breaking bad, the story of how chemistry teacher walter white gradually becomes an important figure in the world of crystal meth production and distribution. was one of the most absorbing (intriguing, fascinating) series in the history of american television. better call saul. the backstory (personal history) of walter white’s lawyer saul goodman, is a prequel (preceding story, the opposite of sequel) to breaking bad.  jimmy mcgill (saul goodman’s given name) is the protagonist of better call saul, and the series focuses on jimmy’s relationships with his girlfriend kim wexler and his brother chuck.

saul goodman & walter white

while better call saul has not achieved the popularity of its predecessor (what came before, i.e. breaking bad) at least one prominent fan believes comparisons between the two shows are now (appropriate, relevant). earlier this week this year’s academy award  and golden globe winner for best director, guillermo del toro, tweeted…

With Walter White (who turns Black) you were tracking a massive downfall/transformation. BCS takes you by the hand as Jimmy becomes Saul Goodman (No Good in him) in small painful tumbles.

— Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) September 22, 2018

downfall means end, fail. fall from grace. tumble means fall. a contrarian intentionally looks for a different opinion than the majority is used to show that walter white’s evolution involved bigger, more obvious risks. jimmy’s transformation is illustrated through situations that are more ordinary, or day to day, strike means that’s the way del toro sees it. poignant means touching, evoking emotion; it has a tricky pronunciation–.

del toro had more to say…

Even in his relationship with Chuck, Jimmy was an enabler, he kind of loved seeing Chuck diminished. Both brothers wanted to see the other "down". Beautifully laid out.

— Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) September 22, 2018

kim is key means she is the element that makes the story so poignant. enabler means jimmy allowed or helped his brother chuck continue believing in his condition of electromagnetic hypersensitivity. diminished means not at full strength. laid out means presented.

kim is the key: how will better call saul turn out for her?

in an article on uproxx.com, dustin rowles del toro’s idea a step further (advances it)….

in breaking bad, we saw in walter white — an anti-hero — break bad, and we were rooting for him to succeed. he was a guy we wanted to win, so we took huge satisfaction in the fact that he vanquished his enemies…..even though we found his death a fitting end, we nevertheless rooted against characters who stood in his way

root for/against means cheer, that’s what u want to happen. vanquish means defeatand are used to present contrasting ideas, similar to but, and although. fitting is apt, correct.

rowles continued with his idea…

better call saul is completely different. we know that jimmy is going to break bad, but we’re actually rooting against that certainty. we don’t want jimmy to become saul, and every step he makes toward the inevitable breaks our hearts a little. the reason that kim is the key is we are rooting for her to save jimmy or, at the very least, avoid becoming collateral damage in his downfall. the big surprise through four seasons, however, is how successfully [series creators] peter gould and vince gilligan have been able to create tension where we already know the outcome…..but we don’t know how things will turn out for kim, so she in effect becomes our hero.

means in fact. it does NOT mean now, like actualmente in spanish.  a certainty will happen for sure. toward means in that direction.  avoid means stay away from. collateral damage means audiences don’t want to see kim killed by drug violence as jimmy becomes saul.  is another word used for presenting contrasts.  outcomes are results. turn out is like happen. in effect is like in reality.

even though the show is called better call saul, in effect, kim wexler is the hero

a final observation to help your english evelopment 

the title of rowles’ article is

Why Guillermo Del Toro Thinks ‘Better Call Saul’ Is Better Than ‘Breaking Bad’

this is an excellent contrast between better as a comparative (better than) and better as a modal (better call saul).

we know that the outcome of better call saul is that jimmy mcgill will become saul goodman

have u seen breaking bad and/or better call saul?  do u agree with guillermo del toro and dustin rowles that though different, better call saul is better than its predecessor? share your views under leave a reply