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***Official "Space Blanket" for Better Call Saul*** (5 Viewers)

It did not seem out of character to me. More than anything else, Saul negotiated the feds down to 7 years BECAUSE HE COULD. He didn't actually care if he spent 7 years in prison or the rest of his life, for the reasons Ghost Rider and Offdee said. He wanted to flex his legal muscles to show himself that he still had it and to counteract the disrespect that Chuck had for his legal abilities.
What he did had nothing to do with the law. You said it yourself in sentence #2. He was negotiating. And - if you can suspend disbelief to a level never before reached - he did a fine job.

(FTR, the Feds would never have agreed to negotiate life+ down to 7 years, let alone let him pick the wing (!) of the low security federal prison. That's just a bridge too far. Mint chocolate chip ice cream every Friday: :lmao:)
I thought they made it clear that the lead prosecutor valued his perfect conviction record quite highly. He didn't want to risk losing it knowing that Saul could easily convince a single member of a jury to take his side. At that point Saul was in the driver's seat as far as negotiations go.
 
I thought they made it clear that the lead prosecutor valued his perfect conviction record quite highly. He didn't want to risk losing it knowing that Saul could easily convince a single member of a jury to take his side. At that point Saul was in the driver's seat as far as negotiations go.


Saul made that point for a reason. Bill might have been intimidated, but Saul knew the truth... a prosecutor with a perfect record only goes to trial when he has it sewn up, and pleads out anything close to questionable. Saul knew he wouldn't risk the one juror and would give him anything to avoid the possibility.
 
I believe, in each flashback... Saul answered his time machine question truthfully. In the desert, he was all about the money. He didn't care about the events that got him to where he was, if he'd have money, it'd all be worth it. And in the basement with Walt, waiting to go on the lam... he had his suitcases full of money, and didn't care about what it took to get there either... the only thing he'd ask for at that point is the good health to enjoy it, free of pain. At the end, though, he did reflect on what it took to get to that point, the crazy price people paid over the last two years, and wished he'd trusted Chuck that one time. Even if he was just some schmuck lawyer with poor clients, not getting paid... he'd have had Kim and maybe buried the hatchet with his brother, and without the bags of cash, it would have been acceptable. He finally realized that at the end.
 
That’s the kind of ending no one can quibble with, right?


IDK I waited six seasons to find out who would call Saul, and at the end, no one called Saul. What was that buildup all about? He made a couple of calls... to a lawyer and to Cinnabon. But then no one called him. What was this show even about? Totally left me hanging.
Did you miss when Francesca called him a couple of episodes back? Everything was building up to that phone call.
 
That’s the kind of ending no one can quibble with, right?


IDK I waited six seasons to find out who would call Saul, and at the end, no one called Saul. What was that buildup all about? He made a couple of calls... to a lawyer and to Cinnabon. But then no one called him. What was this show even about? Totally left me hanging.
Did you miss when Francesca called him a couple of episodes back? Everything was building up to that phone call.
He called Francesca, then he called Kim.
 
He called Francesca, then he called Kim.

But who called Saul? No one! Kim got a call from the Albuquerque DA. Kim even got a call from a complete stranger at the legal aid center. Will Oakley and his stupid haircut got a call from Saul. But no incoming calls for Saul. WTF?!?
 
Well, that wasn't said quite right. Yes, Kim can't be "saved" from the civil suit - but that's not going to happen anyway. She has nothing to take that would make it worth Cheryl's time.

Kim returns to the life she always wanted - helping people through the law. That had all been thrown away when she chose to chase the money with Saul and to destroy Howard in the process. She follows, before Jimmy does, the advice that Chuck gives, "If you don't like where you're heading, there's no shame in going back and changing your path."

Jimmy finally answers his own time travel/regret question when he decides that he'd rather serve 80+ years as Jimmy than 7 as Saul.

And he wanted Kim to know that he wouldn't have come to that conclusion without her.

Thanks. I like this. Its a good explanation.

First, I'll caveat again by saying I loved the show and even really liked the finale. But I had two quibbles:

1) They kind of played it both ways with Kim and Saul. Each of them was redeemed so they had a (sort of) happy ending. But at the same time, they didn't want to show these bad people getting away with everything so they are each punished also (civil suit v life in prison). That just seemed a little cute to me.

2) I find it hard to believe that (based on what we know about the characters) they would have the capacity to fundamentally change like that. Maybe Kim. But not Saul. At every turn for the last 11 years, he makes the wrong, self-destructive move. And now, when faced with the biggest decision of his life, he's going to all of a sudden be good? I just wasn't buying it.

In fairness, I have a negative view of human beings. So I just don't believe he would make such a complete change at that time.
I'd say walking away from 7 years was pretty self destructive.
 
He called Francesca, then he called Kim.

But who called Saul? No one! Kim got a call from the Albuquerque DA. Kim even got a call from a complete stranger at the legal aid center. Will Oakley and his stupid haircut got a call from Saul. But no incoming calls for Saul. WTF?!?
James McGill called Saul, that's who. James called him (in his head) and kicked ol' Saul to the curb.
 
Great ending.

I didn't see Jimmy's courtroom decision as a fundamental character change. He always had a soft spot for those whom he legit cared about, like Chuck early in the series (before Chuck made it clear it was not mutual) and Kim. Jimmy obviously had no intention of doing what he did in court until he turned and saw Kim, and you could see it in his face. He knew he was going down, and he made the decision to not take Kim down with him. Sure, 86 years is way worse than 7, but remember that was living a miserable existence as Gene.
Yep, that's why they made a point of showing him walking out of the kitchen and basically being the BMOC in that place, dapping up and pointing to guys. Everyone there loved him, and in the end, he was living better in jail than he would be as a free man. A place where he is now finally looked at as a hero versus an F up his whole life. Along with one special person on the outside that also now saw him as her hero. It was his "time machine"....but he chose to write the future rather than change the past.
I don’t think there’s ever a living better in jail than free. Maybe for homeless living on the streets. And I don’t think Kim looks at him as her hero. She just sees him as the person she cares about again rather than the monster he had become.
Maybe for most, but for Jimmy/Saul he lived in a world where he was always looked at as the loser, swindler, piece of ish and the only time he felt alive was when he was hurting others...so in essence he was living in his own personal jail in the free world. Inside this jail he was finally beloved and look at as "accomplished" at his craft versus looked down upon (what he was always so jealous of with his brother Chuck). He now gets to wake up everyday and get love from his community versus hate and disgust. They also made a point of showing that he's living still and not just locked up in a box....he's working, he gets outside, the guards are considerate of him, he has "pull". Jimmy/Saul is actually more at peace within this "world".
:Goodposting:

The truth set him free.
 
People complaining that they dont believe Saul could change his moral compass to the degree he did , well he didnt, Jimmy did . I remember just how bad Jimmy was treated early in the show by his brother and hamlin , they pushed him into Saul Goodman. Jimmy was always a sympathetic type of conman . Harmless yet likable . He found himself thru self reflection and his love for Kim
 
I enjoyed the finale. The way I saw it the ending was a fit for both sides of Jimmy/Saul. In my opinion Saul was always the ego and Jimmy was the conscience.
Saul had to strut his stuff and show his legal prowess by making all the top gun officials back down. He made them accept his plea bargain of 7 years with all of his crazy conditions on top of it (ice cream on Friday, certain wing of the prison, etc.).
But, Jimmy had to have his time too. So, he confessed to everything and made things right.
Saul can say "They had me dead to rights and I still backed them down." So, the ego is satisfied because he can crow about it. Jimmy can say "But, I did the right thing in the end" and the conscience can sleep at night.

Walter White's comment about "So, you were always like this" also rang true. Jimmy lived peacefully and safe for a while as Gene and then just couldn't deny his nature any more and started pulling scams. The pull was just too great, he had to get one up on somebody.
 
It did not seem out of character to me. More than anything else, Saul negotiated the feds down to 7 years BECAUSE HE COULD. He didn't actually care if he spent 7 years in prison or the rest of his life, for the reasons Ghost Rider and Offdee said. He wanted to flex his legal muscles to show himself that he still had it and to counteract the disrespect that Chuck had for his legal abilities.
What he did had nothing to do with the law. You said it yourself in sentence #2. He was negotiating. And - if you can suspend disbelief to a level never before reached - he did a fine job.

(FTR, the Feds would never have agreed to negotiate life+ down to 7 years, let alone let him pick the wing (!) of the low security federal prison. That's just a bridge too far. Mint chocolate chip ice cream every Friday: :lmao:)
I thought they made it clear that the lead prosecutor valued his perfect conviction record quite highly. He didn't want to risk losing it knowing that Saul could easily convince a single member of a jury to take his side. At that point Saul was in the driver's seat as far as negotiations go.
LOL at Saul being in the driver's seat. They had him dead to rights. The notion that he'd get it down to 7 years is laughable and was only in there to raise the stakes when he threw it all away.

FTR:
Data published by the Pew Research Center in 2019 highlighted how federal prosecutors have a 99.6% conviction rate.
The Feds don't have an almost 100% conviction rate because they are afraid of juries. They have it because the preponderance of evidence is usually on their side. That's why less than 2% of cases even go to trial.
 
I think the scene with Marion being threatened by Gene showed the two sides also. Saul was walking towards her snarling and menacing with the phone line in his hands. When Marion looked him in the eyes and said "I trusted you" that brought Jimmy to the forefront. There was no way he could harm her after she said that, so he ran.
 
saul goodman was the second best character on series i’ve seen played, no character could ever touch Jay kulina played by johnathan tucker on kingdom but bob odenkirk was right there
 
That’s the kind of ending no one can quibble with, right?
The ending was great. The federal prosecutors rolling over to meet Saul's ridiculous demands was dumb, imo. Overall still a great, satisfying finale.
I agree it was unrealistic, but I'm trying to think of a better or more realistic way for Saul to find out that Kim confessed. That was obviously the key element to everything that happened past that point to the end.
 
Saul...i mean Jimmy ,stepped up when it mattered the most 👏

Love it

But why? It seems ... out of character. Why now?
Love and regret

He had no regrets.
The entire show was about regret and going back in time to fix things .
You have to read between the lines watching this show .
They make us work at figuring things out on our own , thats what makes this show and BB so great .

I understand subtext. But at every turn in 11 years, Jimmy had made the stupid, self-destructive decision. And now, at the very end, he's going to have this big fundamental character change. For what? To give a happy ending of sorts? Seems...cheap to me.
His decision WAS self destructive.
 
Loved it and enjoyed it and let’s be fare, they write the hero stuff for the character for fan service as much as for the story, so Walt’s “full revenge” in the last ep of BB mirrors sauls having his way with a federal prosecutor.


Now, as to the sequel: it has been surmised that the walking dead takes place in the BB universe as darryl and Meryl have blue meth on them early in season one. As such and due to timelines the zombie apocalypse is about to happen. Jimmy McGill is in one of the safest places to ride out the start of this and jimmy looking for kim after the world ends is something amc should jump on, at least for one of their “walking dead short stories”
 
The only SMALL gripe I have with the finale/last 6 episodes is that I'd have liked it a bit better if the "finale" for the past timeline storyline (Lalo/Gus) was penultimate episode. I wasn't as enamored with the "Jeffy" con (despite seeing Carol Burnett) episodes and didn't think they carried as much emotional weight as the Lalo/Gus finale.
 
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One very interesting item I find between the two stories is the massive amount of love for Kim's character and the massive amount of hate for Skyler's character.

Anna Gunn blamed it on men being sexist and not being able to accept certain gender roles but that seems to fly in the face of everyone liking Kim, who broke the old fashioned gender role many times in the series.
 
One very interesting item I find between the two stories is the massive amount of love for Kim's character and the massive amount of hate for Skyler's character.

Anna Gunn blamed it on men being sexist and not being able to accept certain gender roles but that seems to fly in the face of everyone liking Kim, who broke the old fashioned gender role many times in the series.

Her argument would make sense if it was entirely the opposite. She played a mostly stay at home mom, which would seem to be a 'gender role'. Kim was a smart lawyer which would seem to be the opposite. Just another reason to hate her portrayal of White. Making up some **** cause she acted terribly. Men like strong women. Her role as White was a weak wimpy woman that would break down in hysterics for little reason.
 
One very interesting item I find between the two stories is the massive amount of love for Kim's character and the massive amount of hate for Skyler's character.

Anna Gunn blamed it on men being sexist and not being able to accept certain gender roles but that seems to fly in the face of everyone liking Kim, who broke the old fashioned gender role many times in the series.
Skylar was a nag who cheated on her husband. Kim was a professional who was good at her job and supported Jimmy in his endeavors as a partner, rather than as an adversary.
 
One very interesting item I find between the two stories is the massive amount of love for Kim's character and the massive amount of hate for Skyler's character.

Anna Gunn blamed it on men being sexist and not being able to accept certain gender roles but that seems to fly in the face of everyone liking Kim, who broke the old fashioned gender role many times in the series.

Her argument would make sense if it was entirely the opposite. She played a mostly stay at home mom, which would seem to be a 'gender role'. Kim was a smart lawyer which would seem to be the opposite. Just another reason to hate her portrayal of White. Making up some **** cause she acted terribly. Men like strong women. Her role as White was a weak wimpy woman that would break down in hysterics for little reason.

I never understood her argument either. Although I bet some of it was germinated to help her retain some confidence as an actress. It was almost as if she had to make up an excuse as to why the character was so hated so that she would not question whether she was playing the role poorly or not.
 
One very interesting item I find between the two stories is the massive amount of love for Kim's character and the massive amount of hate for Skyler's character.

Anna Gunn blamed it on men being sexist and not being able to accept certain gender roles but that seems to fly in the face of everyone liking Kim, who broke the old fashioned gender role many times in the series.
Skylar was a nag who cheated on her husband. Kim was a professional who was good at her job and supported Jimmy in his endeavors as a partner, rather than as an adversary.
Yep. Skyler was a character who kept getting in Walt's way as our antihero went about his "empire business". She was a check and obstacle to his ambitions. Walt Jr a bit too.

Kim was thick as thieves with Jimmy enabling him and pushing him further. As Howard said, they're perfect for each other.

People probably would have like Jane too if she had a longer run, because she was a bit of a similar partner for Jesse
 
One very interesting item I find between the two stories is the massive amount of love for Kim's character and the massive amount of hate for Skyler's character.

Anna Gunn blamed it on men being sexist and not being able to accept certain gender roles but that seems to fly in the face of everyone liking Kim, who broke the old fashioned gender role many times in the series.
Skylar was a nag who cheated on her husband. Kim was a professional who was good at her job and supported Jimmy in his endeavors as a partner, rather than as an adversary.

I don’t want to defend Skyler here because she may be my least favorite character in tv history but I am not sure this is apples to apples.

Kim knew who Jimmy was from the jump. She went in with eyes open and made that decision on her own terms. Skyler did not have that luxury. She wakes up one day after 16 years of marriage to find she is married to a meth king.

One clear difference I can see is that when things got bad Kim had the strength to leave where as Skyler can’t find that same strength to leave when she visits the 4 corners monument. Although Skyler may have a more difficult choice due to the kids.
 
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Another factor that could partly explain the reaction to Gunn vs. the reaction to Seehorn: I suspect a lot of the most obnoxious Walt fanboys never bothered to watch BCS, or if they did, bailed during the first season.
 
I think Skyler gets a lot of unnecessary ****. I mean, her nerdy high school teacher husband suddenly starts disappearing for entire days/weekends and turns into a drug kingpin. And people dont liker her because she cheated on him and is a bit naggy?

I think the best reason not to like her is for not following her lawyer's advice from the start and GTFO asap.
 
Also, wasn't a big fan of the black and white for half the season. It wasn't necessary.

I think with all the timeline jumping the second half of this season it was somewhat necessary. If Gene/Jimmy/Saul wasn't on camera it would be hard to instantly distinguish between timelines.
This is not the first show that jumped between timelines.

No it's not but they did so much in the last half season that besides the stylistic choice (which didn't bug me - I felt it fit nicely with the Gene persona), it probably helped keep things on track more.
And Kim too. Saul/Gene was bored and Kim couldn't live with herself so the black and white was fitting setting the tone imo.
 
I dunno - I don't think we were supposed to "like" the Skyler character the same way we liked Kim. Skyler was constantly in Walt's way. Different than Hank though - it was Hank's job to be in the way. Skyler was the annoying "little woman" at home. Although I think Seehorn is a better overall actress, Gunn did a fine job with her role.
 
Loved it and enjoyed it and let’s be fare, they write the hero stuff for the character for fan service as much as for the story, so Walt’s “full revenge” in the last ep of BB mirrors sauls having his way with a federal prosecutor.


Now, as to the sequel: it has been surmised that the walking dead takes place in the BB universe as darryl and Meryl have blue meth on them early in season one. As such and due to timelines the zombie apocalypse is about to happen. Jimmy McGill is in one of the safest places to ride out the start of this and jimmy looking for kim after the world ends is something amc should jump on, at least for one of their “walking dead short stories”

If this happens it will be the dumbest thing ever.
 
The only SMALL gripe I have with the finale/last 6 episodes is that I'd have liked it a bit better if the "finale" for the past timeline storyline (Lalo/Gus) was penultimate episode. I wasn't as enamored with the "Jeffy" con (despite seeing Carol Burnett) episodes and didn't think they carried as much emotional weight as the Lalo/Gus finale.

I tend to agree with this. They could have toyed with the timing of the flash forwards and flashbacks to bring that Jeff storyline earlier in the season and honestly I would have been cool with that. As it is, the last 2-3 episodes before the last two were kind of disappointing. I think you make a fantastic point here.
 
Did anyone else feel like the Walt and Jesse cameos overshadowed the ending of the show just a little? Not in a big way but I definitely had that nagging feeling in the back of my mind.
 
The only SMALL gripe I have with the finale/last 6 episodes is that I'd have liked it a bit better if the "finale" for the past timeline storyline (Lalo/Gus) was penultimate episode. I wasn't as enamored with the "Jeffy" con (despite seeing Carol Burnett) episodes and didn't think they carried as much emotional weight as the Lalo/Gus finale.

Yeah, the Carol Burnette story seemed forced. They found out a legend loved their show, befriended Gilligan and then carved out a role. I'm hoping they held back on the Gus/Lalo angles in the thought that another show/movie may eventually be in the works.
 
I'm hoping they held back on the Gus/Lalo angles in the thought that another show/movie may eventually be in the works.

I suppose it is entirely plausible, that while Jimmy & Kim were smoking in the prison cell, they began scheming a plan - litigation, escape, otherwise, for a "future" movie/episode etc. They left the door open for that possibility. However IF "redemption" was the main story arc....then they leave well enough alone. Personally, I kind of get the sense that the actors were ready to move on to other projects.
 
Did anyone else feel like the Walt and Jesse cameos overshadowed the ending of the show just a little? Not in a big way but I definitely had that nagging feeling in the back of my mind.
I actually liked the way they teased it to some degree. There was a big build up that Walt/Pinkman were going to be on BCS and then a bit of a let down as a throw away moment in the RV. Thoughts were they just did it to do it without any real meaning but then to bring them back to pivotal scenes was awesome. I don't think it overshadowed anything and only added to the greatness.
 
That’s the kind of ending no one can quibble with, right?


IDK I waited six seasons to find out who would call Saul, and at the end, no one called Saul. What was that buildup all about? He made a couple of calls... to a lawyer and to Cinnabon. But then no one called him. What was this show even about? Totally left me hanging.
This is the most blatant case of fraudulent advertising since my suit against the film "The Neverending Story".
 
Did anyone else feel like the Walt and Jesse cameos overshadowed the ending of the show just a little? Not in a big way but I definitely had that nagging feeling in the back of my mind.
I actually liked the way they teased it to some degree. There was a big build up that Walt/Pinkman were going to be on BCS and then a bit of a let down as a throw away moment in the RV. Thoughts were they just did it to do it without any real meaning but then to bring them back to pivotal scenes was awesome. I don't think it overshadowed anything and only added to the greatness.

Yeah, the classic move to fight leaks... like in Star Trek 2, it leaked Spock died, so they added the Kobayashi Maru sequence to the beginning of the film, and in the battle simulation, Spock "died". So everyone who heard the leak thought "oh, that's what they meant" and forgot about it, watched the rest of the movie, then got hit in the feels when Spock really dies at the end when "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few". Not possible to contain that Walt and Jesse appear, so get it out of the way in a prior episode, making their appearances in later episodes effectively unspoiled and a surprise even to those that follow leaks.
 

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