumental feat. Also to maintain such high level of excitement, anticipation and stress knowing some characters are safe is special. I wouldn't fight anyone who felt BCS was better. BCS makes BB better but not to the same scale than BB makes BCS better. You can watch BB without Saul and enjoy it to its fullest, I don't think the reverse is as true.
BB without Saul is less.
The reverse is actually true! I watched BCS first, it made BB a really interesting experience, as I knew more than i should’ve known. I did wait with the last BCS episodes, as they were spoilers so incredibly large they i was scared they might ruin BB for me. overall BCS was my favourite, but maybe that’s just because that’s what I saw first :)
You should watch BB again. You’ll be shocked. After BCS, BB pales in second viewing. But then watch BCS again and the scenes hit hard and deep. BB is an amazing show but ultimately it’s set up to be an exciting viewing experience but the White family and the BB Cast as a whole is quite undeveloped compared to the entire BCS set up, which is insane because BB is so good. Just try it.
I still prefer BB because there's a lot more action (I loved the "law" oriented action tho in BCS)
I was disappointed with BCS when I first started watching it. Saw 4-5 episodes and quit. Much of the reason was because I was sort of expecting something with the same action right off the runway like BB. I remember remarking on how there was none of that cool Jesse vs Walter contrast that made BB so much fun. Now having actually finished watching BCS my perspective has totally changed and I actually view BCS as the superior show. It is much for of a slow burn though. BB catches you right away. BCS takes much longer time to get into. There is a lot more subtlety there. The dread watching BCS is not so much about somebody being killed by the Cartel but the dread about a man loosing himself and a relationship potentially falling apart. I never worried to same way about the relationship between Skylar and Walt. While you also hope for Walt to get to his sense it is different with him than with Jimmie because Walt has had a long past as a respectable teacher and husband. For Jimmie it is like a life of failure, and you are hoping he will finally pull himself together. The depth of the character studies in BCS are just amazing.
During the scene where things went down at Kim's place, we saw Kim took a quick glance at flickered candlelight to tell us somebody opened the door to his apartment. The second time it flickered is at the middle of the argument. This time it really create suspense, and when they reveal who's the guy that stepped inside, really put me at the edge of my seat. That scene really is something and been living inside my head ever since.
Ah man that scene was just intense. Absolutely masterful. When I started watching I had no idea how much this show would win me over or how central Kim Wexler would be. Like in the beginning she didn't really come across as somebody particularly important to the show. A lot just came out of left field on that show.
i also love the way it was set up almost like a horror movie. candles flickering to signal a ghost = lalo’s return “from death”
the shot of a smiling howard with a mysterious dark figure behind him is just so horrifying
The candle flicker yet doesn't go out. It indicates Lalo will not kill them. The flame survived.
You forgot to mention that the show has a lot of "near clichés" moments. There are a lot of them, and they create a sense of false control of what's gonna happen next. You THINK you know what's gonna happen, but it's just the creators playing with the audience. For example - and this is a spoiler -, in the scene that Saul is tied up in a chair and left alone, you may think that he's gonna set himself loose somehow, and he even tries, but after some other scenes we know that he didn't succeed. This is a near cliché moment, and it's something I like a lot in this show.
this!! this show made me think “wow, THAT’s subverting expectations done right” a bunch of times.
Yes. Or how it will lure you into thinking one of those cliches is going to happen and then let off the gas, almost teasing you. Like Lalo in Mrs Ziegler’s home. The show builds as if he’s going to kill her, and then he’s cooly escaped out the window
Or when Jimmy had to repeat one story over and over again I thought Lalo will do something to him because he's lying (ik I'm 1 year late)
@@ksksksjs 8 months, actually :D
You forgot to point out how the "World's 2nd Best Lawyer" mug, a gift from Kim, is later replaced with the "World's Best Lawyer" mug in Saul's office (and how the latter is shown falling and breaking in the show's intro).
True! But I think he wanted to avoid all season 6 spoilers.
Vince actually said tat the cup falling andbreaking signified someting terrible happening atthe end of the season
@@oli47 The cup is in the intro and in Breaking Bad, and we know how Jimmy ends up. It's not much of a spoiler.
@@ALMEXchazz That Saul is gonna end up badly is a given.
It might be better to know this hidden truth 👉The Connections (2021) [short documentary]🔥
About the ice cone scene, in the season 5 finale when Jimmy and Kim were in the hotel room, Jimmy immediately changed his mind which ice flavour he wants after initially wanting mint chocolate (same flavour as the ice cone previously in the season), Kim then removed it. The visual storytelling in this show is so special, I don't know any show which has such meaningful subtext in so many scenes Edit: couldn't believe that they actually brought this up in the finale lmao. This again shows why these writers are the best at their craft
Totally missed that! Amazing!
It might be better to know this hidden truth 👉The Connections (2021) [short documentary]🔥
And they continued using ice cream as a metaphor in 6/12 - Kim is asked her opinion on ice cream for the receptionist’s birthday and she’s totally waffling, in stark contrast to her usual character, which is full of agency and quick decisions.
And, now he wanted mint chocolate chip ice cream when discussing the deal
@@Squidlumes you beat me to replying to my own comment haha
I don’t know quite how to put it into words, but this show makes it’s props feel so meaningful that they almost take on a sort of mythic quality, like with simple objects such as Hector’s bell or the tequila bottle-stopper getting their own arcs and backstories. I feel like this show focuses on the details of its world-building in the way a piece of science fiction or high fantasy would, despite the setting of the show being ostensibly real life. But it gives even the smallest visual details so much weight and importance.
I get that same effect, I think it’s the color and sound and everything
Jimmy's pinky ring too!
I was listening to the Better Call Saul podcast where Peter Gould, co-creator and writer/director of the series finale, said that he was looking for ways to get rid of as much dialogue as he can. I really love that method of story telling since that allows for the visuals to tell the story at the end, not words.
Link to the podcast pleej
Every scene with Mike doing something alone is so perfect. He never tells you (or other characters) his plan, he just does the job. And only when he does it you unredstand what really he was doing. Jonathan Banks was absolutely incredible in this show. And everyone else. Every scene with Jimmy and Kim, the growth and development of their relationship is shown so perfectly. Nacho and his feelings. Gus vs all of Salamanka, especially the smiling devil Lalo. This show is peak cinematography for me.
the greatest show of all time. each shot and scene feels so intentional in a way that i haven’t seen in television ever
This is what sticks out the most to me as well. It’s the most deliberate storytelling I’ve ever seen on television
By the end of the third season, I knew that I loved it more than Breaking Bad. I do fully think it is the best show of all time
I'm super late to commenting on this one but a piece of visual storytelling that I absolutely loved in this show was the build up to Kim's car crash. For many episodes before hand she's sleeping less, drinking more coffee, then you see in her car there's bottles of cafeeine pills. Eventually it builds to her not being able to move her car and almost crashing it at the oil fields. So good. The stress and tension the show built up without Kim saying "I am really burnt out" or "Jimmy I really need a nap" or something like that was just... so amazing.
Great point! There's also a scene with her when she goes to Mesa Verde once and sets a timer to 5 minutes to get a quick nap. The BEST show I have ever watched.
My all-time favourite visual story telling moment is when Mike meets Kim at the diner and informs her about the men who are watching her. As he's leaving, she says she recognizes him from back when he worked as an attendant at the parking lot of the courthouse. Mike acknowledges it and leaves through the door with a chicken insignia on it, alluding to how he started working for the 'Chicken Man'.
Glad to see more and more people are giving this show a shot. My favourite of all time and I’m dreading seeing it end.
same, I remember when no one made videos about it, even well into season 5, I couldn't find much of anything on youtube.
@@holaespanoldewisconsin7153 just got into a show, and it became one of my favorites so far
tomorrow it ends :(
@@albert5965 man you're lucky. Lol had to wait 2 years for season 5 and another 2 for season 6... then they even split season 6 up by a few weeks. I'm happy you didn't have to struggle.
@@holaespanoldewisconsin7153 I can relate. Been watching it since ep1. The wait has been a huge struggle after every season finale. And now it is the end
Great video! I’m surprised you didn’t mention how we later see Kim sweeping up the broken glass from the beer bottles they threw. I believe it foreshadows how she still cares about the consequences of their actions, while Jimmy simply said that maintenance will take care of it, removing himself from any responsibility.
Almost like a really good mystery, the writers make you feel SMART for following the story, because they give you all the clues you need... If you're paying attention! This is not a show to have on in the background while ur on ur phone
One of my favorite props in the show is the goldfish in Jimmy and Kim's apartment. Jimmy uses it as a pretense for visiting the veterinarian who first introduces Jimmy to Huell as part of his scheme to destroy Chuck. Afterwards, he keeps the fish in his apartment as a sort of sick victory prize. Scenes involving discussions of Chuck after his death almost always take place around the fish tank; every time we see it, we're reminded of how much Jimmy and Chuck hated each other.
The props in the show are metaphors for the consequences of the choices the characters make. There is a continuity, physically, an alteration that cannot be reversed. It's a clever way to represent the characters' path of no return.
oh i love that. Each prop has their own meaning, but they all together show that principle of cause and effect, consequences of someones actions, a big theme of the show.
It might be better to know this hidden truth 👉The Connections (2021) [short documentary]🔥
Ooooooooohh😱😱😱
One of the best details for me is when Lalo sees the cucaracha in the sewers and instantly remembers Saul. Everything that happens after this can be called back to what Lalo says to kim back in season 5 when she is worried about Jimmy.
It might be better to know this hidden truth 👉The Connections (2021) [short documentary]🔥
Or when Gus mentioned the spice curls->associated it with Madrigal, and then realized that Lalo might be in Germany trying to get any info about the lab
Cucaracha
spoilers for saul gone: i think the last episode really proves the point of this video, it had some great visual storytelling. when jimmy was talking about chuck in court and the shot focused on the exit sign, like it did on chicanery, it was a great little moment. love this shows visuals
One of my favorite examples of visual performances was in Season 6, ep 7. When Lalo was trying to call Hector and he realized the phone was tapped. The show makes us figure out for ourselves what happened through his expression. We probably don't hear the clicking in the phone the first time, but when we see Lalo's face drop. We know something's up and we're paying close attention. Then the show repeats the sound again and it's then we realize what is happening. Then as he lies to Hector about his plan, we can figure out what Lalo is trying to do. What the show didn't do was have Lalo say something like, "hmm, weird clicking sounds on the phone? Someone must be tapped in. I need to lie about my intentions to throw them off."
haha I loved this moment too. Had the same exact thought, so perfectly done.
Clever, clever, Chicken Man!
How could he say that? It would be tipping them off instead of throwing them off.
@@marydestefano9487 I meant after he hung up. Imagine if after Lalo hung up the phone he said all of that out loud before redialing and going forward with his plan. It would be dumb and probably bring the audience out of it. So instead, the show makes us figure it all for ourselves in a way that's far more interesting and keeps us engaged.
I actually agree - BCS for me exceeds BB as it was a test and due to the execution of BB it gave BCS the slight push it need to exceed.
It might be better to know this hidden truth 👉The Connections (2021) [short documentary]🔥
I can't say BCS is better because its only so great because of BB.
I have to disagree that BCS is only good because of BB. I watched BCS without having seen BB, and everything about it still landed perfectly for me.
I didn't say BCS was only good of BB, I said the way BB was done was a template that BCS adopted and exceeded in terms of drama, acting, direction and story telling. It informed BCS, it wasn't good because of BB. What you said aligns to saying House of the Dragon was only good because of Game of Thrones - which is BS. HotD is merited in it's own rights as is BCS.@@Flexb123
I remember seeing the ants cold open for the first time and being mind-blowned from how much i was loving it. The symbolism, the music, the cinematography... We'll miss the work that all these geniuses have been making for us since the first episode of breaking bad.
It might be better to know this hidden truth 👉The Connections (2021) [short documentary]🔥
5:38 This exact thing happened with the Exit sign when Jimmy mentioned Chuck in the Final Episode, when I noticed it my mind was buzzing
I'm 64 years old, I've seen a LOT of good and bad TV, and this is the best television show ever produced. The writing, the acting, the cinematography, the direction, the music, the show-running and production leadership are all A+++. The best ever to land on the small screen. I so miss seeing Rhea Seehorn each week. She was phenomenal as Kim Wexler. Love it!
Get off the internet oldie
Dude, what if the last episode just has Jimmy literally turn into a chimp and murder everyone with a machine gun like Chuck said in Season 1? Would that be a “Bravo Vince” moment?
It might be better to know this hidden truth 👉The Connections (2021) [short documentary]🔥
Seeing Gene defecate into yet another sunroof was a complete surprise. Bravo Vince indeed for tying it all together in the finale.
Just a reminder, Wednesday was nominated for cinematography over this
They both had fantastic cinematography. Better call Saul I think felt more subtle and nuanced. Wednesday was very much more in your face and obvious with its camera work and shot set up which fits with the cinematography of the films and other media.
Honestly I LOVE the scene where Laslo entered the room with Kim and Jimmy. It was so tense and it took the show in an unpredictable direction. It was so realistic as well, I was constantly imagining myself in that situation. You, wanting to do something and "be the hero". But in real life: you don't have the "hero choices" and you just have to do what a person with a gun tells you. That moment was unforgettable and will always stick with me.
Better call saul has beaten breaking bad for me in terms of quality. The level of competent story telling is unlike anything ive ever seen before.
Its quite refreshing to see the directors trust their audience's intelligence, instead of the typical method of dumming it down.
Goo goo gaga
Having enjoyed _Breaking Bad_ so much, I was extremely sceptical about a spin-off show. To my mind, spin-offs are generally inferior quality, little more than cash grabs. There are exceptions, but for every _Frasier_ there must be at least five _Joey_ projects, doomed to run for one or two seasons and be forgotten. How wrong I was, to expect so little of _Better Call Saul._
Honestly, I'd say I like bcs better than breaking bad, the heavy focus on justice and injustice, right and wrong is what makes it particularly interesting
@@legend7951 Yeah definitely. It didn't feel derivative, it didn't feel like it was trying to "recapture the magic" as it were, it felt like its own thing When I watched BB, I was surprised at how comedic it was. Sure it's deadly serious and gripping, but it's also extremely dark comedy. I didn't get that sense with BCS, it felt more of a straight-faced drama, I guess it kept it fresh
@@adamheywood113 i think making bcs funny would have been the easy way to go. it's quite ironic that the show about the comic relief of breaking bad, the showman-type guy, saul goodman, is very subtle, slow and nowhere near as show-y as breaking bad. i really like that, it definitely broke expectations going into the show and constantly does that.
Speaking of exceptions House of the dragon is a good prequel too atleast judging by the first season
Rhea Seahorn is absolutely INCREDIBLE in this show. The way you know exactly what her character is feeling and thinking without her ever saying a word...she blew my mind.
The intro music/scene in every episode is highly symbolic and makes the show better than the rest. I like to call it the "Con Man" intro. It's lazy and distant but somewhat inviting and laid back. You get invested and anticipate the beat to resolve but it cuts off abruptly. You get ripped off. Don't trust a beat that doesn't resolve. Don't trust Jimmy.
I always wondered why the intro does what it does, and you just explained it perfectly. Thank you ^^
And even more I don't mind getting ripped off, the intro is fantastic
Funnily enough it perfectly loops Where it's supposed to end, it actually just starts over again. An unfulfilling cycle.
Hoooooooooollyyyyyyyyyy shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
This has to be one of the best perfectly executed shows. Was waiting for a new video from you on BCS from a long time.
It might be better to know this hidden truth 👉The Connections (2021) [short documentary]🔥
That openin scene is Gold.
I can't believe this amazing show is gonna end today. These past few episodes have been absolutely out of this world.
REPENT AND BELIEVE THE GOSPEL! JESUS CHRIST IS GOD ALONE! HE DIED ON THE CROSS FOR YOUR SINS, IS THE ONLY WAY TO BE SAVED FROM DEATH AND HELL AND HAVE ETERNAL LIFE! John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" Romans 5:8 "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 10:9 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." John 14:6 "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." I pray that God blesses all those that read His words with forgiveness, peace, and eternal life in Jesus' mighty name. For you and your family. Amen.
Boo hoo hoo
The symbolic props are the opposite of McGuffins. They're objects that the characters aren't invested in but to which we have a deep attachment.
The show is finally getting a shot at mainstream popularity in this final season. Better late than never.
Very true. The fact that a small group of people at my office are invested in dumb programming like Naked and Afraid and talking loudly about it at break, but have never seen BCS, is one of the reasons I worry about humanity.
It might be better to know this hidden truth 👉The Connections (2021) [short documentary]🔥
excuse me what This show has had that popularity literally for seasons now. Have you seen the memes? All the people in comment sections? THefact we all interpret everything like its literally a deep connection when sometimes things are just there and we read into it
@@ZenMonkeyGod guy: talks about how great euphoria is and that he can't wait for the upcoming season too see some dick on screen. Same guy: has never seen BrBa or BCS.
It’s a prequel to one of the most famous tv shows of all time it had mainstream popularity from day one
I think one of the advantages of BCS over BB is that it is very planned from the beginning whereas Breaking Bad was kinda improvised. Saul, Mike and Jesse are all characters who were initally thought to be short term. When everything turns out to be as planned, it can be this polished i think.
Actually the not having everything planned out seems the be precisely the writers method of working! With BCS they apparently had a similar process again, at least thats what the writers said in episodes of the insider podcast. I do agree BCS seems much more polished, but imo that’s mostly because the writers had perfected their process so much, not because it was so fundamentally different between the two shows :)
I've always told people that this show is a masterclass in storytelling, but couldn't quite articulate why. This nailed it
the part of how they basically "designed" a cohesive world and aesthetic just with good choice of what sets to use is amazing. The kind of vibe typically only animated television has, because it allows you to literally design everything in tandem. but they managed it even with the limitations of reality
I pity the people who put off BCS because it wasn’t as action packed as BB. Shame they don’t have the patience to let this show build up to what has to be one of the best final season and finale in TV history
@@LeMaqnifique true Jimmy was always a conman at heart trying his best to be a normal lawyer whereas Walter was a genius with wasted potential who goes down a dark path in order to "protect his family" when in reality, he wanted to feel accomplished just once in his life after 50 years of mediocrity. While better call saul has more believable relationships and characters, walt's transformation into a ruthless drug kingpin alone destroys any of bcs's character arcs. And i haven't even said anything about Jesse. Breaking Bad is perfection.
@@LeMaqnifique based
@@LeMaqnifique Interesting. I think the transformations of Walt and Saul are fundamentally different, and compelling in different ways. Walt's transformation is about becoming an entirely other person. The transformation of Saul is an acceptance of, and submission to, the person he always was.
@@LeMaqnifique Agreed, man. I love slow and meaningful writing too but BCS just didn't hit as hard as I expected/wanted it to. Howard's death felt cheap and a waste of potential, Lalo's death was alright but nothing special. Chuck's breakdown was the peak of the show for me, but seeing as that was in S3 I can't say that the show is as good as Breaking Bad. Every single event in BB felt perfect to me. Edit: However, I can appreciate the quality of writing and cinematography. The show is clearly well-made, nobody can argue that. I just don't think the plot was even close to strong enough to compare to BB/The Wire/The Sopranos
@@feintzprod the chuck flashback in s4e10 where jimmy and chuck sing together is my fav scene in entire BB universe. nothing can top that tragedy, that nuance, the bitter love, evy, and the resentment that chuck holds for saul
Finally, we find out why the Better has called Saul. But seriously though, ever since your BCS video from 2 years ago, been waiting for you to make another video about it!
The Codex never ends.
It might be better to know this hidden truth 👉The Connections (2021) [short documentary]🔥
That ice cream cone I also took to represent Jimmy himself, and the ants representing the criminal underworld/the cartel. Jimmy is a sweet talking good guy, and the cartel are nightcrawlers. This prop coincides with the first time Jimmy is picked up by the cartel and meets Lalo. Jimmy is really getting on the ground with the nightcrawlers now. And then when he eturns from his meeting,he sees that the cone has broken down and the ants are feasting on the remains. This meeting with Lalo will eventually lead to the criminal underworld breaking down and consuming Jimmy. A strong foreshadowing.
Transitions should've been mentioned! Blood on the floor to a ketchup that Saul eats just blew my mind! There're many of them actually but when you see them it's so cool. Using simple objects to transition is amazing
I think what makes better call Saul my favorite prequel ever is that it doesn’t just show us the backstory of these characters, it also enriched and gives context to what they do and say. Favorite moment now in breaking bad is when Walt is begging Gus to reconsider and give him a chance and Gus just says “no Walter, unfortunately I can’t.” We now know how that turned out initially.
I am watching this after watching the series finale. And my god, my heart already aches knowing its over. We may live the rest of our days and never see another show truly comparable to Better Call Saul. Vince and the gang really took all their experience from Breaking Bad and refined it for BCS, giving us such a rewarding experience at every level of the production. Great video.
One of my favorite uses of visual storytelling in this show is in 6x07 when Lalo gets upset in the sewers after trying to call Hector on a tapped line and leads to Gus knowing he’s really alive. After that, it cuts to a cockroach crawling on the side of a wall, which was a callback to 5x08 when Lalo tells Kim that Saul is like a little cockroach. It gives Lalo the idea to use Jimmy and Kim in his plan to get to Gus without telling any of the audience, which then makes that shocking scene, of Howard being killed work, so well. This show is a masterpiece.
..The Breaking bad Universe is the pinnacle of Cinematic visual telling and writing The standards set for TV by Vince and Peter are so damn high
I firmly believe that we're going to experience one of the BEST finales in all of television history TONIGHT. Absolutely LOVE this show and it's been my compass for my own television writing.
it is definitely one of the finales in tv
@@depthsofabjection LOL! Updated
If the finale ends strong, this show is going down in the television Hall of Fame.
It might be better to know this hidden truth 👉The Connections (2021) [short documentary]🔥
You’re so masterful at identifying and conveying the “why” of various movie components. I just love how you paint a picture with words.
That Jimmy Slippin' into Saul wordplay was supreme!
Dave Porter and his crew did unbelievable work with the music this season. That song that plays when they're stealing the identity of a grown up Buzz McAllister is so god damn good.
I have only just started watching this video but I know it's going to be good because it involves Better Call Saul + Thomas Flight
It might be better to know this hidden truth 👉The Connections (2021) [short documentary]🔥
@@VeganSemihCyprus33 Jesse... what are you talking about?
This is the kind of show you could make 50 videos on and hardly scratch the surface of the visual storytelling, the masterful creative writing, and the fantastic performances that make BCS and Breaking Bad two of the greatest shows of all time. Bravo to all who made this show possible, it's a work of art.
the most impressive thing about this video is that you actually used HD footage from the show instead of shitty 480p that everyone else uses in edits/video essays
I like how you chose this opening specifically to start the video with, it's one of my favorite intros in the whole show. Better Call Saul is a masterclass in cinematography and storytelling and I'm dreading the ending tonight.
Better Call Saul broke the dynamic of me trying to talk to a lot of my best friends about film and TV, because I realised that I'm a nerd and they're casual. Neither is inherently wrong as a way to enjoy media, but it's such a translation barrier. They all said things like "eh it seemed kinda boring compared to Breaking Bad". Its clever, patient visual storytelling just went under their radar - not because they're dumb, but because they don't watch TV to pay attention or make mental effort, they just want all the semantic content handed to them quickly, easily and obviously.
The best story telling in TV history. Change my mind.
I happened to watch this video whilst killing time just before Better Call Saul's finale aired, and the visual storytelling in the finale proved your points in this video a hundred times over, it was extraordinary to watch. The use of props in the opening scene, the use of one particular prop in the last color flashback scene... it hit even harder than it would have if I hadn't watched this video prior. The way the actors were trusted to convey the depth and point of the scene without excess dialogue. The extraordinary cinematography throughout. Superb video as always, I'm so grateful for the work you do. I thought I'd fully plumbed the depths of full appreciation for Better Call Saul with awareness of its varied use of visual storytelling, but this video gave me another level of appreciation. I really hope you enjoyed the finale, and I'll definitely be rewatching this video and sending it to folks when trying to explain what a masterclass in storytelling Better Call Saul is.
The visual storytelling was next level from the start of season 1 when jimmy in ep 1 takes the elevator down to the carpark at hhm and the camera focuses on the dented thrashcan right before he kicks it telling us this has happened before
Ah i commented straight before he brought it up
I don't remember grieving so much a show as I did with bcs. It's my second favorite show only surpassed by Mr Robot. But I think both shows had the same visual storytelling as you mentioned. My favorite shows are the ones that respect its audience and make us work to get every single detail.
See,THIS is art! It's not over the top, it doesn't have to hold your hand and explain it to you! You just understand and know. because of how beautifully written and acted this show is! Can't believe it hasn't won a single Emmy...
This was a masterpiece of a video, I loved the part where at 17:46 you paired the resolution of the object on your desk (I had no idea what it was initially) to the pop in the scene. Idk, something about those few seconds compelled me to type something Anyways, great job!
I literally presented a 4 minute talk about BCS to my work colleagues today. Your analysis is clearly more thorough, however the core elements were synchronised throughout. I am going to sorely miss these characters and this amazing show.
Can't yet compute how good this show is, feels like it's left even the Sopranos and the Wire in the dust
Yassssssss
It definitely has a better ending than both
most well written and shot, the in-depth characterizations, the slow burns, the payoffs, the detailing, the cold opens, the title intros...goat tier show!
One of the best KZhead creators focusing on one of the best TV shows of all time - It's Xmas in August! Loved to hear your analysis of things I've experienced but am not competent enough to put into words. You really brought home to me how the true genius of this show is writers who trust both the actors and the film makers to be able to portray parts of the story without them having to use words. It requires respect and humility as well, true teamwork! I don't think I've ever been this emotional about a show wrapping up. So happy to see the critics association showering them with belated but well earned trophies. This show will be on the curriculum in every college teaching film and TV, regardless of subject.
Great observations as always. I WISH there were more of the scripts available to read -- their SCRIPT TO SCREEN videos are great. Also, (as has been pointed out in other videos) their commitment to cinematic storytelling is well documented. The eps from season 5 with Jimmy and Mike lost in the desert (directed by Vince Gilligan) is remarkable storytelling. In an interview, they noted the that episode was shot for twice the days of a usual episode. The show's creators have said in interviews they had NO plan for Kim when her character was introduced -- they continued to develop her primarily because of how great the actress is. The same thing happened with Jesse in BB -- he was supposed to die at the end of the first season.
The amount of accidental miracles that they have in this show is astounding. It takes not only a creative mind, but also a humble mindset to be able to adapt with those. Most writers would never even think twice about including Mike as one of the main characters.
@@Nokitron What's even funnier is that the character of Mike solely exists cuz they couldn't get Bob Odenkirk to shoot in the final episode of S2 of Breaking Bad, where Mike is introduced as the guy that cleans up after Jane's death. A scheduling conflict led to one of the most iconic characters in this universe
my favorite part was when that guy said, "hey. it's better call saul." and then everyone else started chanting "better call saul". truly one of the shows of all time. bravo Vince!
What an absolute masterpiece this was. A perfect ending to the BrBa universe. It's a weird feeling. I'm sad that it finished, but so satisfied with the way this universe has concluded. Also, Tony Dalton, take a bow. What a portrayal of Lalo Salamanca, the best villain in the universe. Always made me anxious af when he was on screen.
@4:45 he really likes that ice-cream!! the ability of the writers and directors care about those details about their characters and later come back to it makes you really think how laser focused they are about their own work!! it's amazing! also, let me think how many shows and authors are not paying enough attention of their own creations or lack of skills to reflect their thoughts. And you are so right on about those shots/plots makes the story more intuitive rather than revealing everything through dialogue.
I remember watching your first video on Better Call Saul like 5 years ago and then subscribing. I hadn't realized it had been so long but seeing this get uploaded on the day of the final episode is strange. Life is so much different now than when I saw the first episode
When Lalo said: “Walk me through it…” sheesh 🥶 that line delivery and scene was so on point. The confidence and intense curiosity on his face had me truly concerned for both characters, regardless of me knowing how crucial both actors were to the series.
I always had a gripe about that scene with the ants on the icecream, when it zoomed out and showed the whole thing it always felt too artificial and like the ants were placed there so intentionally. It kinda didn't look natural at all the way they piled up on the melted icecream. I wish they made it more natural and maybe filmed the ants around the edges of the puddle of icecream sipping away at the sweetness, rather than what they did with them all clumped on top of each other up like that.
I just love the cinematography to it all. Each and every shot or scene has been masterfully created and has become a work of art in its own right. The colouring, the shadowing, the angles, the props; everything about it is a work of art. I'd like to know who was responsible for this side of its production as they need to come out from the shadows and from behind the cameras and introduce themselves to their fans because whoever was that creative genius really deserves the praise in creating a masterpiece such as that 👍
You absolutely nailed what I love about Better Call Saul. Some people don't notice and or don't care about the ice cream let alone get the symbolism of it. But for those that do see it and understand its meaning it's such a powerful and creative way to tell the audience that this is the moment, this is the beginning of the end for Jimmy. Even the way Jimmy looks at the mess it's almost as though he realises himself that it's a metaphor for his life and subconsciously shrugs his shoulders and rolls with the punches anyway. Absolutely brilliant!
This show made me a millioanire by applying it's hustle strategies
Did you also con people with half-dollars?
@@grazecoin9854 haha no bro... I just applied the negotiations skills
Great analysis! The supreme talent of the writers is completed in the "thrown bottles" scene when in the next morning Kim cannot stand seeing the broken glasses she created and wipes the parking space! They are true artists!!!!
Thomas been a big fan of your channel for a while. Love your analyses, they’re rich and really enhance the show. A lot of channels “analyze” by just summarizing episodes, but you take things to a whole new level
Better Call Saul shots of night time of parking lots and apartment gives it such a weekday night feel. It gives off 5 o clock cloudy vibes
Thank you for doing this. You've taught us how to love the things we love even more
I hadn't seen BB, but watched all the way up to season 6 and the last episodes. Then, I ran through the BB in a matter of weeks. So, I just want to emphasize that I've just started to absorb BB and I'm amazed at the richness in the story, characters and writing. I now finally understand why this is an iconic series. Tomorrow, in Europe, I will see the final episode of BCS. Truly great universe, and I'm not sure which one I like most. I'm just so grateful that two great series have been made.
These creative shots are one of my favorite parts in watching better call saul. it's very few or rare for any tv series to put some efforts on doing these details and actually telling us the story of the characters in a creative way.
I honestly never realized how true it is that you have to watch the screen until you said it and suddenly I remembered how many times I’d be watching on my phone, get distracted, and have to go back a few minutes, knowing I missed something important on the screen because I suddenly didn’t understand the dialogue. That’s so unusual. Typically I can watch an entire episode or more without even looking at my screen because I can figure it out just from what the characters are saying. It’s kind of fun to have a show that forces you to pay attention, not divide it between so many tasks.
This is the only show where i care about all the characters. Whether i share their value or not, i just needed to know each of their journey. What a fascinating show.
Unreal huh. I keep asking myself how I can get so worked up about people I know for a fact don't exist. Their made-up lives don't meant squat, yet their fictious life and problems get to me. That tells you a lot about how damn good this TV show is made. I honestly don't care that much about characters in most TV shows.
@@erikengheim1106 (SPOILERS) The first time I really noticed this was when Chuck died. I hated his character so much, but it was so sad to see him go. Then when he made an appearance in the Finale, I had the biggest shit-eating grin on my face
Just finished the show about an hour ago and im feeling how this show has done everything right and why this is one of the best tv shows ever that I watched not only because it’s connected with breaking bad also it’s own way of story telling is just incredible and I love it
Her sweeping up the shards is foreshadowing her confession.