31 thoughts on “The Day Better Call Saul Was Born”
Visit https://helixsleep.com/theelk to get up to $200 off your Helix mattress, plus two free pillows #helixsleep **What should I explore next in my Day _ Born series?**
For me the day Better Call Saul was born was in the episode season 1 episode 6 five-o That's the episode that hooked me But if you go back and re-watch the TV from the beginning you realize that it was amazing from the start. Uno is such a good pilot and doesn't waste a single moment in the episode.
Five-O was what sold the show for me. I liked the first episodes but Five-O was just something else. Mike was my favorite side character of breaking bad and he was developed beautifully in that episode. I’d say it’s the first great episode of the series and one of the best episodes in the breaking bad universe
Great video! I personally liked how you took it until the ending of the series. For me, I can personally relate to the Chuck Jimmy relationship and how sad it went but then in the end Jimmy faced all that and I just love it that he faced it in the courthouse
I actually like the fact that the cartel storyline and Jimmy's lawyer storyline were kind of distinctly different and not totally intertwine the whole time. Because then finally in the last two seasons when they did intertwine it became all the more compelling and a much bigger payoff culminating in both prequel storylines being buried together under the super lab
While I loved the series, I think I’m in the minority in disliking the final episode, or at least the end of it. In Breaking Bad, as horrible as Walter had become, they end with him taking out even worse people (Jack, Todd, Lydia etc.) Saul, however, became the worst person in his story, and I felt he deserved a worse outcome than he received. Yes, he’s in jail for life, but with prisoners chanting his name and giving him fist bumps, plus knowing the way his mind works, I can imagine him living as comfortable a life as possible, a la Andy in Shawshank Redemption. In retrospect, I realize I didn’t need any of the Gene stuff, and if this show ended at S06E09 “Fun and Games” I would’ve been happy.
I unfortunately have to restate my criticisms that I wrote about your last video about Breaking Bad. You are conflating two or three different concepts into one. "The day something was born" is not the same as "the first perfect episode", and it really hurts the argument to use those terms interchangeably. I am sure you are aware of the disparities, and while you briefly acknowledge it at the beginning of the video, it does not really solve the issue of you talking about one thing but meaning another.
I can accept that Chicanery could be the first perfect episode. You make that argument well. But it is also a culmination of 2.5 seasons of storytelling. The episode stands on the shoulders of giants, meaning the many truly great episodes that preceded it, like Pimento or Nailed. To say that this is the day BCS was born, rings untrue. Birth signifies the beginning of something, and Chinanery was an explosive end to the Jimmy v Chuck arc. The conflict that was at the heart of BCS, and the driving force of seasons 1-3. How it can be the moment the show was "born"?
What also hurts the argument is that I personally view season 4 of BCS perhaps as the weakest of the bunch. It suffers from a lack of momentum and focus, as a direct consequence of them resolving several of their main conflicts at the end of the last season.
Chicanery should have rolled at the Emmys. It’s a masterclass in acting, directing, you name it. I remember the night I watched it. I was numb when it ended. Amazing
You were pretty spot on with the Breaking Bad episode, but I've gotta say I disagree with this one quite a bit as I feel this show was born was WAY earlier in season 1 episode 9 'Pimento'.
Whilst Chicanery is an excellent episode, certainly one of the best in the show, it's a disservice to Chuck's character to say the show only came alive just moments before his death. A huge part of BCS is the growing disconnect between the McGill brothers and the debate of who's in the right. Chuck firmly believes his brother will always be slippin jimmy, and Jimmy, struggling to make ends meet as well as struggling to gain the respect of his cold brother, goes back to slipping. So who's in the right? Would Jimmy still slip if Chuck genuinely respected him? It's a profoundly layered relationship which is a big part of what makes BCS a great show.
This is why I feel 'Pimento' is when the show was born. It begins the downards spiral of the brothers' relationship by revealing Chuck as Jimmy's main antagonist, his own brother jealous of him to the point of sabotage. Additionally, Mike's B plot was equally as entertaining and served as an apt way of him getting into the game through his introduction to Nacho. The parking lot scene serves as an excellent example of the show's comedy, peppered throughout the show. Where Breaking Bad had suspense and uncertainty for its characters, Better Call Saul has tragedy and comedy.
Visit https://helixsleep.com/theelk to get up to $200 off your Helix mattress, plus two free pillows #helixsleep
**What should I explore next in my Day _ Born series?**
I’ll never get tired of watching video essays on this show
Nice
I didn't think BCS would be that great of a show but I was wrong. What an incredible journey.
Can you do a video on the TV show Mr Robot
For me the day Better Call Saul was born was in the episode season 1 episode 6 five-o
That's the episode that hooked me
But if you go back and re-watch the TV from the beginning you realize that it was amazing from the start.
Uno is such a good pilot and doesn't waste a single moment in the episode.
My favourite episode from the first two seasons is definitely Nailed (2×9). That ending was so shocking
Five-O was what sold the show for me. I liked the first episodes but Five-O was just something else. Mike was my favorite side character of breaking bad and he was developed beautifully in that episode. I’d say it’s the first great episode of the series and one of the best episodes in the breaking bad universe
Wow thanks for the spoiler warning, didn't think I'd need that on a video called the day better call Saul was born but whatever
I enjoy being the elk
I was absolutely certain you were going to say Pimento. That would be my answer anyway.
Chuck was right the entire time. Jimmy never did change from his old scamming days, and him having a law degree did end in disaster.
does this have spoilers? i just started bcs
2 and half seasons in? Is this Series no longer about the first good episode, but just the best one?
Great video! I personally liked how you took it until the ending of the series. For me, I can personally relate to the Chuck Jimmy relationship and how sad it went but then in the end Jimmy faced all that and I just love it that he faced it in the courthouse
These videos are so good. Thank you for making them. I learn something from every single video.
I was fully sold from the pilot episode
I wonder why most Breaking Bad fans hated the premiere and didn’t tune in to the second episode.
I knew Saul from BB . I laughed but didn't care about him enough to take real notice. I was baffled about his name real name. Thought it was Saul.
When watching BCS and was surprised my his kindness, hart work ethic. But still saw his "scheming ways" .
Can you make the day El Camino was born?
I actually like the fact that the cartel storyline and Jimmy's lawyer storyline were kind of distinctly different and not totally intertwine the whole time. Because then finally in the last two seasons when they did intertwine it became all the more compelling and a much bigger payoff culminating in both prequel storylines being buried together under the super lab
Better 👏Call 👏 Saul 👏👏
That finale was amazing 🥲
While I loved the series, I think I’m in the minority in disliking the final episode, or at least the end of it. In Breaking Bad, as horrible as Walter had become, they end with him taking out even worse people (Jack, Todd, Lydia etc.) Saul, however, became the worst person in his story, and I felt he deserved a worse outcome than he received. Yes, he’s in jail for life, but with prisoners chanting his name and giving him fist bumps, plus knowing the way his mind works, I can imagine him living as comfortable a life as possible, a la Andy in Shawshank Redemption. In retrospect, I realize I didn’t need any of the Gene stuff, and if this show ended at S06E09 “Fun and Games” I would’ve been happy.
Chicanery was the episode that made Better Call Saul it's own.
I unfortunately have to restate my criticisms that I wrote about your last video about Breaking Bad. You are conflating two or three different concepts into one. "The day something was born" is not the same as "the first perfect episode", and it really hurts the argument to use those terms interchangeably. I am sure you are aware of the disparities, and while you briefly acknowledge it at the beginning of the video, it does not really solve the issue of you talking about one thing but meaning another.
I can accept that Chicanery could be the first perfect episode. You make that argument well. But it is also a culmination of 2.5 seasons of storytelling. The episode stands on the shoulders of giants, meaning the many truly great episodes that preceded it, like Pimento or Nailed. To say that this is the day BCS was born, rings untrue. Birth signifies the beginning of something, and Chinanery was an explosive end to the Jimmy v Chuck arc. The conflict that was at the heart of BCS, and the driving force of seasons 1-3. How it can be the moment the show was "born"?
What also hurts the argument is that I personally view season 4 of BCS perhaps as the weakest of the bunch. It suffers from a lack of momentum and focus, as a direct consequence of them resolving several of their main conflicts at the end of the last season.
No issue here with your choice. Fantastic episode. And great video.
Chicanery should have rolled at the Emmys. It’s a masterclass in acting, directing, you name it. I remember the night I watched it. I was numb when it ended. Amazing
I admit I was reluctant to think they would make a show that was on par with BB. Imagine my delight when they surpassed it.
Chicanery for me was more like a conclusion.
If we consider Better call saul a 3 part act. It’s end of the part 1.
Pimento could be considered the start!
You were pretty spot on with the Breaking Bad episode, but I've gotta say I disagree with this one quite a bit as I feel this show was born was WAY earlier in season 1 episode 9 'Pimento'.
Whilst Chicanery is an excellent episode, certainly one of the best in the show, it's a disservice to Chuck's character to say the show only came alive just moments before his death. A huge part of BCS is the growing disconnect between the McGill brothers and the debate of who's in the right. Chuck firmly believes his brother will always be slippin jimmy, and Jimmy, struggling to make ends meet as well as struggling to gain the respect of his cold brother, goes back to slipping. So who's in the right? Would Jimmy still slip if Chuck genuinely respected him? It's a profoundly layered relationship which is a big part of what makes BCS a great show.
This is why I feel 'Pimento' is when the show was born. It begins the downards spiral of the brothers' relationship by revealing Chuck as Jimmy's main antagonist, his own brother jealous of him to the point of sabotage. Additionally, Mike's B plot was equally as entertaining and served as an apt way of him getting into the game through his introduction to Nacho. The parking lot scene serves as an excellent example of the show's comedy, peppered throughout the show. Where Breaking Bad had suspense and uncertainty for its characters, Better Call Saul has tragedy and comedy.