Now that Better Call Saul is over for the year, any comments? SPOILER ALERT!!!

[Sheldon Cooper]

This post contains spoilers, you've been warned!

Let me start by saying that I like the show. I really do.

However, I have to admit that the first season has left me a bit flat. Last night's show, in particular, was pretty lame, especially for a season finale. The Bingo meltdown was a bit overdone, and the return to grifting in Chicago went on way too long. I also don't think it was very effective in showing what made Jimmy turn away from the partner-track job at the big law firm in Santa Fe.

This show is so uneven - some of the episodes were really pretty good, and others, like last night, not so much. I know that the writers are giving themselves plenty of time to thoroughly develop the characters, back story, etc. but it really seems to be dragging. There was no cliffhanger last night, or any other major issue that needs to be resolved. It was kind of anti-climactic, to be honest.

I have confidence in Gilligan, et al to make this a great show, so I'll definitely tune in for Season 2. I keep reminding myself that Breaking Bad didn't start to reach true greatness until the second half of their second season, so I remain hopeful.

Anyone agree? Or am I just a turd in the punchbowl?

[calikid]

1. I agree with every word n/t.

[Sheldon Cooper]

2. Thanks. I was thinking that maybe I was the only one feeling a bit let down.

[femmocrat]

3. I was disappointed in the finale, too.

Your review pretty much sums it up. I didn't mind the scenes in Chicago, though. I get tired of his gloomy brother, so I thought it was a break from all that darkness. Marco's death represented the end of his old life. He has buried "Slipping Jimmy" and is ready to move on. As for the job in Santa Fe, I think he fears that he will never measure up and has decided to go his own way. I guess. LOL

[Sheldon Cooper]

4. As Marco died, he whispered to Jimmy that it had been the best time of his life.

Living on the straight and narrow path was nowhere near as much fun as their grifting was. And I think the writers were trying to show that Jimmy took that to heart and turned away from the nameless corporate drone job that awaited him in Santa Fe, and decided to pursue the work that would really make him happy.

Or, as you said, it could be that the death of Marco led to the death of Slippin' Jimmy, too. Either way, kind of a let down.

[bvf]

5. Agreed--good review.

But, like you, I'm willing to give it time.

I'm looking forward to seeing where Jimmy's relationship with Chuck goes (hope the writers haven't shut that door just yet, despite the strong hints they might have with Jimmy's hand-off to Hamelin last night).

I also wouldn't mind another episode or two centered on Mike's character. I really like Jonathan Banks. Great bad-ass with a reason.

[Sheldon Cooper]

6. I want to see WAY more of Mike.

He's so interesting in a dark way, and knowing his eventual fate makes it all so tragic.

Jimmy doesn't seem to be able to totally break from Chuck, else he wouldn't be parked outside his house, making sure that he's being cared for. I haven't heard that Michael McKean won't be back for Season 2, so I imagine he'll turn up again.

Definitely waiting for next season!

[valerief]

8. I'm sure more Mike-featured episodes will happen. He doesn't die until Breaking Bad and he's

such a favorite.

Of course, we might meet another favorite next season--GUS! Maybe even Jesse.

[valerief]

7. Love the show and looking forward to next season.

Now that Jimmy has truly broken off with his brother, as shown in the last scene of the finale when he doesn't go in for the job interview, we can watch him evolve into Saul. That's the cliffhanger. We learned why he'd become Saul. His brother is an asshole. Why should Jimmy do the right things and just get fucked over? Why shouldn't he be his OWN asshole? Next, we'll learn how. I wonder if we'll meet his ex-wife in upcoming season.

One thing I love about the Jimmy character is that he has such a non-threatening voice. It's not deep and rich like Mike's, an inherently scary voice. Jimmy's is light and scratchy and not the least bit scary. But we know from Breaking Bad, he'll learn to be pretty scary, in his own way. And still have that woosy voice. It's like making the chubby woman the sex symbol in a story. It's shuffling around stereotypes, and I like that.

I liked the Marco slideback and liked that, at the bingo game, Jimmy finally got angry about his brother's betrayal. It had to happen somewhere. It just happened to happen then.

As with Breaking Bad, there've been some episodes I liked more than others, but I'm patient and expect that. When I was a kid eating dinner, I used to save the food on the plate I liked best for last (if I had french fries, green beans, and ham, I'd eat the ham last, because I liked it best). My siblings always ate their favorites first. Different strokes, I guess.

[Novara]

10. His realization that deep down inside he is really Slippin' Jimmy....

....will lead him to becoming Saul. He didn't take the fabulous job because he knows deep down inside, and as much as he'd love to have his brother's respect and admiration, he will always be Slippin' Jimmy and his brother will never respect him. This awakening - and the acknowledgment that he will never again let money slip through his fingers by doing the right thing - is how he becomes Saul. As Saul he will understand how to use the law to skirt the law, but he hasn't got there just yet. This is the first giant leap towards that.

[Goblinmonger]

11. I think there is more to it.

It's his line to Mike at the end, "I know why I didn't and I won't do that again." He didn't take the money because he thought his brother would be disappointed. Now he knows his brother is not someone to worry about disappointing so he'll do what he wants that is best for him and not best for his brother or his family name. So, yeah, I'm agreeing that he is realizing that he is Slippin' Jimmy but that is so tied to his view of his brother.

[Novara]

12. I feel sorry for him....

....because he desperately wants his brother's respect and there's no way Chuck will afford him any.

I'm proud of him because he finally realizes that it doesn't matter. He wants to do the right thing because he's a decent person, but he also wants acknowledgment for being a decent person and doing the right thing. He wants it mostly from Chuck. But now he finally realizes that it doesn't matter. That's a wonderful place to be - to realize that having to work so hard for respect that will never come is futile, and it's better to be true to yourself. Much more satisfying.

I am really looking forward to next season!

[Goblinmonger]

13. Me, too.

That penultimate episode when Chuck gives him the speech about not being a real lawyer was heartbreaking.

[Goblinmonger]

9. I kind of like it. It's kind of Shakespearean.

We know this is a tragedy. We know he becomes Saul. We know he ends up making cinnamon rolls in Omaha. Now we just have to find out the how and why.

Being a tragedy, his downfall is going to be based on a tragic flaw and we really kind of know what that is from Breaking Bad where he was at the top of his game, such as it is/was.

So in reality, this show is just the first two and a half acts of a classic tragedy.

As to why it ends like it does--I also kind of like it. He has looked up to his brother as a role model his entire life. Chuck is his savior. Chuck is the noble attorney fighting for what is right and just. But now he learns that Chuck is no better than he is. Chuck is an ass. There is no reason for Jimmy to respect Chuck because Chuck doesn't deserve it. Being a lawyer isn't noble in-and-of-itself. So now he has a decision to make. Marco was more of a brother to Jimmy than Chuck was. Marco looked up to, loved, and respected Jimmy. Why should Jimmy turn his back on all that.

I'm excited for what the following seasons have to offer and how Jimmy turns into Saul.

[Paladin]

14. I damn near gave up on the show, after the first couple of episodes.

But it gained momentum, the time lines became more evident, and I got hooked. Looking forward to a new season and the further evolution of Slippin' Jimmy......

[SoCalDem]

15. I started watching the series....with high hopes, but then stopped

It was too dark... as in bad lighting. Obviously they did it to hide the fact that the guy they tried to "young-up" with make up & wigs, was jarring to watch (for me)..and the storylines turned out to be not all that interesting to me..

I love "The Americans", but the wigs & various disguises are pretty awful..

[fishwax]

16. I've generally liked the first season, but agree that the finale was a little bit flat

I didn't really mind the Chicago stuff, but the turn from there to the ending didn't quite do it for me. But I'm looking forward to the second season.