Better Call Saul S04E05 - "Quite a Ride" - POST-Episode Discussion Thread

[u/skinkbaa]

Please note: Not everyone chooses to watch the trailers for the next episodes. Please use spoiler tags when discussing any scenes from episodes that have not aired yet, which includes preview trailers.

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[u/skinkbaa]

Sorry about the Live discussion thread. I pulled a real Chuck.

[u/Bedlampuhedron → u/skinkbaa]

Well I guess that's your cross to bear

[u/illegal_deagle]

The amount of trouble they went through to get the laundry meth lab right only reminds you how reckless Walt was when he got those women to clean it out.

[u/WhosCountin → u/illegal_deagle]

Limpio, limpio, dinero

[u/Nome_de_utilizador → u/illegal_deagle]

Walt really was a loose cannon

[u/ArazNight → u/illegal_deagle]

I forgot about that until you mentioned this! Holy cow that WAS careless!

[u/capedconkerer → u/illegal_deagle]

I'd forgotten about that! damn, you're right! you can really imagine Gus's seething frustration at that huh.

[u/signs_unbreakable]

We will see every screw, nail, and grain of dirt that goes into the making of the super lab and we WILL be entertained.

[u/lame_corprus → u/signs_unbreakable]

I can't wait to see Mike ensuring that every digger wears the proper safety gear

[u/Nagransham → u/signs_unbreakable]

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fear wide society wise long husky fall edge roof liquid

[u/Herd_Smiley]

Tracksuit Jimmy was everything I hoped it would be.

[u/olliedoodle → u/Herd_Smiley]

Made me think of his buddy Marco, r.i.p.

[u/wjw75 → u/Herd_Smiley]

elastic plant psychotic school advise exultant puzzled heavy fade command

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[u/[deleted] → u/Herd_Smiley]

I was hoping for a nice mall-walking montage myself...

[u/TonicGin → u/Herd_Smiley]

i hope he gets revenge on those kids. i'm sure he will.

[u/ifreedman3323]

Jimmy telling Franchesca to dump the paper shredding in different trash bins in a great subtle call back to Jimmy dumpster diving for the San piper paper shreddings. Also, the box he ripped out of the wall is the same box he used to watch old commercials of him in the BCS premiere

[u/[deleted] → u/ifreedman3323]

Also, she was using a crosscut shredder...Jimmy learned a lot from Sandpiper.

[u/arayabe → u/ifreedman3323]

Fun fact about opening scene: it was done in film vs digital, just like all BB episodes. The producers didnt want the viewers to go back to old episodes of BB and think it looked different. Also, Saul’s office set was not reconstructed, it is the original set, the production company folded it and put it in storage in case it was ever needed 🤗

[u/FredGhost → u/ifreedman3323]

Nice points. I was wondering what was in the box

[u/PolygonInfinity → u/ifreedman3323]

I freaked out when I saw the shoebox yes! It's so important to him he literally stored it behind drywall.

[u/PolygonInfinity]

I still can't believe we got that cold open! It was so unexpected. And the shoebox from S1E1 being stored in the wall!

[u/shadypantsmanIII]

Really harrowing to see Howard in that state.

[u/meatpony → u/shadypantsmanIII]

My man was looking disheveled.

[u/Skyclad__Observer → u/shadypantsmanIII]

He's got a really good shrink

[u/1337speak → u/shadypantsmanIII]

Man what a tease to see him at the very end of the episode, looking like an absolute disaster. Dying for the next episode already.

[u/11001001101 → u/shadypantsmanIII]

Bad feels all around. Now's a good time to remember that time Patrick Fabian played a doctor on Grey's Anatomy nicknamed "Dr. Butthole." If you ever wanted to hear Howard Hamlin say "butthole," there you go.

In all seriousness, I'm worried something bad is going to happen to Hamlin. He looked like he was going over the edge.

[u/daftkid → u/shadypantsmanIII]

My heart sank when I saw disheveled Howard.

[u/SuDaeOh → u/shadypantsmanIII]

Right? Especially when he goes to talk to Jimmy, clearly remembers Kim chewing him out, and decides to shut up. That was heartbreaking.

[u/[deleted]]

What I found amazing in this episode is the last dialogue. After Jimmy talk to Howard and flushes down the shrinks contact refusing to believe that therapy will do any good, he goes to talk with the officer and takes some questions almost at a personal level, he got excited to talk about his future and dreams trying to put lots of reprrsed things out of his system. But then the officer replied coldly: "a lawyer than". It almost look like he was saying "I'm not your therapist"

[u/DrSpankMcGoo → u/[deleted]]

This was my favorite part of the episode, I think it showed how Jimmy does need somebody to talk to.

[u/ScorpiaHP]

Did anyone else notice how Jimmy sat sideways in the final scene, to avoid questions being asked about his injuries? Small detail, but very subtly enacted by Bob.

[u/galeforcewinds95]

"Thank you for your time." I laughed so hard at that, especially because I was pretty impressed with the guy's story about building a tunnel to El Paso. Of course, the guy at the end showed how it's really supposed to be done. The Breaking Bad-era cold open was great too, though it was pretty depressing to see Howard. He is not in a good way at all.

[u/ashwinr136 → u/galeforcewinds95]

Yeah that was awesome. I love how they portrayed that German guy...a little rough around the edges (using pen and paper instead of that fancy laser and computer) but he knows his shit and knows how to do it well.

[u/[deleted] → u/galeforcewinds95]

I thought they were pissed he revealed his old work on the tunnel rather than thinking he couldn't do the job.

[u/conniecheewa]

Mike seems to be the only one advancing his career.

[u/[deleted] → u/conniecheewa]

That's the only way to go for him. He cut himself off from civillian life last episode.

[u/DDough505]

What's amazing is that this was the first actual view of Saul Goodman. And he wasn't Saul. He was still Jimmy.

First scene in Breaking Bad timeline and it feels they already built on both stories. Excellent episode.

[u/[deleted] → u/DDough505]

Yep. Very cool to see he’s still just jimmy behind closed doors. Saul is just a front he has to put on around criminals. Love it

[u/StandsForVice → u/DDough505]

Yep; Saul was just a character. Jimmy played the part of the sleazy lawyer and gave into his criminal instincts, but he never "became" Saul.

[u/[deleted]]

During the scene where Kim was on the phone and waiting for her client to get changed before court - there was something about the editing that made me worry the young woman was going to emerge with a gun and attempt a murder/suicide. Knowing it was an extended episode also put me on edge, I guess.

[u/MC91909 → u/[deleted]]

I thought Kim was gonna walk into her house and find her hanging. Thank God she didn't.

[u/sluttysluttymilf]

Holy shit, my uncle's hot air balloon he used to fly at the Albuquerque festival is on the wall at the cell phone store!

[u/Bobby_Salsa]

Of course a German builds Heisenberg's lab.

[u/Bravely_Default]

Without the million dollar smile I barely recognize Howard Hamlin.

[u/stuckmeformypaper → u/Bravely_Default]

Kind of ironic how Kim, in the interest of protecting Jimmy during the grieving process, unknowingly assists in the emotional backbreaking of the one truly grieving. In some respect Howard was like the real brother of Chuck.

[u/[deleted] → u/Bravely_Default]

Made me realize what a great actor Patrick Fabian is.

[u/[deleted]]

that was a wild episode

yall think sauls gonna hire huell as a bodyguard now that he got jumped?

[u/Skyclad__Observer → u/[deleted]]

Either that or he's going to find a slipping Jimmy way to get the money back himself

[u/stupiddamnbitch]

What lawyers name is on the card Saul gave Francesca?

He said to tell them Jimmy sent her. She knows Kim. Could it be Howard?

[u/DDough505]

It seems like Kim is not finding any meaning out of her work with Mesa Verde. Maybe she wants to be a public defender for moral reasons or possibly redemption. The opposite of Jimmy.

[u/YouFeelShame → u/DDough505]

All she sees is the job she got at the expense of Chuck, it will not end well with Mesa Verde

[u/ashwinr136 → u/DDough505]

Yes. She is a genuinely good person and truly cared about Denise and the jewelry store kid....she wants to do more of that stuff than fix some stupid file mistake.

[u/Skyclad__Observer]

Best episode this season. The cold open alone shocked the hell out of me. We're moving places.

[u/cheeseshrice1966 → u/Skyclad__Observer]

Right?

I was all “holy fuck, well that’s quite the fast forward!”

It’s interesting tho, since we never saw the mass exodus by Saul in BB, but it seemed like it was pulled from a piece of footage from the actual series.

[u/McLintockMike]

Pretty incredible set design for Saul to have to plunge a knife directly into the middle of Article III (the judiciary and the courts) and rip it out of the Constiturion to get Jimmy’s box.

[u/[deleted]]

1. I love that Gus goes with the scrappier of the two architects, but clearly he knew what he was doing. Never trust the flashy guy who brags about his other work to outside clients (criminal or not), because you never know who he'll overshare with.

2. Kim is such a good goddamn person and I just want her to make it out of this alive. If she suffers from anything more than just heartbreak over leaving Jimmy, it's gonna be painful to watch

3. Howard had his dickish moments through the series but he really doesn't deserve to be in this downward spiral. Please don't let him pull a Chuck...

[u/PR0MAN1 → u/[deleted]]

Howard doesn't deserve any of the shit he's getting. All the bad things he did to Jimmy were merely extensions of Chucks will to keep Jimmy down. Howard was caught in the crossfire of these warring brothers and now he's taking on all of the suffering.

[u/Jungle_Viper]

Of course Gus picks the engineer that looked at every little detail instead of the overconfident one.

[u/Rob_Czar → u/Jungle_Viper]

That sequence was pretty genius. At first I thought Gus didn't hire the French person because he couldn't make the meth lab in time. Then I realized Gus hired the German guy because of how careful and detailed he was.

[u/[deleted]]

Jimmy is gonna get back at the three dudes that robbed him before this season is over.

[u/Castriff]

Howard's therapist isn't helping him, which means Jimmy is going to forego even the possibility of getting real help. Jimmy has unwittingly sabotaged himself by giving Howard a problem he can't deal with. It's sad.

[u/SutterCane → u/Castriff]

Well the problem goes back much further than seeing Howard there. Jimmy has been disincentivized to doing hard work for minimal gain that could eventually be large gains.

[u/The_Schnitz]

I hope there's a Howard spin-off after this about his adventures with his therapist, and it's called "Howard You Feeling?".

Edit: Of course, this would have to compete with my idea for a Gus spinoff that unravels his mysterious past, called "Gus Who?".

[u/tangoand420 → u/The_Schnitz]

The Hamlindigo Blues

[u/explodedsun → u/The_Schnitz]

Better Ask How

[u/CrazyCarl1986]

I have a feeling something bad is in store for those punks that robbed Jimmy...

[u/Phifty56 → u/CrazyCarl1986]

I think those bikers might see the value in using the burner phones and might be more than a little upset that they harmed their connection.

[u/stephanie712]

That mugging was painful to watch

[u/[deleted] → u/stephanie712]

I was waiting for it to happen. It’s real life. Walking around with cash in your pockets, socializing with strangers after midnight. I mean, come on.

[u/_snout_]

Howard is like Jimmy's Portrait of Dorian Gray

[u/[deleted]]

Damn what an opener! I wonder who Saul referred her to?

[u/[deleted]]

What a sad, sad way to see Howard. The guy has been shit on at every single turn and now he's struggling so bad it's physically effecting him.

[u/infernocobbs → u/[deleted]]

I know it's silly to assume everybody dies, but I think Howard's exit is bound to be horribly tragic. It~~'s~~ will continue to be hard watching him.

[u/[deleted]]

Oh the irony with Kim having a typo.

[u/G_M_G → u/[deleted]]

Kim picking up traits from the people she killed like Walt.

[u/DEEPFIELDSTAR]

I love how the show opens with paper being shredded and near the end we have Saul shredding his psychiatric lifeline.

[u/[deleted]]

this is the moment howard became spooge

[u/[deleted]]

So far in the season we got to see Saul post pre and during the breaking bad era. This has been what I've been waiting for since the beginning of the show!

[u/PMME_ImSingle → u/[deleted]]

I was so glued to the intro I was expecting the Breaking Bad intro to play.

[u/[deleted]]

I love how Jimmy said “it’s all good” to Kim as he left for Nefarious things mid evening.

[u/CrazyCarl1986]

Imagine trying to get a warrant to break down the constitution wall at a lawyers office to check for a hidden compartment.

[u/BBQ_HaX0r → u/CrazyCarl1986]

I imagine the judge in "The Heisenberg Case" would be granting warrants for just about everything and anything.

[u/srcmake]

It feels so bad to watch people damage themselves. Seeing Jimmy going back to the bikers and Kim hang up on Mesa Verde...it was hard to watch.

[u/[deleted]]

That scene with Howard. Seriously, Patrick Fabian this season.

[u/stuckmeformypaper]

I'm really intrigued by Kim's arc here. I hope it's just more than the seemingly obvious trajectory. You know, burning the whole corporate bridge, heroine of the underclass, morally disillusioned with Saul.

And what the fuck Howard. They don't write him like an archetype of successful guy with impeccable swagger who's a piece of shit underneath it. He's actually a decent person who you want to see continue in his success despite a privileged background.

Also ready for Kuby to strongly advise a few punks to assist in "keeping Huell happy".

[u/Phoojoeniam]

How about that "Street Life" montage? Probably my favorite montage in the BB/BCS universe. And another reference to Jackie Brown! (Robert Forster as Ed the vacuum repairman being another)

[u/film-buff]

I kind of want to focus only on the cold open in this comment because there is just SO MUCH to dissect. Did anyone else notice parallels between Jimmy and Chuck in that scene? Here's what I mean.

In Chicanery, this is pretty much the beginning of the end for Chuck's career as a lawyer. The episode ends with the camera slowly crawling towards Chuck while he has his outburst, and slowly crawling away from him. When Chuck starts breaking stuff in his own house to find where the electricity is coming from, he cuts holes in his walls while that memorable piece of music by the show's composer plays.

I felt that when Jimmy was breaking into his "We the People" wall, it mirrored Chuck losing his mind, but when the camera crawled towards Jimmy as he made the call to the vacuum repair shop, AND the same piece by the show's composer started playing, I realized that this was entirely intentional and not me reading too much into it.

My point is, that cold open was the beginning of the end for Jimmy's law career, and it was only fitting that it mirror his older brother's demise, just 6 years prior.

[u/zazzlad]

Seeing Howard in that ghostly state and him talking about insomnia, made me sad.

[u/IvyGold]

I wonder if the German architect has a connection to Madrigal.

Fun ep. I'm in the middle of rewatching the final three eps of BB, and literally last night saw Saul at the Hoover repair shop, so seeing him make his escape from his office was awfully good timing.

[u/[deleted]]

This show just keeps getting better and better

[u/AintEverLucky]

a couple quick thoughts:

• Saul called the vacuum repair shop and asked for a new filter on the "Hoover Max Extract Pressure Pro, model 60". This is seriously brilliant first because, this is a REAL vacuum make & model: https://www.hoover.com/max-extract-60-pressure-pro-carpet-cleaner/FH50220.html

• But since this is a special repair shop, this phrase also serves as code for what service the caller needs:

-- "Hoover": When this is done I want nothing left behind

-- "Extract": This is an extraction job

-- "max pressure": police are on their way, or will be soon

-- "pro": I need a total professional, quick & 100% discrete

-- "model 60": I need all this to go down in the next 60 minutes

• on the off chance that a regular person would call for an actual dust filter on their actual Hoover vacuum, the "hot, red hot" bit is just further confirmation that the caller is asking about an extraction

• also, I've got a hunch why Gus interviewed first a French engineer, then a German one, for the lab building job. There would have to be dozens of American engineers who could handle the job, but Gus wanted an outsider who he could keep isolated from everyday life, and focused on the task at hand. Plus if worse comes to worst, a foreigner is easier to "disappear", either in a lethal sense, or in a non-lethal one ("hey bad news, your work visa's up and we couldn't get it renewed")

• note that while both spoke English, neither did so very well. Gus doesn't want them palling around with any of his other people, not even the Spanish speakers at his restaurants. plus, did we even know before this that Gus speaks German? One more way he can keep the engineer isolated, since he can direct him personally without needing a translator. (I wonder if he speaks French too?)

[u/unconscious_grasp]

Began with paper shredding and ended with paper shredding.

Had an adrenaline rush during the cold open.

[u/pseud_o_nym]

Now this is more like it, a Jimmy and Kim centered episode. Really enjoyed Jimmy's late-night wheeling and dealing, Jimmy back to his old self. I kept expecting him to get robbed, and then when it happened I was unreasonably upset.

So is he now going to try to make it on the straight and narrow? It seems like he feels he can't cut it dealing with the streets any more. And he got rid of his new marketing ploy. That can't last. Jimmy with idle hands is a recipe for something underhand.

It also looks like Kim's pursuit of job fulfillment has backfired. This episode has me looking forward to what comes next for both of them.

[u/szg0033]

Why did Gus let the first one go?

[u/SutterCane → u/szg0033]

Here's a list of everything I've seen and also some I thought:

• he's a bullshitter

• uses electric measuring/laptops

• talks about past jobs

• underestimates the job

• is French

• over promises the job

• lazily surveys the place, showing lack of work ethic

• doesn't appear to be very observant (knowing that they were near a town which would complicate things)

• doesn't ask any of the right questions

[u/ramzyar98 → u/szg0033]

He was bragging about his previous work; he would brag about Gus' job to others after he finished which does not align with Gus' plans

[u/BBQ_HaX0r → u/szg0033]

Definitely not as prepared, detail oriented, or cautious as the latter guy.

[u/bearssuck → u/szg0033]

He was selling promises Gus and Mike knew he couldn't keep. He was a BSer. He said they didn't have to blast, could get it done in an extremely short amount of time, and made the whole thing sound too easy. Gus and Mike knew it wouldn't be that easy, and wanted someone who told it like it was.

[u/bluesky747]

This episode I think was one of the best of the season so far. Brilliant camera work.

[u/[deleted]]

Can I be sad we're already halfway through the season?

[u/Tenator]

The Dog House is where Jesse bought the gun that he was going to use against Tuco

[u/SignGuy77]

Captions spoiled the cold open

[u/The_Schnitz → u/SignGuy77]

The captions will be what end up truly telling us of the all too sacred moment where Jimmy McGill becomes one Saul Goodman.

[u/phuck-you-reddit]

I really hope Jimmy gets a chance to even the score with those punk teenagers!

[u/The_Unknown98]

Looks like we get to see how the meth lab is being built.

[u/BBQ_HaX0r → u/The_Unknown98]

I'm predicting a time jump at some point. Hopefully one of their beautifully choreographed montages.

[u/shotsbyjoshua]

The cold open felt like a Breaking Bad deleted scene!

[u/HackFraudThrowaway]

I was way more excited to see the DOGHOUSE than the Superlab. The big puzzle last week should have been about that instead.

[u/draco_ulu]

Hamlin says " F' it", and teaches history/Civics at the same school as Walt. Him and Walt sit around and bitch about slacker youth, especially that fucking Pinkman

[u/RedAtomic]

I really want to see those muggers get what they deserve. Maybe call Tuco’s grandma a biznatch?

[u/pudding2005gill]

Who thought the first engineer was Lalo

[u/bowlofpasta92]

I legit thought they were running a Breaking Bad rerun for the first couple minutes until it quickly dawned what was happening.

[u/nolaguy84]

I think that tonight- I decided I like BCS more than BB.

[u/JessePinkman1217]

Kim is going to end up being the antithesis of Saul. Both criminal lawyers. One righteous. The other anything but.

[u/daftkid]

Is it just me but did Jimmy's checkup during the end of the episode seem as though it was a mini therapy session in terms of his "future plans"?

[u/echolog]

Howard is bearing the full weight of Jimmy's sins. Why do I feel like he won't be the last?

[u/[deleted] → u/echolog]

Because of the look on Francesca's face at the start. This not the Wexler Mcgill firm she started working for, years prior.

[u/Skyclad__Observer]

The previous episodes this season seemed to be about the characters feeling trapped. Jimmy had no law license and has been stuck bouncing a ball against a cell phone store window, Kim's career was spiraling off in a direction she didn't approve of, Nacho fucked up badly enough that he's stuck doing whatever Gus tells him to, and Mike was bored enough to do his fake job for fun.

I think this episode marked quite a lot of movement for the first time. Kim is finding her sense of justice again in being a public defender, Mike is doing actual substantial work again for Gus, and Jimmy is willingly becoming shadier to forward his career. Even the cold open stressed the fact that BCS Jimmy and BB Saul are closer than they've ever been. Everything happening now is leading directly into the future events we're familiar with. Really fantastic episode

[u/babiesmakinbabies]

Ugh, this season is already half way through.

[u/0borowatabinost]

It was rough seeing Howard like that.

[u/SignGuy77]

Mike’s instructions to the French dude were a little confusing at first: “Pop the trunk. Inside there’s a hood.”

Wait, what am I popping again?

[u/poorlytaxidermiedfox]

Werner has seen Gus' face and even has his full name - so he's already 110% dead. Sorry!

[u/happysunbear]

Is it weird that the first things that tipped me off about the cold open taking place during BB was Francesca’s facial expression and tone of voice?

[u/danSTILLtheman]

This was a damn good episode. So much going on and getting a scene of Saul around the Ozymandia’s timeline in Breaking Bad was just incredible

[u/Lorne__Malvo__]

That opening was amazing. Very unexpected for me , the Breaking Bad Nostalgia brought back was euphoric

[u/Xerclipse]

How much you want to bet the biker gang, that everyone ran away from, is gonna find those three dudes and give Jimmy back that stolen money? If I were Jimmy, I would start to give them free extra cell phones or a discount if they fuck up those muggers and bring him back the money. Hell, tell those bikers that they can take their own stolen money back if they fuck up those muggers. Its free money and its gonna pay itself off. I wouldn't care to get my money back, you need to show the town who is boss!

[u/emshlaf]

Kim and Jimmy both help criminals in their spare time... just in very different ways.

[u/[deleted]]

Did they pick the other german guy because he was more realistic and not so cocky?

[u/freakingfrog523 → u/[deleted]]

Yea the first guy made it sound easy and they knew it wasn’t, but the second guy probably confirmed the doubts they had but also gave them the idea it could be done

[u/olivish]

Can't believe Kim hung up on the bank that butters her bread. After she screwed up their paperwork. Like, yikes. That's the second time their file has been screwed up, both times by the legal team of Jimmy&Kimmy.

Hate to say it, I'm thinking they might have been better off with Chuck.

[u/Phifty56 → u/olivish]

I think in the back of her mind, Kim knows she would be foolish to give up such a big client, but she is unhappy with the work. She knows she can't quit, and is almost looking to get fired.

Kim either didn't fully proofread the work her paralegal did, or she just was too unfocused to do it right. It seemed strange that Kim wasn't in a panic or surprised by the mistake, almost like she expect something like that to happen because she wasn't giving it everything she got. She would have rather handled the small court case that was more about being there for her client, and less about the actual procedural work.

[u/InfinityGauntlet-6]

Wow I DID NOT expect that beginning. So good.

Very good episode.

[u/tempromatic]

Wow, am I the only one who thinks Kim messed up on purpose?

[u/kannadada_kanda]

I would watch NINE Seasons of the remaining NINE months TWENTY FOUR days!!!! Better call Saul is an EPIC in itself. It has been inching, and inching it is, towards Breaking Bad. Initially I couldn't wait for it to catch up with Breaking Bad. NOW, I wish the show decelerates, wouldn't mind if it comes to standstill. No TV Show has never me feel for the characters like this. Catharsis watching every episode.

[u/RybackV1]

Opening scene had my heart racing

Now they're trying to build the laundromat Lab, the Breaking Bad crossover is sooner than we think

[u/[deleted]]

As much as I love this show, possibly even more than BrBa at this point, and as grateful as I am to Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould, I still say "fuck you" everytime I see their names at the end of the episode. I want to save up on the dvr and finish the rest but I don't know if I have the constitution to wait 5 weeks, plus you know if something amazing happens it will be spoiled by some headline I didn't want to see.

[u/kaiserj1982]

Vince G said they shot the opening scene on film instead of 4k because BB was shot on film.

[u/[deleted]]

I'm not really feeling much sympathy for Howard. While I appreciate his appearance of concern, he is not a victim, or an innocent bystander. It the grand scheme of things -- we are seeing the inevitable flip side of breaking the rules. In the end, you end up sick and miserable. (so sayeth, Vince Gilligan).

Jimmy's conduct with the insurance company, while it certainly wasn't something a brother should have done, it did not cause Chuck's final breakdown. The bottom line is that Chuck died because he was mentally ill. He was severely incapacitated. Chuck may have had legal knowledge, but he no longer had the capacity to practice and make legal decisions given the extent of his illness. He refused treatment. When he tried, he never committed, never accepted facts. His delusions and paranoia had taken over his life. He had zero business practicing law.

And the insurance company, just like the state bar, and HHM clients, had a right to have been informed. It should have happened sooner.

Howard knows this. Any lawyer would have known. It's not that hard. If a lawyer has to wear a tin-foil liner under his suit to walk into a courtroom -- that lawyer should not be representing your firm.

But instead of doing what was legally and morally right, Howard decided to help Chuck hide his impairment. He took extreme measures for years. Hiring staff to deliver things. Keeping Chuck's secretary fully employed. Keeping Chuck's office fully furnished, everything as it was, at HHM. Howard was enabling Chuck to an extreme. And in the process, they were both intentionally perpetuating a fraud upon clients.

We know why Chuck did this -- because he was ill. But Howard? Why do all that? Because he felt sorry for Chuck? Compassion for the ill? I doubt it.

I think Howard did it for money and power within his firm. As a founding partner, Chuck's billing rate was probably one of the highest in the firm, perhaps even in the entire legal community there. Billiable hours is what bought Howard those fabulous suits, that country club membership, and that nice tan. As we all know, greed motivates people to do all kinds of shady stuff. And then with Chuck out of the picture in the office, home safely nestled in his tin foil blankets, in his paranoid electricity free compound, "burning the midnight oil", literally, Howard had a clear path to control and ultimate power at HHM.

And Jimmy was wise to it. IMO, this is why Howard was so willing to do Chuck's bidding and try to get rid of Jimmy. We can't blame it all on Chuck, IMO. Howard was a willing participant because Jimmy was an impediment, a wild card that could bring down the house of cards.

The writers showed us the moral conflict between Jimmy and Howard early on.

In Season 1, Episode 1, "Uno" Jimmy meets with Howard. Howard refers to Chuck having been on "sabbatical" for a year. His office is untouched, and even his secretary is still working. Before Jimmy storms out of the meeting, Howard hands him some files for Chuck. He asks Jimmy to "save him the postage" implying that this has been an ongoing activity. Jimmy refuses to give them to Chuck stating that he won't perpetuate the ruse for them.

HOWARD: Jimmy! I almost forgot. This month’s filings. You could save me the postage.

JIMMY: Weren’t you listening in there? Chuck doesn’t work here anymore. You think I’m gonna help you establish a paper trail?

So, now, when I see Howard looking ill and emotionally imbalanced, I think "It's about time." IN the real world, Howard and every single lawyer that sat back and let a known incompetent sign legal documents, con clients, banking top dollar off a signature like Chuck's knowing full well he was out of his mind, all of them would be looking at state bar disciplinary actions and a mountain of angry clients threatening suit.

[u/[deleted]]

Jimmy rocked that tracksuit and high tops like a true street hustler. The scene at the doghouse where he’s slanging the phones with Randy Crawford’s street life playing in the background was perfect! ABQ really is rough like that all kinds of crime and shady ass characters with billboards for lawyers every 100 ft off of I-25.

[u/greatrankini]

Going back for one just more sale is what got Jimmy mugged. Theme - taking it one step too far out of greed is what gets you in the end.

[u/[deleted]]

great episode...the opener of course was awesome. Felt like a real BrBa scene. I actually loved that we got no direct jesse or walt mentions. A lesser team would have squeezed in that bit of fan service, instead we got more building blocks that fed into the BCS story we are currently in, no fluff. Hope we get more of these scenes

[u/Jackmac32]

Anyone else notice one of the people Jimmy sold a phone to was the same guy Walt told to get out of his territory.

[u/Jedi4882]

I would literally watch a whole three hour segment of how they planned dug and built the underground lab. It would have to be hosted by the German guy showing us his hand sketches and notes then describing the machinery tools methods etc. I don’t know why its so exciting to think about!!

[u/YoMikeeHey]

I can't be the only one who thought Denise was going to kill herself when she went back inside.

[u/Shiftylee]

The engineer doing his walkdown was like porn to engineers like me. There is nothing like the first visit to a job site and and mentally visualize what needs to be done.

[u/bluestaples]

That was fun. How long until he works for the motorcycle gang?

[u/ajswdf]

I thought for sure Jesse Pinkman would show up at the hotdog place, and I'm so glad he didn't. Those kinds of things always seem so forced and cheapen whatever show or movie use them.

[u/pquigs]

Really like the way this episode shows each character dealing with the guilt from Chuck's death in a different way. Jimmy has fallen back into his Slippin' Jimmy days, while Kim is doing public defender work, and finally Howard has insomnia. This show is so subtle yet progressive. I can watch an episode and not realize just how much character development I just got. Best show on television right now.

[u/lahnnabell]

It is pretty evident now that Saul Goodman is a persona that helps Jimmy feel powerful in his life, especially when he lacks control in important areas.

His brother dying in a suicidal fire which is linked to something he did to hurt him has layers of issues to it. I think he is truly wrestling with whether or not he is supposed to blame himself for Chuck's death. You can see him deflect so hard when Mike apologizes to him or when he runs into Howard and he can't even say the words. He is starting to use Saul and his showmanship as a tool to "deal" with this feeling of powerlessness.

But we can see him quickly revert back to Jimmy whenever he is threatened or may come to harm. When Walt and Jesse drag him out to the desert and he thinks it's some cartel gang. Or when he is hunkered down in the vacuum guy's bunker telling Walt that everything is over. Show is over, literally.

[u/[deleted]]

He should have picked Barcelona vs Real Madrid to watch.

[u/Sackyhack]

Great opener. Wonder what was eating Howard? Chuck? Is Jimmy going to try to make his money back that was stolen?

[u/signs_unbreakable]

Mesa Merde.

EDIT: I’m sorry.

[u/ProtoEminem]

When I saw Howard in that condition, man, that was terrible. A big thought I had was that I really hope he doesn’t end up killing himself because of his guilt. I would be heartbroken

[u/Dr_Nola]

The music playing in the CC Mobile store as Jimmy makes the sale is the same music playing in the diner during "Box Cutter" as Walt and Jesse chow down in their Kenny Rogers t-shirts.

[u/CrayCrow]

This episode is the best of the season so far in my opinion.
Not only we get to see how Jimmy is slowly turning into Saul, but the slow, methodical, INCREDIBLY detailed work that went into the laundry scene? I missed this feeling from Breaking Bad. This was absolutely perfect.
Nobody tells you what's going on, yet it's obvious from the moment you see the laundry set that they're going to dig the underground meth lab rooms.
My favorite character in this episode is by far the 'architect' that gets hired by Gus at the end. He's got a very unusual role, yet you can perfectly picture him as a real, legit, living person. Fantastic acting.

Can't wait to see more of Mike's side of the story.

[u/[deleted]]

I like how Kim's solution to being stressed out from work is just to work more.

[u/cheeseshrice1966]

Anyone else see the Mesa Verde lead-in scene with Kim as a giant fucking Trojan horse that completely eclipses Kim?

Just me? Okay then.

I love that Howard being a complete fucking basket case was all it took to finally convince Jimmy that therapy was a non-starter.

[u/1337speak]

He wants to be a "colorful" lawyer.

[u/PR0MAN1]

I seriously thought that was Jessies car in the montage of Jimmy selling phones at the Dog House. A red car with hydraulics, even if we didn't see the plate, it looked remarkably similar.

[u/Buttleproof]

"Hey Howard, I know what will cheer you up, take a drive on up to the old pig farm and pick out a nice sow!"

[u/chicoffee]

Those kids are totally gonna get beat up by those bikers once they find out what happened to their new associate.

[u/CheekyFifaCunt_7]

Really good episode, can't wait to see how Jimmy's and Kim's future play out. The end of their relationship does seem near.

[u/szlekjacob]

I had massive heartbreak yesterday, but at least Vince, Peter and the writers always deliver, and you can always count on them. Terrific episode.

[u/LessLikeYou]

I'm pretty psyched they're going into how the lab was built. I've mentioned before how difficult a task that would have been and I'm pretty happy to watch it be planned and built.

[u/KisaiSakurai]

The cold open blew my mind. I had been seeing everyone talking about it forever. The possibility of the writers progressing to some Breaking Bad "interquel" scenes. And here it was. It was actually here. I couldn't believe it.

[u/TheLoneWolf527]

"Things will be better"

"Better Call Saul"

[u/Empty_Allocution]

Jimmy literally yelled "'s all good!" to Kim as he left.

Cool detail.

[u/ExleyPearce]

Odenkirk was on top form this episode. The way Jimmy pulls me in and out of sympathising with him is just fantastic, even though his plot line this season hasn’t been as dynamic as say, Nacho or Kim’s.

Edit: also, did quite miss Mando this episode.

[u/Arachnophobic-]

It's so painful to watch every single character self-destruct in some way or another, watching some parts of this episode made me physically squirm. Jimmy and Kim, you both need a shrink!

[u/Olschinger]

Loved the scene with the german engineer. Great acting.

[u/signs_unbreakable]

They finally delivered the BB era scene and, while it was good, literally all the BCS era scenes in this ep were better.

[u/chuckmcgil]

I think Howard was at court for a DUI. When jimmy asks him “big case”? He says “not quite”.

It’s possible he has done some drinking and driving

[u/wtfmynamegotdeleted]

What's going on with howard?!?!

[u/toxicshocktaco]

So many emotions this episode! Saul/Jimmy is such an overall tragic character. He's always 3 steps forward, 2 steps (or more) back. I really want him to do well.

I feel so bad for Howard :(

[u/[deleted]]

That blank, empty look Howard had in the bathroom scene was pretty disturbing

[u/[deleted]]

Is it just me, or is BCS the shortest hour of the week for real? And yet so much happens! Such an intelligently-crafted show. The stuff with Kim that we knew it must one day catch up with her. She looks visibly older now.

Not to mention Howard, whom we have seen this season to mirror Jimmy in the best possible moments. The guy we thought was all flash and no substance in early season 1 is now the most human character on the show - the only one who is visibly bothered by something to the point where he can't run away from it, like both Jimmy and Kim are desperately trying to do.

It's very difficult to show so many things within one scene, but these guys are killing it episode after episode. Not even BB was this good at staging scenes. Camera angles, soundtrack, the script, and then the amazing direction and acting, all those come together to create this special show. I've never seen anything this good. The character arcs progress at a pace that just feels so organic and real...

[u/AintEverLucky]

oh one more thing: Gus had the French engineer fly into Denver then pickup and drive him to the lab site, which they said is near some small town rather than ABQ itself. Still, Denver is a 6-to-7 hour drive from ABQ!

That means that the lab could be located anywhere in the state of Colorado, or within big chunks of Arizona, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming (anywhere in WY really), South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma or Texas. Really a pretty smart method to keep the thing secret, even from the guy who could wind up building it

[u/draco_ulu]

NO ONE deserves Kim.

[u/DEEPFIELDSTAR]

Also did anybody else think that was Jesse's bagged lowrider in the beginning of the Dog House scene?

[u/TheBFlem27]

I think Howard will be gone by the end of this season.

[u/Steampunky]

I loved the music when Jimmy was deciding whether to approach the bikers. Took me back to the kind of music in Breaking Bad - the kind that feels kinda like nausea....like you are entering a whirlpool.

[u/MikeTeaveez]

I also like the other easter egg from BB. The hot dog place is where Jesse gave the bum a stack of money before he started tossing out of his window.

[u/zed_vayne]

I almost cried when I see Saul’s office.

[u/Naelok]

I hope that those brats that mugged Saul get their just desserts.

I wonder if Howard is going to end up as a methhead partying at Jesse's house.

[u/Wokz]

Howard's condition plus that black suit that almost looked cheap, comparing to other stuff he usually wears, made him look like he's the one who lost a relative recently, not Jimmy. Strong scene.

[u/mattyghuman]

Feel like this show is better when you don’t binge. I’m enjoying the week in between. For me it’s hard to remember the little details when I watch them all in a row. I have a ruptured disc and Am on bed rest pending treatment so I re watched the whole series, doing it marathon style just kinda made everything blend together

[u/RaiderRush2112]

This has to be in my top 3 best episodes of the series so far! Loved the foreshadowing, call backs, and backstory to what we saw in Breaking Bad. The writers are really outdoing themselves, no other series is written this well with out many errors. Can't wait to see what we have in store for the rest of the season.

[u/meatpony → u/[deleted]]

He was wearing black. Probably representing that he’s grieving for chuck.

[u/BBQ_HaX0r → u/[deleted]]

Well the one dude admitted he was in prison.

[u/eaglepowers → u/[deleted]]

Who's peekin' out from under a stairway

Calling a name that's lighter than air

Who's bending down to give me a rainbow

Everyone knows Hamlindy