Wake up babe, new What's Therapy? video

I also like the idea that chucks electromagnetic alergen was his outward response to jimmy’a success when becoming a lawyer because it undermined chucks self worth as a hard working lawyer

I don't know if it's been highlighted already, but Jimmy giving the money to the Kettlemans is exactly the kind of thing his father would do. In the flashback, we specifically see that his father gives money to the people that are clearly scamming him

When Saul calls Kim, you can tell that he REALLY is hoping she'll sign off on just shelving the scheme for a later time. He calls her because he's afraid if he decides to shelve it without discussing it with her that she'll be angry or disappointed. He's not willing to risk his image with her for her benefit.

I always saw the Switch, from the episode of the same name, as a metaphor for Jimmy believing that he can switch back and forth between his criminality (Slippin' Jimmy) and his regular law abiding self with no ill effect, but of course the switch does do something even if he can't see it in the moment. I also see Mike's comment about his car in Bagman as a call back to this. "The alternator's shot", no more switching back and forth; you're stuck on this side now.

I read Jimmy's phone call to Kim differently. I feel like he legitimately wanted to call off D-Day, and that was his last and best opportunity to do it. He'd been reluctant about the scam from the start, and when he gets thrown a Deus Ex Machina at the last minute, he tries to use it. Would it have been morally better for him to just scratch the plan and tell Kim after the fact? Maybe, but that's the kind of trust-breaking which almost killed their relationship only months prior.

I don't hear anyone talking about how Jimmy "LOOKS LIKE the kind of lawyer guilty people hire." KIM, very distinctly, does NOT LOOK LIKE A BAD PERSON. People see Jimmy, they ascribe certain traits to him, and he sometimes decides to live up to that. Kim gets her thrills by LOOKING innocent.. BUT, she's also offended at people trying to ascribe certain GOOD qualities to her based on how she looks. There's a lot there.

When Jimmy was floating in the pool, I don't think he called D&M because he felt unfulfilled and thought that job would get him there. I think he called D&M because he thought that being on a 'legitimate' career track would bring him closer to Kim. Remember that just before he calls D&M, he's calling Kim and not getting an answer.

this dude will end up making a 7 part analysis series and I still can't get enough

I still think the reason Jimmy ever started stealing money from his dad was that he felt that he inherited some part of his father's compassion and naiveté, and because he got a hunch of where that could lead to at a very young age, he started to vehemently reject this integral part of himself. It does make sense if you think how he is portrayed especially throughout the first 3 seasons of BCS. Everybody likes him, the elders all appreciate and respect him, even Chuck's wife has an exceptionally pleasant dinner experience with him in that one flashback episode. I mean, why else would Jimmy - who's seen his father being ripped off - feel the need to suppress his likability so much, why would he be so easily influenced? Because there are always forces battling inside him, wanting him to do 'gullible/unprofitable/moral' and 'easy/profitable/immoral' things. The nature/nurture paradigm would be true to both sides then; he is who/what he is, and that is exactly why he (feels that he) needs to act a certain way when he's reminded of his pain....

When I first heard jimmy say wolves and sheep I immediately thought of Kim and Betsy as the wolves with Jimmy and Craig being the sheep. Interesting take

"You think you've lost everything? You have no idea." My god is that a great quote lost in a series full of great quotes. Thematically appropriate for the universe, poingnant, and speaks to the moral ambiguity of everything that Kim and Saul are doing with the Kettlemans. Just love it.

I always thought Jimmy being from Cicero implied a lot about how his “powers” of speech and persuasion are such an integral part of he is. This also applies to Chuck since Cicero had ideas about all men deserving justice, and Chuck is such a proponent of the law and its importance to humankind in his view. Cicero was known for oration and argumentation just as Jimmy/Saul is know as “the guy with a mouth,” by Tuco and later Lalo. This is particularly important since Lalo’s emergence (established through Saul’s previous interactions with Tuco and Nacho) in Saul’s life has led to the largest ramifications for his actions he has likely ever seen with the death of Howard. Perhaps him being from Cicero is some cruel joke on the part of the writers? Maybe Chuck and Jimmy represent the two sides of the “Cicero” coin? Or maybe I’m just reaching lol

When you mentioned about Betsy & Craig's marriage being akin to a snake marrying a turtle, it clicked with me that in relation between the two of them, Betsy is a wolf, and Craig a sheep with Betsy always looking for the angle and Craig meekly going along with it. People usually talk about whether as a couple they are wolves or sheep, but there is a well-defined and very static distinction between the two. This can be contrasted with Jimmy and Kim, whose relationship has evolved, where Jimmy started as the wolf with Kim playing along, and now the roles have pretty much reversed. Interesting. That's what I love about this show - aside from the pure entertainment, it's very thought-provoking. Also, I still consider Jimmy to be Jimmy until whatever happens that breaks him (and more importantly his relationship with Kim) and then he will be full on Saul.

9:59 I think it's worthwhile to look all the way back when Kim reenters the hotel room and Jimmy is all packed up ready to leave. It's obvious, even if they both don't say it, that Jimmy was going to leave Kim after they left that room. Kim insists on staying for the food, and then the Howard talk happens. I think both of them understand that their relationship is forever changed because of Jimmy's Saul Goodman persona and brush with the cartel, but both just can't admit that the best thing for both of them would be to leave each other.

Glad you are taking on the "wolves and sheep' theme in more depth. I've actually been thinking about this a lot and had a few thoughts for you to completely disregard: Jimmy and Kimmy are mirror images of each other. 

In the case of both Jimmy and Kimmy, it is their parents inability to acknowledge experiences and world views beyond their own and a failure to consider, account for, or consciously parent with the possibility in mind of their offspring experiencing the world from a different perspective than their own that sets Jimmy and Kimmy down their respective paths. This might seem an odd aside, but if one compares the talk that Bob and Linda Belcher have with Louise about her more anarchic tendencies in the Bob’s Burger’s episode “Spider House Rules” to how McGill Sr. treats little Jimmy when he points out that the man giving Sr. a sob story is a grifter, it is clear that, for all his admirable qualities as a person, McGill Sr. has failed Jimmy at a key moment in a way that the Belcher parents do not. Mr. McGill is an admirable human being, but perhaps a bit solipsistic in his approach to parenting. In the grifter flashback scene it is established quickly that Jimmy is different from his family and views things from a different angle than his family. There is a degree to which this is scary for him. He is trying to make sense of how he is experiencing the world as very different than the rose colored glass view his parents and brother have. He looks to his parent for guidance or assurance that his experience, while different, is valid and should be addressed, but instead, he is met with disbelief and basically told his experience of the world is not real or valid. With Kimmy, the second of the two flashbacks to her childhood give us a clearer insight into who Kimmy is. Kimmy acts out in hopes of drawing out the good and decent in her parent. She is acting out in hopes of drawing out some guidance and boundaries from her parental figure - some sign of genuine concern for her well being. She has no doubt seen this in other parents, but not her own. When her mom initially doles out a punishment and seems to show genuine concern about the path Kimmy is on, Kimmy is happy to see that, perhaps, her mother is capable of showing concern that reaches beyond her own selfishness. Later, when her mom instead shows pride that Kimmy is exhibiting “wolf” like behaviors and laughs off her own disingenuous performance of a concerned parent, done only to enhance the con she has grafted onto Kimmy’s initial misdeed, Kimmy learns that she is on her own to make sense of the world as she is experiencing it. These experiences really shape the patterns that both Jimmy and Kimmy cycle through. It also, I believe, explains a lot about why they are drawn to each other to begin with. Jimmy is wolf that loves his sheep family and wants to protect them, but is only made to feel shame for being a wolf. Add to that his feeling that, were he to use his ‘wolf’ powers to protect the sheep in his life, he will only be punished by those very sheep. He feels that he can never be loved unconditionally by the sheep. Kimmy is a sheep who desperately wants a shepherd but who is, instead, raised as a wolf. As such, she gravitates towards wolves, because she understands them and there is a familiarity with them that is comforting. She goes to New Mexico in order to become her own shepherd and effectively raises herself to be the sheep she wants to be, but in the course of doing so, notices that the sheep she looks to as role models are in some ways as devious and self dealing as the wolves. I think Jimmy’s ‘wolves and sheep’ call back line and his obvious discomfort with Kimmy’s treatment of the Kettlemans is largely because, as a wolf raised by sheep, he is saddened to see Kimmy, a sheep raised by wolves, show no empathy for his fellow wolves. Perhaps he views Kimmy as a sheep who finally understands him, has the capacity to love a wolf like him and can steer his talents towards good, but he is realizing that, even in Kimmy's eyes, wolves are a destructive force that cannot be redeemed? In some ways I think both Jimmy and Kimmy are perpetually trying to resolve the conflicting instincts they have being as the sort of misfit of their respective families. This affects everything about they navigate the world yet neither of them seem to have ever tried to address these feelings directly. Another thought I had was that, in some ways, Chuck is just as damaged by his father’s admirable but solipsistic parenting approach, but he can’t acknowledge it, let alone come to terms with it. Jimmy is a thorn in his side because he is a constant reminder that McGill Sr’s world view, which Chuck has taken as gospel, is flawed (as is anyone’s world view) and contains within it a blind spot that can genuinely hurt and alienate those closest to him. I think those blind spots show up in Chuck both in terms of him prioritizing his generosity to strangers over the well being of his family and loved ones, but also in terms of adhering so closely to his own understanding of a societal moral framework that he consistently prioritizes it above the feelings and well being of his own family. Anyhow, I have obviously spent waaaay too much time thinking about this but there you go. Keep up the BCS videos - they're great so far!

I know it's not really a fitting to the shows philosophy but I do think there's a role that is there but isn't acknowledged that Kim and Jimmy could have been: The Shepard. The people who defend and watch the sheep by fighting off the wolves. It fits the lawyers role and it would give them a reason to straddle the lines.

Unethical to call Kim? I imagine she’d be pretty pissed if he pulled their plans and didn’t even bother to warn her. Remember that he was okay with waiting for another opportunity

"As their plan climaxes, so do they" Well that's one way to put it Edit: 41:35 Yes, you are obligated to do a Pryce video. We are all resoundingly wanting for you to make a Pryce video.

I think while we can all agree that Kim has her own agency, it's also part of her lesson that even if you think you're independent you're still influenced by your environment, and failing to acknowledge that just makes you more susceptible to losing more of your agency. Kim sorta missed some "maturity milestones" in her later childhood because of her upbringing and the lack of a good female role model, and she lives in a mindset where she is in control, when she never really was. We didn't realize how part of her was immature for several seasons, just because compared to the loud and crazy people around her she looked so professional, badass and cool, even her workaholism was seen as admirable. But a part of her is an angry girl lashing out for not having had proper guidance, and her failure to see herself as helpless in that trauma makes her blind. Edit: While we did see her enjoying Jimmy's childish antics sometimes, we weren't that surprised because Jimmy is charming, and we're told that "everyone" loves him. We saw her as the romantic interest who was too good for Jimmy, especially in the first half of the show.

Someone pointed out a little reference that Jimmy giving the Kettlemans money in the end of 6x2 because he felt bad for them is the parallel to how his dad gave money to the conmen that he bankrupted himself. Jimmy became more and more like his dad and Chuck over time, and that’s not a good thing at all.

These are legit some of the best videos on KZfaq right now. It’s like listening to a much more articulate version of my inner monologue. Thank you and keep them coming!

They should create a web series where each of the characters are in therapy and we get hear the conversations.

AYYY I am so happy you uploaded. Been loving your BCS stuff. Excited to watch this

Interesting to see Jimmy's idea of a "wolf" especially with a guy like Lalo running around.

when u start analysing tv shows This deep.its a fine.line between delusion and curiosity.

Cicero was also a great orator.. aka he had a “mouth on him” that could stop tuco

I always thought he said that as a kind of frustration / defeated admission that the "wolves vs sheep" concept he took to heart as a kid with the guy in the store was true, and had been validated by Kim's actions. Jimmy tried to do the right thing as a sheep because he doesn't really want to believe that you have to be a wolf, but he didn't repeat it to Kim because it's more of a personal thinking out loud moment that something meant to Kim's ears (it wouldn't mean anything to Kim)

I remember in the last episode you said you've never actually watched Breaking Bad but plan on doing so after BCS is finished. I'd love to see videos like this on Breaking Bad in the future if you ever plan on doing that! :)

31:15 oh man you’re gonna LOVE Breaking Bad

I think in season 5 Kim got burnt out realizing that working ethically in the system is basically not going to actually do much because the way she is able to help her clients is by sometimes having to be unethical. She tried to be Atticus Finch and was pushed down and disillusioned by the justice system. From the burnout she wants to get revenge and when I watched season 6 I noticed that getting to the end result mattered more than HOW they get to the desired result.

I am getting ready to watch now but I just want to say thank you for posting another video! I always love listening to your thoughtful and thorough analysis. Can’t wait to hear it!

brilliant analysis of well thought out characters that really breaks down who they are and what they live for

When Kim made that U-turn in the Plan and Execution episode Jimmy DID say they're going to cancel because and they missed their shot. It was KIM who insisted to go on. Jimmy never really wanted to do it in the 1st place.

That example you made about Jimmy trying to ease his conscience with Kim (and her naturally reassuring his toxic behaviour) also reminds me of his interaction with Chuck where Chuck says "you hurt people, it's what you do so stop feeling sorry about it" or something along those lines. I think this is something that would stick with him, especially after Chuck's death, Jimmy will only fully become Saul once he stops apologising and just commits to the scamminn lifestyle

Oh man, please do a series for Breaking Bad after this

Being in the process of watching the Better Call Saul series on this channel backwards I am really impressed by the attentiveness that allows for such compelling analysis. It goes beyond „Is character x evil?“ and I love it. As a byproduct my appreciation for Better Call Saul is again reaching the point of requiring a rewatch.

This series is great. I think you’ll find the human behavior aspect of breaking bad is much more superficial than this show, if you ever plan to watch it.

Dude, you're a trip, couldn't stop watching. Great job. I can't wait for episode 8!!!

Insanely in-depth analysis, thank you!

I love your cadence and light but snide sarcasm in the outro chunk. The sales pitch vibe is super fun, especially when you immediately shift into the actual thankfulness and appreciation One of my favorite creators lol

You mention the Golden toilet in the flash forward and I believe this is a shrine to Kim’s memory because she is either dead or out of her life for good. The reason I think this is because she made a joke about setting up the toilet as like a throne when jimmy moved it to his new office which at the time was dilapidated and had a dirty random toilet in the middle of the room. If Kim was in Jimmy’s life in the flash-forward there’s no way she would actually agree to that set up. Just a theory and would like to hear your thoughts. Great video as always. Keep up the good work!

All of these videos and I still don’t know what therapy is

YEEEEES i was just binging these at work, glad to see another hour of my shift can be spent happily

this series gives me life. such a good analysis of the series so far

random note I noticed the weird distorted images in the middle of the desert just feels like I’m looking at brain rot and I salute making a almost still image engaging

you make amazing analysis. love listening to your videos so much man. thank you for your effort.

Excellent video. Thanks for your introspection.

I had never even thought of the possibility of Kim going to the police, but now that I have it in mind it's extremely possible.

Favorite series on KZfaq right now, love the show and love the videos keep it up and I can't wait to see more.

oooof my man thank you for this, I really needed it

Love your videos man, even when I disagree with you. I think the Wolves and Sheep line after the Kettleman scene was a way of reinforcing his own world view since he just acted against it, like a mantra. Less of a "Guess I'm the sheep now" and more of a "That was necessary, we're the wolves, they're the sheep, this is meant to be how it works" while not fully believing himself.

Jimmy s1-4: Slippin’ Jimmy Jimmy s5 onward: Simpin’ Jimmy

Love these videos and they always cheer up my day when I see a new one in my recommended

Yes, a new BCS video from you! And a few days before we get more BCS episodes as well!

Hi, so I found your channel today from your most recent video. I quickly decided to jump back to the start of this series. And quicker still decided I need a base level understanding of the show before diving into your series. I haven’t seen either show 😅. What I didn’t expect was how quickly I was bounced off of nearly every video about either show. It was for a variety of reason, but I just wanna say I really appreciate your perspective. And the amount of effort you put in is inspiring

The only thing I would change about BCS is I would have the adult actors play every age of their characters, especially the children.

wtf it's only the second video i watch of this channel and already is one of my favourites keep it going

21:47 I think you might have gotten the wrong read of Jimmy here with the Cocobolo Desk. Remember, this was the desk that Jimmy described to Kim when talking about his dream office after he thought he would be working on the Sandpiper Case with Chuck. Jimmy didn’t know that it was ridiculously fancy. Jimmy liked the desk because he liked the way it sounded. It was a joke he had with Kim and something that got stuck in his head. A fantasy.

I’m so glad I found your channel

I’d love to see a series review at the end. Your style of analysis is really cool and I’d love to hear your thoughts about the ending, other characters, and other things!

can't wait for the next video, great work

9:29 Holding out for a larger settlement is not necessarily due to greed. It's part of class action business-as-usual because that's the best way to drive changes in the industry and subsequent legislation. It also gets more news coverage. Holding out is an ethical act in this case because it will benefit all seniors in long-term care facilities.

thanks for your videos. i love every single one of them.

these videos are so well made and so thoroughly researched and explained. can't wait to watch this thanks

What’s Therapy not only have you skyrocketed to one of my favorite (newish) channels, but you’ve inspired me to purchase that iMac I’ve always wanted and start my own channel!

been counting the days for the next video since this one came out, these videos got me thru my summer job washing dishes while listening to this in my headphones🙏

I love this! Also, I think Jimmy called Kim because he knew she’d be furious if she returned and found out something went wrong with the plan - and Jimmy didn’t tell her. At this point, Jimmy can tell that their scheme is Kim’s top priority. If he didn’t tell her something went wrong, it would have been a betrayal of their partnership.

I just discovered these videos this week, and I'm as hooked on these as the show itself. I love movie/TV analysis in general, but you bring an especially unique background of knowledge about psychology, and as a result, I feel like there's a lot you have to offer that hasn't already been said by other people. The thing is, both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul focus so much on the psychology of their characters, their behavior, why they make the decisions they make, etc... coming at this show from a psychology/therapy perspective might actually be THE most perfect way to analyze it. I also really enjoy the fact that you're doing this without having seen Breaking Bad first. I DO hope you watch it eventually, because there's just as much if not more that you could probably say about it. But first off, the fact that you've gotten so much out of Better Call Saul without the context of Breaking Bad obviously speaks to how well it stands on its own, despite being a prequel. And second, I like that you're able to have a perspective on BCS that's based solely on what's presented in the show itself, without being influenced by knowledge of what happens in Breaking Bad, even just on a subconscious level. I feel like it results in a more pure analysis of the show, if that makes sense. But I do think, based on the reasons you talk about why you love Better Call Saul, you'd probably love Breaking Bad just as much if not more. In my opinion, both shows really are more or less about the same thing. Yeah, at face value you can sum them up as "one is about lawyers and one is about a guy making and selling meth", but really what both of them are about is very psychologically complex and flawed characters, the relationships between them, and what makes them do the things they do.

I been listening to ur videos to help me fall asleep😂 cuz they’re interesting enough n long enough. Thank u n keep up the good work

What an amazing analysis

I love these long form videos. I'm interested in seeing what's next when you run out of ideas for Better Call Saul

can't wait to see your thoughts on the finale, these videos are so good!!

Whenever she'll go to the police or not, I feel that by the end of this last season Kim Is going to break Jimmy's heart or probably leave him.

26:09 I think the idea behind Antony's defense of Ceasar was that ambition inherently disregards the desires of other people, holding steadfast, when in reality there is also ambition in giving the people exactly what they want even in moments of irrationality as the power that comes with pleasing the people can serve as protective shell (kinda like how Jimmy's people skills have made him valuable to his clients whether they're cartel or seniors) and that Kim is driven by a ruthless desire to be effective. This might explain why Kim blackmailed the Kettlemans while Jimmy then gave them the money. In a way he's still behaving in a self-interested way but considering his long-term. Funny thing is that Antony knew he was lying about ambition to the people because he knew that its better to placate the massed than adhere to what those in power want to do in the short-term. Master manipulation in play here. Also thanks so much for this content, you're awesome!

very impressed by you theorizing about if Kim might end up coming clean about their scam. I am late to this video and hearing that after having seen the entire show surely was something

I adore your videos. I work with magnets from home and it can be tedious. these longform videos are excellent to occupy my mind while I work. thank you for making them. 💙

Love your vids! keep it up!

My favorite philosophical debunk channel for better call Saul

Jimmy the ARTIST! YES! Me and my friend (being songwriters and producers and lovers of film/tv) have discussed that exact topic in detail recently! GREAT Video idea man. Loving this one!

Lol. A 1 hour video about 1 line in 1 episode. I love it!!!

Please don't move off Better Call Saul until you feel you've covered everything! Been loving your vids

Always wanted to hear the perspective of someone who hasn’t seen breaking bad and is able to see these characters fresh without the pre knowledge of their eventual fate. Also, and I’m sure you’ve heard this before, but you should definitely watch Breaking Bad. There aren’t as many complex characters, but Walt and Jesse have two of the greatest arcs put on screen

Love this series!

Love your videos man!!

When Jimmy mutters "Wolves and sheep" after meeting with the Kettlemans, I don't think he's particularly *calling* himself or them wolves or sheep. It seems more like he's lamenting the fact that he [thinks] he lives in a world where he is forced to take advantage of others, because if he's not a wolf then he becomes a sheep -- and the taking-advantage makes him feel bad, but he'd still rather do it than become a sheep.

these videos are exceptional.

The "wolves and sheep" statement by Jimmy shows he's never forgotten his childhood encounter with the con man.

Big fan of the content, im happy that you see much more success by covering better call saul and hope you keep up the good work. I wish you luck and if it is your wish to go full time youtube instead of beeing a therapist i wish you best of success.

the wait for the finale is killing me, bit these help a lot

Weird you made this video and posted it today. I just watched a video on the Ological channel (highly recommend it by the way) that also emphasized the wolf/sheep idea while breaking down Jimmy/Kim side of this particular episode. I got that the idea was to show a difference in Kim and Jimmy's approaches but I totally missed the questions the episode was asking about "wolves and sheep." Just more proof to me that this is one of the most brilliant and nuanced stories ever told. Great video.

Jimmy is Jimmy when he's not Saul Saul begins as an outgrowth of Slippin' Jimmy with a law license. Slippin' Jimmy knew how to grift but that was always for fun + profit with Marco (tho he will always wear Marco's ring) dba Saul slides into that combo of Jimmy McGill with Slippin Jimmy features. As Saul develops, especially after the cartel gets him, is still not quite the full Saul we'll come to know in BB (even post-Bagman), but Saul mode is now definitely in motion - Everything regarding Saul / Jimmy now TOTALLY depends on Kim's finale - After Howard there will be MAJOR permanent shifts for both Jimmy + Kim Obviously it shocked the sh!t outta both of them AND Lalo's right there still in front of them! Intensity of this trauma + Howard bleeding out on the floor + Lalo literally potentially killing them at any moment… It's this excruciating fear + trauma that'll change them each in profound ways, inside + out Kim remains key to the full Saul, in all his Better Call Saul glory Jimmy can't be 100% discarded more like 97% (hidden tiny spark) Meanwhile Gene appears to be returning to a Saul ‘dealing with this’ new threat to Gene's cover, that Jimmy may reemerge from

These videos have made the mid season break go by much faster. Keep it going man great stuff!

36:08 I'm sorry my guy but I have to stop you right there. You say that Kim's "sheep side" is being a public defender, but you're making 'wolves and sheep' to be something on a moral scale. I don't believe this to be the case. It's about predatory, ruthless behavior that pits people into a struggle for dominance... and that's still what Kim is doing as a public defender. She's still using her wolf skills in this area. I love your videos by the way. And I hope you watch Breaking Bad after this show is over!

"go wolf mode" is the best thing ive heard today

really hoping you continue making this content as show goes and after it ends. Id also LOVE this content for breaking bad :)))

very subtle way to remind us to like the video, nice lol

Subscribed you make the best videos

What’s Therapy? just doesn’t miss

Nice catch on the symbolic comparisons of Kettleman and Wexler-McGill. The inflatable Statue of Liberty is a nice symbol of the spousal duos, comical and hollow justice.