Lecture Notes on Better Call Saul: Visual Storytelling

Introduction

• Opening scene of season 5, episode 3 features ants on an ice cream cone.
• Emphasizing random objects can elicit audience curiosity and signal importance.
• Visual storytelling is a key element in Better Call Saul, enhancing the narrative through props, cinematography, and performance.

Subtext and Visual Symbolism

• Scene with Kim and Jimmy highlights their diverging paths:
  • Kim celebrates pro bono work.
  • Jimmy/Saul makes significant money with the cartel.
• The emphasis on the beer bottle symbolizes tensions and dynamics in their relationship.
• Jimmy's deeper involvement with the cartel contrasts with Kim’s thwarted pro bono work.

Mastery of Visual Storytelling

• Better Call Saul excels in 'show don't tell', using props, scene structure, cinematography, and performances.
• Props often take central narrative roles, e.g., ants on ice cream represent Jimmy's loss of innocence.
• Example: Ice cream scene revisits Jimmy’s transition to cartel work.

Use of Props

• Trash can in early episodes symbolizes Jimmy's frustration.
• World's Best Lawyer mug as an evocative symbol of Jimmy's transformation.

Performance and Visual Storytelling

• Performances critical to conveying subtext and emotions:
  • Character reactions reveal story beats.
  • Scenes often hinge on visual expression rather than dialogue.
• Example: Kim's terror at the door shows the gravity of the situation.

Importance of Acting

• Strong performances from Ray Seahorn, Michael Mando, Patrick Fabian, Tony Dalton, Bob Odenkirk.
• Performances often carry the narrative, especially in conveying lies, subtext.
• Instances where character emotions and realizations are visually communicated.

Scene Structure and Discovery

• Audience engagement through character processes and visual discoveries.
• Scenes often reveal their true motives visually rather than through dialogue.
• Example: Kim's decision to quit is shown through her actions rather than spoken words.

Cinematography

• Bold, striking shots enhance storytelling.
• Use of wide shots fleshes out character world and relationships.
• Composition: Separates characters, shows motivation, and emphasizes tension.
• Example: Wide shots of Albuquerque and desert setting create the feeling of two worlds colliding.

Visual Tension and Chekhov's Gun

• Emphasis on significant objects or actions creates suspense.
• Example: The use of doors and bombs to create tension and suspense.

Conclusion

• Better Call Saul distinguishes itself through its visual storytelling, focusing on character journeys rather than predetermined destinations.
• Visual elements contribute heavily to the narrative’s impact.

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