Better Call Jimmy McGill
January 21, 2015 6:45 PM Subscribe
The Last Hurrah of Difficult Men, commentary on a tv show, a book and an essay in Esquire. "I'll just say it: The first few episodes that I saw are better than Breaking Bad. They are smarter. They are sharper. I have never seen a prequel handled so cleverly."
It’s everything you could possibly want from a spinoff.
It’s everything you could possibly want from a spinoff.
I have been keeping myself lukewarm over this but this has warmed me up considerably.
posted by HarveyDenture at 7:09 PM on January 21, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by HarveyDenture at 7:09 PM on January 21, 2015 [3 favorites]
Like Jimmy Carter stifling the lust in his heart, I try not to covet but, dang, I'm fiendishly coveting those screening copies.
posted by maggieb at 7:15 PM on January 21, 2015
posted by maggieb at 7:15 PM on January 21, 2015
Cautiously excited, but I don't see how it can be better than Breaking Bad. That sounds like pure hype. We're already familiar with this character and what happens to him, and Saul doesn't exactly inspire deep pathos and analysis in the way Walter White did. But I want to be wrong. If anyone can pull it off, Vince Gilligan can. And hell, at the end of the day if we get to see more of Bob Odenkirk that's fine with me.
posted by naju at 7:31 PM on January 21, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by naju at 7:31 PM on January 21, 2015 [2 favorites]
wait, is this out already?
(bit o wikipedia later)
February 8. OK, ill read about it AFTER i watch it, thanks.
posted by rebent at 7:34 PM on January 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
(bit o wikipedia later)
February 8. OK, ill read about it AFTER i watch it, thanks.
posted by rebent at 7:34 PM on January 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
You might still be able to watch or buffer this leaked copy on youtube while it lasts. Wish haxors would put stuff like this on YouTube when going on a spree instead of porn.
posted by aydeejones at 7:35 PM on January 21, 2015 [12 favorites]
posted by aydeejones at 7:35 PM on January 21, 2015 [12 favorites]
It seems like it's going to be a very different retread of the same basic story, i.e. down-on-his-luck man is forced to adopt a new, criminal persona and finds a strange kind of success.
Except unlike Walter White, Jimmy McGill has no pride, which is probably why he lives.
posted by vogon_poet at 7:40 PM on January 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
Except unlike Walter White, Jimmy McGill has no pride, which is probably why he lives.
posted by vogon_poet at 7:40 PM on January 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
Dammit, I'm going to have to watch the last several episodes of Breaking Bad, about which I've somehow managed to stay spoiler-free. (I'm pretty sure Walter White has to die in the end, one way or another, but I doubt he could possibly do so in a manner as horrible as his transgressions merit.)
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:45 PM on January 21, 2015
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:45 PM on January 21, 2015
The first few episodes that I saw are better than Breaking Bad.
I am extraordinarily skeptical of this claim on many, many levels, but am pleased that Alan Sepinwall liked the screeners he's seen (he is considerably less effusive, but very positive in his review).
posted by sparkletone at 7:47 PM on January 21, 2015 [2 favorites]
I am extraordinarily skeptical of this claim on many, many levels, but am pleased that Alan Sepinwall liked the screeners he's seen (he is considerably less effusive, but very positive in his review).
posted by sparkletone at 7:47 PM on January 21, 2015 [2 favorites]
Oooh, I can't wait!
posted by triggerfinger at 8:07 PM on January 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by triggerfinger at 8:07 PM on January 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
If you are in Australia you can't watch the trailer in the two posted links, but you can watch it at The Washington Post review (B+). Odyssey gets an A-.
posted by unliteral at 8:45 PM on January 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by unliteral at 8:45 PM on January 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
Better than Breaking Bad? What would that even mean? The prospect sort of scares me.
posted by cmoj at 8:47 PM on January 21, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by cmoj at 8:47 PM on January 21, 2015 [5 favorites]
Man, fuck Walter White. Here's hoping I don't despise Jimmy/Saul as well when this is all over, because Bob Odenkirk is the platonic ideal of comedy.
Pander Claus could give David Cross a one-shot guest appearance, too, but I'm scared to push my luck. (Monkey's Paw, careful what you wish for, etc.)
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 8:48 PM on January 21, 2015 [2 favorites]
Pander Claus could give David Cross a one-shot guest appearance, too, but I'm scared to push my luck. (Monkey's Paw, careful what you wish for, etc.)
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 8:48 PM on January 21, 2015 [2 favorites]
I'm looking forward to this show because of new ground it covers in lawyer-centered TV shows. The whodunit shows and the go-to-the-wall to save a client thing has been done to death. But now we've got one centered around a total sleazeball, the guy who will give you a neck brace even if you're not hurt to maximize your settlement (and his fee), the guy with the loud ads on TV. There's a lot of potential here and I'm curious where they're going to take it.
One thing about Breaking Bad was that Saul was the only really honest character in the show. He's sleazy and shady as hell, and unlike anyone else, he owns it.
posted by azpenguin at 9:20 PM on January 21, 2015 [9 favorites]
One thing about Breaking Bad was that Saul was the only really honest character in the show. He's sleazy and shady as hell, and unlike anyone else, he owns it.
posted by azpenguin at 9:20 PM on January 21, 2015 [9 favorites]
Currently 74 at Metacritic. Which should help lower expectations, which should improve viewing experience.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 10:00 PM on January 21, 2015
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 10:00 PM on January 21, 2015
> Better than Breaking Bad? What would that even mean? The prospect sort of scares me.
It's like the fifth step in Anselm's ontological argument that says it's a contradiction to conceive of something greater than the greatest possible thing that can be imagined.
posted by SpacemanStix at 10:08 PM on January 21, 2015 [6 favorites]
It's like the fifth step in Anselm's ontological argument that says it's a contradiction to conceive of something greater than the greatest possible thing that can be imagined.
posted by SpacemanStix at 10:08 PM on January 21, 2015 [6 favorites]
This looks compelling, but I don't know. I might have reached my limit on great shows about people who descend into deeper and darker depravity than they ever conceived of when they first began. These shows are making me so melancholy and misanthropic. Saul, you're a fighter, but to the extent I watch tv I think I need these other shows that the article talks about where the protagonists have a moral compass and try their best to navigate with it.
posted by onlyconnect at 11:08 PM on January 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by onlyconnect at 11:08 PM on January 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
Considering how good his Manson was, and what he's done since then, I've got some hope for ol' Bobs new show.
posted by lkc at 3:20 AM on January 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by lkc at 3:20 AM on January 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
Pander Claus could give David Cross a one-shot guest appearance, too, but I'm scared to push my luck.
"If you want to get off, you're going to have to play dumb."
"How dumb?"
"Really dumb. Full on retarded."
"I can do that."
"Show me."
"♫ Chicken pot, chicken pot, chicken pot pppiieeeeee! ♫"
posted by robocop is bleeding at 7:34 AM on January 22, 2015 [2 favorites]
"If you want to get off, you're going to have to play dumb."
"How dumb?"
"Really dumb. Full on retarded."
"I can do that."
"Show me."
"♫ Chicken pot, chicken pot, chicken pot pppiieeeeee! ♫"
posted by robocop is bleeding at 7:34 AM on January 22, 2015 [2 favorites]
It's like the fifth step in Anselm's ontological argument that says it's a contradiction to conceive of something greater than the greatest possible thing that can be imagined.
Also, it's greater to exist in the mind and reality than in the mind alone.
I'm so glad this project got off the ground, and Í'm looking forward to this, hype or not. I just want to hang out some old familiar friends again and go on some new adventures.
posted by SpacemanStix at 2:56 PM on January 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
Also, it's greater to exist in the mind and reality than in the mind alone.
I'm so glad this project got off the ground, and Í'm looking forward to this, hype or not. I just want to hang out some old familiar friends again and go on some new adventures.
posted by SpacemanStix at 2:56 PM on January 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
Better Call Saul is now up and rolling over at FanFare, too. Come join the giddiness!
posted by Room 641-A at 8:44 AM on February 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Room 641-A at 8:44 AM on February 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
So, stupid question, but as someone who bailed on Breaking Bad after about 20 minutes (yeah, I know, sorry) is this worth giving a shot? I guess worst-case is I'm out 20 minutes. I generally enjoy Odenkirk and the teaser I saw seemed funny though.
posted by ODiV at 5:49 PM on February 9, 2015
posted by ODiV at 5:49 PM on February 9, 2015
For those who live or travel to Albuquerque in the near-ish future, you can see the Better Call Bell billboard (source), the inspiration behind Saul circling back to parody the man who parodies him:
ODiV: ... as someone who bailed on Breaking Bad after about 20 minutes (yeah, I know, sorry) is this worth giving a shot? I guess worst-case is I'm out 20 minutes. I generally enjoy Odenkirk and the teaser I saw seemed funny though.
I'm two of the three episodes in, and it's not funny, but it's not as bleak (yet?) as Breaking Bad. To be honest, I don't think BCS will go as far as BB, and I'm expecting more humor and less descent into a bad, dark place.
I've seen all of BB, and I'm watching BCS with my wife, who hasn't seen it. She liked the second episode more than the more dire first episode, and I've had fun telling her about some of the call-backs (forwards?) to BB, but she is enjoying it largely on its own. It's something like a dramatic black comedy, at this point.
posted by filthy light thief at 1:11 PM on February 20, 2015
Saul Goodman was inspired by an actual attorney named Ron Bell, whose advertisements are plastered all over Albuquerque's bus stations and television networks. (Watch Ron Bell's actual infomercial next to Saul's fictional one, below.) Early in the design process, King actually scheduled a meeting with Ron Bell—who made a memorable first impression. "On a billboard, Ron Bell looks like the biggest movie star in the world. Well, the door opens to his huge office, and I'm looking at this big desk that looked like an aircraft carrier in his office, but he's not there. And as I get closer and closer to the desk, I finally see him: he's the littlest guy I've ever seen in my life, sitting behind this desk. That's Ron Bell!" King recalls with a laugh. "As a designer, those moments inspire me."
ODiV: ... as someone who bailed on Breaking Bad after about 20 minutes (yeah, I know, sorry) is this worth giving a shot? I guess worst-case is I'm out 20 minutes. I generally enjoy Odenkirk and the teaser I saw seemed funny though.
I'm two of the three episodes in, and it's not funny, but it's not as bleak (yet?) as Breaking Bad. To be honest, I don't think BCS will go as far as BB, and I'm expecting more humor and less descent into a bad, dark place.
I've seen all of BB, and I'm watching BCS with my wife, who hasn't seen it. She liked the second episode more than the more dire first episode, and I've had fun telling her about some of the call-backs (forwards?) to BB, but she is enjoying it largely on its own. It's something like a dramatic black comedy, at this point.
posted by filthy light thief at 1:11 PM on February 20, 2015
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posted by Potomac Avenue at 6:52 PM on January 21, 2015