The Advocate - Issue 27 - May 15, 2020

Volume 54, Issue 27 May 15, 2020 advocate-online.net

FOR THE STUDENTS BY THE STUDENTS

Moving forward with Covid-19 PAGE 2

Preparing for finals PAGE 6

Better Call Saul review PAGE 7

THE LEGAL CASE STRAIGHT FROM A COMIC BOOK

PAGE 3

Venture Magazine feature

PAGE 4-5

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2019 FIRST PLACE

General Excellence

Pacific Northwest Assoc. of Journalism Educators

EDITORIAL | OPINION

A D V O C AT E-O N L I N E.N E T

STIMULUS CHECKS AND BALANCES Editorial

The Advocate

T

he U.S. House and Senate have been in talks to pass another economic stimulus package to deal with COVID-19, and it includes another round of $1,200 payments to those that are eligible.

“Eligible” is a key term because the same process from the last round of stimulus checks will most likely be used again. College students, who are one of the populations most vulnerable to the current economic meltdown, may not get any checks this time, either.

The House is also looking to tone down the student loan forgiveness component that progressives were proposing: Instead of $30,000 forgiveness, it’s down to $10,000 in the most recent plan being considered.

Many college students are old enough to be facing the hardships of layoffs and furloughs from their jobs, but also young enough to be claimed as a tax dependent by their parents. And so, if you or your parents have not filed for taxes this year and you were claimed as a dependent the previous tax year, you won’t get a stimulus check until both you and your parents file, independently, for the current year (2019 tax return).

It is pretty frustrating that our government believes that

means testing for these stimulus checks is better than the UBI (Universal Basic Income) ideas that Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang was running on, just months ago.

His proposal, which I can see implemented in the very near future in some fashion, would be a no-strings-attached idea: Everyone gets $1,000 regardless of their age or income.

Yang’s suggestion predicted the need to stimulate the economy through people (yes, actual people), which makes sense – you give people money, they are going to spend it, in countless ways.

It’s especially important now, since the economy is walking the fine line between any decent kind of recovery, or major disaster.

Government bailouts to corporations, however, are not a preferable option. As we learned in the last Great Recession, when you give money to corporations – whether it’s through government stimulus aid, or taxpayer bailouts – it sets a precedent that makes the corporations a little greedier yet.

When we make corporate bailouts a priority, and they’re the ones getting the most in the time of a pandemic, it makes our country a corporatocracy and we pretty much implement corporate socialism.

The new stimulus bill under consideration isn’t expected to pass the Senate, due to a change in the legislation that would give $1,200 to each dependent per household – as well as tying the payments to taxpayer identification numbers,

and not Social Security numbers. These changes would have been a nice improvement from the previous stimulus package approved by Congress, but House and Senate Republicans say the bill is dead on arrival if they are made.

It is sad that many small businesses in Portland, and nationwide, are going to close up shop for good, because the amount of money that they need for survival is, instead, being redistributed to corporations that can afford the pandemic. Running a business is very expensive and comes with risks, but when the risks are higher for small business owners and not the giants making billions of dollars – it begs the question, who is the government is actually helping?

“IT’S ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT NOW, SINCE THE ECONOMY IS WALKING THE FINE LINE BETWEEN ANY DECENT KIND OF RECOVERY OR MAJOR DISASTER” Implementing a well-done UBI system would certainly help the U.S. social safety net in the same way that Social Security helped Americans during The Great Depression, and those are the kind of precedents we need to set.

A MOMENT OF REFLECTION AND EMPATHY

Omar Carrillo The Advocate

At a time in which human suffering can no longer be offhandedly ignored, it is no wonder why so many of us have already begun to feel the cruel pull of despair so heavily.

Hundreds of thousands of people have died terrifying deaths, succumbing to an enemy we can always observe but never truly understand. An organism with the ability to tear us apart from the inside, use us as a breeding ground, then burst out in search of a new host, is one inherently incomprehensible to the human mind.

In the relatively short amount of time since quarantine initiatives became mandatory for us, we have grown tired of wiping down surfaces in vain. We long for the time when we could leave our homes without coarse masks, feeling like restraints upon our face. We regretfully remember that

we took for granted the days where we did not dread so much reading the news. As privileged as we are to live in a first-world country with governance decent enough to at least ensure some amount of stability, we still feel our psyches being pulled toward to panic.

Little by little, whether or not we may feel it, our minds struggle to endure the everyday toll, now completely infected by grief.

By no means would this be the first time an entire generation would have to suffer through such a mental fallout: Individuals born around the 1930s famously continue to excessively practice shopping and/or savings habits developed from their childhood

for the students by the students Editor-in-Chief Chloe Collins

Graphic Design Editor Eli Rankin

Associate Editor Omar Saradi

Copy Editor Chris Barney

Arts & Entertainment Editors Kurt Larson Eli Rankin

Broadcast Producer

Opinion Editor Omar Saradi

Broadcast Tech Director

News Editor Daniella Young PA G E 2

Naethaniel Lile Gage Linhares

Broadcast A.D.

Wensdai Pearson

Broadcast Hosts Robert Frank Thomas Silk Kurt Larson Mazey Copeland Photo Team Bethy Fallgren Ad Manager Parrish Chang

Staff Writers Brad Le Daniella Young Kel Buell Laura J Clement Omar Carrillo Ash Espinoza

necessity for frugality.

Thus, even after the pandemic has been relatively forgotten and the shock having worn off years from now, we might still shudder upon hearing a loud cough. Or look around nervously for the source of a threatening sneeze.

The unfortunate reality of a world now so interconnected by media is the fact that any one individual likely has already been exposed to at least dozens of video-, audio-, and photographcaptured individuals fighting for their lives. Before, moments so painfully personal were witnessed only by medical professionals and loved ones. Now, everyone is cursed with the possibility

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Social Media Manager [Position Open] Distribution Specialist Julia MacDonald Advisers Dan Ernst Howard Buck

of seeing for ourselves a fellow human who may have lived in joy and laughter pass on, in fear and immense discomfort.

Most of us are trying our best in an environment that now feels that much farther away from being truly safe. Most of us are doing what we can to ensure the best possible health for those around us.

Despite irresponsibly performed disagreements becoming more prevalent (and public) in recent weeks, our minds should still be focused on lessening or eliminating many others’ potential pain, at all costs – however unavoidable any amount of damage we sustain ourselves might just be.

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@mhccadvocate

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OPINION | NEWS

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WHY THE VOTING AGE SHOULD STAY PUT

Daniella Young The Advocate

The age that which an individual is eligible to vote is a really controversial topic. I personally believe the voting

age should stay at 18, and not go lower.

With the May 19 Oregon election coming up next week, I recently voted for the first time, and it gave me a really interesting and unique perspective for me that I had never experienced.

Growing up, I didn’t really know that much about government policies and for me, it wasn’t until my junior year of high school that I started learning about politics and beliefs in government class. Even at 19, it’s hard for me to believe that I’m at the age that can make a great impact in today’s society by voting.

I don’t think an individual under 18 should be able to vote, because the brain is still developing at this age, and many things are still being learned.

That’s a problem also because voting can make a huge difference in the lives of others. For those under 18 years – still legally a minor – this might be too young of an age to shoulder this responsibility. There already are many responsibilities in the lives of teens as they grow up, and voting might pose a sizable challenge for them if they’re given this significant responsibility.

According to the New Jersey

State Bar Foundation, “Advocates for lowering the voting age also emphasize that at 16, young people are already given many adult responsibilities, such as driving and paying taxes on their wages.” (https://njsbf.org/2020/01/16/ should-the-voting-age-belowered-again/) Although teens can handle many things, adding voting could possibly be a little too much at this age, on top of school and other activities.

Understanding public policies and proposed measures are important parts of voting. For me, using the nonpartisan voter’s

pamphlet and reading about the different factors of a candidate (such as their policies and beliefs and what their stated mission is, if elected) is key, as well as learning about the pros and cons of a certain ballot measure.

I can say that my senior year of high school and the transition to college was a significant change in my life. I felt like I was going through a big transition – and I definitely felt like voting now is also a big step and change in my life.

It’s an important change that individuals should really be ready for.

THE STORY OF BATMAN VS COMMISSIONER Brad Le

The Advocate There have always been funny court cases in history, which can be split into genres of their own.

There are cases where the Supreme Court had to argue about something controversial (or silly)… such as whether a tomato is a fruit or a vegetable in Nix V. Hedden. There are cases where the courts had to decide about something really trivial, such as in PGA Tour Inc., v. Martin (with an Oregon connection) where the Court had to, in the words of the late Justice Antonia Scalia, “[has to] decide ‘What is golf?’”

And then there are the cases that merely have funny names, as

when a prisoner tried to sue Satan, in Mayo v. Satan.

Needless to say, Batman V. Commissioner falls within the third genre of having an amusing name.

Ray L. Batman and Edith G. Batman v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, or simply, Batman V. Commissioner, dealt with the concerns of possible tax dodging by the Internal Revenue Service when Ray Batman tried to transfer a portion of his farming assets to his 14-year-old son and make him his business partner. Batman took the steps he thought would make his son a formal partner. Instead, the IRS determined the partnership to be illegitimate and therefore assessed the Batmans nearly $10,000 each

in extra income tax for 19441945 ($145,000 each by today’s standard, adjusting for inflation).

While the lawsuit was filed in 1945, the case was not heard until 1950 in the United States Tax Court. Interestingly, the court case was noticed by Supreme Court Justice Eugene Black, who gave a memorandum opinion (unofficial opinion) that supported the IRS. The senior Batman argued that there was an oral agreement between him and the IRS that would allow for the legitimate acknowledgment of his son as a partner. Losing this initial case, Batman appealed to the 5th U.S. appellate court (its jurisdiction mostly covering Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas). After listening Batman’s argument, the

three-judge panel unanimously agreed with Justice Black that the partnership was fraudulent.

Batman tried to appeal to the Supreme Court but was ultimately denied, ending the case permanently.

While the real court case of Batman V. Commissioner did not feature Bruce Wayne litigating against Commissioner Gordon from the DC Comics franchise, it ultimately remains as a famous case with an unintentionally amusing name that suggests a fictional lawsuit. It appears that DC Comics never featured a plot where Bruce Wayne sued Commissioner Gordon.

However, besides this notable occurrence, another amazing coincidence occurred during the

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Cover by:Eli Rankin On the cover: A cartoon drawing of Batman facing off in the courtroom.

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run of the 1960s television series, “Batman.” In the first season there was an episode named “Hi Diddle Riddle,” which features a lawsuit between Batman and the supervillain Riddler. While in the real-life court case, Batman was the plaintiff who litigated over tax money, Batman in the 1960s show was the defendant, being accused of false arrest.

While there is no evidence suggesting an intentional connection between Ray Batman and DC Comics, it’s still comical for many to hear the strange connection between a farmer and a vigilante.

The Advocate encourages readers to share their opinion by letters to the editor and guest columns for publication. All submissions must be typed and include the writer’s name and contact information. Contact information will not be printed unless requested. Original copies will not be returned to the author. The Advocate will not print any unsigned submission.

Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words and guest columns should not exceed 600. The decision to publish is at the discretion of the editorial board. The Advocate reserves the right to edit for style, punctuation, grammar and length. Please bring submissions to The Advocate in Room 1369, or e-mail them to advocatt@mhcc.edu. Submissions must be received by 5 p.m. Monday the week of publication to be considered for print. Opinions expressed in columns, letters to the editor or advertisements are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Advocate or MHCC.

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a life in music

Daniella Young The Advocate

Isaac Soto. Lead Guitarist.

Carl Taylor. Drums.

Graham Lampe. Bass.

how music has influenced their lives.

Music is an amazing source of therapy and happiness, and provides another language and way of communication.

Music can allow individulas to communicate in ways that sometimes can’t be expressed with words, whether it be emotions, or ideas, all can be shared through music.

One individual who has been particularly impacted by music is Danielle Davey, who works as a Director of Bands and Instructor of Music at MHCC. Davey started her journey with music at a very young age.

“Like most young kids, I was excited to choose an instrument to play in beginning band, and for me that was the clarinet. My mom, grandfather and both great grandfathers also played the clarinet, so it was in my blood. It wasn’t until my sophomore year in high school that I knew I wanted to become a band director. I became a section leader in our marching band, and soon after was promoted to Drum Major for two years,” said Davey.

Many songs provide firsthand experiences from the artists and convey the emotions they were feeling in these moments, one of my favorite parts about music. I’ve noticed that the music I listen to also tends to sometimes reflect how I’m feeling in that particular moment, She continued playing music throughout and it’s amazing to feel that college as well. connection to a specific song in that way.

“I enjoyed teaching my peers and leading the full band. I come from a long line of band As an avid listener and directors, so it seemed like a natural choice. I performer of music, I was always supported by my family and ended have also experienced its up attending the University of Oregon on a impact firsthand. I had the clarinet and music education scholarship when I opportunity to be involved graduated from high school,” she said. in voice/guitar lessons when I was younger (and I’m still “The job opening at MHCC came at a time taking guitar lessons), and where I had just finished ten years of teaching now that I’m graduated from High School and Middle School aged students. I high school I perform in couldn’t pass up the opportunity to work with the Symphonic Choir at Mt. college aged students, especially those who are Hood Community College as pursuing a career in music. I felt like I could help well, which has been super our MHCC students navigate the college path. fun and rewarding. These My husband is also a teacher at MHCC, so it experiences have shaped seemed like the perfect fit,” said Davey. who I am today. In order to better understand music as a “Music is my entire life. If I didn’t start playing human phenomenon and its clarinet when I was young, I wouldn’t have importance in our lives, I sat majored in music education, I wouldn’t have met down with several musicians my husband, I wouldn’t have made all of my best and music educators to see friends, I wouldn’t be teaching at MHCC, and I

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wouldn’t know my wonderful students! Without music my life would be very strange and empty,” she said.

She also really enjoys traveling with students for trips and concerts.

“That’s where memories are made. I hope to be able to do this with our students at MHCC in the future!”

For Graham Lampe, who played in a band and is involved in music, music has also greatly impacted his life.

“Music has impacted me in many ways in all aspects of my life. ever since i was a kid i knew it was what i wanted to pursue for the rest of my life. I always loved the creativity and freeness of it and how endless the possibilities were. It’s such a unique art form in the way that it can evoke such incredible emotions good or bad,” said Lampe.

“To be able to write words that are so wrapped up in metaphor that just reading the words, can take on a zillion different interpretations but when put to music you know exactly what it means. It’s a different world. It’s really quite incredible. No other medium I have been exposed to has come close to what music can do,” he said.

Since the first time he picked up a bass in his dad’s store, he knew he wanted to be part of a band someday.

“I remember the very moment. I remember saying ‘I’m going to write a song’ that snowballed very quickly,” said Lampe.

Cassette tape too,” he said.

school I knew I wanted to be a choir director. I found so much joy and happiness creating music “My favorite memory so far has to be an el with others. I learned discipline working on our diablo show a couple years ago at an old house music to try and perfect something for so long venue called bog house. the aunt putting on shows and getting one shot to perform it,” she said. any more unfortunately but a really great crowd. the biggest mosh pit we had ever seen at a venue that size. I had just found my dad’s old wireless “Music is a universal language that everyone cable rig so I was free to roam around and not needs in their lives. I love being silly and goofy with worried about a cable to my bass. I wasn’t singing my students, creating inside jokes and laughing the tune we were playing so I ran into the pit and at our mistakes. I also love the seriousness and while playing I was in the middle of the pit and it discipline that music demands. We take a song was insanity! absolute pure indescribable joy. So and make it a creation over time,” she said. cathartic. There’s really nothing like it,” he said.

She also remembers a special experience with students.

Breanna Ryan, Centennial Middle School Choir Director, has also been greatly impacted by music “One year at the final concert, we were throughout her life. singing ‘Remember Me’ from Coco and the 8th graders had all written a card to me of “Music is one of the greatest joys of my life. It something to remember that year, two girls got gives meaning and purpose to my existence and up on the mic and shared beautiful statements it is what I am called to do,” she said. of how much I had meant to them. As we sang the song 8th graders came up and put their “Really early on in elementary school, music messages in a decorated folder for me to keep. It was always my favorite class. I loved singing, was extremely touching and well organized. I was learning instruments then that led me to take completely shocked by their professionalism and private piano lessons. In middle and high school heart-felt messages,” said Ryan.

I was both part of my school’s band and choir program. Ultimately it led me to choose the profession I did today, being a choir teacher,” said Ryan.

“I felt music within me ever since I was little.

Music class was my favorite from day 1. In high

Although he’s not currently in a band, he was part of a group called “El Diablo.”

“We played shows all throughout high school.

The guitar player and founder of the band Isaac Soto, Carl Taylor who played drums and I started it sophomore year. I am moving to New York in the fall to go to The New School in Manhattan and hope to start something good there! I will be playing a lot of shows this summer as a solo acoustic act and playing a bunch of tunes I wrote for eldiablo and a bunch of new tunes that are on my own solo albums,” he said.

“I have a new album out called Sanctity in Solitude out on Spotify and apple music and or wherever else you get your music these days. And

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NEWS | OPINION

A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T

THE ADVOCATE WINS 2ND PLACE IN GENERAL EXCELLENCE Brad Le

The Advocate The Advocate normally travels to participate in the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association (ONPA) Collegiate Day seminar and awards ceremony each spring. This year’s version was set again at LinnBenton Community College in Albany.

Of course, the complications of COVID-19 made the May 1 roadtrip impossible. But a pandemic didn’t stop the contest, or the student newspaper making the MHCC community proud with another strong showing.

With results revealed online by the ONPA on May 4, The Advocate placed in the top three spots across 14 different categories, earning 18 staff or individual awards, total.

Included were seven firstplace awards, and second place for

General Excellence among twoyear Oregon colleges competing.

The following awards are for Advocate work published during the 2019 calendar year: Best Section: 3rd Place Best Special Selection: 3rd Place Best Headline Writing: 1st Place, Cassie Wilson Best Series: 1st Place, Cassie Wilson and Megan Phelps Best Editorial: 1st Place, Chloe Collins and Omar Saradi 3rd Place, Cassie Wilson and Megan Phelps.

Best Sports Story: 2nd Place, Melanie Roberts

Best Review: 2nd Place, Kurt Larson 3rd Place, Omar Carrillo Best Columnist: 2nd Place, Omar Saradi 3rd Place, Omar Carrillo Best Spot News Photo: 3rd Place, Fletcher Wold Best Graphic: 1st Place, Eli Rankin 3rd Place, Eli Rankin Best Cartooning: 1st Place, Eli Rankin Best House Ad: 1st Place Best Website: 1st Place General Excellence: 2nd Place Web Graphic

GET THROUGH FINALS WITH THESE TIPS Robert Frank The Advocate

Finals: The most stressful time in college life that isn’t breakups, bills, assignments, projects, work, family drama…

Okay, maybe it’s not the most stressful time, but it still sucks, nonetheless. You go to class at different time than usual, you sit in there for an hour-and-a-half while the teacher looms there, going, “You’re on your own,” and you have the impending doom of the next test, which is sure to break you and leave you to fail.

But, just like slogging through the single life, I have been through many of these scenarios and have come up with another list for your pleasure, and practical use, to get you through to the end of your Spring Term finals – if that end ever comes.

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1. Listen to Music. As our good host Kel Buell stated in one of The Advocate’s broadcast streams (twitch.tv/mhccadvocast), when you listen to music while studying and then listen again while taking the test, you may be able to retain more, when it comes down to it.

That is, until you find that one song that you have to head bop to, lose all sense of time, and before you know it, have only 5 minutes to be in class and find you have done NOTHING. 2. Get a good night’s sleep.

Sleep is necessary to live. Sleep is necessary to think. If you want to pass, you need quite a bit of the stuff in order to function.

That is, until all the nightmares come of your failing projects and all the people you are failing because to them you just can’t seem to do anything right...

AAARRGGHH!!!! Sorry, just

woke up.

3. Eat a good breakfast. This is Test Taking 101: Eating a good breakfast helps with metabolism and helps with the brain, so go to the refrigerator, get that food!

Or not, because you’re a college student and you have no money to pay for food because it all went toward tuition, or whatever fraction that wasn’t taken up by paying off student loans.

4. Arrive early on the test day.

This isn’t just a thing for tests; this is good for real life. Arriving early shows you’re prepared for whatever. At least until you realize that traffic is blocking the road and you decide to hit that snooze button one too many times. Now you’re in a rush and, oh, the final is already over…

5.

Don’t procrastinate.

Honestly? You’re a young adult in college and you’ll find anything

to distract you. It happens to everyone, even teacher – they’ll tell you.

6. Watch for clues. Every teacher has a certain style on how they handle tests and lessons.

Half of the battle is learning how the teacher teaches his or her students. But you never listened in class, due to the lack of sleep from those nightmares. So have fun trying to remember how this instructor does essay questions!

7. Set a schedule. Schedules keep you organized. They keep you on track, so you can make your goals. But, dang, that Shawn Mendes concert was good, and now you’re home from all that euphoria and you need to study for tomorrow. But it’s 10 o’clock, and you feel so good; how about an hour nap? Yeah. And now it’s 6 o’clock and you have to cram.

8. Don’t Cram. Stuffing your

brain last-minute is never a good idea. You’ll never remember the stuff, but now you’ve wasted your time with other things...

Speed run of the Anthropology textbook: Ready, and go!

Well, there you go, Saints, eight easy steps.

Who am I kidding? I’m a college student just like most of you, who are now or who have already been in college. Honestly, we are all different, and just like the case with snake oil, there is no cure-all. I never really found any of these things to work.

Whatever you do to be successful, do it, because you have your own journey. You don’t need a strict regimen to be successful.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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A SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION TO A SUCCESSFUL SERIES Kurt Larson

The Advocate Of all of the TV shows released within the last 20 years, few have reached the level of success and critical acclaim that “Breaking Bad” has. However, Baking Bad may no longer be alone in this achievement.

With “Better Call Saul” having just completed its penultimate season (Season 5), series creator Vince Gilligan continues to impress. While everyone loved the character of Saul Goodman in Breaking Bad, due to the massive success and the finality of that show’s final season, many fans felt like any attempt at a spin off series would be futile. But after five seasons of consistently incredible television, even the most hardcore Breaking Bad fans now agree that Better Call Saul is

a prime candidate for the title of greatest TV show of the decade that just ended.

Picking up immediately after the Season 4 finale, Season 5 sees Jimmy McGill embrace his Saul Goodman persona in full force, now officially reinstated as a lawyer and with his name legally changed.

H o w e v e r, in taking this new direction, his business associate a n d eventual wife, Kim, must deal with the repercussions of Jimmy’s decisions to

pursue his career as a dirty lawyer and decide what his choices will mean for their relationship going forward.

While Jimmy settles into starting his new practice, Kim deals with Mesa Verde (Bank and Trust) and Gus, Mike, Nacho, and a new fan favorite, Lalo, spend this

Web Graphic

season conspiring against each other, vying for control over the fate of the Salamanca cartel and its drug empire through the use of increasingly violent tactics... of course, with a little help from a certain criminal lawyer when the need arises.

Though not every season of Better Call Saul has met the levels of drama and deadly consequence that its parent series has, the slow pace and tireless character building of the last four seasons has finally culminated for a spectacular penultimate season. Now that Saul has the free reign to pursue his worst instincts, the stakes have never been higher and the conflict is constant.

Not only does this make for some of the series’s most intense character moments, but it means that the pace of this

season won’t let up. Additionally, Bob Odenkirk and Reah Seehorn – as Saul and Kim – put in some of their finest performances yet, along with the rest of the cast, especially Tony Dalton, who chews scenery as Lalo every time he’s on screen.

The show also continues its trend of creative and stunning cinematography, making for yet another gorgeously Web Graphic directed and executed season.

If you haven’t already seen it, and especially if you’re a fan of Breaking Bad, now is the perfect time to catch up with everyone’s favorite criminal lawyer. The twists and turns of this modern Greek tragedy will have you glued to your TV and begging for more.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

A D VO C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T

BETTER CALL SAUL REVIEW Kurt Larson

The Advocate Of all of the TV shows released within the last 20 years, few have reached the level of success and critical acclaim that “Breaking Bad” has. However, Baking Bad may no longer be alone in this achievement.

With “Better Call Saul” having just completed its penultimate season (Season 5), series creator Vince Gilligan continues to impress. While everyone loved the character of Saul Goodman in Breaking Bad, due to the massive success and the finality of that show’s final season, many fans felt like any attempt at a spin off series would be futile. But after five seasons of consistently incredible television, even the most hardcore Breaking Bad fans now agree that Better Call Saul is a prime candidate for the title of greatest TV show of the decade just ended.

Picking up immediately after the Season 4 finale, Season 5 sees Jimmy McGill embrace his Saul Goodman persona in full force, now officially reinstated as a lawyer and with his name legally changed. However, in taking this new direction, his business associate and eventual wife, Kim, must deal with the repercussions of Jimmy’s decisions to pursue his career as a dirty lawyer and decide what his choices will mean for their relationship going forward.

While Jimmy settles into starting his new practice, Kim deals with Mesa Verde (Bank and Trust) and Gus, Mike, Nacho, and a new fan favorite, Lalo, spend this season conspiring against each other, vying for control over the fate

of the Salamanca cartel and its drug empire through the use of increasingly violent tactics... of course, with a little help from a certain criminal lawyer when the need arises.

Though not every season of Better Call Saul has met the levels of drama and deadly consequence that its parent series has, the slow pace and tireless character building of the last four seasons has finally culminated for a spectacular penultimate season. Now that Saul has the free reign to pursue his worst instincts, the stakes have never been higher and the conflict is constant.

Not only does this make for some of the series’s most intense character moments, but it means that the pace of this season won’t let up. Additionally, Bob Odenkirk and Reah Seehorn – as Saul and Kim – put in some of their finest performances yet, along with the rest of the cast, especially Tony Dalton, who chews scenery as Lalo every time he’s on screen.

The show also continues its trend of creative and stunning cinematography, making for yet another gorgeously directed and executed season.

If you haven’t already seen it, and especially if you’re a fan of Breaking Bad, now is the perfect time to catch up with everyone’s favorite criminal lawyer. The twists and turns of this modern Greek tragedy will have you glued to your TV and begging for more.

Better Call Saul, Season 5, gets a 4.5/5.

4.5 out of 5 stars

Come learn about the Psychology Club and learn how to healthily adjust to the quarantine lifestyle We upload every thursday so tune in on our Youtube Channel PA G E 8