Better Call Saul Analysis: How Moral Dilemma is Framed
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.พ. 2025
- Here is my video analysis on Better Call Saul! How the camera is used to show a pretty awesome theme in the show. This theme of morality, but with a deeper insight.
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Source:
Interview with Cinematographer Albert Arthur
matthewtoffolo...
Bob Odenkirk Shares Advice from Bryan Cranston for Better Call Saul
• Bob Odenkirk Shares Ad...
Moral Theories from Seven Pillars Institute
sevenpillarsins...
Utilitarianism Crash Course TH-cam
• Utilitarianism: Crash ...
Footage:
Breaking Bad - AMC
Better Call Saul - AMC
Music:
Ass Over Tea Kettle - Dave Porter (Better Call Saul)
Shook - Milestones
Better Call Saul Intro - Little Barrie
"Cigarettes" - Dave Porter (Better Call Saul)
"Jimmy Decides" - Dave Porter (Better Call Saul)
This is genuinely one of, if not, the best show on TV. The way it's shot is so deliberate and it's pace is so perfect. It doesn't get enough attention.
i very much agree
A scene comes to mind from Breaking Bad. Walt and Skyler in a storage unit looking at a literal pile of money. They have no idea just how much it is, how many millions. And Skyler asks, 'how much is enough?' As characters both Walt and Saul were never willing to stop and just walk away. It was one of the things that made both of them so human and compelling and tragic.
It wasnt about the money (at first it was), Walter did it because he enjoyed the power he had in the business, authority, the adrenaline, he loved the fact that his intellect was finally put into a maximal use. He was an overqualified high school chemistry teacher aka nobody important in society while he had potential to change the world, and he hated every second of it for 30 years. Cooking meth made him truely significant, for the first time in his life, that, he liked. In the money scene Walter realizes that he doesnt care about money that that was just a reason he used to justify the bad things he did.
"Have I gone too far?" Nailed it right on the head, especially when you consider the last two episodes of the season. Chuck and Jimmy went too far with what they did post-trial, and both suffer the consequences for it.
Phenomenal video by the way. Man I love this show.
Matthew John thanks for checking out the video! ^^
I wouldn't say Charles went too far. He had a mental health issue. James should have understood that.
3:29 The cinematography in that shot is perfect. We see Chuck sitting in front of a bright background while Jimmy sits off to the side in the dark. This corresponds to how each character is portrayed on the surface by society (Chuck is the straight arrow while Jimmy is the con man). Yet, each of their faces is half dark and half bright, representing their true good and bad sides. The camera shot reinforces Mike's quote about the difference between a bad guy and a criminal - being a criminal and being morally bad are not the same thing.
Very professional video, and extremely entertaining.
xXMinniNinJaxx thanks for checking out the video! ^^
Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, are always about Grey morals.
I realize it's kinda off topic but does anyone know a good place to watch newly released tv shows online?
@Judah Harley i watch on flixzone. You can find it by googling :)
Very good analysis. I think another theme of BCS is identity crisis. Jimmy McGill will end up being three separate people over the course of BCS/BB, and I think when it finally comes to its end, Jimmy/Saul/Gene will have to decide who he really is.
BB was many many things but it was primarily constructed as a tragedy, so you knew at the end Walter White was going to end up dead, it was just a matter what were going to be the circumstances surrounding his demise. The end of BCS is harder to predict, but I think it will be Gene trying to reclaim his former life, but which life? This choice of identity will be the moral dilemma he will ultimately face.
You were spot on!we now know the answer.
Great video. Things like this only make me appreciate the show more, just rewatched season two after seeing this originally a couple weeks ago to notice all your points.
God just from the title and thumbnail I liked and subscribed lol.
Laff Twous when I created the thumbnail I too had to epiphany thinking "damn...that actually turned out great!"
GREAT VIDEO MAN
REALLY LOVED IT WHY THIS DOESN'T HAVE A MILLION HITS IDK I'M ALL WRAPPED UP AND READY TO GO
Only just found this channel and video, but I wanted to add that BCS is full of frame-in-frame moments that are great at telling us when a character is "boxed in." Trapped by their circumstances, or only seeing one small angle of things. The intent behind this show's camera work is something all new and aspiring filmmakers should study.
this is an incredible analysis !
You gave me chills at the end there with that closing comment. You put into words perfectly the moments that make BCS great, and gave me a new perspective on the audience-character dynamic. It's difficult to articulate sometimes the feelings this show communicates, but you've done an excellent job here.
That was excellent!
Alex291190 Thanks! :)
I've learned a lot. Thanks for sharing your insights on this show.
The observation that Jimmy and Chuck operate via utilitarian and Kantian moral frameworks respectively is such a fascinating and astute one; it's so obvious once you have it pointed out to you but I know I would have never explicitly realised it on my own...
Good shit my guy, the better call Saul community is truly the best!
because the only people allowed to join are smart!!
Agree about the glitchy subtitles. It’s almost anxiety-inducing. But I like your insight. Saul is brilliant.
"Have I gone too far?" is something that this show has made me wonder also, but keep in mind that Breaking Bad is also the show that had a very strong "No half measures" message, from Mike.
Moderation can appear to be an antidote to black and white extremes, but in turn creates the issue of "Have I committed/followed through on what I started enough?"
Well done! I really think you're on point with the idea of "Have I gone too far". The same goes for BB.
Really great video, you talked about the moral theories behind the decisions, which can be hard to do. I look forward to seeing you grow and keep releasing quality content like this.
Excellent editing in this video. It must've taken forever to go through all the footage from three seasons
Well done, thoughtful, and the animated subtitles were interesting. Enjoy season 4.
Excellent analysis, especially the philosophical part about doing the right thing, which reminds me of Michael Sandel's lectures.
While Breaking Bad is a Greek Tragedy brought to modern life (instead of a epic poetry into modern life as James Joyce's Ullysses), Better Call Saul is a Dantesque moment of comedy which turns into a deeper hell than we've seen in Breaking Bad; the guilt and the repression Jimmy uses as a shield is something i've only seen in worst criminals over the history. It is artistically excellent and painfullly beautiful, but frightening. Not to spoil, but the end of S4 was horrifically beautiful and frightening at same time. The work they've made in both series is truly a masterpiece and not only a cinematographic one, but a real drama in a world with Moral dilemma as a standard currency.
Karma is playing a big part in BCS plot.
This was very well edited man. You really did well to include some of the most poignant shots in the show to illustrate your points. Good job!
I Love the Animated Subtittle, it's pretty artsy. Nice choice
It distracts me too much.. He talk about subtleness of scenes and letting things breathe, but meanwhile these letters are shouting at me and clouding the serenity :/
"What makes this scene poe-ig-nant to me"
........
DashCat9 cringe
I watched about half of the first season when it first aired and it just didn't keep my attention for some reason. Now, I want to give it another chance. Mike's quote about being a criminal was just awesome.
7:44 Morality is not about moderation or equilibrium!
it's about eliminating the negative consequences for each side.
My theory is that Saul will meet Jesse in those black and white scenes at the start of each season
vince gilligan, in better call saul, mastered the art of context, or recognition. he doesnt waste time showing you how characters you know will react after a crucial moment, he will instead focus on the parts that are more pungent or memorable and associative with the viewer.
[SPOILERS]
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.
.
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..
after chucks death we just catch glimpses of funeral the and other things, but what stands out most is the silence in the car rides. thats what i remember most from traumatic experiences like that. gilligan has established these connected experiences and it almost feels like a paul thomas anderson film at points. he draws from these dreamy realities that are what we really remember.
5:19 yes it does, you'll get a distinction of wether an action is justified from a certain vantage point, i.e. given certain information, and wether it is actually moral. The morality depends on the consequences alone. For practical purposes, this means that utilitarians need to adopt (and advocate for other people to follow) heuristics, as calculating any and all consequences would be too complex.
Honestly I love this show.
Thank you for the analysis of the directing and cinematography. "The creators didn't want any camera movement that wasn't motivated." Ah!! Yes. I am tired of the juvenile addiction to herky-jerky fast cutting and camera movement, so fast that the viewer is left bewildered. "What?! What was that? And that! And that? Oh, fuck it." You're right. The director's choice to pause, allowing the viewer to chew on the moral dilemma. Cinema for adults.
Hey just a little criticism that text effect is distracting af. The flashing is really unnecessary.
Theo thanks for your feedback! This was something I experimented with it and believe me, I've learned from this experience! Lol.
Funny considering the video emphasizes the importance of restraint!
Excellent analysis fellow superfan, deserves more views
Brilliant analysis. These two shows are all about moral complexity, i.e., the human dilemma. Moral compromises, layered motives (both positive and negative), hypocrisy, blundering ambiguity, the whole gamut. All great literature is about moral complexity. Those who want to see characters as "good" or "evil" are missing the point (probably causing the writers dismay). And thank you for elucidating the Pragmatism vs. Kantianism contrast.
love video essays! subbed!
the animated subtitles are pretty distracting, otherwise great video
Jonathan Pacheco yeah that was an experimental decision....lol. Could've probably toned down on the animation on it! Thanks for your feedback!
Every now and again you need to stop and ask yourself, "Have I gone too far?"
I loved them!!!
in my opinion, on screen quotes while the person is speaking should only be used once, maybe twice per video only if the quote is extremely detrimental. Good vid overall, though!
Strongly agree.
The days of wine and roses are over.
Since "Breaking Bad" "Better Call Saul" is the best written show ever in cable TV History- Variety
Now I am gonna look at what other stuff Nerdy Shenanigans offers.
Owww your point of view is brilliant. Congratulations
I prefer BCS! I love the more human, relatable dilemmas shown in BCS that made BB harder to relate to.
i'm glad more expert film essayers are bringing attention and compliments to Better Call Saul
so far you and Thomas Flight are a good start , but until we get the likes of Every Frame a Painting and Now You See It, that fourth season is as good as dead, and it kills me to see such a talented and complex piece of artful drama belittled by the mainstream
this is a great video and I really love your channel! just discovered it and I love it! keep it up
I miss your videos!!
great video!
La verdad que este vídeo hacía falta!
Great video, I've no problem with the text either.
This god damn show...i don't think i have seen any other show in which you can randomly pause, and more often than not, whatever is on screen can be used as a WALLPAPER!!!
Best tv show right now, and perhaps my favourite ever. Even better than Breaking Bad, so far.
This guy makes fucking amazing videos
Great Analysis !
Vince Gilligan is a genious. I'm looking forward to see what he can make in the future.
Mikes quote i he e engraved in my brain love that scene
Brilliant and professional video. I’m sure Kim Wexler would’ve liked it.
Great points
Better Call Saul is A LOT better than Breaking Bad for me. Breaking Bad was BRILLIANT but Better Call Saul is just next level good, and it’s also for the entire family, while Breaking Bad was impossible to watch with your parents or your kids
Re watched with my parents it wasn’t awkward at all there’s like 4 sex scenes in the whole show it’s really not that bad
Very well done.
Great video. Loved it. I feel the style is very similar to that of NerdWriter1, is this a known style for making video or are you two somehow related?
Nice video man!
Only thing that bothered me is that you didn't normalize your audio output...
apart from that, the video is perfect!
Deep, brah
Love your video! My only feedback is that it's clear you haven't perfected your subtitles. I don't mind them, but they're a bit choppy as is. Keep up the good work though
Do a video analyzing the show Narcos and its archetypes.
I'll give you two archetypes right off the bat: Moral Relativism and Magical Realism.
How did you Made that subtitles animation? it's awesome
its Alejandro adobe after effects to create those subtitles!
Utilitarianism definitely takes into account unintended consequences, it's just that it's a "global" way to look at ethics, you can't apply it yourself cause you don't have enough knowledge to know what maximizes utility. It's been a while since I was in school, but if I remember correctly that's the very goal of utilitarianism, to maximize "happiness" for all. From the moment you start giving different weights to those happiness values, everything goes wrong, and it's a bit what Jimmy is doing, he's progressively the only one that matters in his world view.
By consistently rewarding Jimmy's effort with contempt or disappointment, his entourage is teaching him that it does not provide valuable feedback, and so to Jimmy their happiness doesn't matter anymore, because his own seem not to matter either, and he becomes the self-serving Saul. It's like the boy who cried wolf, but for society. In the boy who cried wolf, he loses the trust of the village by constantly lying, and at the end, even if its true the village doesn't believe his real fear. In better call Saul, society loses the contribution of one of its members by failing to recognize him, so at the end when Kim realizes how damaged Jimmy is (when he doesn't care about Chuck's death) it's too late. Now his entourage gives him *actual* negative feedback, but it's too late 'cause he has grown "immune" to it.
I think Ehrmantraut is more of a Kantianist than Chuck. Granted, Ehrmantraut doesn't abide the law, but he still follows his game's rules to a fault.
Lol it's so funny how Nerdwirter referred to Ozymandius as shows best episode, and now every YT also referres to it as that.
I was enjoying the video until you mentioned season three. A season I haven't watched.
Now I have to put this vid on hold.
Hi there! Do you know where I can find a site to discuss "Better Call Sauls"? Thanks a bunch in advance!
Amazing video ! In terms of the question though, 'Have I gone TOO far?' It's certainly up in the air there for Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul fans such as myself. From my POV, the show definitely knows how to establish its character pieces to WHERE they should be on the board (Breaking Bad speaking wise). I'd say, the show provides much more of a dramatic irony. Ironic that Jimmy, after season 4, is still so jaded about his older brother (clearly justified and understandable) but CLEARLY validates what his brother says about him is true. It's actually a grey matter for this topic since it can work both ways. But clearly my comment is meant to express what's on my mind... Is Jimmy McGill going to find SOME sort of redemption, with the price of his life? And... i'll be honest with you guys, I really want to know WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENS TO KIM WEXLER.
a) Utilitarianism doesn't ignore unintended consequences. If someone doesn't take unintended consequences into account, they're doing utilitarianism wrong.
b) Kantianism is about respect for personhood. Chuck's focus is on respect for mere legality; he's not a Kantian.
c) There's no way to answer the question "have I gone too far?" without some standard as to what counts as too far; so I don't think moderation can be a self-standing moral theory.
Editing on the text for the bit with Mike is a little...off; I love the idea, I think if refined it could be great, it's just a bit of an eyesore.
Other than that, pretty good.
Can't wait to see Vince Gilligan's Jonestown show. God knows what that'll be like.
love ur view on this
I kind of wish people would look at this series as it's own thing than just wanting more breaking bad out of the series.
some people are really stupid
Well done
Jesus that flicker on your text makes me nauseous.
Great vid
Good work, which editing software did you use for this video?
To me Better Caul Saul is a better series than Breaking Bad in every sense.
Just like breaking bad, BCS starts off fast, then slows down till about season 3. Then picks up the pace and it keeps going faster and faster
Very interesting... Can someone tell me in which episode is the part we see at 7:12 because I don’t remember seeing it and I’m afraid I missed one episode 🤯
Season 1
Episode 3
24 minutes
18 seconds
Hot take, there are so so so so many better and more enjoyable episodes than ozymandias
Just watched this series and will watch again. These characters all make moral choices and have to live with the consequences. Jimmy at times tries to do the right thing but is overcome with his com man history , greed and is too impulsive. Chuck was a sympathetic character at times but jealousy, pride and greed got the best of him. Great video too!. Would love to see some Christian theologians commenting on this series too.
Jimmy, opposite to Walter, is a bad guy desperately trying to do good but failing miserably.
You think Walt is a good guy?
that why i love it
I like the commentary but the typography/ lofi vhs fx is abit distracting:)
I find Better Call Saul to be as good as breaking bad but very different
Good video. There are some lines where you could have enunciated a lot more clearly. Those degrade your credibility a little bit, and you should re-record them when you notice them. Other than that, you made great points and made them well.
Just be careful not to develop "Nerdwriter cadence". It seems like everybody making video essays is talking like Nerdwriter for no reason.
"poe ignant" lmao wut
Just to be thematic here, the one thing you appear to need is restraint in terms of your editing.
Otherwise great vid.
Did he say "pognant"?
Could you do videos on the animes Haikyuu and erased?
A lot of words to not say much
5:05 What stopped Jimmy from taking the money and why is it not stopping him again? I never understood this.
His moral dilemma. Not doing something because it is classified as "wrong."
Also he always wanted to have Chuck be proud of him and seeked to impress him because he looked up to him. It was consciously and subconsciously fixed in jimmy. But then when jimmy found out his brother's true colours, he seeked no further. At least that's how I see it
Like the analysis but I feel like some of the animation for the text is... Overdone. Other than that, great stuff.