I think it's a testament to this shows brilliant writing where things like this can be interpreted many ways. A lot of people say that Jimmy "died" in the desert and Saul came out. But I kinda saw it the opposite way. He went into the desert as Saul, a greedy lawyer doing a shady errand for a client for a quick and easy payday, and left the desert as Jimmy, a tenacious man who would do anything, even drink his own urine, if it means he can see the one person he cares about again. Season 5 really took an unexpected turn. He kinda starts as "Saul-lite" and ends the season as "PTSD-Jimmy". The writers certainly have their work cut out for them for Season 6!
I don't want to jump the gun too hard, but it seems like Kim is going to be the catalyst for the emergence of Saul from Breaking Bad. Such a wild turn of events but I think it can work if they thread the needle correctly.
@@JbodMC Yeah they've done a great job keeping the tension of Kim's fate. At this point, I don't expect her to leave Jimmy, they're married and she's clearly willing to go further into morally shady things if the intentions are noble. However, almost anything else could happen to her in the next 13 episodes. When the writers team was writing the final 8 episodes for Breaking Bad, they said that Skyler's arc was the hardest for them to map out. I think they might have a similar problem with writing Kim next season.
@@chiefgarvey11 If Better Call Saul was its own entity, without the Gene scenes or the flash forward in season 4, It seems like all roads have been leading toward Kim playing a part in the strip mall. That being said, its a prequel and Saul's behavior in Breaking Bad on the surface doesn't seem like the type of person who still has his loyal partner alongside him. So I really don't know how things are going to shape up either, season 6 is going to be a really difficult season to tie everything together, there's a whole host of other plot elements that need to interweave in to Breaking Bad as well that are entirely separate from the Kim question so I don't envy the writers task. That being said, if everything fits together cohesively and the finale delivers a deserved satisfying conclusion in my opinion it will be the most impressive season of either show.
I think the space blanket also means something else. It exemplifies both Jimmy and Chuck's shared weakness. Saul is Jimmy's space blanket to avoid looking inward. He refuses to look inward. He deflects and has been avoiding his personal trauma these last 2 seasons just like Chuck used his psychosomatic illness. Him wearing the blanket as he walks into what could have been his death, the ultimate result of him denying his own pain, is him saying "come and get me, I'll deflect it like lightning off rubber, and if I can't then I'll die". He will not, or cannot, face these things and will retreat further and further into the safety zone for him that is Saul. It's his space blanket and him wearing it here is him accepting that whether he realised it or not. This is all rather off the cuff as it came to me while watching this. I hope it made some kind of sense. Anyway great video!
Excellent point! Chuck’s space blanket was very much a symbol of his own inability to face the stress/trauma in his life that triggered his illness. Saul is Jimmy’s “illness” so to speak, and he is just as much in denial about the stress/trauma in his own life that led to Saul. Very well spotted!
Jimmy & Chuck so much more the same they both used switched address' in their convenient lies/Chuck lying to Rebecca about why the power is out & Jimmy switching address' for Mesa Verde benefitting Kim
Jimmy died with his 1998 Suzuki esteem, it was an extension of his character. I think the best example was in the HHM carpark, just before he gave his "winner takes it all" speech to that girl, he tries to start the little old Suzuki, it won't turn over, the Suzuki breaks down and so does Jimmy. I think that the Suzuki is by far, the most important car-acter (excuse my pun), it isn't a fancy German Mercedes, but it "fits" Jimmy, just as how the cup fits its cupholder, you said that the car demands respect but does nothing to earn it, I think It did, this little yellow suzuki, in my opinion, is one of the most crucial details in the show, it's been there for Jimmy through it all, his fight with Kim? It was there. When he cried in the carpark? He was in the Suzuki. The shootout? The Suzuki wasn't just there for him, he was shielded from bullets with it, Jimmy died with his Suzuki, from then on, it was all Saul Of course as you said, it's not flipping a switch, but it's a massive turning point, Great video as always, I recently discovered your channel and I love it
This channel has really raised my awareness of this stuff. I rewatched "Something Unforgivable" earlier today and noticed when Kim and Jimmy were discussing Kim's idea to ruin Howard (and Jimmy being against it), the camera angle changed when they were finishing the discussion. Behind Jimmy, a blue light; behind Kim, a gold one.
It seems like each character (except for the twins) has a “pair” of contrasting faces that they choose to display, too. -Mike’s gruff, badass vs. Pop-pop -Kim’s pro bono/banking lawyer hotshot (which I think might be two different characters) vs. possibly malevolent prankster that we see pop up now and then -Lalo is super charming and tenacious vs. ruthless cartel guy (especially when he’s around Hector) -Nacho looking out for his dad vs. ruthless cartel guy (vs. baseball card thief lol) -Jimmy’s wish to live the “blue” lawyer life vs. Slippin’ Jimmy -Saul’s “Abogado” who no one would look twice at vs. “S’all GoodMan” who lights up Howard at the courthouse Even Howard - was the real Howard the guy who almost lost everything when Chuck died, or the guy who holds his chin up and struts confidently through the office/courthouse?
"Hiding is no longer sustainable." "Saul Goodman is not the guy for hiding anyway; he's the guy for drawing attention to himself." This has some really interesting implications for the cold open where he calls the vacuum cleaner salesman/disappearer, but decides at the last moment to deal with this situation himself.Saul is almost certainly going to draw attention to himself in the final season, after hiding for so long. Edit: Nope. I was totally wrong. Kinda disappointed about that, but it makes sense why he didn't.
Wait what? What were you wrong about? In rewatching better call Saul and just finished this episode. But in the final season, he goes back to his old ways and it gets him caught. No?
For any other show, some of your comments would be ridiculous over-analyzation ("the alternator broke") but BCS is the only one that I trust really putting so much meaning in it. It all makes perfect sense and you're amazing at communicating what things mean. Thanks for making it clear for less-attentive viewers like me, there is so much hidden stuff to discover in BCS, it's astonishing.
I'd like to add that you're the "#1" Better Call Saul reviewer in the world :). Stellar work on these! I have watched them repeatedly. I hope to see more from you when Season 6 is eventually released!
I feel like these breakdowns perfectly embody the quote from Bojack Horseman; "Isn't the point of art less what people put into it and more what people get out of it?"
I haven't even watched it yet and I already know you blew my mind. Edit: Seriously, is there any way we can support your work? This is the best analysis series on CZcams.
Fantastic breakdown as always! Absolutely love your stuff. I also want to note that one the cousins dropping the small stack of money is a clever little reference to the episode titled “One Minute” in Breaking Bad where the cousins attempt to kill Hank. When reloading, one of the cousins accidentally drops one of the bullets without noticing, which Hank manages to pick up and use to kill the him just before he is killed himself. This also perfectly ties in with your analysis, since that small mistake, or “glitch” was going to get them both killed in the end.
ive been looking for your channel for a few hours. i remember i watched your videos on s5 bcs and it compleatly changed how i watch all media. no one else does it like you do and ive been re watching bcs with my new gf and she loves these analysis too. you really deserve to be bigger. you do good stuff keep it upppppppp !!!
Welcome back. Great recap as per normal. One thing about the 'pee' is that i feel is not only is Saul/Jimmy drinking the pee, its also his own pee... Meaning that the criminal was always inside of him, his criminality was inevitable... As all tragedies are?
Great ideas. I feel like everytime I get a read on these characters they surprise me in the best ways. Every time I think Jimmy becomes Saul I end up seeing more Jimmy later. I'm not sure Jimmy ever leaves. I think we saw him in BB and maybe didn't know it.
I am so, so, so glad I found this CZcams channel. Damn, a guy that is solely dedicated to make videos about a show with such a good writing... Awesome, thanks mate
Wow... How is it possible that these basement breakdowns keep getting better?? I mean, every time you post a video I think "ok this is the best one, it can't get better than this." But yeah, I'm always wrong, and thank you so much for that! I already loved Better Call Saul before, but because of you I can say for sure it is the best show ever made ❤️!
All this talk of Jimmy dying in the desert doesn't track with the broken mess we see in episodes 9 and 10. It's like he starts the season as Saul and crescendos into full Saul in episodes 6 and 7. But 8 breaks him back down, highlighting the most important thing in his life; Kim. However, maybe we can see the piss drinking metaphor as Jimmy realizing that he can fully consume the "gold" in order to survive; something that might eventually become his coping tactic.
U’re sooo deep into this show unlike any other guy that talks about BCS, u’re the one that looks into the meaning of anything, not just rehearsing the key gist of the episode, like, subscribe) hope you will get to millions of subs, great job man)
I have watched all of these videos, and I was SO MAD AT MYSELF for not realizing the pee was gold! The symbolism!!! thank you for your amazing insides 😍
I am amazed how much I learn in 15 minutes with you! Thank you very much for this deep and rich analysis. You give us consciousness on how to "read" cinema (in my opinion this high quality show is at least as good as classical movies). Thanks again from France. 🙏
Well done sir. I usually find critics explaining symbolism in scenes as overly reaching and often times pretentious. But your connections are not only understandable but spot on as well. I’m going to watch all your videos about this show to get an in depth analysis of all the nuances I regularly miss along the way.
I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS! Because of your breakdowns I’ve watched the entire show season one to season 5 over again with new eyes! You catch things no one else does! You are very insightful! Thank you for what you do and, KEEP ‘EM COMING!!! :)
Dude! Incredible analogy! I’m so comforted that someone else sees BCS in a similar light as I do. BB was the same for me. I watched and rewatched every episode looking in depth at these things. I’ve been relentlessly ridiculed for it lol love your channel ! Keep up the good work 👏👍🏽👏👏👏👏👏👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽
BSC is a great series, from many perspectives. And you, John, you're a great analyst, great observer and listener. Great writer and presenter too!. Congrats to you and your team. I enjoy your Basement Breakdowns a lot, really. They complete my first (always good and thankful) impression of each episode, by pointing out interesting details (treasures) to enjoy again. Thank you and greetings from Buenos Aires, Argentina.
These BCS basement breakdowns are one of the few videos that automatically get the like before I even see it. I always know they’ll be good! Thanks John & the Ological team!
The way I saw it, he didn’t want to do it. But the “you’re nobody” comment from Lalo was some sort of trigger that made him want to do it. Perhaps it took him back to his days with Chuck and HHM when he wasn’t taken seriously. And that ties in with the constant repetition of “yo soy abogado” I feel had Lalo not made that comment, Jimmy would have walked away.
Masterful. Are all the clues, nuances, symbolisms why we love BCS so much; this show is not spoon fed to us, we have to earn it's enjoyment through study and making connections. These film makers learned from Kubrick I think.
Thanks for the outstanding analysis you are providing us! I also would add the dicotomy between 'Jimmy getting clean' and 'Saul getting dirty'. It starts when jimmy is having a shower after the meeting with Lalo and before convincing Kim of the honesty of its intents on picking up the money. On this setting, Jimmy is seen one last time cleaning his shoes on the desert and it turns on Saul when he gets dirty for the first time - when he gets the shirt spilled with blood. Since then, its a escalation of dirtyness through the desert anchored on dirty money. I would also highlight, the body language of Lalo. He is a side-sitter ( as Kim's ex-boss) when dealing with Jimmy as he is conffident he can extract what he wants from Jimmy expecting that he will easily deviate Jimmy to dirty paths without many effort required. On the other hand, he is clearly a front-sitter when talking with Kim, showing concentration and foccusing on how can he use this new pure element (Jimmy's weak point) to take advantage of and pursuit what he wants.
I think the space blanket could also represent Jimmy/Saul refusing to hide from and repress Chuck's death anymore. He embraces the space blanket and as a reward for this growth and change, he lives
I just binged all of these like 3 days ago, and saw you hadn't uploaded in 3 weeks, but I'm so addicted and just had to see this episode analysis. So I had this channel open on its own tab, and viola, Bagman is here.
Wow! What a clever, nuanced show; what a wonderfully intuitive breakdown you made. You captured such juicy tidbits that make us see the genius of Better Call Saul even more deeply. The blood on his shirt where his heart would have been, the "shot alternator" (NICE ONE!!), the dichotomy of the space blanket as camouflage vs beacon...genius. Thanks for your recap. I will be so sorry to see this show end.
I have noticed there are many scenes with puddles of water. Near Mike's parking booth, Nacho's house when his father came to visit, the scene in this episode when the twins were approaching the warehouse. There are many other examples. Could it be they are the opposite of the ongoing swimming pool references. I can't put my finger on it but it isn't something I've heard discussed. Opinions?
Amazing commentary. Looking forward for you to do this next season! Also, on the water thing, the shot where he uses water to shine his shoes plays very differently on rewatches when we know how the lack of water will lead him to even drink pee.
Thanks for the breakdown. I gotta rewatch it and respond to you in a sensible way because this was one of the most masterful episodes of film ever taped for television. Your take on things is worth the wait. Bravo 👏👏👏👏
These are so great! I definitely didn't make the connection between Jimmy rejecting the space blanket because it reminded him of Chuck, but it makes sense that even in the middle of nowhere, he still can't totally escape the influence of the other McGill brother.
I noticed in re-watching BCS from the beginning that Chuck often needed to put on the space blanket when he was around Jimmy. It was like a deflection of what Chuck (usually correctly) saw as Jimmy's unethical and dishonest behavior. I agree that when Jimmy put it on in the desert, it was intended to do the opposite--to draw attention to himself. Jimmy sort of exorcised the curse of the space blanket when he did that, leaving him free to be himself (colorful) without feeling Chuck's disapproval. The point is made more emphatically when he leaves the space blanket behind and it drifts away.
Longest 3 weeks of my life but worth the wait! Fun fact, I wasn’t pregnant when the last video was released, but I am now 😂 so that illustrates what a long three weeks it was for me. Anyway, I saw a video analysis on this episode by someone else (I can’t remember their account name right now sorry) who had some excellent points on Mike’s speech. I’ll come back and add the link when I’m done. He points out that part of the problem is that Jimmy doesn’t know why he’s out there. It can’t be for Kim because Kim expressly didn’t want him to go and has no interest in the money. It’s not even necessarily for himself because he hasn’t even shown much interest in the money - he was going to let the “ants” take it, he want Mike to carry it, he wanted to bury it. What is he really here for? A key point in Mike’s speech is when he says “I know why I’m here”. Not that he has a reason to get out of the desert, but that he knows WHY he is there to begin with. He knows who he is. It is after that moment Saul gets back up, straps those bags across his chest so nobody can take them from him, and does what Saul is good at. JMM, Just Make Money is definitely his motto now. He’s realised that’s the only reason he was there to begin with and he must fight for it if he’s going to survive. The link to the video for anyone interested is: czcams.com/video/CFmYiTYDa1o/video.html
Saul finally realised that hiding is not sustainable, so did Gene in the first episode. Can’t wait to see how he “fix it by my self” in the next season.
@@ologicalonline Dude whatever you choose to review next, I will be sure to watch it just for your analysis. Your insights really improve our enjoyment of the show.
Great analysis as usual, the only thing i really thought when i watched the episode that you didn't already said was that before bagman, Jimmy and Saul were battling for control of Jimmy as identities, and with the end distraction scene was the big climax of that battle, Jimmy was ready to die during that scene, which is why Saul kept saying this is stupid. In the end, it was saul vs. jimmy coming down to mike's marksmanship. If mike was successful, it would prove Saul was needed and make Jimmy the voice in the back of his head. If he died, so would Saul, thusly ending both of their existences, making him unable to hurt the people around him (As chuck brings up). Saul won in the end, and so he leaves the space blanket in the desert and begins his journey back, with Saul becoming the primary voice in and jimmy becoming the subconscious.
there is no definite end to jimmy or a start to saul. throughout the run of BCS and BB we see glimpses of both saul and jimmy surfacing up,like when saul asks jesse to go talk to brock when he leaves money for them. but yeah jimmy is increasingly embracing saul goodman cause that's what the show is about. as usual the best analysis of one of my favourite episode.
I suppose the Kim and Lalo exchange probably would have taken up too much time, but I'm surprised it didn't make it in to the video. Then again, there will be plenty of that come Bad Choice Road.
This episode feels a lot like Fly from Breaking Bad. Walter reflected on the guilt he had over Jane that holds him and Jesse together for the time being, just as Jimmy cares about Kim. But we all know Walt is bad for Jesse and Jimmy is bad for Kim.
I love this fucking channel!!! Also the "I have people waiting for me" line from Mike, he means that not only for his family but also for us ,the fanbase that was manifested during the Breaking Bad era ,ha!! These are "the people" ... He can't allow a time paradox!!!
Will there be breakdowns of "Bad Choice Road" and "Something Unforgiveable"? I'm really enjoying these breakdowns and would love to see you finish the 5th season. Thanks!
I think it's a testament to this shows brilliant writing where things like this can be interpreted many ways. A lot of people say that Jimmy "died" in the desert and Saul came out. But I kinda saw it the opposite way. He went into the desert as Saul, a greedy lawyer doing a shady errand for a client for a quick and easy payday, and left the desert as Jimmy, a tenacious man who would do anything, even drink his own urine, if it means he can see the one person he cares about again. Season 5 really took an unexpected turn. He kinda starts as "Saul-lite" and ends the season as "PTSD-Jimmy". The writers certainly have their work cut out for them for Season 6!
Wow, I love it. Thanks for sharing this reading!
I kinda see it the same way, well put!
I don't want to jump the gun too hard, but it seems like Kim is going to be the catalyst for the emergence of Saul from Breaking Bad. Such a wild turn of events but I think it can work if they thread the needle correctly.
@@JbodMC Yeah they've done a great job keeping the tension of Kim's fate. At this point, I don't expect her to leave Jimmy, they're married and she's clearly willing to go further into morally shady things if the intentions are noble. However, almost anything else could happen to her in the next 13 episodes. When the writers team was writing the final 8 episodes for Breaking Bad, they said that Skyler's arc was the hardest for them to map out. I think they might have a similar problem with writing Kim next season.
@@chiefgarvey11 If Better Call Saul was its own entity, without the Gene scenes or the flash forward in season 4, It seems like all roads have been leading toward Kim playing a part in the strip mall. That being said, its a prequel and Saul's behavior in Breaking Bad on the surface doesn't seem like the type of person who still has his loyal partner alongside him. So I really don't know how things are going to shape up either, season 6 is going to be a really difficult season to tie everything together, there's a whole host of other plot elements that need to interweave in to Breaking Bad as well that are entirely separate from the Kim question so I don't envy the writers task. That being said, if everything fits together cohesively and the finale delivers a deserved satisfying conclusion in my opinion it will be the most impressive season of either show.
I was worried these were done!!! These Analyses are the best you can find about BCS!
I agree. The best analysis for us rabid BCS fans. So many nuances I never noticed. Thanks again
I think the space blanket also means something else. It exemplifies both Jimmy and Chuck's shared weakness. Saul is Jimmy's space blanket to avoid looking inward. He refuses to look inward. He deflects and has been avoiding his personal trauma these last 2 seasons just like Chuck used his psychosomatic illness. Him wearing the blanket as he walks into what could have been his death, the ultimate result of him denying his own pain, is him saying "come and get me, I'll deflect it like lightning off rubber, and if I can't then I'll die". He will not, or cannot, face these things and will retreat further and further into the safety zone for him that is Saul. It's his space blanket and him wearing it here is him accepting that whether he realised it or not.
This is all rather off the cuff as it came to me while watching this. I hope it made some kind of sense. Anyway great video!
Excellent point! Chuck’s space blanket was very much a symbol of his own inability to face the stress/trauma in his life that triggered his illness. Saul is Jimmy’s “illness” so to speak, and he is just as much in denial about the stress/trauma in his own life that led to Saul. Very well spotted!
na
Jimmy & Chuck so much more the same they both used switched address' in their convenient lies/Chuck lying to Rebecca about why the power is out & Jimmy switching address' for Mesa Verde benefitting Kim
Jimmy died with his 1998 Suzuki esteem, it was an extension of his character.
I think the best example was in the HHM carpark, just before he gave his "winner takes it all" speech to that girl, he tries to start the little old Suzuki, it won't turn over, the Suzuki breaks down and so does Jimmy.
I think that the Suzuki is by far, the most important car-acter (excuse my pun), it isn't a fancy German Mercedes, but it "fits" Jimmy, just as how the cup fits its cupholder, you said that the car demands respect but does nothing to earn it, I think It did, this little yellow suzuki, in my opinion, is one of the most crucial details in the show,
it's been there for Jimmy through it all, his fight with Kim? It was there. When he cried in the carpark? He was in the Suzuki. The shootout? The Suzuki wasn't just there for him, he was shielded from bullets with it,
Jimmy died with his Suzuki, from then on, it was all Saul
Of course as you said, it's not flipping a switch, but it's a massive turning point,
Great video as always, I recently discovered your channel and I love it
Dude, how the hell did you make me tear up over a car ?
na
saul isnt a kar. he had money coulda get a better car..he could fix the car.
This is an excellent observation!
Inject that in-depth color conscious Better Call Saul analysis in my veins.
Rather inject it or drink it?
Yesss that's the stuff
This channel has really raised my awareness of this stuff. I rewatched "Something Unforgivable" earlier today and noticed when Kim and Jimmy were discussing Kim's idea to ruin Howard (and Jimmy being against it), the camera angle changed when they were finishing the discussion. Behind Jimmy, a blue light; behind Kim, a gold one.
It seems like each character (except for the twins) has a “pair” of contrasting faces that they choose to display, too.
-Mike’s gruff, badass vs. Pop-pop
-Kim’s pro bono/banking lawyer hotshot (which I think might be two different characters) vs. possibly malevolent prankster that we see pop up now and then
-Lalo is super charming and tenacious vs. ruthless cartel guy (especially when he’s around Hector)
-Nacho looking out for his dad vs. ruthless cartel guy (vs. baseball card thief lol)
-Jimmy’s wish to live the “blue” lawyer life vs. Slippin’ Jimmy
-Saul’s “Abogado” who no one would look twice at vs. “S’all GoodMan” who lights up Howard at the courthouse
Even Howard - was the real Howard the guy who almost lost everything when Chuck died, or the guy who holds his chin up and struts confidently through the office/courthouse?
👍👍
😎
And Gus!
"Hiding is no longer sustainable." "Saul Goodman is not the guy for hiding anyway; he's the guy for drawing attention to himself."
This has some really interesting implications for the cold open where he calls the vacuum cleaner salesman/disappearer, but decides at the last moment to deal with this situation himself.Saul is almost certainly going to draw attention to himself in the final season, after hiding for so long.
Edit: Nope. I was totally wrong. Kinda disappointed about that, but it makes sense why he didn't.
Wait what? What were you wrong about? In rewatching better call Saul and just finished this episode. But in the final season, he goes back to his old ways and it gets him caught. No?
When Mike pulled out the space blanket, I couldn't stop laughing. Just what Jimmy needed, a reminder of Chuck!
"They won't look at me twice." The second look at Jimmy/Saul is what got the merc driver killed.
For any other show, some of your comments would be ridiculous over-analyzation ("the alternator broke") but BCS is the only one that I trust really putting so much meaning in it. It all makes perfect sense and you're amazing at communicating what things mean. Thanks for making it clear for less-attentive viewers like me, there is so much hidden stuff to discover in BCS, it's astonishing.
I'd like to add that you're the "#1" Better Call Saul reviewer in the world :). Stellar work on these! I have watched them repeatedly. I hope to see more from you when Season 6 is eventually released!
I feel like these breakdowns perfectly embody the quote from Bojack Horseman; "Isn't the point of art less what people put into it and more what people get out of it?"
Another brilliant show snubbed at Emmy
Kaustav Goswami definetely
Welcome back!!! We missed ya
Missed you too! Thanks for watching!
I haven't even watched it yet and I already know you blew my mind.
Edit: Seriously, is there any way we can support your work? This is the best analysis series on CZcams.
I think that the space blanket actually has to do with Chuck, because Jimmy embraces himself as Chuck told him during Jimmy's last visit.
Fantastic breakdown as always! Absolutely love your stuff. I also want to note that one the cousins dropping the small stack of money is a clever little reference to the episode titled “One Minute” in Breaking Bad where the cousins attempt to kill Hank. When reloading, one of the cousins accidentally drops one of the bullets without noticing, which Hank manages to pick up and use to kill the him just before he is killed himself. This also perfectly ties in with your analysis, since that small mistake, or “glitch” was going to get them both killed in the end.
!! Amazing recall. Thank you for drawing that connection, it adds so much
You, re welcome! Happy to contribute!
ive been looking for your channel for a few hours. i remember i watched your videos on s5 bcs and it compleatly changed how i watch all media. no one else does it like you do and ive been re watching bcs with my new gf and she loves these analysis too. you really deserve to be bigger. you do good stuff keep it upppppppp !!!
Welcome back. Great recap as per normal.
One thing about the 'pee' is that i feel is not only is Saul/Jimmy drinking the pee, its also his own pee... Meaning that the criminal was always inside of him, his criminality was inevitable... As all tragedies are?
Great ideas. I feel like everytime I get a read on these characters they surprise me in the best ways. Every time I think Jimmy becomes Saul I end up seeing more Jimmy later. I'm not sure Jimmy ever leaves. I think we saw him in BB and maybe didn't know it.
The scenes where he told Jesse to be there for Andrea, where he got punched by Jesse and where he left Walt. That is Jimmy.
I am so, so, so glad I found this CZcams channel. Damn, a guy that is solely dedicated to make videos about a show with such a good writing... Awesome, thanks mate
These essays are always worth the wait. They’re as good, as profound, as a book.
Wow... How is it possible that these basement breakdowns keep getting better?? I mean, every time you post a video I think "ok this is the best one, it can't get better than this." But yeah, I'm always wrong, and thank you so much for that! I already loved Better Call Saul before, but because of you I can say for sure it is the best show ever made ❤️!
from s1ep2:
Jimmy: "Take off the space blanket, Chuck. I didn't do anything wrong."
Chuck: "It's not that; it's your cell phone."
All this talk of Jimmy dying in the desert doesn't track with the broken mess we see in episodes 9 and 10. It's like he starts the season as Saul and crescendos into full Saul in episodes 6 and 7. But 8 breaks him back down, highlighting the most important thing in his life; Kim.
However, maybe we can see the piss drinking metaphor as Jimmy realizing that he can fully consume the "gold" in order to survive; something that might eventually become his coping tactic.
This is absolutely my new favorite CZcams channel. Can’t wait for the last two episodes
U’re sooo deep into this show unlike any other guy that talks about BCS, u’re the one that looks into the meaning of anything, not just rehearsing the key gist of the episode, like, subscribe) hope you will get to millions of subs, great job man)
I have watched all of these videos, and I was SO MAD AT MYSELF for not realizing the pee was gold! The symbolism!!! thank you for your amazing insides 😍
I am amazed how much I learn in 15 minutes with you! Thank you very much for this deep and rich analysis. You give us consciousness on how to "read" cinema (in my opinion this high quality show is at least as good as classical movies). Thanks again from France. 🙏
Well done sir. I usually find critics explaining symbolism in scenes as overly reaching and often times pretentious. But your connections are not only understandable but spot on as well. I’m going to watch all your videos about this show to get an in depth analysis of all the nuances I regularly miss along the way.
I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS! Because of your breakdowns I’ve watched the entire show season one to season 5 over again with new eyes! You catch things no one else does! You are very insightful! Thank you for what you do and, KEEP ‘EM COMING!!! :)
Dude! Incredible analogy! I’m so comforted that someone else sees BCS in a similar light as I do. BB was the same for me. I watched and rewatched every episode looking in depth at these things. I’ve been relentlessly ridiculed for it lol love your channel ! Keep up the good work 👏👍🏽👏👏👏👏👏👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽
You make me love this show more....
The best thing about Better Call Saul, after the actual show, is these videos.
BSC is a great series, from many perspectives. And you, John, you're a great analyst, great observer and listener. Great writer and presenter too!. Congrats to you and your team. I enjoy your Basement Breakdowns a lot, really. They complete my first (always good and thankful) impression of each episode, by pointing out interesting details (treasures) to enjoy again.
Thank you and greetings from Buenos Aires, Argentina.
I nearly cried when he refused the space blanket because it was the first time we did see a glimpse of Jimmy since chucks death.
I feel like Marco dropping the money was also a reference to him dropping the bullet when fighting Hank which ultimately led to his death
Keep 'em coming! These are the best commentaries on BCS, hands down.
These BCS basement breakdowns are one of the few videos that automatically get the like before I even see it. I always know they’ll be good! Thanks John & the Ological team!
The way I saw it, he didn’t want to do it. But the “you’re nobody” comment from Lalo was some sort of trigger that made him want to do it. Perhaps it took him back to his days with Chuck and HHM when he wasn’t taken seriously. And that ties in with the constant repetition of “yo soy abogado”
I feel had Lalo not made that comment, Jimmy would have walked away.
Been patiently waiting for the best breakdown of BCS. The good thing is we still have episodes 9 and 10 to look forward to.
Not ashamed to say that I refreshed your page quite a number of times in anticipation for this!
I think there's something there with Saul wasting drinking water to rub off the mud from his shoe and then later having to drink his own pee.
It's amazing how naturally dissimilar I am to Jimmy, and yet how much I can sympathize with everything happening in his life.
Masterful. Are all the clues, nuances, symbolisms why we love BCS so much; this show is not spoon fed to us, we have to earn it's enjoyment through study and making connections. These film makers learned from Kubrick I think.
let me just say, your videos are super well made, in depth, and to the point. good stuff.
Thanks for the outstanding analysis you are providing us!
I also would add the dicotomy between 'Jimmy getting clean' and 'Saul getting dirty'. It starts when jimmy is having a shower after the meeting with Lalo and before convincing Kim of the honesty of its intents on picking up the money. On this setting, Jimmy is seen one last time cleaning his shoes on the desert and it turns on Saul when he gets dirty for the first time - when he gets the shirt spilled with blood. Since then, its a escalation of dirtyness through the desert anchored on dirty money.
I would also highlight, the body language of Lalo. He is a side-sitter ( as Kim's ex-boss) when dealing with Jimmy as he is conffident he can extract what he wants from Jimmy expecting that he will easily deviate Jimmy to dirty paths without many effort required. On the other hand, he is clearly a front-sitter when talking with Kim, showing concentration and foccusing on how can he use this new pure element (Jimmy's weak point) to take advantage of and pursuit what he wants.
YES!!! amid the apocalypse I was worried about you, and so excited for your take on this episode!!
I think the space blanket could also represent Jimmy/Saul refusing to hide from and repress Chuck's death anymore. He embraces the space blanket and as a reward for this growth and change, he lives
I just binged all of these like 3 days ago, and saw you hadn't uploaded in 3 weeks, but I'm so addicted and just had to see this episode analysis. So I had this channel open on its own tab, and viola, Bagman is here.
Wow! What a clever, nuanced show; what a wonderfully intuitive breakdown you made. You captured such juicy tidbits that make us see the genius of Better Call Saul even more deeply. The blood on his shirt where his heart would have been, the "shot alternator" (NICE ONE!!), the dichotomy of the space blanket as camouflage vs beacon...genius. Thanks for your recap. I will be so sorry to see this show end.
Oh god YES!!!! I've discovered your channel three weeks ago, and is the best breakdown ever. Keep doing it! Amazing content.
It's definitely very Breaking Bad-like to make a bottle of piss a very symbolic symbol in their show. Genius.
I have noticed there are many scenes with puddles of water. Near Mike's parking booth, Nacho's house when his father came to visit, the scene in this episode when the twins were approaching the warehouse. There are many other examples. Could it be they are the opposite of the ongoing swimming pool references. I can't put my finger on it but it isn't something I've heard discussed. Opinions?
Amazing commentary. Looking forward for you to do this next season!
Also, on the water thing, the shot where he uses water to shine his shoes plays very differently on rewatches when we know how the lack of water will lead him to even drink pee.
Thanks for the breakdown. I gotta rewatch it and respond to you in a sensible way because this was one of the most masterful episodes of film ever taped for television. Your take on things is worth the wait. Bravo 👏👏👏👏
It’s hilarious to think that drinking piss is the moment the Jimmy fully became Saul. 🤣
Oh john your breakdowns are just so damn great!!! I just want more of these babies, of course from BCS cause this show has a lot to say,right?!!
I have to go back and watch "Wexler v. Gordon." Don't remember who he is.
For real though, your content is great!
Haha good eyes. Oops
Love these break downs. Another first rate analysis! Thanks
This is the best breakdown channel. I wish it had the same attention the others get
This is such a great channel, you're doing awesome man, thanks for the videos!
Don't break me down in the basement. Don't quench my thirst and don't tell me "Urine Luck".
These are so great! I definitely didn't make the connection between Jimmy rejecting the space blanket because it reminded him of Chuck, but it makes sense that even in the middle of nowhere, he still can't totally escape the influence of the other McGill brother.
I noticed in re-watching BCS from the beginning that Chuck often needed to put on the space blanket when he was around Jimmy. It was like a deflection of what Chuck (usually correctly) saw as Jimmy's unethical and dishonest behavior. I agree that when Jimmy put it on in the desert, it was intended to do the opposite--to draw attention to himself. Jimmy sort of exorcised the curse of the space blanket when he did that, leaving him free to be himself (colorful) without feeling Chuck's disapproval. The point is made more emphatically when he leaves the space blanket behind and it drifts away.
All of your analyses are super impressive.
Good analysis. Thank you. That's why this is my favourite series. It's excellent and well thought out wherever you look.
Didn’t talk about the gold and green glow sticks. Good stuff!
Dude your analysis has been outstanding , this channel is becoming one of my favorite 🔥
You’re #1 with the pee puns in the opener. Looking forward to watching season 6 along with you.
Does anyone else think the cousin dropping the money was a reference to them dropping the bullet that Hank uses to kill them?
Excellent as always. Glad to see you wrapping up this insane season.
Great insights! I never thought of the fact that Jimmy was consuming the colour gold. Brilliant!
Longest 3 weeks of my life but worth the wait! Fun fact, I wasn’t pregnant when the last video was released, but I am now 😂 so that illustrates what a long three weeks it was for me. Anyway, I saw a video analysis on this episode by someone else (I can’t remember their account name right now sorry) who had some excellent points on Mike’s speech. I’ll come back and add the link when I’m done. He points out that part of the problem is that Jimmy doesn’t know why he’s out there. It can’t be for Kim because Kim expressly didn’t want him to go and has no interest in the money. It’s not even necessarily for himself because he hasn’t even shown much interest in the money - he was going to let the “ants” take it, he want Mike to carry it, he wanted to bury it. What is he really here for? A key point in Mike’s speech is when he says “I know why I’m here”. Not that he has a reason to get out of the desert, but that he knows WHY he is there to begin with. He knows who he is. It is after that moment Saul gets back up, straps those bags across his chest so nobody can take them from him, and does what Saul is good at. JMM, Just Make Money is definitely his motto now. He’s realised that’s the only reason he was there to begin with and he must fight for it if he’s going to survive. The link to the video for anyone interested is: czcams.com/video/CFmYiTYDa1o/video.html
"Alternator shot". Brilliant!
Also drinking pee is a fun reference to four days out when Jesse mentions a guy who had to drink his own pee
"urine luck": that's liquid gold, right there.
I'm remembering that telling tuco and Nacho he was a lawyer when they had him in the desert actually worked that time
Fantastic analysis. Thanks!
Saul finally realised that hiding is not sustainable, so did Gene in the first episode. Can’t wait to see how he “fix it by my self” in the next season.
Vince Gilligan is a wizard trying his hand as an artist
Welcome back John, that subscriber count is really taking off now
Thank you!! So happy to finally be able to post another breakdown
@@ologicalonline Dude whatever you choose to review next, I will be sure to watch it just for your analysis. Your insights really improve our enjoyment of the show.
@@dielaughing73 I would love to see John's perspective on True Detective.
One of the best episodes ever since television 👌
Great analysis as usual, the only thing i really thought when i watched the episode that you didn't already said was that before bagman, Jimmy and Saul were battling for control of Jimmy as identities, and with the end distraction scene was the big climax of that battle, Jimmy was ready to die during that scene, which is why Saul kept saying this is stupid. In the end, it was saul vs. jimmy coming down to mike's marksmanship. If mike was successful, it would prove Saul was needed and make Jimmy the voice in the back of his head. If he died, so would Saul, thusly ending both of their existences, making him unable to hurt the people around him (As chuck brings up). Saul won in the end, and so he leaves the space blanket in the desert and begins his journey back, with Saul becoming the primary voice in and jimmy becoming the subconscious.
EVERY DAY I check to see if you’ve got a new video out and then I see this pop up!! 😀
there is no definite end to jimmy or a start to saul. throughout the run of BCS and BB we see glimpses of both saul and jimmy surfacing up,like when saul asks jesse to go talk to brock when he leaves money for them. but yeah jimmy is increasingly embracing saul goodman cause that's what the show is about.
as usual the best analysis of one of my favourite episode.
I find it even more funny that Jimmy drinks piss from Davis&Main bottle considering the ways he did to be fired from them
I love that you break down your analysis like a weatherman lol.
Many thanks, truly, Ological is the cherry on top of a Saul Sunday.
Such a great analysis. Very fun to watch. Thank you!
I feel like I should pay to watch this. Great job dude, keep up the good work
I suppose the Kim and Lalo exchange probably would have taken up too much time, but I'm surprised it didn't make it in to the video. Then again, there will be plenty of that come Bad Choice Road.
Giving me a whole new perspective man. What a genuis! Great job.
It's my birthday, and this is the perfect timing for some BCS breakdown!
Happy birthday! 🎂
@@ologicalonline Thanks! Can't wait for episode 9 and 10!
I think one representation of the pee in the bottle as a representation of how he figuratively "pissed" on Davis and Main.
This episode feels a lot like Fly from Breaking Bad.
Walter reflected on the guilt he had over Jane that holds him and Jesse together for the time being, just as Jimmy cares about Kim. But we all know Walt is bad for Jesse and Jimmy is bad for Kim.
Please don't take so long for the next one... I rewatched the episode just so I can better appreciate your review
Also the cousin that dropped the wad of cash, Marco is the twin who dropped the bullet, which was used by Hank to blow his brains out
I love this fucking channel!!! Also the "I have people waiting for me" line from Mike, he means that not only for his family but also for us ,the fanbase that was manifested during the Breaking Bad era ,ha!! These are "the people" ... He can't allow a time paradox!!!
Will there be breakdowns of "Bad Choice Road" and "Something Unforgiveable"? I'm really enjoying these breakdowns and would love to see you finish the 5th season. Thanks!
The bullet hole in the mug, could it also foreshadow Kim's death?