This week’s episode of Better Call Saul was light on plot but heavy on character development. Fortunately the characters all have plenty of meat on their bones and there was enough weight brought to the moments to stop what could have easily become a slow episode and turn it into something with a heavy dose of emotion.
In a nutshell, Jimmy tried on yet another new suit and went all Matlock on us. Chuck stole a newspaper and went nuts. Nuttier? Then Mike showed up and raised ALL the questions, and the episode faded to black.
Read on for the full recap and review.
The episode opens where we left off last week, with Chuck wrapped in his foil blanket while police knock at his door. He’s accused of stealing his neighbor’s paper.
Naturally, he refuses to open the door, citing his illness. One of the officers takes a look around while he tries to tell the other that he paid for the paper. The officer round back notices he’s cut all the wiring, things escalate quickly, and they are soon busting down the front door and hitting Chuck with a Taser. He collapses and wilts down against the wall, writhing in pain. It’s hard to tell whether the tasering or the outside world is hurting him most and it’s painful to watch. Crazy as Chuck may be, in this moment I feel for him.
Meanwhile, Jimmy’s meeting an eccentric (and seemingly wealthy) man in the desert. The guy saw Jimmy on TV, and feels he is in need of his services. The potential client is unfortunately a completely loony revolutionary who wants to secede from the United States.
Unsurprisingly, Jimmy’s eager to help.
“Ricky, I’m your man,” Jimmy says. There’s no way Jimmy is saying no to a million dollars in cash. Naturally, this is all too good to be true, and as Jimmy inspects his payment, we see the face of his client printed on the bills. Tax-free! Worth-free too. The vanity cash is pretty, but regrettably useless for Jimmy.
Moving on, and we are in the garage of his next potential client. This guy looks like he might be legit; he needs Jimmy for some patent law advice and after much build up we are treated to the invention.
Turns out, Tony the Toilet Buddy is a motion-activated voice chip attached to a commode, designed to give positive reinforcement while potty training children. In one of the episode’s most hilarious moments, the toilet spews out increasingly sexual sounding words of encouragement, much to Jimmy’s bemused horror. When Jimmy points this out, not discouraged but likening the invention to Viagra and its famous off-label usage, he’s thrown off the dude’s property.
Poor guy can’t catch a break. Maybe third time will be the charm.
Next up, we enter the house of an old woman. And then we wait. And Jimmy waits. And we wait some more. It’s comical in that we’ve all been there, waiting uncomfortably in an old relative or friend’s home while they potter about. She requires his assistance with her will, distributing her collectable figurines in the event of her death, and money being money and Jimmy not having much of it, he gladly accepts the case and pockets her $140. He’s got moxie!
Back to the office/salon, and Kim (Rhea Seahorn) is there. The two chat while Jimmy, on his knees, gives her a pedicure and a mighty fine impression of Tony the Toilet Buddy. The two discuss their day and Kim suggests elder law as a specialty for Jimmy. The scene is actually very sweet and I can’t decide if I want these two to remain friends or become more than that. Kim gets a phone call from Hamlin, revealing what has happened to Chuck and date night goes to hell.
They arrive at the hospital to find Chuck near catatonic. Jimmy makes a mad dash around the room, turning off all the electric things while the nurse tries to have him removed via way of security. A levelheaded doctor appears and Jimmy gets to explain that Chuck is “allergic to electricity”. Clearly, the doc isn’t buying any of this and engages in a little underhanded trickery, turning on Chuck’s bed and proving her point. She wants to have Chuck committed; it’s clear that his problems are psychological and not physical. Jimmy, either for loyalty and out of love for his brother, or maybe for reasons not yet disclosed, doesn’t want to believe it and says he will take Chuck home.
We learn that Chuck’s problems began two years ago, and six months after that he left his law firm. Seeing as these episodes seem to be tied to Jimmy’s bad behavior, I have to wonder what happened two years ago and whether this has something to do with him not wanting Chuck to get psychological help.
Out in the hospital hallway, Hamlin (Patrick Fabian) shows up. He doesn’t want Chuck committed either and Jimmy thinks it’s because he will become Chuck’s guardian, cashing him out of HH&M. So of course, to spite Hamlin, Jimmy says he wants to have chuck committed.
Instead, Jimmy takes Chuck home. The first thing Jimmy sees entering the house is the newspaper with his ‘heroic deed’ on the cover. Jimmy thinks Chuck got sick because he saw him in the newspaper and has returned to his “Slippin’ Jimmy” ways. Jimmy assures Chuck that the trick was just his way of advertising, a little “razzamatazz”. As usual, Chuck lays the guilt and righteous older brother persona on thick. Jimmy insists that his business is on the level. He quotes Kim’s spiel about elder law and Chuck perks up a little.
Content for the moment, Chuck makes a recovery and goes to brew some coffee.
Cut to Jimmy’s place and it seems he’s taken a liking to Matlock. So much so that he’s taking notes… on clothing? In the next scene, we find out why.
We’re at an old folks home and the snack of the day is Jell-O. Lots and lots of Jell-O. The theme to The Third Man plays while the old folks gobble down their Jell-O. The scene is glorious in a very Vince Gilligan way, in that absolutely nothing happens and yet it’s compelling viewing. Finally, we are rewarded with the purpose of this bizarre little act. At the bottom of every Jell-O cup is Jimmy’s smiling mug, along with the phrase “Need a will? Call McGill!”
Jimmy struts around the home in his Matlock suit, acting very much the part and making introductions. It’s truly a thing of beauty.
Next up, Jimmy’s pulling up to Mike at the tollbooth. Suspend your disbelief for a moment and just pretend he did some public defending we weren’t privy to in the interim. Jimmy hands Mike a business card and lets him know he’s now in elder law should he anyone he knows need his services. As is to be expected, Mike doesn’t take this so well.
Jimmy drives away, and our point of view stays with Mike as he finishes his shift. We follow him to a diner for breakfast and then street side to a home he's staking out. A woman pulls out of her driveway and stops by Mike’s car. She doesn’t say anything. He doesn’t say anything. They stare each other down and Mike raises an eyebrow. She drives off. It’s an uncomfortable but intriguing scene.
I want to speculate that this is his daughter but we’ll find out no more this week.
At Mike’s house and he’s relaxing with a beer and watching an old movie. There’s a knock at the door. He answers and a group of cops, both plain clothed and uniformed stand outside, waiting expectantly.
“Long way from home aren’t ya?” Mike asks.
“You and me both,” the cop replies.
And fade to black. It’s probably a good thing Mike has Jimmy’s card. It looks like he might be in need of a lawyer.
I have SO many questions. Who’s the woman? Why the cops? What did he do? Can somebody recap the episode for me? I just forgot everything that happened with Jimmy when Mike showed up.
Oh… right… I just did that. Until next week!
Better Call Saul airs 10pm/9c on AMC.