If they had broken up just after releasing "Rebel without a Pause," I think their musical legacy would still be cemented. AFAIAC that is one of the real game-changing tracks in popular music.

I always wondered the same - but -
Some suburban upwardly mobile family posted a Christmas video a couple of years ago that went extremely viral on the web, and everything a Red Dragon would need to know was right on it - kids, house, cars, work, school.
So, there's a readily exploitable angle now, more than ever.

Agreed on the Paul and buddy scene - I also thought they were dancing around a war atrocity story, not a hook-up.

The gangster-going-straight-and-trying-to-stay-legitimate is well-worn by now, but the Vince Vaughn storyline is starting to crib specifically from The Long Good Friday in this episode in a way that's very distracting.

Beer Heart Attack
Now I'm Beer
You're My Best Friend, Beer

I never bought the "no soul" digs about him; one could make that argument about the waves of imitators he launched, but not him.

I don't think he squandered it. I think that, like Yngwie Malmsteen, he was as good as he was ever going to get by age 20. And that was it. I also think the rest of what you wrote is true.
These guys were the two most influential guitarists of the last 35-40 years, and are essentially time capsule acts.

If you're a fan of the original line-up and never got to see them live, it's fun to see them tear through some of the deep cuts. Their live shows back in the day were usually a drunk mess anyway.

Getting to see him sing this live on the last Heaven and Hell tour was definitely a bucket list moment for me.

When his lyrics weren't about fantastic topics, they mostly were of the "positivity" type, or speaking to the disenfranchised kids. Which is why I think he remains well-regarded, like a beloved uncle.

Also, while I'm on it, look up the Otis/Jimi Monterey Pop criterion collection disc, and then look for video of his live performance on "Ready Steady Go," which is just spectacular.

"Live in Europe" has a London show and a Paris show; the studio versions simply can't hold a candle to the live ones. "Respect" and "Tenderness" are especially nuts.

I was afraid that Marco was pulling a reverse-con on Jimmy, faking his cardiac arrest so the other guy could make off with Jimmy's half of what was in the plant wallet ("C'mon, Jimmy, I need this…")
Then Jimmy would have caught on and it would have been the final stab in the back, after Chuck.
But, nope. He really just…

It looks like they just told everyone "Dance. We'll supply the music later."
Love "Stand and Deliver" btw.

I had electronic soccer, and I had the Nintendo liquid crystal game watch "Octopus", which I just saw referenced on my 5 yr old nephew's Wii game. Christ, I'm old.

In the real world, it wouldn't seem possible, but I will laugh if at some point Howard and Jimmy ally somehow, if only briefly.

So the opening credits for this episode depict someone taking a leak on Saul/Jimmy - do I need to re-watch the rest of them for thematic clues?

The film always felt unfinished to me, like they needed two more weeks in the editing room. There is one shot of the performers dancing over the bridge, shot from behind, that runs uninterrupted for like over a minute.

The Cirque performers could do wonders with this.

After Better Call Saul, then this, I have had my fill of televised elderly abuse this week.