Howard Asks Chuck to Retire | Better Call Saul (Michael McKean)
At home, Chuck (Michael McKean) tells Dr. Cruz (Clea DuVall) about his realization that his electromagnetic hypersensitivity could be psychosomatic, and Dr. Cruz advises him not to push himself too hard too quickly.
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From Season 3, Episode 9: "Fall"
He wasn't always Saul Goodman, ace attorney for chemist-turned-meth dealer Walter White. Six years before he begins to represent Albuquerque's most notorious criminal, Goodman is Jimmy McGill, a small-time attorney hustling to make a name for himself. He's a forceful champion for his low-income clients, an underdog whose morals and ambitions often clash. Jimmy works with private eye Mike Ehrmantraut, a former Philadelphia cop and recent transplant to the Southwest. Mike has a specialized skill set -- he's a "fixer" of sticky situations -- that Jimmy soon learns to appreciate.
#BetterCallSaul #BobOdenkirk #CrimeCity #SaulGoodman #JimmyMcgill #MichaelMcKean
I love how Howard was introduced as a spoiled kid, but over time we realized he was the steady hand of the firm. He wasn't the best lawyer, but a good leader.
Meanwhile Chuck was born with very little, worked for everything he had, and turned into a great lawyer, but over time, became a terrible leader.
Right? At the beginning I thought he would just be another slick "LA Law" character in a finnicky suit. By the time he meets his fate it's heartbreaking because he's one of the only decent guys in the whole BB universe.
Great storytelling by Vince, Real good misdirection
Him and Chuck were always my favorite characters. Also the best morally of anyone from the show.
@@_ArsNova chuck is not on the list of best moral characters
On a rewatch of the whole series you realize just how much Howard had to put up with while trying to keep HHM running.
It's so wild how Vince Gillian is able to play with these characters. Jesse Pinkman was never meant to make it past season 1. Howard was originally written to be the villain and Chuck to be a sympathetic character. But immediately he was able to see these characters and and actors and how they play off each other and completely rewrite the script.
lol. I’m rewatching it now. I just finished season 5. I feel so bad for Howard. Also, I always knew Jimmy was selfish but on the rewatch it opened my eyes to what a scumbag he mostly. I tend to now think Jimmy would have always turned to Saul no matter if chuck gave him the job at hhm or not. Jimmy was basically addict and could be sober for a while but always relapsed.
@@EJD339 I mean, probably, but it was his mistake to make, not Chuck's. Chuck denied Jimmy that chance not because of the firm, but because he never believed Jimmy could change, which actually made him go even more to the "dark side". In the end, Chuck is the one who couldn't change and Jimmy did (granted, after many many mistakes).
Right
Howard is a gent.
My Grandma is the female lawyer in the beginning, she said Patrick Fabian (Howard) was the nicest and most charming man she’s worked with.
Your grandma played in BCS? That's cool
He seems like it
she definitely nailed the corporate politeness down to a T! She sure deserves more roles as an attorney in more shows
Wait, what? Seriously?! That's so cool! Yes I've heard that too, that Patrick Fabian is a sweetheart.
That's a lie because it was actually my aunt in the scene. Stop with the bs
This wasn't about the firm. It was all about Chuck not wanting to get babysat. Howard made the right call for him to retire.
IDK. I hate Chuck as much as anyone, but was what they were doing legal?
@@liljackypaperIt’s a grey area, but yes. Chuck has become a huge liability because he’s mentally ill and making mistakes on client work (untrue but still). The fact that they hid his condition from the insurance company for a long time also works against them thus the raised premiums, however they also added a compromise where Chuck’s premiums are raised but he needs supervision.
@@liljackypaper It was a result of Jimmy pointing out Chuck's insanity. Yes Jimmy was a shit for pointing it out but Chuck is still insane.
I've seen people like Chuck... they're ego's get in the way of company profits and growth.
@@NormAppleton Jimmy wasn't shit for pointing it out. Chuck let that mental instability project off on Jimmy for years instead of simply acknowledging that he had a problem. There's super subtle moments in the flashback scenes (such as Jimmy passing the bar) where Chuck displays the exact same discomfort as his electromagnetic sensitivity whenever Jimmy does well. It was pure fucking envy from Chuck to Jimmy that caused his condition. The better Jimmy does in life, the worse Chuck's condition got. They are directly linked. To finally point that out to the public after decades of covering for him to save his own ass after Chuck literally tried ruining his life is fair game. Jimmy wasn't in the wrong for that at all.
He had a good thing going! He had friends, a good career, the respect of his peers. He had everything he could ever want, and it all ran like clockwork. He could've just kept quiet and retire gracefully. It was perfect. But, no, Chuck just had to blow it up. Him and his pride and his ego! He just had to be the man. If he'd kept quiet and knew his place, he'd probably be all fine right now!
Just let him retire in peace
Chuckenberg
This does apply to Chuck much better than it did Walt
did you just copy Mike's script little bro?
Excellent ! I see, what you did there. Mike final, damning speech to Walter - "say my name". Well done.
Howards face at 3:38 says so much about him as a character. You can see he isn't doing this out of spite. He genuinely cares for Chuck and knows the firm is safest when it isn't in his power. But Chucks pride and ego has blinded him in seeing how far he has fallen and ironically because never changes, he loses the firm, Howard as his friend, his remaining sanity, and ultimately his life.
Howard is straight shooting here -- he doesn't shy away from making difficult decisions in a respectful way. Chuck was too erratic & proud by this point to listen to reason :(
And that deep down he knows Chuck shouldn’t be practicing law when he’s mentally ill. He’s been uncomfortable with his condition for a long time but he kept his mouth shut out of respect, and for the firms reputation, but now that it’s out in the open…
"he never changes," chuck believed jimmy would never change because it is in fact chuck who could not change, which only further pressured jimmy to remain on the path he was on
In the end, Chuck really only has himself to blame for his demise.
@@matthewriley7826 Howard knows the firm is leaving themselves open to class action malpractice suits given that it's now knowledge that they've been covering up that one of their name partners is unfit to practice law. And the transcripts of Jimmy's disciplinary hearing only really reflect poorly on _Chuck_ because thanks to Jimmy's chicanery, everyone now also sees him as an incredibly petty and vindictive man.
Howard handled this scenario about as perfectly as anyone ever could.
It's such a pleasure to watch Howard operate, especially upon rewatches of the show.
RIP Howard
@@welshy238 Everything he did was 100% rational and justified. Not even the letter incident was he in the wrong.
@@KarazolaX Howard still had flaws: If Howard was as astute as his fans claim he was, he probably should have caught onto Chuck's selfish, vindictive nature much earlier, probably when Jimmy brought them the Sandpiper Case. Howard could have given Chuck the benefit of the doubt when he initially refused to allow Jimmy to become a partner at HHM, but once Chuck demanded Jimmy not join after he brought them such a massively lucrative case, Howard should have realized them Chuck was being personally vindictive against Jimmy, and it was going against the interests of HHM.
@@Wasserkaktus He knew Howard for years, before Jimmy even entered the picture. He got to see him likely at his healthiest, when nothing was wrong. Chuck 'poisoned the well' against Jimmy, in all likelihood. Told him up front about Jimmy's past, but even after all that Howard was willing to treat Jimmy with respect. Some of the earliest stuff Jimmy does: the billboard stuff, trying to get the check out of him, most normal poeple would have never tried to be civil again with Jimmy. Howard was more than fair with him. But he also trusted Chuck, his partner, someone he worked with and had confidence that he would get better and return to his job with HHM. Chuck was able to tell Howard all the bad things Jimmy had done in the past before even gotten to meet him. And after the chicanery incident, Howard DOES realize this, and tries to force Chuck out. Chuck and Jimmy's relationship was so complicated, it's not easy to blame him for not understanding it. Regardless, Howard is easily the most moral character on the show. He's not a criminal, he's a regular guy. The only more tragic, least deserved departure in BCS/BB was the spider boy.
3:57 "I don't think we're alike at all mr. Mcgill"
Surprised Breaking Bad didn't sue them considering this show is an obvious ripoff of it. The main character is obviously based on the lawyer from Break and Bad.
@@ninjaguyYT They can't keep getting away with it!
@@ninjaguyYToh boy do I have some news for you..
@@ninjaguyYTi heard the original title of this series was Finger Bad
@@ninjaguyYT Break and Bad cracked me up! Bravo Ninjaguy!
"It's in the transcripts😢😢😢" -Saul Goodman
“👁👄👁” -insurance agent
Ironically Jimmy was a practicing lawyer during a brief time when chuck had retired and before his suicide. Chuck wanted to keep jimmy from practicing law, yet in doing so he prevented himself from practicing the law.
Ah, I had forgotten how this discussion ended. So later, Howard gets a letter from Chuck…and Howard assumes it’s because Chuck had time to consider it that retirement was probably for the best. …and it’s the complete opposite; a declaration of war that will destroy the firm in the process. Howard wanted to talk this through peaceably; and Chuck behaved like a self-entitled tyrant…storming out & going to the most extreme option immediately.
I'm actually Chuck's biggest critic. I hated him the entire show and the way he treated his brother. But I'm actually with him on this one. He was within his right to separate from the firm if they were going to force him to retire.
@@liljackypaper Maybe. See, I’d be more willing to understand Chuck’s apprehension for retirement if he’d stuck around to hash it out with Howard. Howard had been going along with Chuck’s campaign at every step of the process…from the time he developed his medical condition…from his willingness to block Jimmy…to his obsessive need to sabotage Jimmy…going so far as to hire a private investigator after staging a meltdown…when they should have just cut ties with Jimmy and moved on. But the ensuing circus kept looping Howard and the firm back into the McGill feud; and it was starting to become too much. The Mesa Verde debacle was also pretty bad for their brand. Howard was giving Chuck an “option”…and also venting, in his own way: he wanted Chuck to know that things had gone too far. Howard could not know just how much Chuck NEEDED to be able to practice law…essentially, the only thing that kept him functional (and was a tool for him to justify his superiority complex; but that’s another issue). Retirement was a suggestion on the table; but there were other options…though Chuck was ready to get into another legal tussle. Howard was getting exhausted just trying to keep up.
Howard tried to work out the best for everyone, and what Chuck did was treason of the highest order. You don't legally blackmail your partner who you've known for decades.
"...The first instinct you have is to sue me? To _sue_ the firm?"
And it also reveals that Chuck doesn’t respect Howard as a partner and probably never has.
Michael Mckean is just an excellent actor, I mean look at 3:32, he is saying " IM BETTER" but his facial expressions are the contrary, it's very difficult to acting something like physical pain like chuck was feeling.
I'M SMARTER I'M STRONGER I'M BETTER
@@juicetimer SLOWER WEAKER MIDDER
@@juicetimer”you’re not the real lawyers….I’m the real lawyer.”
@@gman987I am the lawyer and I can exploit whatever loophole I want
I love Mckean's one time portrayal of a psycho clown in Star Trek Voyager.
Howard is right that there is more to life then just being Lawyer if only Chuck could see that but no he cared to much about being great Lawyer then just enjoying life like everyone else does. Chuck was complete workaholic.
Tbf, being a lawyer is all that Chuck had LEFT. Late 50’s, divorced, no kids, hates his only family member left. Chuck had nothing to live for🔥🔥🔥💀💀
@@lukekiely2450 he was narrow minded. Sad.. sadd.......... SADDD
The thing is, there wasn't more to life than lawyering for Chuck. It was the only perspective he had left. That's why his forced retirement made him relapse again, especially after cutting ties with Jimmy with his famous "You never mattered all that much to me" line. He had NOTHING left to live for.
@@lukekiely2450he had Jimmy aside from his demeanor he's a really good brother and friend, Chuck's superiority destroy all he has left
@@lukekiely2450why did he divorced i wonder
3:57 This is the moment when Howard became Gus Fring.
"You can never trust a chicanery addict."
"Perhaps in the future he'll consider working for hi.....oh right."
Chuck McGill later sets up an old guy to blow up Howard, causing him to walk out of a room with half his face missing.
@@memestealer6348😂😂
Nah. Gus was being sinister. Howard was being caring.
Unfortunately being a lawyer is all that Chuck had to live for, he’s got no family nor friends
And I'll never understand why people in this position can't just find other things to do or enjoy: Jimmy decided to open his own Cinnabon Franchise (I know he was hiding: I am not talking about that.): Chuck could have just as easily just done something that was busy, fun and low pressure, like open an ice cream shop or something.
@@WasserkaktusHave you ever really been that passionate about something?
@@debrachambers1304Still he had options, he was a well respected attorney and Howard had a teaching position lined up for him for something he’s passionate about: the law. He would’ve had a vastly more active life and still had friends and colleagues rather than burning his bridges.
@@matthewriley7826because he was mentally Ill.
@@matthewriley7826Teaching is a FAR cry from doing. For Chuck, quitting being a lawyer would be like abandoning your own child.
This really was the moment I began to see Howard in a completely new light. Though not perfect, he was definitely the "good guy" all along. Howard is to Better Call Saul what Hank is to Breaking Bad. You see them in a certain light, but as the series progresses, you realize you were wrong in your original assessment. And like Hank, Howard's death was tragic.
wait.... people see hank as the good guy?
@@tommerker8063 he was
@@yourmum69_420 hank wasn't the good guy, definitely not the way Howard was. He disobeyed rules and was a tyrant in the way he did things, just for the right reasons. Howard played by the book, respectfully, and for the right reasons.
@@alyx1a IMO, Hank was a relatively good guy given his profession. When you're dealing with scumbags and criminals day in day out, you can't do your job very well if you're gonna be soft and played by the book. He could have allied with Walt and used his position and inside information to become one of the big Kingpins of NM, but he never did.
@@louieg7676 I agree with the first part of your message, he definitely is much closer to good than his colleagues in- and out-of-universe haha. And of course he could have also gone the hyper supervillain route as you say
"Chuck, there's more to life than this". But for Chuck, there wasn't. He had no hobbies, no friends, no family, nothing. There was no Chuck outside of his work.
Do you know what’s more bloodsucking than a lawyer? An insurance company for lawyers.
😂
You people are sent down here to defend me against these characters and the only one I've got on my side is the blood sucking lawyer! - John Hammond.
the real villain of the middle of this show is insurance companies
Same for Breaking Bad
Same for real life
They're real life villains.
Same for me
(In Jesse Pinkman’s voice) They can’t keep getting away with it!!!
Jimmy may have started it but Chuck just keeps making things worse for himself. He is just as dangerous as a chimp with a machine gun like he called Jimmy. Whatever damages Jimmy could cause, they could have been minimized or even prevented if Chuck showed the slightest ounce of tact and understanding towards anyone. But no, he just had to be the big man in everything no matter what.
*"YOU, AND YOUR PRIDE AND EGO! YOU JUST HAD TO BE THE MAN."*
@@drysoup3017 I've noticed there's a lot of similarities between chuck and walter, and I'm sure the writers knew this and is why jimmy was so bitter during the last few episodes, almost assaulting the man with cancer, possibly even fatally. To him the man with cancer represented walter, and in some ways walter represented chuck. Jimmy just couldn't NOT scam him.
@@20tetsuo77that’s probably why Saul sought out Walter. He probably unconsciously reminded him of Chuck.
chuck did everything to himself, especially by denying Jimmy purely because of his jealously and vindictive pettiness. He entrapped Jimmy and called himself moral and ethical, all the while saying he's doing it for Jimmy. He never wanted Jimmy to get beter. He wanted Jimmy to be a mail clerk failure, because that's how he saw him.
@@asdf0747 "and I was very proud!" he was proud that jimmy was "in his place" in the mailroom like a monkey in shackles (instead of with a machine gun). He didn't want him to grow, he wanted him on a leash because he didn't trust him to roam free without biting someone. But the leash is exactly what pushed him further on that path.
1:10 is when Howard realized that Chuck’s ego has become the problem.
Aye. Before that point, he was firmly on Howard's side, but Chuck was throwing haymakers at the wrong time, and destroyed any chance of negotiation or compromise. It was Chuck's Way or the Highway at that point, and that's not a good place for a lawyer to be.
i was looking for a comment on this expression howard had He looked baffled that Chuck took control and ended negotiation like it was only his decision to make
We all thought Howard would be a villain but he was the most pragmatic one of all main characters. Also a good leader taking care of the firm while having to put up much with Jimmy and Chuck. We may all root for Jimmy but in real life we would probably want Howard as our leader
I don't root for him. He was an immoral man who also liked to evoke feelings of sympathy, so he's nothing more than a man-child. Kim was even worse. I hate how many people treat Jesse and Jimmy like little children who were basically forced to act the way they did. I had a rough childhood too, yet I never took advantage of people and then also had the audacity to whine about how others made me do it. There's a million job options, neither Jesse nor Jimmy had to do the job they chose for themselves. Jesse could've busted his @ss and slowly get a foothold in the profession of his choosing, because he was smart, handsome and likeable, just like Jimmy. People say that Walt forced Jesse to cook with him, but Jesse could've turned himself in and that's it. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. And Jimmy didn't have to become a lawyer, he did that because he wanted Chuck's approval. If they were mature, both of them would've decided to live with the pain and make their peace with it, instead they acted like children who can't deal with the fact that life didn't turn out the way they thought it was gonna turn out.
Heck, Jesse could've just said: "Yeah man, whatever. Turn me in then, let's see how the cops and your family like the fact that you didn't tell the DEA that immediately but instead came to my house first, trying to blackmail me into cooking crystal with you".
@@devanov3103 whatever the reason for Jimmy to pursue the law was, he did his best to fit in. And got constantly rejected on the basis of his past not his current capabilities. The whole monologue to Kristy was exactly about that. When someone is treated unfairly it evokes sympathy. I don't think people approve Jimmy's reactions to all of it, but the whole situation is a reason for sympathy. Denying it on the basis of 'world sucks, deal with it' is really weird because in his on way he deals with it and you still disapprove.
Pragmatic... well yes, to protect his image and the firm. He wasn't upstanding or honest, he let Chuck manipulate him for years and hurt and mistreated Jimmy and Kim. He wasn't a bad guy, but he was slimey and also didn't shy away from some manipulation of his own... actually a very stereotypical lawyer.
everyone talks about Chicanery, but this scene to me encapsulates Chuck's character and demonstrates why McKean was the perfect choice for this role. Every line is delivered flawlessly, particularly "Meaning?" and "Howard, I'm fine!" hit with such impact that you'd think you were witnessing an actual argument between two people who've conducted business together for decades. I need to rewatch this show pronto
It is a crime that no one got an Emmy for BCS! Lalo, Gus, Nacho, Chuck, Jimmy nor Kim....a crime!!
Howard is just consistently such a good guy. One of the biggest victims in the entire Breaking Bad universe.
"This is not what fine looks like." Mental illness is scary. It can't be ignored, and actions must be taken sooner rather than later. Chuck didn't fully realize he needed help. His family and his friends didn't take action as they should have. Let these problems fester in one's mind for too long and it surely won't end well.
Nearby people will help if one lets them help... Jimmy was taking care of chuck day in day out... But chuck ego blocked Jimmy in letting Jimmy help chuck
Dude all his close confidants said to get help a long time ago. Chuck’s pride was keeping him sick, not anybody else.
Patrick Fabian's delivery of that line and the expression on his face is so damn good. You can tell that yes, while he wants Chuck out due to the stability and reputation of the firm being put more and more at risk the longer he stays on, he also legitimately wants to help Chuck. He's not just worried about the decision-making skills of his business partner, he's fearing for the health and sanity of his friend, probably more so than how Chuck's mental state is affecting the firm and it's clients.
@@lukeraymond6927Mike - “ *YOU* and your *pride* and your ego!”
Patrick Fabian's portrayal of Howard is incredible. Howard is always stuck in the middle, trying to please everyone while the world crumbles around him...All because of the reappearance of "Slippin' Jimmy"...
"I cant be partners with someone whose judgment i dont trust." is the "I do not work with junkies." in BCS.
Howard was the true victim of the show. He literally lost everything as a result of Saul, and Chuck's behavior. Crazy to think that Jimmy kept up the Saul charade after what happened to Howard, and was a willing participant in the events that unfolded.
Omg this is hysterical
Which makes the ending actually a redemption for Jimmy. Don't really know why some people hate it. Just because it's less cool? If Jimmy did continue his bargaining hustle at the end he'll just be miserable again after getting out of prison. The only way forward for him is to pay for his crimes.
he kept up the charade because it was a coping mechanism. Constantly berate himself with work to give him no down time to reflect about the past (he even falls asleep banging hookers). He surrounds himself with low lives as clients because they are the opposite in character as Howard so they remind him of Howard as little as possible
@@acidmana6141I didn’t hate the ending, I hated how it was forced or how he was caught in the first place. Sure Saul couldn’t keep his hands to himself and ego played a factor in his downfall, but how the hell did an elderly woman who barely could walk and doesn’t know a thing about computers, was able to uncover that he was Saul and moreover gain Superman sight to read the car number plate perfectly mind you? I told myself it was utter bullshit and that Vince was forced/bored of the series so he had to half ass the way that Saul gets caught. Because throughout the series we saw characters like Saul get outsmarted or outdone by formidable characters not some random very old woman.
Chuck's greatest sin, Pride. Jimmy's greatest sin, greed. Kim's greatest sin, wrath. Howard's greatest sin?....just trying to make everyone happy
Chuck also had envy
That'd make Howards sin Lust. Lust as a sin was defined as a extreme want for something in a social relationship that it consumed them. In this case, his lust to appease everyone
Howard had pride too when he treated Kim like crap in the beginning
@@pencil6965 I'm not saying Howard didn't have his faults and flaw's. But the way he tried to give Jimmy back his own place at HHM after he knows what Chuck put him through. Only to have Jimmy sabotage and destroy Howard, All because Jimmy couldn't "accept" his share of responsibility for his brother's brutal death. Jesse wasn't the rabid dog, Jimmy was...
agreed, howard at least showed clear effort that he was trying to be and do better, but kim and jimmy became worse@@BillyBones-ui9ck
Insurance did not cover Walt's treatment. Insurance raised Chuck's professional liability premiums. The true villains are not the Salamancas, Gus, Chuck or Walt, it's the damn insurance industry.
Fr
Howard is 100% right here; dude is like 'Bro all of we have had to do for you, and is not enough, you are simply no longer worth all the effort" and he gives him very dignified departure
Howard wound up being one of the show's most tragic heroes.
It’s ok chuck, lalo will avenge you
not funny :(
💀😂
@@durpanda123it’s halarious
Chuck: "Lalo? Sounds like a nobody."
@@durpanda123didn't laugh:(
Patrick Fabian did a great job making his voice slightly crack when he told Chuck he didn’t trust his judgment. Great subtle detail
To be honest, I feel like Howard *KNEW* this toxic back and forth between Chuck and Jimmy was going to bring down the firm.
Well, he knew letting Chuck practice again was a risk to the firm even at the Mesa Verde hearing after it fell apart, thanks to Jimmy, Howard watched Chuck have some sort of electricity reaction.
Howard picked the wrong time to suggest this to Chuck. He was clearly already defensive and upset about the meeting, trying to talk him into retiring as a lawyer seconds later is just the wrong move
When would've been the "right" time?
His hand was forced. Howard simply couldn't indulge Chuck's plan for swift and vengeful litigation against the insurance company. Since Chuck wanted to work on it right away, Howard drew the line and put his foot down.
@@Delta_Aves Its all part of theatrics for the show's sake, I am sure any normal person would've waited until Chuck was a little bit more calm.
Chuck was demanding the firm start senseless litigation with their insurance provider that very day. Howard was backed into the corner and had no other choice. If that letter had gone out it would have started a chain reaction that would have seriously damaged the firm. Not only would they have likely lost that case, they would have had issues getting other insurance to cover them because they launched frivolous litigation against their previous provider. Furthermore Howard knows that once Chuck starts down a road he never stops. Looking at his treatment of Jimmy shows that. He spent years trying to destroy his brothers legal career, and he would have spent years trying to get absolution for this perceived grievance with the insurance company.
Here’s the thing: Charles was wrong about “you’re hoping we’ll cut you an enormous check or find another carrier”. The insurance company offered a super reasonable compromise: the issue was chuck, so by simply assigning another partner to babysit him the insurance company would be satisfied and no costs would go up. It was 100 percent about chucks own pride and ego. If this was purely a shakedown they wouldn’t have offered it
You may be missing the perceived slight. If you're a practicing lawyer with several years of conquest in the colosseum, it's difficult to take regulatory actions lying down. I know it's ironic: I would call what they are doing inhuman considering we're talking about lawyers. At the off chance that Chuck is actually performing good and honest work, what he's going through on behalf of Jimmy is definitely chicanery. But I digress This is a structure that suggests that the house is them and you get to watch from the outside While I don't disagree that they are being generous, it's always the case with political structures that they need to control the narrative strictly and with strict upheaval. Asking a senior partner to sit in on cases is as good as hiring a replacement lawyer who doesn't have to do any of the work Apply this to any other career, not only does it water down your reputation, it's the same feel. Someone else gets to take their time instigating your life's work. It's like having a familiar spirit follow you around, reporting your habits. Again, the idea that as a free man, someone else, even if they are a part of your firm, gets an insider view on your process Oh and the point about billing. In this life, money is all about importance to the brand. Even the mice bear a cost to operations if they associate with your building. It's not just about fielding interests, it's also about time This is why corporate structure is so harsh on the bottom rung, everything that affects the bottom line is a cost that they will extract from somewhere. You'd think it would be new business or expressions of venture capitalism that make up the difference. Nope; daily expenditures are the roadmap toward future projections So imagine a private enterprise like a firm, which reinvents itself to be on the cutting edge of fiscal returns, is in bed with a regulatory body. The house always wins They are telling Chuck that having quirks to his character is a liability and don't have enough respect for him and his hallmarks to ease him into their proposition. Again, at cost to the firm Howard is in a tough position. Chuck is at risk of losing his life's work
@@ramblincapuchin9075 This is not a “quirk ” this is a borderline psychotic breakdown waiting to happen (and it did). The insurance company no longer wanted to raise the prices after Chuck left. I think this had nothing to do with money and everything to do with liability. Yes Chuck would feel humiliated I’m not denying that but I am saying when he says “we” he no longer represents the best interests of the firm
*So sad that Chuck was doing ok after retirement but it was after he said to Jimmy "I never loved you" that he totally broke, it was a lie, he loved his brother but he led anger to take over and in the end he found himself all alone and helpless, with no family and no career, that killed him.*
In the end, you're going to hurt everyone and it applies to both brothers
Chuck did care about Jimmy but saying he loved him isnt true. He was always envious of Jimmy throughout his life. Jimmy had a charisma and charm that Chuck wished he had too. He hated that Jimmy was his parents favorite eventhough he was the "ideal" son. And this is pretty much solidified with that scene in s2 i think where they have dinner with rebecca and jimmy ends up impressing her with his charm. And then later at night chuck tries to do the same but fails. Chuck always liked to feel a semse of control over jimmy and always wamted him to be his subordinate. So when he does find out that Jimmy passed the bar, there was nothing left for chuck to be good at, jimmy too was now a lawyer. Instead of being proud of his brother's hardwork he brings him down, instead of being happy for him he denies him a job at HHM. And i dont think amy loving brother would do shit like this. Sure he cared abt jimmy and his future and he did want him to get his life straight but not out of love
It shows a lot about the character of Howard when he turns off the lights after the guests leave, to make it more easy for Chuck, his condition being imaginary or not.
Over the years Michael McKean was always there, but I never "saw" him. I watched him play Lenny on Laverne & Shirley in the 70's, the lead singer in This Is Spinal Tap, and a hundred other small roles in film and TV (Star Trek, Murphy Brown, Smallville, Saturday Night Live). He disappears into roles so well. Finally with this role I connected all the dots and realized who he is! Where are all his Emmys?!?!
Life of a character actor. They don't always get the accolades. Heck sometimes people don't even know their names. Their "awards" usually amount to being always employed, always in a role doing something.
Also known as the Margo Martindale effect
I think it’s crazy that Chuck requests special accommodations for wherever he visits given his “condition”… Courts need to turn off their lights, hospitals need to minimize electric use, he gets a tailored foil-suit However…when he gets told he just has to get *SOME* degree of oversight…he gets insulted and doesn’t want to make those accommodations.
Because he's happy making others compromise to accommodate him, but he won't compromise himself.
He didnt take the words in the spirit in which they were intended
Wild how Howard is to Chuck how Saul is to Walt. This is their version of the “it’s over” scene.
Patrick Fabian did such great work on this show. As did everybody.
Absolutely breathtaking acting from both actors throughout the entire series. Incredible.
What a heartbreaking scene. That conference table looks amazing though
...maybe, but it wasn't a cocobolo..
@@ralphlozano9177 Cocobolo isn't really that fitting imo, way too wild and the colors are too intense. Zebrano as well. If you want class and a non-distracting look, I suggest european oak or european maple. A combination of oak and maple looks very nice too, a big board of oak with maple inlays.
Howard is so awesome.
I like to listen to this video with my headphones pretending that I’m part of the HHM team
I've been waiting for this scene to come to KZhead for such a long time
This was something that was bound to happen but probably because they hid Chucks illness for years the results were extensive to raise everyone’s premium. But they were also heavily implying if chuck was willing to have someone monitor him only his would be raised. Chuck in the end made it far worse for everyone especially himself.
Ya this is something Kim chews out Howard for in their argument at the restaurant. Howard knew she was right letting Chuck practice again puts a risk to the firm
@@DaScorpionSting his blind loyalty to Chuck was his undoing in the end. It all could have been prevented if Chuck was institutionalized.
Been looking for this full scene. Thanks!
It's interesting to see how chuck really doesn't feel anything when touching the lamp, turning the lights and all, he really didn't feel anything. Then, as he was not getting the response he wanted, the pain came back.
Rewatching the series rrally makes me admire and love howards character, and his ending makes it even more of an entertaining story.
I actually felt bad for Howard Dude was just trying to be a normal lawyer, but had both McGill brothers making his life hell
You have to feel sorry for Howard. He has to put up with not one, but two McGills. And, ultimately, it is the death of him. I love both these actors. Great voices.
I wonder what would have happened if Howards was just bit less tactfull and brought up Chucks compulsary need to put Jimmy down as an example of why he can't trust his judgement. We never had someone besides Jimmy call Chuck out for that nonesense and we all know that every word Jimmy says that was even slightly critical of Chucks behavior went in, in one ear and out the other. But getting called out by a seperate party would have forced Chuck to explain himself and to them and to himself. We all know a big part of the reason Chuck imploded and destroyed himself and his relationships with everyone is because he refuses to admit to be the party in the wrong and due to his status as a legendary lawyer and mentally distrubed, no one besides Jimmy ever has the gall to call him out on his bullshit. Then again as interesting as it would be to see Chuck reconsider his lifelong actions, it would be even more likely that once he hears something like this ouf of Howards mouth that he would turn around and sue HMM for unfair hiring practices due to his disability. Now that I imagine that it feels kinda like a waste of a character that we never got to see more of Chuck as a lawyer and his incredibly litigus nature. Trying to use the law as a stick to punish everyone that stands against him.
Howard is my favourite character. Especially when he is peak of the mountain in the snow.
he acts surprised but Chuck knew what was coming through this entire conversation. He didnt remark at the lights, or a drink being poured
I don’t even understand lawyers But I love better call Saul
Essentially these firms have huge insurance for malpractice and in case one of their own is injured or can’t do the job. However what happens when a big company like HHM screws the amount that they have to pay for the insurance is astronomical. It not only would affect their practice but their employees too. Chuck trying to sue their insurance company is hands down the dumbest thing he can do and would destroy their company and they would still have to pay them.
This is the moment when the greatest legal mind I ever knew became unpredictable
god this show is so good. This and braking bad were so well made
It’s hard for me to pick which one I like the mostn
@@derek_3054why choose ?
It's amazing how every second of this show is so expertly written, acted, and shot.
The acting in this scene is top notch.
Slipping Jimmy put this in motion
True, though it was inevitably going to happen eventually. Chuck had a very public breakdown and it’s in the transcripts that he’s mentally ill and making mistakes. Howard was doing damage control with all of the clients because he knew they could easily find out, Jimmy just hit the gas pedal on it.
And Chuck keeps escalating it. He keeps making small problems even worse by trying to control everything. He would not have lost Mesa Verde as a client if he just let Howard do the talking. Likewise, Jimmy would have lost his case against the bar if only Howard and the detective testified on the break-in. And then again when The insurance company found out about Chuck’s mental problems which they are legally supposed to be know about. All they asked was for Chuck’s premiums to be raised and have an assistant on cases. But of course, Chuck blows it all over again by lashing out. Dude has got the charisma of a snapping turtle.
So did Chuck on not seeking proper help
he orchestrated it.
chuck really needed help. he was crazy and everyone just downplayed his condition.
Well, Chuck's ego also kept him from getting proper help
@@DaScorpionStingarrogance not ego
Howard: "If enough people think you are drunk, then maybe it's time to sit down" Boy did those words come back and bite Howard in the @$$
For someone as brilliant as Chuck, he seems oblivious to the consequences of his actions. HHM has already taken a huge hit to their reputation because of the Mesa Verde scandal. If people found out that HHM was willing to litigate its own insurance provider, no one would ever hire HHM for a case ever again. Howard was right to let go of his partner who is acting like a big baby lashing out at everyone.
Ya like he believes in the law, but when the law catches up to him, well, look how he responds
Howard knew the truth. That the he couldn’t find the one piece with Chuck
But to betray the one who told him the secret of the D's name?
Here, Chuck was speaking with Howard but he was seeing Jimmy in front of him trying to kick him out of law.
Howard was supposed to be an antagonist, but he was hard working and cared about his firm and the law. I found it hard to dislike him.
What do you mean by “Compel” ? You know exactly what I mean One of my favorite Chuck quotes. I Love the actor who plays Chuck. He’s so good
In the end Howard was made to look just as crazy as chuck, that was how Howard new what Jimmy did to chuck.
He didn't know that it was Jimmy who got the insurance to go after Chuck. Neither did Kim until he confessed at the end. Cheryl will make sure some of Howard's reputation is restore with her lawsuit against Kim.
@@DaScorpionSting very true I guess that's why the confession was so important
Great acting but it's hard to believe an insurance company would levy double premiums for the entire firm.
“You will do right by us or we will compel you to do so.” Damn that’s smooth.
Really goes to show just how screwed up these businesses are, you made one mistake and it’ll not only ruin your life, but cost your firm millions of dollars.
people can be so greedy
Chuck is the perfect embodiment of what Toxic Narcissism is about. He was perfectly fine when everyone else bent over backwards to accommodate him and his needs, but the minute, the second he is asked to make even the slightest of compromises, he explodes and doesn't hesitate to go for the nuclear option and burn every bridge along the way to get what he wants. That's why I felt zero sympathy for him when he died, he pretty much ruined Jimmy's life, and prevented any chances of him making an honest living, all because his ego couldn't look past someone he deemed inferior suddenly being his peer. The entire BB/BCS setting has a lot of loathsome, despicable, and abhorrent people in it (Hector, Eladio, Bogdan, Ted, Ken, Jack, Todd, Lydia, eventually Walt himself), but out of the entire bunch, none, and I mean NONE of them managed to quite get me to hate them like Chuck did (Ted came the closest).
This series became one of the best in history
Howard is actually a wonderful, subtly portrayed and tragic character. Like Hank, his true depth and tragic end was slowly revealed over the course of the show. Still, he was just a piece of a great show, All the major cast (and I struggle to think of any bad minor cast member) gave career capping performances.
dude I LOVE Howard. if you havent already, rewatch both bcs and breaking bad. there are a bunch of characters including hamlin you appreciate so much more when you do.
I imagine some significant part of this, to Howard, is being caught up in the feud between Jimmy and Chuck. Chuck made him take the fall and deny hiring to Jimmy, when Howard was more than willing and trusted it - and Howard suffered for it. Now he has to testify at the bar, caught between Chuck making Jimmy admit to falsifying documents, of which Howard is not dumb enough to realize that he is indirectly responsible for - the reason Jimmy did it was because Jimmy got screwed over on Sandia, and he didn't want the same to happen to Kim with Mesa Verde. Maybe if he had been hired he could've worked with Kim on Sandia and it all could've been avoided. The path that rifted Chuck and Jimmy would not have been traveled down, if Howard hadn't laid his back to be a bridge to it.
It went from Jimmy being rejected by HHM to Chuck being forced to retire from HHM
And then Howard got taken out of HHM
@@DaScorpionSting And hhm becomes a fraction of its former self. They didn't even keep the name
Howard was a great character
Insurance broker here. You’d have your broker present at that meeting ready to market their malpractice insurance to every insurance company under the sun. They’d find some carrier more than happy to write that policy.
Except Chuck's threatening litigation to this one carrier would likely poison the well and make them have a difficult time finding a new carrier in a city as small as Albuquerque.
@@TheLewistownTrainspotter8102 Nah, that is going to reflect badly on HHM more than the insurance broker. Especially when HHM is suing them just because one of its co-partners detests having an assistant when it has been proven he is mentally ill. That is a huge violation of their contract on HHM's part.
There’s not a single scene in the whole series that isn’t an absolute masterpiece of acting and directing.
How hard would be to get a junior lawyer to blindly sign everything chuck did probably look good on their resume
I feel bad for Howard he started off rough but in the end it broke my heart the way he went his evolution was amazing.
underrated scene
One of the things I love is that we get to see Howard in these kind, caring moments, but Jimmy and Kim largely don’t. So - to us, Kim taking down Howard is monstrous, but from her perspective, he’s exactly the kind of jerk they would scam at the bar.
3:38 This is not what 'fine' looks like. You're mentally ill. You've... you've holed up in a house with no electricity. You're working by the light of gas lanterns. You're making mistakes with your clients, you're mixing up numbers on important documents, you... you... you had a complete mental breakdown at the bar hearing. It's in the transcripts... I... I'm really worried. I just... If you screw up with one more big client, I... It's just gonna destroy you.
This is the moment where Chuck McGill became Hector Salamanca. ITS PERSONAL. *Falling Over*
powerful stuff
chuck sitting their confidently describing how to sue their insurers in the dark because he can't have lights on lol
"Oh, you can't do this to me... I started this company. YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I SACRIFICED!?"
I am a proud Howard apologist, you deserved better king
Poor Howard. Dude was the most stand up guy ever.
Funny thing is I feel like Howard's kindness/deference/giving Chuck the benefit of the doubt led to Howard's downfall. Howard should have given the middle finger to Chuck and cut ties with him after Chuck wouldn't do right by Jimmy in landing the Sandpiper cove class action suit. That was going to be a $50,000,000 plus payday, Jimmy should have been made a minor partner. If Howard had been a cold hearted bastard, listened to the jingle of the cash register he would have pushed Chuck out, put Jimmy in. I'd like to think things would have eventually worked out.
You can see the pain in Howard's eyes when he tells Chuck "this is not what fine looks like"
“I can’t be partners with someone whose judgment I don’t trust.” Almost exactly what Gus said to Walt on their first meeting.
i would just like to say, those table lamps look cool.
3:59 Howard almost became Gus with that quote for a few seconds
Right decision, wrong presentation. Telling him that he should secure his legacy now and that he could “truly inspire the next generation” would have been a better way to go.
You saw Chuck, he was adamant about not leaving, he even sued his own firm.
@@matthewriley7826Yeah, no. The thing with narcissists is that you can only make them do something if you sell it to them as a way of looking good. It also has to sound like you admire them and see it as the natural thing to try to help them become even more "awesome". Narcissists are easily manipulated if you know which buttons to push, so I agree with Aaron. Howard should've brought up the fact that he knows Chuck for the genius that he is and that he fears that the other people involved won't care about that. That they're trying to take it away from him, first and foremost Jimmy. And that Chuck should make sure his perfect public image doesn't get stained. That there are solutions where he would still be a big influence on the firm without actually practicing law. And that instead of allowing these jealous, non-understanding people to tear him down he should kill that conspiracy in it's crib by quitting practicing and instead tutoring younger lawyers in a private school of sorts. The "Charles McGill Acadamy" or some bs like that. Charles McGill, the untouchable, perfect lawyer, who is also so selfless and loves the law so much that he wants to teach his genius ways to the next generation, because "the law is my legacy". Oh boy, he would've gotten so much attention and praise and everyday at school he would be the smartest person in every room. He could also make snide remarks about Jimmy during class, using him as a bad example and maybe score favors with the ladies in his class (for example them flirting with him to get on his good side), so he could more easily deny the fact that he's hurt by Rebecca's not enjoying his jokes.
Howard was a bit cruel to Chuck knowing how fragile his psyche is.