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Sunday, July 24, 2016

Better Call Saul



Breaking Bad is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest TV-shows ever made and with good reason. Debuting in 2008, the show told the story about Walter White, a man who learns that he suffers from terminal cancer and so, begins to use his skills as a chemistry-teacher, to cook meth, in order to make sure his family wouldn't lack for anything when he was gone. During the course of the show's run, we followed Walter as he transformed from a loving husband and father, to a ruthless criminal mastermind, motivated primarily by ambition and pride. Bryan Cranston, who prior to Breaking Bad had been mostly known for his role as Hal, the bumbling father in Malcolm In the Middle, knocked it out the park as Walter, delivering one of the finest lead performances seen in a TV-series.
Breaking Bad wasn't just the story about Walter White's gradual descent into villainy though; like most worthwile works of fiction, it featured a terrific supporting cast as well. Among the most memorable supporting characters of the show was Saul Goodman, the criminal lawyer (as in, he's a lawyer who's also a criminal), whom Walt and his partner-in-crime, Jesse Pinkman, enlisted as their legal adviser. Despite being an unapologetic crook, Saul revealed himself as one of Breaking Bad's few genuinely likable characters and so, its small wonder that in 2015, the show's creator Vince Gilligan, released a spin-off centered around him: Better Call Saul.

Better Call Saul mostly takes place before the events of Breaking Bad (I say mostly, because we also get a few scenes showing us what happened to the protagonist after the end of that show) and focuses on Saul back when he was still Jimmy McGill, a struggling attorney operating out of the back of a nail-saloon, while also looking after his older brother, Chuck. Chuck is a partner in the respected law-firm Hamlin, Hamlin & McGill, but at the start of the show, has been confined to his house for a year, due to developing a case of (self-diagnoses) electromagnetic hypersensitivity.
Aside from Jimmy's quest to advance his law-career, the show also chronicles the rise of another character from Breaking Bad; Mike Ehrmantraut. A retired cop with a past he'd rather keep buried, Mike's skills soon makes him a person of interest to some of Albuquerque's less upstanding citizens.
Other important characters include Howard Hamlin, Chuck's partner, whom initially serves as Jimmy's nemesis during the first season. Kim Wexler, a lawyer employed at H.H.M. and Jimmy's possible love-interest. Hector Salamanca and his nephew Tuco, high-ranking members of a drug cartel and Nacho, Tuco's ambitious and cunning right-hand man.

These characters are all extremely well-portrayed by their actors and are, for the most part complex, with new layers to their personalities being revealed during the course of the series. Bob Odenkirk in particular shines as Jimmy, portraying the future Saul Goodman as a lovable huckster; a guy who genuinely loves his friends and family and, for the most part, means well, but who can't seem to help himself from taking the easy way out and who tends to be blind to the consequences of his actions.

One aspect of the show I find particularly well-made is the relationship between Jimmy and Chuck. I won't go into any details, so as not to spoil things for those of my readers who have not yet watched it, but suffice to say that it's one of the most interesting sibling relationships I've seen in any form of media.

Another thing I like about Better Call Saul is how accessible it is to new viewers, viewers who go into it without any previous knowledge of its predecessor. True, already being a fan of Breaking Bad was certainly the big reason for why I decided to watch BCS, but its not a necessity for enjoying the show.

In conclusion: Better Call Saul is an excellent series, more than worthy of the show it spun off from. I, for one, am eagerly looking forward to the third season.


Sunday, July 17, 2016

Chapter 7

Six eyes watched Jeraddin as he paced around in a circle, arms on his back. Eventually, he stopped and spoke:

"Who else knows about this?" He asked, the question being directed to his first-born.

"I told Princess Merees", Risha replied. "I thought that maybe she'd be able to prevent the murder from happening. I think she was supposed to tell her brother, as well. The one in the wheelchair, not the one who was killed."

"Why didn't you tell your father or me about this?" Nasari asked.

"I tried to do that", Leorin protested in a frustrated tone, "but neither of you would listen."

Having said that, the small cat crossed his arms and turned his head side-ways, in a huff.

Nasari went over to her son, she sat down next to him and gently touched his shoulder. Then, she turned to her husband.

"What do you think is going to happen now?" She asked.

Jeraddin let out a sigh.

"Argath is going to find out who warned her sister sooner or later. Perhaps, she already has. She can't risk letting the truth come out, so whoever knows it will be in great danger."

At this, Nasari jumped up from the bed, she had been seated on, her tail swishing back and forth.

"If she touches a hair on my children's head", she said heatedly. "I will kill her, I swear it."

"Don't be rash", Jeraddin said. "The chances of you, or any of us, killing a dragon directly are highly unlikely. Besides, even if you were to succeed you'd end up being arrested and executed."

"I don't care", Nasari snapped, stretching herself up to her full height. "I would lay down my life for our children. Wouldn't you?"

"Of course I would", Jeraddin snapped back, he had not appreciated the somewhat accusatory tone in his wife's voice. He took a deep breath in order to calm himself. After all, there was no reason to be upset and besides, it wasn't as if he couldn't understand how Nasari felt.

"It won't come to that though", he continued. "I have another idea."

"What is that?" His wife asked.

"Simple, do you still have contact with those relatives of yours that emigrated to Leporia?"

"I haven't heard from them in awhile, why? You don't mean...." Nasari stopped, leaving the question hanging in the air.

Jeraddin nodded.

"Yes, my dear" he said. "I'm afraid that you and the children will have to leave Vinoli and not come back."

The tone of Jeraddin's voice as he uttered these words betrayed no emotions, but his ears lied flat on his head and there was a profound sadness lurking in his eyes.

Risha had listened to what her father had said with a sinking feeling in her stomach. Was she really being forced to abandon her old life and everything that she knew? It was so terribly unfair that she could scream, but she didn't, realizing that it wouldn't do any good. Instead, she just stared down at the floor and for a brief moment she wished that she and Leorin had remained ignorant about Argath's plan. Then, she realized that if they had, Merees wouldn't have been alive today and immediately regretted it.


"What about you, dad?" She asked. "Aren't you coming with us."

Jeraddin shook his head.

"I'm afraid not", he said. "I shall speak to the Princess and in exchange of my continued services and silence, I hope to persuade her to leave you in peace. However, in case that fails, I need you to be far away from here."

As he looked at his children, Jeraddin suddenly felt himself overcome with emotion. He crouched down and motioned for them to come closer. That was all the invitation Risha and Leorin needed and they both rushed into their fathers arms, where they were soon joined by their mother. For what felt like an eternity, the whole family remained pressed together, eyes shut. Then, with a deep sigh, Jeraddin let go, stood up and looked at his children.

"Children", he began and his voice was thick with emotion. "Whatever happens in the future, know that your father will always love you and that I know you will make me proud."

Having said that, Jeraddin removed the ring from his finger.

"Risha, this ring was given to me by my father. You are my first-born, so its only right that you should have it, as an heirloom."

With those words, Jeraddin gently grabbed his daughter's hand and put the ring on her finger.

"Remember to mind your mother and protect your brother when he needs it."

"I will father", Risha replied, wiping away a tear that glistened in the corner of her eye.

"Its time for you to go now", Jeraddin said.

He went over to the window, opened it and looked out.

"Its not a very high drop. You should be able to make it: Go to our house, take the money in the safe and charter a ship..."

"Wait!" Nasari interrupted.

Jeraddin turned and looked at his wife, her face was a canvas upon which conflicting emotions had been painted.

"What is it, my dear?" He asked, concernedly.

Before answering, Nasari grabbed her husband's collar and looked up at him.

"You've always asked me my opinion in all matters regarding the family", she said in a low voice.

"However, this time you didn't. What if I wish to stay by your side? Did you think of that?"

"You're right", Jeraddin acquiesced "I should have asked your opinion. I merely assumed that you wanted to go with our children, that is all."

Nasari turned and looked at her son and daughter with a tormented look on her face.

"Of course, I do, but I want to stay with you just as much. Oh, if only there was some sort of magic that could make me be in two places at once."

With those words, she buried her face in her husband's chest and sobbed quietly.

Risha and Leorin had looked on this scene with a feeling of unease. Their mother had always been such a calm, comforting presence in their lives and seeing her this distraught, caused their hearts to ache and they wished that they could do something for her. The empathy soon became too much for Leorin to handle and he began to cry his eyes out. Upon hearing this pitiful sound, Nasari's maternal instincts kicked in and she embraced her youngest child, stroking his head and whispering comforting words  to him in a gentle voice. While her brother was being comforted, Risha had been looking at the ring, which she now wore on her finger. As she gazed at it, she knew what she had to do.

"You don't have to come with us, mom", she said, trying to keep her voice from shaking.

"What are you saying, sweetie?" Nasari asked, looking at her daughter with saucer-wide eyes.

"I'm almost an adult. I can look after Leorin until we get to our relatives. So, if you want to stay with dad, that's not a problem."

"Oh, Risha..." Nasari began, looking at her daughter with both pride and remorse.

She didn't have time to say anything else, because at that moment, the doors flew open and Lorenzo stepped inside.

The fox's good eye scanned the room, before resting on the family, then he spoke:

"Excuse me for the disturbance, General" he said, greeting Jeraddin with an insincere tone in his voice.  "However, I'm afraid that Princess Argath wishes to have a word with  to your daughter. It has come to Her Highness's attention, that she may have valid information about our beloved King's murder."

She's only asking for Risha? Jeraddin thought. In order words, she's not aware that Leorin knows as well.

"I understand", Jeraddin replied out-loud.. "We'll be right with you."

"Um...the Princess merely requested for the girl to be present", Lorenzo said, somewhat taken aback.

"Too bad, I have things that I need to discuss with the Princess and believe me, its in her best interest that she listens to what I have to say."

Lorenzo glared at Jeraddin, his eye narrowing to a slit. Then, he shrugged.

"Very well", he said. "Shall we go? All three of us?"

"Its going to be alright", Jeraddin said reassuringly to his wife, before kissing her on the cheek. Then, he, Risha and Lorenzo walked out the door, leaving Nasari and Leorin alone in the room. Alone with their worries.