Better Call Saul

[Iron Mego]

Nevermind.

[4NDR01D]

I think there's been more like 5 episodes actually.

There's really no reason to compare it to BB, it's a completely different show, with a different feel. I think they're playing with subtlety a lot more here, which I'm cool with. I think the anticipation, knowing what and whom he's going to eventually become involved with makes it really intriguing to me.

I was stating that comment was made after two episodes, which to me, is crazy (and there's been 7 including the pilot). And to suggest there's no reason to compare it to BB is just silly, It's a friggin' spin-off, of course people are going to compare them.

[Hector]

Better Call Saul, Gotham, Walking Dead, Big Bang Theory, and the Flash...must see shows for me.

[drquest]

I feel it just keeps getting better! I enjoy the little things the writers do, and the extra time they are taking to tell the story.

So the Mike backstory episode was very well done.

[Iron Mego]

I think there's been more like 5 episodes actually.

There's really no reason to compare it to BB, it's a completely different show, with a different feel. I think they're playing with subtlety a lot more here, which I'm cool with. I think the anticipation, knowing what and whom he's going to eventually become involved with makes it really intriguing to me.

[4NDR01D]

I'll admit I've found this show to be a very slow burn so far, the last two episodes have really started to kick it into gear but, "this show is every bit as good as "Breaking Bad" ever was" hyperbole is just silly (especially after, what, two episodes?). I completely trust the writers, director etc, but Breaking Bad was one of those shows that was instantly addictive whereas this show I've been DVR'ing and just watching through the week when I've had time.

[Brazoo]

OK man, I get what you mean now. I haven't been listening to that podcast, but I think I'm going to start doing so!

Oh, and Odenkirk has been amazing in this show! And I've noticed some of the movie references too!

They did a podcast like this for Breaking Bad too. I think it's great, because normally you hear interviews from actors, and sometimes directors, but this podcast involves writers and editors too - so you get to hear a lot of the thinking that goes through the entire process. It's especially interesting when you get to hear pre-production and post-production people together surprising each other with insights about what they do to achieve the overall vision.

--

My friend noticed one other reference last week. At one point Jimmy greats Mike saying: "The man in the booth, John Wilkes Booth, Booth Tarkington!", which I heard, but didn't think about much because it's just another "booth" name, until my friend pointed out that Booth Tarkington is the author of "The Magnificent Ambersons". Clearly, Jimmy is a HUGE movie nut.

[cjefferys]

The Charles Crumb influence was something Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould discussed on the "Better Call Saul Insider Podcast". They said Chuck wasn't directly based on Charles Crumb, but - from what I understood - when they were creating Chuck they already knew he was going to be a recluse, and watching the documentary "Crumb" helped them shape the character in terms of emotional tone. It's also why the named him Charles AKA Chuck.

OK man, I get what you mean now. I haven't been listening to that podcast, but I think I'm going to start doing so!

Oh, and Odenkirk has been amazing in this show! And I've noticed some of the movie references too!

[Brazoo]

One of my favorite things I've ever seen is the expression on Odenkirk's face when the rancher dude said he was going to put him on retainer for a million bucks.

Jimmy hasn't been quoting movies in the last two episodes, but did anyone notice any movie references? I caught references to "The Sting" in the last one. And then of course Jimmy says he wants his hair to look like Tony Curtis' in Spartacus. Oh, and Kim said she wanted to see "The Thing".

In the last episode the only one I noticed was a version of the theme from "The Third Man".

[Brazoo]

The Charles Crumb influence was something Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould discussed on the "Better Call Saul Insider Podcast". They said Chuck wasn't directly based on Charles Crumb, but - from what I understood - when they were creating Chuck they already knew he was going to be a recluse, and watching the documentary "Crumb" helped them shape the character in terms of emotional tone. It's also why the named him Charles AKA Chuck.

[cjefferys]

Yeah, I love the Crumb film, I've probably seen it a half dozen times (as I hug my Criterion Blu-ray of the film), utterly captivated by Charles Crumb, but I didn't make any connection between him and Chuck (sorry Aaron!). But I adore this show, sad to see that the first season is already half way over.

[Iron Mego]

I don't get the Charles Crumb reference, other than them both being shut ins.

[samurainoir]

Brazoo pointed out to me that Chuck is loosely based on Charles Crumb, the older brother of cartoonist Robert Crumb (and one of the subjects to the documentary Crumb). Fascinating stuff.

Michael McKean is amazing.

[SeattleEd]

For those not aware, this show is available on Netflix in Europe. New Episodes every Tuesday night.
We don't have cable so we watch it that way. We use our huge iMac as our main television so we watch online content only.

Great show and loving it more and more. Bob Odenkirk is great actor and loved him in Fargo.

Also got a kick on the slang etymology of his name and how he got it. Saul Goodman. "S'all good, man!" Never occurred to me while watching Breaking Bad.

[Brazoo]

I loved it too. To me each episode gets better and better.