Better Call Saul: What is the meaning of Black and White Scenes?
Better Call Saul, a compelling television series created by Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould, follows the transformation of Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk), a bright but mild-mannered lawyer, into Saul Goodman, a sleazy lawyer for criminals. It’s noteworthy to note that not all of the scenes in the prequel series are set before the events of “Breaking Bad.” Better Call Saul finally joins the events of “Breaking Bad” in season 6. In addition, there are random sequences in the entire series that are set in the time after Breaking Bad. They are entirely in black and white and center around Jimmy’s potential alter ego, Gene Takavic. What you need to know about it is listed below. Spoilers follow.
What Does It Mean When Scenes Are in Black and White?
The black and white sequences in “Better Call Saul” depict the future for Jimmy or Saul. Better Call Saul’s opening sequence, which shows what has happened to the successful and well-liked attorney Saul Goodman, is in black and white. He is now known as Gene Takavic, a balding, neurotic manager of an Omaha, Nebraska, mall-based Cinnabon branch. Gene starts to worry that he has been noticed as a client seems to be staring in his direction. But it turns out that this was only a false alarm. Gene sits in the dark and watches the color VHS tapes of the Saul Goodman commercials after getting home, a gloomy and modest apartment. They are also in color when the series goes back in time and starts narrating the story of how Jimmy McGill became Saul Goodman.
The contrast of colors illustrates how drastically different Gene’s situation is from that of Jimmy and Saul. Jimmy didn’t have much at first, but he was ambitious, resourceful, and cunning—all qualities that helped him advance in society. He had Kim as well. As for Saul, he was the person Jimmy became into as a result of giving up his humanity for achievement. Although Kim was no longer a part of his life, he appeared to make up for it by living a noisy and extravagant lifestyle. Gene, on the other hand, feels uncomfortable and constrained by his situation. He is in a dead-end work and is aware that he will never be able to return to his previous life. He must continue to be simply another middle-aged man with unremarkable features if he wants to live and be free.
As the finale of “Better Call Saul” approaches, Jimmy and Saul emerge from deep inside Gene. When a cabbie called Jeff recognizes Gene, Gene vows to make sure the other man stays silent. Jimmy offers Jeff an offer in “Nippy,” episode 10 of season 6, knowing full well that the cab driver won’t turn him down. He offers to stage a heist at the same shopping center where Gene works to demonstrate to Jeff how he may fast become wealthy. The Lancaster’s department store is their intended victim. Gene establishes a rapport with the security personnel by arriving at the observation room every evening carrying Cinnabons. Jeff succeeds in stealing apparel worth $5,000. Gene then emphasizes the legal implications of what they did by pointing out what they did to Jeff and his friend. Threatening the other two guys, the old Saul Goodman, whose ring Gene has been wearing during the theft, talks via Gene.
Gene returns to Lancaster’s as the program comes to a close and dons an especially eye-catching shirt and tie. Although it may not seem like it, Saul and Jimmy are still very much alive inside of Gene and will come to the surface if necessary.