Better Call Saul 3.01
Apr. 12th, 2017 11:37 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenakIn which Gene finally speaks.
And of course his first words are "Get a lawyer!" Alas, even the young pickpocket listens, that lawyer won't be Saul Goodman. Nor will he be Jimmy McGill.
As much as it's easy to sympathize with Jimmy in the Chuck situation, I think it was a wise choice on the part of the skriptwriters to bring back that airfield officer who was duped by Jimmy into letting him shoot part of his commercial there. Because Jimmy honestly doesn't get why that guy is upset. It's the classic conman attitude: it's the dupe's fault that he fell for it. Which is easy to share on the part of the audience if the dupe is someone like Ken the Jerk, but less easy if it's this man, who didn't bulldozer in but waited his turn among Jimmy's other clients to speak with him and get an explanation, and who might get into job trouble if his superiors find out.
And Jimmy just doesn't see that. Anymore than he considered Kim could get into difficulties with his stunts. Speaking of Kim, the scene with her old friend at Mesa Verde sums up in miniature Kim's stituation now: at first it's a delight, because the friend is justly wowed by all the amazing work Kim has done. And then that joy gets poisoned because the friend involuntarily reminds Kim her getting the job is also due to Jimmy framing Chuck to make him look incompetent in front of Mesa Verde. She can't ever be sure that she'd have gotten the job on her own merits - hence the über-workoholic perfectionist going through the papers afterwards - and that's so unfair, because she would have, but she can't know, because Jimmy's need to get back at his brother spoiled that. And he doesn't get that.
Meanwhile, just as Chuck getting Jimmy to confess on tape with a Jimmy like trick in last season's finale, he in this season opener continues to use Jimmy tactics himself, by setting Ernesto up so Ernie is prompted to tell Jimmy what Chuck has done. Howard earlier asks after Chuck has gleefully agreed with him that the tape is of no use in court and won't sway public opinion or Mesa Verde opinion, either, what the use of it is, and Chuck just says "I can think of one". Because, at a guess, much as the Mesa Verde thing was a terrible humiliation for Chuck, and being made to look incompetent in court was a nightmare, the long time thing that galls him is and always has been people liking Jimmy better, starting with Mom. And that's what this whole thing is aiming at.
Mid-brotherly feud, however, we get a nostalgic interlude, which was another great script idea because it gives us a look at how they must have been in their childhood, and also that despite the incredible resentment Chuck harbors there is some affection mixed up there as well. Chuck lecturing Jimmy on how to remove tape without damaging the furniture and later pointing out he, not their mother, was the one to read that childhood book to Jimmy (complete with description of Jimmy's lamp) is another of those "the entire story in miniature" moments about their relationship. Fantastic scene.
Mike's tale: no thoughts beyond: what would Mike and Chuck make of each other?
And of course his first words are "Get a lawyer!" Alas, even the young pickpocket listens, that lawyer won't be Saul Goodman. Nor will he be Jimmy McGill.
As much as it's easy to sympathize with Jimmy in the Chuck situation, I think it was a wise choice on the part of the skriptwriters to bring back that airfield officer who was duped by Jimmy into letting him shoot part of his commercial there. Because Jimmy honestly doesn't get why that guy is upset. It's the classic conman attitude: it's the dupe's fault that he fell for it. Which is easy to share on the part of the audience if the dupe is someone like Ken the Jerk, but less easy if it's this man, who didn't bulldozer in but waited his turn among Jimmy's other clients to speak with him and get an explanation, and who might get into job trouble if his superiors find out.
And Jimmy just doesn't see that. Anymore than he considered Kim could get into difficulties with his stunts. Speaking of Kim, the scene with her old friend at Mesa Verde sums up in miniature Kim's stituation now: at first it's a delight, because the friend is justly wowed by all the amazing work Kim has done. And then that joy gets poisoned because the friend involuntarily reminds Kim her getting the job is also due to Jimmy framing Chuck to make him look incompetent in front of Mesa Verde. She can't ever be sure that she'd have gotten the job on her own merits - hence the über-workoholic perfectionist going through the papers afterwards - and that's so unfair, because she would have, but she can't know, because Jimmy's need to get back at his brother spoiled that. And he doesn't get that.
Meanwhile, just as Chuck getting Jimmy to confess on tape with a Jimmy like trick in last season's finale, he in this season opener continues to use Jimmy tactics himself, by setting Ernesto up so Ernie is prompted to tell Jimmy what Chuck has done. Howard earlier asks after Chuck has gleefully agreed with him that the tape is of no use in court and won't sway public opinion or Mesa Verde opinion, either, what the use of it is, and Chuck just says "I can think of one". Because, at a guess, much as the Mesa Verde thing was a terrible humiliation for Chuck, and being made to look incompetent in court was a nightmare, the long time thing that galls him is and always has been people liking Jimmy better, starting with Mom. And that's what this whole thing is aiming at.
Mid-brotherly feud, however, we get a nostalgic interlude, which was another great script idea because it gives us a look at how they must have been in their childhood, and also that despite the incredible resentment Chuck harbors there is some affection mixed up there as well. Chuck lecturing Jimmy on how to remove tape without damaging the furniture and later pointing out he, not their mother, was the one to read that childhood book to Jimmy (complete with description of Jimmy's lamp) is another of those "the entire story in miniature" moments about their relationship. Fantastic scene.
Mike's tale: no thoughts beyond: what would Mike and Chuck make of each other?
