How Vince Gilligan Crafted El Camino and Breaking Bad

[@thesixfootsixexperience8781]

I love how El Camino uses that flashback to establish that the guy who set up the meth lab was a betting man, so Jesse might’ve been counting on that when going into the gun fight.

[@maneshwarsingh8688]

Who gale beottechier?

[@jandcstopmotion7774]

Maneshwar Singh no one of the welding guys who rips off Todd

[@TomEyeTheSFMguy]

No. Niel Kandy.

[@DragonIsNotASlave]

Vince Gilligan is one of the best in Hollywood of all time.

[@paperchasindude6578]

True

[@theincompetenteditor1310]

True af

[@AlbertoFolres]

And watch out for Sam Esmail and Cary Joji Fukunaga, they're the next jewels of the Hollywood TV Series crown

[@Ratchet2431]

@@AlbertoFolres Noah Hawley also, in my opinion.

[@observer7782]

You damn Skippy the man is a genius

[@scootertart]

Love the style and cinematography of all Vince Gilligan's shows , he always has a knack and good taste of choosing some excellent music as well.

[@paperchasindude6578]

Same here

[@Vman_95]

Yes, it's just like watching another episode of BB🔥💯

[@Aaron8ishop]

As a film student, I learn more about narrative structure through video essays like this than any lecture at my uni... what am I paying for

[@nv_mpala]

Literally

[@L.iamCarroll]

I think you've really nailed it for me, the way Vince Gilligan dives deeply into the way his characters have to solve problems. I love the technical, innovative, genius ways he lets his characters prevail, and you've also made it perfectly clear how he does this all while maintaining a level of mystery throughout. Brilliant analysis. Brilliant source material too!

[@paperchasindude6578]

It's so brilliant

[@Jackspiring]

Wasn’t just Vince they had a team which i think is a crutial reason why it’s so brilliant and fool-proof but yes i agree and i will say his contribution cannot be understated, it just wasn’t the only one

[@gradatim4065]

The most underrated channel on KZbin.

[@curiousworld7912]

Excellent breakdown - again. I love the way Gilligan doesn't spell everything out for us. 'El Camino' gave us more than just 'how does Jesse escape' - it gives him (and us) new villains to be overcome in the Kandy welding shop crew - which was perfect, in that they were the ones who made the dog run that Jesse was attached to, and how he knows there's money hidden in Todd's apartment from the (very painful) back-flashes. Even little details, like the guy who keeps hanging on to the mirror with cocaine on it, are great. (And, just a note - Skinny Pete has to be the best friend, ever.)

[@sammygirl6910]

There's a thread trending on Twitter right now about D&D's writing process where they basically say they based the story/character arcs on the actors and didn't understand most of the characters motivations before they were well in to filming. I realize these weren't characters they created, but it seems pretty telling as far as what went on re GoT v anything in the Breaking Bad universe.

[@sammygirl6910]

This was a panel at Austin Film Festival BTW.

[@runninginsept]

It wasn't that they didn't create the characters - it was that they simply couldn't, or refused to, understand them. In the Austin panel the comment above referred to, D&D actually confessed they didn't know wtf they were doing (in the course of making GOT). In the context of universal acclaim (had GOT S8 gotten any), this panel would have simply been glossy insight and more hero celebration. But the clips from the panel made their way online barely months after GOT wrapped, with fan ire still fresh. So to hear that the very people who were leading the production of a fandom's beloved story, NOT know what they were doing, was sacrilege. It also emerged that they refused writing collaborations from experienced hands when they were offered, essentially tanking GOT single-handedly on their own. I'm so glad they're pretty reviled now, and I hope they never get to work in Hollywood storytelling ever again.

[@Bebop17]

Fantastic breakdown! Love Vince Gilligan, he might be my favorite director.

[@paperchasindude6578]

Ikr

[@dukepeterson9488]

I love the opening shot of Jesse breaking the phone. There's so much anger and grief on his face.

[@internisus]

6:51 "The sense of discovery you have once you eventually piece together on your own how B related to C, C related to D, and realize what the character has been doing this entire time is one of my favorite things about watching Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul." Absolutely, yes. I'm really happy to hear this articulated because I feel the same. Watching these shows can feel like solving a procedural puzzle at times, and it's a joy.

[@longliveavi]

Vince Gilligan is a modern master... Yes. But I just wanna give it up to the way you put this video essay together. Incredible. Thank you for this.

[@paperchasindude6578]

Fax

[@MariaVosa]

Great way of highlighting Gilligan's process - and why it's so compelling (when done with care and talent). I didn't read the scene with Jesse and his parents' safe the same way though - I figured he was after more cash but didn't find any. Just the guns. And that led him to seek out the fake cops. I will also say that I think the showdown was the only scene that rang false to me in the movie. It was disappointing Jesse didn't figure a clever solution (e.g. magnets!) if they refused to give him more money. And it was disappointing that he had to kill to get it, since his entire arc was about getting away from that life. It was also quite weird - what would give the guy the idea to challenge Jesse to a gun fight like this? Nothing in the back story suggested it. I loved everything else about El Camino though, and happy Jesse made it to Alaska.

[@bigbear5767]

The guy that challenged jesse was high on coke

[@fathouse8451]

I think the flashback to the rail/chain rig sets up Jesse's unresolved trauma with the welders, which in my mind gives him enough of a motive to kill in this situation

[@alexman378]

The flashback establishes that the guy was a betting man, so Jesse could be counting on that

[@sivad1025]

It's so frustrating because whenever they start doing something, I want to know, "Why are they doing this!" But when you see the plan in action, it makes it so satisfying because you figure it out as it's going down.

[@jackster330]

What a masterpiece this movie was, every scene was masterful and suspenseful truly unexpected, dont normally take time out of my day to comment on these things but vince gilligan is truly a genius

[@paperchasindude6578]

Tru

[@sivaprakashreddymalam4647]

I love the movie 😍

[@juancavalcanti9613]

You have no idea how much this video helped me

[@pandabearmadness6263]

After finishing up season 5 of better call Saul it got me in the mood to re watch breaking bad I've already watched it a handful of times, but for me the beauty and brilliance of the show is how the Cinematography takes on characteristics of a actual character I feel how certain scene are shot, the scene it's self tells a whole story in it's self. From the color palette to how they cut the show. I feel they put there heart and soul into each shot, the amount of detail that pertains to the breaking bad universe. I feel that the breaking bad story structure is the canvas but what's painted on it. Is what makes breaking bad and better call Saul both cinematic master piece. I do think there are many aspects of the show that really make me love it but this time around I see how beautiful it is. Also for some reason this time around. Certain episodes I found really fucked up. this time around I found hilarious, I want to say maybe the episode where Mr White gets pepper sprayed or maybe it was a different one but a episode between season 1-3 it had me laughing so hard. I'm super binge watching as we speak so my brain is sorta messed up lol. I thought to myself this is funniest tv episode I've ever seen.

[@Raymando]

Your stuff is so great and deserves way more views and recognition. Why has KZbin stopped promoting it?

[@ThomasFlight]

A lot of essayists seem to have issues with inconsistent views. The algorithm seems to either really promote a video or give it almost no promotion. I can’t really figure out why.

[@Raymando]

@@ThomasFlight Have you noticed any common factor in all your most successful videos? Maybe a higher retention leading to more recommendation by KZbin? Or the choice of topic?

[@arthur_r626]

Just saw 3 of your videos and I already love your channel.

[@rsolo04]

Amazing video as always

[@OfTwoLands]

Great video as always !! Man I miss BB.

[@thiccpapas3172]

what a fucking amazing video!! Keep up the great work

[@adithyamenon5207]

I feel Walt's white underwear and Jesse's hyppie hoodie and and beanie made cosplay wayyyy more easier and budget friendly

[@Nexus_Sage]

Great analysis and info. TY!

[@TomEyeTheSFMguy]

I genuinely value this video.

[@charliemcpherson6299]

The tragedy with Jesse is that his trauma will be with him in Alaska, too. You can change your name and move out of town, but nothing can take away what has been done to you.

[@jbilotta]

Great take on Vince’s MO. Interesting.

[@jyjjyc]

It’s crazy a talent like Gilligan was out of work for years and was doing rewrites of Will Smith’s Hancock before we ever met Walter White. The RV meth lab was a joke he threw around if he ever got desperate enough while unemployed.

[@TomEyeTheSFMguy]

Just to clarify, this is the fresh prince of bel air will Smith, right?

[@Rob_-dv6ei]

Just to think that at one point Vince was gonna kill off Jessie in series 1.

[@mtrkprime]

Genius, plain and simple

[@MrTriangleWorld]

5:20 JOE???

[@ChannelCandy]

Thomas states Walter sold meth to pay for chemo, but didn't Walter start selling drugs to give his family enough money to live on after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer?

[@AlexUsernamed_]

He wanted to do both. Pay for his chemo then give his family money.

[@RemixedVoice]

@Mickey Mouse In the last episode he tells Skylar he did it for himself. "I liked it"

[@seaque.]

But he started it for his family. He even said “700.000 dollars, that is all i need.”

[@TomEyeTheSFMguy]

@@seaque. 737,000 dollars

[@ctnkyw]

why the gunfight? i wish we saw these dudes were talked about how they are good at shooting things when the welder flashbacks happens.

[@combustiblelemons9346]

If only some one would synth pure dextro-meth instead of racemic dextro/levo 50/50 cut bullshit. Great analysis, my disappointment in the Mexican superlabs aside..they have the ability to make pure product but they don't. This is truly a tragedy of the drug war that has killed off the art of clandestine chemistry or at least demonized those involved to the extent that any academic revealing their interest in such things is unlikely for obvious reasons.

[@TSDTalks22]

Walter white ghostwrote this comment

[@Eowyn187]

I would love to hear your spin on any Martin McDonaugh movie! Really enjoyed this as well as your Coen brothers one.🎬 👍👍

[@liamdallimore807]

0:02 anyone know the name of the song?

[@ed4253]

They could have made it sooner. For continuity purposes. I'm around the the same age as Aaron Paul and six years can make a difference

[@tidalkingv]

We need a spin-off for Mike.

[@TomEyeTheSFMguy]

I feel like we got enough of Mike's story from both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul

[@seeme8884]

love the lofi music. anyone know the name?

[@stflaw]

Very astute analysis. One observation, though. Not all the plot points in BB were as fully thought out as your analysis implies. For example, when the writers introduced the machine gun early in the final season, they had no idea what they were going to do with it. Seriously. I couldn't believe it when I heard Gilligan say this in an interview. In my opinion, this was a mistake and led them into a forced, unconvincing final resolution that I don't think completely worked.

[@TomEyeTheSFMguy]

What do you mean? The resolution totally worked.

[@Nash9r]

El Camino was entertaining but really added nothing essential. More of an epilogue which could have been included as a small text before the credits of the last episode of BB. Movie was predictable, the climax was ridiculous and Todd distracting. Overall more fan fiction than innovative.

[@Adman-p4j]

Aside from a scene or two - El Camino was a let down for me.

[@Antiformed]

It felt like Vince shared a fandom sensation of wishing they could do a drive-through of that world again without trampling on the finale. That's all it is. A tour through your memories of the show.

[@lennyjay8390]

Couldn't agree more! Especially the whole "getting the money; finding the guy"-plot just feels so tiresome by this point. I really wished Gilligan had found an at least slightly more creative way to tell the story of Jesse's getaway than just have him contact that fucking vacuum-guy again. It's just such a lame get-out-of-jail-card by now. It actually frustrated me and felt cheap

[@augustgreig9420]

@@Antiformed This is extremely accurate. You should copy past this and make it its own comment because it deserves to be seen.

[@depthsofabjection]

@@Antiformed Reasonable point of view to be honest. I liked the movie, but I definitely understand your point

[@Antiformed]

To expand slightly on my point, the movie is called El Camino, because the Camino is the vehicle with which Vince and the audience are able to drive back into the Breaking Bad world, just to get a little glimpse of where others have ended up. I also have no doubt that Better Call Saul will eventually reach its own, similar destination. Once that ends though, I would really like that to be it. Any more than that and it would become bloated, I think.

[@mikibla1]

The reason for el camino is way simpler Lots of money

[@LilacDaisy2]

How have I never heard of El Camino? Guess I just saw the ending, so it doesn't matter, haha.

[@BadMouse101]

mmmm I think we shouldn't be praising El Camino so much. Its good but its unnecessary. BB was all about a building stakes, each stake gets bigger than the last, now we get this underwhelming plot thing which is just tacked on and is effectively just fan material. Doing it as a movie as well just ruins the structure, we spent over 50 hours getting to know these people and now we're given 2 hours to see the conclusion, and learn about these new villains? Really? Its the sign that the TV golden age is coming to an end, instead of focusing on new stories we instead just rehash or redo what's already been done.

[@depthsofabjection]

Well even though the video is about El Camino, its points are still valid because Gilligan and Gould employ these writing techniques throughout BB and BCS, which the video mentions. I wouldn't argue with you on the movie feeling tacked on, cause even though I liked the movie, I get why it would feel that way for others. However, you gotta give it to him on how effectively those 2 hours were used to give Jesse a proper farewell yet still giving us more of that amazing direction, cinematography and classic Breaking Bad tense moments. It's solidly introspective as well to Jesse's emotional and psychological state and how he overcomes them throughout the movie. And aside from all of that, it's just a satisfying epilogue to a character that really deserved it, and that's how I want to think of it. It's not a mindblowing movie, nor is it a movie that can stand alone without BB, but it's simple yet effective.

[@milagroscabrera5304]

aguante skinny pete vieja

[@Dale_Blackburn]

This is the universal way and mathematics of storytelling. This is not about Vince Gilligan.. please add this to your analysis. The conflict element is inside all of the art. Read Nietzsche- Apollon, Dionysus. The two gods represents the nature and culture dichotomy and that dichotomy is on a META LEVEL IN, ALL INSIDE OF ART AND MOVIES, BOOKS. For example: The police forces represents Apollon in this show for me, and the Dionysus is the cancer and Walter White. The unpredicted nature of flesh. And he tries to overcome it as the Apollonic principle does. But also, killing people and liing a materialistic life is also a natural thing. Apollon has some ethics.. he kills for higher purposes.. this is why BR is so good, it does not show the good and the bad sides of this dichotomy..

[@maxjohanni]

El Camino was still an inferior movie compared to the series.

[@depthsofabjection]

In fact, without the series, the movie doesn't make a whole lot of sense and suffers as a standalone piece. However, no one's arguing this point. It's difficult to rise above Breaking Bad's behemoth of a story that keeps escalating. I think of the "movie" as a very satisfying 2-hour epilogue to a character who did not get a proper farewell and really deserved it. It's got the classically amazing Gilligan direction, it's beautifully shot, and the story and action is simple but effective. Nothing to not like. Anyway, not really bashing your point, just elaborating onto it.

[@itsmiguelromero]

The Depths of Abjection If only people’s comment were this rational...

[@timbushell8640]

Background music - way too loud, actually un-necessary. Screws the presentation.

[@CommonSenseABC]

Second!

[@latinocreamking9524]

The Wire is overrated breaking bad and the shield are way better shows

[@linsenli2500]

No no no, The Wire is the opposite of overrated. The Wire and Breaking Bad are on a another level compared to The Shield.

[@latinocreamking9524]

i disagree the shield and breaking bad are way better shows than the wire and sopranos

[@AngelAlvarezCineTV]

@@latinocreamking9524 blasphemy! ...Just kidding 😆 The Sopranos was amazing for the most part. Haven't seen The Shield to compare it to

[@Kadaspala]

No way, The Wire is fantastic. Underrated (or at least underexposed) if anything.

[@augustgreig9420]

Just... No. "Breaking Bad," is my favorite show of all time, but outside of the cinematography and maybe direction (which somehow managed to, despite having multiple different directors, maintain a very clear and consistent style), "The Wire," is an objectively better show. It manages to be a character study of a city, Baltimore, which acts as a gateway to view American society as a whole, and it does this brilliantly by taking real risks in changing the focus of the show dramatically every season. The decision to go away from McNulty, who was basically the protagonist of season 1, is one of the most bold decisionsIve ever seen on television, and it worked brilliantly. Seasons people hated at the time, like the one about the docks and the one about the school system, in retrospect have turned out to be the best seasons of the show. So yeah, "Breaking Bad," is great, a lot of fun, and even emotionally wrenching at times, but it just doesn't manage to tackle the grand themes of "The Wire." I think this is where "The Sopranos," also falls short of, "The Wire."