Better Call Saul (TV Series) Switch (2016) User Reviews

Not sure where they're going with this yet, but I am intrigued.

[TouchTheGarlicProduction · 7/10 · 23 February 2016]

This premiere reminded me a lot of Mad Men. On the surface, there doesn't seem to be much going on. But there are heaps of atmosphere and interesting glimpses into well developed characters. My one issue is that I could have used a little more plot and more humour or darkness. They've clearly gone for a slow-burn approach, and I respect that. I think they pulled it off well.

The episode opens with another flash-forward to the world post Breaking Bad. I hope we get a bit more of that this season, although what we got here was great. After that, the episode picks up right where the first season left off. It's almost a bit disconcerting; it is clearly designed for binging straight from season 1 into season 2. Jimmy has a sort of mid-life crisis. His relationship with Kim takes a new turn. He considers a new job. Mike deals with a frustrating client. I enjoyed seeing Mike, although this client character (who appeared in season 1) has become so naive that it becomes almost unbearable to watch. Hopefully he won't become a regular character. The ending of the episode, the "switch" this episode is named after, is absolutely brilliant. Such a great character moment.

All in all, a fine opening. I am curious to see what direction this new season takes.

Reminds me of Fargo

[Ralpho · 7/10 · 14 January 2018]

If Mark Proksch wins an award for his portrayal of Daniel 'Pryce' Wormald he should share it William H. Macy because the speech and demeanor of his character is clearly copied from Macy's performance in Fargo.

More like Bait-and-Switch

[azenrog · 8/10 · 16 February 2016]

SPOILERS AHEAD

The episode is a great setup for season 2,but yet a little tinge of betrayal is felt,at least for me,who expected Jimmy's character to become more Saul Goodman in the season. The ending of season 1 hinted strongly at that.The beginning of the episode promises just that,and the middle,especially the con with Kim,seem to lead in that direction,but the episode wraps right back to Jimmy being indecisive and going along with other people's suggestions for his future. All in all,it's just a preference in character development,but this episode feels like a disappointment.

Mike's just a cameo here,but Nacho finally gets some development,leading to a new storyline involving him and the pills,I'm guessing the pill dealer,who dumps Mike for "doing nothing",will hire him back to deal with Nacho,which will lead to put Mike in contact with the drug cartel.

SPOILERS END

All in all,a good episode,great for a setup,a lot of promise for a new season,can't wait to see more.

Kim and Jimmy have great Chemistry.

[agrawalashish-74509 · 10/10 · 30 October 2019]

Full of Breaking bad call-forwards, great way to open the season.

If not the best thing on TV it is real close.

[hankkropf · 10/10 · 22 February 2016]

This is in response to a previous review posted earlier. I don't normally do this but really, this is one of the best shows going and better than anything on the big screen. Not only are the characters real and well rounded from great writing and perfect pitch from the acting talent, the story telling is what wholes you to this series. There are only a handful of things to watch on the small screen and this is one of them, I wasn't expecting this much from the series and it has blown me away, I even starting watching old episodes of Breaking Bad to get me up to speed on the main character and the tie in to this show, now I'm hooked on BB too! So to the previous reviewer, just get the stick out of your butt and enjoy what great writing and acting can be, if this is to slow or just garbage, I suggest watching reruns of 2 1/2 men.

Can He Work With Someone Else?

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 19 May 2018]

Saul decides that he can't go one the way he is. He learns that he is powerless when it comes to big cases. He also came to realize that Chuck was his betrayer and he was responsible for his pitfalls when it came to getting work. So for much of this episode, Saul becomes a royal goof off. But Kim is his ace in the hole. He makes a major decision at the end when he sees what sorts of rewards a person of standing can reap. A really nice first episode of the second season.

A personal return to the show

[i-am-so-original · 8/10 · 16 February 2016]

"Better Call Saul" finally returned this week with a personal, more introspective episode than I would have otherwise guessed, but that doesn't make it any less mesmerizing.

Season premieres are usually full of action and drama, as it aims to hook an audience for the remainder of the season. As such, they typically introduce new characters, new plot lines, and exciting new possibilities. Very little of that was present in this premiere, as the episode instead focused on a more personal level, spending much of its time with Jimmy and Kim.

The episode begins immediately where the last one left off (aside from the depressing Cinnabon opening – Saul is literally trapped with the garbage!), as Jimmy renounces the world of law in order to focus more on freewheeling his life, doing what he wants to do, no matter who it upsets along the way. He boldly drinks the cucumber water that he was told explicitly was for customers only, and he rips his pathetic paper sign off his door, inviting new possibilities to both the show and for Jimmy.

As such, he spends his time lounging in a pool, eating salsa and chips, drinking some delicious looking red drink, and just generally not giving a hoot. Kim comes by to basically call him an idiot, and they share a drink. The writing is pure brilliance in this scene. The show lets us know, in a quick, off-hand way, that the restaurant hosts a very expensive shot of tequila. It seems like a throwaway line, but it's not until Kim and Jimmy have dinner and foot an annoying bondsmen with an enormous bill that the joke, and the line, pays off. The attention to detail here is stellar, and it proves that the show can remain captivating even when it's taking it's sweet time. A lesser show would have dove right in and be done with the scene, but "Better Call Saul" lets its characters and situations breathe, and the writing (and payoffs) are much more natural and engaging because of it.

This applies to the overall style of the show itself. It's not in a rush to be anywhere. "Breaking Bad" was a very fast-paced, cliffhanger-based show, but it still found its time to establish beautiful locations and shots, and always let its characters motivations be clear through detailed dialogue. BCS retains this glorious aspect of BB, including its original and engaging shots (the overhead one of Saul drinking the water, the overhead pool shot, the waiter's tray shot). It's a visually attractive show, and its helped by its slow, melodic pace. Some may be turned off by the slow burn nature of the show (a lot apparently – it has a fraction of BB's Season 5 viewers), but the slow burn allows the show to be what it is, and it allows us to live within the world that it has created.

Saul eventually realizes that perhaps the lounging game isn't especially for him, so he takes the job at the law firm and is gifted an amazing office (complete with its own fireplace!) and a host of perks, including a company car, personal artwork, and his own personalized desk. But still, Jimmy wants to be free, and he still can't quite help himself from pulling the tape off the light switch (where the episode gets its name), and flicking it off. Jimmy still doesn't want to be tied down by traditionalism, even though he's in a very traditional environment, at least at the moment. Who knows what the future holds, but I'm looking forward to it.

Grade: A-

Some other thoughts:

• The B-story this week involves Mike's drug guy getting complacent, allowing Taco to steal his home address and seemingly rob him of his precious baseball cards. It's a neat little story, but I need to see the bigger picture in order to make full sense of it.

• That guy's shoes! Terrible!

• Mike doesn't get a lot to do in this episode, aside from growl and tell Drug Guy not to do what he ends up doing. We need more Mike!

For more reviews, visit nathansharp28.wordpress.com.

Foreshadowing & symbolism

[patjewers-67-978287 · 10/10 · 8 June 2020]

I'm surprised at the rating for this episode. It was the first one that truly made me feel like it's writing was reminiscent of breaking bad. Jimmys fear of pushing that emergency exit door early in life is a stark contrast to his willingness to take chances today ....hence the fore shadowing with the symbolistic switch he turned off against the warning posted ... Something I loved about Breaking Bad and it's deeper underlying story #MartyRobbinsElpaso

Jimmy's off-form

[Leofwine_draca · 8/10 · 4 July 2021]

A slow re-introduction to the show. Jimmy's off-form here and not into law anymore which may be off-putting for some viewers. However, the rerun of his classic scams from the last episode work well and there's a lot of entertainment. Mike sub-plot is also hugely enjoyable.

Hopeful

[Criborama · 7/10 · 21 February 2016]

There's one reviewer of Episode 1 who was very disappointed, he expected a lot more. I understand. The desire for instant gratification is almost ubiquitous and generally, those with this affliction don't get subtlety and the concept of laying a foundation. To be fair though, Season 2 of Better Call Saul needs to develop a plot, and quickly, but I've got faith in the people involved to do this and in any case, this episode was superior to 90 per cent of what's currently out there. The production values are excellent and the performances are good. But for those who don't get subtlety and wish for instant results, you've always got your fall-back of the Food Network where outcomes and winners and losers happen between every ad break and subtlety doesn't exist. Bring on Episode 2!

After Season 5, This Episode Seems Much Better.

[CineNerd70 · 10/10 · 31 July 2022]

This also has spoilers for the next 5 seasons, so be careful.

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I The first bit of the corruption of Kim. Also the last acts of James McGill before he turns to corner cutting.

Basically pointless

[Shmaden · 5/10 · 29 November 2020]

So I had my doubts if BCS was on the right track after season 1 finale which saw Jimmy refusing an offer he always wanted. It seemed like the kind of contrived ilogical, out of nowhere type of writting that has always annoyed me about Vince Gilligan. It annoyed me in Breaking Bad, it annoys me even now. It just makes things happen out of nowhere and without any logical basis to support them. It's just stupid that you build characters all the way up to something, then make them take the completely opposite direction. It worked in Pimento, season 1 episode 9 where Jimmy felt betrayed and acted in accord with his inner self, thus revealing the Saul Goodman side of him starting to emerge. It was a beautifully executed episode with a poignant ending that made me think that this show knew where it was going. Then Marco came and we were treated to more of Jimmy's old life style tricks with Marco which this time dies. So, that was basically the perfect setup for Jimmy to accept Davis&Main's offer and work on the case that was the main core of season 1. With his friend dead because of the scheams they pulled and with no one left to help him do these schemes, it was the perfect setup for him to take the offer. But deep down I knew Vince was going to throw one last diabolical twist in order to rob the audience of any catharsis they might have had and leave room open for season 2. So in episode 1 of season 2 we pick off with Jimmy refusing Davis&Main's offer and going back to his old life style. He now involves Kim in it and they pull a trick on a lawyer in a bar and then sleep together. All while the only thing interesting in the episode happens. Mike awaits the chemistry guy to pick him up, but he refuses him because that moron came in a too obvious car that would only draw atention from the police or from criminals. So he goes alone and meets with Nacho who then checks his car. Then we see the chemistry guy calling the cops about a robbery that took place in his house involving some cards. The police however finds the secret space he used to hide money into. Guess we'll find out in the next episode what happens to him. Then Jimmy is again enjoying life in the pool, and just like last episode, he now just suddently wants back in business with Davis&Main. So basically in doing so, most of the episode, the things that happened between his refusal of the offer and the later acceptance of the offer was pointless. You know, it really annoys me when movies or TV shows lay down an easy and logical path for its main protagonist to go on, only to have him snap and go 180 degrees diferently because the story needs to generate more drama by having him question himself if he's up to the challenge. But what annoys me even more is to have him, after some time, go the exact road he would have gone if not for the 180 turn from before. It's cheap, it's easy and it's in no way logical or mature nor deep in any way. It's the kind of cheap trick a writer pulls in order to gain more time and eat up screentime. And here is where I get into the main problem with BCS, and with BB, basically with Vince Gilligan. It takes too long for things to get going, and I'm not reffering to the fact that the show is slow. I love slow burns that build and then reveal stuff that'll make your time worth it. But here, there are so many things I could pull out of the show and it wouldn't make it any worse. Countless scenes prolonged for nothing other than style. No story role or character development role. Just style. And it's annoying at one point because you get invested in the characters and the writers only fool you and slap you in the face with cheap twists because they have no idea how to fill 50 minutes of TV episode. It's frustrating really, because BCS is a show with real potential and from what I saw about the later seasons it reaches that potential, but it takes too much and it makes itself too unnecessarily long to get there. And it does makes me question at times, "it is all worth it?" Or was most of what I've seen in this show absolutely pointless? 5/10

Excellent

[wweweeklyshow · 10/10 · 17 February 2016]

Better Call Saul has a completely different tone from Breaking Bad and I like it, slower pace that allows us to see everything unfold in front of our eyes which is beautiful to watch, Vince Giligan and Peter Gould have drastically improved in film making and story-telling and it's obvious here in this season's inaugural episode which is perfectly titled 'Switch'. Bob Odenkirk as usual is stealing the show nothing out of the norm here and Jonathan Banks' arc is very intriguing and we will have to see when and how Saul and Mike's worlds collide, all in all a strong start to a strong series that holds its own amongst the TV giants of 2015.

Very good

[mitchmitchell · 9/10 · 22 April 2016]

Extremely well made mini-series.

It's so nice to watch great dialogue, acting, direction, cinematography, plot, twists, bait/switch all wrapped up into an astonishingly original serial. I almost forgot what original television was like. The leading character Jimmy tries so hard to do the right thing and will take himself and you to the edge, in an attempt to gain the loyalty and respect of his brother and peers.

With so many story-by-committee programs out there, take time to watch something made for adults by adults. If that doesn't convince you, perhaps this will: It's better than Breaking Bad.

...And that surprises me more than it does you.

Getting there

[Essay-Kun · 9/10 · 17 April 2022]

The start of season 1 didn't impress me much.

The start was messy , and direction was overbroad but season 2 seems to have started on a great trot .

Composed in a way .

Switch

[lassegalsgaard · 9/10 · 10 July 2023]

After a triumphant debut, the show that blew everyone away is back for a sophomore season. It was originally announced as a 13-episode season, but that was later pulled back to 10, which was a little disappointing, but all power to the creators to build whatever they want to. For this new season, there were a lot of questions that needed to be answered after Jimmy McGill's big decision in the finale, and the episode gets right to it and explains much of it immediately. It takes its time and focuses on a lot, but this episode is a win by any standards there are.

In their first episode back, the creators decided to focus more on Jimmy's personal evolution rather than the overarching storyline. It could be argued that Jimmy's journey is much a part of the narrative that the show is telling, and it would be true, but there are certain things that need to be resolved before we get there. And while the episode isn't focused on much of that, it does give us some truly memorable scenes with Jimmy and Kim as their relationship is finally starting to bloom a little bit. The entire second act of the episode is dedicated to them and it was wonderful to see, especially because of Bob Odenkirk and Rhea Seehorn's incredible chemistry. It leads to another important decision for Jimmy, which may be the right one. The show is also moving along with Mike's storyline, setting what is probably going to be his arc for this season, without necessarily even having him in the episode that much. His impact on the story, though, led to a hilarious crime scene investigation and a moment that's going to be important for the relationship he also has with Nacho down the line. It certainly isn't afraid to take it's time, but in the hands of Thomas Schnauz, it feels like the show is moving along at a pace that we can all accept, mostly because what is being given to us in that, granted, short amount of time, feels like it's important stepping stones for our characters to get to their destinations.

"Switch" begins this season off strong, with a lot of character development and strong acting showcases from both Bob Odenkirk and the fantastic Rhea Seehorn. There are a lot of things happening in a rather slow episode, and everything is clearly important for the characters, which makes me so excited for the season's continuing narrative.