Better Call Saul: Ethics Are Strange
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- Опубліковано 17 бер 2022
- Support these videos & enjoy extra stuff: / whatstherapy
The other videos in this series: (no need to watch in order)
Part 1 ➪ Better Call Saul: Can People Change? - • Better Call Saul: Can ...
Part 3 ➪ Better Call Saul: Kim & Jimmy's Love - • Better Call Saul: Kim ...
Part 4 ➪ Better Call Saul: Nature vs. Nurture - • Better Call Saul: Natu...
Part 5 ➪ Better Call Saul: Wolves & Sheep - • Better Call Saul: Wolv...
Part 6 ➪ Better Call Saul: Real Redemption? - • Better Call Saul: Real...
Part 7 ➪ Better Call Saul: The Artist's Journey - • Better Call Saul: The ...
Part 8 ➪ Better Call Saul: Is Revenge Enough? - • Better Call Saul: Is R...
Check out the live streams we did before each of the last 6 episodes, and the post mortem streams: • UA-cam Streams!
Hang out on Twitch: / whatstherapy
Thanks for watching, feel free to comment and let me know your thoughts!
Post Season 6 Update: Wow. - Розваги
Ok
Best YT comment ever
S'all good, man.
omg its the real James M McGill
Thank you Frank
Dude made a 1 hour video detailing the morals of multiple characters from a 6 season tv show, and after all that, this mf says “ok”
“Ethically? I’m sorry. I must be hearing things. Did you actually just use the word ‘ethically’ in a sentence? You are not Clarence Darrow, Saul. You’re a two bit bus bench lawyer. And you work for me.” - Walter White
I love that scene. I think it’s cool that Better Call Saul elaborates more on Saul’s morality and why he sometimes acted out of character during certain moments in Breaking Bad. Granite State is definitely the most Jimmy episode of the show.
@@jinxthatsme2317 What moments would you be referring to?
@@movieman6456Season 3: Saul’s eyes starts to tear up after having Francesca lie to Hank about Marie getting hospitalized.
Season 4: Saul tells Jesse that he should spend time with Andrea and Brock after dropping off the money for them and shows a non-sleazy side of himself when talking with Brock.
Season 5: Saul tells Walt that he should quit while he’s ahead, and he tries to cut ties with Walt after figuring out that Walt poisoned Brock.
And, of course, in Granite State, Saul tries to get Walt to turn himself in and face the music in order to keep Skyler and the kids safe.
awesome quote and scene!!!
Lol perfect fucking quote to this video. Hats off fella.
That line delivery of Mike saying “I broke my boy” makes me cry every time. First class acting
Makes me cry everytime.
Every. Fucking. Time. Especially having a boy, myself. We aren’t dirty cops, but still relate.
…”and it was all for nothing.”
I've seen people react to Five-O and the only people who didn't were women. Seems like we aren't the emotionless ones.
@@joshuastevens2186 where the fuck did this come from ahaha. Bit outta left field there
It wasn't until the scene when Chuck and Jimmy's mother died that I realized how deep Chuck's resentment towards Jimmy really was.
Fuck Chuck. One of the things I absolutely hated the most was when he didn’t tell him his Mother woke up and called for him, to deprive Jimmy of that and take that away from him is such a horrible thing to do.
That was the single worst thing that Chuck ever did to Jimmy... Up until the time that it happened. Chuck had much worse on his future. When Chuck got Jimmy the job in the mailroom, Chuck must have forgotten the reason he ran away to New Mexico was to get away from the constant reminder that everyone loves Jimmy and think of Chuck as a cold hearted bastard. Then 10 years of Jimmy in the mailroom reminded Chuck just how much he hates that Jimmy is loved and he is reviled. Chuck's behavior after that is predictable, although Jimmy doesn't see it because he always assumed the best of his brother.
i don’t think jimmy would’ve done this back to chuck, not after one backstab nor a hundred more, just sad that his heart and impulse are bigger than his beliefs
Shit hit me super hard. As someone with a brother who resents me deeply, and all I've ever done is try to help and care for him. It really hit home.
Truth. Their mother dying while asking for Jimmy was for Chuck what Chuck’s comments about Jimmy (“a chimp with a machine gun”) was for Saul; deep rooted pain that festered, grew and led to each character being the cause of their own demise by taking actions that compromised their morality with no forethought of the long-term effects.
To add to this, I think about 50% of jimmy’s moral calculus is “how fun / difficult would this scam be to pull off?”. He gets so wrapped up in his intricate plans and complicated schemes that the question “is this an ok thing to do?” becomes more and more irrelevant to him.
Jimmy was so preoccupied with whether or not he could, he didn't stop to think if he should.
@@n.l.3776 Beat me to it
chuck has always been right about jimmy, deep down hes just slippin jimmy
and i wanna point out the fact that both brothers actually have genius talent at making intricate plans and complicated schemes. They both have a knack for it, its just that one uses it to con people, and the other uses it to become one of the best lawyers America has ever seen. Its also interesting to note that what im saying is proven right when he comes up with a way to trick Jimmy into admitting he swapped the numbers on tape, or as mentioned in the video how he used reverse psychology.
The main problem for Chuck is that he was never as charismatic as his younger brother.
"We get so caught up in the idea of winning, that we forget to listen to our heart" - Howard Hamlin 1x01
Well Howard, that's your cross to bear" is one of the most brutal lines in the show, the look on Howard's face after Jimmy says that crushes me every time
it reminds me of Chuck's face when Kim says "well YOU MADE him this way" about Jimmy. there are very few times over the series when Chuck really genuinely hears something in pretty much the way and intent it was indeed meant. So often otherwise he's able to obfuscate, but while it may not truly stick long term, it certainly lands in the moment.
Howard didn't deserve that.
Jimmy put his guilt on Howard rather than face his own culpability
Maybe you need to take your empathy offline for a week months, and stop being so sensitive. "Crushed".... by a TV show?
@@badhippo ☠
Jonathan Banks’ confession monologue in season one gets me choked up every time. Such phenomenal acting. One of my top favorite monologues from Film/TV.
no half measures
Truly, one of the monologues ever delivered
I don't think Gus was threatening Mike. When he said "I believe that you understand revenge," he's probably referring to when Mike tried to kill Hector out of revenge for that Good Samaritan. Gus even says at the time "I am not unsympathetic to your sense of justice." I doubt he even has any idea that Mike killed those two cops, or would even care.
Great video, very excited for part 3!
Very good point! I didn't think of that, there are so many folds and twists in this show it slipped my mind, thanks for commenting!
Conversely, I would say the odds of him knowing are fairly high. The philly cops visiting in S1 would definitely be a notable event for the APD. We know that Gus maintains close ties with the police, and that he conducts thorough background checks on anyone he works with. I'd say that it's likely he would find out about Mike getting questioned, and from there (Knowing how mike operates) it's an easy guess to work out why.
As to whether he cares, it's mainly that it confirms for him that Mike is of similar mind to Gus. I do think you're right that it's not a threat, but more of "We see eye-to-eye on this, right?"
@@RowanIngram Oh yeah, good point
I thought gus said that because he knew his son died because of salamancas
@@RowanIngram
I agree.
He thinks Mike will support him in his revenge against the Salamancas because his motivation is almost identical to Mike's in killing those cops.
Exterminating the Salamancas, like killing the cops, may make the world a better place, but the root motivation is pure lex talionis.
Has this show explained why Gus wants to take revenge on the Salamancas, or do we need to have watched Breaking Bad to know?
"Howard, that's your cross to bare". Poor Howard never had a chance, along with Nacho.
bear*
16:30 I think the "biblical feel" of Jimmy and Chuck's relationship is actually a strong parallel to the parable of the Prodigal Son. Growing up, Chuck was the one walking the straight and narrow, while his brother was a wastrel. And yet, the approval Chuck sought from his parents for his good behavior always eluded him. Meanwhile Jimmy, who Chuck believed should have been punished for his bad behavior, was always forgiven.
The deathbed scene taken in this context is all about the jealousy of the eldest son toward the prodigal. His mother reminded him that not only was he not favored over Jimmy, possibly Jimmy was favored over him. Jealousy turns to anger, and that's why he refused to tell Jimmy of his mother's dying words.
Or in the mom's last moments she saw chuck and maybe screaming jimmy's name was her way of saying where is he. I love BCS and it's writes cause people can interpert in many ways :D
@@cristiantapia631exactly dude, their mom knew she was going to die and she mightve been calling for jimmy because she wanted both her sons to be there with her. but it speaks to chuck's quiet rage, that he interprets her calling out for jimmy in her last moments as being ignored and less favored by his mom, and then keeps those last moments a secret from jimmy. which again just isnt fair to jimmy, no matter which interpretation you believe
This show has proved time and time again how much nuance there really is in reality. It's true that Jimmy is wrong and that Chuck is right, it's also true that Chuck is wrong and Jimmy is right, and that it's also true that both of these statements can be true all at once. Ethics is such a strange thing, and this show uses it so incredibly well. Can't wait for you to talk more about Kim, Nacho, and Howard soon too!
One thing that's easily missed about the Trolley Problem is how its not really about "the right answer" - it's about noticing how "the right answer" changes based on available information.
@@Grizabeebles That's a great way of describing the Trolley Problem, goddamn
@@davidci -- You can thank my college philosophy profess. Ever since the Trolly Problem started to hit the mainstream in the early 2000s, it keeps getting brought up in practical contexts like self-driving cars rather than metacognition.
And the fact it can apply to *both things* is kinda scary.
It isn't ethics all though the both thinks that it is. Each man's worth as a human being is based on their destroying the other. Jimmy is smarter and everything he does is based on proving that it is Chuck, not jimmy, that is a gorilla with a machine gun. Jimmy knows that by killing Chuck's ego they he will kill him physically. Jimmy has no qualms because if he doesn't destroy Chuck. Chuck will win and he will be destroyed.
law a and criminality offer a fine mixture of both - like mike also sort of says at one point. Good, bad, legal, illegal. Intermixed at all levels. The police force is another place rife with double standards and 'shady' gray areas.
I think Howard is truly the most tragic character in the whole series.
One of his oldest friends, Chuck, used him to stamp down on Jimmy and Kim, which in turn led to their unquenchable hatred for the man, resulting in the downfall of his personal life through lies, scams, and outright assault with drugs that ended up sending him to Jimmy and Kim right as Lalo showed up… and to the end, he always took the high road where he could and attempted to better himself.
You are forgetting that Howard was an equal partner of HHM, he accepted to be used by Chuck and then acted like Jimmy's suffering wasn't also his fault, they reason they hate him is because he never understood what he did wrong. There is also the sandpiper case, where he preferred to earn some extra money knowing that most of the residents wouldn't be able to even see the results of the lawsuit.
Was his dead deserved? Not really. But he definitely isn't the most tragic character in the whole BB universe. He was a greedy, powerless man who didn't care to own to his real mistakes.
26:11 I actually have a somewhat similar real world experience from my grandpa. My grandpa was a police officer for the Unified Police department (deparment responsible for several of Salt Lake city, Utah's suburbs) in the 1980's. There was actually a fellow cops who hit and ran after killing an kid while under the influence of alcohol. During the internal investigation, my grandpa was assigned to it. Well, upon discovering it was that cop, the other cops in the department told my grandpa told him that if he went through with it. My grandpa would find himself in need of backup and none of them would respond. In essence, they told my grandpa that they were going to let him die. So, my grandpa ended up quitting.
Good call! Watch "The Year Our Family Disappeared" on UA-cam to hear a similar real life story.
The Gravel Institute has a couple videos on this, one of which being the gangs inside the LA police department. This stuff is still common to this day and is MUCH more rampant and discreet.
All you need to know about cops is that police unions protested the movie serpico which was a true story about police corruption and mafia payoffs in New York. They seem to have set up serpico as well but he survived the gun shot
It's interesting how Rudy Giuliani bragged about bringing down Cosa nostra but we never hear about this same cleanliness being applied to the police departments who took the bribes. Dirty cops have always and will always exist. A government that doesnt actively remove and punish the corrupt is a corrupt system that intends to abuse its power over its people
All cops are bastards, but your grandfather was a good person. I’m sorry he was put in that situation.
Jimmy repeating the advice of Mike and completely butchering it to fit his own warped image of the world is truly a fantastic detail that makes me love this show, and wish that everyone else would appreciate the small things in the same way.
One of the great things about this show is that the characters are all flawed and morally gray- which is realistic. Life is not black or white. Awesome vid.
Nah Mike is quite white morally
@@big_2361 Nah He was a dirty cop, kills people and works for criminals- but has the decency to feel bad about it.
@@big_2361 He murdered Werner Ziegler and help release Lalo, a murderous psycho, from jail.
@@VSSFantastic werner was dead anyways and mike got lalo out of jail so that he could be killed. did u not watch the show or do you just have bad skills at interpreting events
@@big_2361 I know. But a "morally white" person wouldn't do those things. Someone like Jesse would be the closest thing I can see being morally white. Although Mike made a big turn at the season's premiere.
The sad part of her mother dying, that chucks perspective holds him to not see it is that her mother calls jimmy and not chuck because he was the one gone... she probably wanted to see BOTH of her dearest sons together for the very last time.
Chuck can't see that, it instead fuels his hated of his brother even more after that which is tragic.
"Since I think limitations can be kinda beautiful in like a ritualistic kind of way."
Yes. Just Yes. Hopefully you meant this in the way I took it because I just love those moments when someone else says something you've been thinking for ages.
When I see artists making their work in a specific medium because it calls to them. That's just freaking beautiful. Maybe its someone using dice to construct a mural. Or maybe its those books that are written without the letter "E." You know those people truly had a passion and wanted to get their minds out into the world in a truly unique way. Art is mind reading. Artists are just telepathic in a very specific medium.
We rely our minds and souls into writing, sculpting, movies and videos. Hell MUSIC. Music is a way in which we literally put emotion into other people's minds.
Art is beautiful.
Jimmy is such a very complex character to understand and you nailed it with these videos.
I mean, in case of Walter White, it was clear that he is evil but in case of Jimmy, he is more grey and some of his unethical and ethical moments happened simultaneously that it can’t be separated from each other.
Walt is just as much of a complex character as Jimmy is. He only really became evil during Season 5. Even then, he went to great lengths to save Jesse and his family during his last days. He is far from a clear cut villain.
You'd be surprised by how many people think Walt is a good guy even through the entire show
There's debate whether Walt could've prevented his fate at all, or if it was just in his selfish nature to get wrapped up in the things he did and wind up doing it more for himself than others. It's the whole meme, "this is the scene where Walt became Heisenberg".
Personally, I don't think the answer to that is meant to be known. There's subtle hints at different possibilities in almost every scene of Breaking Bad (and BCS for that matter). Things like shot composition and color can be used to argue anything from Walt secretly truly being a dark anti hero to Walt being a manifestation of evil and malevolent violence. Maybe that's what makes the series so rewatchable. You notice small things about the scenes almost every time. Whether that be the particular choice of music playing or how the characters are lit in a particular way. The artistry is evident in every shot.
@@evrimenustun9548 Him even going back to ABQ wasn't driven by guilt, or a want to save his family. It was his pride. He saw his old college friends cutting him from the company started, saying all he provided them was the name, when later he shows to think Grey matter was going to be a way to simply sell his discoveries. He was mad that Jack kept Jesse alive, thinking they were partners, he only saves Jesse when he finds that he's a slave. Felina wasn't hims setting things right, it was him trying to justify his actions as having not been all for nothing. He was a vain, angry man from episode one if BrBa, hidden behind his Mr. Rogers' looking facade
@@sillygoose9791 His pride has nothing to do with telling Skyler where Hank is buried, checking his son one last time and doing that elaborate plan for Jesse. And no, he didn't suddenly "decide" to save Jesse after seeing him. Walt's not an idiot. He knew damn well that Jesse was kept as a slave the moment he realized he was alive. If he didn't know that, what on earth makes you think he would have come up with his machine gun plan at the start? He still cared about him in his own sick way. His last actions obviously doesn't redeem his horrible deeds but they were damn well actions that were driven by guilt..
The whole part about Chuck’s illness and the internalized stigmatization of mental health issues really hit hard. Very well put.
42:55 when Saul asked Mike "when does this go away" I guess on the surface he was asking about working for the cartel, but I think what he really *meant* was his trauma. He gets triggered when Kim is making orange juice, and he loses an easy case in court, and he realized that trauma is ruining his life. Mike picks this up immediately and tells him it gets easier, and some day he will forget about it
I don't usually leave comments on video essays but dude, your analysis of BCS, your grasp of ethics and your ability to verbalise your thoughts in understandable ways is such an amazing skill. I loved every minute of this!
Wow, I loved your take on Saul’s butchering of Mike’s advice to Kim. Really shows so much with so little, thanks for the second great video on this series and I’m eagerly awaiting the next part
He was right about the Matt situation. He just couldn’t control his sons composure. If they felt he was solid, they wouldn’t have killed him and Mike woulda been right. But Matt hesitated and they saw it. Can’t account for that.
Matt being washy on taking the money sealed his fate. To the dirty cops, he was already dead before Mike and Matt had that conversation
i am very fond of your work, i am a Fine arts students, and i became obsessed with this TV series because it checks all the boxes for the word ( Fine art ) impressively detailed, complexed characteristics, and every aspect can be taken each and be a show on its own. Massive respect for the analysis it meets my academic study so much ! 😂 loved your content and channel keep going bro.
But yeah i forgot to add, that in one episode you mentioned that Chuck is flawed yet sincere in loving moments. Tbh ? i hated every bit of him even if he had pros. To me this is a Villain not classical one tho like the crazy lalo
I have never heard a person tell the trolley problem in a way that has actually made me question my response before, good job
The first version of the trolley problem is kind of a no-brainer, but it gets complicated when the circumstances are changed (like personally pushing a person to save 5 or sacrificing yourself to do so)
@@Freeman10001 I don't know if everyone believes it's a no brainer.
Just a point about the scene between Chuck and Jimmy where Chuck secretly records his confession. I viewed that very differently than Jimmy being played like a fiddle. Jimmy is good natured and sociable and Chuck openly presented a case that absolves him of responsibility and while yes we know it is the truth he doesn't. Jimmy would have played that role true or false.
This to me demonstrates a clear morality difference between the two brothers. Jimmy put no strings on his help taking care of his brother yet Chuck not only put strings but when Jimmy thrived constructed a prison for him. The two are both bad people who use people for personal gain Jimmy gives you a show and relies on your complicity (mostly) Chuck puts you in a situation that will eliminate your choice and keep Chuck in a position of authority. What's truly different about the two is how they view themselves Jimmy views himself as a fuck up but would rather be a wolf than sheep. Chuck views himself as a shepherd and that occasionally the herd need to be culled.
Morality has forever been viewed in societal and personal terms. Using simple rationality you can argue very easily that personal morality is a detriment while displaying social morality will elevate your status.
My point being simply if morality is a choice and personal which of the two brothers are the better person. That's what the scene of their mom calling out for Jimmy is truly about.
Well put. If I were Jimmy, the first thing I would say after that tape was played in the trial is "I would've said that whether it was true or not, my brother was in an extremely self-destructive state and I felt I had to say something, anything to keep him from going down even deeper." Because even if he hadn't done what he did, I do think he still would have said what he said to help Shuck. That's the kind of guy he is, even if he avoids consequences.
@@SenialHobo I think if Chuck hadn't derailed Jimmy's redemption (taking on responsibility) there could easily be a world of a tightly hinged version of Saul Goodman.
Boredom would lead to antics but the "fair playing ground" of law would remain somewhat sacrosanct.
@@andrewmarinelly5838 Yeah I agree, he seemed like he was really willing to turn a new leaf while keeping some of the antics, but this is how these stories tend to go wrong in real life as well, so it's sadly realistic. It's hard for people to get over their past issues with others, even when it would benefit both sides.
This 1000x over.
I’m always taken aback by how frequently people say Chuck was in the right. The only reason that’s true in the show’s universe is because we, the audience, know the truth. Chuck doesn’t, Howard doesn’t-even Kim at this point didn’t truly know it. But what we also know at that point is Chuck *WILLFULLY subdued Jimmy and Kim’s careers, used his authority to STEAL two career defining cases from them, AND LET HOWARD TAKE THE FALL ON IT OVER AND OVER*
Yet somehow we should sympathize with him because Jimmy switched the numbers (something that Chuck even argued with his clients over). Wow, what a crime. Defrauding a charlatan who hides behind his authority and his partners to do heinous things to his brother out of jealousy.
man even if u made a 23 hour video i'll definitely watch it, keep up the good work man
fr
I do think that Gus threatened Mike. He knows what Mike did and why he fled to Albuquerque. Seems like classic Gus.
Mike killed Werner to save the life of Werner's wife. Gus' men would have killed them both. That's a genuine trolley switch. It's also one of the most powerful dramatic scenes ever produced.
This is a great channel. Thanks for all your work on this.
Yes.
Good point.
I don't think Mike would ever have killed Werner to save his own life.
I always interpreted that scene as meaning Gus did some research and came to the conclusion that mike killed the 2 cops who killed his son. That’s the reason Gus wants mike as his second hand man, because he understands revenge just like Gus does
@@blaubeer8039
I'm afraid I wouldn't put it past Gus to threaten Kaylee and Stacey if he thought this would be an effective tactic.
@@blaubeer8039
Why thank you.
I also reckon that Gus wants a loyal soldier, so he won't blackmail Mike like he blackmailed Nacho.
It would be quite unreasonable of the drug kingpin chicken man to threaten a "self defense" killer. Gus would have zero leverage in this case. The "revenge" line is more relevant to Mike's actions after Salamancas threatening Kaylee and Stacey as well as the whole "good Samaritan" deal. He was certainly manipulating him by implying that he was any different during the scene (a guy who threatens people with killing their infant children) but threatening, not so much.
Great video! Really enjoyed it 🙂
Btw the scene you analyse at around 43:00 where Saul asks “when will this be over for me”. . . I’m 99% sure he’s asking not “when will I be out of the game” but actually “when will this shell shock I’m experiencing from witnessing a murder/being in the desert subside”
agreed!
yeah just watched that episode last night, that's definitely what was happening. you can tell by Mike's reply, "you notice that after a while, you stop thinking about it. and after that, it gets easier." you could probably read it as being about being in the game, but i don't think that's what the read is supposed to be
Man! the formatting of these videos and how you take us on a journey to try and answer your thesis question is amazing. you do a STELLAR job recapping events and showing how certain events play a part in factoring into the bigger whole. it's really well done and I hope you are proud of yourself!
I especially really love how you bring in your mental health expertise to the analysis of this show and its characters. you do a great job showing how each character's actions make sense given how they feel and think.
26:20 I think that Matt being killed for joining them too late shows that yes, he would have been killed for waiting even longer or not doing it or reporting them. I think the real ethical crux here isn't what Mike chose to do when talking to his son, but when Mike chose to go along with the system and take the money twenty years before that.
That's what I read as Mike's anguish in this scene - that no matter what he said, Matt was already dead because of a combination of decisions Mike made, and Matt's own love for his dad.
So now, not only must he take care of his granddaughter and her mother because they're family and he'd do it anyway, but because *this is a debt he owes*
And then he finds that the only way for him to reliably pay off that debt is to be on the other side of that deal that killed his son.
If the pacing were any faster, the pulpiness and coincidence and melodrama would feel, well, pulpy and melodramatic. But it plays like Shakespeare due to deliberate pacing, impeccable acting, and gorgeous directing. And also because Shakespeare was pretty pulpy and melodramatic
Chuck was a true villain in this story. Chuck destroyed Jimmy with his insecurity and jealousy. While no doubt Jimmy has ultimate responsibility for his own actions, if Chuck behaved better to Jimmy, he would not have became Saul. Jimmy worked hard to pass the bar, even if it wasn't as prestigious as the college Chuck went to. He tried to turn his life around, he tried to be good. Jimmy was always there for Chuck, he took care of him daily. Sure Jimmy did bad things, but they were often for the right reasons. But when Chuck was actively working against him, due to petty jealousy and resentment that Jimmy was his mother's last thought, he didn't stand a chance. He was projecting his own guilt onto Jimmy.
Calling Chuck the the villain is overboard. You could justas well make the argument that if Jimmy stayed the straight and narrow even if it would take longer he would have not ended up in the situation he was in. The reason why the world sucks is because we all fail at the tasks handed down to us, including you and I.
To add to this, Jimmy passed the exact same bar exam as Chuck did, he simply did not learn through a prestigious college, which honestly makes it even more impressive, that he managed to learn and pass while working at HHM. Jimmy went above and beyond to become a good lawyer and have Chuck's acceptance and love. If Chuck wasn't an insecure asshole who keeps pushing his brother and his (ex)wife away, Jimmy would at worst have become a slightly slipping lawyer who'd still mostly follow what Chuck was teaching him, and at best a fantastic honest lawyer following the rules to honor his brother.
totally agree!
The fact that people have so much to disagree over and discuss after all this time is a sign of great writing and brilliant TV!
@@dwight3555 And to further add to it (I don't know why I forgot to include this) is that Chuck committed the ultimate act of selfishness by killing himself. That undoubtedly had a huge negative impact on Jimmy.
Thanks for the passion. This show needs more love!
Not just Jacob and Esau. The 'good son' is also pissy about the 'prodigal son' being allowed to return *without reaping the bad consequences* he was due for abandoning his family. Jimmy and Chuck's dynamic often reminds me of this.
Yep.
I think both these Bible stories are in play here.
Chuck is very like the "good son" in Luke, and Jimmy is a trickster like Jacob (let's remember that in the KJB the name Jacob is translated to James throughout the New Testament).
@@alanpennie8013 "..and Jimmy is a trickster like Jacob" Sure Jimmy is a trickster, but Chuck withholding their mother's last words from Jimmy very much feels like Jacob stealing the first son rights from Esau, with the dying father feeling the beard and thinking it's his other son.
Dude these are awesome. I'm absolutely addicted to these Saul and BB "video essays", so much depth now that the shows have ended. Thanks for the entertainment!
Thank you, for all the work you put into this analysis. I really enjoyed it.
Just now discovering your channel and became a subscriber before I finished the first video! Thank you for such high quality content! Keep 'em coming! You're helping to fill the void as we die hard BCS fans await the last/and final episodes!
I really liked the way you put that...People thinking we should have the willpower to change anything that's going on in our minds whereas we would never expect the same of a physical health issues...
great video, definitely gonna watch the rest in this series of yours. thanks for sharing!
what a fantastic and informative analysis! never before have I watched a single youtube video for an hour straight without being distracted by something
The algorithm brought me here and I'm sure you'll get a boost when Better Call Saul hits a climax and gets more post-finale viewers and analysis. Great breakdowns, commentary, and beard. Subscribed!
Wow! So many thought provoking points! Thanks.
this is such a phenomenal analysis!! it’s made especially relevant in the context of the final few episodes. from the scam that led to howard’s death to gene’s burglary on a cancer patient, i feel like bcs is most interesting when it’s exploring jimmy’s moral code over time
I didn't know you can explain all these complex things with words before this video. Damn thank you man!
This and your previous video are two of the best essays on Better Call Saul. Thank you for helping me appreciate the show even more!
I DONT KNOW WHY I'VE WATCHED THIS SAME VIDEO 40 TIMES. your content is just so good
Excellent. I have learned much about myself, familial relationships, and interpersonal relationships through your learned understanding and sharing of human personality, behavior, and mental and neurological components of individual comportment.
Thank you.
Great video and detailed analysis. Keep them coming.
I need part 3, I’ve been looking for an in depth analysis of this show since rewatching to prepare for season 6. The first two parts have been perfect, thank you for making these videos, just subscribed, looking forward to all your other content! Any status update on when part 3 is coming?
Part 3 is coming along verrry well! Should be dropping on 4/15, just in time for season 6!
Jimmy always drops his guard to take care of Chuck when necessary, but Chuck would never return the favor.
that part about the frustration about being unable to show love and care consistently got to me so hard. I had never been confronted about it externally although I've always felt it, and couldn't put it into words. Thank you for that.
Youtibe algorithm did a great job recommending your videos! Your narration and writing make it easy to just listen and take in your points. Gonna check out more videos
i think mike just found a solid guy he can have a good work relationship with, to make money for kaylee's future. when gus gave him this chance, mike saw in it all that maybe gus wouldn't have him as just another expendable grunt, and this was the essence of the whole negotiation
"we had a good thing Walter ..."
"....And you just had to go and blow it up, with your pride and your ego..."
Good stuff. You've given me a lot to think about regarding character motivations that I can use in my own writing.
This was a great watch. Thanks!
I wish I had seen this sooner!! The quality of your voice - combined with your astute observations - makes for a great channel. Subscribed. It's a BCS fan's dream come true!!
Just found these videos. Great work imma watch all your other stuff keep it up man you’ll make it
I subscribed. These are great, very well-presented and informed analysis;
i usually have a very short attention span. but even though your videos are ginourmous, i found myself having trouble looking away many times. great job
i love your channel so much and Ive only watched two videos. my two favourite things therapy/psychology and better call saul lol
Something I think is important to recognize in this discussion is the difference between justified and justifiable, something I think someone in your field would have a better idea of than the layman
Whats the difference?
This video has such great strong qualities. Engaging narration of well organized, insightful analysis.Great clips of the show to illustrate points.
What really falls short :the odd repeated visual of (I guess) a TV screen in a desert, going from black and white to red and green...WHAT??? The concepts being discussed would have so much more clarity if illustrated with stronger corresponding visuals. The vague confusion of this symbolic TV screen is so aggravating.
But incredible job with this video all around- great, thoughtful, entertaining and worth not just watching, but sharing and discussing. Well done.
yeah I wonder if that image is some psychological thing, like the Rorschach. It really kinda disturbed me in a hypnotic way. But if it´s intentional then kudos, you know
Your channel is exactly what I've been looking for. *subscribed*
There are some very strong parallels between the story of Jimmy and Chuck and the parable of the prodigal son in Luk 15, in a lot of ways it seems like an extended modern adaptation. In the parable the prodigal leads a reckless life but is still welcomed and shown love by his father when he returns. The father is so overjoyed at getting his son back that he decides to throw a banquet for him, however this leaves the uptight and obedient older brother bitter and jealous seeing his reckless younger brother treated so well, so much so that he refuses to go in and celebrate. The situation of Jimmy and Chuck is not exactly one to one, a few significant differences, but the characterization of the two is extremely similar and both focus on the jealousy that the older brother (Chuck) has for how their parents treat the younger brother (Jimmy) even after all the messes they've made and pain they've caused, making the older brother feel unloved.
This is a hidden gem. Hope u get tons of views. U deserve it!!!
Keep it up!!!
These analysis videos are amazing. Thanks for putting this up in the run up to season 6 coming out.
this comment seems like those fake reviews on Amazon
@@lolaaaaaaaaaaaa it isn't though I'm a real person. I get what you're saying though.
@@lolaaaaaaaaaaaa you sound extremely bitter
@@winstonmarlowe5254 Winston that’s very dramatic don’t you think?
@@lolaaaaaaaaaaaa Someone praises the uploader and you immediately accuse them of being a shill. You definitely have some issues to work out lol
this is so good!! i will watch all your videos
Man. Why doesn't this video have more views? Yeesh. Great stuff.
"The way he comes off like a precocious child immigrating something their parents said"
This is EXACTLY what was going through my head when I saw this scene. If I remember correctly, he tries to badly mimic Mike like this later on. It's a behavior I really love.
I feel like Jimmy has ADHD. He's smart but not organized, he thrives in chaos and when he has to improvise, he's quick on his feet. And he's also very emotion-driven, but most importantly, Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria is apparent during almost every scene. He needs positive reinforcement from people surrounding him, and if he doesn't get it, he does pretty much everything he can to keep himself entertained to divert his attention from whatever happens to bother him at the time mentally.
Also the whole Davis and Main debacle. The moment he gets some stability, he immediately looks for ways to cause upheval.
As someone with ADHD, I feel this wholeheartedly. From the very first episode I got that notion. There's a lot of ADHD in Jimmy, even from his impulsivity to his acts of great accomplishments too. He can hyperfocus and is astoundingly talented at his skills, of which he ranges with many (around a particular field). Not all people with ADHD are debilitated, or down trodden. Sometimes they thrive, but they always suffer underneath it all. All we have to appreciate are the moments of success that come and go. But we are never there in the present.
but he's extremely well organized and carries out long plans to completion
@sidarthur8706 ADHD isn't about the inability to pay attention, it's about not being able to control attention. Getting stuck on things you shouldn't is as much a part of it as not focusing on what you should.
Yeah let’s diagnose everyone who seem intelligent but active adhd lol
Criminally underrated channel. Great video!
Very great analysis! I agree with almost all which happens rarely :)
People get mad at me when I point out that Mike had the same fall of grace as Walter White (or the other way around chronologically).
He's a "family" man willing to cross certain lines for them, crossing more and more excusing his ego every step, having the chance to quit, until he is just a criminal doing crimes, realizing just a second too late.
Him dying to Walter is the most ironic of Walters murders, falling to an ego man just like himself.
This is a fantastic video, really well-made. Assuming your expertise is accurate (being the internet and all), it clearly shows through here. Somehow it makes the ethical quandaries in this show more understandable and more interesting-ly and thought-provoking-ly complicated, in a way that I personally love. Thanks for making this.
Also one thing I just noticed in your comparison between Mike getting killed and Werner getting killed. I highly doubt Gus would've murdered Mike, even if he'd taken the most drastic step and sent Werner to the airport with his wife, or gotten him a new identity rather than killing him.
I think the other possibility in that scenario was one of Gus's men going out to kill Werner (I believe that's actually confirmed by Gus, telling Mike to wait with Werner in the car) and possibly his wife, as I've seen some people argue. Again, the rest of the video is fantastic, I just wouldn't put Mike on the same level of unethicality as you make him sound like he is. Especially considering the personal hell he seems to go through in the first 4 episodes of Season 5 along with his regret for having to kill Werner and trying to avert Gus's men meeting Werner's wife at the airport (although again, that is up to assumption).
I'd love to see what you think of Mike in Breaking Bad by comparison, as well as the same fountain of ethical dilemmas and insanities as in Better Call Saul, what with the whole premise of cooking meth for one's family and the consequences (or lack thereof) for some of the characters, like Walt and Jesse perhaps.
Thanks for making this!
These videos are incredible - a veritable oasis of substance in the vast desert of BB/BCS masterial on YT.
great video. it also seems like jimmy is naturally good hearted, but extremely skillful in deceit. Whereas chuck is naturally deceitful but skillful at being good at justice.
I have watched all four of your video essays (to date) detailing various aspects of Better Call Saul, and I have to say, first of all, thank you! I need more of this-intelligent, thoughtful, insightful critical thinking and analysis into this, the most intelligent, thoughtful, insightful, and entertaining television show I’ve ever seen. (And I say this even after watching Breaking Bad, which I never thought would be surpassed in quality.) Please keep your video essays coming: I would gladly listen to this sort of thing all day, if possible. Better yet, please tell me you’re thinking of putting these thoughts and insights into book form. 🙂
"It's a real hello-darkness-my-old-friend-moment." ~My favorite line from this vid so far 😂
Your analysis is second to none.
His tactic he explains, almost a refrain, "you get over it." ...he's practicing willful ignorance,but it's a cold comfort that turned his heart to stone. He felt pangs when slippin earlier, as an 'amateur', he justified his wolfish behavior by saying he only preys on other wolves, as you discuss in your Wolves vs Sheep. He has integrated the parts of his personality now to keep slipping, but as a professional criminal who doesn't feel any pangs for slippin on a 'sheep'.....once a person told me they had different friends for different reasons, eventually I found ought they were a scammer- looking back I see that statement as a red flag.
It's also interesting that Jimmy introduced moral language into Mike's advice when he parroted it to Kim because it implies that he has a lot of guilt. He lashed out at Mike because Mike was telling him to take responsibility for his actions, and since many of those actions were unethical Jimmy perceived that responsibility Mike was talking about as a moral one. Jimmy doesn't want to face the reality of his actions because he doesn't want to face guilt.
Great video. A thought about social/psychological discussion brought up at about 21 mins:
that people expect to overcome psychological troubles with willpower, where people are not expected to do so with physical things (barring maybe running a bit further or gritting through pain).
I think that has a lot to do with willpower is in itself psychological so within the same framework/school. So while I see your point it's naturally a lot closer at hand. Willing yourself to lift 200kgs over your head would be magic
Jimmy was most good hearted character in the show behind all his charismatic charming facade
I love watching these BCS deep dives. I would love to see one some time focused on Kim!
Dude we need part 3 ASAP!!!
Coming this Friday :) get ready~~
holy shit i cant wait for part 3 sub earned watching part one soon
love this channel.
so underrated
Mike is my favorite charecter from the franchise and is what I would imagine a real life Johan Liebert would be like if Mike lost his humanity and sympathy.
Chuck sabotaged Jimmys lawful career for year through Howard and made him lie for Chuck. Chuck was no better.
This is awesome I liked subscribed and am commenting for the algorithm. Very smart. I love this show and analysing it with others.
Hi, I'm new to the internet. Can you please help me understand what no one else has answered yet: why would someone comment, " I can't watch the video, but I'm liking and commenting for the algorithm!" What is the purpose of this?
@@icu3869 engagement for the creator to make a video more popular and show it on more peoples feeds, to spread the word.
I love your work, thank you.
I like to think Chuck didn't tell Jimmy about his mom calling for him at her deathbed to spare Jimmy the pain of thinking that his mom wanted to see him right before dying, but he was out to get sandwiches.
It plays into his role as taking into charge and being almost a dad for Jimmy. He doesn't cry in front of Jimmy to maintain his role. Maybe he doesn't tell him to spare him the pain, fitting with his role as a dad.
His aim to teach Jimmy the right lesson constantly also fits with this role. Idk, I see their relationship as this much more than a brotherly relationship
Nah I think Chuck didn't tell him because he was jealous. Chuck thinks very highly of himself and hates that Jimmy is the one that people talk about
@@ephemeralenhancement9445 i agree with this. Would Chuck, with any other family or relative, spare them the pain? I personally think no. Hed be the type to let the person who missed it know someone's last words no matter how painful it is to them unless it tramples on his pride.
I always think all our main characters broke bad to feel or find love somewhat (in reality, destruction is their way of finding intimacy, intimacy with an enemy, because then theyd finally know them better but negatively). I like saying this a lot with the BrBa universe: they burned their villages to feel their warmth.
I'm feeling there's going to be a reveal with Kim's past where this is nearly literally true.
Particularly great comparison of Mike and Jimmy's version of "bad choice road" and what Mike was really getting at, great video.
These videos are phenomenal(?). Keep it up, Cheers!
was waiting for this vid way to long smh almost had to call saul!
54:50 It was implicit to me that Gus told Mike about Max and a lot more. It is shown right after that when Mike gets out of one of Gus's cars that he is now a part of his army - not to say its leader. They are now allies, and Mike stands by Gus until the end.
i subscribed after one minute and 8 seconds. this is awesome.
I never realised how good this series was when I watched it, but when you explain it, it opens my eyes!