I guess I could see it as "slow" but I'm not sure what a "fast" show really is. Slow can be good. Arguments could be made the last two episode of The Walking Dead -a show usually with a lot more action and intensity- have been fairly "slow" since coming back from the hiatus. But both episodes have been good and looking at where the characters currently are. The problem with much modern-TV is that too many shows are "too quick" with episodic crises and events. Wham! Bam! Thank-you, ma'am! Here we seem to be going more for a series-long arc/narrative and exploration of a character. Which can work better in many respects. Gives time to build a story, a world, and explore. Not sure why Saul needed to unspool the paper-towel roll. I would think it'd be just as effective as a voice "scrambler" with the paper on it as it would off of it, and he wouldn't have wasted the paper towels.
I liked episode 3, I don't mind that it's 'Slow'. I loved his process of discovering where the family was hiding. Though I don't know about leaving off on the money bag ripping open. I don't think Saul is trying to do the right thing. In a way he's a little like Walt, he wants to make money for himself but he wants to do it without hurting anyone innocent. But in the end if he ends up needing to hurt an innocent person to protect himself, that's fine. The show is still leaning too heavily on the audience's recognition of BB characters. We know, as Breaking Bad fans, that the reason Mike didn't press charges is that he wants Nacho released. But if we hadn't seen Breaking Bad, we wouldn't know that. The writers seem to assume we know that.
This show's a hoot. They should have called it The Adventures and Misfortunes of Jimmy McGill though IMO.
No, I think its the opposite, because your a BB fan you assume Mike wanted Nacho to be free. There is nothing to indicate that this Mike, in 2002, is working for anyone (like Gus, Tucco, etc..). I would think that Mike is actually working in the booth and his association with Jimmy/Saul gets him connected more to the underworld of ABQ and then eventually connected to Gus. There was nothing about last nights episode that shows Mike intentionally trying to get involved with Nacho's case. So in some ways, being a BB fan (like me) can lead to assumptions about the plot that may not be true. If you forget about BB, and look at this as a new viewer, there is really nothing here that you have to know about BB to understand. I think the writers are doing a good job of keep it fresh for new viewers.
That's my read of the situation as well. I think what we see with Mike is what we get, and Jimmy will be the reason why Mike gets dragged down into the underworld. Hell, I didn't even consider Mike had any connection to Nacho. *shrug*
I've not watched BB, likely will start watching through it on NF some time soon. My read of the situation is maybe Mike began seeing more of the kind of person/lawyer Saul is and more-or-less agreed with his take on what was happening with Nachos, and saw the mistakes the cops were making in the investigation. Basically what he said in the stairwell, he thought Saul was right and didn't need to be arrested/punished for the altercation they had. I think it's the start of a beautiful friendship. Seems his, "never want to be far from home" was a poignant thing to say that ties into his back story revealed in BB, delved into more in this series.
I don't think Mike got 'Dragged' into the underground. It was a conscious choice he made. True, maybe at this point he just hadn't had the opportunity yet, but he certainly didn't get involved against his will. And Saul shouldn't find out Gus' name until BB era. But didn't you catch Mike perk up when Nacho's name was mentioned? And, does Mike strike you as the kind of guy who would decide not to press charges just out of the goodness of his heart? Or, the kind of guy who the best job he could find is a toll booth operator? He doesn't want Nacho pressed to make a deal. I think he's in the booth because he's keeping an eye on something.
The first five minutes of Breaking Bad is loaded with action, tension, mystery, and emotion, and it's just about the best opening to a TV series I have ever seen. The second episode ended with a half-dissolved body falling through the ceiling. The third episode saw Walt murder Krazy-8. With respect, I think it is you who has a cloudy memory about just how great Breaking Bad was right out the gate. The first season may have been slower than the last couple, but it was plenty eventful, innovative, and emotionally charged. Better Call Saul is off to a great start and so far seems like it is going to be a worthy successor. It has lacked the same sort of iconic moments that BrBa had in its first three episodes, although Jimmy's negotiating with Tuco came close. But so far it has been engaging and has had some great twists, and I'm very interested in seeing where things are going.
On this point, you're right. Getting "dragged" into the underworld is a poor word choice on my part. Becoming involved (or more involved) is probably a better choice.
Dragged into the underworld? Was there a French Puzzle Box in that duffel bag under all that cash. (I finished watching that webseries and it was fantastic.)
Feels more like he's "stumbling" that way as it's becoming the path of least resistance. One thing I don't *quite* get and maybe I'm just clueless on how these things work or something, but in the first episode we see that working as a public defender he gets paid $700 per case. Is it me or does that seem like a *really* damn good living?! I'm sure he's got a mountain of student loans or something to pay off since it looks like he got his law degree fairly late in life and he's having to help and support his brother to some degree or another but... $700 per case? Even if he only does 2 or 3 cases a week he's pulling down over $70K a year! Hell even a one case a week is $32,000 is $36K/year which is perfectly middle class. And it seems like a lot of these cases, as presented in the first episode and in the montage in the second episode, are one-shot deals. He could be doing one of these a day! Hell, if he's simply there to advise a defendant, get a plea, or just to be with them as the plead guilty and simply have representation he could be doing a couple of these a day. How is it he's struggling so much to keep his head above water? Seems his brother was a named partner in a large law firm so certainly he has plenty of money sitting around so Saul can't be needing to support him too much. Again, I think sooner or later it'll come his way that these criminals are paying him vastly more to represent them or do shady things for them so getting pay several thousand dollars to help a criminal is better than getting paid a few hundred dollars to help some DB in superior court, but it sort-of seems like he's got a decent gig where he's at.
Depends how many cases you take. It did seem in Breaking Bad that Mike had been with Gus for a long time. I suppose six years is on the long end of possible amounts of time, but Gus sure trusted Mike completely. I definitely see James learning that he's much better in shady cases than he is in normal cases and becoming a 'Criminal' lawyer. I just don't see a disgraced cop choosing this particular job. If Mike wasn't already a criminal wouldn't he be running a security company or something? Unless he was resigned to just live out the rest of his life calmly and then Kaylee's parents suddenly lost their jobs or something. She's 4 right now, right?
True, but as I said, doing two cases a week would get him around $70K a year, not too shabby even in today economy, in 2002 it'd be even better.
You're forgetting about annual retainers, and how much it costs to rent that office space, however since it's Albuquerque and not New York, they probably own the building since this adventure is not all happening on a tiny Island where most of the buildings are 60 years old.
No, they do not relate directly together look like that. You will be fine watchi g saul. There is an added layer of story your missing but that isnt required.
I assumed that he was being paid as an independent contractor, so the check is the gross. He will have to pay his own income and self-employment (social security and Medicare) taxes. So the $700 will probably end up around $450.