Better Call Saul Season 6: Nippy (ANALYSIS & REVIEW)

[@johnkelly748]

This week’s ending reminded me of last week’s wine bar scene with Gus. Both Gus and Jimmy/Saul are enjoying moments which have given them pleasure in the past. They then realize that this is a way of life that’s now forever closed to them and they have to simply acknowledge that fact and walk away.

[@LifeIsAStory]

Absolutely. That’s a great observation

[@sitori663]

I thought the same thing! Bittersweet.

[@corneliustalmadge6711]

It’s amazing Carol Burnett’s career has spanned from the original Twilight Zone to Better Call Saul.

[@smugcat2521]

Both great shows just in different eras

[@BonJoviBeatlesLedZep]

When Gene mentions his brother, I feel like it was spun as a lie, but then Jimmy realised "wait... I did have a brother..." and it hit him like a ton of bricks. 😭

[@FoxUnitNell]

Plus all the pauses were to prolong as well as use body language to engage with the guard as the guy got back up to his feet.

[@quinntoohey406]

Gene leaving the shirt behind, reminded me of Gus leaving the wine bar.

[@dankgoblin9579]

Something I just realised is that the scene of Gene distracting Frank the Security Guard from checking the monitor after Jeff’s huge slip is quite similar to a certain moment in Breaking Bad when Walt distracts Hank from being in his office in order to remove the bug he planted inside his desk photograph frame (5x07 “Say My Name”). In both cases, the emotions weren’t authentic (over-exaggerated at best) but they did manage to sell their inner turmoil by reflecting on true statements regarding the melancholic, despondent state of their personal life. It’s interesting to compare the duality between these two scenes and the circumstances leading up to them.

[@mariguana7918]

I think Saul’s was more authentic because he was still upset afterward when he was alone.

[@1994mrmysteryman]

@@mariguana7918 Well, Saul almost got caught. If the guard had turned around and seen the dude flat on the ground, the game was up

[@skwisgarskwigelf7191]

This last episode felt like an episode of Fargo

[@senor2930]

Yes exactly! Glad I'm not the only one who felt that! It maybe due to the fact that it's in similar snowy midwestern setting.

[@FoxUnitNell]

​​@@senor2930here was also a Fargo TV series. They even delt with a ufo encounter that broke up a shoot out though it may have been mass hypnosis.kzbin.info/www/bejne/nGGbiqZ3ptutfJY

[@gdaymates431]

I would LOVE to know if Cinnabon sales went up over the last few days. I've never had one and I'm a vegan and I desperately wanted one after watching that episode. Lol. The local donut shop will have to suffice.

[@lebecccomputer287]

I’ve definitely been craving Cinnabon since seeing that

[@TomsSauce]

Personally Gene felt very "Jimmy" to me rather than Saul in this episode, which is kind of cool since Episode 9 ended with Jimmy becoming Saul and then we get Gene going back to feeling like Jimmy. Very full circle. Great review too!

[@deadpanduke19]

I didn’t love this episode but this vid makes me appreciate it a lot more. Great work man

[@alejandrocosentino7539]

You are probably too young to know that the glitch in the opening credits is due to VHS tape deterioration. That blue screen appeared when the VHS tape was simply not more readable. Trought the episodes you can see the opening credits looking worse and worse to the point of the blue screen catastrophe.

[@nathanaelweber6734]

I had trouble distinguishing the security guard from Jerry gergich in parks and rec😂

[@LifeIsAStory]

I haven’t seen Parks and Rec so I was spared that trouble. I’ve seen a lot of people say that though lol

[@krisweinschenker598]

I have trouble distinguishing Rhea Seehorn from Elizabeth Montgomery😏😏

[@jennifermeyer704]

It's the same guy, Jim O'Hier.

[@malodi4612]

was searching for a review like this, great job.

[@arenavisionTV]

I love the practicality of your videos. You do a great job. It always feels reviewed not recapped! And I can appreciate that

[@samirdhindhwal7591]

excellent review. very insightful!

[@LifeIsAStory]

Thanks!

[@VQuestHolsters]

thanks for make these I really look forward to your reviews

[@LifeIsAStory]

Appreciate it!

[@NE-Explorer]

I am just mildly overweight and I'll never be caught eating a Cinnabon again in my life

[@RiC_David]

Gotta be quick to not get caught, but these things are to be savoured.

[@Iconoplastt]

As usual Vince and Peter made Carol's character really great and this all just deepens the show and the universe, loved the episode!

[@peridotvideos]

This episode left me with a question, what evidence of the mall con is left for Gene to use if Jeffy decides to come back again? The mall surveillance is erased after 72 hours & after all the goods are sold what's left? There can be any number of reasons to rent a truck from across the state line...

[@droberts1593]

Nice video. I like the idea of Nippy as a metaphor. With regard to the shirt & tie scene at the end, I think the way it was shot (the clothes remaining in focus as Gene recedes in the background) indicates that while Gene may be done with Saul for now, Saul may not be done with him. If it had been shot the opposite way (the camera remaining close in and focused on Gene while the shirt recedes and goes out of focus in the background as he walks away), it would indicate Gene was completely done with his old ways and was walking into some bright new future where the sky's the limit.

[@josephsoto9933]

The author of the book is David Niven....NIVEN pronounced like GIVEN. He was a very famous British actor who won an OSCAR for Best Leading Actor in 1959.

[@arctos49]

It is not pronounced "NYven" but Niven with a soft I. Fine actor who had a good career.

[@TONYGILLEY]

They still need to address the 3 o'clock phone call on Jimmy's Birthday that Franchesca is supposed to answer for him as he will be in hiding as Gene. I can't believe that is just some throw away line or an insignificant moment.

[@krisweinschenker598]

My guess is its Kim 's mom

[@leo5208]

There were too many errors of logic in Nippy for me to consider it a good BCS episode: the change in Jeff's personality compared to earlier portrayals, Gene cutting the wire to and switching off Marion's battery (when just loosening the wire would've made sense), Jeff passing up the $5 million reward to get in the game instead, and the guard who always sat facing away from the monitors at snack time. Still fun to watch -- just not consistent with the quality of the series overall.

[@jeffmaehre7150]

Yeah. Fans usually give a LOT of willful suspension of disbelief when they like something.

[@jackjohnson6339]

it seems he passed up the reward before he was offered to get in the game. he could have turned him in at the mall when Gene confirmed he was Saul. how many days or weeks or months went by without turning him in while Saul found out who this guy was, his address, his mother's routine, and set up his plan etc.

[@Dennzer1]

when just loosening the wire would've made sense)""" that was just so the audience would definitely know what he did, because him just turning it loose would bot have been picked up by many people at all. And you might say they7 could have zoomed in and did some cinematography, but then it would look like and episode of CSI, not BCS.

[@bmyra]

I absolutely agree. Such bad writing. I like the episodes that followed it though.

[@fictionnerd78]

While I do get your points and I’m glad you’re raising them, there’s a lot I have to say: 1. That’s understandable, but I don’t find it entirely unreasonable to operate under the belief that the Jeff we originally met was more of a facade, a blowfish, if you will that Jeff put on to mask his cowardice. Jeff’s change is definitely jarring, don’t get me wrong, but I think they did an adequate job writing wise. 2. This is another fair point, but I still think it makes sense because Jimmy doesn’t want to take any chances. Yes, he could’ve just loosened the wire, but I think he wanted to ensure without a doubt that he would nothing would go wrong. 3. I’ve seen others raise this point and while I do understand it and it is a fair point, personally, I think Jeff passing up the $5 mil for an admission into the game makes perfect sense. The show establishes that he’s always yearned for a criminal life style and he’s clearly smart enough to know that less money now means more money later. While it’s probably not realistic, personally, I find his actions sufficiently justified by his characterization. 4. I see your point, but the show establishes that he’s a rather gullible man, so I personally find it sufficiently logically justified that he would face away from the cameras at that time because he’s simply not very good at his job. But this is still a fair point either way. All in all, these are all great points and I’m glad people are raising them, but personally, I think the show sufficiently accounts for them writing wise. But that’s just my take and I can see why others might disagree.

[@poisonoak2719]

I actually wonder if Nippy might be Kim - not forgetting she is from Nebraska, what if she went home and is in Omaha, and Saul found her with a family, a happy ending?

[@Boaz833]

Why do I get the feeling Jeff's mom is more than she seems? Is it possible she knows or at least suspects something?

[@hankhell5663]

Nippy was refreshing and harkens back to the series innocent beginnings in the first season. I really enjoyed it

[@senor2930]

Yeah, it truly felt like Jimmy came back to his natural element, smart & quirky guy who fixes his problems cleverly. He could've got Jeff killed if he was like Walt. But he chose a much better way to deal with him. Cause he is smarter.

[@MauriceSaxonville]

@@senor2930 Until he started stalling in front of the security guard when Jeff was down, I thought he was dead and that it was Jimmy's plan hahaha. I was thinking he'd scuffed his shoe in the shop on purpose (knowing the maintenance man's routine). What a rollercoaster lol

[@kylewarren5268]

Why did everyone think episode 10 is where Walt would show up?! I'd guess in the last 2 episodes and POSSIBLY the 3rd to last episode. Episode 10 is waaaaay too early to bring in the guys we all want to see. I'd say we see Jesse before Walt even

[@RiC_David]

One of the writers tweeted that they would, shortly before it aired. Plus 609 ended wth us in the BrBa timeline, so it made sense.

[@duncan3932]

Probably because episode 9 seemed to set up a return to the breaking bad universe? And the plot summary for the episode was ‘a new player enters the game’

[@williet.3058]

Well, I'm a classic movie fan, so color or b&w doesn't matter to me at all. The problem with the episode, however, is that it's practically pointless and nothing that couldn't be revealed through a short scene or two. The showrunners are again making the mistake of the Last Jedi and the likes. They may want to try a different path for the character, or a different pace, or just make one episode with the whatever the heck they want. But this is the final part of the final season, and the audience needs the brilliant showdowns like Gus's and Lalo's or Howard's. Making the last episodes about Gene's boring (after)life would be a terrible mistake, even if some enjoy his character and arc. This is the same as introducing a new topic in the final paragraph of an essay. You've had plenty of character building episodes, so please conclude this amazing *crime* show the way it deserves.

[@solarmoon1054]

can we talk about SNOW that is next to trees with full leaves?? its so bad

[@magnusbjorklund2029]

Jimmy should have been an actor and/or director shooting movies or commercials.

[@crowtservo]

I’m in Iowa, right across the river from Wisconsin. I thought the line “They can keep it in Wisconsin” was funny as hell.

[@andrelin4345]

I disagree with him being Saul Goodman under a different name here. As Saul, he likes what he does and keeps helping his clients. Here, he isn’t happy when the heist succeeds; he’s relieved that Jeff is appeased. He ends his partnership with Jeff right after too. He’s not naïve like Jimmy, but he isn’t steeped in the game like Saul. He’s Gene, working towards a happy ending.

[@MistyDusker]

I think Jeff slipping made Gene believe he may have killed him. Just like how his cons had connections to the deaths of Howard and Chuck. Hell. His last con with Marco ended in Marco's death as well. So when he takes a breath he's probably grateful Jeff survived. Maybe Marion is right about Gene being a good influence and giving Jeff some perspective: you're alive so leave crime behind and support your mother.

[@ianbullphoto1]

If Marion was in Albuquerque with Jeff then there is no way she doesn't know that Gene is Saul.

[@dheerajgolani8275]

How did gene know Marion is Jeff's mom??

[@claymac7895]

I believe we are going to see Walt teaching high school chemistry and Jessie Pinkman in his class.

[@ChristmasKathy]

New subscriber! 😀

[@kremesauce]

Was not a fan of the Jeff recast and how they completely changed his character

[@smugcat2521]

ok

[@taopaille-paille4992]

Me too

[@krisweinschenker598]

Don't ever watch "Bewitched" then

[@alvo-oooo]

@@krisweinschenker598 That was the entire plot of one episode of The Burns and Allen Show where neighbor Harry Morton walked out the door and back in as a different actor.

[@theresamoore7623]

A royals bag being a nod to Kim is kind of a reach since he is in the home state of the royals.

[@charliemullins6691]

Kansas City is not in Nebraska

[@theresamoore7623]

@@charliemullins6691 The Royals farm team is in Omaha. Closest MLB team.

[@Foolerer]

Saul cannot be Gene for too long. He is going to turn into another Walter White.

[@JustAWriter12]

Great analysis as always! I'm a screenwriter and I love these types of videos because it helps me get better professionally. Kudos to you, my brother! Keep up the good work! Subscriber here with bells ringing!

[@skatefan9495]

Niven, as in given.

[@BooksForever]

Bingo!

[@pavanatanaya]

Call that phone number on Nippy's poster

[@ponyal7041]

there is no way they could have stole that much merchandise in that little time… major plot hills…can no one else see that?

[@bmyra]

There were tons of plot holes. It was a poorly written episode.

[@fictionnerd78]

@@bmyraWhat plot holes were there?

[@fictionnerd78]

While I can see why you might say that, respectfully, I firmly disagree. Imho, them being able to steal that much merchandise in that little time makes perfect sense. They rehearsed it ahead of time, had a specific carriage spot to ensure that they could effectively transport the clothes , so I find it more than logical that they’re able to steal so much so quickly. I can definitely see why others would disagree, but I find the scene more than narratively justified by the surrounding context. But that’s just my personal take.

[@mcgibs]

Lalo's judgement of him was correct.

[@martinhousemuse]

Saul is not done with Marion or Kathy. They went out of their way to show you that these two were not easily trifled with. Kathy held on to that invoice with Gene's phone number on it, and she's not one to miss details, as per noticing the scuff on the floor. I am confident that Marion and Kathy will end up cornering Gene and his con.

[@taopaille-paille4992]

He'll maybe have to send both of them to Belize

[@tab207]

It was an enjoyable episode but it was a stupid move to change the actors who played Jeff. & none of these review channels are even talking about it. HELLO ITS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PERSON WITH A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PERSONALITY. Why the change Vince?!?! Big let down, first time i've been really disappointed with this show.

[@jennifermeyer704]

Don Harvey was busy doing something else. It's hard to get a commitment for a small part over 4 seasons. Also, there was a pandemic, Bob had a heart attack, AMC scheduled that gap between Part A and B of season 6. I thought Pat Healy did a great job. He also was one of the initial auditioners for the part. Also, Jeff first sees Gene in this episode in his Mom's kitchen. Change of the power dynamic, which explains the "different personality".

[@imhopelesslyaddictedtofent4266]

I was confused who he even was the whole episode

[@claymac7895]

I have no desire to see the Breaking Bad timeline. We already saw what happens then. I want to see what happens before and after Breaking Bad. I believe we will get a shot of Walt as a chemistry teacher with Jessie Pinkman as a student.

[@alvo-oooo]

I think the entire Breaking Bad storyline fits between the previous episode and this one. The last three episodes need to transition Saul into Breaking Bad and to link the end of Breaking Bad to Gene. We have yet to learn why Gene is in hiding. From who? Not the Salamancas, they're all dead. Not Gus Fring, he's dead. Not Todd and his uncle, they're dead. Not Walter White, he's dead. There's no reason the DEA would want him. IRS? You don't go into hiding over taxes.

[@binuphilip2994]

Personally I really disliked the Nippy episode and did not care for a single character aside from Gene..whom I don't really need to see any more of. I can't believe I paid for this episode. This episode stunk much worse than rotten mackerals.

[@alvo-oooo]

You mean worse than Wisconsin Cheddar?😁

[@binuphilip2994]

@@alvo-oooo Haha! I enjoy sharp Wisconsin cheddar and I think Carol Burnett is a treasure. This episode however was rotten stinking putrid mackerel. Dont care how many call backs it may seed in the future. Not worth it to me.

[@bmyra]

Yep horribly written episode. Like a bad first draft in a writing class.

[@drewlavay]

All these different elaborate fan theories with all these potential shocking conclusions to the Jeff character. Just to have the actual episode present Jeff as a loser and non-threatening for the most part. Hopefully I'm wrong and Jeff gets revisited, maybe as having some connection to Kim. But my gut tells me he won't be...and that's the last time we'll see him. Ever since the Lalo ending I've been worried..

[@jiml8637]

I have new leaks if you want to be the one to report on it

[@riparianlife97701]

It was so dark, I could barely see it. Anyone else have that problem?

[@stefanstefan23]

Spoiler warning: Kim will be back, Skyler will be back. Walt and Jesse obviously. There will be another Gene scene in the next episode. Oh and Gene will face some further health issues in the final episode. Mark My Words

[@taopaille-paille4992]

What about Walter Jr

[@gymzilla12]

This was more boring than breaking bads fly episode. Thought it was impossible.

[@mikethomas4193]

The show should be congratulated on making a very thin five minutes stretch for a whole episode. Transported back to the dreary world of... as you say Life is A Story...I presume the issue for any writer/TV/filmmaker is to make the dreary engaging? A skill wholly absent here.

[@wilsonle61]

I love the show, but this is a fine example of where the BB & BCS writers sometimes get too cute by far and lose the plot.

[@haraldfeiden1259]

How?

[@senor2930]

How did they lose the plot? I wanted to see more of Gene timeline. I got exactly that. Jimmy/Saul timeline concluded in E9. Stop harkening over BrBa stuff. They are doing a fan service by bringing Jesse & Walt on. But we could do without them imo. Also, I think there may be no Jesse afterall, just Walt because on IMDB, I can only see Bryan Cranston & not Aaron Paul.

[@wilsonle61]

@@haraldfeiden1259 I'm not sure yet, I just feel vaguely disconnected. I guess the next two episodes will tell for sure. I hear the next episode is called...wait for it...."Braking Bad".

[@krisweinschenker598]

And you're an example of why many people shouldn't be voicing their opinions on the internet

[@wilsonle61]

@@krisweinschenker598 And people like you are why we can't have nice pleasant conversations on the internet.

[@mrwatcherman1124]

I loved this episode. But it's not perfect. I still don't see how Jimmy is Saul now. I still don't see him casually suggesting to kill people. And now I'm afraid now that we're in Gene territory they're just gonna gloss over it. The episode it self was great but someone else pointed out a possible plot hole. If Jeff wants to be a criminal to get money why doesn't he just turn Saul in to get the reward? Is he in it for the thrill as well? I don't understand how Gene found out where Jeff's mom lives. Finding people was Mike's forte. Not Saul's. I don't buy it. Needs more of an explanation. I didn't like Jeff's recasting. Felt like a different character. He just came across as to much of a push over. The heist itself was fun to watch. I was on the edge of my seat most of the time. I also really felt the absence of Kim. When Kim is around you always have the feeling that things are probably gonna be ok. That if Jimmy screws up then Kim will be around to help bail him out. Somehow, someway. Not this time. She's gone and if something goes wrong it could be the end for Gene. I miss her. But I know they'll bring her back. And about your take on Nippy. I like it. But I also like this other take I heard. That Nippy is meant to foreshadow Kim's return. Kim left Jimmy like Nippy left Gene in his story. But Nippy was only a few houses down living with a new family. Maybe this foreshadows that Kim lives close to Gene and is living happily with a new family. I agree more with the second take. Gene seeing Kim living with her family happily without him would be so heartbreaking. But maybe it's what Gene deserves.

[@dennisskyden]

I‘m confused. Did I overlook something or why do I not know who is Jeff? In the end it came out that he also was in Albuquerque and Jimmy and Jeff knew each other… would someone pls explain 😂

[@michelangelobuonarroti916]

Different actors for same character, but Jeff outed Gene at the mall.

[@dennisskyden]

@@michelangelobuonarroti916 alright, got it. Thanks!

[@gelmibson883]

Was fn boring....good review as always anyway.

[@omarsabir1210]

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[@KevinLuper99]

Go watch breaking bad if you want "pewpewpew" and "Jesse we have to cook" or whatever shit.

[@Alex-qj6ki]

You are acting like breaking bad is just pure action and no drama...

[@LifeIsAStory]

Thanks 🙏

[@chadross]

It could have been so much "worse" though. I thought it was a brilliant episode, but an average crew and director might've made it boring. All the cinematography and Gene development was brilliantly done. I think you just got spoiled with the last 3 episodes being all action and intensity. That said, Gene watching the cameras during the heist was intense as hell.

[@ChosenOne6666]

This show has personally been a disappointment. The show literally need another show to give context.

[@omarsabir1210]

Filtered

[@ChosenOne6666]

@@omarsabir1210 Allurah snackbar

[@wheeliesmalls9464]

Breaking Bad? Lol just go watch that

[@ChosenOne6666]

@@wheeliesmalls9464 You have never seen Better Call Saul

[@Chud_Bud_Supreme]

@@ChosenOne6666 LiDdErAlLy

[@GrannyGamer1]

Not a pleasant woman. She's independent, rough around the edges.... This says a hell of a lot more about your outdated stereotypes about elder, disabled women than it says about the character.

[@jamesbell1613]

Nippy was awful. The recast was terrible.

[@Avital4414]

I saw no signs that Gene/Saul/Jimmy enjoyed the scam in this episode.

[@LifeIsAStory]

Not when Jeff walks in? Not when he’s in the mirror after the phone call or when he’s running the training course? Seems pretty clear that he did to me. It’s not as fun as it used to be with Kim, but he’s enjoying it.

[@Avital4414]

@@LifeIsAStory I thought his affect was completely flat. That’s one of (several) reasons I didn’t enjoy the episode.