Mike Ehrmantraut: Parking Attendant to Lethal Enforcer

[@rickbelden2319]

It’s so sad that Mike basically sold his soul so that his family could have a better life and in the end it was all taken away.

[@bonjovirocks24]

I hated how Mike’s life ended.

[@MC-810]

As sad as it is, Mike was in The Game. He knew the rules, accepted the rules, and died by this choice.

[@HotelMari0Maker]

Personally I think Mike, similar to Walt, likes the thrill of what he does. Obviously he wants to help his family, but he also likes the excitement that comes with this way of life.

[@Afish8me2china]

Hey but he got a bunch of pimento sandwiches

[@promnightdumpsterbaby9553]

He really should have stashed at least half his money somewhere safe and told his daughter in law where it was in the event of his death.

[@JonAddisonFilms]

I love how all of Mike's journey is built around his statement in Breaking Bad, "No half measures". Which, of course, also leads to his death.

[@Poopscipade]

If Mike had "gone all the way" and killed Walt went he had the chance, he likely would have lived.

[@jacobnunya808]

@@Poopscipade Mike being killed at the end was simply bad luck. Walter said it was a mistake. Had Walter not acted impulsively when he did he would have been fine and went off with his 5 million.

[@512TheWolf512]

@@jacobnunya808 you really actually believe Walter?

[@Qwaizor]

The death of that German engineer was actually tragic one of the only characters in the “game” that were honest working man

[@InfernosReaper]

At the same time, the dude brought that on himself. He was literally getting paid enough to never have to work again and Gus was very accommodating given to the circumstances. They even got him a hotline to his wife so he could talk to her to make it easier on him, yet he betrayed their trust and put the whole operation in danger. To make matters worse, he got someone killed who didn't deserve it. It's sad and I even felt sorry for him a little, but he did it to himself.

[@Qwaizor]

@@InfernosReaper yes I agree with you but even that was for a honest reason of seeing his wife

[@InfernosReaper]

@@Qwaizor I get the motivation, but he was going to see her again if he didn't act a fool and he already got to talk to her regularly. That's better than most people in that era working remotely could do.

[@Brandonhayhew]

Honest people who willing to get their hands dirty for cash, that man was dangerous out of his depth

[@InfernosReaper]

@@Brandonhayhew I don't think it's really clear whether or not he did that stuff professionally for syndicates, but I'd like to think that Mr Fring wouldn't hire amateurs for his game-changing top secret project. So, dude probably was in the game at least on the construction side.

[@mattterway6487]

unlike Walter, everything Mike does really is for his family

[@RaptorJesus]

That's part of the difference between them. Both Mike & Walter were willing to do bad things for their family, but Mike was willing to suffer in silence for them too. He didn't need or want to be thanked, he just wanted to get it done. Mike never let his ego get in the way of his goal.

[@sexyhansen9842]

Mike would actually be annoyed if someone said that MIke "does it for his family". When Gus shows him the village that Gus helps out financially, Mike gets annoyed because he thinks that Gus is saying that his charity makes him less of a bad guy. Mike believes that they are both bad guys, and doing a few nice things doesn't make it okay to do the evil deeds that they have done. Mike is a likable killer, who has innocent blood on his hands. Mike does it for his family but that doesn't make him a good guy or even a neutral guy. Mike would still consider himself a bad guy.

[@richiehoyt8487]

Yeah, but he was just 'Too sweet to be wholesome' with all that "Pop~pop" crap... He would've made The Waltons feel queesy!

[@relaxandfocus5563]

@@sexyhansen9842 And that's why I love him.

[@kevinmalone9314]

@@RaptorJesus thats cause he never made heisenberg money or the ability to ever make that much money

[@Xehanort10]

4:08 Watching Better Call Saul makes you realise Hector deserved every bit of the suffering Gus put him through in Breaking Bad.

[@ulaytube9953]

And that Walt was a massive prick for killing him...

[@lapacesiaconvoi]

nobody deserves to be fn tortured. in a case like hector it didn't do anything but make him angrier and hate more. he was never sorry. plus that religion their family practiced was santa muerta. he was happy to go the way he did. i'm glad gus didn't get his wish. when i saw gus leave the room i was horrified he would survive. and tyrus - bonus. nothing to like there.

[@itsohaya4096]

@@ulaytube9953 Gus was no saint either...

[@digitalcthulhu143]

@@lapacesiaconvoi Idk man some people do deserve torture.

[@Henrique.Souza0601]

@@lapacesiaconvoi yeah the whole point is to make him angrier and more hateful. The guy is the complete and utmost son of a bitch, for me one of the worst things of BB is his death being the way it was.

[@DFGok]

This dude honestly deserves so much more attention for these types of videos. Keep it up 👍

[@OneTakeVids]

Thank you!

[@jonsrecordcollection7172]

The scene where Mike sends off the rest of the foreign construction crew is pivotal too. Two of the members of the crew talk back to Mike. One says that it was good Mike killed Ziegler, because Ziegler was too soft. The second bravely looks Mike in the eye & says that Werner Ziegler was worth more than 30 Mike Ehrmantrauts. Mike punches out the former, but not the latter guy who insulted him for being 1/30 the man Ziegler was. The reason is that Mike basically agrees with the second guy. It's proof that Mike hates himself for having to kill Ziegler. Mike could have defied Fring & allowed Ziegler to live, but Mike has the ethos of "when you're hired to do a job, you do that job" that leads him to do things he doesn't morally agree with.

[@SquidwardLSDSquirtingOctopussy]

Perfectly analysed & reviewed. Mike also has a "tell" in situations he would like to react differently, but can't due to certain circumstances. The way he bites his lip & has this equally hateful & disgusted look of indeciciveness on his face. As he looks away, & is eager to do this in another manner. For example: When Tuco demands his wallet in BCS.

[@maicoxmauler2825]

Though in fairness to Mike, it's not like that second guy had much of a leg to stand on

[@Henrique.Souza0601]

No I don't think that it was Mike's work ethic that made him not a rebel against Gus. Gus had men on Werner's wife. Gus knew his family. He could've disappeared with Werner but, would they be able to reach their loved ones before Gus? I don't think so. His only choice at that moment was either to kill Werner or let him be killed by somebody else.

[@makhibarber7213]

@@maicoxmauler2825 holy shit I just got that

[@sydssolanumsamsys]

@@Henrique.Souza0601 thats a good point. he chose the option that would keep him on gus's good side

[@faarisalam3900]

Holy shit, I never even realised that Mike had a desire to constantly build. Now that you've pointed that out, it seems so obvious now and makes total sense so thanks for that. Another one of the many great details in this show

[@BloodyFlowerFilms]

Me neither! Now it explains even further why Mike was so pissed when the lab was destroyed, not just because of Ziegler’s friendship guiding it.

[@PTPalmer_NPC]

The interesting thing to me is that Mike seems to actually be what Walter tells himself he is… He ACTUALLY does it for his family, and I think his history with Werner Ziegler and empathy for the lie Walter tells himself and others about his motivation are probably the reason that Mike takes a half measure by telling walter to not take half measures…

[@-afk.]

Long Live Mike Ehrmentraut! His code of ethics is what made him the best character in the series. He was the only one with enough of a level head to almost make it out. He should have made it out but it just so happens that a chemistry teacher HAD to get cancer and HAD to make meth because he HAD to decline a great paying job. Walter white was the biggest loser in the entire show lol

[@kevinw712]

indeed, I think it's only just more fully occurred to me while watching this video how Mike is in some ways the anti-Walter. Yes, while you could argue that Mike doing the work that he does, he likes that it makes him feel useful, but that's a very far cry from taking base pleasure in it, like how Walt did. Walt was riddled with so much insecurity and need for the appearance of power and domination, Mike was just fine knowing he was a part of something larger and fitting in his place within it. Mike has absolutely zero ego in all that does.

[@-afk.]

@@kevinw712 I felt bad for Walt in the beginning but as the series progresses I started to envy what he let himself become. I feel bad for the people who see it as a way out. Nacho and Mike didn’t deserve that. Nacho got in young from what we can tell and he was just trying to prove that he could make something of his life to his father. And Mike was just trying to provide all that he could to his daughter and granddaughter before dying. Those two characters brought a level of humanity of which i’m sure everyone has some kind of understanding. Regardless of how they were making their way. What a great series. I can’t stop begging people to watch it.

[@pancakes8816]

@@-afk. even if he didn't take the job, he could have kept his shares and sold them later on. Water was truly the biggest fucking chump in all of breaking bad

[@Seinsmelled]

​@@-afk. Walter is the goat

[@tempvee]

Jonathan Banks' performance at 14:50 is incredible. You can really feel the emotions Mike's going through just from the way his voice wavers while talking about his family.

[@lapacesiaconvoi]

i can't believe james remar blew him away in 48 hours.

[@CactusCanon]

Jonathan Banks does a PERFECT job as Mike. One of the most powerful moments of the show without a doubt is when Mike reveals the truth to his daughter in law. Every time I hear “I broke my boy” I’m just absolutely stunned at how well does everything about that scene is

[@oldpharaoh]

Dude. The editing. 3:01 he syncs his quote up with the actual scene. Whoever's editing these pay them well, please.

[@prebenjaeger]

It's a cute detail but alright now

[@randomdachshund2452]

I saw that too

[@irezumi5443]

I knew from BB that Mike was simply someone you didn’t want to mess with. But after watching BCS, learning his back story, seeing everything he knew about investigating someone, knowing how to use gadgets, being able to take on groups of people on his own- I was still blown away during the shootout in Mexico with the cartel. At first I thought it was the Salamanca brothers who were protecting the money for Lalos bail (not Saul), but after seeing it was mike, seeing how in a way he does care about Saul, saving his life, and helping him survive in the desert just makes him an ultimate survivor. Stuff that he learned in the military and while being a cop. He was one of my favorite characters in BB, but after watching him in BCS I was just completely blown away with his character.

[@coffeeradio6270]

I don't understand why one member of the cartel wanted to compromise Lalo's release. And it was too careless of the twins to dump the money and head away without caring

[@arianistvanic6772]

@@coffeeradio6270 bolsa wanted lalo to stay in jail to keep gus' operation profitable and stop lalo from scheming. He didnt know lalo was still scheming from inside.

[@trollwayy5981]

The twins shoulda definitely followed him to the highway

[@ecwillpower]

That “in the game” phrase reminds me so much of Omar from The Wire.

[@briangonigal3974]

Which is why I find it unlikely when the video seems to assert that Mike first heard the phrase from Nacho (and only started using it shortly thereafter). Mike would have almost certainly been very familiar with the phrase from his days as a beat cop in Philadelphia and been using it regularly back then.

[@melmc9672]

And”The Wire” is one of a very few shows that are any where near as well done as The Breaking Bad Universe

[@byronnotbryon8605]

Mike had a code.

[@HotelMari0Maker]

Omar…

[@snkgn]

@@byronnotbryon8605 no doubt

[@TenSecondSongs]

My favorite character of any show period. I wish I had his demeanor. I'm too much of an emotional mess lol

[@OneTakeVids]

Hey you can do it! Mike was an emotional mess too until Gus brought him to his ranch. You just need to find a Gus who can help you find your path 😄

[@Dapryor]

He shut his emotions off because they were too painful. You don’t want to do that.

[@chocolatedrawels]

The military and the police force pretty much force that demeanor upon you. Please be safe. If you want to show your emotions when necessary that’s much more healthy. But there’s too many suicides in both of those careers. Drinking yourself into a forgetful “blissful” place. Doing hard drugs to cope. Just be careful 💪

[@512TheWolf512]

go serve in the military, and find the MOST ruthless drill sergeant you can. that'll do it.

[@faithnoman2635]

@@OneTakeVids fantastic comment. I love it.

[@WlatPziupp]

When Saul asks how long it takes for the trauma from Bagman to end, Mike repeats what his daughter in law says pretty much word for word. Back then it absolutely enraged him, then he comes to accept that it's a healthy way of getting over trauma. Mike learns a lot of good lessons in this show

[@klx6265]

And in the sixth season of bcs, saul says the same thing to Kim after that really, really *out of the fucking blue* death.

[@nont18411]

After all these trials and tribulations, Mike is finally at peace by going on a trip to Belize.

[@corrystucki3874]

😜

[@yume5338]

Mike is my favorite character out of both these shows. Such a great character and the acting makes him so enjoyable to watch him do literally anything.

[@drhexagonapus]

Idk why but I love the scenes of Mike looking through a sniper scope. I could watch an entire show of just him as a sniper.

[@vitorokuhara9007]

Mike's death is one of the few things in the BB universe that I wish that was different. He was such an effective stalker and was sneak attacked by an asshole that couldn't throw a fucking vase into a glass wall.

[@judywright4241]

That was Mike underestimating Walter. He saw Walter as an impersonation of Gus but NOT Gus, so not as cold blooded. Just an overblown, egomaniacal chemist.

[@RaptorJesus]

@@judywright4241 I mean he was right. He just wasn't aware of how truly desperate Walt had become.

[@actually-will1606]

These videos have been great for building my hype for season 6

[@internziko]

Mike might be one of the greatest TV characters in history. A true Thief with honor and Johnathan Banks plays hin absolutely perfectly.

[@azoniarnl3362]

A thief with honor🤦‍♂️ thats like saying, water that is dry..

[@internziko]

@@azoniarnl3362 the world isn't black and white friend

[@azoniarnl3362]

@@internziko "theres no honor among thieves". stealing is a dishonerable act, doing it makes you dishonorable by definition.

[@TerraceLuster]

Good video as always, though I'd point out that the bit about Mike's eventual death is much darker than mentioned. Mike's speech to Jimmy in the desert about how he does everything for his family is darkly ironic, because in the end, his family gets NOTHING. All of his money is taken by the feds. Even Jesse tries to get some money to Kaylee, but of course that doesn't work out. Mike's assertion that "he will go knowing he did everything he could for them" allows us to clearly see the contradiction in Mike's criminal life, because in the end, everything he did amounts to nothing at all.

[@oomenacka]

Mike's self acceptance is probably part of the reason why he disdains Walt so much. Walt pretends to be in the game for selfless reasons and pretends that he has a moral problem with killing. Mike quickly sees through this and recognizes that Walt isn't being truthful with himself. He sees the truth of Heisenberg before even Walt himself does.

[@michaelrichards9150]

I always liked how Mike and Gus seemed to have the same "Game" mentality and that was part of why their relationship was strong was because they knew the rules of their work and followed them, they'd never end up on the wrong side of each other unless someone came in and changed the situation majorly, like Heisenberg

[@Max_152]

Great videos, getting me even more hyped for season 6!

[@OneTakeVids]

Thanks Max! Glad I can throw more fuel into the hype train!!

[@TheUnslainDragon]

Holy crap, that Mike impression was spot-on!

[@paulmgrunert]

Love videos like these, because they remind me how detailed and purposeful this show is (and Breaking Bad before it)--the creators thought of everything and there are subtle clues to everything everywhere, nothing in this show is a mistake or there for no reason just like Mike reading an issue of Handyman

[@eddiehanley4258]

This was an amazing video. I know so much about Better Call Saul, but I never thought of Mike's construction hobby related to the Super Lab.

[@lapacesiaconvoi]

walt did some construction too in his own home about work they couldn't afford. when he became wealthy, it exhiliarated him to fix things himself.

[@sauerfamily]

My husband and I have been waiting all day for you to post this. We rewatched the entire series in like 3 days again even though we promised ourselves we’d make it last until the premiere. You’re holding us over! Your videos are great!

[@lapacesiaconvoi]

how could you possibly think you would wait that long

[@512TheWolf512]

a corection - people like Mike are called "fixers" not "enforcers", because murder and intimidation are by far the least of his duties day-to-day.

[@4TheRecord]

I really wish they had made another show that shows Mike's early career as a cop. I think this character deserves it's own show.

[@happyron]

Such a deep show. As a huge Star Wars fan I am often inspired to re-watch the shows and am rewarded with 'easter eggs" but not as much depth as I would like. Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul rewards rewatching with more and more depth. What great writing that is.

[@jameer7565]

You'd love attack on titan

[@Probable.Orange]

>Star Wars fan There's your problem

[@Probable.Orange]

@Haedyn Fry I have a hard time believing a star wars fan has anything of value to add to any conversation

[@lukescrew1981]

@@Probable.Orange Do you have something against star wars?

[@Moon_Presence]

@@Probable.Orange Liking things is subjective. I have a hard time believing someone as negative as you has any value to add to a conversation.

[@spacewolfjr]

I saw an interesting parallel between when Mike is very upset in the group therapy because Stacey tell the story about how she was making breakfast and didn't think of Matty, I don't know if Mike was upset that Stacey forgot Matty or that he couldn't forget like that. Later, in the Bad Choice Road speech he gives to Jimmy he says how it will just go away some day, that you'll be making breakfast and forget about it... that stuck me as I don't know if Mike can't let go and is just saying what he thinks Jimmy wants to hear or if he's actually been able to let go. I'm saying all this 9:23 into your video so maybe you mention it too but I just wanted to say that.

[@InfernosReaper]

Maybe Mike can't let go, but he called on what he learned from someone who could to give Jimmy hope.

[@bizzychoco855]

I am LOVING these Better Call Saul week videos. Definitely a treat prior to the premiere!

[@TracySmith-xy9tq]

I like how this explores Mike's complexity as a character. Multi-faceted antagonists are far more interesting than one-note bad guys.

[@adams0020]

13:!2 the bonding part has to do with how gus knows about mike's history, taking revenge on 2 philly cops who murdered his son. mike truly understands what it's like to want and take revenge, that's what makes him special to gus.

[@DrWhack]

This is so amazing!!! These videos make me appreciate the franchise so much more 🤯

[@ryanbuckley5529]

It was either an interview or season 5 behind the scenes, I can’t remember, but there’s a part where Vince talks about Mikes time in Vietnam. He wasn’t just a regular Marine, he was Force Recon. Witch is the “Special Forces” for the Marines and has a very tough 2 year school after boot camp. That’s where Mike gets his skills. And in Vietnam he did a lot of killing as a Sniper, (like in FMJ, there was a 14 year old female sniper) and that was very common, that’s why he has such a hard time killing. But everyone should look up Force Recon Marines and see how bad ass they are! And that’s what Mike used to do. If you read this I hope you’re having a great day!

[@freppie_]

really bad ass to kill people

[@cloudsombrero]

Every marine I ever met was an asshole

[@datboy038]

Do find a source cus you gotta realise how much that sounds as fanfic

[@mypsizllez]

@@datboy038 not OP but he is definitely marine special forces. When he buys the sniper he talks about using the shittier wood version of that gun in Vietnam.

[@JimmyRJump]

Great analysis of Mike and what eventually motivates him. Thanks to the writers of the show to not leave the path littered with cardboard villains or even exploit the concept of "good" versus "evil" guys. No-one; except people like Hitler or Stalin, and maybe Dart Vader; are pure evil or pure good. We all carry a bit of both sides in us and the writers of the show did well to let us see that duality. Except, you of course need actors who are able to portray that duality or even the inner struggle and Banks/Mike, in all his silent stoicness, shows it to a tee. Props to the writers and Banks to make it really work and make us realise that and for OneTake to show it again in this compact reel. Oh, and for once there's a narrator we don't want to shoot on the spot. Well done and thank you.

[@newbplaygames]

There's no sane man could go back to where he was after killing an innocent

[@SidPhoenix2211]

It was very nice of Mike to give you a call and congratulate you on your efforts XD

[@mackenziemcdaniel-paul8163]

I always think about the line, you can't kill as precaution. I believe its in breaking bad from Mike. Mike doesn't want to kill because of his duty of the law but because his sense of duty is based around precaution. As a cop you are not supposed to kill for this reason, you cannot assume everyone is guilty and is out to get you (tangent this is why Hank is startled when he kills tuco to some degree) Its a motto that applies to his sons death. His son was killed as a precaution. He doesn't kill tuco because (to mikes knowledge) he hasn't crossed a line, your not supposed to shoot the bad guys. He has to kill Werner as a precaution and while it doesn't sit right with him. And it gets to a point like you said in season 5, I believe Mike still has the code, Those people were going to kill Jimmy, they crossed a line. But after talking with Gus I think that line gets easier for Mike to see people cross. But he never abandoneds the code, its part of why Jessie and Walter live so long and Mike when they betray gus.

[@nont18411]

And unlike Mike, Walter always kills people as a precaution. He killed Krazy-8 as a precaution. He “killed” Jane as a precaution. He ordered Jesse to kill Gale as a precaution. He killed Gus, Hector and Tyrus as a precaution. He killed Mike and 10 witnesses as a precaution. “It’s an option that has worked very well for you in the recent past.” - Saul Goodman to Walter regarding to sending people to Belize. The only deaths that seem not to be because of a precaution (aka prophylactic measure) are the deaths of the Nazis. Because in the end, Walter also killed himself as precaution to stop hurting the people he loves.

[@mackenziemcdaniel-paul8163]

@@nont18411 I agree but the last sentence is a stretch, he let himself die to the avoid the consequences of his actions one last time

[@nont18411]

@@mackenziemcdaniel-paul8163 Then I could stretch that he did it as a precaution from him getting caught

[@TheAnimationStationTAS]

@@nont18411 he didnt kill Krazy-8 as a precaution, he only started to kill him AFTER he had pulled that plate on him.

[@hardcorebatmanfan7591]

@@nont18411 Walter did not kill Mike as a precaution. He shot him in a fit of rage because he wounded his pride. Killing because he might come after Walt because of his men Walt wanted to kill would have been a logical reason for Walt to kill him but it’s pretty obvious that it was something Walt decided pretty spontaneously (shown by his immediate remorse and apology for not just asking Lydia).

[@mattrobinson47]

That bit at the end was ridiculous. Thanks!

[@namankarara5399]

As much as I feel sad for Mike's family not receiving the money in the end I also think that it is good that he did not get a happy ending often times these underworld pieces of media romanticize the idea of being a criminal I mean Saul is charismatic, Gus is a badass and Nacho and Jesse were sympathetic but in the end they were criminals and ruined life of many people they deserve punishment for their actions Mike failing to leave money for his family but dying knowing he did his best and Walt successfully providing for his family but dying knowing he emotionally and mentally destroyed them, strained his bond with them and is cause of his brother-in-law death is bittersweet ending befitting their characters

[@tictacmaniac7415]

a very nice take to which I wholeheartedly agree :)

[@landlockedcroat1554]

im sure they got something

[@mynameisjeff6988]

@@landlockedcroat1554 They got nothing. Just like Skyler and the kids, the money is gone, house is gone, they won't ever be able to work normal jobs, they are out on the streets scraping by, whole life ruined.

[@grenouillesupreme]

@@mynameisjeff6988 walt's family did received atleast a milion dollars

[@schmoopydooper9174]

I love bb and bcs so much but I'm autistic and end up missing cues and context (tone, facial expressions, body language etc) so these videos are a great help. Thank you for making them :)

[@OneTakeVids]

So glad I could help! :)

[@guns2317]

Good analysis about coming to self acceptance, as seen with Jimmy realizing Saul Goodman is who HE is, as well as Jesse saying " I am the bad guy " and at long last Walt saying " I was good at it "

[@bonjovirocks24]

I wonder if Mike wanted to be the lethal parking enforcement. Don’t even think about driving through this gate.

[@nah856]

Both Half measures and full measures continue to be the most intresting exploration of morality in the entirety of fiction, simple yet covers the entire series and drives characters like Mike through entire seasons of exploration

[@nirupamahongekar3018]

These are two best shows to watch and learn from each character. After all its Vince who makes everything looks real.

[@TaxingIsThieving]

8:30 10:55 MUST. FIX. THINGS. 11:50 13:55 I didn't realise how much Gus influenced Mike

[@101Phase]

All of this puts the phrase "Never take a half measure" from Breaking Bad in a new light. Turns out Mike has been taking half measures a lot in Better Call Saul and each time it only made things worse

[@murkywaterz7663]

The best thing about Mike going off in therapy was at the end when he says: "Well....you wanted me to talk" lmaoo

[@swaus9442]

Love this analysis of finger.

[@geesegooses]

Kid named finger:

[@ImAGoldenGod-yx6by]

Every time i get a strawberry slurpee (my favorite) from 7-11 i actually think of Breaking Bad and Mike

[@jasonvoorhees310]

I love your analysis of BCS and this universe. Keep up the great work.✌

[@jonwilliams6996]

Don't forget he was a soldier and a corrupt cop before being a parking attendant. That's the part that allowed him to become the "lethal enforcer".

[@Halterin11]

Absolutely fantastic video without pretentious interpretations of symbolism or overloaded sentences. Definitely earned a sub. :)

[@OneTakeVids]

Thank you! 🙏

[@brianstanton2721]

I love how perceptive fring is and his ability to pick up on things other people would not

[@jcp1296]

Mike when hector kills a civilian :😡😡😡 Mike when Gus murders a child: 😌😌😌😌

[@OneTakeVids]

😂

[@BrianaLynn7]

What child?

[@johnnash297]

Mike is the most tragic character in all the BB/BCS universe.

[@acaperic359]

lol

[@RaptorJesus]

I dunno about that. I think Jesse & Gale have decent claims to that title, too.

[@kaaluha]

@@RaptorJesus all three of them do

[@unHolyEvelyn]

I would've lost it if Nacho just paused and said "Mike, have I ever told you the definition of insanity?"

[@shawnc666]

Wow, absolutely wow!! This was absolute great story telling into Mike's life and mannerisms, beliefs and ideology. I've seen similar videos about other characters in other shows, but this one literally takes the cake. And, after just watching another great video about Lawson, another great character, I'm literally on the verge of tears of how absolutely great this show was.........and is.

[@its_A_me_Njobe]

some people choose to be in the game and some people don't know they're playing.

[@Moshe.1972]

This series is epic I knew it from the first episode

[@heresjohnny602]

He didn't go from parking attendant to enforcer though when he was already a hardened killer. This misrepresents his journey as being like walts.

[@brettwerner1413]

My favorite character of breaking bad. Couldn’t get enough of him.

[@elorap2226]

Mike is a great mental opposite to Walter, yet having a similar motivation. He became a criminal however kept his moral code in place. His way of thinking wasn't disrupted by his ego too. I enjoyed watching this character a lot

[@TheFrostbite324]

Mike and Omar Little “All in the game”

[@BillBraskyy]

I don't think Mike just became comfortable killing at the moment in the series that was noted in this video. He was a sniper or recon or maybe even among the earliest classes of SF soldiers in Vietnam, where he most likely did a lot of Killin, plus he took out the two dirty cops that got his son with an ease that showed he wasn't a stranger to the action or idea of it; he also came this 🤏🏿 close to killing the domestic abusive husband, but didn't because he hadn't formed the philosophy of "no half measures" yet. I _do_ think though that Mike may have made an oath to himself in secret to not kill again, and him avoiding killing Tuco was probably Mike still trying to stick to his old code... But then getting into the mix of all these bad dudes showed him that his code of not killing is a weakness in this ugly underworld.

[@justjp9]

"Put your d away Waltuh" 💀

[@gnolan4281]

This is a superb, insight packed reprise of one Mike Ehrmantraut, how he came to be, how & where he wuz becuz. I've seen every episode of the preq & seq more than once so I don't have much to learn from most of these types of videos but One Take, I tip my hat to you. I learned new stuff.

[@1paultv22]

Like the great, Popeye the Sailor said, " I 'yam, what I 'yam, and that's all that I 'yam."

[@jcaff6963]

Thanks for this. Nice summary especially for those who did not view the series in complete order.

[@augustbiernbaum4841]

Finger is truly the most principled character in the show. Much respect

[@tsarfox3462]

Gus and Mike are my two favorite characters in the BB/BCS universe. I loved getting to see how they met and started working together.

[@Hailstrumm]

i love the little details like the issue of handyman adter he fixes the door, makes me feeled more involed with the characters, makes it feel much more realistic

[@retirementclarityradio5861]

Incredible job on this one!

[@OneTakeVids]

Thank you!

[@BennyT_3434]

This is excellent, while I think I'm fairly sharp, I end up missing so much of this nuance, thanks for helping fill in the gaps!!

[@marcjohn9404]

I think he must have been some type of enforcer in the past, and I don't just mean law enforcer either. It's heavily implied that he's killed and been a criminal before in the past. Mike is what? 60 in BCS? Late 50s? He's only in law enforcement for 20 years, so that gives him around 20 years that hasn't been accounted for in his career because he would have been nearly 40 when he became a cop. Also, he doesn't have the skills of just some cop, his skill level is very, very high. He's highly proficient with firearms, hand to hand combat, and he's very resourceful. He was definitely in the military at some point at the highest level with a skill set like that, plus when he's looking at rifles he says that he's familiar with the one that I think he ends up buying later.

[@izifaddag8221]

I met 'Mike' in Miami in I think late 1990 on the set of Manhunter or some such bs. They were filming on the Miami river in a seedy part of downtown not too far from the old Tobacco Road bar. Great bar, now gone, saw John Lee Hooker there. Anyway at that time 'Mike' was popping up in various TV shows. Manhunter was one of Michael Mann's (Miami Vice) projects. My connection was a lovely Ecuadorian / American woman who set up film set locations and occasional acting gigs. She appears in a few MV episodes in bit parts. 'Mike' was very nice and extremely down to earth. We had coffee and he asked what the hell a young English guy was doing there. It was another day at the office for him. Star material came out of hi pores and I was aware of it. Remember this moment I told myself. Same gf and I got to spend the day with Andy Garcia. We were looking for suitable film sets. Andy was extremely nice. A true gentleman. His wife however was a complete pain. You would have thought she was the Hollywood star and he was nobody. Long ago in a galaxy far far away. 'Mike' and Andy. Oh and a little known movie called "The Lost City". I was given the first draft of the script to read through. It was awesome and opened my eyes to Cuban history. It was Miami and Andy was Cuban.

[@FayCreative]

Such a good character! Love Mike, he’s so cool but badass at same time!

[@larrog8413]

The name "Ehrmantraut" means all-encompassing strength. I'm guessing the writers did this on purpose

[@scottd1903]

Mike sold his soul a long time ago when he took his first bribe as a rookie cop

[@bassjumpblues3631]

I loved watching enough to subscribe. Very informative but more entertaining. Then the cameo at the end tells me someone does thier homework. Keep it Up My friend @ OneTake!

[@tam2237]

That Mike impression at the end was pretty solid 😂

[@petermgruhn]

I've only watched clips and Mike is compelling, so thanks for filling things in a bit.

[@11kele]

@3:00 I caught the lip-sync for "Killing Tuco will draw Salamancas like flies" Good job...

[@noaht5191]

We all wish we had a Mike for a grandpa, we all may have had a Mike for a grandpa, our grandpas were just never broken the way Mike was.

[@solomonsterling4787]

To be quite honest this cements my belief that Mike is the best character between Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul

[@MrsTherrylein]

The way Gus works is exactly the way Satan works people: have them in their lowest place and then offer them an out in a way to continue that they would never in a million years would take if they weren't so utterly broken already. Sad that Mike never got to find the path of repentance, what a perfect cautionary tail it gave us though!

[@nont18411]

Hate me if you want but I think Mike had the worse case of slippin’ than Jimmy did. In case of Jimmy, at least we know that he went that way because of a constant threat from Chuck and the establishment that tried to put him down. People didn’t really want him to get the job or succeed. Majority of characters in the universe HATE him so he responded violently. He is a boy who is not embraced by the village so he burned it down to feel its warmth. Mike, on the other hand, has nobody to antagonize him. Everyone loves him. Stacey treats him as equal (unlike Kim, who didn’t treat Jimmy as equal until season 5) and everyone was happy to have him working for them. He could get a legitimate job anytime but he chose to enter “the game” because he couldn’t deal with the grief of losing his son. Both Mike and Jimmy tried to turn over a new leaf but failed but unlike Jimmy, the conflict that led to Mike’s bad choice was totally internal. That’s why I might be sad to the fate of Jimmy (or should I say Gene?) and Mike but I know that both of them had it coming. They made their own bad choices and they must face the consequences.

[@sludgerat444]

Great comment

[@nipzeygypzey653]

"The child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth" - African proverb This is one of my favorite quotes. I was happy to see someone use it.

[@vitoanania6042]

Furthermore, he put at risk his granddaughter's life

[@vitoanania6042]

Which is a huge contradiction with his goal or helping his family

[@MrRUKidddingMe]

AWESOME WORK! (right up to the last minute)

[@23rdMS_Inf]

Not just a parking attendant. He was a former Marine and a hardened Cop.

[@OneTakeVids]

Right, that was his current occupation but I made to sure to mention his past experience and current skills which more than prepared him for his future role with Gus

[@Anzuo]

Wow. This is a fantastic and insightful video. Very well made!

[@OneTakeVids]

Thank you! 🙏

[@parkian4245]

Live by the sword, die by the sword.

[@rahmspinat]

The writing is so good it's freaking killing me.

[@redseaford9426]

Mike was legitimately retired... untill he met Jimmy. Makes me fear for what is coming for Kim and ultimately, Jimmy/Saul himself.

[@dittohead7044]

Poor Mike. He felt so bad about Nacho too. That was a bitter pill to swallow

[@mijkolsmith]

Gus is so good at winning people over

[@mohamoudhassan6934]

Wow man very well written essay. Well spoken as well. Keep up the good work man! 👍

[@OneTakeVids]

Thank you! 🙏