Sa Bawat Dulo ng Walang Hanggan (kasi nga #WalangForever)

ni Love Esios

Minsan, may darating na pag-ibig sa buhay mo na babali sa dati mong paniniwala sa pag-ibig at babago sa pananaw mo ng walang hanggan...



 --- Ayan yung ideyang naglalaro sa utak ko ng sumunod na araw pagkatapos kong manood ng Walang Forever. Nauna ng magbigay ng opinyon ang isa kong kaibigan tungkol sa pelikulang pinagbibidahan nina Jennylyn Mercado at Jericho Rosales. Bilang akala ko 'di ko na ito mapapanood, nagtanong ako sa kanya kung kumusta yung pelikula. Sabi niya, "Ang babaw ng istorya, friend. Sorry friend."

Eh 'di ako naman, nasayangan. Sabi ko, buti pala hindi ko pa napanood. Pero sadyang mapaglaro lang siguro ang tadhana kasi nakapanood pa rin ako at paglabas ko ng sinehan, sumisinghot-singhot pa ako habang nagpupunas ng luha sa pisngi. Ang nasabi ko na lang, "Wow. Grabe."

Simple lang naman ang kwento, oo. Nothing spectacular, nothing extraordinary. Same old plot. Dalawang taong pinagtagpo ng ulan, pinagbuklod ng pag-ibig at pinaghiwalay ng buhay. Pero ang tingin kong natatangi sa pelikulang ito ay ang mahusay na pagbibigay-buhay ng mga aktor sa mga karakter ng isang simpleng ngunit paulit-ulit na kwento ng pag-ibig.

Noong nalaman kong nagwagi bilang pinakamahusay na aktor si Jericho Rosales sa MMFF, naitanong ko sa sarili ko, "Wala na ba talaga silang ibang choice?" Kahit 'di ko pa napapanood ang Honor Thy Father, nasabi ko agad na, "Bakit hindi si John Lloyd?" Kasi siguro bilang manonood, ang stereotype natin, kapag umarte ng drama, magaling na. 'Pag umiyak ng bongga, ay may pag-asa ito. 'Pag love story ang theme, ay walang saysay yan. Rom-Com... sus!

Eh tinaob ng napakahusay na pagganap ni Jericho Rosales ang lahat ng mga stereotype sa utak ko. Pinaghandaan niyang mabuti ang kanyang karakter. Inalam niya ang bawat pakiramdam, bawat iniisip at bawat ikinikilos nito at inari niyang kanya. Marami na akong nakitang aktor na umarteng may sakit sa pelikula at telebisyon pero mas nakita ko ang pagiging natural sa karakter ni Echo. Pigil pero andun yung tindi ng emosyon. Makikita mo sa mga mata niya ang paghihirap ng kanyang kalooban. Ang kawalan ng pag-asa. Iilan lang silang ganoon. Iilan lang ang mga aktor na matalino at nag-aaral ng mga karakter nila. Buti isa doon si Echo. Mahusay. ;-)

Matapos kong mapanood yung English Only Please noong nakaraang taon, napagtanto ko na may ibubuga naman pala talaga si Jennilyn Mercado. Sa kanyang ikalawang rom-com, ipinakita niya na hindi mo kailangang umiyak ng bongga at humikbi na parang katapusan na ng mundo para manalo ng isang parangal sa pag-arte. Minsan, kailangan mo lang isapuso ang karakter na binibigyan mo ng buhay. At kapag nakakonekta ka sa kanya, doon nagsisimula yung magic. Doon mo masasabing napakahusay niya dahil nagawa niyang pag-isahin ang dalawa: siya at ang kanyang karakter.

Nais ko ring bigyan ng pansin ang supporting cast ng pelikulang ito. Unang napansin ko kaagad si Pepe Herrera. Paano ko naman kakalimutan ang paborito kong Tolits ng Rak of Aegis. Hahaha! Hanggang sa sumunod na sina Jerald Napoles, Nico Antonio, Cai Cortez, Kim Molina at Myke Salomon. Feeling ko nasa Rak of Aegis reunion ako eh. Hahaha! Mahusay ang suporta kaya nabigyan ng resonableng comic relief ang pelikula.

Bukod sa mga nakakatawa at nakakaantig na linyahan nila Echo at Jen sa pelikula, pinakatumatak sa akin ang natatanging eksena ni Ms. Irma Adlawan kasama si Echo. Alam mo yung sinasabi nila sa teatro na kahit gaano kaliit ang eksena mo, nasa sa'yo pa rin ang ikagaganda nito. Sa loob ng ilang minuto, pinaluha ako ng todo ng eksenang yun. At hindi siya dahil kay Echo, dahil siya kay Ms. Irma Adlawan. Ang galing! :)

May forever man o wala, bawat kwento na nabubuo sa ating mga buhay ay nagwawakas din. Pero sa bawat pagwawakas, may nagsisimulang panibagong pahina. Parang pag-ibig lang. Sa bawat pagtatapos, may mas magandang kwento ng pag-ibig na sisibol at babali sa dati mong paniniwala tungkol sa pag-ibig at babago sa pananaw mo ng walang hanggan. Nasaktan ka man, nabigo, happy man ang ending ng love story mo o tragic, babalik at babalik ang puso mo sa pag-ibig na nagbago sa'yo. Tulad nga ng sabi ni Ebe Dancel sa kanyang kanta,

          "Bawat kanan at kaliwa
          Kanluran man o hilaga
          Ang bawat daan ko
          Ay patungo
          Pabalik sa'yo..."


Kudos sa writer ng Walang Forever pati na rin kay direk! Maraming salamat sa isa na namang magandang pelikulang Pilipino! :-)


Walong tagay ng espresso po para sa inyo! :-)

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My take on About Time ~ Film Review

by Love Esios

photo grabbed from Wikimedia.org

2015 is closing in a few hours. That means, you are able to complete 365 days of your life and in a few, you are going to complete another set of 365 days as we welcome another year full of hopes and aspirations.

But what if your dad told you a secret that you can travel back in time? Will you immediately jump into the opportunity of going back into one of the days in our previous set of 365 and make it better?

In the movie About Time, Tim Lake (portrayed by Domnhall Gleeson) was told by his father (portrayed by Bill Nighy) a family secret --- men in their family can travel back in time. Tim was skeptical at first, but when he tried to go back to the time when he didn't kiss a girl on New Year's day, he was shocked that he could actually do it. And during that time, he kissed that girl with so much confidence and passion.

After thoroughly going through the process of time-travelling with his dad, Tim resolved himself that he's going to use his new-found skill to get a girlfriend. He tried to use it with his first love Charlotte but he wasn't able to capitalize on it. Not until he met Mary (portrayed by Rachel McAdams) on a blind date that he realized that he is actually in-love. And that is the beginning of the real struggle of a complicated life for a time traveller.

Now here comes the question: What sets this movie apart from other films with time travel plots? This British romance-comedy masterpiece of Richard Curtis was peppered with British punch lines that you will truly leave you with a hearty laugh. It has also made me look back on the unfortunate events in my life brought by wrong decisions and impulsive decision-making. It affirmed my belief that love is so much stronger than any fear, doubt or sadness combined.

We may not have the ability to go back in the past and make it better, but I guess this movie wants us to see the beauty of living your life to the fullest every day. And that every day is also an opportunity to make things right and make it the best day ever.

The year will soon come to an end. Another year is about to unfold. May the year 2016 be "about time" spent with the people you love. Spend your time wisely, seize every moment and allow yourself to be filled with love so that you can share more love in return. Let's always remember that unlike Tim, there's not going back for us again. So enjoy the moment while it lasts. :-)

Before I forget, let me give this movie an 8.

Cheers for 2016! :-)

Top 15 Best Pinoy Films of 2015 That I Have Seen

by: Benj Ramos

15. ARI: MY LIFE WITH A KING - dir. Carlo Enciso Catu

MMFF New Wave Best Picture awardee. Poetic, simple and funny. When a film gives you a discovery, it is a good film. ARI gives us characters that we have never seen before— a group of Kapampangan poets with a King.

14. TAKLUB - dir. Brilliante Mendoza

My favorite Nora film over Thy Womb, Hustisya and Kwento Ni Mabuti. It is almost a sincere post Yolanda tribute.

13. TANDEM - dir. King Palisoc

My favorite MMFF New Wave film. Post On The Job genre. Looks like OTJ really sets the bar high. Props to Nicco Manalo. Nakakainis lahat ng characters!

12. IMBISIBOL- dir. Lawrence Fajardo

Almost sleep inducing but lemme give props on how it was done. Never imagine the outcome after seeing this from Virgin Labfest. Sayang talaga si JM, back to back siya dito sa list (#13-Tandem) and last year, That Thing Called Tadhana.

11. WATER LEMON - dir. Lemuel Lorca

Weird, funny and witty. Pero mostly weird. Jun-Jun Quintana is a breakthrough. 

10. MANANG BIRING - dir. Carl Joseph Papa

Fresh and creative. It was never afraid to step up, and it worked.

9. BAMBANTI - dir. Zig Dulay

This Sinag Maynila film entry is about a struggle of trust from a mother to her son. It all started with a lost golden watch, and the son becomes the suspect. It invites us to be the judgmental audience. Has several good moments and better performances as expected. 

8. DAHLING NICK - dir. Sari Dalena

Nick Joaquin in a nutshell. Reliable and interesting interviewees, bonus na narealize kong may ibang writers na akala ko patay na pero buhay na buhay pa pala. Di lang ako masyado naadvise na 3 hours pala ‘to.

7. KID KULAFU - dir. Paul Soriano 

It wanders through an old Mindanao of boxing, agriculture and kulafu. Excellent perfomances from Buboy Villar as Pacman and De Rossi as the infamous Dionesia. A fairy tale without glass slippers but a boxing gloves instead. So far,it wins the boxing match of films about Pacman.

6. MISS BULALACAO - Ara Chawdhury

Ang wild nito. At ang wild ng Biliran! It delights me when a film showcases the beauty and culture of the Philippines.

5. APOCALYPSE CHILD - Mario Cornejo and Monster Jimenez

The best Q Cinema entry so far from the film fest’s three-year run. Bale ang ganda ng Baler. I can never be friends with the characters coz they’re so out of my league. Rich kid problems.

4. HENERAL LUNA - Jerrold Tarog

Your HEKASI books comes to life, and with dialogues. Punyeta the Spoliarium scene, it was so clever. This has set the standards of period slash history films. I hope Hermano Puli and Goyong also deliver.

3. Honor Thy Father - dir. Erik Matti 

A real second chance for John Lloyd after the disappointing A Second Chance. No more love team for JL, please. Meryll Soriano is the next big thing in indies.

2. AN KUBO SA KAWAYANAN - dir. Alvin Yapan

It takes a good director to teach the insect, stones, ants, slippers and the entire kubo to act. Everything that you see from this film are actors. They are as equally good as Mercedes Cabral.

1. ANINO SA LIKOD NG BUWAN - dir. Jun Lana

Amazingly executed. You think you know it, then you don’t, and then you think again, then you hold back on what you think the ending might be and then you just stop guessing. Take each scene at a time as the story unfolds. Cleverly choreographed.





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A Second Chance ~ Film Review

by: Uel Ceballos

I was one of those who got hooked in the “One More Chance” film that starred John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo. Thus, when the release for the sequel was announced I was as much as excited as the rest. 

Ms. Cathy Garcia-Molina has unique way of creating romance drama films, which are both exciting and mature for the adults to connect to. I like most of her films – just right with perfect blend of “kilig”, drama, and moral. She seldom got off; always just right, delivering us a good taste of romance film.

“A Second Chance” is much more of a heavy drama. It centred not in the mushy chick flick scenes, but in the ugly truth of reality; the up and down of marriage. It was a brilliant move to deliver the sequel years after the first one, allowing the characters to grow and evolve in their own perfect time. Should it be done only year after the One More Chance’s success, I doubt if John Lloyd and Bea would deliver it as good as they did now. Likewise, one couldn’t say if the story would be as intact and justified. The years of gap between “One More Chance” and “A Second Chance” allowed Popoy and Basha to grow, to mature, at least inside the mind of the writer if not in the sight of the viewers. Indeed, “striking whilst the iron is hot” isn’t always the rule of the thumb. When they appeared in the first sequence of the film, I knew the characters have changed in time – not John Lloyd and Bea – I’m talking about Popoy and Basha.

One thing I love about “A Second Chance” is its sequence treatment. I personally admired the way it broke the linear delivery, with mixes of flashbacks and real time narrative. What I’m just bothered about is its being too melodramatic. Popoy and Basha were crying for almost 80% of the whole film. I have no problem with heavy scenes, but the approach, it seemed to me were always delivered in a similar level and manner. The two leads are great drama artists, but somehow it made me think that they overdid the crying scenes. I was fed up with all the crying, sequence after sequence. It became too strained for me. No questions asked that they cry good in front of the camera, but anything you do in too much repetition loses its intended effect to the viewers. Apart from these, I love all the rest. In fact, “A Second Chance” can be levelled alongside international romance drama films. It is written and directed with clarity and mastery. The brains behind it definitely know where they wanted to go to. The ending however, was a cliché for me. But nonetheless, this romance drama film is something different from what we’re used to.

Game of Thrones Series Review (Season 5)

By: Uel Ceballos

The Season 5 of the most watched TV series today -- the Game of Thrones has just ended last week in the HBO. It was another heartbreaking season finale that sent the fans ranting and raving over the internet. However, what could they do anyway? It has happened. Jon Snow was dead. Or is he really?

Though its first four episodes were leaked on the day that the episode 1 was aired, the Season 5 was still a huge success and that’s quite hard to beat. It surely rattled HBO and hurt the production in one way or another but that experience would surely make them more cautious for the next season. For whoever who did that, please think again before doing such a thing. You’ve scared the hell out of our skins; for fear that HBO might never produce another season again for GOT. That’s unthinkable, but not impossible. Especially that HBO has apparently learned from GRRM some of the cruellest ways to surprise the people. 

The first half of the Season was not as exciting and suspense as the second, but it was neither dragging nor boring. It was arranged in the order that each episode was set to be more intense than the previous one, thus the scenes were building up as the series proceeded. Reviewing now the full season 5, it made sense that the first five episodes were all preludes to what came next in the second half of the show. 

Compared to the previous seasons, this year’s season brought us all around the Westeros from Winterfell, Castle Black, and Beyond the Wall in the North, King’s Landing in the East, to Dorne in the South; with much of actions too in the neighbouring nations of Free Cities, wherein Daenerys and her people trying to control the rebellion in the Mereen; and faint but hard to forget scenes of Arya in the Braavos. 

There were just some few deficiencies, which could have been made better. I’m pertaining to the episode 2 “The House of Black and White”, wherein Jon Snow was elected as the new Lord Commander. Don’t get me wrong. The episode was good. However, it lacked the emotion that I looked forward to – the same level of extreme emotion that I felt while reading it from the book. The episode did deliver a strong transition on Jon Snow’s character, but it was still made better in the book. Nonetheless, I’m sure people who hadn’t read the book were sure overwhelmed when they watched it. Imagine hailing your favourite character as the youngest elected Lord Commander from being the often bullied bastard of the Winterfell. This particular build-up however, was pulled to the deepest down, when Jon Snow was betrayed at the Season Finale (let’s talk more of it later.)

There were many instances that the series stayed out of the book’s context. While some of it were bothering for the GOT readers fan, truth must be told that HBO has done excellent changes in the story. I’m a fan of the book, but HBO changes were not bad at all. Making it Sansa Stark instead of Jeyne Pool was a brilliant idea. I’ve been wanting to see more of Sansa’s exposure in the show – well, more exposure but not as the weak Stark second-born that she was. I’ve sensed it from Ned Stark’s death, that Sansa would turn to be wiser and braver but her transition was so slow that I have considered giving up the hope. Arya is my favourite Stark female character, but it didn’t mean I don’t like Sansa. I hated her for being the meanest sister that she was to Arya (and to Jon) but her character got so much potential. I wanted her to grow strong as Arya and get brave as Daenerys' (a part of me even wished that she get fiendish enough to match with Cersei). Okay, tell me about it, I just couldn’t get enough of the women’s epic demonstration of power and bravery here. 

I didn’t like the death of Maester Aemon and Ser Barristan here -- another plot changes from the book. Though perhaps, GRRM had really the intention of killing the characters in the succeeding books after “A Dance with Dragons”; and they just made it earlier in the TV series. I’m disappointed with the fact that Daenerys wouldn’t be able to reunite now with her oldest living kin. And it was sad to see Ser Barristan gone but I knew it has to be made in able to give the slot to Tyrion, as Daenerys’ adviser (because for sure Ser Barristan wouldn’t let a Lannister get close to Daenerys). I don’t know if this will ever happen in the book 6 “The Winds of Winter" of which the GOT fan readers have been waiting for ages. But I hope it will. Because having the two as tandem makes the Game of Thrones more exciting than ever – imagine Daenerys having to face Cersei, with Tyrion on her side. I just couldn’t wait. 

The second half of the Season from episodes 6-10 was relentless and brutal to the viewers. Yes, it was cruel and ruthless to our feelings. Very inconsiderate. I rarely cried over a series (okay it's a lie, I cried over Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, True Detective etc.). It sent us gaping until the ending credits, with nothing in mind but, “What the hell has just happened?” Even though you’ve read the books from cover to cover, still you wouldn’t be spared. Because of the changes in the plot twist, GOT readers had not the slightest idea of what might come next in the following minutes of each episode. Each ending would send the fans ranting over the net that they were done with GOT, that they would never watch it ever again. Of course, it was all a lie; they would be the same persons ranting again the following week for another painful ending. The last five episodes of the season 5 never fails in giving us a blast. It made us anxious for the next weekend to come so we could watch the continuation.

Sansa getting raped and the mass killings in the Hardhome were two of the most shocking events in GOT TV history. The first one being upsetting; and the second being horrifying. Both made me clasped my hands to my mouth, while shedding tears as silent as I could. It wasn’t in the book, thus I was stunned. Let’s not forget as well the chaos in the net brought by Princess Shireen’s death – two weeks before the Fathers’ Day. It wasn’t in the book as well, and this I couldn’t really believe. How could Stannis do that? What was with all the affection and love he showed in the earlier part of the show? Then I remembered it was Game of Thrones after all. It took pleasure in killing the most loved characters. Should we worry now for Tyrion in the next season??

The season finale “Mother’s Mercy”, though not surprising at all for the readers (because it was in the book), still created one of the greatest upheavals among the GOT fans over the net. I couldn’t blame those non-readers who were devastated after seeing Jon Snow, lying lifeless (or is he really?) in the snow. Somehow I sensed it that they were going to end the season that way just like in the book 5. And yes I know how merciless indeed to give us such a ruthless cliff hanger. Though I sensed it, I wished deep down in my heart that HBO would change it. All for the same reason that I don’t know if Jon Snow was really dead for good or if we’ll be seeing more of him in the season 6 and book 6. Only then in the release of both (TV and Book series) will we find out. There are numerous possibilities and including in those is the possibility that Jon Snow may be really dead for good. Remember, it’s Game of Thrones by no other than GRRM. Many had probably vowed to not watch GOT again because of Jon Snow’s death but I bet they don’t mean it – not even a bit. For now all we could do is to wait, no matter how agonizing it is. 

As for the production, there was nothing negative to say. Things were all close to perfection. The wights and white walkers sent me a shivering fear and I just couldn't thank them enough for not visiting in my dream. I couldn’t compare it with the Walking Dead because first and foremost I don’t see any competition between the two TV series. However, one couldn’t deny the excellent make up, prosthetic, and CGI works in Game of Thrones from the walkers, dire wolves, to the dragons and even to the entire breathtaking landscapes. This TV series is setting the bar high for the standard of TV series with high fantasy genre. The visual effects are stunningly exceptional, not to mention the casts who perfectly fit the role that they are assigned to play. Once again the GOT show had kicked the notch higher in its rating. No doubt that this series is among the strongest contenders for this year’s Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series. 

Every year, I’m rooting for Peter Dinklage for the Emmy’s Supporting Actor. However, he hasn’t shown much for this year due to the limited exposure he had in the season. But all his acts were as great and admirable as ever especially those scenes he had with Emilia Clarke. It just that, we all know that Dinklage has got more to show for his fans and that we will keep looking forward to. 

Lena Headey and Maisie Williams got most of the opportunities in this season to demonstrate their acting prowess. Their respective characters and scenes had given them all the chances and they apparently gave their best on it; resulting to their extremely good performance. Williams deserves the recognition for being so much effective as Arya Stark, and no one could argue on how the role fit her perfectly. Headey on the other hand, deserves her long overdue Emmy award. She played the role of Cersei with great mastery. Cersei is hated and abhorred; but despite that fact, GRRM never forget to present her human existence; that though in the wrong way, Cersei like anyone else, also know how to love as a mother, as a daughter, and as a woman. And Lena Headey nailed that! She was able to portray the hating Cersei, the wicked Cersei, the mother Cersei, and the woman Cersie. Wondering now what taking Emmy so long!

To cap it off, what else can I say but Game of Thrones Season 5 was a helluva epic show!

Top 10 Best Movies of 2015 That I Have Seen So Far (January to May 2015)

by: Benj Ramos

2015’s first half has offered us excellent film experience. Local movies, however, need to catch up. Probably because most of the Pinoy film festivals happen in the second half (Cinemalaya, QC Cinema, C1 Originals, MMFF, World Premieres etc). So far we got two local films in the list, we got an entry from the first Sinag Maynila Film Festival that lands the number ten spot, a 2014 American film that only premiered this year in the Philippines, and more British films. 

10. BAMBANTI- Zig Dulay

This Sinag Maynila film entry is about a struggle of trust from a mother to her son. It all started with a lost golden watch, and the son becomes the suspect. It invites us to become the judgmental audience. Has several good moments and better performances as expected. 

9. THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING - James Marsh 

Should be included in the 2014 list but the Philippine release is 2015. Based from the writing of Mrs Hawking, Theory captures story of a collapsing relationship and a building future. Redmayne deserves the acting recognition. 

8. CINDERELLA - Kenneth Branagh 

Faithful to the plot, it is the fairest retold,rehash, reinterpretation of a bedtimes story-- of them all. It proves that it doesn't have to be dark to enhance visuals and story lines, or to meet the need for 3D or 4Dx. Simple ,elegant and charming. 

7. KID KULAFU - Paul Soriano 

It wanders through an old Mindanao of boxing, agriculture and kulafu. Excellent performances from Buboy Villar as Pacman and De Rossi as the infamous Dionesia. A fairy tale without glass slippers but a boxing gloves instead. So far,it wins the boxing match of films. 

6. SPY - Paul Feig McCarthy and Statham give wonderful performances in this punchy comedic approach of a spy film better that is than Johnny English. Imagine an obese CIA woman who's tasked in her first field assignment. 

5. SHAUN THE SHEEP - Mark Burton, Richard Goleszowski

I always think that a silent film can only last for at least 20 minutes. Beyond that it becomes dragging. But despite the exchange of baas and ughs and mumblings, it'll surely not bring you to sleep. Charming, sincere, and simple. There's no best time to show a sheep film but on a Year of the Sheep. 

4. AGE OF ADALINE - Lee Toland Krieger 

After a tragic incident, Adaline, a well spoken and eloquent woman, found herself forever 29 as she tries to escape not only from being experimented but also running from the chance of true love. Subtle, touching and emotional. Go watch it and be in love. 

3. PREDESTINATION - Michael Spierig, Peter Spierig

A very thought-provoking time travel film with a paradox idea that is not meant to be understood but meant to be experienced. Travelling in time is always confusing that's why you will never get a full closure with it because it creates more questions than what it answers. One of the best time travel films. 

2. MAD MAX - George Miller's Mad Max is a hyperbolic post apocalyptic experiment mixed with so much hype, adrenaline, estrogen and breast milk. Be ready to be on the edge of your seat for this 120-minute lunacy is like a waterworld in the desert. Make sure you bring your dust mask, a bottle of water and an inhaler. 

1. KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE - Matthew Vaughn 

Ambitious, violent and ultimately heavy-on-comedy celebration of the old-school British spy movie. Not a bad premise for an offbeat modern art experience. The church scene will always be my favorite. Lemme tell you a spoiler--- the film is excellent.

Better Call Saul Season 1 ~ Review

by: Uel Ceballos

It’s freaking brilliant. You can never compare it to Breaking Bad which was equally distinguished. There weren’t any magical formula of chemistry here; no such awe-stricken process of chemical science which Heisenberg (Walter White) demonstrated to us. But it was filled with equal measure of satire; diluted with emotion-stirring stories of family, love, and loss among others. 

Better Call Saul is the spin-off of the by far, best series in the history of television, the Breaking Bad. It tells the story of Jim McGill or we know better as Saul Goodman, years before his appearance in Breaking Bad as the famous lawyer of the notorious. At first I never thought that the story of Goodman was worth telling; not until I saw the pilot episode of the Season 1. Though I had become fond of Goodman for his role in BB as the funny life-saver of the main characters, it didn’t occur to me he could become a remarkable name in the series world just like Walter White (Breaking Bad), Frank Underwood (House of Cards), Rust Cohle (True Detective), Lady Mary Crawley (Downton Abbey) and lots of other names from the successful TV shows. One great thing about Saul was his quick-witted character; yes he got brain -- canny, droll, and ingenious. His ways could sometimes go off and disastrous, but it worked for most of the time and you’d just find yourself laughing your head off. Since Saul Goodman was always a blend of tricky, witty, and resourceful personality, you couldn’t quite see through him – is he really concerned? Does he have personal interest on the matter at hand? Isn’t he scared? But whenever he was doing decision that risked his life, you couldn’t help but think that there was something REAL good in this man after all. 

Thanks to Vince Gilligan, the brain behind Better Call Saul (and Breaking Bad) we now, get to know more of Saul Goodman. I think Bob Odenkirk had nailed the character in the BB more than what was being asked of him. It has added perhaps for the drive to push a spin-off. And as expected, he nailed twice better in the Better Call Saul, showing off now the real person behind the lawyer we saw in BB. The first season has shown us when and how Jim McGill started to break bad and it made us more sympathizing than being judgmental. Though like what we thought of Walt in BB, Jim still got the choice to do the right thing or do it in the bad way. In Better Call Saul Season 1, our plates got filled of Jim’s frustrations in life; and yes he got us sympathizing and taking on his side. He chose the curved way but that didn’t make us stop watching the show. We were now actually looking forward to the next season.

Another strong character of the season was Mike played by Jonathan Banks. This one got me. I was just thinking yet that another spin-off for Mike’s life would be good as well, and then here he came in the series. Sorry to say this, but upon knowing Mike more, a part of me hated Heisenberg for killing Mike and disposing his remains in the most awful means – by dissolving it in the hydrofluoric acid! Just imagine that – disposing Mike’s character that way after all the significant scenes which he’d been a part of. I bet Vince Gilligan was regretting it while he was submerging through Mike’s back story. I’d realize my fault if I were he. Anyway the damage has been done. Mike was already slid inside a plastic drum filled with the dissolving acid; he was disposed along with the trash collected by the truck. Nothing could turn back the time. And re-doing the BB for Mike’s sake would not work either. 

Despite the fact that we knew what they (Jim and Mike) would become in the future, it didn’t keep us from watching the series. I was moved by Mike’s story. He was indeed the coolest pap there was in the TV series. His story was more real than of Jim’s. And he moved us deeply, on that episode he confessed to his daughter-in-law about the death of his son. It was quite heart-rending, not alone with what happened, but on the way Mike had dealt with it internally. As we see him, he was a tough old guy, a man of few words. To see him showing tears and emotions – it was tear-jerking. Small wonder that Jonathan Banks would be among the strongest contenders for this year’s Emmy for the Outstanding Supporting Actor category. The same goes for Bob Odenkirk who often brings us to a rollercoaster of emotions. He’d send us laughing, then sympathizing and at times, agreeing (though we deny it to ourselves) on his dark plans. That episode where he was blown away by the fact that Chuck wasn’t and never was proud of him for passing the bar, was one helluva of a heartbreaking scene. The person you cared the most and the one you all left with in this world doubted your capability – not the capability to do great things but the capability to make great change about yourself. 

All the actors were good in this season and the timing of the scenes was perfect. Now I couldn’t wait for the next season, and please give us more of Mike. Jonathan Banks was a terrific actor. And would it be too much to ask for Jesse Pinkman’s appearance on the show? Hehe.