That's a good point: Walter was awkward and closed off at the best of times, meek and eager to placate. As he grew more confident (and, as such, a bit terrifying), he actually looked even more insecure, like a fedora-clad gamer talking smack about his hacking skills. His fragile ego became his suit of armour. The only…

Hrm. Now you are making me wonder if there isn't a single, traumatic incident behind everything. As a lawyer, I can easily imagine him staring something truly vile or evil in the face - and subsequently falling apart, his idealism shattered. There's just something so shaky and forced about his talk of hard work and…

Chuck genuinely believes that he can't do certain things, but as we've seen this episode, also manages to overcome all of that when necessary. That's a pretty good sign that his issues are rooted in deep, powerful anxieties and insecurities. Sort of how someone who is deeply agoraphobic will find it within themselves…

Yeah. I think Chuck definitely cracked under pressure, and on some level resents Jimmy's lackadaisical approach to life, but I don't think he's consciously trying to punish Jimmy. It's telling and sad that they're both a little phony with one another, though; Chuck wants Jimmy to do well, but in this episode, his…

Yeah. Even good ol' anxieties often manifest themselves in ways folks don't expect, and then don't associate with stress or panic. They just think they have a flu, because they have a fever (for example), stomach cramps, etc. People expect a panic attack to look like hyperventilation and freaking out; it takes many…

Right. In my experience, people often understand—on an intellectual level—the power of the mind (i.e., psychosomatic response, placebos, nocebos). But then they'll treat it as 'made up,' which is really missing the mark. When you believe, deep in your gut, that you are in severe pain, you'll be in severe pain. It's…

Yeah. And he says it with such a deeply sad, desperate conviction. A man who's trying to convince himself as well as a world he knows is humouring him. It really, really breaks my heart. :(

As far as great/kinda lame catchphrases go, 'Don't Think Small - Think Saul!' has gotta be right up there.

Success in general, really. I know many people in many fields who grew into monstrous assholes, but had always been kind of egotistical or sociopathic. Their worst traits were rewarded - just a little bit, but as it turns out, that's all it takes.

Yeah, and how about those Fat Cats in Washington, am I right?!

That's another reason why the Cinnibon cold open was particularly great: Viewers of Saul who've never seen (or heard much about) Breaking Bad will also see tragedy on the horizon. They never saw him in action as Saul, but they did see a balding sad sack slapping together pastries in a mall somewhere…

Okay, but didn't we also sort of know that things wouldn't end well for Walter? From what I remember, that was easily the agreed-upon consensus in these here comments. I mean, aside from the fact that him just getting away with his awful deeds would be dramatically unsatisfying for a number of reasons, the dude had ter…

Well, it's this meat, right? But, like… from space, you know?

I genuinely thought Jimmy was trying to rescue the dude, but don't quite feel stupid for thinking so, 'cause I was fairly certain that it was a combination of 'oh, for God's sake' frustration at everyone simply gawking (we've already seen Saul risk his own life to save the lives of others), and straight-up opportunity…

Right. And aside from being humourous, I feel as though the neighbour's point-of-view shot was meant to show us just how crazy Chuck seems. I wonder why?

… and that bit at the end wherein he wraps himself up in his (security) blanket after discovering that Jimmy is up to his old tricks again. Almost as though he were withdrawing more in reaction to emotional stress! Which brings us back to Jimmy all but demanding his brother remove the blanket during their conversation…

Then what was the significance of him looking at the one girl's college (?) sweatshirt and getting an idea? He had an epiphany, and that was after failing to make a bunch of call—

Well, the Breaking Bad universe is one in which people end up destroying themselves and each other on a regular basis. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Jimmy more or less ruin Hamlin and co., but also simultaneously end up fucked over in such a scorched-earth way that he elects to cut his own losses. Presumably…

I actually think Hero was the episode in which his new, ultimate goal became clear:

We, uh, are also four episodes in? Don't get me wrong: I think your complaints are valid and are the sorts of comments that prompt interesting discussion (you monster!); I'm not just bein' defensive over here, and how dare you accuse me of such a thing!