What are we watching these days?

[LennG]

It's pretty challenging to watch and fully appreciate Better Call Saul if you have never seen Breaking Bad, isn't it?

Better Call Saul could be, literally, the best show on TV right now. It is so well written, so well acted, so well photographed and filmed, it is just great.

You could definitely watch BCS without ever having watched BB--ask Ed, who didn't watch BB but is a fan of BCS. Many of the characters in BCS are from BB and in certain situations, you know that certain characters aren't going to die as they are in BB, but, a gain, I simply cannot stress it enough times, Better Call Saul will go down as one of the greatest TV series ever. Just the3 way it is filmed and presented is something special.
If you do decide to watch it, you have to stick with it as it does go at a very quick pace at times. It is funny, serious, and brutal many times, as with BB don't get attached to too many characters.

Don't know how much you know about the character-Saul Goodman, who becomes an instant classic character on Breaking Bad. BCS tells of how he morphed from a mild-mannered, weak, just passing the bar, lawyer Jimmy McGill into the antihero Saul Goodman.

Just in a few words MUST WATCH.

[LennG]

Two shows I've never watched will make many of you gasp. I haven't seen "Better Call Saul" or "Breaking Bad". I started watching Breaking Bad a couple times and just couldn't get into it. I also tried Better Call Saul about five years ago and just dropped out for reasons that I can't remember (pre-Covid I had an active social life)

Regardless, last night I finally gave "Better Call Saul" another chance and after four episodes, I love it. So happy to find something to fill my evenings with and to top it off, my girlfriend likes it too so there's no power struggle over the remote 

Ric

I am stunned about this news.       

Not that you are watching BCS but that your girlfriend likes it also. I'm glad though. As I said in my previous post, just the cinemaphotography is worth the watch. It is truly fantastic the angles and the way the entire show is filmed. Again, as I said, like BB, it does get brutal at times--they are messing with the Mexican drug cartel and people die--quite often, but, again, like Bb that is the adventure of this show. And Bob Odenkirk has become a major player and he gets better every season.

Really, enjoy this most wonderful series and if you have any questions, say about past characters, just ask, many of us were huge fans of BB and will help explain any connections. BCS is still a stand-alone series though.

[Jolly Blue Giant]

Better Call Saul could be, literally, the best show on TV right now. It is so well written, so well acted, so well photographed and filmed, it is just great.

You could definitely watch BCS without ever having watched BB--ask Ed, who didn't watch BB but is a fan of BCS. Many of the characters in BCS are from BB and in certain situations, you know that certain characters aren't going to die as they are in BB, but, a gain, I simply cannot stress it enough times, Better Call Saul will go down as one of the greatest TV series ever. Just the3 way it is filmed and presented is something special.
If you do decide to watch it, you have to stick with it as it does go at a very quick pace at times. It is funny, serious, and brutal many times, as with BB don't get attached to too many characters.

Don't know how much you know about the character-Saul Goodman, who becomes an instant classic character on Breaking Bad. BCS tells of how he morphed from a mild-mannered, weak, just passing the bar, lawyer Jimmy McGill into the antihero Saul Goodman.

Just in a few words MUST WATCH.

Thanks Lenn - already deep into it. Thanks for heads up on "don't get attached to a character". It's what got me to finally stop watching Blacklist...which I can tell you also, is one of the best TV series ever and is addictive

Once I'm through with BCS, I'll probably give BB another try

[DaveBrown74]

I have watched BB, but it was a while ago, so I may need a refresher. Unlike with the Sopranos and a few other shows, I have never re-watched any of Breaking Bad, so it has been a long time.

I have heard nothing but unanimous high praise for BCS, so I will definitely watch it. I'm in the middle of two other series right now though, and there is a limit to how much I want to be in the middle of at the same time, as this tends to result in me forgetting about a series and just losing touch with it. I watch a fair amount of sports, so I only have so much time for other stuff. I'll strongly consider delving into BCS once I am done with what I am currently watching.

[LennG]

I'm not sure who posted about the new AMC series, Dark Winds. I said I would start it once I've finished my other watch and I have. I am now 4 episodes in and I do like it. I thought, from some of the previews, it would be more active, but it really isn't that, but I have always been a sucker for westerns, even though this isn't in the genre, but I love the way they show the Indians and their lives compared to what we think of as decent living.
Maybe the biggest plus, at least for me, is the film location, Monument Valley. I have spoken about this place several times, have posted many of my pics from here and I consider it one of the top 5 places one must see if traveling around the USA. It is truly spectacular. Even the shots from the show do not do it justice.

[LennG]

I have watched BB, but it was a while ago, so I may need a refresher. Unlike with the Sopranos and a few other shows, I have never re-watched any of Breaking Bad, so it has been a long time.

I have heard nothing but unanimous high praise for BCS, so I will definitely watch it. I'm in the middle of two other series right now though, and there is a limit to how much I want to be in the middle of at the same time, as this tends to result in me forgetting about a series and just losing touch with it. I watch a fair amount of sports, so I only have so much time for other stuff. I'll strongly consider delving into BCS once I am done with what I am currently watching.

I know exactly what you mean about getting into too many shows at the same time. I tend to forget from week to week so I like to wait until I get most on the DVR and then binge-watch. I always say I want to do that with BCS, but it is so good, that I just can't wait.

I'm also like you, in that, I watched BB right from season 1, episode 1 when no one knew what the hell I was talking about when I told people to watch it. AND, like you, I have never gone back to rewatch the entire series, so when BCS started, I was sort of weak on who was who that had appeared in BB and now BCS. It didn't take long to get reacquainted and just join the fun. I have, on occasion, watched episodes of BB when AMC repeated the series and rewatched some of them, once again realizing how great a series it was.
It is something I really should do, but my wife won't watch so there are many hours by myself and I see so many other things I also want to try, so maybe one day...........

[DaveBrown74]

I'm not sure who posted about the new AMC series, Dark Winds. I said I would start it once I've finished my other watch and I have. I am now 4 episodes in and I do like it. I thought, from some of the previews, it would be more active, but it really isn't that, but I have always been a sucker for westerns, even though this isn't in the genre, but I love the way they show the Indians and their lives compared to what we think of as decent living.
Maybe the biggest plus, at least for me, is the film location, Monument Valley. I have spoken about this place several times, have posted many of my pics from here and I consider it one of the top 5 places one must see if traveling around the USA. It is truly spectacular. Even the shots from the show do not do it justice.

I think that may have been me, Lenn. I was certainly one of the ones talking about it. I am involved in that and also "Old Man" right now. Those are the two series I'm on. I think both are definitely good.

[Sem]

IMO even though BCS is a prequel I found, for me anyway, I'm really glad I watched BB first. Knowing where the characters ended up (in BB), it's been really great seeing how they got there, which is reversed as far as how character development generally transpires. For instance Saul's character in BB was very compelling. But, I found it fascinating to see just how he got there. But not only that, BCS has non-linear storytelling containing pre-BB story-line,(obviously), but also has post BB segments that may leave the viewer somewhat confused if they haven't first seen BB.

Also, I have to echo what Len said re: BCS cinematography - it's top notch. The use of camera angles, colors, pacing, sound, and music all lend to an excellent viewing experience. I've previously mentioned here several times that I will occasionally re-watch episodes without the sound, just to fully appreciate what I'm seeing. I have no doubt that BCS will be used as teaching / film study material for years to come. I have not been this enthralled by the presentation of cinematography since my discovery of Alfred Hitchcock movies.

**I have yet to watch the most recently released BCS episodes, so no spoilers PLEASE.

[MightyGiants]

I will say this about Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, and Stranger Things.   I started watching all three based on chatter and recommendations from friends.   None of them sucked me in immediately. Yet the longer I watched any of these, the better I liked them, and eventually, I was hooked on all 3.

[Jolly Blue Giant]

A couple of quick simple questions as I'm a little confused. Are the characters in BCS prior to their roles in BB or vice versa?

I was definitely not aware that some of the characters are in both, so another question: do they have the same name and play the same role in both shows or are they just the same characters, but different names and different roles?

Is it better to watch one before the other?

[MightyGiants]

BCS is the prequel to Breaking Bad.  While I guess you could enjoy BCS on it's own, I think you do lose many references if you don't watch Breaking Bad first

[Jolly Blue Giant]

BCS is the prequel to Breaking Bad.  While I guess you could enjoy BCS on it's own, I think you do lose many references if you don't watch Breaking Bad first

thanks, but if BCS is a prequel, how can you lose references in BB which would come later 

[MightyGiants]

thanks, but if BCS is a prequel, how can you lose references in BB which would come later 

Good question, I guess having watched BB first, I find that many answers are given and situations expanded upon in the prequel.  Now that you asked it that way, I guess in theory, you could watch them in order.

It's sort of like the Star Wars movies, which were also told out of order

[Jolly Blue Giant]

Good question, I guess having watched BB first, I find that many answers are given and situations expanded upon in the prequel.  Now that you asked it that way, I guess in theory, you could watch them in order.

It's sort of like the Star Wars movies, which were also told out of order

Yeah, I get it. I'm a huge fan of Vince Flynn books before he passed away far, far too young when he was at his best. After several books, he started writing about the early times of some of the characters I got to know. It worked. Maybe better than if they had been written in chronological order of the years of the characters

Anyway, thanks 

[LennG]

thanks, but if BCS is a prequel, how can you lose references in BB which would come later:-??

OK Ric many of the characters that were in BB, are also in BCS just, let's say, younger versions of them. Not everyone though. They are the same actors etc just revising their roles. Some had minor parts in BB and maybe a more major roe here, others visa versa.

As was said, and I am not giving anything away here, as you get into BCS, Jimmy starts out more involved in silly law things, but as we go on, he gets involved with drug dealers, which is the main theme of BB, so, many of the drug guys from BB, make appearances in BCS. Take a guy like Gus Frigg, who is the main drug guy in BB. He makes an appearance in BCS later on and now has become a big character, as he was in BB. To know his traits etc, may help wih character knowledge but not in enjoying the show.
Other characters make an appearance in BC, like Hank, who was Water White's brother-in-law and a DEA agent. In BB he is a main character and a good one. He makes an appearance in BCS, I think, just to get people to remember him, but if you never saw BB, you wouldn't relate to him. His appearance on BCS won't be any less enjoyable by not knowing who he was, but for fans of BB, it was good to see him.
They have already said that Walter White and Jesse Pickman will make an appearance on BCS so that should bring BCS up to the point of BB in terms of timeline.