Jimmy has a lot of contempt for authority so he doesn't have remorse when he tricks them, but I think he does genuinely empathize with others and connect with his clients. And like how he "snaps" back to antisocial behavior he also "snaps" to prosocial behavior. I think the best example of this is when, after isolating Irene from her friends at Sandpiper, he ruins his reputation and loses the lawsuit in order to right his wrong.

@christophmahler

4 жыл бұрын

"(...) after isolating Irene from her friends at Sandpiper, he ruins his reputation and loses the lawsuit in order to right his wrong." I fully agree. I'd claim that Grande hasn't watched the show as such grave contradictions can't be overlooked or downplayed.

@erin_3569

4 жыл бұрын

@@christophmahler My theory is more that Jimmy has an addiction with conning. For me, he is much more similar to Jesse than Walt. Even in Breaking Bad, you can see him empathise with Jesse, when he push him to go see Brock and Andrea. As Saul Goodman, he doesn't have any interest in it, but Jimmy empathise with Jesse

@dillonadams8052

4 жыл бұрын

Yeah I agree, I always got the impression that Jimmy was a good person deep down he just has a temperament for engaging in deceitful and criminal activities.

@GTAPanos

4 жыл бұрын

Plus, he almost cried when he saw the family at the court with Lalo. He also shows love for Kim.

@RussianDeathstroke

4 жыл бұрын

Henry Cauffman the thing about jimmy is that he does care about those he’s grown close to, such as chuck, Kim, Irene, etc., but he still ends up caring more about himself which gets people into trouble, then feels guilty about it. He does this repeatedly to all the characters he’s close to. When it comes to strangers though, it’s clear he doesn’t really have a ton of empathy for them.

Mike is the character who fascinates me the most across both series. He commands his screen time.

@notsure4648

4 жыл бұрын

Yes

@kagey03

3 жыл бұрын

Agreed. Hope Dr. Grande will give us his thoughts on Mike from Breaking Bad. He has a certain charm or air about him that pulls you in as with all the characters on the show.

@aaronclarke7732

3 жыл бұрын

I’m not sure there are enough layers to him. He’s a hyper-competent and mature criminal who is motivated by love of family and negative military and police experience. I like Mike but does he have a disorder?

@DeepStateMarxist

3 жыл бұрын

@@aaronclarke7732 anyone doing that kind of work has a mental health situation worth analyzing lol. Hes ultra competent and careful with his criminality but hes still a psycho hitter regardless of his ability or motives.

@welshpete12

3 жыл бұрын

Personally , I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him !

"When the going gets tough, you don't want a criminal lawyer. You want a CRIMINAL lawyer, know what I'm saying?"

@rubberbiscuit99

4 жыл бұрын

Fantastic writing!!!! The lines that kill!

@ua2381

4 жыл бұрын

😄😂😄😂

@therearenoshortcuts9868

4 жыл бұрын

i think you mean criminal-lawyer lol

@therearenoshortcuts9868

4 жыл бұрын

@1younguy it's bullshit lots of them make shit money, so they have to walk the line either that or they are being blackmailed by their clients into doing shit criminal lawyers get shot for losing cases the DA doesn't interestingly enough, 'cause that's considered directly picking a fight with the cops

@emsee1138

4 жыл бұрын

Haha....!!!! 😂👍

Sometimes it's hard to tell someone that his survival strategy is also bad for him.

@britann9539

4 жыл бұрын

Well said

@sleptking1707

4 жыл бұрын

Near impossible I’d add, the realisation needs to come from the individual themselves

@dingfeldersmurfalot4560

3 жыл бұрын

It's even harder sometimes when that survival strategy is his best option. Survival often isn't pretty.

@nont18411

2 жыл бұрын

Like Lalo said about him, “He is a cockroach.” He can survive in any situation but with a huge cost.

Okay... so what about when Jimmy attempts to be reinstated and was being sincere but gets denied, then his response to that later was to con his way into being reinstated by telling them what he thinks they want to hear from him rather than actually being sincere? That combined with the shoplifting girl who was denied the scholarship and Jimmy’s response to her that these people are never going to give her a chance cause they will never see her accomplishments, they’ll always see her as a shoplifter. Personally I related to those scenarios very much in the show because I’ve tried to play it straight, follow the rules, and work hard and often times that just wasn’t enough. E.g. I started working in the restaurant industry 18 years ago as a busser. I worked hard and let my managers know I was interested in being a server so I could make more money. I had a felony on my record and feel that was likely why I wasn’t given training and just overlooked. I applied to many other jobs for that position and was always offered some entry level positions instead because my honest resume said I didn’t have experience. So one day I lied. I bullshitted my resume and made it look like I had years of experience for the position I wanted. I got hired in for that position and worked hard like I always do and got awards and customer compliments nearly everyday. Then I had legitimate experience when I applied to other jobs... So when I saw that episode I kinda figured, yeah, sometimes you need to cheat to get ahead because often times working hard isn’t enough.

@thisisdk7859

4 жыл бұрын

Hey I liked your comment. I agree sometimes you do have to cheat. I would say the best way to go with that logic is in pressing situations that almost remove the choice to play it straight(then cheat). However your situation wasn't without option, it's was really hard. And I think extremely challenging situations look the same as situations where there is no choice. Doing the right thing and failing consistently can be tough when you don't have knowledge of how to do it more efficiently, or if you don't know alternative choices that are also right. Commitment to getting rewarded in the long term is hard to believe in when you're getting nothing in the moment of your effort. And in Saul's/Jimmy's case, he turned to a shortcut when integrity didn't work, and while frustration is justified a bad action doesn't have to be justified.

@chimericalical

4 жыл бұрын

ThisIsDK in the case of a job that helps me pay my bills that I know how to do vs the shit job they’re going to give me I’m going to lie and get the one I’m qualified for. Because I’ve been in situations where I worked hard for 3 years and got to watch other people get offered the job I wanted with next to no effort at all. So it often feels like a waste of time to try and work my way to the top or work hard at all. When I asked about a promotion I was told they liked how hard I worked in the position I was in and didn’t want to lose me for that position. So they didn’t promote me, and that’s when I found a new job and quit. Cause I was given no reward for my hard work, instead I got to watch lazy people get rewarded for being lazy.

@johnp.smithasimpleman7281

4 жыл бұрын

The system is disgusting

@thisisdk7859

4 жыл бұрын

@@chimericalical that's dope you found a new position! Thanks for sharing your experience, it was nice to hear.

@chimericalical

4 жыл бұрын

ThisIsDK sometimes you need to lie when to play the system. I’m sure for normal people it might work to just work hard then get moved up. But I’m socially awkward and weird and I think I may have autism to a degree which makes it very difficult to accomplish much in a world where if you lack social skills you’re generally fucked.

Jimmy goes far out of his way to help Chuck and Kim and shows sincere kindness to others. He's not lacking empathy.

@CaH6633

3 жыл бұрын

I think this character's empathy has like an expiration date or maybe even an on/off switch tbh where at a certain point later on in the show....say maybe around the time Chuck dies....his empathy is expired. Idk. You have to keep in mind, sincere kindness and empathy aren't the same thing. Jimmy is an understandable sociopath and he isn't like evil or anything....but he is a sociopath.

@obo6261

2 жыл бұрын

While it's true Jimmy goes out of his way for others, I wouldn't say he shows a lot of empathy. Conversely, I'd say his seemingly "noble" actions have more implicit selfish motivations. Take Chuck. Jimmy idolized Chuck; he respected Chuck like no one else-but not in a brotherly way. Jimmy didn't consider Chuck like most would consider their family; there's something clearly self-fulfilling about his image of him. That's because more than anything, Jimmy wants Chuck's approval. Can you blame him? He spent his whole life in his brother's shadow-no wonder Jimmy sees him as a god! But that being the case (which is evidenced consistently in the show), it serves to discredit Jimmy's empathy-at least enough to render him anti-social. I mean, if I prod someone for approval by being nice-even overly nice, is that exactly empathy? To me, that seems rather selfish. Jimmy also shows selfishness in his relationship with Kim, but seldom if any empathy. For instance, it's clear Jimmy's attracted to her, which is why he'd do the things he did for her favor-not necessarily because he felt "bad" for her. Such is further evidenced when, one bad decision after another, he drags Kim out on "clean-up" duty to fix the problems he creates, as when his rightfully annoyed partner reproaches him, he'll apologize incessantly-only to do it all over at his next impulse. This isn't caring empathetic behavior, but a sign of one who is completely without it. If he regretted the things he did, or really felt for her suffering, he'd simply stop doing them-but he doesn't. That's why, while he seems to have empathy at times, I wouldn't say that's what we're supposed to glean.

@hihkable

2 жыл бұрын

In s4 he doesn’t even feel bad about what happened to chuck

@rebekahcrossman4690

2 жыл бұрын

His empathy is only there after the fact. He doesn’t have enough empathy to override his impulsiveness. If he were thinking of others before he acts - he’d be able to see the potential consequences of hurting others before he acts. At the same time he’s very kind. I have 2 especially kind people like this in my family who hurt others continually without understanding how.

@LuisSierra42

2 жыл бұрын

He defecated through a sunroof, how is that empathetic?

Chuck was the Narcissist, in the episode when he finally admitted he prevented Jimmy from being employed at the partnership as a Lawyer, you can see his whole face and demeanor subtly change to evil, whoever that actor is he did an amazing job at showing the drop mask that happens when a malignant finally expose themselves for who they are.

@chunkyMunky329

4 жыл бұрын

Just look at the Flowers But Chuck was right about Jimmy tho. It would have been a massive mistake to hire Jimmy as a lawyer. Chuck never did anything evil to Jimmy. A facial expression is just a facial expression. It’s not an act of evil

@gamemaster2311

4 жыл бұрын

@@chunkyMunky329 But Jimmy was on the straight and narrow for nearly a decade when he was hired to work in the mail room. It was only when Jimmy passed the bar and was still refused to be hired as a lawyer that he started to act out. There's more to it than this obviously, but rewatch it. All the seeds are there. Jimmy was punished and held back for doing the right thing, because Chuck hated seeing Jimmy succeed, so he started to play dirty.

@misanthr0pic

4 жыл бұрын

@@chunkyMunky329 chuck let jimmy hate and blame hamlin for his career not advancing. it be ya own family smh. the whole time he knew it was himself. chuck also didn't tell jimmy their moms last words were "jimmy". he was an envious sack of shit lmao. jimmy was a good brother taking care of chuck's ungrateful ass. it was a twisted relationship, and jimmy did some messed up things but chuck wasn't innocent one bit. he also secretly recorded jimmy... he's so vindictive and covert filled with jealousy its disgusting.

@Grimenoughtomaketherobotcry

4 жыл бұрын

Clearly, Chuck had a case of, "Mom always liked you better!" syndrome.

@petersmith1143

4 жыл бұрын

Actual Goblin So you're saying Chuck should've hired a lawyer with emotional development level of a 12 year old? Act out? Not getting a job is not a reason to "act out". Especially not for a person practicing law. Jimmy was not "punished". Not hiring someone is a choice an employer has a right to make. It is not considered a punishment not hiring someone. Chuck hated Jimmy working as a lawyer because Jimmy is a criminal, not because he envied his non-existent "success". If Chuck hated Jimmy that much he wouldn't help him with good advice on how to be a proper lawyer. He would not help him to file the wills. And he certainly wouldn't help him with the Sand Piper case, which Chuck was instrumental in due to his experience and knowledge of the RICO statues. When Jimmy was hired at Davis & Main Chuck was proud of him and he kept reminding Jimmy to play straight and narrow, which of course, as we know, did not happen. Jimmy is a born criminal his employment stint at Davis & Main proves it dead. Stop making your silly juvenile excuses for an overly impulsive moral-less sociopath.

I love your channel so much. Jimmy tried to be morale. I’m reminded of when he was on the board offering a scholarship and they didn’t give it to the girl with a record (one time mistake). I believe he realized that the outside world would never accept him (everything from Chuck sabotaging him to the bar association), so he let go and became Saul Goodman.

@christophmahler

4 жыл бұрын

"Jimmy tried to be morale. I’m reminded of when he was on the board offering a scholarship and they didn’t give it to the girl with a record (one time mistake). I believe he realized that the outside world would never accept him" Fully agree with Your interpretation. I wonder if psychotherapy should require a double degree in *sociology* in order to avoid overanalyzing along an evidently _politicized_ and _corrupt_ set of diagnostic criteria. www.academia.edu/29350205/Criticisms_Limitations_and_Benefits_of_the_DSM-5 Although as an infrastructure to get people to talk to each other about problems it's better than nothing.

This is the intersection of my interests.

The rubber band analogy of anti social people “snapping back” to old behavior (after trying to be pro social” ) is a genius analogy! Love the channel

My favorite was Mike Ehrmantraut, there’s something about him 🤔 I was so mad when he died in breaking bad.

@threexladi

4 жыл бұрын

Mike so good at hiding in plain sight. His everyday older man in bland clothing.

@RockingOutjd

4 жыл бұрын

My absolute favorite character

@BeattapeFactory

4 жыл бұрын

he seems like a schizoid to me

@dimmuborgir82

4 жыл бұрын

guss and chuck my faves.

@ImBlackIvy

4 жыл бұрын

stewart campbell guss is the best

I'll respectfully disagree with your interpretation of Breaking Bad. Walt always had a massive ego and a festering rage underneath him because of the riches he lost when he was pushed out of his startup company. He didn't change. The cancer diagnosis was a catalyst for who he always really was deep down coming out. Don't believe me? Rewatch those first few episodes. So yeah, I actually don't think Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad are opposites. They're both about the inevitability of being who you are.

@sealisa1398

4 жыл бұрын

Snakie very insightful...

@johnp.smithasimpleman7281

4 жыл бұрын

Walt was not always like that, he clearly had low self esteem which is very justified. When you have low self esteem, and you finally get appreciated by something, you get a huge ego. I know that from personal experience. Guess what having ego doesn’t make someone a cold blooded murder. Saying Walt didn’t change is both right and wrong. I don’t think people really change, they just realize what they’re capable of, but that could also be called... CHANGE. So yeah it’s very hard to understand. What I do know is that Walt was not always like that, or maybe he was, he just didn’t know 🤔

@johnp.smithasimpleman7281

4 жыл бұрын

Same thing could be said about Jimmy.

@johnp.smithasimpleman7281

4 жыл бұрын

Great comment btw

@MacGuffinExMachina

4 жыл бұрын

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. We see this early in BB, when he refuses the money from Gretchen and Elliot. Maybe even earlier than that. I also think some things contradict his assessment of Jimmy.

When I worked at a state mental facility, the Drs. there told us that around forty or so, people with antisocial tendencies tend to start making better decisions. The reason is not that they have a change of heart but because they get tired of the consequences of their past behaviors. Maybe Jimmy McGill will show that he has learned a thing or two eventually.

@kenonerboy

2 жыл бұрын

Kinda did

@lestath2345

Жыл бұрын

He didn't. Why in the world would anyone take a life sentence instead of 7 years?

@kernel-pult

Жыл бұрын

​@@lestath2345 to "pay" for his crimes

He does have some remorse and restrictions, like the money he could have stolen from that fraud couple.

@glanni

4 жыл бұрын

He also goes to apologize to Chuck after all the shit that happened (which Chuck sadly shits on and that's partly what makes him bounce back into his delusion and kill himself), and he also feels sorry for making the other old ladies hate the one who has to sign for the Sandpiper case, and he even makes all old people hate him just to fix that. The fraud couple money he gave back for Kim primarily, but it's still amazing of him considering his financial situation in season 1.

@alexnorth3393

4 жыл бұрын

True.

@noxure

4 жыл бұрын

He said it was about "doing the right thing", but he knew he all that cash was too hot. Nacho knew about his office and he would figure out that Jimmy took the cash - there was nowhere else to hide it properly and his ability to launder money at the time was limited.

@endorphinzz

4 жыл бұрын

When Jimmy had an interview with Davis & Main in the season 1 finale, he backed out and left. When he passed Mike again leaving the parking lot he asked Mike why they didn't just split the money because nobody would have known they had it: Mike: “I remember you saying something about doing the right thing." Jimmy (scoffing). “I know what stopped me. And you know what? It’s never stopping me again.” Jimmy didn't give the money back because he was feeling remorse...he did it because he wanted to help Kim get the Kettlemans back as clients. And the only way that would happen is if he basically forced them to turn the money over and take the deal she worked out. What stopped him, was his feelings for Kim. He wanted her to get the Kettlemans back as clients--and thus help her with Howard and her career--more than he wanted to keep the money. Doing the right thing, showing remorse...neither of those things played any role in his actions. If you remember, Jimmy asked Kim if taking the job with Davis & Main would lead to them being together...Kim told him one had nothing to do with the other. That's when he backs out of the job interview, and basically tells Mike--and also the audience--he's never gonna do the "right thing" for Kim again. He will gladly do the wrong thing to help her, because it allows him to continue being "Slippin' Jimmy," and that's what matters the most to him. And we've seen this play out again and again and again over the next 4 seasons, right up to his desire to go ahead with the scam against Mesa Verde that Kim told him not to do.

@Slechy_Lesh

3 жыл бұрын

Interesting, so Kim is a replacement for the money - the gold, or golden (spiritual/metaphorical) treasure if you will? He's decided how he will work towards having and keeping that - by being Saul, and taking the antisocial/unlawful path. Because at a potential turning point in his life - getting lots of money - he chose the social, Jimmy path and lost it?

Damn Dr Grande picks the best topics!! 👌🏻😁

Dr. Grande sounding like an HHM hired forensic psychologist here hahaha

@christophmahler

4 жыл бұрын

"(...) HHM hired (...)" I thought to myself, Jimmy McGill as seen by the attorney of state or the board...

this is a great show, and this is a great video.

@ahmedsafi1767

4 жыл бұрын

@Mr X no way, I didn't know that.

@gwho

4 жыл бұрын

Yes we know the Dr grande show is great 😋

@threexladi

4 жыл бұрын

Yes, 'Saul' is every bit as good as BB.

Love this analysis. The actor is ALWAYS shocked when his behavior leads to the inevitable. Love that element. Everything’s all fun and games - till it’s not. 😜

@skatefan9495

Жыл бұрын

A very prescient response!

I believe that the story that Kim told to Me. Acker was actually true.

Wow - this was very interesting, Dr. Grande. I had never seen Jimmy as having antisocial and narcissistic personality disorders, but you laid it out so clearly. I find Jimmy a sympathetic character, even though I don’t approve of his fraudulent/criminal activities. I saw Chuck as being overly hard on Jimmy out of a more negative motivation than you describe, and didn’t find Chuck a sympathetic character as a result of the way he treated Jimmy, who took care of him.

@petersmith1143

4 жыл бұрын

Chuck was good to Jimmy. It was Chuck who assembled the shredded documents and realized Sand Piper's case true potential. They gave Jimmy his finder's fee and a 20% of the lawsuit making him millions of dollars for basically dumpster diving. I wouldn't call it treating someone badly.

@gregtheflyingwhale

4 жыл бұрын

@@petersmith1143 yet he also said "I just never cared about you anyway". It may sound as a result of him destroying himself, but also its partially true

@petersmith1143

4 жыл бұрын

Greg The Flying Whale Obviously Chuck said it out of spite because Jimmy ruined his life and professional reputation. If Chuck was so bad and uncaring, then how come he bailed Jimmy out of jail and insisted that Jimmy turned his life around, moved him out of Chicago, and gave him a job? A person who doesn't care about his brother would never do that.

@me6271

2 жыл бұрын

@@petersmith1143 Chucks last words to Jimmy were " I never really cared about you". If you think that's being good to your own brother, idk what to say

@joeblowseph9534

2 жыл бұрын

@@petersmith1143 Jimmy also had a good heart and to deny this would be inaccurate. Jimmy did all of Chucks grocery shopping for a year, took severely lessened pay from multiplr grannies during his elder law practice, hired Mike to retrieve the money the Kettlemans stole because it was the best option for Betsy Kettleman and her family.

I think a video on the gang from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia would be great, especially Charlie or Dennis.

@egrace3738

4 жыл бұрын

Omg---lots of fodder for years on those folks!! I would LOVE that!!

@JZephyrMusic

4 жыл бұрын

Yes!

@briankaslewicz6130

4 жыл бұрын

The Gang Gets Analyzed would be really great for him to cover.

AWESOME character diagnostic! Sometimes the characters with the most personality issues are the most interesting.

Wow. Just... wow. It literally astounds me that anyone could watch Better Call Saul and say that it's about Jimmy NOT changing. Did you, like, skim through the first three seasons or something? Jimmy places his freedom, and legal career, in jeopardy because he feels guilty about how his Mesa Verde scheme has (apparently) affected Chuck. He cheats himself out of the multi-million dollar Sandpiper settlement because he feels guilty about a handful of old ladies being mean to each other. And he crosses Nacho and potentially Tuco to save a couple of skateboarding con artists and the Kettlemans - a family of embezzlers who have already rejected his offer of his legal services.

People with ADHD have these traits as well as, come to think of it, most of the human population, who are all playing some form of collective game of survival of the fittest. Both of these shows are masterful at critiquing the hypocrisy of those on the winning side of these games-in Saul, it's the legal profession. In Breaking Bad, it's Walter's failed relationship with the two partners who form a highly successful company in Science and Industry. The real intention of these shows is to examine people in relation to one another, and the adaptive choices they make, based on their character-and to help the audience see the complexity (and I believe silliness) in our innate need to form a binary black and white judgment. For me the question always comes down to: what game are you playing? The moment Jimmy becomes Saul, he's made his choice not out of selfishness, but because he realizes that he can't actually win the game he's in. He's a master at a completely different game. The funny thing is that the games themselves aren't that empirically different! I appreciate your analysis, but I think it would be far more useful to see people not as labels, but unique sets of challenges. It's also too early to tell how the character of Jimmy/Saul resolves in the end. We have at least somewhat of a sense that the Saul Goodman character meets his "end"-but we still don't know what it means for his "soul". We never get the sense that Jimmy isn't anything but a deeply sensitive person. Despite all the "corrupt" things he does, it seems quite evident that he has a sense of right and wrong. It might even be his most defining trait. The reason why Breaking Bad and Saul are such amazing shows, is because the characters challenge our conventional and binary thinking around personality disorders, good vs. bad, and so on. We see that people don't exist in a vacuum. They are first and foremost driven to survive and have their needs met. These shows are masterful at showing how the status quo-the largest group of people who have all "agreed" to play a specific game and abide by its rules-is also corrupt. This is what creates the need for other games, that those who are left out of the game can succeed at. Through this lens, the story of Walter White is no different than Purdue Pharma. It's not super relevant that what he's doing is illegal, it's that ultimately his choices-and his risks-destroy his family and bring an end to his life. But there's a higher truth as well, which is that we're all animals driven to survive the forces we can't control, and protect our families. I believe the unifying theme of both of these shows is the same. We see how Walter White is actually a person of great integrity, who had a great deal to offer the world, and due to circumstances is left teaching high school. He makes a decision to use what he has to overcome those circumstances. We see how Saul loves his brother, who continuously rejects him. We see how Saul tries to "play the game" Chuck's way and is denied. We see him finally get the legit opportunity at the law firm, and he gets into trouble right away for no other crime but breaking convention in a way that produces results. This isn't due to a patent disregard for others. It's due to the fact that Jimmy's fundamentally an outsider, who isn't "wired" the same, and who hasn't spent decades investing in the same game everyone else has. In a different context, he's Steve Jobs. We see him "revert" back to the framework that ultimately will produce the most successful results for him. And then we see how this plays out over time. But we still don't know how it resolves.

@rebekahcrossman4690

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your incredible insight on the human condition. After reading it, I want to delete all my trivial comments. I have to say, however well thought out you seem on the human condition, I still think Dr Grande has a rightful place in his “binary” analysis. It’s a great study on personality traits - not their consequences. And believe me, as a mother of a special needs child with many of these traits, it’s necessary to have a name, even a label on something that very complex as it can serve at the very least as a launching point for further research and deeper understanding and compassion for why someone does what they do. I’ve met too many adults who were never given an autism diagnosis which resulted in years of horrible misunderstandings by others leading to harsh treatment and self loathing. So, I see you already have an open mind, maybe while you’re at it be thankful too that people like Dr Grande study the various personality traits we’re born with!

Fellow analyst here. I respectfully disagree that Jimmy’s, in this era of his life, is Cluster B. He seems to care a lot about the voiceless and defenseless, as demonstrated by the selfless way in which he cared for his disabled brother and going to bat for the high school girl with a criminal history who applied for the scholarship. You’re correct about his display of aberrant behavior from a young age-but, on balance, these earlier years of his story seem to show us a character who became traumatized such that he developed Cluster B tendencies later on as a result of said trauma

@artificialdisco8242

2 жыл бұрын

I was thinking about that too. The scene with the high school girl was pretty important for his personality. Nobody else saw that or was connected to that - there was no angle. That was as honest as we as an audience ever got to see the real Jimmy McGill. His antisocial tendencies seem to come from some deep-seated disappointment and trauma. Like he has no empathy for people who are "wolves", which is most of the legal profession and the suckers he cheats money out of - people who are themselves greedy and self-serving. But when he actually crosses an honest person (that old lady he ostracised) or that high school girl, we get to see his real empathy for people. There seems to be a bitterly cynical, almost broken-hearted quality to his dysfunction.

@nipsonanomimata

2 жыл бұрын

​@@artificialdisco8242 Hey, great comment. Jimmy does not like or want to be a wolf but he absolutely cannot allow himself the chance of becoming a sheep. I can empathise deeply with that and I think it stems from the lack of a strong father figure. When you grow up and reality hits you hard - you really do everything in your power to avoid becoming that. Jimmy figured that out at a very early age, before he even hit puberty, so that aversion is quite literally burned into his neurons. He is not "addicted" to cons, they are just a surefire way of convincing himself he is not a sheep.I do believe if he was given more of a chance by Chuck or the general circumstances, he could possibly break the pattern - that's why he put in so much effort to become a lawyer - breaking good, as he saw in Chuck - it was not some narcissistic urge. Chuck, I believe, had a similar realisation, although later and more subtle. And he chose another way of coping, namely exceptional effort and hard work that put him on top of his field. Law was the bubble in which Chuck could never be mistaken for a sheep. That's why he abided by it even when it would serve his goals much better to break it (i.e tell Jimmy to quit the law in exchange for Kim leaving Doc Review). And Jimmy breaking that bubble a la Chicanery was his downfall. He had nothing else. I sympathise with both brothers. And I do love their characters in different ways. I cannot blame my father. He was a product of his environment and circumstances. But it damn near broke me and left me with a dysfunctional ego to this day.

@Johnoftheshire

2 жыл бұрын

I also saw many examples of empathy in Jimmy. He took actions to use the elderly leader of the class action suit to settle quickly; but noticing how his selfish actions had hurt her by being ostracized by her friends, he publicly put the blame on himself. You can’t be more empathetic than that.

I think Jimmy shows empathy, compassion and remorse in many situations in both BCS and BB.

Jimmy McGill is one of my favorite characters of all time, I’m so glad you made one about him. I hope you eventually do one about Joe Exotic the Tiger King. Because of the quarantine I binged the entire series yesterday and would love to see a professional’s opinion of him.

Slippin' Jimmy! Loved this character since Breaking Bad! 👍

A thumbnail of Dr. Grande smiling! Dr. Grande, I have waited to see it. 😊 Thanks for your awesome content.

OMG I love Better Call Saul! I think Jimmy’s got a good heart, but he only does what he does because that’s all he knows how to do.

@chunkyMunky329

4 жыл бұрын

I don’t agree with that. He’s not an infant. He knows what the law is and how to follow it.

@toohauteforyou

4 жыл бұрын

@@chunkyMunky329 Breaking the law doesn't make you bad, just like following the law doesn't make you good.

@chunkyMunky329

4 жыл бұрын

Strawberry Pop-Tart That’s only true in theory. In actual practice though, a lot of crimes are a violation of another human being’s rights and it does make you a bad person.

@toohauteforyou

4 жыл бұрын

@@chunkyMunky329 In most cases, yes braking the law violates someone's rights but there are cases where breaking the law is necessary and the right thing to do. Example, you see an adult chasing a child with a knife. You are armed and can't wait around for the police to show up and watch the kid get stabbed. So, you shoot the person chasing the child. That's not the lawful thing to do but it's the right thing to do.

@chunkyMunky329

4 жыл бұрын

@@toohauteforyou Actually, it is lawful to shoot the person. It is similar to self-defence so if you can prove that the child was being threatened in this way, you will not be convicted.

*Completely disagree* . To diagnose the character 'Jimmy McGill' with Anti-social Personality Disorder is the equivalent of testifying on behalf of 'Gustavo Fring' to be an upstanding citizen, a shining example of Latino integration - a _very_ *formal* interpretation of the plot, _ignoring_ contrary evidence given to _the audience_ in memorable scenes. A key flash-back scene of Jimmy's *socialization* (years after when his personality was formed) was his dad working the register, constantly being manipulated by actual 'conmen'. If I recall correctly, not once does the show portray Jimmy's character _on-screen_ taking advantage of vulnerable individuals - it's _de facto_ the complete opposite e.g. when he defends the elderly at the Sandpiper Crossing retirement home from being overcharged. He also is caring of his brother Chuck when the latter develops delusions of 'electromagnetic sensitivity' - even when realizing that Chuck is secretly obstructing his career (out of resentment over their mother's favouritism for the younger Jimmy as it is shown to the audience, but remains obscure to Jimmy). The reason that Jimmy doesn't have a proper office e.g. is that his preferred partner, _'petty bourgeois'_ 'Kimmy Wexler', is depicted as conflicted between her loyalty to the 'Sheriff of Nottingham', to use a reference to folktale, and the petty crimes of her 'Robin Hood'. While the show becomes somewhat ambigous in season 4 in it's characterization of their relationship - her periodical 'voice of reason' appears to come from nowhere (e.g. after Jimmy manipulated the board of restoring his licence when any sincere approach was rejected due to the _pettiness_ of the board members) while she seems to deeply agree with Jimmy's interpretation of *liberal society* as a _facade of formality_ , veiling a 'rotting' social stratification. An anti-social personality wouldn't have a _long standing relationship_ , sharing an appartment (e.g. the 'morning toilet' scenes), with a well established person like Mrs. Wexler (while an organized _psychopath_ could). Jimmy's scams are also far from _poorly planned_ so much so that even observant Mrs. Wexler can't see through them - as depicted in season 5 when she cries out in desperation either for separation or _marriage_ (that is becoming 'partners in crime')... Jimmy isn't irritable or agressive - again watch his behaviour at home towards his partner - he's under pressure: from his brother, his professional role in society and an increasing *anomie* within society (the morals of the leading class appears to be *hazardous* e.g. in regard to treatment of the elderly). When Jimmy vandalizes the car of 'Howard Hamlin', the *bourgeois* lawyer who agreed to 'Chuck' to cut out Jimmy from litigation and later turns 'spiritual' after Chuck's suicide, asking Jimmy back into the partnership, the audience is not given a hint that Jimmy harbours any more malignant motivations than Kim Wexler who berated Howard in an outburst. There is no evidence for a 'lack of remorse' either. If Chuck would have opened up to him on their relationship to their mother, instead of *stigmatizing* Jimmy as a hardened criminal, the plausible scene would have been a reconciliation and a step towards a 'happy end'. It is arguably the *fixation on formality* that drives Chuck into suicide as he can't accept the idea that 'the law' is so imperfect that _incentivizes_ *corruption* . In summary the crimes of Jimmy McGill are at worst _irrelevant_ as damages are _hypothetical_ (exchanging an obsure collector's item in the property of long standing ignorants) at best they are _successful_ in _'making things right by adding one wrong to another'_ (e.g. as in the case of the Mesa Verda bank compensating a native American photographer for their company logo and granting a 'nail house' dignity when expanding operations for another potentially fraudulent banking scheme like the *2008 Subprime Mortage* scandal that triggered a _global economic crisis_ ). Jimmy ain't perfect, but as a fictional character he personifies the audience's and arguably some writer's last hope on humanity in our times.

@alonedownthere47

4 жыл бұрын

it seems to me that the lawyer jimmy wants to be is the best lawyer you can get. he sees how corrupt the world is. he's not any worse than any elite pedophile's lawyer. the higher up you climb, the more morally ambiguous you get. maybe he sees the people at HHM and davis & main as hypocrites for that reason

Ive met a lawyer like that. So savvy he finishes your sentences for you. He knows exactly what your problem is and just by looking at you can tell if your case is worth taking.

@johnp.smithasimpleman7281

4 жыл бұрын

Better call him!

Thank you for doing this analysis - not only was it fun but it opened up for me more insight on my own circumstances as I really can relate to Kim. I think Kim is confused into perceiving Jimmy as a victim of his own kindness, because she doesn’t recognize so far that he has a lack of empathy that allows him to act in ways that ultimately hurt those around him. She relates to the way Jimmy began as a “nobody” much like she did arriving from some unknown town in the Midwest. She watched how he pulled himself up from the mailroom by his bootstraps to rise to the rank of Attorney, much the same way she had risen through the ranks to become an attorney, so Kim shares and understands Jimmy’s need to be recognized and respected for this. But she still doesn’t understand how much Jimmy is willing to sacrifice for that recognition. As Chuck continues to tragically deny his own brother this recognition, Jimmy appears as a victim with a big heart who just needs to be loved back. Everybody but Chuck has a soft spot for poor nice Jimmy. I think it’s this perception of Jimmy as a victim that becomes for Kim the real pull toward Jimmy so that even when he begins to revert back to his impulsive and unethical tactics for getting what he wants, Kim ultimately absorbs the shock and disappointment, then just becomes that much more steadfast in protecting Jimmy in spite of the pain it causes her because she knows she can give him the love he’s been so denied and clearly deserves. ironically though, it’s Kim who slowly becomes the victim as bit by bit she slowly gets taken in by the consequences of Jimmy’s inability to override his chronic impulse to deceive and get what he wants.

Slippin' Jimmy is the personification of it's easier to ask for forgiveness than it is for permission.

As someone that is endlessly fascinated by psychology, I've struck gold by finding your channel. You have no idea how many times you have made me smile, laugh and just generally be happy after listening to one of your analysis. Greetings from MN!

After what we've seen in season 5 so far, you should do the same mental health analysis of Kim Wexler. Her evolution (or devolution) throughout the show is really intriguing.

Love the fictional character mental health analysis, it gives plenty of insight on real problems in society and makes for good parallelisms with real life. I'd like to see many more. Always appretiate your work. Hope you're hanging on there in the US with all of this we're living through. Best wishes!!

OMG yes! I'm so excited for this video! You should do more of these of fictional characters and make it a playlist! Your analysis is so measured and informed, which is how I love my scifi/proforma/projection/alternate history, that sort of thing - with as much rigor as possible, guided by principles. Jimmy McGill on that show is portrayed largely through silence and non-verbal style of directing, and I can't always tell what facial expressions or emotions are trying to be conveyed, as I generate so many possibilities. So I feel like I miss out on a ton of subtext in such style of shows and literature. This is great!

Awesome video, Doc! I didn't think BCS would be any good, but it is excellent in its own way.

No no he legally changed his name to Saul Goodman.

@NW-sm8xq

4 жыл бұрын

It's a DBA (doing business as). Unless he changes his name later.

Beware! Its easy to be confused by someone like this! Kindness CAN coexist with lack of empathy. I know (now) because my ex and now our daughter, both have this disorder. They’re so pure of heart - just like Slippin’ Jimmy - not criminals or con artists - but people seem really drawn to them even though they continually manage to hurt themselves and those close to them all because of their pattern of sabotaging everything in their path. They’re like 2 black holes. They’re very intelligent with tremendous potential for success, but you can throw every opportunity at them and each time they’ll fail themselves and those close to them over and over. And it’s all because of Their extreme impulsiveness and insistence that their way is better so they steer the course differently than anybody else and despite warnings of negative consequences their obstinance ultimately leads to failure. They can’t be counted on by loved ones and ultimately this leads to constant disappointments and chaos. When they’re told how much they’ve hurt someone, they both can be genuinely sad and remorseful - for the moment - but this empathy only comes after the fact. It wasn’t there when it could have made a difference making them indifferent to all the prior warnings of consequences and harm. Then they’ll just do it again. Just like nothing ever happened and the nightmare continues.

Jimmy seemed really angry at his father. The whole thing in the store with Dad giving away money and groceries to those criminals, Christ-like, could young Jimmy have felt frightened and angry that his father could not or would not protect his family, instead giving those who would hurt them help?

@bkreut

4 жыл бұрын

I think it's mostly an ego thing. As a young kid, he was completely humiliated by being the child of a father who was a sheep / loser (in Jimmy's eyes). The way that made him feel better is taking the people who conned his father's side and also steal from his father. In this way he felt he wasn't the helpless kid to a loser but he was a smart kid who used an opportunity to gain something.

@petersmith1143

3 жыл бұрын

Jimmy was just a bad apple. That's why he resented kindness and empathy from his early childhood seeing it as weakness. Sure, people took advantage of his dad, but Jimmy decided to do that as well. He chose the dark side way to early in age, which is why Chuck never trusted him. Even his friend Marco was shocked by Jimmy's callousness and cynicism when Jimmy said his parents were suckers for not breaking the law and selling alcohol to underage kids, which would make them rich and save their store from going bankrupt. I remember that scene very well. Marco was like what the hell man, how can you say that your parents were good people.

@firstwavenegativity6379

2 жыл бұрын

@@petersmith1143 I think it's kind of understandable why Jimmy would view it that way. If your only example of "kindness" from an early age is getting taken advantage of, it's not illogical you'd see it as stupid. Also, Chuck clearly resented Jimmy because Jimmy was just more liked, his mother liked him more (which Chuck was clearly hurt by) and I imagine Jimmy was just better at getting along with people because he was more charismatic. I think Chuck resented the fact that Jimmy had something he could never have, despite following all the "rules"

@petersmith1143

2 жыл бұрын

@@firstwavenegativity6379 Jimmy was a conman which is what Chuck resented.

@firstwavenegativity6379

2 жыл бұрын

@@petersmith1143 Chuck obviously didn't like that he was a conman, but that's not what he resented, he resented that he was successful despite it. Remember that whole scene where Jimmy meets Chuck's wife and manages to make her laugh more than Chuck ever did? That "charm" was something Chuck hated, despite having made all the "right choices" in life, Jimmy still had that something which Chuck could never have. The same thing that made their mother like Jimmy more

Oh my gosh I just saw the heading for this video- “It’s all good, man.”😂😂😂😂 Dr. Grande you are just the best!!👌🏼

More like a devolution. The Saul of Breaking Bad is like Slipping Jimmy but ten times worse: gone from a small-time scammer to working for the cartel and happily seeking out a drug manufacturer (Walter White) to get involved in his business. He's almost completely amoral, and has no concerns over any potential collateral damage.

@johnp.smithasimpleman7281

4 жыл бұрын

And he doesn’t care who dies

Remember how hard he worked to get Huel off the hook. The cell phone business was masterful. If I was in trouble I'd want Jimmy as my lawyer.

That’s such a good analysis of Jimmy! I watched the show but I admit Jimmy’s character was quite frustrating to witness. It gives a sense of how hard it is to change personality. Now I will watch Breaking Bad😉 Thank you Dr. Grande for this thoughtful analysis, it was spot on:)👌🏼

@freedomlover622

4 жыл бұрын

May I watch BrBa with you? I love watching it through others' eyes for the first time.

@hhoward14

4 жыл бұрын

"Breaking bad" is brilliant, if you can take it! Try not to watch more than three episodes in a day, in order that you can do the drama full justice. I watched it through in that way, and the first thing I did, when I had seen all sixty odd episodes: was to watch it all through again! I have encouraged some highly sceptical people to take the ride...

Saul Goodman is the best lawyer I have ever known. He always guarantees positive outcome for his clients. I wish all lawyers were like this 😀.

Ahaha this made me remember another 'telling' statement made by my ex, "if people leave their shit out or something unlocked, then its their own fault for being careless that it gets stolen" 😂 I can't believe he tried to convince me of that. *Edit - this is what he used as a justification for stealing from people. Also, I once told him during an argument, "it just feels like you see everyone in your life as a means to an end, like, you are always wondering what you can get from someone, it feels manipulative & feel used by you," and his response was, "I don't _use_ people, I'm an _opportunist"_ hahah.

@kurpalm0n966

4 жыл бұрын

Brit Ann what was so 'telling' in this statement by your ex exactly? That he had common sense in him, while you obviously do not? Have you got no idea what kind of a world we're living in? Also, you should perhaps realize that socializing is always business in a sense. If you sugar-coat social transactions with all sorts of nonsense like cheesy compliments, fake smiles and empathy, it still doesn't make you any better person. Truth is, people WANT things from each other, no matter what. Manipulation, you say? Just the natural order of things, I say.

@gcooper642

4 жыл бұрын

@@kurpalm0n966 wow. You're a bit of a sociopath. What BritAnn saw was a guy would was so willing to use others that he would use her too. There are many good people out there who won't use you. She deserves better. We all do. I'm very sorry that you haven't experienced that and have such an ugly world view.

@britann9539

4 жыл бұрын

@@kurpalm0n966 im not ignorant to social exchange theory dude. Im not niave about that, trust ne. But theres a difference between someone who sees those in their life as opportunities to gain things only and those with mutual respect and care for others

@britann9539

4 жыл бұрын

Also, i didn't mention that the statement he made about people leaving their shit unlocked was his justification for stealing from people/car hopping. I hope that changes the context a bit.

Couldn't agree more; both "Breaking Bad" and "Better Call Saul" are riveting. Thank you for compare/contrast of the character progression/non-progression. Last night AMC had "Talking Saul" re: two final episodes (Season 6) - (8/8/2022) with the writer& director and Odenkirk & Seahorn. Odenkirk answered a viewer question about the character and said that the character just cannot restrain himself. To me, when Jimmy "fooled" the Licensing Board, even though he mocked them for believing his "act" - (perhaps this is the skill of actor Odenkirk) - it did not feel that his laughing at them (to the shock of the character Kimberly Wexler/Rhea Seahorn) was really his true feeling. In other words, he says they "fell" for it - but it also felt like Jimmy, who had been betrayed by his brother (and badly betrayed unbeknownst to Jimmy when their mother called out to Jimmy on her death bed and Chuck does not tell Jimmy about this) is an answer to the constant betrayal of his life - especially perpetrated by his brother. He is SO smart, a talented and quick thinker, but cannot reach his potential and succeed. That event in the hospital also shows how vituperative Chuck's attitude was towards Jimmy - a jealous sibling. Chuck - by contrast - is a real genius and successful - but not as beloved - due in part to his arrogance and unwillingness to ever appear vulnerable. Two sides of a coin, eh?

Gah! Dr. Grande you're so freakin' awesome for making this video!

This is excellent use of pop culture to highlight a serious mental health problem.

This is a fascinating case for Jimmy's mental health, but from a perspective of narrative analysis, I have to wonder whether this reading flattens the artistic intentions of the show. Not to say that any of it is strictly incorrect or can't harmonize with the writers' intentions, but it does seem to approach his character with the assumption that he's been consistently dysfunctional and objectively misguided from the start. I always saw Jimmy--at least for the first couple seasons of the show--as having a pretty consistent moral compass, just an unconventional one. There are times when he acts very, very selflessly and courageously for the sake of others. GRANTED, he also acts very badly at times. Still, I think the intention was that the viewer--like Kim--would likely empathize and ultimately root for his chaotic sense of justice. Jimmy is clearly bitter and distrustful and stuck in his ways, but I don't think he's a conventional antihero like Walter White, either. I see Chuck's death as a major turning point, where Jimmy disconnects from his conscience because he can't face the guilt of what he's responsible for. This is the point where he "becomes the mask" so to speak, embracing all the artiface and superficiality of his conman persona and losing touch with his convictions. None of this contradicts the idea that he's antisocial or a narcissist as far as I know, but to say that he "doesn't change" or to suggest that Chuck's assessment of Jimmy is correct, without regard for how and why he changes over the course of the show, strikes me as a bit unfair to the highly-nuanced source material.

Great video please do one on Kim and Jimmy's relationship!!!

I disagree quite strongly with a lot of this, or at least I feel that the picture should be far more nuanced. He has a strong moral compass, just a very unconventional one. He goes out of his way for helping those he loves, but the means justifies the end for him and he has little regard for the law or other norms. He also clearly shows remorse when he is confronted with the consequences of his actions and tries to do everything to make it right, again, in his own unconventional way. When he hurts someone, it's not that he doesn't care, it's that he doesn't see the consequences. He has a good heart but a lack of insight and long-term thinking. That I do agree with.

@ivankaramasov

4 жыл бұрын

I agree. I'd say his brother is a significantly less sympathetic character. Jimmy is impulsive and often dishonest, but he has a lot of empathy too.

I didn't knew that you like Better Call Saul, what an amazing video!! Thanks! This show has a lot of psychology factors.

not looking out for the wellfair of others, he did risk his own life saving the twins out in the desert from Tuco in the s1 e 2, negotiated a death sentence to a broken bone, he did not have to do that because he was already free att that point but did it anyways.

Great video. Unfortunate that it came right before the latest episode, where we can start to see a significant shift with McGill becoming Saul Goodman. The "arrangement" with Kim, his "situation" with Lalo and the scene at the end with Howard were all major for his character.

I don’t think Better Call Saul is about how “people don’t change,” something I don’t buy at all based on a lot of personal experiences and things I’ve witnessed. People very often change their lives, for the better and for the worse. In Jimmy McGill’s case, I’d be willing to bet he would indeed have managed to remain on the straight & narrow, which he really did try to do, if Chuck had truly believed in him and given him that chance, if he truly had unconditional love for his brother. That’s truly all Jimmy was ever seeking, the real love of his brother. I’m an example of someone who went the other way, who had SO MANY issues (many of them health-related) that took a long time to sort through. I wasn’t a con artist or thief, but did break the law as a young person and did a lot of things I’m not proud of. I was a total screw up. It was _because_ of the unconditional love & support of my family that I had the strength to sort through my issues, to keep going and get my life on track. It took until I was around 32 to finally get on the right track, but am doing very well today at nearly 40. I was able to go from losing everything due to organ failure and mental illness and becoming homeless to now making very good money and buying my first house, a far cry from where I was at 32. They never excused my behavior or let me get away with it, but always made it clear they loved me and supported my getting better. Even after multiple suicide attempts when I was younger, they never stopped supporting me. I see so much in this show that could be a story of what could happen without my parents and with a brother who wasn’t supportive, if I’d been a man, and if I was dealing with a different set of problems. People change all the time. We just don’t always know how to solve our issues or what they even are. We can’t always find the strength on our own and need that support system. I think those that fail to ever figure it out are more often those without that unconditional love.

I contend that Walter White was always a psychopath. That's why he got kicked out from the research group. It's why he had no rapport with his students and why his birthday breakfast was so awkward. He was never really pro social, he was just pretending to be. He finally drops the mask when he shaves his head and goes by Heisenberg. That was his true self, that was always his true self, he just stopped pretending. Breaking Bad was about how psychopaths hide among us, in hiding in plain sight, just like Walter White. It behooves us to learn how to recognize psychopaths that are hiding among us.

@mgal6234

4 жыл бұрын

But...he did all he did because of his love and devotion to his kids and to Skylar...would a sociopath or psychopath do that? Plus he saved Jessie from that heroin addicted girlfriend and got him into rehab, PLUS he showed great remorse over the small child on a bike that got killed by that psycho blonde dude. Walter was just a normal, fallible human, placed in a horrible situation IMO.

@adamhill3309

4 жыл бұрын

I don't know, he was a great guy at the beginninig he would care others much more than himself, but life hit him hard and he was weak for it. After, he suddenly became narcissistic and sociopath. Remember psychopathy are born, but sociopaths are made

@cillyhoney1892

4 жыл бұрын

@@mgal6234 Emmm, I wouldn't call watching a woman overdose and doing nothing to stop her from dying saving Jessie. He did that for very selfish reasons. He also endangered his own infant daughter to manipulate Skylar. Psychopaths are capable of "loving" a few people. Usually their immediate family. But it's their idea of love. They tend to be overly controlling. WW showed his true face when he lost all patience with Skylar and told her to obey him or else. That's not real love. That's ownership. Remember, WW placed himself in that horrible place. He had chances to get out and he kept going back to it. He was wearing a mask pretending to be prosocial, he was always Heisenberg deep down inside. We are really who we are when we are stressed. That's why the SEALS do Hell Week, to find out who you really are.

@justlookattheflowers4239

4 жыл бұрын

@@mgal6234 I question that , was it love that made him do it or was it his ego.. and dont forget he almost killed the other child with the Ricin.

@cillyhoney1892

4 жыл бұрын

@Deanna Marie It was his idea of love, it wasn't true love. He manipulated Skylar and endangered his own infant daughter to manipulate her. He wanted a family so he wouldn't be alone, no because he loved them. He was secretly disappointed that his son was disabled. That came out in the end. He was pretending to be prosocial. He's an example of how normal people can be married to horrible psychopaths and never know it. It's because they wear a mask and pretend to be who they think society wants to see. It helps them to get around. Nobody suspected WW, he was a devoted family man. He could never be a drug making king pin. It was the prefect camouflage. Until he messed up, like they always seem to do. Their egos get the best of them.

Interesting. But I don't think it's correct that Jimmy lacks remorse and sympathy tho. He does have those. It's just .. They sort off ventures into the back.

Another interesting video, as always. Have you considered doing an April fools video? Maybe something like doing an analysis of Charles Manson and try to convince everyone he's an angel, or at least a 'good guy,' being your normal serious self the whole time of course.

This video is great, but actually Kim’s sad story was true!

Quality as always, didn’t even know I wanted a video on this but man, this is quite illuminating XD

Great analysis! Thank you for this. I would be very interested in seeing you do an analysis on the character Lalo Salamanca from Better Call Saul as well someday.

I do agree on Jimmy having aspd, although (it might sound contradictive) but I don't agree on him really having a lack of empathy. He didn't con just anyone, but seemed to pick jerks who he deemed deserved it. Also, I know that aspd people manipulate for their own pleasure/gain, but it's hard not to when you're the underdog, and I think Jimmy was very used to but also very tired of being the underdog. Just my two cents. Oh and also, he had ENOURMOUS amounts of empathy for Chuck and even showed signs of remorse for things he didn't really do, when it came to Chuck.

Not law abiding doesn’t necessarily mean anti social , also I think Kim May have been telling the truth about her childhood, excellent video though! Thanks for backing everything with DSM diagnoses

Everything you said about Jimmy is true but the reason this show is so good is that they show the other side to him. Like when he screwed up the elderly lady's life, he felt bad about it and went to extreme measures to fix it, making himself look like villain on purpose with the whole hot mic scheme. He by no means had to do that. There's good in him. But its like Chuck said, why be sorry about the bad things you do when you know you'll do them again and again.

Thankyou Doctor. After your great analysis, what to watch next has been sorted. From Rotorua, New Zealand.

this seems like a really intentionally negative spin on everything about jimmy mcgill

The only time Jimmy/Saul ever got to being violent was when he threatened those kids that robbed him.

Your insightful intelligence amazes me. I am so very pleased I have found you .

Really the Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul and El Camino shows are good lessons on the many flavors of psychopathic behavior. The shows are full of them. Jessie Pinkman is a great example of a temporary secondary psychopath. He becomes one to survive the situation he finds himself in.

@weldsj8847

4 жыл бұрын

Jessie is not a psychopath. He is full of compassion and empathy for others. So, when he has to engage in psychopathic behavior (murdering Gill as he metaphorically has a gun to his own head), the toll it takes on him is devastating.

@cillyhoney1892

4 жыл бұрын

@@weldsj8847 Yes, Jessie is a normal person who because of his situation has to behave like a psychopath. This is the condition I am referring to as a temporary secondary psychopath. It takes an enormous psychological toll. The terms primary psychopath refers to a person who is a born psychopath. Such people cannot change. A secondary psychopath is a normal person who because of their situation will adopt psychopathic behavior and sometimes beliefs. They usually wind up having nervous breakdowns at some point because of the cognitive dissonance. The Sociopath Next Door is a good book. It talks about such things in great detail.

@cillyhoney1892

4 жыл бұрын

@@weldsj8847 Basically, secondary psychopathy is why normal people do evil things.

someone i know relates so much with jimmy - the way he impacted relationships of other people, - constant impulsive lying for his own benefit - doing "good deeds" once in a while just to make himself feel better. - the inability to stay away from criminal activities - and he is able to convince people that he is innocent before his teenage years does this mean he has some form of APD?

Awe, Dr. Grande, it's not at all your fault. You can only help people if they are willing to let you. Plus people like that, they sometimes enjoy being that way. Their symptoms are often not distressing for them, like they are for someone with depression and anxiety.

I've been diagnosed as ASPD and I think a lot of people have misperceptions about it, they see Jimmy apologizing to Kim, taking care of Chuck, being apologetic towards him, and they think as a result that he has empathy; in my opinion Jimmy isn't really apologizing to other people or helping them *for* them and that's the big difference between him and people without ASPD, he's doing it for himself, he hates the consequences and he is (knowingly or not) trying to play people's emotions in order to escape the consequences

I think you are one of the only people that has painted chuck in a positive light. I find it interesting that almost everyone looks at chuck as a self righteous, arrogant, monster, and yet it is easy to see how one would have that view if you had a brother who constantly hustled and manipulated others. If you had built a large firm would you want to promote someone that you knew had a history of narcistic manipulation? I do think chuck did cross the line when he told his brother that he never cared about him, and it seems that his death pushed Jimmy over the line. I was surprised by how much I liked Howards character. It is pretty amazing that he forgave Jimmy for throwing bowling balls at his car. He still forgave him. And he walked away. He showed empathy for Jimmy even when jimmy was terrible. In a way it seems Howard was propelled to become a better man with Chucks death, where Jimmy used it to fully embrace his "saul" persona.

Great video. I enjoy the analysis of popular characters. Keep up the great work, Dr. Grande!

It would be great if you could analyze, Dexter next.

This is Fascinating. I've been studying Sociopathy and other mental conditions and your assessment makes me feel like a lazy, stupid dud. I pegged Jimmy as a sad sap who's just trying to get it all together. He seems to really care about Kim. I like to say all sociopaths and psychopaths are different like all people are different. I need to study more case reviews.

It was actually confirmed in a podcast with the writers that Kim was not lying to the old man about her rough upbringing. In fact it is the reason that she didn't go to school for her law degree until later in her life.

@anthonylombardo2869

4 жыл бұрын

Love these videos though, keep em coming!

Interesting and informed analysis. I think another factor that's affecting Jimmy McGill's mental health is identity crisis. He has three different identities over the course of the show, and almost a fourth, which seems to indicate that he doesn't know who he is and has been struggling all his life to find out. I don't know how identity crisis relates to narcissism and antisocial behavior, or even if it does, but it was one of the first underlying themes of BCS that I noticed. When Jimmy is speaking to the Bar at the end of season 4 to get his license back and he talks about Chuck, it's as if everything he says about Chuck is the opposite of what Jimmy is, including that Chuck was someone who knew who he was and what he wanted out of life.

Although a couple of videos like this exist, I would love to see your analysis of Tony Soprano. No other channels that analyze real people and fictional characters have nearly the same level of quality that you provide. Keep up the good work!

@flufftronable

4 жыл бұрын

Yes I would love to hear an analysis of Tony

The writers did confirm that Jimmy is not a sociopath

@bernhardhofer3798

2 жыл бұрын

Yes maybe you are right .. Hamlin said that both are sociopaths , but the real sociopath was Lalo .. Saul is a narcissist

"...You know why I didn't take the job? Because it's too SMALL. I don't care about it. It's nothing to me. It's a bacterium. I travel in worlds you can't even imagine. You can't conceive of what I'm capable of. I'm so far beyond you. I'm like a god in human clothing. Lightning bolts shoot from my fingertips!"

Jimmy does not have antisocial personality disorder. Every character who breaks a rule or does something bad is not automatically a psychopath. He shows genuine emotion, empathy, and remorse throughout the series.

He is quite a likable character in spite of his flaws. But dealing with a person like that in real life is frustrating beyond belief.

@marcywantsto7553

4 жыл бұрын

its very sad really because underneath all the flaws, there really is a good person inside of Jimmy

I think it's a lot more complex than you make it. While some of Jimmy's actions are inexcusable, he often tries to deliver justice through illegality, while supposedly respectable lawyers take advantage of their subordinates or gullible clients in order to make more money for themselves at the expense of others and always within the law. Chuck never really gives Jimmy the benefit of the doubt, never expects him to really change and even seems annoyed when Jimmy does prove himself and makes progress. Of course Chuck has reason to mistrust Jimmy, but there is also sibling rivalry and resentment involved. As for Kim not getting the homeowner to vacate, it's actually not Kim failing to be a Jimmy-like con artist, it's Kim refusing to side with big corporations putting pressure on the average man. So Jimmy circumvents the law, and Kim fails to do her "legal" job, but almost entirely with their hearts in the right place. And that's the richness and the beauty of Better Call Saul as opposed to simplistic manichaean mentalities.

Great job, Dr. Grande! This was well summarized and articulated.

Analysis like this shows why writers like Vince Gilligan, Mark Twaine, and Shakespeare are needed. Jimmy is a fictional hero that we need because we can't actually do those things, though they need doing. So we talk about it instead.

Kim doesnt make up a sad story...in episode 6 it is seen that what she told was actually true.

@snorregranlund

2 жыл бұрын

The teaser for that episode does not confirm whether the story is true or not, what it does do is show us that Kim had a tough upbringing and make it seem highly likely that that story is indeed true given that Kim's mom was an alcoholic. I remember listening to the Better Call Saul Insider Podcast when this episode came out, and in it the writers said something along the lines of whether Kim's story is real is up to the viewers own interpritation, but i think most viewers (including myself) belive that Kim is telling the truth to mr. Acker (the show also seems to lean towards this conclution with the teaser for "Wexler v. Goodman") , and for dr. Todd Grande to so easily write her story off as a lie is an indication of either a rushed analiys or him drawing conclutions in order to fit a narative.

Oh, wonderful topic dr. Grande!

I believe its also a good example of a anti-social, trying to going to pro-social. Since jimmy made multiple attempts to do so. Which include becoming lawyer.

Yay! Thank you Dr. Grande for answering my question about Saul Goodman! 😊

His aggression toward Howard seemed clear. Aggression doesn't mean punching in the face.

Such a magnificent character. I think these characters are magnificent because not only that they are performed by a very good actor but also those actors have these Antisocial qualitifications in real life to some degree, like Bob Odenkirk and Bryan Cranston. Otherwise, they couldn't perform the role that good.

@BeattapeFactory

4 жыл бұрын

doubt it

Thanks, I really enjoyed this! I do think Jimmy felt remorse about damaging the friendships of the women at thr senior center and he ended up sacrificing to make it right, both in terms of financial gain and ego/how the women saw him. I think this nuance makes this a great show, and I would love your thoughts on when people woth this recurring personality problem act on ways like this that are self- sacrificing. I also think there is so much more going on between Jinmy and Chuck, considering the empathy Jimmy had fir Chuck at tumes, and the lengths Chuck went through to bring him down. I can't help but wonder if Chuck had been more supportive, would Jimmy have been able to grow more, or was his relapse inevitable?

I think Jimmy is a lot more complex and interesting character than just a shallow and empty sociopath. I think the show is a lot more about how people cope in a system (like our legal system) where the little guy doesn't stand a chance and corporate interests have all the advantages. Sure Jimmy does crazy things to help his clients, (and Kim), but he does not do it out of greed or pure self interest and never really makes any money. (Unlike Howard who, in my view, is the classic venal lawyer figure.) His brother is also totally without empathy and acts purely our of ego and self interest and never gives Jimmy a chance. Kim always ends up choosing Jimmy's path because she also wants to help her pro bono clients, but gets frustrated by the system. So he's more of a Robin Hood figure, has a lot more passion and human qualities than you give him credit for. I've dealt with real narcissists and sociopaths in my line of work, and to me they are just empty shells of humans who simply have no ability to care about anybody. Jimmy is much more appealing in his crazy way.

It's more machevillinism for Saul, also. He recognizes that people will be hrt, and might care (a little), but then convinces himself that the ends justify the means.

Big fan of both Saul and Breaking Bad. Odenkirk is a great actor. His gf/colleague doesn't seem to have his best interests at heart, she scolds him like a wayward child and because she sometimes participates in his cons, she is definitely an enabler. In one scene from his childhood (that took place in his fathers store) it showed a conman getting money from his father with a simple sob story. Jimmy (who clearly saw through the scam) tried to talk his father out of it, but because of his father's need to help he gave the man the money. Jimmy was clearly disappointed and frustrated. Out of the fathers hearing the conman made a rather snarky remark to Jimmy about his father (don't remember his exact words) how bad will always win over good. I think that was the profound moment of change in him.

Now that the show has come to a close, could you analyze Kim Wexler? WARNING: SPOILERS! (Scroll Down) She was mostly a straight arrow, but couldn't help being attracted to the dark side when she was around Jimmy. Shortly after she finally went "all-in," trying to ruin Howard Hamlin's reputation, Howard was murdered because Jimmy's and Kim's actions led him to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. Unlike Jimmy, Kim couldn't compartmentalize; she couldn't sweep Howard's murder under the rug. She divorced Jimmy and forced herself into a life of purgatory, eventually confessing everything to Howard's widow. What was going on with Kim for the duration of the show, beginning to end?