# Better Call Saul "Alpine Shepard Boy" 3/2 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 3, 2015, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-alpine-shepard-boy-3-2/714072 "2015-03-03T03:56:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BOOM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c4cdca/32.png) [@BOOM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BOOM)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-alpine-shepard-boy-3-2/714072/21 "2015-03-03T22:03:03Z")
So there’s not only Jimmy’s backstory to the backstory but now we have Mike’s backstory to the backstory, and a little of his brothers as well. If we carry on like this we should make the Mayflower by E8. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-alpine-shepard-boy-3-2/714072/22 "2015-03-03T22:23:43Z")
My favorite little moment was yet another illustration of how good Jimmy is at thinking on his feet: The crazy “rancher Bundy” type says Jimmy’s car is “a sign a good man can’t get ahead today”. Jimmy swirls his drink and visibly thinks for a moment, then responds “Well, that may be, but I refuse to consider myself a victim.” Boo-yah! > [@Joey\_P](#): > > The wires being pulled probably made it looked like he was squatting in an abandoned house. The white gas was, according to them, a meth precursor. Of course, they could have just kept it secured and called for a warrant. Didn’t they technically have probable cause on the stolen newspaper? Or is that too petty to qualify? It does include trespassing too, I suppose. > [@MaxTheVool](#): > > I thought the doctor was a great (small) character. Compassionate and understanding but also skeptical and totally level-headed. Playing her little trick was fantastic, and cleared up any lingering doubt that we as the audience might have as to whether the condition is purely mental. I agree–and given that she’s played by at least somewhat of a “name” actor, this is probably not the last we’ve seen of her. > [@davidm](#): > > Have you seen _Breaking Bad_? Unique camera angles were common. It’s one of the many things that made it stand out. I actually was not a huge fan of those (which often included people digging, shot from below as if at an aquarium and someone is digging in the “tank” above you). It’s an extreme minority view, I’m aware–but I actually think _Breaking Bad_ didn’t need them and would have been an even better show with everything else written/directed/acted/filmed the same, but without the “trick” angles. (I do think BB was the greatest show of all time, but in spite of that fancypantsiness rather than because of it.) ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-alpine-shepard-boy-3-2/714072/23 "2015-03-03T22:28:45Z")
Yeah, I agree that some of the angles didn’t work. Specifically the ones you mention, shot from below as if the ground or floor is transparent. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-alpine-shepard-boy-3-2/714072/24 "2015-03-03T22:35:16Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > His granddaughter, Kaylee, is probably already born at this point. It could well be the reason Mike moved to Albuquerque. > [@MyFootsZZZ](#): > > Wasn’t she 10 in BB? > > That would make her around 2 in this timeline. Huh, ok. I was misremembering then that she was maybe 5 or 6 years old on BB. But I’m sure you guys are right. He’s probably been all over their case about seeing his granddaughter, which is why she probably gave Mike the hairy eyeball when she spotted him stalking their home. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-alpine-shepard-boy-3-2/714072/25 "2015-03-03T22:54:41Z")
Maybe he’s going to hire Saul to win visitation rights with his granddaughter. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-alpine-shepard-boy-3-2/714072/26 "2015-03-04T00:20:14Z")
Interesting thought, although given that this takes place after [Troxel v. Granville](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troxel_v._Granville), he wouldn’t have a case unless the mom is a crackhead or something. > [@davidm](#): > > Yeah, I agree that some of the angles didn’t work. Specifically the ones you mention, shot from below as if the ground or floor is transparent. Right on, I thought it was just me. I found it frustrating at times, like hearing one of the all-time great sopranos sing but recorded by a producer who’s addicted to Auto-Tune. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-alpine-shepard-boy-3-2/714072/27 "2015-03-04T01:53:44Z")
Maybe he’ll find some shady way to force the issue; blackmail her with something from her past or something. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-alpine-shepard-boy-3-2/714072/28 "2015-03-04T01:58:49Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > … > Right on, I thought it was just me. I found it frustrating at times, like hearing one of the all-time great sopranos sing but recorded by a producer who’s addicted to Auto-Tune. :smack: I can forgive it. To produce something as different and as good as BB, you have to take risks, and taking risks means that you’ll fail sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-alpine-shepard-boy-3-2/714072/29 "2015-03-04T02:40:43Z")
I noticed that the young lady who played the daughter in law had two inspection/tax stickers on her windshield: 02-12, on top of, 02-6 Not being a resident of NM, anybody want to clue me in as to the possible year? 2012 or 2006 or 2002? ---
**Author:** ![splatterpunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3be4f8/32.png) [@splatterpunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/splatterpunk)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-alpine-shepard-boy-3-2/714072/30 "2015-03-04T03:09:15Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > I noticed that the young lady who played the daughter in law had two inspection/tax stickers on her windshield: > > 02-12, on top of, > 02-6 > > Not being a resident of NM, anybody want to clue me in as to the possible year? 2012 or 2006 or 2002? I can’t speak to the dates, but New Mexico doesn’t issue inspection stickers. Also, the car has front and rear tags (rear only in NM). I think the car is from out of state. ---
**Author:** ![splatterpunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3be4f8/32.png) [@splatterpunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/splatterpunk)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-alpine-shepard-boy-3-2/714072/31 "2015-03-04T03:43:56Z")
The stickers look like semi-annual stickers from [Pennsylvania](http://www.bufs-plates.com/windshield/pennsylvania/pa-semiannual-sticker-02.jpg). From [here](http://www.bufs-plates.com/windshield/pennsylvania/pa-ws-2000-2009.html). Was Mike originally from Pennsylvania? ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-alpine-shepard-boy-3-2/714072/32 "2015-03-04T03:49:14Z")
> [@splatterpunk](#): > > I can’t speak to the dates, but New Mexico doesn’t issue inspection stickers. Also, the car has front and rear tags (rear only in NM). I think the car is from out of state. Those stickers look just like the two stickers I have on my car. One is inspection, the other is emissions. I’m in Pennsylvania. Here are some Google images: [pennsylvania auto stickers - Google Search](https://www.google.com/search?q=pennsylvania+auto+stickers&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=eHz2VLWjC4-YyAT3mICgCA&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAw&biw=1366&bih=523) and here’s a site that displays some: [Bruce Bufalini's Pennsylvania windshield inspection stickers page](http://www.bufs-plates.com/windshield/pennsylvania/) This would fit with him being from Philly. However, PA does not have front plates, and that plate doesn’t look like a PA plate anyway. That could be explained by her moving from out of state but never removing the old stickers. But there is one thing that to me looks like an inconsistency. As far as I know, the two PA stickers always show the same month and year. In her case the top one shows Dec 2002, and the bottom shows June 2002. One of the stickers is for the safety inspection, the other is for emissions. Emissions laws vary for different parts of the state, but Philly, which I live near, is one of the more stringent areas and I’ve always gotten the emissions sticker the same time as the inspection sticker. Maybe there are circumstances where emissions and safety testing are done at different times for some reason or maybe it’s different in other parts of the state. Just because he’s from Philly doesn’t me that she would have to be. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-alpine-shepard-boy-3-2/714072/33 "2015-03-04T03:55:43Z")
> [@splatterpunk](#): > > The stickers look like semi-annual stickers from [Pennsylvania](http://www.bufs-plates.com/windshield/pennsylvania/pa-semiannual-sticker-02.jpg). From [here](http://www.bufs-plates.com/windshield/pennsylvania/pa-ws-2000-2009.html). > > Was Mike originally from Pennsylvania? Annual, not semi-annual. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-alpine-shepard-boy-3-2/714072/34 "2015-03-04T03:58:45Z")
Thinking about it, maybe Philly is stricter on emissions than the surrounding suburbs (where I live) so maybe the emissions testing has to be done every 6 months (as opposed to the statewide once a year safety inspection sticker). That would fit with her stickers being different by 6 months. If so that would mean that she left Philly sometime between December 2002 and June 2003 (assuming she kept up with the legally required inspections). ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-alpine-shepard-boy-3-2/714072/35 "2015-03-04T04:08:42Z")
There don’t appear to be any stickers on Mike’s window so either he removed them or he didn’t own that car in PA. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-alpine-shepard-boy-3-2/714072/36 "2015-03-04T04:12:02Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > I noticed that the young lady who played the daughter in law had two inspection/tax stickers on her windshield: > > 02-12, on top of, > 02-6 > > Not being a resident of NM, anybody want to clue me in as to the possible year? 2012 or 2006 or 2002? I just want to admire that pick up. Impressive. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-alpine-shepard-boy-3-2/714072/37 "2015-03-04T04:15:58Z")
PA’s website seems to indicate that in the Philadelphia region emission and safety inspections are done at the same time, so it’s difficult to explain the 6 month difference if she’s from Philly. > **[PA DEP I/M - Information for Philadelphia Area Drivers](http://www.drivecleanpa.state.pa.us/info_se.htm)** > > This page contains information for Southeast PA drivers about the Vehicle Emission Inspection program. It says the same thing for the Pittsburgh area. > **[PA DEP I/M - Information for Pittsburgh Area Drivers](http://www.drivecleanpa.state.pa.us/info_sw.htm)** > > This page contains information for Southwest PA drivers about the Vehicle Emission Inspection program. I would have to think that Philly and Pittsburgh would have the most stringent rules, being the most populated areas, so it’s difficult to explain the 6 month difference in her stickers. It seems like there must be an explanation. The 6 month difference just seems like more than a coincidence that occurred because some prop guy didn’t understand PA’s rules. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-alpine-shepard-boy-3-2/714072/38 "2015-03-04T04:24:00Z")
Okay, there was a 2002 lawsuit that was settled in 2003 with some changes in the rules. [http://www.drivecleanpa.state.pa.us/changes/faq\_customer.pdf](http://www.drivecleanpa.state.pa.us/changes/faq_customer.pdf) It’s not clear what the changes were and I don’t recall what the rules were before 2003. Since the lawsuit was brought by Citizens For Pennsylvania’s Future and the Clean Air Council, it seems like the inspections would be made more stringent, not less, so it seems doubtful that they changed from every 6 months to the current once a year schedule. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-alpine-shepard-boy-3-2/714072/39 "2015-03-04T05:42:17Z")
But what about her tags?! Has she renewed her tags?! ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-alpine-shepard-boy-3-2/714072/40 "2015-03-04T05:43:27Z")
Speaking of “period” vehicles, Mike’s daughter-in-law looks to be driving pretty much exactly my car (though hers looks much less beat up): a '99 Subaru Outback. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-alpine-shepard-boy-3-2/714072.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-alpine-shepard-boy-3-2/714072.md?page=3)