Better Call Saul: Ethics Are Strange 

Ok

That line delivery of Mike saying “I broke my boy” makes me cry every time. First class acting

“Ethically? I’m sorry. I must be hearing things. Did you actually just use the word ‘ethically’ in a sentence? You are not Clarence Darrow, Saul. You’re a two bit bus bench lawyer. And you work for me.” - Walter White

It wasn't until the scene when Chuck and Jimmy's mother died that I realized how deep Chuck's resentment towards Jimmy really was.

To add to this, I think about 50% of jimmy’s moral calculus is “how fun / difficult would this scam be to pull off?”. He gets so wrapped up in his intricate plans and complicated schemes that the question “is this an ok thing to do?” becomes more and more irrelevant to him.

Well Howard, that's your cross to bear" is one of the most brutal lines in the show, the look on Howard's face after Jimmy says that crushes me every time

Jonathan Banks’ confession monologue in season one gets me choked up every time. Such phenomenal acting. One of my top favorite monologues from Film/TV.

I don't think Gus was threatening Mike. When he said "I believe that you understand revenge," he's probably referring to when Mike tried to kill Hector out of revenge for that Good Samaritan. Gus even says at the time "I am not unsympathetic to your sense of justice." I doubt he even has any idea that Mike killed those two cops, or would even care. Great video, very excited for part 3!

"Howard, that's your cross to bare". Poor Howard never had a chance, along with Nacho.

This show has proved time and time again how much nuance there really is in reality. It's true that Jimmy is wrong and that Chuck is right, it's also true that Chuck is wrong and Jimmy is right, and that it's also true that both of these statements can be true all at once. Ethics is such a strange thing, and this show uses it so incredibly well. Can't wait for you to talk more about Kim, Nacho, and Howard soon too!

16:30 I think the "biblical feel" of Jimmy and Chuck's relationship is actually a strong parallel to the parable of the Prodigal Son. Growing up, Chuck was the one walking the straight and narrow, while his brother was a wastrel. And yet, the approval Chuck sought from his parents for his good behavior always eluded him. Meanwhile Jimmy, who Chuck believed should have been punished for his bad behavior, was always forgiven. The deathbed scene taken in this context is all about the jealousy of the eldest son toward the prodigal. His mother reminded him that not only was he not favored over Jimmy, possibly Jimmy was favored over him. Jealousy turns to anger, and that's why he refused to tell Jimmy of his mother's dying words.

I think Howard is truly the most tragic character in the whole series. One of his oldest friends, Chuck, used him to stamp down on Jimmy and Kim, which in turn led to their unquenchable hatred for the man, resulting in the downfall of his personal life through lies, scams, and outright assault with drugs that ended up sending him to Jimmy and Kim right as Lalo showed up… and to the end, he always took the high road where he could and attempted to better himself.

Jimmy repeating the advice of Mike and completely butchering it to fit his own warped image of the world is truly a fantastic detail that makes me love this show, and wish that everyone else would appreciate the small things in the same way.

26:11 I actually have a somewhat similar real world experience from my grandpa. My grandpa was a police officer for the Unified Police department (deparment responsible for several of Salt Lake city, Utah's suburbs) in the 1980's. There was actually a fellow cops who hit and ran after killing an kid while under the influence of alcohol. During the internal investigation, my grandpa was assigned to it. Well, upon discovering it was that cop, the other cops in the department told my grandpa told him that if he went through with it. My grandpa would find himself in need of backup and none of them would respond. In essence, they told my grandpa that they were going to let him die. So, my grandpa ended up quitting.

One of the great things about this show is that the characters are all flawed and morally gray- which is realistic. Life is not black or white. Awesome vid.

Jimmy is such a very complex character to understand and you nailed it with these videos. I mean, in case of Walter White, it was clear that he is evil but in case of Jimmy, he is more grey and some of his unethical and ethical moments happened simultaneously that it can’t be separated from each other.

"Since I think limitations can be kinda beautiful in like a ritualistic kind of way." Yes. Just Yes. Hopefully you meant this in the way I took it because I just love those moments when someone else says something you've been thinking for ages. When I see artists making their work in a specific medium because it calls to them. That's just freaking beautiful. Maybe its someone using dice to construct a mural. Or maybe its those books that are written without the letter "E." You know those people truly had a passion and wanted to get their minds out into the world in a truly unique way. Art is mind reading. Artists are just telepathic in a very specific medium. We rely our minds and souls into writing, sculpting, movies and videos. Hell MUSIC. Music is a way in which we literally put emotion into other people's minds. Art is beautiful.

The whole part about Chuck’s illness and the internalized stigmatization of mental health issues really hit hard. Very well put.

The sad part of her mother dying, that chucks perspective holds him to not see it is that her mother calls jimmy and not chuck because he was the one gone... she probably wanted to see BOTH of her dearest sons together for the very last time. Chuck can't see that, it instead fuels his hated of his brother even more after that which is tragic.

42:55 when Saul asked Mike "when does this go away" I guess on the surface he was asking about working for the cartel, but I think what he really *meant* was his trauma. He gets triggered when Kim is making orange juice, and he loses an easy case in court, and he realized that trauma is ruining his life. Mike picks this up immediately and tells him it gets easier, and some day he will forget about it

I don't usually leave comments on video essays but dude, your analysis of BCS, your grasp of ethics and your ability to verbalise your thoughts in understandable ways is such an amazing skill. I loved every minute of this!

Wow, I loved your take on Saul’s butchering of Mike’s advice to Kim. Really shows so much with so little, thanks for the second great video on this series and I’m eagerly awaiting the next part

He was right about the Matt situation. He just couldn’t control his sons composure. If they felt he was solid, they wouldn’t have killed him and Mike woulda been right. But Matt hesitated and they saw it. Can’t account for that.

i am very fond of your work, i am a Fine arts students, and i became obsessed with this TV series because it checks all the boxes for the word ( Fine art ) impressively detailed, complexed characteristics, and every aspect can be taken each and be a show on its own. Massive respect for the analysis it meets my academic study so much ! 😂 loved your content and channel keep going bro.

I have never heard a person tell the trolley problem in a way that has actually made me question my response before, good job

Just a point about the scene between Chuck and Jimmy where Chuck secretly records his confession. I viewed that very differently than Jimmy being played like a fiddle. Jimmy is good natured and sociable and Chuck openly presented a case that absolves him of responsibility and while yes we know it is the truth he doesn't. Jimmy would have played that role true or false. This to me demonstrates a clear morality difference between the two brothers. Jimmy put no strings on his help taking care of his brother yet Chuck not only put strings but when Jimmy thrived constructed a prison for him. The two are both bad people who use people for personal gain Jimmy gives you a show and relies on your complicity (mostly) Chuck puts you in a situation that will eliminate your choice and keep Chuck in a position of authority. What's truly different about the two is how they view themselves Jimmy views himself as a fuck up but would rather be a wolf than sheep. Chuck views himself as a shepherd and that occasionally the herd need to be culled. Morality has forever been viewed in societal and personal terms. Using simple rationality you can argue very easily that personal morality is a detriment while displaying social morality will elevate your status. My point being simply if morality is a choice and personal which of the two brothers are the better person. That's what the scene of their mom calling out for Jimmy is truly about.

Great video! Really enjoyed it 🙂 Btw the scene you analyse at around 43:00 where Saul asks “when will this be over for me”. . . I’m 99% sure he’s asking not “when will I be out of the game” but actually “when will this shell shock I’m experiencing from witnessing a murder/being in the desert subside”

Chuck was a true villain in this story. Chuck destroyed Jimmy with his insecurity and jealousy. While no doubt Jimmy has ultimate responsibility for his own actions, if Chuck behaved better to Jimmy, he would not have became Saul. Jimmy worked hard to pass the bar, even if it wasn't as prestigious as the college Chuck went to. He tried to turn his life around, he tried to be good. Jimmy was always there for Chuck, he took care of him daily. Sure Jimmy did bad things, but they were often for the right reasons. But when Chuck was actively working against him, due to petty jealousy and resentment that Jimmy was his mother's last thought, he didn't stand a chance. He was projecting his own guilt onto Jimmy.

man even if u made a 23 hour video i'll definitely watch it, keep up the good work man

I do think that Gus threatened Mike. He knows what Mike did and why he fled to Albuquerque. Seems like classic Gus. Mike killed Werner to save the life of Werner's wife. Gus' men would have killed them both. That's a genuine trolley switch. It's also one of the most powerful dramatic scenes ever produced. This is a great channel. Thanks for all your work on this.

Man! the formatting of these videos and how you take us on a journey to try and answer your thesis question is amazing. you do a STELLAR job recapping events and showing how certain events play a part in factoring into the bigger whole. it's really well done and I hope you are proud of yourself!

26:20 I think that Matt being killed for joining them too late shows that yes, he would have been killed for waiting even longer or not doing it or reporting them. I think the real ethical crux here isn't what Mike chose to do when talking to his son, but when Mike chose to go along with the system and take the money twenty years before that. That's what I read as Mike's anguish in this scene - that no matter what he said, Matt was already dead because of a combination of decisions Mike made, and Matt's own love for his dad. So now, not only must he take care of his granddaughter and her mother because they're family and he'd do it anyway, but because *this is a debt he owes* And then he finds that the only way for him to reliably pay off that debt is to be on the other side of that deal that killed his son. If the pacing were any faster, the pulpiness and coincidence and melodrama would feel, well, pulpy and melodramatic. But it plays like Shakespeare due to deliberate pacing, impeccable acting, and gorgeous directing. And also because Shakespeare was pretty pulpy and melodramatic

Not just Jacob and Esau. The 'good son' is also pissy about the 'prodigal son' being allowed to return *without reaping the bad consequences* he was due for abandoning his family. Jimmy and Chuck's dynamic often reminds me of this.

I DONT KNOW WHY I'VE WATCHED THIS SAME VIDEO 40 TIMES. your content is just so good

I really liked the way you put that...People thinking we should have the willpower to change anything that's going on in our minds whereas we would never expect the same of a physical health issues...

Dude these are awesome. I'm absolutely addicted to these Saul and BB "video essays", so much depth now that the shows have ended. Thanks for the entertainment!

Thanks for the passion. This show needs more love!

The algorithm brought me here and I'm sure you'll get a boost when Better Call Saul hits a climax and gets more post-finale viewers and analysis. Great breakdowns, commentary, and beard. Subscribed!

that part about the frustration about being unable to show love and care consistently got to me so hard. I had never been confronted about it externally although I've always felt it, and couldn't put it into words. Thank you for that.

I didn't know you can explain all these complex things with words before this video. Damn thank you man!

Just now discovering your channel and became a subscriber before I finished the first video! Thank you for such high quality content! Keep 'em coming! You're helping to fill the void as we die hard BCS fans await the last/and final episodes!

There are some very strong parallels between the story of Jimmy and Chuck and the parable of the prodigal son in Luk 15, in a lot of ways it seems like an extended modern adaptation. In the parable the prodigal leads a reckless life but is still welcomed and shown love by his father when he returns. The father is so overjoyed at getting his son back that he decides to throw a banquet for him, however this leaves the uptight and obedient older brother bitter and jealous seeing his reckless younger brother treated so well, so much so that he refuses to go in and celebrate. The situation of Jimmy and Chuck is not exactly one to one, a few significant differences, but the characterization of the two is extremely similar and both focus on the jealousy that the older brother (Chuck) has for how their parents treat the younger brother (Jimmy) even after all the messes they've made and pain they've caused, making the older brother feel unloved.

i think mike just found a solid guy he can have a good work relationship with, to make money for kaylee's future. when gus gave him this chance, mike saw in it all that maybe gus wouldn't have him as just another expendable grunt, and this was the essence of the whole negotiation

Something I think is important to recognize in this discussion is the difference between justified and justifiable, something I think someone in your field would have a better idea of than the layman

I need part 3, I’ve been looking for an in depth analysis of this show since rewatching to prepare for season 6. The first two parts have been perfect, thank you for making these videos, just subscribed, looking forward to all your other content! Any status update on when part 3 is coming?

Jimmy always drops his guard to take care of Chuck when necessary, but Chuck would never return the favor.

what a fantastic and informative analysis! never before have I watched a single youtube video for an hour straight without being distracted by something

this is such a phenomenal analysis!! it’s made especially relevant in the context of the final few episodes. from the scam that led to howard’s death to gene’s burglary on a cancer patient, i feel like bcs is most interesting when it’s exploring jimmy’s moral code over time

Thank you, for all the work you put into this analysis. I really enjoyed it.

"The way he comes off like a precocious child immigrating something their parents said" This is EXACTLY what was going through my head when I saw this scene. If I remember correctly, he tries to badly mimic Mike like this later on. It's a behavior I really love.

Great video and detailed analysis. Keep them coming.

It's also interesting that Jimmy introduced moral language into Mike's advice when he parroted it to Kim because it implies that he has a lot of guilt. He lashed out at Mike because Mike was telling him to take responsibility for his actions, and since many of those actions were unethical Jimmy perceived that responsibility Mike was talking about as a moral one. Jimmy doesn't want to face the reality of his actions because he doesn't want to face guilt.

Wow! So many thought provoking points! Thanks.

These analysis videos are amazing. Thanks for putting this up in the run up to season 6 coming out.

great video, definitely gonna watch the rest in this series of yours. thanks for sharing!

This is a hidden gem. Hope u get tons of views. U deserve it!!! Keep it up!!!

This is a fantastic video, really well-made. Assuming your expertise is accurate (being the internet and all), it clearly shows through here. Somehow it makes the ethical quandaries in this show more understandable and more interesting-ly and thought-provoking-ly complicated, in a way that I personally love. Thanks for making this. Also one thing I just noticed in your comparison between Mike getting killed and Werner getting killed. I highly doubt Gus would've murdered Mike, even if he'd taken the most drastic step and sent Werner to the airport with his wife, or gotten him a new identity rather than killing him. I think the other possibility in that scenario was one of Gus's men going out to kill Werner (I believe that's actually confirmed by Gus, telling Mike to wait with Werner in the car) and possibly his wife, as I've seen some people argue. Again, the rest of the video is fantastic, I just wouldn't put Mike on the same level of unethicality as you make him sound like he is. Especially considering the personal hell he seems to go through in the first 4 episodes of Season 5 along with his regret for having to kill Werner and trying to avert Gus's men meeting Werner's wife at the airport (although again, that is up to assumption). I'd love to see what you think of Mike in Breaking Bad by comparison, as well as the same fountain of ethical dilemmas and insanities as in Better Call Saul, what with the whole premise of cooking meth for one's family and the consequences (or lack thereof) for some of the characters, like Walt and Jesse perhaps.

His tactic he explains, almost a refrain, "you get over it." ...he's practicing willful ignorance,but it's a cold comfort that turned his heart to stone. He felt pangs when slippin earlier, as an 'amateur', he justified his wolfish behavior by saying he only preys on other wolves, as you discuss in your Wolves vs Sheep. He has integrated the parts of his personality now to keep slipping, but as a professional criminal who doesn't feel any pangs for slippin on a 'sheep'.....once a person told me they had different friends for different reasons, eventually I found ought they were a scammer- looking back I see that statement as a red flag.

I wish I had seen this sooner!! The quality of your voice - combined with your astute observations - makes for a great channel. Subscribed. It's a BCS fan's dream come true!!

i usually have a very short attention span. but even though your videos are ginourmous, i found myself having trouble looking away many times. great job

I always think all our main characters broke bad to feel or find love somewhat (in reality, destruction is their way of finding intimacy, intimacy with an enemy, because then theyd finally know them better but negatively). I like saying this a lot with the BrBa universe: they burned their villages to feel their warmth. I'm feeling there's going to be a reveal with Kim's past where this is nearly literally true.

People get mad at me when I point out that Mike had the same fall of grace as Walter White (or the other way around chronologically). He's a "family" man willing to cross certain lines for them, crossing more and more excusing his ego every step, having the chance to quit, until he is just a criminal doing crimes, realizing just a second too late. Him dying to Walter is the most ironic of Walters murders, falling to an ego man just like himself.

I feel like Jimmy has ADHD. He's smart but not organized, he thrives in chaos and when he has to improvise, he's quick on his feet. And he's also very emotion-driven, but most importantly, Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria is apparent during almost every scene. He needs positive reinforcement from people surrounding him, and if he doesn't get it, he does pretty much everything he can to keep himself entertained to divert his attention from whatever happens to bother him at the time mentally.

This and your previous video are two of the best essays on Better Call Saul. Thank you for helping me appreciate the show even more!

Chuck sabotaged Jimmys lawful career for year through Howard and made him lie for Chuck. Chuck was no better.

Mike is my favorite charecter from the franchise and is what I would imagine a real life Johan Liebert would be like if Mike lost his humanity and sympathy.

This was a great watch. Thanks!

great video. it also seems like jimmy is naturally good hearted, but extremely skillful in deceit. Whereas chuck is naturally deceitful but skillful at being good at justice.

I subscribed. These are great, very well-presented and informed analysis;

Man. Why doesn't this video have more views? Yeesh. Great stuff.

This video has such great strong qualities. Engaging narration of well organized, insightful analysis.Great clips of the show to illustrate points. What really falls short :the odd repeated visual of (I guess) a TV screen in a desert, going from black and white to red and green...WHAT??? The concepts being discussed would have so much more clarity if illustrated with stronger corresponding visuals. The vague confusion of this symbolic TV screen is so aggravating. But incredible job with this video all around- great, thoughtful, entertaining and worth not just watching, but sharing and discussing. Well done.

Your channel is exactly what I've been looking for. *subscribed*

I have watched all four of your video essays (to date) detailing various aspects of Better Call Saul, and I have to say, first of all, thank you! I need more of this-intelligent, thoughtful, insightful critical thinking and analysis into this, the most intelligent, thoughtful, insightful, and entertaining television show I’ve ever seen. (And I say this even after watching Breaking Bad, which I never thought would be surpassed in quality.) Please keep your video essays coming: I would gladly listen to this sort of thing all day, if possible. Better yet, please tell me you’re thinking of putting these thoughts and insights into book form. 🙂

Just found these videos. Great work imma watch all your other stuff keep it up man you’ll make it

"It's a real hello-darkness-my-old-friend-moment." ~My favorite line from this vid so far 😂

Jimmy was most good hearted character in the show behind all his charismatic charming facade

Dude this is fucking brilliant, what the hell. You need more views

I love watching these BCS deep dives. I would love to see one some time focused on Kim!

this is so good!! i will watch all your videos

These videos are incredible - a veritable oasis of substance in the vast desert of BB/BCS masterial on YT.

Good stuff! I agree this is the best show on television and probably will continue to be for a long time. Love the Biblical reference of Jacob and Esau.

Dude we need part 3 ASAP!!!

Excellent. I have learned much about myself, familial relationships, and interpersonal relationships through your learned understanding and sharing of human personality, behavior, and mental and neurological components of individual comportment. Thank you.

i love your channel so much and Ive only watched two videos. my two favourite things therapy/psychology and better call saul lol

was waiting for this vid way to long smh almost had to call saul!

I like to think Chuck didn't tell Jimmy about his mom calling for him at her deathbed to spare Jimmy the pain of thinking that his mom wanted to see him right before dying, but he was out to get sandwiches. It plays into his role as taking into charge and being almost a dad for Jimmy. He doesn't cry in front of Jimmy to maintain his role. Maybe he doesn't tell him to spare him the pain, fitting with his role as a dad. His aim to teach Jimmy the right lesson constantly also fits with this role. Idk, I see their relationship as this much more than a brotherly relationship

Criminally underrated channel. Great video!

Particularly great comparison of Mike and Jimmy's version of "bad choice road" and what Mike was really getting at, great video.

Kid named Finger:

54:50 It was implicit to me that Gus told Mike about Max and a lot more. It is shown right after that when Mike gets out of one of Gus's cars that he is now a part of his army - not to say its leader. They are now allies, and Mike stands by Gus until the end.

Youtibe algorithm did a great job recommending your videos! Your narration and writing make it easy to just listen and take in your points. Gonna check out more videos

love this channel. so underrated

Good stuff. You've given me a lot to think about regarding character motivations that I can use in my own writing.

8:04 I think the scene where Jimmy admits he has regrets about what he did kind of answers the question. The last scene with him and chuck.

holy shit i cant wait for part 3 sub earned watching part one soon

Thanks for making this!

I'm a month late, but regarding the Gus and Mike scene in the episode Dedicado a Max, I think what Gus was doing by saying "revenge" wasn't threatening Mike so much as attempting to manipulate Mike by appealing to what, from Gus' perspective, is - to a certain extent - a shared moral imperative between them: taking revenge for the innocent. Irrespective of how true it actually is for either character, Gus is adept at manipulation in all regards, but especially at appealing to people's sense of morality, as evidenced by the "A man provides" speech to WW in Breaking Bad. He knows Mike is a vengeful person even without knowledge of Mike's premeditated killing of the cops who killed his son because his very first interaction with Mike was by having a note put on Mike's car ordering him not to take revenge on Hector, the same man Gus is after. Gus knows Mike has a relatively strong moral compass (at least compared to the other BCS characters) and also knows that a successful appeal to morality is likely his only chance to get Mike on his side, as Mike is the one character against whom a threat on his loved ones is certain to backfire, and Gus is aware of this. Your interpretation is obviously valid too, but I think this one fits better with what's been established in the BCS/BB universe. Edit: I'm not saying that WW's ideas of a man needing to provide are necessarily moral so much as, irrespective of obviously being rooted in toxic masculinity, it is a belief of his that informs his moral beliefs/decisions.

Wow man, can't believe you only have just under 4k subs, the quality easily matches what I'd expect from a channel with 400k, hope the algorithm runs this one up and brings you some more traffic 👍

Great video. A thought about social/psychological discussion brought up at about 21 mins: that people expect to overcome psychological troubles with willpower, where people are not expected to do so with physical things (barring maybe running a bit further or gritting through pain). I think that has a lot to do with willpower is in itself psychological so within the same framework/school. So while I see your point it's naturally a lot closer at hand. Willing yourself to lift 200kgs over your head would be magic

Didn't want to watch this video because of the length, but glad I did. It was a lot to think about.