The casting of the “thugs” that beat up Mike was terrible. I would have looked at data for assaults or even homicides on strangers in casting these guys. It’s highly rare men in their late twenties or thirties would beat up a random old man walking down their street. Would have casted between 15–20 younger men full of testosterone, ignorance and more willing to commit aimless crimes. Perhaps could develop this more. Seemed far-fetched and contrived.
And felt it wasn’t developed very effectively as to why Mike would be suicidal here. Seems like he’s more mentally stable than this. Even if he had to kill off someone he respected.
As much as I love this show and it’s writing, this is the only season I’ve seen where it feels like it’s rushed and lacks an over-arching brilliant plot line - which we're so used to. It’s like the writers were sitting in a room coming up with what they thought the audience would think would be “cool” in this episode. But then again I’m only half way through the season.
Damaging the BMW was similar to Walter White destroying the obnoxious, successful lawyer’s car(a BMW ?) in Breaking Bad. Kind of a hatred thing on the part of Slippin’ Jimmy from the streets of a big city.
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@Richard At least Jimmy didn't give Howard's car a Chicago sunroof.
Not sure if this was it was an intentional misquote in the review, but it’s ‘skate to where the puck’s going to be’ (courtesy Wayne Gretzky) not ‘escape to where the puck’s going to be’.
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I've been finding that Better Call Saul allows us to see glimpses of characters in their "rookie stages"--before we see them as they are in Breaking Bad.
We see Saul a little nervous the first few times he tries to do his "uber-confident lawyer" shtick.
We see Mike lash out at his granddaughter. Something we would have thought impossible from Breaking Bad.
And then, this week, there was Gus' treatment of the Los Pollos Hermanos shift manager. To me that seemed very loose from someone who, by the time Breaking Bad rolls around, is near flawless in his execution. If that employee tells others about Gus' behavior it bring unnecessary suspicion to Mr. Fring--the last thing he needs, regardless of the degree.
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Jimmy bought the bowling balls before lunch with Howard. Premeditated.
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Found this in Rolling Stone - should clear things up?, “And on his long drive home from meeting with Mr. Acker — a little guy being stepped on by a Goliath that Howard’s firm used to represent — Jimmy is inspired to stop at a secondhand store in search of tools of mayhem. We see this visit out of context, as the episode’s teaser, unsure why Jimmy needs a heavy object and for what purpose.”
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It's "Lalo" not "Lala."
It's Jimmy's dearly departed brother, not Chuck's.
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That was sort of unforgivable dont you think?
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Also, “skate” to where the puck’s gonna be (not “escape”).
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Good Evening: The bowling balls seem like a logical progression from the beer bottles of the previous episode. And consider the following--bowling balls, beer bottles, Breaking Bad. Notice what all three have in common.
Coincidence? Or conspiracy?????
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@VSB what a great observation.
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@VSB, oh, that’s too funny! I would not put it past the writers to do something like that.
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That's not the first time we see the dumb criminals from the first post-open scene--they were introduced a couple of episodes ago and we saw them go on their meth-fueled bender. Otherwise...good recap!
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Anyone else struck by similarity between Saul-HHM and Walter-Gray Matter?
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@Anton Not really..
Walter actually was the Co-Founder of Gray Matter. Jimmy never worked at HHM (as a lawyer anyway)
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I thought the bowling ball thing was too gimmicky. Too cute by half. Also thought what pushed Jimmy over the edge was the “NAMAST3” license plate on that (sort of) flashy but still uptight car. That would make me fantasize about doing something not so nice to the automobile. Maybe you have to be a onetime (burned out) yogini, as I am, to catch the blatant hypocrisy and vulgarity of that plate (namaste translated is, “I bow to the divine in you”). All that stuff about forgiveness? Howard is trying to heal his own soul more than he is trying to help Jimmy. Jimmy sees that. That is my take.
I did not catch, at first, the fact that Gus was torturing his employee as a way to redirect his anger. I assumed he kept Lyle there to provide an alibi. But it became clear when Hank’s and Gus’s reactions were shown side by side.
I dislike Hank. I turn the sound off when he’s screen. It’s the puerile wannabe macho act and the profanity that bother me. And the way he does that thing with his teeth.
The deal made around the dead drop — is it just “give the DEA crumbs to keep them off our backs”?
That was a very cool adobe building, in the traditional design with enclosed yard. Those are becoming increasingly rare. I wonder whether that is on a reservation.
A couple things:
1. Bestiality is not funny. It is animal abuse.
2. Before the punks beat up Mike, one told the other guy to “black her eyes,” after that guy complained about his girlfriend. Not okay to throw that in there.
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@Passion for Peaches
'Before the punks beat up Mike, one told the other guy to “black her eyes,” after that guy complained about his girlfriend. Not okay to throw that in there.'
Gang members don't go to couples' therapy. It's a crime show not a public service announcement.
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Jimmy/Saul is the king of the long con. I'm betting that bowling ball stunt is just Phase I.
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Am I the only one who dialed the Easter egg phone number, on the billboard behind Saul, and heard the CEO of Mesa Verde tell me all about the opportunities awaiting me in Q1 of next year?
Am I?
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You might’ve been but you’re not anymore .. just did it. Cool of them to do that, and equally cool for you to notice. For those with a small screen, the number is 505-243–8410
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@youshutupposer
It seems you are.... what was the phone number?
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@youshutupposer you probably are. I never even noticed the number...
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"Anyone else find that bowling ball prank a tad on the contrived side? And it seems out of character for a guy whose specialty is messing with minds, no?"
Not to get too psychological, but I think the bowling balls were clearly aimed at Chuck. Not in a conscious way, but in a way that sprung from his deeply unresolved issues with Chuck. Lunch with Howard brought these to the surface, and Howard became Chuck's proxy. Why?
1. Jimmy never dealt with Chuck's death: his anger at him, his deep hurt, and his guilt over humiliating Chuck - he just put Chuck in the past. Recall Howard's "confession" scene after Chuck's funeral when Jimmy's response was to jump up, ask if anyone wanted coffee and then attend to his goldfish; or his reaction when he read Chuck's letter, "say what you want about him, but the man sure could write a nice letter." Jimmy never looked back. But the issues never went away and were churning inside him, looking for an opportunity to surface. Howard became that opportunity.
2. Yes, Jimmy's specialty is messing with minds, and we know how well he repeatedly messed with Howard's mind in the past. So if this were directed at Howard, Jimmy would have just found another way to mess with his mind. But the one mind he could NEVER mess with was Chuck's - Chuck was always on to him.
3. So with mind-messing off the table, what does he have left? Physical retribution. Hence the search that led him to bowling balls and to a proxy named Howard to receive them. Namaste
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I'm happy to see one of my old favorite characters, Maurice Minniefield, aka Barry Corbin, in this show, he stills got it!
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@Kobesan
He also popped up on 911 Lone Star the other night!
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The worst thing about Howard is his shirt collars? It's just the tip of the iceberg.
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Even though we say them together in bed, the space between Kim and Jimmy continues to grow as we see Kim continue to try and do good (sweeping up the broken glass in the parking lot when Jimmy says that's why we pay rent, and trying to convince her Mesa Verde bosses to spare Ackerman's home), and Jimmy continuing to do bad (leaving the glass, manipulating his fool clients, and spitefully vandalizing Howard's car). While Jimmy has always pushed moral boundaries, he is becoming less likable each week. ala Walter White he is breaking badder. And poor Howard, who despite outsward appearances, really has never been a bad guy and is undeserving of Jimmy's wrath. As for Mike, it seems clear that Gus saved him, knowing full well (as we do) that Mike will be a valuable soldier in his upcoming battle with Don Eladio's cartel.
A final thought on Kim. I'm am getting a sense of dread about her fate. She tries to do what is good is right but is repeatedly swayed by Jimmy into doing the wrong thing, or doing it the wrong way. Even when trying to help Ackerman it seems likely she's doing it in a way that will damage if not destroy her career. Without Jimmy around she never would have followed the path she has.
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I didn't feel like her engaging Jimmy to represent Ackerman was doing the right thing at all. She's betraying her clients, the people who've kept her afloat all this time. It was fair enough her trying to persuade them to use another tract of land, but her actively going against their interests is another thing altogether.
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@Rich
Why are you watching this show?
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@CitizenTM Because it's a great show. Not sure I understand the question, I don't need to "like" Jimmy to love the character and the story, just like main characters in other great shows - Walter White, Tony Soprano, Mike Ehrmentraub. They are portrayals of very human beings who have made some very immoral choices that often harm and even kill people. I love the characters but don't necessarily like them or the choices they make. Why do you watch the show?
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Love the show. Does anyone know the deal with Spectrum. It used to be that you could see the show free on demand AMC station. Now Spectrum seems to want to charge you for on demand version. What a rip. What do you think?
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I agree. I pay for amc, i pay for a dvr. Now I have to pay for another channel? The extra $5 per month isnt even worth calling spectrum about to complain, but I might donit anyway on principle
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what is the significance of the lot numbers, 1102 and 2375?
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Gotta say, the pace of this show is slowing to a crawl. I want to like it, but it's beginning to feel like a physical paradox, where the closer it gets to the start of Breaking Bad, the longer it takes to get there...
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@wally dunn Slow pace? After all that happened in last night's episode? The only slow part was Gus having the guy keep rewashing the grill. But that was meant to emphasize the tension Gus was feeling while waiting to hear how things went down with the drops and cops.
I'm very happy with the pace of this season. It has seemed slow in past, but now Saul is rock and rolling.
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@JediProf The Gus rewashing scene wasn't slow, the brilliant editing back and forth with the money drop and chase with Gus's demented hazing of his competent manager's cleaning, just showed how craaaaaazzzy evil he is. Very Hitchockian the way they built the tension. Bowling balls, why not....it's S'aul Good---Man!!
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No doubt the hired doctor who saved Mike and Gus after Breaking Bad's "Salut" will appear in the next episode. Didn't he already appear in BCS? Now that we are on season 5, I'm losing track.
I loved how the two tweakers in jail got a "YO" in when bickering with Saul. Definitely a shout out to our favorite cook.
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@Scott Moore, I laughed at tweaked number 2’s explanation that a free lawyer was a “Public ‘fender.”
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@Scott Moore. The doctor gave Mike the drugs that he put in the shoes slung over the telephone wire to frame Saltamacca's guys when they crossed the border.
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About Gus and Hank: I think Hank will become Gus’ weapon in his fight against Lalo Salamanca. I see this as the reason Lalo didn’t appear in Breaking Bad.
Excellent explanation of Mike’s surviving his beating and waking up probably in Mexico... It only makes sense.
And Gus’ scene with his employee was the highlight of the episode for me. Scenes like that are the reasons why BCS is my favorite show.
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@Michel Forest, agree that the Gus and Lyle part of this episode was the highlight. The filming, editing and pacing were all excellent. Gus makes me tense up, just watching him. He doesn’t even have to speak.
His super clean restaurant would do well in this virus-phobic world.
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Correct me if I heard wrong, fellow fans, but I swore I heard the voice of Jesse Pinkman in the scene where Mike got beaten up on the sidewalk. I immediately wondered if that was an Easter egg.
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@Garrett Peck
Hmmm. Now I will have to go back and watch last night's episode again. Thanks for the possibility of another BB connection in the works.
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@GarrettPeck,
Wow. Will have to go back & rewatch. But I can’t imagine Jesse hanging out with those guys. And can’t imagine Aaron Paul doing something uncredited, esp since his BB movie is out. Would be cool though.
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As a New Mexico criminal defense attorney who actually practiced in the building the show is now filmed, I do have a minor objection. Jimmy's stunt with the fake defendant would get him held in contempt. There's a moment at the start of every trial where the defendant stands up to ensure that the potential jurors can be fair. If Jimmy had a doppelganger stand up, he could be disbarred.
In the truth is stranger than fiction department, in a real Albuquerque trial, a witness actually identified the lawyer as the defendant. Vince, feel free to use that one.
Otherwise, an excellent episode.
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@Jonathan Miller The start of the trial might have been the day before, and with the real defendant in the dock. Of course, that would mean taking a chance that: 1) the witness, DA or judge would recognize that there'd been a switch on the 2nd day and therefore the ruse would not have worked, or that 2) the complaining witness would have testified on the first day of the trial when the real defendant was sitting next to Jimmy, but he's all about taking the risk. I agree that the judge would have seriously considered holding Jimmy in contempt either way, but the witness' testimony would have remained irretrievably tainted.
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As a fellow lawyer myself, my immediate reaction was a contempt finding and mistrial. What Saul should have done is had other look a likes sit at counsel table and right behind counsel table wearing the same clothes and ask the witness to pick out the defendant.
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@ItCouldBeWorse - I assumed the doppelganger was introduced at a later stage precisely so the point could be made that the judge was also less observant than she'd assumed herself to be.
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The whole bowling ball bit was stupid and contrived. Howard was sincerely apologetic.... It didn't make a whole lot of sense why Saul would be so enraged at a generous offer and so many compliments....
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@Rick I dunno how sincere Howard's offer was. It might have been a way of shutting down Saul, whom those in the biz will know was once Jimmy Mcgill, brother of Churck, co-found of HMM. I doubt HMM wants someone like Jimmy/Saul in their firm.
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@Rick My theory is Jimmy realizes that he can't work at HHM because Saul is already in bed with the drug gang. Rather than be angry at himself, he takes out his anger on Howard for being too late with the offer.
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@JediProf I think Howard's offer was sincere, but his motivation is to make amends to those he has wronged in the past... Much like AA encourages people to do. I think Howard just wants to make himself feel better and cleanse his guilt. But much like the time at Davis and Main, Jimmy would be a disaster in a legitimate Law Firm.
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1. 100% Gus has been following Mike & 'saved' him. Mike has so much pent-up anger way more than in BB. Maybe when he returns to working for Gus a deal is made that allows Mike to be more in charge of the fate of his guys. Those 3 guys in prison possibly are the beginning of that. Mike being in charge is what he needs.
2. What set Jimmy off with Howard was the plate "Namaste" & the way Howard presents himself. Jimmy cannot tolerate him & how he & Kim were treated. Also, how Chuck was treated at the end. So the bowling balls were perfect & totally in line with the character. Jimmy will do anything & everything to achieve whatever goal he is after.
3. Yes there is a cat and mouse game with Gus & Hank. Lets not forget the other mice - Lalo and Nacho who are providing plenty of tense action.
4. Loved that the writers reminded us that yes there is a sexual life between Jimmy & Kim; but it's behind closed doors. I'm fine with that 'cause I love their bond & how they relate to each other.
5. Jimmy representing Mr. Acker will be interesting how it affects Kim. It was her idea. Does she thing Jimmy can get him to agree to a deal?
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I've been loving this year's episodes. Saul is back! He's his ol' fast-talking, quick-thinking, confidently smiling, impish self. In fact, I realized from this episode that Saul is an archetypal character: the Trickster. He enjoys being a thorn in the side of judges and other lawyers who look down on him. He enjoys the con. And he enjoys a little "up yours, Howard" in the form of a smashed windshield in his car with plates that read "Namaste." Saul doesn't want Howard to have any Asian peace of mind for all that he did to Kim and him.
This episode wasn't as full of stylized cinematography as last episode's, but it still has the bright colors vs. the dark shadows.
Oh, and Hank and Gomez's banter in the car (there was some discussion of this last week) was funny. Reminded me of Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction."
Finally, the shot of Kim and Saul naked in bed settles the question of whether they are just roommates or friends with benefits, right? Is this how people broken by their family's growing up love--at a distance?
In trouble with the law?
Who ya gonna call?
Saul Goodman!
David mentioned how do they keep the suspense going since we know the fate of some characters. Kim, obviously, is the major character upon whom the suspense is dependent. Will she break bad, like Saul, or does she go back to sweep the bottle wreckage in life?
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While I am not an advocate of violence nor revenge, I could not help but laugh out loud in the final scene where Jimmy is throwing those bowling balls. I just knew who they were aimed at before the audience was cued in. The best part was the sound effects, especially the sound of a strike. Priceless.
Once again, superb music in the beginning and at the end.
The gradual tear in the moral fabric of Jimmy and Kim continues to widen with each episode. Jimmy's flippant remark about renters not being responsible for certain things and Kim's decision to clean up the broken beer bottle mess with a broom and dust pan which she and Jimmy created was extremely telling. "Slippin' Jimmy" (as Chuck was so fond of calling him) is surfacing more rapidly with each new episode.
This is still the best show on TV!!!
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