wallaceb2111 Reviews

Better Call Saul: Axe and Grind (2022) Season 6, Episode 6

T-1

[9/10 · 19 May 2022]

Why is this rated in the bottom 10 episodes of BCS? I understand low ratings on Episode 5, but this episode was great!

First, we get more backstory on Kim Wexler that doesn't just reinforce themes we already know, but actually adds to her character development and serves as a very important and vital piece to the puzzle that is Kim Wexler. The actors who played Young Kim and Kim's mom both were able to copy Rhea Seahorn's mannerisms perfectly which impressed me.

I loved the scene where Cheryl is introduced and how she pours the coffee into the cup ruining the design that Howard made. The small details in this show can show so much about a relationship without having to say a word.

Next, my theory was proved correct and it is confirmed that Caldera is planning on skipping town and looking for someone to give his list of contacts to. Reddit decoded his list of contacts a month ago so this wasn't fully a surprise. But it likely will be Caldera who uses Ed's services first, not Kim.

Additionally, Lalo tracks down Casper and there is a really intense scene between the two of them that in my opinion beats out the Nacho scenes in episodes 1 and 2. Mike was great in this episode, but I honestly don't care about his family as much as I care about the rest of the sideplots and this is reinforcing themes we already know so it doesn't serve as strong of a role in the plot.

As for the main part of the episode, Kim and Jimmy prepare for "D-Day," the mysterious day when their plan against Howard happens. I love how they are not telling us what their plan is and we are going to be able to watch it unfold in real time. This is a great narrative choice because I am very intrigued for the midseason finale tomorrow.

Kim's de jure motivations this season have been to settle sandpiper so that she has enough money to set up a successful pro-bono practice. However, in this episode, she is given the opportunity to achieve this through legitimate means from Cliff Main. At the end of the episode, she decides to continue with D-Day rather than go straight and narrow. She is on bad choice road and is even further committed to bringing down Howard than Jimmy is. The end of the episode is a really good plotpoint and turning point in this season.

Better Call Saul: Black and Blue (2022) Season 6, Episode 5

Worst Episode of the Season so Far

[8/10 · 11 May 2022]

Last episode was mainly suspense-building and not a lot happened so I expected that this episode would be super intense. Sadly, this episode is also pretty light on action but at least 6x04 had the Howard con. Most plotpoints are important, but it feels kind of dragged out especially when the mid-season finale is only episode 7.

However, seeing an actual face and voice for Margrethe Ziegler was amazing. After seeing the German name tag in the promo that BCS posted to their Instagram, I was hoping that Margrethe would make an appearance. I loved Werner and I am very glad that the lab will be important to the plot again because it makes it feel full-circle and the story flows much better. Lalo is playing the long game which is causing Gus to have some anxiety about the future.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

Generic Marvel

[7/10 · 11 May 2022]

I'm really split on whether to give this movie a 7 or 8. This movie seemed much more formulaic marvel than I was expecting from Sam Raimi but maybe the full cut is better.

The story felt really busy and chaotic. The idea of a multiverse was cool at first, but it seems like every single Marvel project tackles the idea differently instead of sticking to a single narrative. New plot points keep being introduced to fit the story instead of re-using old ones.

The best part of the story in terms of enjoyment for me was the Illuminati but honestly it felt really pointless because they all end up dying right away and they were sent there randomly in the first place. But seeing Sir Patrick Steward and John Krasinski was a great moment but kind of a cheap trick that didn't really make the movie better written. When each member of the Illuminati died, it was really well done and creepy and I was hoping that the rest of the movie would have this tone. They even stop the annoying Marvel quippiness for a solid 30 minute part of the movie which I'm thankful for. Sadly, it all goes downhill from there. In summary, the best part of the movie isn't even relevant or set up well.

Many say that Wanda is the best part of the movie, but I feel her character development is done very poorly. Between Wandavision and Doctor Strange, she seems to be willing to do whatever it takes to get her kids including killing a bunch of people but somehow doesn't notice she's in the wrong until the very end in which she does a character 180 and sacrifices herself--and we all know that she isn't dead.

Overall, the MCU is making less and less sense when you hold the entire continuity up as a single entity. It seems like the multiverses are different in Endgame, Loki, Spiderman, and MOM.

Better Call Saul: Hit and Run (2022) Season 6, Episode 4

The Word Is Out

[9/10 · 3 May 2022]

This episode was mostly set-up for later plot lines, but I think it set things up very well both with Jimmy and the cartel. The question on everyone's lips right now on both sides of the show is "where the fck is Lalo?" Last episode was obviously very heavy on the cartel side of the show so this episode leans more to Jimmy's antics for balance.

On Jimmy's side of the show, the word is finally out that Jorge DeGuzman was Lalo Salamanca, and it shows the consequences both good and bad. His associates at the court house such as Bill Oakley (best minor character hands down) are pushing him away while new criminal associates are lining up for representation. This shows how Lalo wasn't just some villian to add suspense to the story in season 5, but is very monumental in making Saul the criminal lawyer he is in breaking bad by forcibly giving him a new clientele. Of course, before he had criminal associates, but now he is being forced to commit.

There was another hilarious Howard scam in this episode as well. Seeing Jimmy dress up as Howard was amazing and felt like 1x04 "Hero" where he makes the mock billboard except this time it was set up better and carried more plot significance. Hopefully this is the last Howard scam and next episode the ball will get rolling with Kim and Jimmy's plan to tear down Howard. We also get a surprise appearance from Wendy which (along with Spooge) marks two new breaking bad characters in this episode.

The cartel side of the show was really interesting because it shows how paranoid everyone is because of Lalo despite the fact that they have to keep up appearances as if they expect nothing. Lalo is making the first strike, but Gus has to be ready to fight back at full force. The scariest thing is that Lalo is waiting weeks to do anything, so where is he? I really like how they're holding off on the Lalo appearance but now I wish he wasn't in the trailers for the following episodes because it kind of ruins the surprise. Also, weirdly Kim and Mike meet for the first time in the series. This makes me realize that Jimmy NEVER meets Gus in Better Call Saul or Breaking Bad except for that one scene in season 3 which I don't count because he has zero idea who he is speaking to.

Possibly the biggest thing in this episode is his Breaking Bad Office makes an appearance towards the end. His office will set the stage for explaining the diamonds, the 4x05 cold open, and the Gene Scenes in an insane conclusion to the series.

Better Call Saul: Rock and Hard Place (2022) Season 6, Episode 3

Insane episode for Nacho

[10/10 · 26 April 2022]

To get right to the point they actually killed off Nacho.

But Nacho's death was such an amazing conclusion of an arc that left no loose threads. He called his father and made sure he was okay before realizing that he had to sacrifice himself to save his father. Gus's only leverage over Nacho was his father and therefore his death would give his father's safety. Also, his father refused to run without feeling disgraced.

Nacho was tired of running and so his death completes like 10 different arcs and conflicts all at the same time beautifully. But nonetheless, no one at the site cared about his death. When Nacho lay on the ground, Mike and Gus just walked off and continued like it was nothing. Even Mike cared about Werner but now he seems to care less even though he has known Ignacio for much more.

For the Saul arc this episode, it was kind of meh compared to the cartel arc but they had limited time since Nacho was the main focus. We got more Huell and a natural continuation of the Howard v Kim/Jimmy arc where they have to do another bizarre con.

This episode was the best so far in season 6 and definitely in my top 10 but im expecting more insane episodes in the following weeks.

The Guilty (2021)

This title is getting a ton of hate

[9/10 · 25 April 2022]

I don't get why people hate this film so much. I haven't seen the original, but if you were to judge this movie SOLELY on its own writing, acting, and dialogue it would be one of my top movies of all time. I think its limiting scope, setting, and time frame makes it very immersing and realistic. It really puts the audience in the shoes of the main character because we are trapped in the room like he is. I feel like the movie took the COVID-19 restrictions and used them to its advantage with this.

Better Call Saul: Carrot and Stick (2022) Season 6, Episode 2

Whatever happens next, it's not going to go down the way you think it is

[9/10 · 20 April 2022]

This episode was another amazing episode and it felt like a very smooth natural continuation of the first episode. Both Nacho running to the hotel and the Howard cocaine shenanigans are continued here.

Mike is fine at the moment with Gus using Nacho to his own gain, but steps in when Gus threatens to get his father involved. I love this because Mike's philosophy for the entire show is that people who sign up to be criminals are "in the game" and therefore any bad things that happen because of that are justified. Papa Varga is not "in the game" so that is where Mike draws the line. It fits his character and it seems like we may get some minor Mike-Gus conflict.

We also get the Kettlemans back! Even though I did not like them much in season 1 it was delightful to see them again. We also get to see Cliff Main and the Davis and Main building again which we haven't seen since Season 2. I really loved Kim and Jimmy in Episode 1 and 2 because it's just them doing their hijinks like always. The main difference is now Kim is taking a bigger and bigger role in their mischief. The scene where Jimmy is talking to the Kettlemans as they gain the upper hand only for Kim to step into the situation and defuse the conflict reminds me a ton of the situation with Lalo. We the audience are like Lalo and the Kettlemans. We are too focused on Jimmy when Kim is really the one breaking bad here. The writers are really good at building suspense for her fate.

Nacho's whole situation is really interesting because Gus actually wants Nacho to be caught. He has been trying to keep Nacho in the motel by hiring eyes in Mexico and feeding information to Juan Bolsa. What's Gus' endgame here? What are his plans? I love how secret and mysterious Gus is and it's obvious hes setting Nacho up to take the fall.

Can't wait to see how this all plays out next week in episode 3!

11.22.63 (2016)

Fairly good but could've been better

[8/10 · 19 April 2022]

Just as a disclaimer I haven't read the original Steven King novel.

The very first episode was very intreging and fast paced and I was instantly hooked. I really liked Al and Jake and the whole vibe felt like back to the future but with a Steven King Twist. However, the show began to introduce and spend way too much time on the side characters Bill, Sadie, Deke, and Miz Mimi. I honestly didn't care for them that much and the parts of the episode actually about Oswald or the FBI only took up less than half of the episode. The side characters felt kind of 1-dimensional and generic and I would've preferred fleshing out the relationship between Jake and Al through flashbacks or resolution in the finale.

Better Call Saul: Wine and Roses (2022) Season 6, Episode 1

Easily one of my favorite episodes and very good at building tension

[9/10 · 19 April 2022]

At first, I was upset about not getting a gene scene for season 6 but the actual cold open was so much better!

We finally see what Saul Goodman's house looks like as of 2010 and it has a clear absence of Kim Wexler and many items shown in the house display how different of a man Saul is in breaking bad. Saul in breaking bad comes off as a a man that would never be able to form a lasting relationship, so it makes sense that Kim is gone from his life at this point. But the ending of the Cold Open is a zoom on the Zafiro Anejo which has been a metaphor for their relationship since their con in 2x01.

Kim and Jimmy also bond over potentially ruining a man's career in this episode and interestingly Kim is the one that is more involved in conning Howard than Jimmy at this point. Jimmy's break-in to the country club and rant about anti-Semitism is very in character and entertaining. I also thought the banter between Howard and Cliff Main about the planted cocaine was hilarious.

Lalo was scary as usual because of his charismatic persona. You never know whether he is going to kill you or act super friendly. His conversation with hector sets up the Hector-Gus conflict in breaking bad after Lalo likely dies and adds extra tension for Nacho.

Nacho was surprisingly being helped by Gus in this episode but very minorly. Mike not picking up Nacho's call shows that Mike values loyalty to Gus more than his friendship for Nacho which also leads perfectly into breaking bad where he does not question Gus even after the death of Victor.

For an opening episode that was only building suspense, it was a masterfully made one. This quality of writing during the climax of the series might even beat Breaking Bad's impeccable finale.

11.22.63: The Eyes of Texas (2016) Season 1, Episode 4

Weirdly slammed on the brakes of the plot

[7/10 · 18 April 2022]

So much happened in the first three episodes and I was really invested on where the plot was going. Unfortunately, they've spent a ton of time developing very cliché romance arcs that in my opinion do not fit in a time travel mystery. That's just my opinion, but it just felt very cliché, generic, and boring when the rest of the show felt so innovative.

Better Call Saul (2015–2022)

Breaking Bad was a masterpiece, but Better Call Saul is superior in many ways

[10/10 · 1 April 2022]

I thought it would be impossible to make this prequel show live up to or surpass the original, even if it was made by the amazing Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould. However, this show continues to amaze me with how amazing the writing is.

Breaking Bad has more action than Better Call Saul, but this show feels like it has much more time to breathe. The cinematography and score went from good to great and scenes are shot in more and more creative ways. Additionally, it introduced some very, very solid new characters. Chuck McGill's Arc throughout the show may even surpass Walter White.

The Walking Dead: For Blood (2021) Season 11, Episode 8

Really good with a few negatives

[8/10 · 11 March 2022]

This episode was very action packed with very good character development. It serves as a finale to the reaper arc much more than e8 which was controversial. My main quarrel was that AMC dropped the ball with the death of Alden. It did not incorporate into the plot basically at all and was already forgotten by most viewers. There were many better ways to kill off Alden that would not require much time.

Tropic Thunder (2008)

Not for me

[3/10 · 11 March 2022]

The general plot is very clever but the humor is so incredibly dumb that it really takes me out of the movie. It's very absurd and over the top which is the main appeal to the movie but ends up just being offensive, crude, and really unfunny.

Breaking Bad (2008–2013)

Truly a work of art

[10/10 · 4 February 2022]

Breaking Bad is a very artistic saga about a brilliantly written Byronic hero. Vince Gilligan and gang are some of the best writers and directors for vary carefully displaying Walter on his path from good to evil and tricking the audience to relate to him the entire time.