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Solar Opposites: Terry and Korvo Steal a Bear (2020)
May be the best 22 mins of TV ive ever seen
WOW WOW WOW. No words. That EP. was 22 MINUTES. I REPEAT. 22 BLOODY MINUTES. Literally 1320 seconds and the content within that felt like 3 hours. What an unbelievable concept to begin with and then develop into like so. Only Mr Roiland could do such a thing. This is up there with Ricklantis, Free Churro in the 22 min sect of shows. Insane bear stealing and can't recommend a more amazing experience to encounter.
Better Call Saul: Something Unforgivable (2020)
New meaning to Crawl Space
WOOOOOOOOW. Season 6 gonna be unreal what an unbelievable episode. Definitely up there with the best (chicanery, Winner, Wexler v Goodman, Five-O, etc.).
Lets start with Saul and Kim, Wow the set up for S6 with them two is fantastic. They now have a goal in mind for their legal practices that are combined and not alone. Unbelievable chemistry between the two which has been good throughout the show and this season but defo this ep was a highlight. I loved seeing Mike work with Saul, Saul is not the Saul from BB yet but the phone call he had with Mike was as close to BB saul we have seen so far. It was soooooooo nice to see him demanding and quick like the old school saul and was a mad flashback. Kim going rebel, bit of a Ned Kelly style character, Jimmy changing her morals to fight for the little guy no matter what even if u have to break the rules is so good.
Hamlin was great this ep. Honestly, the call saying chuck knew Jimmy hit me hard. Its so true, the slippin jimmy character is something Kim doesnt know too well and chuck was good friends with hamlin so im guessing Hamlin knows more than hes leading on. Good to see what is unveiled in S6 for him.
DONNNNNNNN ELLLADDIO. Oh it was good to be back poolside with the salamanca's. So good to see the sight of Frings greatest triumph and fall and Bolsa and everyone else but obviously how have I gone this far without mentioning the best part of s5. LALO SALAMANCA. UNBELIEVABLE ROLE HE HAS HAD THIS SEASON AND OH MY LORDY does he do the ending of this season justice. Survived his whole way through the assassination attempt, it looked like a remastering of scarface and was executed as if Lalo was a new age tony montana. The scene where he reveals the "crawl space" and crawls through Andy Dufresne style all the way to take them all out from behind kinda sums up what he has being doing to Fring. And just when u think he's gonna lose his temper on the last guy and keep no prisoners in a classic Salamanca behaviour we have seen in Tuco and Hector or the cousins, he keeps him alive and stays smart and tells the guy to say hes dead. WOW. I was speechless. One of the best scenes and as he walks past the camera in the last shot with this almost demonic expression as if he is going to destroy everyone in his path clearly proves that while this gunshow was supreme. Its only gonna get bigger and better from here.
Rating: 9.7
Better Call Saul: Bad Choice Road (2020)
Well played Kim. Welcome to the game
Wow, from start to finish. This just was class. As good as any BCS ep. Not unreal but great. Intro was great with the juxtaposition of Kim and Saul and was beautiful to watch. It was a bit of a lighter dialogue heavy ep about rest and relaxation but the dialogue was very violent. Saul giving in the money at the office was classic BCS comedy and gave me some classic BB nostalgia to huell lying on the pile of cash. Saul really shows this ep whats keeping him going in the cartel madness and Kim realising she wants more out of life than a big client for a big firm. She wants to enjoy it and it showed really strongly at the end (talk about that later). Gus and Juan Bolsa about to lock heads and good to see Bolsa again, v interesting character in BB and definitely want to know more. Lalo was great, "Tell me again". Boy that was intense, really thought Mike was gonna hit him there but Kim saved the day. She's in the game now, saved jimmy's life there. Well played. Scared for her now, but definitely well played for now
Rating 9.4
Better Call Saul: Bagman (2020)
Not 4 days out but wow this was intense
This ep was great. From the salamanca brothers to the final shot, unreal. It was insane, This is the first true showing of Jimmy's exposure to the violence other than with Tuco in S1. But this was another level on top of that.
Lalo and Kim's conversation was great to see. Kim showing her true feelings for Jimmy and Mike saying "she's in" highlighting the connection from her to the cartel and maybe a possible future scenario involving her and her becoming a dust in the future (Breaking Bad I mean).
But yes lets talk about 4 days out with Bryan Cranston replaced by Jonny Banks and Aaron Paul replaced by Bob Odenkirk. Jesus that was incredible, Mike's confession explaining basically everything he does in BB for the true motives all the way up to the point where Walt shoots him, even then he was still doing everything to protect the people who he loves. Saul was incredible as the bagman, the simplest job becoming a herculean task in the desert (looking like tohajilee). Idk if the joint smoker that Saul was talking about to Kim was referring to Jesse but I'd take it as a Jesse reference but still a bit thin. What wasn't thin was were two other symbols. Firstly the use of song by bless his soul Dave Porter using the instrumental of I got the.... by Labi Saffre with the walk through the desert as Saul has got a lot on his mind (kim, the money, survival, etc.), it may only be the instrumental but the lyrics to the song are very applicable to sauls situation.
Mornin' come, sun don't shine
I'll get by without you
I was lost, but now I'm found
Tell me love it was you ......CHILLS
And also the foil.....I mean space blanket. Mike puts on the blanket and it has to be a connection to Saul's late brother Chuck who constantly wore the blanket due to his allergy to technology and dismissed, ridiculed and ultimately hated. he also gave Jimmy a lot of advice which is what mike does in the desert for Jimmy to keep him going in order to survive the extreme conditions, not just the weather but the cartel situation as well. The season is holding its high calibre episodes and is arguably at this point probably the best season of BCS (obvs BB is supreme) but we still got two more. Getting nervous for the next few but you gotta remember, ItS aul Good man
Better Call Saul: JMM (2020)
JMM.....OMG
Well hard to come up after Wexler v Goodman but was still fantastic.
Smart marriages, Expert heists, Good bedtime reading, this ep had it all. Kim and Jimmy finally tying the know for legal purposes was excellent and Huell was some classic comedic relief.
Lalo, Nacho, Mike and Fring excellent as per, Lalo's plan to destroy Los Pollos and Fring executing to keep Nacho in trust with Lalo is so evil and masterful, it makes u respect how good Walter was cos he somehow beat him at his own game. Its like a vicious cycle of tyrants from Lalo --> Fring --> Walt --> DEA and everyone else. And the music played as Fring and Nacho burn it up is so perfect, Dave Porter every time doing the best of the best. Also Lydia and Madrigal, great to see it all starting to come full circle
The trial at the end was fantastic to watch and a scene that may go by as not important and over a few heads but I thought was unbelievable is near the end where Jimmy is looking around the corner at the victim's family crying and his face is lining up with the mirror that highlights his dual personality. On one side, his face he looks sad, has compassion for the family, he's scared and remorseful, he's the Elder Law Jimmy. But on the side, the side on the wall, he looks demented, angry, unchallenged and unstoppable, Just Make Money Saul Goodman. Idk thats how I saw it and it gave me shivers.
Speaking of shivers, WOW the ending, SAUL ABSOLUTELY TEARING HOWARD A NEW ONE. Was a sight to see, he finally eclipsed HHM, playing the god card and that he's never ever gonna shoot for anything less than the best and be better than Jimmy McGill ever was. Can't wait to see what Lalo gets up to and basically what happens with Kim.......I mean somethings gotta happen.......right?
Rating: 9.4
Better Call Saul: Dedicado a Max (2020)
It all goes full circle
Great episode. Very cohesive and holds up very nicely to set up the next ep. While the lack of nacho and lalo again made me sad, the Acker story is taking new ground with Saul as his attorney allowing him to pull his classic stunts. It also gives light to his "assortment of guys who know guys" that just do things for him and help him get his way which is very funny to watch and seeing Kim doing this is clearly a site to behold and I can't wait how a wexler v Goodman trial turns out
Mikes portion of this ep is slow and very similar to when the Hound in GOT got chopped down and then became a lumberjack as he recovered. Anywho, always good to see Jonathan Banks and Giancarlo Esposito in the same scene setting up for a BIG next ep and obviously the small area with Frings doctor from BB dedicated to Max his associate is just perfect linking to BB that clearly Vince had planned for years. Just legendary really
Rating: 8.4
Better Call Saul: Namaste (2020)
Least impactful of the season but still great
After last episode "The guy for this", it's gonna be very difficult to follow up with something incredible. I assume Vince knew this and went with a much more chill and classic BCS episode format that never seems to fail.
Great intro with the bowling balls which foreshadows Saul's eventual actions against Howard Hamlin's motivation of getting Jimmy back at HHM. Nice montage sequences all through the episode shown through as Lyle and Fring's trap juxtapose very nicely as they both want perfection in their actions, CLASSIC FRING FROM BB. Kim is really gaining traction this season and is actually feels like its building towards something HUGE that leads to Kim never mentioned in BB.
I can't give this ep higher than an 8 as Namaste is without Ignacio and Lalo but Mike was incredible, great symbolism having him walking back in the same neighbourhood with the hoodlums as it displays either he truly is after the trouble, he wants the danger back in his life or he wanted to be hurt for his actions against Kaylee and Stacey. Anyway, good cliff hanger ending to see where Mike goes from here and v excited to see Mesa Verde (Kim) V Acker (Goodman)
Better Call Saul: The Guy for This (2020)
As tasty as a scoop of ice-cream
OHHHH it just keeps getting better and better. From start to finish, this is as good as Chicanery. The beautiful soundtrack by David Porter that accompanies the ants as they eat Saul's ice-cream is gorgeous cinematography and just symbolises that even after everything is going sweet for Saul, its very bitter sweet and has to literally drop everything for Nacho and the cartel. Lalo getting better as every episode goes and seems to be to smart for Fring and Nacho at this point and obviously Michael Mando was brilliant in the crossfire of not just his father but Fring as well.
Definitely the best acting performance I have seen from Rhea Seehorn as she deals with Mr Acker and taps into a darker side of her as she struggles to deal with her own decisions. Mike dealing with the repercussions of last episode as he goes back to old habits and does some classic mike bad-assery.
Yes I have gone over 300 words and havent said it yet. THE THIRD GREATEST Breaking Bad DUO IS BACK (obvs walt and jessie and skinny pete and badger are superior) but yes, Hank and Steve are back and are just......spectacular. Classic comedic remarks from both and to see Gomie, Hank, Krazy 8 and Saul all in the same shot just made me sooooo happy.
I dont know how it gets better and more succinct than this EP but Vince always brings the magic
Rating: 9.75 (rounds to a 10)
Better Call Saul: 50% Off (2020)
Rollercoaster of emotions
Following a fantastic opening episode "Magic Man". 50% off was not as amazing, but definitely holds its own with an incredible opening sequence displaying the ramifications of Jimmy's actions in the first ep but in true Vince Gilligan style which was just epic where you can't help but laugh.
Mike's scene was incredibly emotional, letting out internal struggle and former stress get the better of him in a part of Mike you rarely see in BCS or BB. Nacho goes back to being as Lalo would say, A BADASSS and on the beat in incredible style. Saul, WOW. Saul being THE SAUL GOODMAN ATTORNEY AT LAW is a nostalgic sight to see as he dominates the courtroom, breaking the law to OWN THE LAW.
Also, last but definitely not least, the ENDING of the episode. Seeing Michael Mando and Bob Odenkirk in the same shot for the first time in around 4 years made me jump out of my seat and creates ever long hype for EP 3.
Guess Vince only knows what havoc is coming next week
Rating: 9.2
Better Call Saul: Magic Man (2020)
Is the magic man Saul or Vince Gilligan
What an unreal start to season 5. Not just the standard unbelievable acting of Bob Odenkirk, Giancarlo and Rhea (ofc Jonathan too). It was just spectacular filmography. Highlight was definitely Saul giving out phones with just beautifully made transitions and classic dialogue of Saul that I had missed for the last year and a half. Hard to give a 10 to something that isn't breaking bad like Ozymandias but seriously good episode and excited for what Lalo has in stall for the rest of what is looking to be the darkest season of BCS
ALSO, the Robert Forster cameo was emotional but beautiful and a fantastic send off for Ed
Rating: 9.3
House of Cards: Chapter 73 (2018)
I know I am late but I thought the GOT finale was bad
I don't believe it, i see it but i dont believe. ATTENTION VIEWERS DO YOURSELF A FAVOUR, it peaks and S2 and stop after S4. Embarassing, season 6 felt like it was written by Disney and the Me Too movement. All cliche and done before, the house of cards fell with FRANK, the real cards. NOTHING. I REPEAT NOTHING GETS RESOLVED, Doug who was once an unbelievable, ruthless character, becomes soft because of what....fear of legacy???? Please.
Do yourself a favour, breaking bad, fargo, west wing, chernobyl. they will not fail you. If you stop at S4, trust me.....NO MORE PAIN