Why Better Call Saul Is A MASTERPIECE | Series Analysis
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- čas přidán 4. 06. 2024
- In this video, I'll be analyzing how Better Call Saul did prequels right!
Be sure to leave any opinions in the comments section below, and possibly a like if you've enjoyed the video :)
I'll see you next time with more Better Call Saul!
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0:00 - Spin-Off Stigma
2:39 - The Creation of Better Call Saul
5:26 - Respecting Breaking Bad
8:18 - Successful Characters
12:21 - Plot Armor Done Right
16:15 - Standing On Its Own Two Feet
18:31 - Being A Prequel and A Sequel
21:39 - Final Thoughts - Zábava
A lot of people didn't like the ending, but it was perfect and really solidified the series for me. I thought it would end as nothing more than the origin story of a crooked lawyer, but ended as the story of a broken, corrupt liar being truly honest for the first time.
The people who didn’t like the ending had room temp iq and wonder why the protagonist is a bad person
@@zachwinters5387 room temp iq 💀
Wait, who didn't like the ending? This is news to me that the answer is "a lot of people."
@@BoojieD me
I loved it myself. It was important to give Saul a different ending than Walt or Jesse. It was very poetic and appropriate to see him finally take responsibility for his actions. His bittersweet redemption was a perfect ending in my book. The writers seem to have a tendency to give the main characters (Walt, Jesse, Saul, Kim) the endings they deserve based upon how much conscience they show for their actions.
Lalo wasn’t just gangster, he was smart. what a great antagonist to Gus
i love how the two shows don’t just have one set bad guy… the bad guy has his own villains… just makes the world feel so much more open
@@mr.dr.prof.patrick7284 everybody is the bad guy. There is know good guy think about it……….. except Lyle
Howard and Lalo buried right beneath the lab was such a truly brilliant and classy twist. All of season 4 as well, with Werner, along with the graves, show how that lab was built on blood and Mike lost pieces of his soul in the process. This adds to hot hatred of Walt blowing it up. BCS is so amazing because it actually surpasses BrBa in many ways. People who didn't like the black and white clearly are not hardcore cinema fans because it was perfect. The series finale of BCS was flawlessly executed and found a way to give one last curtain call to Mike, Walt, and Chuck. It was so perfect. It truly does change the way we see BrBa but only for the better.
Lalo pushed Gus into the most paranoid and worst state of his life. bravo vince
Yeah it’s a shame he was taken out in a really cheesy way. That’s just me tho
I consider Better Call Saul as the biggest and best spinoff ever made, such an amazing TV series. I wish I could see it for the first time all over again.
I've long said that I wish I could erase the part of my brain that stores all my Breaking Bad memories so I could experience it all over again for the first time. Instead I've seen the show like 7 times now and I can't think of any show honestly that I would even want to watch it that many times let alone enjoy it, but it's such a masterpiece honestly you get something new out of it each time and that's the hallmark of great art, really.
@@dddayesq5061yeah game of thrones ending was absolutely awful, i would never deny that. Still mad about the ending 🤦♂️but for me game of thrones peaked so high that even though the last season was bad it still doesn’t drop it to much in my all time rankings. I’d still say game of thrones is better than every single show that’s not named the WIRE. That’s how high game of thrones was in quality for me, and I’ve seen a lot of great shows. Nothing outside of the wire is truly better than game of thrones
@@voteZDLRthe sopranos mabye
that too.@@TheMarianadealmeida
I have missed watching this channel closely. What an experience it was not just to watch this show but to watch it with the intended anticipations of weekly releases accompanied by having the privilege of watching all the videos from channels like this one to speculate in the interim periods. Unless someone had massive amounts of discipline, living through this masterpiece and being part of the community will never be replicated again.
For sure. The BB universe and TWD are the 2 shows I wish I could watch for the first time again
The Better Call Saul community CZcams videos that came out during season 6's run will remain unmatched imo. Such quality content.
@Medium D Speaks absolutely true
It’s like you took the words out of my mouth!
I fully agree with all of this. There was nothing like it.
I loved it when at the end of the show, one of the characters went “you’re Better Call Saul” and then all the people around them started chanting “Better Call Saul!” Truly one of the endings of all time. 10/10, bravo Vince.
You sound fun
It's beautiful that this is what actually happens lol, because it sounds like a joke
@@PsionixYT i thought it was a morbius shit post again
@James Sweeny it's a very common meme nowadays online to make a joke about a movie or show with this exact format, e.g "My favorite part of morbius was when he said 'it's morbin time'" or "my favorite part of star wars was when they said 'I'm star wars' 10/10 one of the movies of all time"
So the joke here is that literally BCS ended in the way this joke is formatted. The characters literally did say the name of the show and chant it, so this meme is perfect here
cringe
It angers me that many BB fans have yet to watch BCS or didn’t give show a chance because to them “it’s boring” all because they didn’t think a show about a lawyer would be mostly about lawyers…
It _was_ kinda slow at first. But holy shit did it get good.
@@ShiggyMiyamo BCS is noir and is moving at a deliberate pace. Yes it's "slow" relative to certain other shows, but then Breaking Bad was "slow" relative to certain other shows, and so on. I don't use "slow" to describe BCS because it's easily interpreted as a negative by most people.
@@jmwild1 I really just meant the beginning was a slow burn, and then it caught fire.
@@ShiggyMiyamo so did breaking bad tbh lol
@@ShiggyMiyamo I agree
Better Call Saul is my all time fav show. They hit a home run with Breaking Bad, but I think the writers evolved and were able to make an even better show. Everything was top notch, from the writing, directing, cinematography, to the acting and character development. I just really appreciated how we didn’t just get a prequel, but a sequel as well so we get to experience how the story ends for Saul.
Yeah better call Saul is an absolute masterpiece without question. I think it’s a top ten show ever🤷♂️What’s your top ten tv shows mate? To me it’s
1. The wire (hands down the best show ever made)
2. Game of thrones
3. Mr robot
4. Dark
5. The boys
6. Breaking bad
7 succession
8. Stranger things
9. Sopranos
10. Mad men/ Better call Saul
When BCS was announced, I admit, I was hesitant as I thought it wouldn’t be as good as BB, with it being a prequel spinoff. I’m happy to say I was wrong.
@Jordan Wylde - I thought the same thing... Boy, were we wrong.... 😂😂🤣🤣
I also love how in brba when walt kidnapped saul, he immediately screamed IT WAS IGNACIO and asked if they were hired by lalo, these little things just makes the brba verse feel more immersive
I think with the addition of the episode “breaking bad” and Saul gone, we realize that jimmy faced a bigger tragedy than Walt, Heisenberg may have been the catalyst but Saul was the fuel I mean “The fact is Walter white couldn’t have done it without me” - Saul Goodman
This show is defiantly a masterpiece from beginning to end. I love how it doesn’t really rely on Breaking Bad with its storytelling. They made Saul Goodman/Jimmy McGill one of the most sympathetic characters on TV when you don’t sympathize with him much on Breaking Bad. Truly amazing how they were able to make this show as great as it is. Fantastic video man, I hope you’re doing well. Take care!
When the show first came out I was positive that by the end of S1 Jimmy would of already changed his name. Like he had too right the show is literally called Better call Saul. Oh boy was I wrong and I'm so glad I was never expected this kind of a quality multi layered story! Amazing show 10/10!
I think they delayed him becoming Saul for too long. In BB, he gave the impression of having been Saul for many years.
@@greense65 Well it kinda fits since from when he meets Walt he has basically been Saul for around 2 years I think. (Start of S5)
@@BIGDZ8346 Yeah, but it just seems to short for me. Saul in BB gives the impression of being this sort of lawyer for a long time, sort of a fixture.
@@greense65 I mean, hasn't he been doing the same thing in bcs though? Didn't feel short at all imo
@@greense65he has been Saul for a very long time at that point. He just finally decided to start going to Saul
It’s kind of fascinating how everything you said about the Spin-Off Stigma was completely true about Slippin’ Jimmy.
I think the main reason is brought up in the video: by the time Better Call Saul really got rolling, the creative team had been creating in this universe for years and perfected what they were doing. And moreover, I do feel the creative time is far more focused on writing a great story over milking a franchise for money. And that pays off with a brilliant show.
Also, I loved the fact they very briefly touched on the life of Saul Goodman (after Kim left) and immediately finished the series with a long black & white movie about Gene Takovich. With Carol Burnett! Pretty much a perfect show for me.
I like the way everyone involved is so appreciative of everyone involved. They all knew the high level of commitment and talent everyone input.
These creators are above and beyond others. They should be the most sought after in the business. 🎉
Kim Wexler is one of my favorite female characters of all time. And her relationship with Jimmy is the most realistic couples relationship ever put to screen.
every episode in Better call Saul season 6 was amazing and I think it tops every season of breaking bad
Season 4 breaking bad is just different tho
brba s5 was on another level
The last and second last seasons of each show were just amazing
@@joaooooooooooo_ indeed, it was tied with S1 for the worst season
At first I was annoyed that they didn’t film a scene or phone call to explain how Gus got the underground lab finished before the events of Breaking Bad, I now respect the creators’ respect for me, the viewer, as far as saying, “hey, don’t worry about it-he found SOMEONE, okay?” Which, in retrospect, makes sense. My interpretation is that, after drinking the expensive French wine, Gus remembered the French engineer he turned down before and hired him to complete the work Werner Z couldn’t finish.
As much as I loved Mike and Gus, the real standouts of BCS are definitely Nacho, Chuck, Howard, Kim, and Lalo.
Agreed with everything you said in this video 🔥, I miss waiting for a bcs episode every Monday 😢
I imagine BB and especially BCS will be used for decades to come in film courses.
Another great video! Better Call Saul, the Star Wars prequel trilogy and the Akagi manga are three of my favourite works of art that are also prequels!
Then you should play Red Dead Redemption 2. It's my favorite videogame of all time and is also a prequel.
For me the only other spin-off that reaches similar heights albeit in a different genre is Frasier.
10000% agree!
I miss both shows so much, and I have missed your commentary on them Kiwi! From the sound of the BCS intro music, to the first sound of your voice....this video instantly soothed me to a happy place! Thank you, sincerely. Much love and appreciation for all that you do. Keep 'em coming, please!
More Saul content and it's a lengthy one! Thanks Kiwi!
Now, what I would really want them to do is a gta-like videogame sat in the BCS/BB universe with Lalo and/or Tuco as the playable characters, that would be just amazing!
It truly is. To me, BrBa and BCS are the same series. El Camino is an epilogue of sorts. It's best to watch them in order of release, too. Meaning if someone never seen it, watch BrBa first, then BCS and EC.
i think watching EC before BCS Season 6 Part 2 is a better choice, since the future scenes happen after that
I’m definitely going to have to rewatch the series soon
I rewatched both Breaking Bad & BCS, and believe it or not…both shows were even more enjoyable the second time! So many little details I forgot about came to light, and things just make more sense now.
mentioning people watching bcs without watching bb. my grandpa watched all of bcs without watching a single episode of bb for some reason. he loves it.
Loved the series, you ever wonder why bcs won so little emmys compared to bb didn't go all out.
I love your videos so much. you capture all of our thoughts about the show and communicate them in an interesting way. 💙
love the concept of 'plot armor'
Was just thinking about you and BAM! new content. In all seriousness, your Videos made my Better Call Saul experience that much more special.
This show is one for eternity.
Breaking Bad is still my favorite it always will be. BCS is my second favorite. Thanks to Tony Dalton BCS definitely needed the character of Lalo.
BCS is a master class in using minute detail to tell a complex story. Some of it's best parts are wrapped up in something that, in a lesser show, would just fall flat. Like, for instance, watching Mike painstakingly search for a tracker on his car at the auto shop.
Or an entire teaser of ants crawling all over an ice cream cone. Fearless.
Spent all summer in jail. FINALLY caught all the episodes this week. A+
👀
at least u got ur priorities in place now😭
You should have called Saul!
Man you sure do say Breaking Bad a lot
Edit: I counted
Total: 83 total
Spin-Off Stigma: 7
The Creation of Better Call Saul: 15
Respecting Breaking Bad: 15
Successful characters: 15
Plot Armor Done Right: 5
Standing on Its Own Two Feet: 21
Being a Prequel and a Sequel: 3
Final Thoughts: 1
I might have gotten some of those a bit wrong cause I'm tired but I did my best. Make a drinking game out of this and die of alcohol poisoning.
I'm certain it's because of this impactful series that we are going to get much better prequel series moving forward. Andor is already proof of this. I hear good things about the Yellowstone prequel as well.
18__ (I forget the exact date/name) is fantastic! Couldn't help but nearly binge the whole thing at once. Highly recommend 👌
The best part was following your channel. Great job sir!
I really like how no-one in both of the series are people you can root for, all characters did bad stuff at some point, some more than others, but you never know who you should root for
This was so well stated it should literally be a film doctorate thesis. Thank u!!!
5:51 actually, I found a plot hole (or break in immersion): Chuck mentions carol Burnett in a flashback and carol burnett plays Marion in season 6
Well that can be explained away by making that Carol Burnett somebody else
Well, Walt and Walt Jr watch Scarface on BB, and a lot of actors from it appear on BB, namely as is the case with Hector.
So needed!! So Grateful!!! Thanks 😊
0:28 unless that spinoff is slipin jimmy
Kiwi, you made this show even better.
You did a fantastic job.
I may be in the minority, but I think the series ended exactly as it should and in line with the characters and story. They didn't go for fan service or unbelievability.
I loved every second of BB. I loved every second of BCS. Those that refuse to watch BCS are just doing themselves a disservice.
I didn't like the ending initially but when I watched the final episode again it was perfect for me. Jimmy was where he was meant to be ie jail for the rest of his life meanwhile he had the option to serve 7years and then get out and still be the same. The ending was perfect and much respect for Jimmy
It made so much sense, because one of his redeeming features was his willingness to fall on his own sword.
I watched breaking bad again after BBC, and honestly while BB is more cult and offer a very intense story, BBC is way more subtle and rich imo. What a masterpiece !
Bravo Vince
+ Bravo Peter
After lalo I can see why gus didn't take Walt seriously lol
Hi Kiwi. I miss you all and especially the show. TV viewing is very ho hum these days. Bored so checking back here, first time since the show ended. Glad to find some content here!
Never thought oh no this won't be so good. After BB I knew this team was too talented to fall short or get lazy / sloppy or sellout for another paycheck
Guessing you were comparing Vince + Peter's work to like a Star Wars or the superhero genre or something but that didn't cross my mind. To me this universe is way far and above standard 💰 blockbusters
BB + BCS gave us beautiful breathtaking art
Vince + Peter + the entire team are genuine artists committed to storytelling with compelling visual clues, points of view + a gripping narrative of characters too irresistible to deny
It's great because it's so satisfying
The show was so well written that I often forgot that I was watching a prequel. Think BCS is a better show than BB.
Love all the Breaking Bad universe it's one of my favorites. And BCS was amazing and it compliments the main show BB so wonderfully.
Awesome show
Thanks!
Not gonna watch this yet but thanks for reminding me I had a few episodes left. I’ll be back
The fact that it totally succeeded on its own despite being an offshoot or prequel makes it even more masterful than BB...because it had to be.
Love this analysis
Wish I got a notification tho
Now a couple seasons of The Chicken Man would be great.
can only wonder what would happen is Lalo got to meet Walter
I just finished the 4th season and it's so good. Can't wait for the ending.
what did you think?
@@TheeKoifish I'm on the final season. Lalo is the man, I obviously know Gus and Mike win somehow, but I'm excited to see what happens to Kim and Nacho.
@@fatsilentbob at least you don't have to wait to watch the whole season. That was the worst
It’s been a minute!
Broooo when is s6 tierlist coming?
A lot of good prequels have came out lately and oddly video game time ins are among them with edgerunners and Arcane being quiet well received.
Red Dead 2 as well
My god this show, chef kiss
It's impressive how two shows that are considered some of the best shows of all time happen to be both breaking bad shows, bravo Vince
Yeah it’s legendary to have in my opinion two top ten shows ever made. Both are absolute masterpieces
Very nice analysis you said very interesting stuff and I second it!
But there are two things in your videos which I find annoying (maybe it is just me, but I like to tell you that you know, do with it how you like). Firstly, you removed all breathing space in your speaking it seems. It is one stream without a pause. I think it helps as a viewer to process the things you said. It made me breathless. Please, consider not to remove all pauses. It helps the understanding very much.
Secondly, this never ending BCS theme music loop is very, very nerve-racking. The last 10 minutes were really painful for me. I would prefer to have no background music, but if you want to go with something like it, please consider a music which has no structure or at least a longer theme which does not repeat so fast.
That are my 2cents, nevertheless keep up the good work!
not really relevant as an immersion he but at 7:05 where mike is with the 2 other hitmen, we can see the at&t logo partially covered. the problem is, that logo was not used until 2005. This scene was in Season 1, which takes place in 2002.
Idk I think the shift from it being a comedy based to a drama based show was the best move they made when creating this masterpiece
Great video!
I generally agree with your thesis, but your statement near the end of the video that BCS can be appreciated by itself doesn't stand up with regard to the back half of the final season. I imagine that just knowing that after Kim left him, Jimmy/Saul teamed up with some kind of ... drug lord, maybe? ... named Walter White, it could theoretically make sense that when that went south Jimmy went into hiding under a new identity, but theoretically making sense really wouldn't be enough. Conversely, I would very much pity anyone getting into BB after having already watched BCS in its entirety: such a viewer would instantly recognize that The Dad from Malcolm in the Middle was the drug lord from Jimmy/Saul's future, but they'd have to sit through a season and a half of BCS tertiary and quaternary characters showing up before Jimmy/Saul and later Mike and Gus finally show up.
As an aside, is this video using the term "plot armour" correctly? I've mostly heard it used as a more formal synonym of "main character shields", like what all the major protagonists of Game of Thrones had between season 5 and season 7.
Anyway, sorry if that sounded a bit negative. I really enjoyed the video 😊
As an another aside, have you seen the film "Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me"? Similar "prequel, but also..." vibes. BCS really reminds me of it.
I like Better Call Saul more than Breaking Bad. Very well written with excellent dialogue, character development and the ending was solid.
There are no likeable characters in BB, BCS by contrast is full of them (except Charles). I enjoyed BCS much more and was shocked by how so many of my favs were killed off.
Charles is more "ironically" likeable, has a whole lotta subtle but still over the top humor. I love the man.
BCS and BB are one. They are perfect right to the last letter
I already miss watchikg this show.
Recommend people also check out Just An Observation channel - he's still doing BB/BCS content as well
I had not seen Breaking Bad prior to watching BCS. It was only in the last few episodes that I felt at a disadvantage, where some of the overt references and flash-forwards/backs to BB went a little over my head. But otherwise it was the single most riveting series I've watched for years.
BCS's characters were completely absorbing, nuanced and interesting. The story was detailed and compelling, and *never* relied on infuriatingly predictable outcomes like just about everything else the industry churns out. Apart from the oft-appearing symbolism reminding us that we are very much looking into America, I detected no political bias, no ideological gaslighting, no sermon. It was just a really, REALLY good story with incredibly well-written characters embodied by a ridiculously superb cast, and shot like a piece of art.
I didn't like the ending the first time, I thought the prison bus chant was cringe but that doesn't really matter too much, but after watching it a 2nd time I do think it was a good ending. First off, it highlighted that Saul is such a good lawyer he was literally able to talk himself down to just 7 months and in a prison of his choice with all the benefits and luxuries he wanted, but then he ended up listening to Kim and decided to do the right thing instead. It showed that he COULD have skated and basically gotten off with a slap on his wrist and he'd maybe even be practicing law again in less than a year with LEGENDARY criminal lawyer status now that he was able to do such a thing, but ultimately he chose the right and honorable thing for once. It also kind of completes the trinity of endings within the Breaking Bad universe. Walt died, Jesse escaped, Saul basically got a life sentence.
Thanks for all your content over the last few years. It helped me enjoy the show even more. Fantastic observations in this video. I always saw them as different but equal.
PS. Lalo was so dang scary, I was always worried for anyone he came in contact with. One of the best characters in the BB universe for sure.
and the fact that Bob Odenkirk had a heart attack and almost died on the set where Howard died...
I was equally satisfied with the end of this as I was with breaking bad. That's a credit to Vince Gilligan. He's amazing. These actors were amazing in these roles and I don't think they'll ever been known as anything but these roles now, despite how good the actors are and how hard they try. Just like "friends" and "lost" actors, for example. I just hope Vince, being clearly the amazing story writer he is, is able to do something equally or better than this, without giving in to expectations or pressure. Maybe try ghostwriting??? I can't wait to see what he does next, regardless. And no films please!!! He's clearly a gifted TV series writer. ( and no, el camino does not count, it was called a movie, but let's face it, It felt like an end of season episode length lol )
Take a drink every time he says "plot armor"
I like BCS more because as you said, the show is more relatable with the stakes not being as high and the characters' problems and anxieties being something you identify with more. Also, Jimmy is not nearly as evil as Walt, despite being a very flawed person he definitely isn't evil. His crimes and sins are also more relatable (I'm using this word way too much but idk how to describe it otherwise) and understandable, it's difficult to understand Walt's situation with having cancer and having to make money fast and leaving a legacy for yourself. With Jimmy, you could see yourself or someone you know acting this way if things led to that. He is neither a good guy but still not evil at heart despite sometimes doing evil things. Also for some reason, Breaking Bad was causing me too much anxiety around seasons 4 and 5, the constant pressure and fear of being killed or arrested fueled my anxiety. Also, I felt like it was a spectacle of people's lives being ruined one after the other and it was painful to watch. As someone afraid of my life being ruined suddenly this did not help my mental state. BCS didn't cause it to flare up nearly as bad (when maybe it should have more since the adversities the characters faced were things more likely to happen to me than things from bb) so it was more enjoyable to watch. Breaking Bad was revolutionary with its character's transformation and the protagonist turning into an antagonist but also having nobody to root for in a show is sort of bad. People like to have a good guy in the show, even those of us who like more ambitious cinema where the protagonist is not always the good guy who beats the bad guy we still like to identify with someone and to root for someone because it makes it more exciting. With BB's characters there really are no good people in the end, you can just argue the order from which they go from bad to worst and it affects the experience. I wouldn't say that BCS is a better show, I'dd just say that I personally liked it more, and which show you enjoy more will depend on what you like and your character.
BCS has a "the fly" type episode that is objectively awesome, need i say more?
I’ll always love and respect the creators and writers, the whole team. They’re masters at their craft, cares about our expectations and gave us an AMAZING prequel for the already LEGENDARY Breaking Bad, BUT the last season of BCS felt entirely WAY TOO RUSHED TO CONCLUDE EVERYONES STORIES TO MAKE SENSE FOR BB
I'm now watching Breaking Bad, after watching Better Call Saul. I figured it would make sense to watch the prequel first
I am interested to hear how this worked out for you?
@@funkaholic1972 loved bcs, couldn't get pass season 1 of bb yet
Drink every time you hear "plot armor."
Lalo was a great character, but he came in so late in the series, I ended up always wanting more of him.
The best prequel to the best series
Yes. Excellent Apple verses Excellent Orange.
Hopefully there will be prequel to BCS in the future.
Nah no need. Maybe another character in the universe but not Saul
Tier 6, kiwi. . .focus
My favorite prequels fr fr better caul saul, red dead redemption 2, and fate/zero 🙏
Best-written show ever, but the ending could've been played out better. His ending is fitting, but there were some things I wish they showed, like buying the white Caddy!
This is chicanery!!!
Kim Wexler is the best character of the entire Breaking Bad franchise
I'm late but I missed Kiwi...❤️
I honestly love bcs and I think I prefer it.