*Spoilers Ahead*
One of the greatest things about Better Call Saul is it’s slow trickle of information. It lets you believe you have the full story before pulling back to reveal another thread that further complicates what is playing out in the narrative, it’s a familiar storytelling technique but one that is rarely used so effectively as it is in this show.
Tonight’s opening is a great example, a flashback to when Jimmy was starting out in the mailroom at HHM. It reveals not only that Chuck was married at one time but it also gives a bit of insight into his feelings about his brother. As Chuck sits there listening to his brother and wife trade lawyer jokes, nervously tugging on his ear in a desperate attempt to signal Rebecca to send Jimmy home, it becomes a bit more clear why he holds such disdain for his brother. He’s the only one who has ever seen through Jimmy’s bullshit, he’s the only person who refuses to fall for the long con his brother has played on everyone he meets. It’s also what inspires him to have that talk with Kim at the end of the episode.
Kim takes center stage this week as we get to see her attempt to return into Howard’s good graces by finding the firm a new client. In a stunning montage, we see Kim calling old contacts in hopes of finding the one person who’s going to help her climb back up the ladder, in between breaks from document review. Saul and it’s predecessor always do their best montage work when the focus is on the character working hard to achieve something, whether it’s Walter and Jesse cooking meth or Jimmy as a public defender last season, these shows always find a way to show you their characters through the work they do.
Kim eventually tracks down a client and arranges a meeting between them and Howard, with the client eventually agreeing to work with them. It ends up being a client who could potentially offer years of work for the firm, in other words, it’s a hell of a get. Kim tries to nudge Howard about what she thinks they need to do next but is rebuffed, “I’ll put Frances on that. You have enough on your plate in doc review.” Kim stands there in silence and we stand there with her, taking in the verbal gut punch Howard just doled out.
Meanwhile, Jimmy is plenty busy himself. He gets assigned a associate who tags along and makes sure to keep him in line with Davis & Main. It give Jimmy a foil to work against and forces him to tow the line of the law. Especially when he tries to bribe the clerk at the courthouse to get an early date to speak with the judge. Jimmy can’t help but bend the rules but he’s going to have to try if he wants to keep his job, a job, it seems, he doesn’t even really want.
Then, there’s that talk I mentioned earlier. Chuck reveals to Kim that Jimmy stole money from their father’s company and he makes no qualms about believing that the company’s collapse caused their father’s death. “He has a good heart but he can’t help himself and everyone else is left picking up the pieces.” Chuck sees Howard and Kim picking up the latest of those pieces and he offers his assistance. Jimmy may see something like this as his brother’s latest attempt to get back at him and it very well could be or perhaps Chuck just doesn’t want to see anymore people fall prey to Slippin’ Jimmy.
Bits ‘n Pieces
- Mike gets paid a visit by Hector Salamanca and is asked to help reduce Tuco’s sentence by claiming the gun is his. I’m sure this will go well.
- Jimmy’s conversation with his old frenemy from last season in the bathroom was interesting. They’re both simultaneously jealous of each other’s situation at the same time.
- We also find out that Mike spent most of the $25,000 on a new place for his daughter-in-law, it has a pool so it’s definitely an upgrade.
- “You don’t save me. I save me.”
Jesse Swanson is a would-be writer, podcaster and funny guy who covers TV shows of all shapes and sizes. You can find him on Twitter @JesseSwanson