FILMMAKER REACTS to BETTER CALL SAUL Season 2 Episode 9: Nailed

[@MH90]

It's so wild what the show does with Chuck here - yes, he sounds like a raving lunatic but he's *always* got Jimmy's number, he *does* know what he's like. Chuck does the 'right' things for the wrong reasons, while Jimmy does the 'wrong' things for the right reasons. It's stuff like this whole morality play which makes me love this show even a bit more than BB.

[@lunavioleta001]

​@@jasonvoorhees310But he wasn't always right. Also, if a person or you try to become a better person, you don't go "well, he\I will never change so why bother". If we all had Chuck's mentality, then prison should always be forever regardless of the crime.

[@marquisdelafayette1929]

Not fair to say that. Jimmy messed up and knew it with the sunroof incident. He promised to “do better” and he did. He was working in the mailroom AND going to law school at the same time. Chuck talks shit about it but the bar exam is the same whether you go to Harvard or the America University of Samoa. THAT is what burns him. He always thought he was the “smarter” and “more respected” brother. Jimmy tries to do right and at every turn is pushed down and doesn’t understand why. Then he finds out it was his brother the entire time. The brother who he has spent every morning driving around to get his “newspapers” and ice to support him through his illness. Why are we surprised that he eventually just DGAF anymore ?

[@benjaminroe311ify]

@@marquisdelafayette1929 Perfect analysis.

[@How2KillACop4C4B]

So well put man

[@garrcarro2063]

@@marquisdelafayette1929I agree to an extent. However the whole S&C sandpiper ad, the getting fired to keep his severance package, the scam with the skaters, and the Marco episode to me are all signs jimmy would’ve never been fulfilled doing things the right way. Perhaps Jimmy thought it was because he didn’t have chucks approval yet, but you can tell deep down it’s not fulfilling him he’s only doing it for chucks approval. And after Marco that’s when he embraces living in a way that’s fulfilling to him, would that have happened without Chuck? Maybe not, but I wager if he did get Chuck’s approval he would just realize that even with that he could never be a straight laced lawyer like his brother. “…or are you going to be colorful?” “there’s no point in doing this if I can’t be me”

[@bustedhammer8619]

This is the mike prequal lmao he basically splits the show with saul the entire time

[@nivekian]

This series is the Mike prequel. we're just getting started playing the game.

[@ScooterSkillsYolo]

I think he mainly meant like Mike’s backstory being a crooked cop in Philadelphia. Would be very cool to know more about that

[@videostoryanalyses8910]

The fact that this show did not win a single Emmy is criminal.

[@weirdguy1495]

53 times. Which is absolutely absurd.

[@coyotelong4349]

I feel like critics might appreciate it more with time

[@chaost4544]

Rest in peace Mark Margolis.

[@vincentlecornu201]

I would say the "address switch" and "Mike's fun robbery" are the primary turning points in the series. The first step onto Bad Choice Road? I think at this point, the viewer starts to see how emotionally complex this plot is going to get. Far, far more complex than Breaking Bad.

[@pencil6965]

I loved chuck for knowing EXACTLY how jimmy pulled this off lol

[@JamesVSCinema]

Brothers usually know!! 🙏🏽

[@atmadja19]

I love how when I started the show, I was looking forward to the arrival of Saul. Slowly but surely, I started dreading it. So wild.

[@robo567]

the whole arc with mesa verde proves to me how goated the writers of this show are. they somehow made a bunch of business execs and lawyers in suits talking about documents so incredibly enthralling to watch. i was surprised i was so entertained by this arc after having worked a boring office job.

[@Jokerdan76]

I'm a simple man, I see a James VS Cinema upload and I stop what I'm doing and watch!! Thanks for another great reaction. The BEST reaction channel on KZbin!

[@JamesVSCinema]

I appreciate that! Thank you!

[@seanplace2471]

I've only just realized that the picture that Chuck uses for reference of Jimmy in the copy shop is the newspaper from the episode, "Hero." I feel like it says a lot about their relationship and what he thinks of Jimmy that he not only still has that, but that it's his picture of choice to bring from his home to try to jog this guy's memory.

[@Ferrant621]

5:47 Big facts. Walt only managed to kill Mike because it was such a stupid decision that he couldn’t see it coming.

[@ThePyroSquirrel1]

The idea of Mike nacho and Jesse just running a legit business, where Mike is their father figure and Jesse and nacho are the two brothers who mess with each other but know how to get shit done. That’s an alt world show I wish existed

[@fukeiclozer2614]

Jimmy's biggest problem is that he thinks the ends keep justifying the means, even when they definitely don't.

[@jimmyrocha8417]

The song the trucker had playing is one my dad use to play all the time when he would drive us anywhere in the truck lmao

[@tovbyte]

A lot of people say Chuck „knows“ Jimmy. He doesn’t - not really. He knows jimmy’s worst flaws, and he knows to provoke him in such ways that his worst aspects come to light. To be clear I think Jimmy is in the wrong here, but ultimately Chuck is only right about Jimmy because he makes it so

[@domskillet5744]

That's the question though. Jimmy ruined it at Davis & Main completely by himself, Chuck had no influence there. Could Jimmy have cleaned himself up if Chuck wasn't working against him? It's ultimately ambiguous which is what makes it so interesting. Both sides have strong evidence

[@justin-md4xm]

​@@domskillet5744Ultimately Jimmy is in charge of himself so can't blame Chuck too much.

[@ElectricFury]

​@@domskillet5744 yes and no. Chuck did influence him early at D&M when he specifically pressed the "soliciting" issue with Jimmy's bus strategy to bring in old folk to the case when Howard, and Clifford were more than happy with what Jimmy had done before his input. If he had been allowed to succeed the way he was, he may never have got to the ad fiasco. Though Chuck didn't influence Jimmy there, that was his own poor decision.

[@domskillet5744]

@@ElectricFuryBut Jimmy pulling stunts like the soliciting means it's only a matter of time before he gets caught because he really can't seem to help himself from cutting corners. In that case Chuck has every right to question it and honestly it's surprising that Howard and Cliff didn't think anything of it

[@domskillet5744]

@@justin-md4xmYes but at the same time could Jimmy have been successful if HHM hired him after passing the bar as they should've and as Howard probably wanted to? Jimmy didn't cheat on the bar or do anything nefarious during his time in the mailroom while he studied the law. It was only when Chuck worked against Jimmy did Jimmy actively think "hmm maybe my only chance to succeed is to cut corners." If Chuck didn't deny Jimmy the opportunity, it's absolutely plausible that he could've been a straight shooter at HHM because at that time all he wanted to do was impress Chuck. Granted, it would be doing the right thing for the wrong reasons, but Chuck singlehandedly saved Jimmy from a decade in prison and being forced to hustle in the streets. Their relationship is too inherent to who they are for Chuck to not have a decent amount of blame. Even if deep down Jimmy is Slippin Jimmy, Chuck had the opportunity to keep it in check and make something great and honest out of Jimmy, but he chose not to.

[@TylerClear]

I remember watching this one live, that ending hurt my head. Funny story I had actually watched S1 and 2 prior to watching Breaking Bad, it was still a great show.

[@petresko1041]

"I would like a prequel series of Mike" Well, I can promise you you will see a lot more of mike in the later seasons, so keep watching!

[@AdrianChazz]

Man, this plot line is absolute FIRE...!! 🔥 Can't wait for you to get to Paca Paca Paca Paca de mi Caballo...

[@RayneDr0ps]

Such a great episode this one! The pivotal point where Kim becomes Jimmys Ride or Die, IMO. Her conversation with Chuck was just... chef's kiss! Thanks for another amazing reaction James!

[@irrelevantandbeyond]

I've never seen a character be always right and always wrong at the same time. Then I met Chuck McGill.

[@jculver1674]

As much as I love the scenes with Mike and cartels, the legal stuff with Jimmy and Chuck is so well-written that I find it much more compelling to watch. How crazy is that?

[@toddjefferson8761]

"That brings me back to my college days when you have to be director/producer/actor/editor..." Bru that's me right now haha🤙

[@human_no847]

It's mad how these curveballs feel so natural and organic and layered. I can't wait to see your reactions as the series goes on because it only gets better!

[@oliverhughes610]

Watching these is gonna have an extra layer of poignancy since we sadly lost Mark Margolis (Don Hector) the other day. RIP dude, you were able to make a character iconic and terrifying without even speaking. This show essentially is a Mike prequel as well. We get his backstory (at least some of it), and we spend good portions of the show following him independently of Jimmy.

[@transformersrevenge9]

''I never accused you of being lazy. Every other sin in the book, but not that one.'' - This line sums up Jimmy so well. Jimmy is like that kid from school who would put so much effort into not doing the assignment. We see time and time again, that when he put his mind to it, he could legit do anything. In a way, I find it sad that he clings to the lawyer world. With the concentration, getting stuff done mentality, and his people skills, Jimmy could prove himself anywhere. But he stayed in law, precisely because of Chuck. I'm sure he passed the bar, stayed in the same state, and did all that he did, precisely because Chuck never appreciated him as a lawyer. And Chuck truly created his own worst nightmare. And you gotta respect the writers with Kim. They could have had Kim as the naive, starry eyed girl who gets sucked into Jimmy's world against her will. But in cases like in this episode, she is the enabler. Where she should have put her foot down, and shut Jimmy down for his own good, she gives him that small push, that blind eye, that keeps Jimmy doing what he does. And even then, Kim isn't totally wrong in doing these things, because as we see, she understands how Chuck mistreats Jimmy, and so when he covers for Jimmy, her heart is somewhat in the right place. And I love how even Mike gets development in the series. Back in BB, he would murder whoever he had to. But here, he still has that cop in him, so unless they killed his son, he ain't gonna pull the trigger. Love that version of Mike, who will go extra mile to spare a life, and the harsh reality of trying to be noble in the cartel world.

[@JamesVSCinema]

Great comment my friend!

[@transformersrevenge9]

@@JamesVSCinema Thank you. This and The Wire, are two shows I can literally write essays about (and I have).

[@pencil6965]

With Kim, I think enabling Jimmy isn’t helping him, it’s proving Chuck right. She had such a pull on Jimmy, in some ways more than Chuck. I wish she put her foot down to curb his behavior because I think it would’ve worked. Jimmy didn’t ever want to lose her

[@seanellio]

Mike's "pettiness" is more revenge. Hector and the twins threatened to kill his granddaughter. He want's to burn them down. I have said it before and will continue to say: Kim never says what you did was wrong. It's always "What if we get caught"? Rhea Seehorn was robbed of every Emmy she was nominated for.

[@SpellSteal]

Kim is live action best girl

[@pleaseclap7890]

18:06 Says a lot about how much of an evil bastard Hector is that he threatened to murder a little girl and her mom, then just genuinely forgot about that shit like a few weeks later

[@JamesVSCinema]

This man Hector is no damn joke!

[@batmanvsjoker7725]

Producers: Where do you wanna end it? Vince Gilligan & Peter Gould: How bout at the most nerve-wracking minutes? Producers: That's fine with us.

[@thenathanhaines]

The wait for S02E10 was legit one of the longest weeks in my life.

[@Obike1]

Ty for the back to back eps! 🙏

[@MrZilla]

Mike is actually supposed to be in his 50s, but it's kinda hard to make that clear in a prequel, so they just rolled with him being the same age as Jonathan Banks.

[@ForcesInMotion]

Great reactions, James. It's a beautiful thing watching people go through this show when you can really see that they're investing energy into it, and have the kind of mind that can truly understand the brilliance and history of what they're witnessing here with this show. It's been over a year and a half now that I watched the final episode; over 14 years after I'd watched the first. Being able to vicariously relive seeing this work for the first time is a gift. I hope you're enjoying this as much as I did (and it seems you are). I will keep checking in with my popcorn and snacks! Thanks, man.

[@JamesVSCinema]

This was an awesome comment! Happy the joy I experience oozes through the screen. Cheers!

[@GG-hh1sl]

My guy, I can't express how much your reaction to this series means to me. Always a joy seeing it up on KZbin. I can't afford patreon since I'm working in film too, but I wanna give something small back in form of my gratitude for what you do to my mood. Cheers mate, wish you the best!

[@JamesVSCinema]

Glad you enjoy it! Cheers!

[@Jared_Wignall]

Chuck always does what he can to one up Jimmy, especially when it comes to doing the “right thing” as Jimmy is always doing the “wrong thing” and will always be wrong and do the wrong thing. This is such a great show, great reaction James. Take care!

[@deathwitheponine]

I love rewatching this show with your commentary, I’m learning a lot! But sometimes you leave in bits of the show that I’d forgotten about completely that recontextualize events from later seasons and I just had to rewind one such moment and watch it again because it hit super hard. Not telling you which one obviously, but damn.

[@stevemartegani]

Looking back to when I was watching the show when it was first airing, THIS was the episode that really kicked things off for what the show was going to become. Brilliant!

[@charliem3951]

The brilliance of this show is that it being a show about a lawyer, it masters having climactic scenes that play out like courtroom scenes. Kim being the judge between Chuck and Jimmy in this episode. Tuco being the judge in the second episode with the two skateboarders. And if you keep an eye out you'll see a few more to come.

[@TotoIsWriting]

LMAO "Wow, does she know? Does she NOT WANT to know? Man this show is awesome." agreed

[@johnny-vu6rl]

you’ll be happy to hear that the show will focus more on howard in the future. it’s mind blowing where his story goes.

[@pvanukoff]

"mind blowing" -- I see what you did there 🤣

[@nickparton5663]

This is the thing about Saul. It's not as explosive as Breaking Bad, but the characters and relationships are even more finely observed

[@JamesVSCinema]

CHUUUUUUUUCK!!! Better Call Saul & Mr. ROBOT & The Bear S2 on Patreon! Click here: www.patreon.com/jamesvscinema Much love!

[@TumzFestivalYT]

One Love

[@trol68419]

Kim sent Chuck into the shadow realm with that "I feel sorry for you" line. Fucking obliterated that man, and rightfully so.

[@needsomezzz]

It’s so neat watching someone watch this show for the first time. I wish I could experience it again for the first time too. This is such a great show!

[@PBandJwithBacon]

You are having so much fun watching this James LOL You're all over and I'm here for it.

[@please_im_a_staaar]

That's the thing with Kim and Jimmy's relationships. You expect a common stereotypical story about a good proper girl and a sleazy "bad boy" character who's a bad influence on her, but instead you get two ppl who enable each other's worst traits and get in trouble which in my opinion is done rarer especially, when it comes to romantic relationships. Which is unfortunate because this kind of dynamic happens often between ppl in real life, I've definitely been there ☠️

[@Bored_Trumpet]

Believe it or not, but cutting and pasting was more common years back, so would be the first assumption. So common that text manipulation on computers has been named after them.

[@thenathanhaines]

Yeah, you beat me to it. That's where the computer terms come from. Documents would be typewritten or typeset then photostatically copied, so copying and pasting was the easiest way to fix things once mistakes were found.

[@papl20]

I love how you connected Mike, Jesse and Nacho. I've said multiple times that Nacho is an earlier version of Jesse. Mike has been emotionally attaching himself to good young boys who for whatever reasons end up in bad situations, it's clear is his way to deal with the trauma of his son's loss. Mike became a sort of father figure to Nacho and to Jesse. Nacho and Mike's story is one that gripped me tight the whole run of the show.

[@zaqwsxcde54321]

Mike has been emotionally attached to whoooooo.........?

[@wingzero7678]

Watching this series and seeing Mike taking decisions like not killing Tuco or the guy on the truck, kept the "No half measures" phrase ringing on my head constantly. Even though the example he gave to Walter is something from a distant past, I can see these experiences also serving as a reminder for him to go all the way through certain things. Had he killed Tuco like Nacho wanted, maybe Hector wouldn't threaten his family for example, had he killed the guy in the truck, the good samaritan might not have been killed.

[@alexhayward9960]

love the hair bro

[@JamesVSCinema]

Thanks so much!

[@procopiusaugustus6231]

As a lawyer stuff like what happened to Chuck is my worst nightmare.

[@ronrago2696]

A comment on the title Nailed. Chuck nailed it when he figured out that Jimmy switched the address numbers, Kim nailed it when they got back in the car & she punched Jimmy. Chuck nailed it again when he hit his head on the table... Oh and Mike literally nailed it when he took out the cartels truck!

[@notabritperse]

Seeing as Michael McKean is KILLING it for you (and the rest of us) here, when might you react to "This is Spinal Tap"?

[@vorbeck5555]

I would love to see you react to Mad Men after this

[@irenephillips1523]

Its crazy how BB was all about hiding money drugs and guns and its good and amazing but then come BCS and its about conversations paper work court dates and its so exciting edge of your seat kinda stuff !

[@Stratilex]

Can we just take a moment to appreciate the casting of Chuck? He looks like he could actually be Jimmy's brother. Definitely a step up from Marie and Skylar who looked nothing a like (maybe one was adopted?)

[@seanellio]

My brother and I looked nothing alike, I'm 6', my brother was 5'7", my hair was light brown, his was jet black. Out hair had the same wavy look and we had the same head tilt and slouchy walk. (R.I.P. Duane)

[@bobdonda]

FYI Mike's actor Jonathan Banks was around age 69 while filming this in 2016. With this taking place before Breaking Bad (which he filmed from age 62 to 65), I'd assume the character of Mike is meant to be 60-61 here.

[@666Shinedown]

The amount of Chuck head smack memes after the episode originally aired was hilarious.

[@pencil6965]

that's pretty terrible actually

[@Mart1n192]

Chuck's worst flaw is that he is right

[@notabritperse]

It's what keeps him fighting, when he should just let some things go.

[@pencil6965]

@@notabritperse same can be said for Jimmy

[@Quixotic1018]

I don't have a common name so when it comes up in stuff like this, the fourth wall dissolves a little bit for me. What's great about the writing in BCS and BB is how it continues to make me go "I feel you, but really?" with every character.

[@심은비-k9c]

And that’s how slippin’ kimmy was born

[@TetchyEquation]

It's really not surprising that Kim ends up helping Jimmy when they're laying in bed together, because from the earlier scene at Chuck's house she's already doing that. She definitely knows that Chuck is right, which is why she hits Jimmy in the car, but she lies to Chuck to cover for him and then uses that as an excuse to tell him how she really feels (and, imo, stick it to him for being a condescending ass as he can't help but be)

[@jacoriandent1004]

6:39 🫥 14:47🫥

[@TheJohhnyE]

Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul is basically GTA the show, but they didn't want to pay the licensing fees to use the name. 😂

[@magicbrownie1357]

Fiction is the best place for moral relativism. It's amazing how many people just love these very, very flawed characters.

[@zmeicorp]

the actor playing Chuck is a broadway actor

[@notabritperse]

... and David St. Hubbins.

[@olicorrivo3289]

Kim knows that she's been a tool in a petty fight between the man she loves and his brother and that is all that matters i think.

[@joeminier1736]

Every time Chuck is right about Jimmy he goes out of his way to ensure he’s right. He’s just sad and pathetic. He plays a main role in turning him into Saul Goodman

[@stevefrench4139]

" This show is awesome .... not as action-packed as Breaking Bad" Oh just you wait. This show is like a firework stand going up in flames and right now we are just seeing the first wisps of smoke.

[@gamesswell2024]

I can watch BCS on repeat. I can’t watch BB on repeat, as good as it is.

[@sheentell]

Completely off-topic, but where'd you get that shirt?

[@JamesVSCinema]

Etsy!

[@sladesspades]

@@JamesVSCinemafor real it’s nice! What would we type to search for it? 👀

[@PhilPastor]

I love Kim... I love all the characters in this show. Everything is done so perfectly, and yes, as much as I love BB, This show might be better.

[@KublaVeruca]

If you appreciate Michael McKean (Chuck), then you owe it to yourself to watch, "This Is Spinal Tap". If you haven't already seen it, that is... It's really the first in a number of great Mockumentary Movies.

[@elwyndude]

Id love you to watch Spinal Tap now LMAO

[@crab295]

A Mike prequel show from when he was a cop in Philly would be awesome ngl, I’m imagining his son being played by Aaron Paul and that’s why he likes Jesse so much. Well to be honest he probably sees Jesse as his son in some kind of way

[@lisahumphries3898]

Chuck is a hypocrite when he yells at Jimmy for sabotaging him. Chuck has sabotaged Jimmy and betrayed Jimmy so many times.

[@pencil6965]

How else did he betray him besides not hiring at HHM and taking Mesa Verde? Which wouldn’t even be a “betrayal” because he did what any firm would do. But how do those things compare to forgery, bribery, theft, etc etc etc?

[@joelprieto8526]

wheres the bear reactions?

[@Nikadeemus88]

Can these be every day? Please? No It's always Sunny, no IRbobot, no old movies, just this.

[@jshell]

Rhea Seehorn MVP

[@scooterjones303]

Spoiler... isn't it funny how Howard doesn't believe Chuck that Jimmy's messing with him but later Clifford doesn't believe Howard when Jimmy is messing with him.

[@lBeanss]

Kim turns heel

[@jishin75]

Nice reaction! And don't feel so bad about it. I supported Jimmy during his "war" against Chuck. Chuck blindsided him so many times and I never cared about right or wrong. Morality is a matter of law for Chuck, never a matter of love or friendship. That's why I don't care about Chuck and Kim gets there too even if she's pissed off with Jimmy. Chuck arrogance in front of the judges shows how much he considers himself on top of anyone. He understands later about Jimmy, but his first reaction is to blame the judges, the client, the chairs... unbearable person and amazing acting!!

[@enlightenmenttv2287]

Man, Kim knows Jimmy did that shit 😂. And look, she's great, but as you may have discovered by now, she's no Saint. How far ahead are you with the Patreon uploads anyway?...[Edit] Ok, I'm seeing comments on this episode from seven months ago, I'd reckon you would've finished the series by now, no?

[@PoeticNixon]

Apparently he has yeah

[@adrienne1958l]

❤

[@jcraigie]

Any more of a prequel for Mike would just ruin the character.

[@lessonmet5291]

I did not give two hoots about Chuck. I was loving that error in court

[@kenttaylor9238]

I need a Kim

[@JamesVSCinema]

I understand hahaha

[@blackswan7568]

Ugh, Chuck🙄

[@Leon-ih8iw]

G hair