‘Better Call Saul’ Season 4, Episode 2: Gus Fring Is a Management Genius

I was blown away by this episode. Here we have real insight into how Jimmy becomes Saul: He's so clever & scheming & lightning fast in his thinking. He sees all sides, sees what every player in the scenario wants & needs. He is the Consummate Salesman. Yet it seems that before the job interview he still somewhat doubted his skills. No longer. Persuasion-- exactly as in the courtroom. It's the contempt he has for his marks that is Jimmy's slippery slope however. He's been liberated from following his brother. He persuaded himself. Now he can shine as his own true wild animal-- a lawyer/salesman/criminal who does not need to punch anyone's time clock.

The internet capabilities that Jimmy used to research the Hummel figurine ... featuring online auctions and pictures ... didn't exist in 2002.

I’m not even sure 3D television was even a thing during the timeframe depicted here. An Easter Egg, I guess you could say.

Are we ever going to get any real backstory on Gus? Remember when Don Hector referred to him disparagingly as "Big Generalisimo"? There was some speculation that he had been a general in Pinochet's Army in Chile. I would sure love to have that verified one way or another!

I also find it hard to imagine Mike being up for stealing a Hummel, especially now that he has a well-paying job.

Interesting that the doctor Gus had examine Hector in the hospital (the same doctor who later saves Gus' life in Mexico with the plasmapheresis unit after the Great Tequila Poisoning) is named Barry Goodman. Any relationship to Saul?

Kim’s passionate (but misguided) tear down of Howard should be remembered come Emmy season. Rhea Seahorn is incredibly at home in the role and really portrays a quiet, supportive, sometimes on the offensive partner.

Yes, Gus is a genius......an evil genius. Loved that line "......get him a badge". 1-Kim gives Jimmy letter; he doesn't read it; destroys it probably with lit match 2-Howard does not respect Jimmy so it follows he would not consider his feelings. And lets not forget how cruel Howard was to Kim in the past. Also cruel to Jimmy (via Chuck's direction) re: his role at HHM 3-It did not delight Jimmy after hearing Howard's confessional; it was Jimmy realizing he'll never be able to fix t; make amends. So, his reaction was screw it, you win. It was the death of Jimmy in that moment. It was Saul offering them coffee. 4-Bavarian Boy has to have a back story; probably will explain Jimmy's fondness for the elderly. I don't think he was calling Mike. Loved your comment on showing 3D on TV - cause you're right...you can't.

Pretty clear from this episode, with its contrived chemistry between Jimmy and Kim and Kim's passionate defense of Jimmy in her outburst with Howard (also very contrived, though well acted), that Kim ends up dying and that this is how/why Jimmy becomes Saul.

Is it possible that Howard Hamlin of HHM is abused only because he is a rich Caucasian male? He seems to have gone from villain to generally a nice guy who means well, but Kim lays into him with a hellbent fervor. I don't get it. I don't get how I'm supposed to be sympathetic to Kim and Jimmy on this issue.

The last time a character's hair was as front and center as Kim Wexler's pony tail was Kim Novak's in Vertigo. Respect to Rhea Seehorn !!!

This is the first time we see Jimmy and Kim share a passionate kiss. I've never sensed any real chemistry between these two so the scene doesn't work for me. I also like that no PDAs further cement the character types (or, at least, the character types as they register with me): he's the guy who can't believe his luck in winning the smartest, hottest chick in the room; she's the (very loyal) girl with the icy exterior, whose occasionally raised eyebrow says a good deal about their (lack of) compatibility.

Was it my imagination, or was some of Arturo's sickening last gasps almost note for note - for lack of a better description - identical to Luca Brasi's when Luca was garroted in "The Godfather"? In any event, welcome back to The Land of Enchantment, America. (And adios, Vincent Fuentes. Your remarkably sculpted beard and hair will be missed.)

I have enjoyed these comments, all very thoughtful and illuminating. Last night I rewatched 401 and then watched 402. In both I was struck, and moved, by the behavior of Kim (the excellent Rhea Seahorn) toward Jimmy. She is a far better, stronger, and more supportive girlfriend than Jimmy probably deserves (though we have the benefit of knowing what he transforms into, and she does not, yet). In particular, she knows exactly how to deal with a grieving friend. She practices "ministry of being with." She sits there with him in silence. She doesn't issue banal bromides about death. She deftly intercedes to help him navigate his life during this terribly dark time. And then she flies to his defense in her attack on Howard--literally losing it, exploding, after having witnessed and obviously thought about Howard's conduct toward Jimmy and its implications. Even if her reasoning isn't 100% sound (and I don't think it is in every detail), she is 100% on Jimmy's side, passionately advocating for him, defending and protecting him. That makes her an amazing relationship partner. Jimmy is lucky to have her; sadly, it's not clear he realizes that.

I truly thought that we would see the end of Nacho in that parking lot last night. I actually covered my eyes and started whimpering. I didn't want to see him die. Then when I realized it was the other guy who was being brutally murdered, I said, "Oh. Okay. I can live with with that." {I am creeped out by my own dark side...}

The best show on TV. The first episode of this season was mind blowing film making! This episode let Kim give it to Howard. I do disagree with your writer about Howard. He's been so nasty to Chuck, Jimmy, and Kim throughout the first seasons, did you forget about that? Gus and Mike's plot lines and fantastic, can't wait to see them intersect once and for all with Jimmy/Saul.

Howard actually shows his decency in the way he responds to Kim's somewhat justifiable criticism and anger.

This was a great episode and a preview of things to come. First, Jimmy is driven to with his good heart to help support Kim. His willingness to search for a job shows to Kim his strong drive Second Jimmy realizes his interview with Neff was either a lucky chance or realized grift. Pleas note the dialogue that stated “ I was going to throw those out in the dumpster” Lastly, Gus showing to his underlings his ability to ruthlessly kill, in front of them the power of a boss.

One probably inescapable handicap of prequels is that to use the same actors, in the same roles as in the original, is that we all do tend to age. The cousins, and Victor, too, look much older, when it should be the other way around. The cousins don't look nearly as menacing as they did in Breaking Bad.

Two things: 1. How exactly does Fring know what Nacho did to the old man? In Epiosde 1, we saw Victor watching Nacho throw something over the bridge into the river, but asking us to believe that Victor was somehow then able to retrieve the pills in a flowing river in the middle of the night is a little much. 2. As the previews for next week imply, I just don't find it credible that Mike would have any interest in Jimmy's idea to steal the figurine. Mike seems more concerned with larger issues and above such petty crime (while Jimmy doesn't). Thoughts?

I cna't believe mention has not been made to the letter from Chuck for "jimmies eyes only" and how Kim "files" it away. That letter may the the straw that turns Jimmie into Saul and Kim's not mentioning it to Jimmie might be what splits them.

I loved Gus' cheap shirt. Gus maintains his cover identity. If I were a Gus type kingpin, I'd wear Tom Ford and Isaia. In Goodfellas, if I recall, they get caught by the police when they start spending money.

I was thinking that I might be dense, not understanding the plot. But then I remembered how long it was between season 3 and the premiere of 4. I have been watching old episodes to catch up. In a way it's nice to have the show last so long, since we know that it has to end before the timeline of Breaking Bad starts. So drag it out. Please.

Compared to last week, this episode took off and began to show the various cracks in the characters like Gus and Jimmy and Kim. At the risk of not being a spoiler, I will simply say that I never saw that ending coming. What an illuminating and terrifying side of Gus. And Kim, wow, I never knew she had it in her to call Howard out like that. Superb acting from Rhea Seehorn. But I thought the subtleties of Jimmy’s character transforming from “slippin’ Jimmy” to purely coning Jimmy since the death of Chuck was pretty revealing and awesome. He seemed to want to emulate Chuck in so many ways when he was alive, but the moment Chuck told him that he meant nothing to Jimmy, something died in Jimmy and we are now beginning to see a more deliberate and manipulative Jimmy emerge. I knew this season would be exciting and riveting, I just didn’t think it would start so soon with the second show.

On episode one, there was a quizzical reaction from Mike when he opened the Madrigal invoice. I wonder if there's something more going on. Why did Gus have to kill Arturo? To intimidate Nacho? Wouldn't his icy stare, along with "I know what you've done," be enough? He does slash loyal Victor's throat later, mostly to make a point How many years from now until the end of Breaking Bag? I haven't checked but I don't recall Mike's granddaughter looking much older than now. I wouldn't want Kim to be mad at me.

Howard's revelation "broke" something in Jimmy -- another crack in the character who will ultimately become Saul. Jimmy is on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Some switch was flipped. He went from an almost catatonic state of mourning/guilt/sorrow/horror to Happy Whistler in the blink of an eye. He's not sleeping and he's operating on hyper-turbo-overdrive (sorry, don't know what else to call it so I made that up). That outburst on the job interview was the first of what will probably be more explosions.

Anytime I see “directed by Michelle MacLaren,” I lean in, big-time. She’s always terrific, and has a real gift for the visceral scenes. (Another of her job-well-done credits is the heartbreaking S2 episode of The Walking Dead, when little Sophia emerged from Hershel’s barn as a walker.) Really gives me the shivers to think about how Gus would’ve killed Hector if given his vengeful druthers (absent Walt’s interference). Can you imagine? When Gus used murder to make a point, man oh man, the point was made loudly, clearly and unforgettably. What a nightmare for Nacho to watch Arturo die like that (as it was for Walt and Jesse - and even Mike - to witness Victor’s dreadful death). And what a fine reactive performance by Michael Mando as Nacho. You could feel his fear, hopelessness and sadness. I humbly suggest a bigger mystery involving Jaws 3-D is WHY they would show it on television, rather than how. (It was nominated for five ’83 Golden Raspberry Awards, including Worst Picture, Director, Supporting Actor and Screenplay.) Kim & Jimmy made the right call with White Heat.

You sure Jimmy called Mike about the "job"? I thought he called Buell...

To follow onto my other comment, I need to take a beat to acknowledge Rhea Seehorn. One of the things that interests me most about actors is vanity. Some actors are overtly, shameless vain; sometimes this works in their favor (a la Tom Cruise) and other times it is cringe-inducing (watch any Blake Lively performance, for example). Some actors are not vain in the slightest. One example: Jesse Plemons, a Breaking Bad alum, always looks like an absolute wreck on screen, usually some mix of balding, bad skin, overweight, etc. In real life he looks totally normal, but he doesn't get hung up on his image and we benefit from the performance. So to my point - I'm astonished to find that Rhea Seehorn is 46. You could tell me that she's 30 and I wouldn't think twice. She is an exceptionally beautiful woman. And in this season of BCS, she is covered in bruises and scars, wears a cast, and wears sweats most of the time. You can easily imagine another actor refusing to play ball. But she is all in. Appearance can an important part of characterization. Imagine how different her scenes in this episode could have played if she were not in such bad shape. We get to enjoy a much richer show because of her lack of vanity about her appearance.

Several thoughts after this ep. First, you'd think that a guy like Gus, who is driven by the memory of Salamanca murdering his compatriot right in front of him, would be reticent about murdering a guy's compatriot right in front of him. Obviously a power move, I get it. But ironic. Second I thought it would have been fun to see the Twins speak more - like, what if, when they are alone, they aren't so oppressively stoic? What if they were actually very sweet and gracious in the presence of Tio Hector and the new doctor? That would have added to our understanding of their character. A bit of humanity. Third, to respond to this: "Her accusation would seem far more plausible if the suicide theory actually put the zap on Jimmy’s head. On the contrary, it seemed to delight Jimmy." I think the characters are interpreting Jimmy's reaction as if the news/revelation that Chuck killed himself by fire was so horrible that Jimmy is basically in denial and has completely compartmentalized it away as a defense mechanism. We know that Jimmy knows he was more responsible (re: the insurance) than Howard knows, but that response could be true all the same. Jimmy definitely didn't expect or want Chuck to die.

Maybe it's me, but I was angry throughout this episode. I had to remind myself several times that "this is just a show, they are following a script". First, Mike acts like a stubborn, foolish old man when he insists on continuing his disruptive acts at Madrigal, who pay him a nice paycheck to do what he is supposed to do. Then, we have Kim (Rhea Seehorn) angrily accusing Howard of mistreating poor Jimmy, when it was Jimmy who mistreated Howard by not letting him know that it was Jimmy himself who probably caused Chuck to suicide. Finally, we have a meeting in a warehouse late at night, no witnesses, very dangerous, and we have Nacho's friend acting arrogant and foolish and dying a painful death as a result. Who knows, he might have been killed anyway, but that was a dumb move. It kind of foreshadows Nacho's fate. We know he doesn't turn up in Breaking Bad. Such a bunch of idiotic moves. I know they have to create a drama, but really.