Brace yourself anytime someone adds a "but" to a sentence... "I don't want to hurt your feelings, but-" "I am not racist, but-" "I like you, but-" beware of the dreaded "but"
@@DinoDudeDillon None of the things in this series would've happened if Chuck had accepted and guided Jimmy instead of pushing him down for all those years. It truly was Chuck's own fault that Jimmy turned out the way he did, and he was too blinded by his resentment and jealousy for him to see that. Though in the end, he basically ate his own words.
@@zjbenson95 I disagree, Jimmy isn't just a product of his enviroment. He actively makes his choices knowing that they could be wrong (or morally questionable at the very least), because he has a compulsion for taking shortcuts, just to achieve his goals. Surely he also acts like this to prove everybody (and mostly his brother who never believed in him) wrong, but it just seems very reductionist making every bad decision Jimmy has made a projection of an ill relationship. What about Chuck? Even though he's always been a model son, his father, his mother were always paying more attention to Jimmy. His wife is clearly under the influence of his natural charm. Chuck has been underappriciated, taken for granted, humiliated his whole life too. So why do the brothers behave so differently? The answer is simple. Because they're deeply different. They are moved by similar motifs but do things very differently. The whole dynamic of their relationship is based on this difference. On this desire to connect and on the inability of doing it in a genuine way. They both love and resent eachother for the better part of the show, and that's why they develop a toxic relationship
@@circolodellinconcludenza4369 I want to agree with this so much, but I don't believe that the answer is that simple. Chuck's character is actually manipulative on a few levels. He is a lot like Daniel in There will be Blood, except without the murder. Both hard working, ambitious titans that play the field. But these types equate power with competence and call it human, theirs is a contemptuous sullen experience. I guess what I'm saying is that it shouldn't be everyone else's problem that this personality type is so difficult to please. You can be the man and still be powerful when you make it a point to accept people for who they are. People have enough problems without being type-casted by the most stellar members of the human family. Now I can appreciate that Chuck doesn't want to babysit his brother and would rather stir up the nest. Even with Jimmy bringing him ice, I get that dynamic. However, when you are born an elder, there isn't a place you can be on this earth where your influence won't impact your siblings in some way. (I'm African so we see things a little different from whatever tribe McGill descends from) You can have a dynamic where you are the multi millionaire and have a band of deadbeats for family and still have them proud to both honor you and to be themselves. I'm sure it takes plenty boundaries, but love has to be the proactive measure. This situation is a lot of rehearsed "I've had this conversation too many times". Jimmy isn't a dog where he needs to be actively reinforced not to leak on the rug. Chuck is content to explain away unpleasantness, effectively weakening any chance he might have at a rich meaningful relationship with his brother. His desire to be the other prodigal son leads him down the path of jealously and resentment. Like it's not enough for him to be worth millions, he has to reassert that "Suddenly that makes you my peer?" It's like getting to heaven and finding out that Jesus expected you to retrace his steps *exactly* starting with the virgin birth. We all know that Chuck would make Jimmy his pet under litigation proceedings at high levels; he is his pet now and wants to rub his nose in it Jimmy sings with him at the bar, helps him appreciate the feel of grass, even tries to make him see reason when he pulls a switch on his own wife. I see this as a situation where Jimmy understands his role as a brother and Chuck is oblivious to his own potential in that area. Willfully blind, which makes it somewhat petty.
Chuck's statement is easily refuted. If Jimmy never meant that much to him, why did he spend so much time and energy on destroy Jimmy's career and life.
Literally that Chuck is Lawful Neutral during the whole time Never does anything illegal, but hurts people around him by being arrogant and insensitive
@@Alpacaclypse that's probably true in the context of why he has this rivalty with Jimmy and all that But considering he is an antagonist and not a villain, I would say he is lawful neutral
Jimmy is the guy who put his loved ones over the law Chuck is the guy who puts the law and his ego over his loved ones Technically you should root for Chuck but you won't because he's too selfish. Meanwhile Jimmy is technically the bad person but at least he cares for his loved ones even more than he cares for the law.
And that’s why he had to be written out the show there would have been no way fans were going to allow him to remain in the show after saying that to jimmy our main character their would have been fan outrage and the show could have ended up getting cancelled if they continued to keep chuck in any longer.
Wild Liver1212 you’re saying this like they’re writing it on the fly or in direct response to ratings and audience reception. It’s not some shitty soap, BCS clearly has a lot of thought put into it.
The pain in Jimmy's voice when he says "That's not true", "It's not a show", and "I can change" seem so genuine and hurt you can even hear his voice Crack a little. Moments like these in the show make me forget these are actors. Both are incredible actors and made me feel a whole range of emotions during this exchange.
This scene felt so incredibly heart breaking and haunting because with those last parting words Chuck essentially cursed both of them to become the worst versions of themselves imaginable. A tragic fate.
@@strangeman5698 He cursed himself as well. Even while he was saying it, Chuck knew he didn't mean it. And afterwards, Chuck also knew that what he just said threw any semblance of redemption for their relationship away for good. So it's no coincidence that almost immediately after he says this to Jimmy, his condition becomes so bad that he destroys his house and kills himself. He pushed everyone and everything he loved away, but worst of all, he pushed the last person who truly loved him away, the only family he had left
@@strangeman5698 Chuck died precisely because he said this. Notice that his illness gets worse everytime his feelings and relationship with Jimmy change. He was doing fine until this scene and he lies to Jimmy purely out of spite.
I actually believe that at this point Chuck already planned his suicide. He wanted to make Jimmy hate him as parting gift, so Jimmy won't take his death that hard on himself. Tho it may be wrong, considering Chuck was a prick whole show, but so did Walter, yet he done multiple things to fix what had to be fixed before his death
This is the real turning point for Saul that nobody talks about. Jimmy looks up to his brother a lot and genuinely tries to take his advice. He took everything he said here to heart and genuinely did embrace his dark side because that’s what his brother told him to do.
No what chuck said was true and it would still be true even if he didn't say it jimmy can't help but hurt people because in the end he only really cares about himself
@@oogs9114 I did read your comment your point was a black and white take that chuck turned jimmy bad right then it was very simplistic and stale what I replied with was that jimmy was always like that and he never had much empathy so regardless of chucks remarks he'd continue to be a bad person
The ultimate irony- Chuck tried everything in his power to prevent Jimmy from becoming a lawyer for fear of what he might become. But with these words, he essentially seals Jimmy's ultimate transformation into Saul Goodman.
I dont fucking understand how you ppl think this show is breaking bad, Jimmy has always been bad, Chuck died at season 3 and Saul Goodman = Sleeping Jimmy with a law degree = chimp with a machine gun The thing he does, the decision he makes its not about Chuck, its about who he is, who he always has been, he is always doing bad things to get what he wants and you can see it from season 1.
@@robertorpg2132 Jimmy wasn't always on this path. He did bad in the past, but he was trying to do some good. To really turn his life around. That's what makes this a tragedy. Jimmy was trying to change to honor his brother, never realizing how much his brother despised him. And Chuck was convinced Jimmy could never change, never knowing how much Jimmy tried to walk on the straight and narrow. Jimmy's not blameless. But neither is Chuck.
@@robertorpg2132 wrong. Jimmy was on the straight and narrow at several points. He worked hard to get a law degree, and Charles shot him down. Then he got a major class action lawsuit and Charles manipulated him into giving it to Charles firm and fucked him out of the job, effectively stealing Jimmy’s big chance at a straight ahead successful career. Jimmy was a changed man, he learned the value of hard work and stopped the scamming. Chuck put up so many roadblocks, and Jimmy’s choices were become the mailroom bitch or do things his way. If chuck had let him handle the old folks home case then jimmy wouldn’t have become Saul.
@@Cr0zzle It would not make a modicum of sense that Jimmy didn't ACTUALLY care. His care for others has been shown many times, he's not a sociopath. He sat in that sofa an entire night in complete silence. There was still care for Chuck even after having been wronged so many times, why would it be different just because he said some really hurtful words soon before dying? Jimmy just chose a really bad way to cope with it. By bottling up his emotions. And putting on a facade that he didn't care. He didn't want to feel sorrow for someone who was so cruel to him so he lies to himself and others about his real feelings.
Seeing this scene after 6x09 gives it so much more meaning. Jimmy became exactly what Chuck asked him to become - no regrets, embracing his demon since he knows he’ll only end up hurting others around him. Everything revolving around Howard and Kim only went on to nail this idea deeper in him. Chuck convinced him he cannot change. What more, these are Chuck’s last words to Jimmy. And boy did it stick around and catalyze Jimmy’s change to the hollow shell that is Saul. :(
Yeah after Kim left he did like his brother said and just accepted it, he got tired of trying to stop hurting people, he embraced it. Chuck and Kim created Saul Goodman.
The fact that Jimmy was still willing to fix his relationship with his brother after all the things that happened just shows how much Jimmy loves Chuck
Tbf, this was after Jimmy just got his big victory and made Chuck look like an absolute moron at the trial. Probably easier for him to extend the olive branch after that rather than Chuck
@@slacproductions9595 Well, he had too. The alternative was letting Chuck take his law license... plus, Jimmy wasn't wrong - Chuck truly was mentally ill.
That is honestly the most hurtful thing Chuck could've said to him. Jimmy took care of Chuck for so long, and always looked up to him. That's just a direct stab in the heart.
@@ExecutiveSonda Oh please, Chuck has been sabotaging Jimmy ever since he started working in the mailroom. Just when Jimmy was ready to became a real lawyer, Chuck just had to tell Howard not to hire him, cuz reasons, right? Then years later, after Jimmy delivers HHM a huge case on a silver platter, it's still not good enough for Chuck. The only reason Jimmy got a job at Davis and Main was because of Kim, and then Chuck has the audacity to punish Kim for vouching for Jimmy, just to pressure Jimmy into quitting the law. Chuck has been the puppetmaster holding the strings to Jimmy's career since day 1. The fact is that neither Chuck and Jimmy are completely moral. It's just that the law is on the side of Chuck and not Jimmy.
@@shouryamukherjee9854 It was Howard who punished Kim, not Chuck, because Kim had talked Howard into vouching for Jimmy only to have Jimmy embarrass Howard by releasing a commercial in his employers name without authorization. Besides, I highly doubt any reputable lawfirm wants to hire a former conman with an education from "university of american samoa". Chuck didn't want Jimmy to work in his firm, his sin was not telling Jimmy why from the start. Note that he didn't stop Jimmy from joining other companies.
@@ExecutiveSonda It is already established that Howard was Chuck's puppet for a long time. Chuck goes out of his way to make sure that Jimmy doesn't get hired, so clearly Chuck has influence over employee management. When Kim Wexler, who Chuck has admitted is an excellent lawyer, is stuck in doc review, Chuck does nothing. Chuck doesn't directly punish Kim, but he doesn't stop Howard from punishing Kim. Now tell me which of these two reasons for Chuck letting Kim suffer is more likely: Chuck decides to let Kim suffer in doc review because he has had a change of heart and has decided not to overstep his bounds (even though he had no problem overstepping his bounds when Jimmy was in question). or Chuck decides to let Kim suffer in doc review in order to hit Jimmy where it really hurts (he literally goes up to Kim during her coffee break and tells her all the shitty things Jimmy has done) As for Jimmy joining other law firms, you just said it yourself, "I highly doubt any reputable lawfirm wants to hire a former conman from the university of american samoa." Chuck didn't stop Jimmy from joining other companies, but why would other companies want to hire Jimmy given his criminal history? HHM was Jimmy's best shot at becoming a lawyer (Jimmy and Howard were on pretty good terms back then), and Chuck shot him down. Why do you think Jimmy was working public defense cases with a horrible salary and a shitty car for years? He had nowhere else to go, because no other law firm would accept him.
When he says "that's not true" and "I can change" dude he sounds so fucking sweet and innocent here. Shits mad sad, poor Jimmy. He's my favorite character in BB and BCS
@@MrSoopSA I think Jimmy had potential to change. Especially when he was working with his brother on San piper. BUT Chuck fucked him over so hard that he sent him on an irreversible path towards crime
When Chuck said _"Frankly, I'd have more respect for you if you did"_ he unknowingly sealed Jimmy's fate to continue down his bad choice road to Saul Goodman
I think he knew he was going to kill himself so he tried to spare Jimmy the lasting pain by making him temporarily hate him so Chuck’s death wouldn’t hit that hard
Not to downplay Bobs acting. Because he is a phenomenal actor, especially in this scene. But I think their whole brother relationship is better expressed through the writing than the acting. I feel like if they were just blankly staring and monotonously reading the lines I feel like I’d still have a similar feeling about these two. Obviously The show would be terrible if they did that , but the writing really does make this scene.
Phenominal acting as well by Michael McKean. That subtle hint in his facial expression at 1:49 that's he's actually really mad at jimmy that he quickly tries to hide after the fact is just amazing.
Chuck acted like Jimmy never meant anything to him, and then after this point and Chuck's death Jimmy acted like Chuck never meant anything to him either, but they were both lying to themselves.
That's kinda what go them into this whole mess to begin with. Just imagine a timeline where they settled their differences and became the best lawyers in the world😎
Just a heartless cruel thing to say to your little brother. Destroys him and a great deal of his soul. This scene here is a major reason Saul exists; where Jimmy lost a lot of the goodness in his heart because his brother flayed it, perforated it on a spear and roasted it on a fire.
I disagree. Chuck was lying here, and it clearly hurt him a great deal to say this as well. (Just look at his reaction after Jimmy leaves!) Yes, some of these words came from feelings of spite. But having been in this sort of situation myself, I know that sometimes it makes sense (personally, if maybe not morally) to vilify yourself and finally burn the bridge, thus freeing the other person, rather than continue the heartbreakingly painful and doomed attempts to repair the relationship. I honestly really feel for Chuck here. It's like he's trying to consciously or subconsciously alleviate other people of his burden before... well, what comes next. And in doing so, yes, he comes across selfishly at times (such as his attempted power-play at HHM); but what that says to me is that Chuck wanted to be loved but never received that for various reasons. I don't know... Chuck was screwed up, but I understand where he's coming from and it really resonated with me in a very sad place.
Saul was there all along, Saul and Jimmy are not different persons, they are the same and maybe that was cruel but he told him the truth, the only lie he told him was he didnt care about him when the truth is he hated him all along and how could he not hate him after all the thing he has done since he was 9?
Like flyforce16 said, he didn't mean what he said. He was trying to sever ties with Jimmy so that his death wound hit so hard. It's like the scene where Walt tears apart Skyler over the phone when he's on the run so that moving on from him won't be as hard.
@@orangefox1231 I agree, but also don't believe that is entirely relevant to Chuck's actions here. The point of this was clearly to sever the relationship, but while the motivations were indeed partly derived from an embittered cruelty, I think there's a lot more to it than that. Note that Chuck wasn't planning on Jimmy coming over and did not hatch this conversation as some sort of scheme; it seems almost involuntary, which to me softens the blow and indicates that, at this point, Chuck just can't help but act this way towards Jimmy against his better nature. And the very last few seconds of the clip, after Jimmy closes the house door, are quite significant. Chuck appears to be visibly distraught, meaning that telling this lie has taken an emotional toll on him as well. So why did Chuck do this to Jimmy? Partly cruelty, yes; but I'd argue also because he wanted to alleviate Jimmy of his brother's burden (of Chuck), which comes from Chuck's psychological issues and deep sense of self-loathing.
1:43 "You're just gonna keep hurting people". As soon as Chuck said that, you can see in Jimmy's eyes how hurt he was, like he was on the verge of tears. In that moment, he reverted back to being a young boy, desperate for his older brother's approval. At the same time, he knew what Chuck was saying was absolutely true. He just didn't want to accept it. He wanted his older brother to comfort him, to tell him he can still change, to tell him everything was gonna be alright. But Chuck laid down the hammer that ultimately destroyed any semblance of good that was still inside Jimmy. If his own older brother didn't believe in him (or never believed in him to begin with), then there was no more point in even pretending to still be good.
maybe thats why Jimmy decided to come clean in court? Besides doing it for Kim, maybe he was showing Chuck as well. He confessed to all actions and decided to stop hurting people
WRONG. Jimmy was very responsible for his OWN ACTIONS. Chuck didn't get anyone killed or endanger everyone around him by bringing the cartel into their lives. So there.
@@existenceisrelative why are all of you so horrifically predictable? its like all you can joke about is "media bad" and have to shoehorn it into literally all conversation. Its like a grandma FB post without the benefit of dementia. You're all exsctly the same and its hilarious
Wow, yeah. I don't think I noticed just how significant that was until you pointed it out. It's like there's a shred of innocence left in him and it's on full display right there.
This scene made me so sad, Jimmy’s reaction and mannerisms killed me. I could never imagine saying something like that to my little brother. Jimmy is a grown man at this point and all I see is a hurt little boy after he says that.
Chuck fucking sucks, I couldn’t stand that man for a second. He’s a great character because you hate him, and the show does a great job making the audience hate him but I couldn’t sympathize for a second with this guy.
Chuck is a selfish, narcissistic person. Of course Jimmy mattered to him that's why he worked so hard to expose him and couldn't stand the fact he was going to be a lawyer
More like “no offense, but I never considered you that important to me, even if you’re my little brother” which is such a fucked up thing to say. It was even more fucked up that it’s shown in the show that he vouched and supported Jimmy at the bar exam but prevented him to work at his law firm and had the blame fall all on Howard bcuz he didn’t want to tell his baby brother that he’s too much of a liability due to his history in getting into trouble. He forgets that Jimmy did all of that to make his own brother proud.
That's the last thing Chuck ever says to Jimmy before he dies. So heavy. The complete silence between them after Chuck says that, and the way Jimmy just slowly turns around and leaves, is absolutely heart-wrenching. No wonder Jimmy slips farther than ever after this.
I think it's really nasty how Chuck glances at the door after Jimmy leaves, too. It shows the pain he inflicted was deliberate, and his big show of shuffling papers and "working" was just him acting like a 3 year old letting Jimmy stew in that agony. He chose his last moment of his brother's earnest attempt to fix thing to hurt him as deeply as he could.
Jimmy and Chuck McGill are like modern Shakespearean characters. They are so fascinating when you compare and contrast them. Everything from their principles to their mannerisms, from their core to their surface, is just astounding. The actors who portray them make it even better with how they interpret the characters. And everything about the way these scenes between them are set up is just perfect for telling their story. Absolute 10 for 10
"You don't know the first thing about me, Jimmy. Look at what happened because of what *you* did. What it led to. My wife left me because of you. You defecated through a sunroof, and you're crying. _You're crying."_
The interesting thing is Jimmy ends up taking Chuck's advice. "Don't bother, what's the point? You're just going to keep hurting people. What's the point of all the sad faces and the gnashing of teeth? If you're not going to change your behavior, and you won't, why not just just skip the whole exercise? In the end, you're going to hurt everyone around you. You can't help it. So stop apologizing and accept it. Embrace it. Frankly, I would have more respect for you if you did." How could you describe Saul Goodman better? I wonder if Chuck would have more respect for him now.
If Chuck were alive right now and saw Jimmy now he would be pleased as he has become everything Chuck believed he was all along..... a lying, cheating, remorseless, reckless, dangerous insincere con-man willing to do anything to earn a good buck and subtly destroying people around him like Howard and most importantly Kim whom Jimmy has seduced to the dark side with his actions............ he would be pleased that Howard has seen the light and now truly understands what Jimmy is as he has suffered from Jimmy's actions first hand though I'm sure he wouldn't be surprised Kim has become a female version of Jimmy because she is just like his parents.......... too blinded by their love and fondness of precious Jimmy to see him for the crook he is until they lose something they hold dear (maybe not even after that)!
Chuck is an ill fucked up narcissist, who cares what he says or does. I wouldn’t take anything he says seriously, be too bad for the mental health of receiver.
They were both awful to each other. However this is the rare time that Jimmy apologizes from the heart and actually means it, but because of all the hurt that's happened Chuck can't see it and shoots him down again.
@@no_spill Jimmy only became awful to Chuck because he never, ever, showed him respect and always had to be the one on top. Chuck was as selfish as it goes. No real friends, a horrible significant other and a horrible other brother. He just couldn't set his fragile ego aside and work on himself as a person. The successful lawyer he was, was the only thing about his personality demanding respect. Deep inside he was a insecure person that hated himself, probably because he was never loved by his mom like Jimmy was. That's why he ultimately killed himself and why he said this to Jimmy. He wanted to create as much damage as possible before he went. He took Jimmy with him to the grave and Saul Goodman was born...
@@Francis-of8cw Jimmy was a piece of shit since the beggining, robbing her own father, sabotaging her old brother work the last thing he had, using her mental condition to destroy him on a public trial, rat him out to the insurance company, and robbing his papers to make him lose a client. Chuck saved him from prison avoid him to become a sex offender. And the only thing that he got was getting destroyed. In what world Jimmy can be the victim?
Chuck was unable to keep it real. He lied because Jimmy DOES mean alot to him and saying this is what causes Chuck to completely relapse and end up killing himself.
@@sannah1916but Jimmy did change in the end he changed several times put was put back into his sloping ways due to other people or the environment which lead him to make bad action with no remorse because he took Chucks advice
If you watch Chuck closely at the very end of this scene after he puts his hand to his mouth you can see him start to cry. It’s hard to tell if Chuck truly meant what he said to Jimmy, but at the end of all this Chuck truly knew this was the last time he’d ever see his brother.
He wanted to cry, but stopped himself because he didn't want to admit to himself that Jimmy does matter to him even if only a little bit. Chuck got tired of all the antics Jimmy put him through and probably thought about saying this for awhile but never did because he wasn't pushed far enough yet. In the real world, there is no obvious villain or hero.
@@suleymanbabak1973there was time, but he held it in till Jimmy was out of the door. The scene ends with Chuck covering his mouth presumably because he starts to cry, but obviously it's meant to show that Chuck only said what he said to Jimmy to get back at him, to hurt him. He did care, in his own weird ways.
Putting myself in Chuck's shoes for a moment, I imagine this might've been one of the happiest moments of his life. Being a naturally spiteful and vindictive person, Chuck took all he had, got all his strength together and stuck it to the person that he believed wronged him *big time* . Seeing Jimmy so genuinely happy for him right before delivering his "here's why you're terrible"-speech that utterly crushed him must've felt really good to Chuck. If his motivations weren't so petty and misguided, if Chuck was the hero of the story and if Jimmy was everything that Chuck believed he is, Chuck would've gotten standing ovations for this scene. Instead, it's heartbreaking, because we know that Chuck is in the wrong and his insistence on sticking it to Jimmy only pushes Jimmy further over the edge. Amazing writing.
I don't think he was happy at all. Given everything that happened between them, how much all of Jimmy's legal career has interfered with his, how he proved in front of his ex wife that his illness was anxiety-based than physical, how Jimmy doesn't Really meaningfully change how he approaches the law (the one thing that Chuck lives his life by), I imagine at this point he's just spent, exhausted. I think he was saying this because putting in the work to repair things with Jimmy would take time and energy Chuck doesn't have anymore; he was probably saying this to just make Jimmy go away. He absolutely said the most cruel thing possible to do it, but it's easier to understand his character doing this when you think about how tiring it must be to have to pick up the pieces of what your brother does for your whole lives. Like that one scene when Chuck was taking down the foil from the walls, and Jimmy finds a certain book. "Oh hey, Mom used to read this to me!" "No... no she didn't, that was me. I read that to you." I think their relationship has even more layers to it with the possibility that Chuck had to help raise Jimmy, while still competing for his parent's attention. Chuck is selfish with his words and Jimmy's selfish with his actions, the two are so interesting to watch with their languages so different
He definitely does not behave like a happy man should. You can see it from his face as soon as Jimmy left, just slightly peaking to his direction but scared to call for him.
He loved Jimmy. This retaliation was horrible, yes, but, with the rest of their history for context, Chuck wasn’t always wrong in his view of Jimmy. Not to mention that Jimmy’s wrath (the insurance) was also a cruel vengeance.
I do think Chuck really cares about his brother. Micheal McKean has in an interview said that the core of playing Chuck revolves around one central thought: "I made my mom proud, but Jimmy made her laugh". I really think Chuck does view him as his brother yet sees him most as a threat. Chuck's whole image relied on him being the smart one, the accomplished one in the family - Jimmy not only being the funny one but ALSO the accomplished one would render his own ego moot in a way. By de-acknowledging his brother he can keep that image of himself in tact, of course at the horrible price of his brother remaining the outcast, the person who can do no good. You have to wonder, if Jimmy never went to become a lawyer, but would instead have a low-wage job (which ironically is the position he finds himself in in the flashforwards), would Chuck still so agressively deject his person? Probably not, as we have seen in the past - when Jimmy was delivering letters his relatinship with Chuck was fine, it was only when Jimmy tried to reach his level that Chuck got threathened in everything he felt he was. And yeah I have no idea why I'm typing this lol I just find this show fascinating as a character study, it nails so many things so well and I keep coming back to see these characters evolve and dance around eachother. My hat off to Gilligan for creating this, it's truly awe-inspiring to witness on so many levels I feel (as wel as massively entertaining, of course).
as an older brother, it's heartbreaking to see how chuck treats jimmy-- and it makes me swear to be the best older brother i can be to my own little bro.
Likewise (older sister). I swore that my sibling and I would _never_ fall this low. Parents pass on eventually and spouses come in later, but you can never have another sibling.
As a person with brothers this scene hits me so hard. When your a younger brother you really want to be loved and respected by your older. And for jimmy to not get that love and respect at a time when he wants to make things better with chuck is heartbreaking.
That's what happens when you have a narcissistic sibling. They weaponize your love for them. I said this on another comment but they are juxtaposed Jimmy is a sheep in wolves clothing, Chuck is a wolf in sheep's clothing. Jimmy wants to be cold and cunning like chuck and maybe on some level chuck wants to be feeling and thoughtful, funny and charming. Ultimately Jimmy does a lot more than chuck with less. And that shows with how Chuck dies.
I actually felt some secondhand emotional pain. Stepped right into Jimmy's shoes. After he took such good care of his older brother and went against the advice of medical professionals in favour of his brothers comfort. And on top of all of that, all he ever wanted was to work side by side with his brother as a lawyer finally making his family proud. And this is what he got after all that
The beginning of season four, starts with a punch in the face. Is simply Jimmy admiring Chuck and wanting to be like him in every aspect. The way that the script plays with feeling's is amazing.
I really love this scene because it's so unique compared to other shows. In most shows, we'd typically see the brothers forgive each other and start to rebuild their relationship. But tragically, one of them dies unexpectedly before that can happen But in BCS, they don't make up. This is their last conversation and it's basically just Chuck telling Jimmy that he's never loved him. It feels so realistic because people tend to let little arguments blow up into something more severe and it ruins their relationships forever. Friends or relatives die all the time without ever making up with each other. That's the tragic reality of life. I know I'm rambling but this show just makes me think so much because it has so many underlying themes
Yeah he comes off as this hurt little boy even though he’s a fully grown man. His stuttering, his voice like he’s trying to hold back his tears, just an all around great performance
I don’t get why people now see Chuck as the hero, yes he was right but he did nothing to help Jimmy become better. The only reason why Jimmy hates Howard in the first place is because of Chuck plotting against him. Chuck had all the power in the world to help his brother but he didn’t, and he just made everything worse
True. If he were to say this to jimmy during season 6, he would've been right, but at this point, he was wrong. It's pretty stupid how people are saying chuck was always right because of what jimmy did during season 6 and not this season lmao.
Ikr, jimmy tried his best to become a changed man but chuck denied him every time. So jimmy stopped caring and became saul goodman aka "chimp with a machinegun"
@@simjc1212 People can change but Jimmy hasn’t changed. That’s the point Chuck is making. This entire series we’ve watched Jimmy refuse to change. Every time he decides to take the Slippin’ Jimmy route, he’s refusing to change. If Jimmy really wanted to change, he would, regardless of what Chuck, or anyone, says or does.
No main blame on Howard, he is a flawed, but innocent man. This is on Chuck. He made Jimmy into Saul like that. But still, I feel bad for Howard and Jimmy. They were deeply affected by Chuck’s pride.
@@readbyname BS. Chuck was right because he made it happened and was prideful. Howard was valid, 100% right because Jimmy/Kim ruined his reputation for no reason but fun.
All the time Jimmy takes to painstakingly drag himself back out the room to the door, including that last look goodbye, Chuck stares at nothing in particular on his desk. Just whatever's nearby to make himself look important and busy. And then when he hears the door open, he knows he's never seeing his brother again and that he's the one that made it that way. He finally looks up, cups a hand over his mouth to prevent noise, and his eyebrows knot like he's trying not to cry. And then immediately afterward, he spirals until he kills himself. It's just...so, so, so sad because they could have been so good for each other. Jimmy may have been his parents' favorite, but Jimmy's favorite was Chuck and literally everybody knew it. And while he was furiously envious of how much everybody loved Jimmy, Chuck loved him too. More than I think either of them was even capable of recognizing. This scene, the true death of these brothers' relationship, still breaks my heart. Even years later.
"I always told you I'd get better, you just never believed me" right out the gate, Chuck is starting out the entire thing with passive aggressiveness. Jimmy is like the ONLY person that thought Chuck could still get better and turn his whole life around. When Jimmy is happy for him and trying to talk about it Chuck instantly switches gears. Can't for a moment believe that Jimmy actually cares about him or his entire life falls apart. He has to think of Jimmy as the screw up. Chuck makes me sick. How are you going to say that to the one person that cared for you when you tried to vanish from the world.
I partially agree with this, but Jimmy ultimately helped in torturing and killing his brother. And after Season 6 Episode 7?No... Just no.. Kim and Jimmy is way to childish
@@keiztrat they're a product of their environment. It's easy to get upset at the end result when you should be upset at the world that made them like that or the world that created the cartels. They're the symptom of the disease. Having said that, they're still pieces of shit
Jimmy S1-3 and most of s4 is a far better person than most people. * He takes care of his rich and ungrateful brother while being poor as fuck and working his ass off at the bottom of the hierarchy. Even when Chuck continues to show nothing but contempt for Jimmy and tries to sabotage him at every opportunity, Jimmy still cares and tries to help him. * He risks his life saving those skater kids and warning the Kettlemans. * When the Kettlemans finally wants him as a lawyer it would be his ticket to success, yet he sends them back to HHM - a company that shit on him - because he knows he can't get as good a deal for them. * He goes out of his way to help those old folks and probably cares more for them than any other lawyer would. He does manipulate them a little, but when it goes out of hand and an innocent old lady is getting chastized, he sacrifices his entire reputation and business rather than see her suffer. * He risks prison rather than let Chuck fuck over Kim None of his little "schemes" are that bad from a moral standpoint. Most of them don't hurt anybody and the few people he actually tries to screw over had it coming.
Love how jimmy refutes everything Chuck says like a little boy gettin a lecture from his parents. He really was coming upfront for chuck and he was willing to give it yet another chance. That's so rough
Hell yeah, it made me appreciate a lot more my relationship with my little brother. I'm trying not to be like Chuck and be supportive of him so that he can become a responsible, well grounded adult.
My older brother is a Chuck tbh. I act like a dumbass a lot and he calls me out for it relentlessly. Ive tried to make him respect me for so many years but it just makes him respect me less. Just like Jimmy here, don't bother trying to get respect from someone who isn't willing to give it.
@@mortarman3204 That's so sad. I am kind of a Dick with my Little brother but i love him yo death, probably the person i love most in this world, i try not to be a Chuck although somethimes i do. I just hope i learn to treat him right
@@mortarman3204 Are you a con man too? In my opinion this matters. Yes it sucks to have someone that belitles and doesn't support you - been there as well. But look at what you're doing and look at what Jimmy is doing. It's incredible of how understanding people are of Jimmys nature and crimes because of his brother. Who also helped him many times. It's easy to forget this. Jimmy belongs in a prison guys. That's the cold harsh truth. And no the way he feels about his brother is not an excuse. Jimmy is an adult and healthy being who makes his own decisions.
1:55 I want to point out how disgusting it is that Chuck uses the usually-beneficial affirmation of Jimmy's feelings in a twisted manner. By saying this while putting Jimmy down, Chuck effectively makes Jimmy perceive his own feelings as being a part of a cycle: that no matter how much he puts into reflecting and emotionally healing from his own mistakes, he will always slip back. This really is the general message he's sending, but I think this part is something so subtle but incredibly destructive... because by saying "his feelings are real", it won't matter, and thus, it should NEVER MATTER how Jimmy feels. It's why Saul is so unfeeling and less empathetic in the long run, why he thinks a trip to Belize is a great idea most of the time, and why he feels extremely comfortable with working for a drug kingpin that would go on to destroy countless of lives with his product. Saul will feel his Jimmy side from time to time, but he knows in the grander scheme of things, it won't matter. It's insane to me because Chuck is a big believer in "ends don't justify the means." By saying Jimmy's attempts at self-reflection don't matter, he's basically TEACHING Jimmy a horrible lesson that any and all means will reach the same end, which contradicts everything Chuck supposedly stands for and what he should've been teaching Jimmy. I don't think Chuck's message would have had the same effect had that line not been in the script. It explicitly attempts to destroy Jimmy's empathy, and even if the entire message does that already, this line seriously adds subtext to the fact that Saul is so cold and sleazy. EDIT: Just realized while thinking about this scene again... this makes "Bad Choice Road", the episode where Mike gives Jimmy the titular advice, a great example of how much this talking down affected Jimmy. When he relays the same lesson to Kim for quitting Schweikart & Cokely as well as giving up Mesa Verde, he distorts that lesson into being about MONEY than it is about personal belief, morals, or KIM'S FEELINGS about her job. Every attempt at self-reflection or self-improvement is overshadowed by the delusion that his feelings will always downplay what is rational and logical, specifically on a utilitarian and hedonistic sense rather than an altruistic and unselfish manner. Chuck destroying some of Jimmy's capacity to feel that he can do good things, that he can change, and that a big source of possible change can come from his own emotions and feelings... was crucial in Jimmy's death and Saul's birth. EDIT 2: GOD, this scene makes me keep coming back... I LOVE how it's shot to keep half of their faces in the dark, but I love how well-done the shots on Jimmy do well to show how Chuck essentially makes him "bury" his good-half. When Jimmy tries to weakly retort "it's not a show" his full face almost becomes fully lit, representing that this is Jimmy at his most vulnerable and sincere... and the whole exchange ends with half of Jimmy's face fully darkened, before him finally leaving back turned for GOOD, leaving behind a chunk of his former self. This scene... FUCKING HELL, this scene gets to me too much.
I actually teared up after reading this, because it hit me for the first time just how deeply this informs Jimmy as a character moving forward. I used to focus mainly on the "You've never really mattered all that much to me", and how that leads to Jimmy's complete, toxic suppression of grief over Chuck's death. Personally, since the start of season 5, I've been focusing on Kim as the show's main character, so I retroactively started thinking about this scene through the lens of how it's affected Jimmy's actions in her perspective. I will admit, I overlooked Jimmy's continuing arc, so seeing it stated so succinctly got to me. I do think season 4 very intentionally flipped the switch from it being a Jimmy story to it being a Kim story, and Jimmy has mostly just been along for the ride, but you put into words exactly why he's become a pretty passive participant in his eponymous show. Chuck annihilated any motivation for Jimmy to change outside of his relationship with Kim. It informs his embrace of Saul Goodman, his carefree attitude towards deeper involvement with the cartel, and his deep worry when Kim starts to get more involved with that side. Well written.
I think the think that hurts so much here is that Jimmy looks and acts like a dejected child trying to reconcile an abusive parent. He carries himself with so much genuine regret and confusion and he really doesnt understand Chuck's contempt, its that feeling of "if they don't believe in me, how could I?" His responses arent arguments, they're scared flags for reassurance that he won't get. Theres no lesson here for Jimmy, despite all the sanctimony Chuck is lashing out to soothe his aching pride, and talking to Jimmy just to hurt him. This shit hurts to watch.
My ex girlfriend was like Chuck, I had my problems but she had this “I have never done anything wrong, I’m perfect.” mentality. She constantly told me that I don’t love her when I did.
@@sicariusflamus3033 I’m sorry you have to go through that, it’s one thing when your girlfriend dies it to you, but that’s your mom. I pray for you to be at peace.
I think the greatest irony in this scene is that, after Jimmy congratulates Chuck on changing for the better, Chuck refuses to believe Jimmy can do the same, even ensuring that he doesn't just by telling him, after time and time again, that he _can't._ An extra layer of irony comes from the original series being about change, when this one is about the lack thereof. When you keep someone from changing, _they don't_ -- it's as simple as that, and yet, thanks to the wonderful cast and crew behind the show, it's so much more poignant than it could ever be if it were just explained as raw information.
Through his constant sabotage, Chuck definitely made the bad stuff he said about Jimmy come into fruition. When Jimmy put himself through a law school a job and took the bar exam, all on his own dime while working full time, Chuck not only dismissed it as "taking a lazy shortcut" but also went out of his way to sabotage Jimmy's career. That ultimately forced Jimmy to have to rely on the very bad behaviors Chuck expected of him and condemned him for. For insult to injury, Chuck refuses to own up to his own bad behaviors and blames everything on Jimmy.
@@StudioScarecrow That is to assume -- or rather, to say the _show_ assumes -- that deep down, Walter is only ever one person throughout the show. While there are core personality traits that stay the same for him (for one, he always insists on being a provider and protector for his family, right up to the very end), he does not start out a killer, neither is he particularly confident, not the kind of person who _could_ run a meth ring if he tried; and yet, as opportunity and outside influences present themselves, he changes himself in ways that ultimately serve his main goal: to be provider and protector of his family -- going back even farther to why he left Gretchen, to be his own man. Maybe he couldn't have taken money from Elliott, but if he found some way to fulfill his own needs that weren't illegal, he never would have had to become a killer or a crime boss. May have been more confident, though, being assured in his ability to achieve that ultimate goal. Walter White wasn't always Heisenberg -- he _became_ him. The alias was born from necessity. He changed himself to fit his environment, that he might better fit his ideal self. Changed parts of himself in service of a part of him that _wouldn't_ change. So, in a weird way, I agree with you. He always was the kind of person who would have changed that way, in that situation, because of his ideal self.
@@reidheidler5138 One thing tho, he never actually did it for his family. That was a lie he told himself, as he said at the end, he did it for himself, to prove himself, and the world, he was the best.
For real this is what having a conversation with a manipulative narcissist is like. The gas lighting, the blaming, the denial, the dismissal. Unless you've met someone like Chuck in your life, it's impossible to explain to people how abusive these kind of people are!!!
Love how the show fucks with the viwers emotions..... like who do i feel bad for? You feel bad for jimmy at the same time knowing hes a pos..... you hate chuck...... even though you know hes right and just a product of Jimmy's corrupt aura..... i love this show sooo much
chuck is right though. he isnt manipulative, he's saying as it is. jimmy was heading down to path of saul goodman ever since he took that first dollar from his father's counter and gave into the "wolf" mentality and transformed it in a twisted way of "justice". it's like your brother growing up as a nazi when you've dedicated your entire life to antifa. it's sad how these simple little differences can end up breaking the sacred bond of siblingship, but it happens and it's a sad thing to witness
Everyone's disappointed in Jimmy for becoming Saul, but Chuck played an arguably bigger role in his creation. The very philosophy of having no regrets and not caring about how your actions affect people is one that Jimmy falls into after Chuck effectively gives up on him.
Jimmy is a grown man. Circumstances certainly didn't help him, but he was crooked from the very beginning. I am not trying to defend Chuck, but most people would not enjoy having someone like Jimmy as a brother. Objectively, Jimmy has always hurt the people he loves, mostly for selfish reasons. He is always scheming and while his intentions are often good, he continually harms those around him for his own ends. The one responsible for Saul is Jimmy. There are those who contributed, and Chuck certainly did everything in his power to make Jimmy feel small and to ruin Jimmy's progress. Yet, ultimately, Jimmy continually makes decisions that lead him to become Saul. A lot of what Chuck says here is hurtful but it is right. Jimmy does continually keep hurting those close to him and then apologising, and then doing it again. He is arguably as awful as Chuck, but we like him because he's charismatic and because he has a lot of relatable flaws and often has good intentions. Nobody would want someone like Jimmy in their life, but they defend him because Chuck is masterfully worked as the bad guy (and takes a lot of actions that are indefensible), and because Jimmy is the 'protagonist' throughout the show.
Show me a painful scene in Breaking Bad and ill show you a 10x more painful scene in Better Call Saul. Vince Gilligan is hitting his stride with this show.
@@mateoairaudo5535 you guys are in it for the entertainment. If you where in it for the art of the show you would know that better call saul wouldn't even be a thing if breaking bad wasn't made also of course better call saul is going to be better because the world and characters in the story are already all set up because of breaking bad also another fact Vince Gilligan is going to get better with these episodes because of breaking bad he knows the what the people love from his art so he expands upon that.
@@GUSX4NMAN Better Call Saul is great in its own right. And just because BB came first, it doesn't mean BCS can't be better. And it's not something usual as most prequels suck. And, for the record, I not only appreciate BCS cause its entertaining value but for its emotional weight, superb character development and its perfect slow pacing. BB is more mainstream while BCS is more artistic. That's why it doesn't have so many viewers despite Netflix's popularity.
The way they set up Bob Odenkirk in this scene is amazing. His posture, his clothing, the lighting, his expression make him just seem so childish and frail. Perfectly fits with their sibling dynamic, especially when you consider their age gap is significant enough to the point that Chuck has always been "the mature one" to Jimmy. Jimmy here is genuinely trying to salvage his only family left and Chuck is just tearing into him.
This scene makes me so thankful for the positive relationship that my older brother and I have. He's my only brother, and I would never want things to end up the way they did between Jimmy and Chuck.
Chuck always cared about Jimmy, even though he is jelaous of him. He just said this to him so that Jimmy would not mourne his suicide and to "cut all ties" to his life. Jimmy was the last thing holding him back in that moment.
I agree he did care about him based off of his reaction later on. But I don't think he was sparing him any pain, feels a bit too romantic. I think this is the reason he kills himself, it was implied his illness started when his wife left him, when he feels lonely. After he pushes Howard and then Jimmy away in this scene, his illness resurfaces full-strenght once he became completely lonely again and then kills himself when he can't take it any longer. This show is so freaking sad :(
Lmfao, I don’t think Chuck decided he was gonna kill himself at this time. I think he told Jimmy he never mattered to him was because he genuinely wanted to hurt Jimmy after all the pain he put him through.
When I recommend this show to people I don’t really know what to say - it’s not the most exciting show, and it’s not got the drama of BB but you can just feel how well it is made in every episode. The character development is incredible
This show is quality, you don't even need to be a Breaking Bad fan to enjoy it. Yeah it helps a lot to catch the references but this series characters, conflicts and story are great alone
@@omgiam2hot agreed! I think the general impression people have is that the showrunners have more artistic say now than with early BrBa, so BCS can have a bit more of a realistic, character-driven vibe. I really do like BCS better, the characters are so damn nuanced
@@jorgerincon6874 you dont need to be BB fan but you MUST watch BB before BCS cause then its a masterpiece. We are all watching Jimmy becoming Saul, and ones who didn’t watch BB dont even know who The F is Saul. Not to mention tension like: “Wtf will happen with Kim/Nacho” “Who is Gus/Mike” Breaking Bas is a MUST WATCH before Better Call Saul and than you see all easter eggs and you understand REAL depth and script etc.
You can very clearly see the heartbreak that fills Jimmy at 3:04. Him processing what his brother just said to him. His soul being crushed. You can tell his heart sinks the second Chuck utters that sentence. Masterful, amazing, incredible acting from Bob. The way it's portrayed by him is fucking incredible, and the emotions are so obvious and so well done
@@bushboy1163 The look he's portraying on his face. Very clearly can see how that hurt him. Maybe pay attention instead of saying a dumb comment like "he just stood there."
@@cdfactory I didn't ask you what you thought tbh. What I saw was Bob portraying a guy who's visibly crushed by what his brother just said to him and the way he portrays that in his face you can clearly see the heartbreak. Not hard to see or understand.
@@cdfactory Bruh not anyone can do that, to look like your soul is being crushed while fighting back tears. The best act is in the expression not the words.
watching this after the finale is incredible because even as far back as this scene Peter Gould was planting the seeds that jimmy's biggest regret in life was his and chuck's relationship
This scene is a masterpiece. Notice the opening shot of the conversation, from 0:02 to 0:49. Jimmy approaches Chuck slowly, but steadily, while Chuck stays on the same spot. I think this was the director's way of portraying how Jimmy had always tried to get approval and develop a more friendly connection with Chuck. Meanwhile, Chuck had always stayed in the same place, as in, he never made an effort to get along with his brother. This entire scene perfectly sums up their relationship. Jimmy approaches Chuck so that they may make up for what happened between them, but Chuck can't accept it and resorts to emotionally hurting Jimmy. Genius cinematography.
While I know Chuck's faults and personality take the main stage in this scene, I do think there's something to say about Jimmy's apology. A big theme of this show, especially in the last season, is Jimmy facing the consequences of his actions, and this apology reflects that. Jimmy just destroyed Chuck's reputation and legal career, but his apology starts off with "in hindsight" which makes it sound like he didn't know what he was doing was wrong at the time. He then immediately tries to push part of the blame on Chuck, before saying he would "maybe" do some things differently. He doesn't even actually say, "I'm sorry" to Chuck. Now, all of this sounds sincere from Jimmy, but part of it, especially if you look from Chuck's perspective, makes it sound like he isn't actually appreciating how badly he just ruined Chuck's life. He's finding excuses, downplaying, and throwing into question whether he was actually at fault for making those choices. But Chuck's a lawyer. Phrasing is everything in law, and there were several loopholes in that apology that would surmount to plausible deniability. In a way, Jimmy is still refusing to accept the consequences of his actions. That's of course not to say that Chuck isn't at fault either. He most definitely is. He probably wouldn't have accepted Jimmy's apology regardless. But I think an important part of their relationship is that whoever you think is the most responsible for its deterioration (Chuck), they both contributed to the ultimate result. Chuck by not accepting Jimmy and seeing his efforts to change, and Jimmy by refusing to accept the consequences of his actions.
Yes! You get it. They have a very destructive relationship, but both Jimmy and Chuck love each other at the end of the day. Despite his last words to Jimmy, Chuck does love his brother. Despite all the shit Chuck did to Jimmy, he still loves his brother. The final episode shows this with Jimmy's confession and the conversation with him and Chuck. The McGill brothers are so well written 👏
Exactly! In spite of what Jimmy feels for Chuck as his brother, his apology doesn't seem sincere. He doesn't even admit he was wrong. He just said he had to apologize because they were brother and they should "stick together". Not even bothering to mention or admiting he did wrong. And also implying maybe he would do some things differently, knowing those actions destroyed his brother's career and reputation. And it doesn't justify what Chuck said to him after that. It was hurtful and cruel. But it's kinda understandable his behavior towards Jimmy on that situation (excluding his jealousy and envy). It's true. Their biggest flaws are: Chuck not admitting he's wrong, and also pushing his brother down at all cost, and Jimmy, not facing the consequences of his actions. And at least, Jimmy proved Chuck right and wrong at the same time on the finale.
No, an apology must come from a true regret of what you believe you did wrong. Jimmy is sincere here while Chuck has always is delusional and keep his hollier than thu act as if he is the only person that matter. He is a complete narcissist that coats his intentions in fancy ideals like "justice" or "honor" to hide the ugliness of his petty envy. He did the same when Howard said he had betrayed him and Chuck said "I could say that about you has well.." knowing full well he was at fault. A petty little king without a realm or a crown.
Chuck destroyed his own career. All he had to do was pay his increased insurance and call it a day. He really was losing it and so it would've been justified. Or he could have compromised with HHM later. He refused and threatened them with legal action, all the while acting insanely.
can we please not pretend that Jimmy "ruined chucks reputation and life" chuck did that all on his own, your peers can overlook a number mistake or handle insurance premiums going up. Chuck was the one who acted like a goddamn lunatic in front of mesa verde and was ready to go to war with the insurance company AND HHM. There's definitely problems with jimmy's apology but he did not "ruin chucks life." And he's totally right to call out chuck for acting like he didn't make any bad choices on his part. All chuck had to do when Jimmy came to him with his degree, was say "jimmy I'm proud of you, this is great and I wish you nothing but success with another firm or as a solo practicioner, but I cannot in good conscience hire you at my firm knowing your history." and that is a totally valid statement that jimmy has no choice but to accept or else yes he is 100% to blame for any chicanery that follows between them. instead chuck stooped down to slippin jimmy's level and schemed with howard and sneaking phone calls to avoid being honest. That's what I love about this show, their relationship is very complex and neither one of them is totally at fault for what happens.
This scene is where Jimmy learns a hard lesson: That being sincere leaves you vulnerable and you can be hurt. That wound is the birth of Saul Goodman who is developed over the course of the next season. Meanwhile his brother complete his arc, which is that he tries to destroy his brother and in doing so he destroys the humanity left in himself. Great writing.
By this point jimmy has negotiated broken legs, hired Mike for numerous jobs, doctored Mesa Verde documents, and even rigged a low-level senior bingo game. So your " this is the moment" bull is just that. ..bull
@@OfficerRichardGrimes Well, I see what you mean, but clearly a person can do things like that which lead to their downfall there are clearly some moments are more crucial than others. And I think there is a validity in saying that your brother who has been consistently trying to sabotage you and refuse to beleive in you tell you that he never really cared about and then have that be the last thing you hear from him before he kills himself is pretty fucking life changing
After 06x12 this is so much sadder, the way Chuck treats jimmy with disinterest and the "I don't care that much" attitude is sooo similar to the way Saul Goodman talked to Kim while signing their divorce. Just a mask to cover the internal pain and make the other suffer.
This is one of the most painful things you can say to a brother that took care of you and looked up to you even without ever getting your respect or appreciation in return. What a superbly written and acted show.
One of the most heartbreaking and pivotal moments in the entire BB/BCS universe. This moment is probably the single most powerful motivation to the eventual creation of Saul Goodman. Without Saul Goodman, Walter White never successfully becomes Heisenberg, as we know him. It is crazy to sit down and really think about how this scene could have ended so differently and how that would have affected the rest of the BB/BCS universe.
This scene is even more cruel because Jimmy looked up to chuck. He was trying to change himself for chuck. And when chuck says jimmy will just hurt people no matter what, Jimmy takes it to heart. What chuck says means a lot to him. The fact that they differ so greatly in age means chuck was a father figure to Jimmy in a way. Jimmy didn't respect his father because people walked all over him, but jimmy respected chuck. And when his mentor, brother, father/figure, tells him he is wasting his time trying to be good, Jimmy takes it to heart, and that is what leads to Saul Goodman. Jimmy hears from chuck that he will never be more than slippin Jimmy, and Jimmy believes him and puts all of his effort into being that person. 1:46 The way he says "that's not true", almost like he couldn't even believe Chuck would say that. Jimmy believed he could become a lawyer and a respected citizen, but chuck told him he couldn't. Even when Chuck is an asshole, Jimmy still respects what he says, and he took this interaction with chuck right to his heart
Words have power, we can either bless or curse someone. Chuck just cursed Jimmy by telling him that he is defined by his past and that the way he was is the way he’s always gonna be.
The way Chuck just sidesteps out of the frame after delivering such a devastating blow is just amazing. Michael McKean nailed this scene perfectly. The sheer magnitude of Chuck's cruelty cloaked behind the facade of a superior elder giving out advice is just breathtaking.
This scene feels like a curse is being cast on Jimmy AND especially Chuck. He says the “magic” words, the air rings hollow. I can almost feel the “passive” guilt begin to snowball with chuck right at this moment, echoing into a granular decay during his breakdown after.
To me this is the moment where Chuck completely let himself be consumed by darkness, it's no coincidence that the next thing he does is burn himself alive
