Margaux and I liked this week’s Better Call Saul. Directly below these words are some more words detailing why.
Trevor: Man, you just knew Jimmy was gonna get short shrift as soon as Chuck suggesting taking the case to HHM. Knowing didn’t make it less frustrating, though.
Margaux: And Chuck ended up confirming to Jimmy’s face what, at least I always suspected, that he never thought Jimmy was worthy of calling himself a lawyer. It was a surprising gut punch, starting with Chuck strongly suggesting they take the Sandpiper Case to HHM. I know Chuck is feeling a little better but this is huge shift for him.
Trevor: Yeah, and as much as I know it pains Jimmy to admit it, HHM is the place where the case could actually gain traction. Just those boxes in Chuck’s house represent months of work for the two of them, and Chuck’s right when he asks Jimmy how long the Sandpiper residents actually have.
I gotta say: as much of a dick as Howard Hamlin is, I thought the reception Chuck got at HHM was really sweet.
Margaux: Really? I thought it was just dickishly, over the top enough to be seen as sweet. I rolled my eyes because it felt like, “welp, Chuck’s a goner.”
Trevor: I thought it was a nice gesture. I’m sure it was calculated as hell, but look how happy it made Chuck!
Speaking of Hamlin, he was on a fuckin roll in “Pimento.” What a dick. He’s like the evil universe version of Ted Chaough from Mad Men. I’m glad that Vince Gilligan has promised to flesh out Hamlin’s character, because right now he’s the closest thing that Better Call Saul has to a mustache-twirling villain.
Margaux: I wasn’t surprised that Hamlin wanted to cut Jimmy out, regardless of Chuck’s phone call, as Jimmy put it, they’re off playing in “separate sandboxes.” It was the way he snapped on Kim that caught me off guard, surely he let her in on the details once he told her to close the door, but there was definitely something bigger up Hamlin’s ass in that scene and I want to see more flashes of that. His wrath isn’t reserved purely for Jimmy.
Trevor: I need to know why he bears such animosity towards Jimmy. I have a hard time believing that Jimmy was cut out of the Sandpiper cause solely because of Chuck’s phone call.
Margaux: Agreed. There’s some deeper, Godfather-esque beef going on between Chuck, Hamlin, and Jimmy, what we’ve seen is only the tip of the iceberg.
Trevor: Lots of deep-seated resentments, some of which came to light in that explosive argument between Jimmy and Chuck at the end of the episode. Jimmy is ever the underdog, and continually underestimated, and I like that he’s not taking anyone’s shit. I almost cheered when he refused to give the case to Hamlin (and called him a “pig fuck” in the process).
Margaux: He’s come a long way from the mailroom and to have all your work taken away from you, well, I think a lot of people wished they could say the shit Jimmy said to Hamlin, to their boss. But like you said earlier, Chuck did have a point, the two of them would just get buried in milieu while Sandpiper walks off with the case.
Trevor: The insult came when Chuck told Hamlin not to hire Jimmy – for the second time. And again, Chuck’s criticisms of Jimmy are valid as hell. But no one wants to hear that from their big brother. The chemistry between Bob Odenkirk and Michael McKean gets better every week.
Margaux: Calling Slippin’ Jimmy with a law degree the equivalent of a “chimp with a machine gun” was way harsh. Yes, they’re brothers, and I won’t pretend I know what that relationship is like, but watching their argument was like being a fly on the wall of a rough family therapy session. Woof.
I was super relieved that Nacho made an appearance in Mike’s storyline, I was wondering what he’d been up – besides planning something against Jimmy (most likely).
Trevor: I liked the Mike plot a lot. It didn’t relate to the rest of “Pimento” – even though that’s where the episode got its title – but it’s important (and very entertaining) to see Mike wading into the underworld. And straight jacking a guy’s guns (BTW, that guy was played by Steven Ogg, who voiced Trevor in Grand Theft Auto V).
Also, the Price character seemed like a proto-Walter White, except without any of Walt’s commitment. Mike has to explain to the guy that he’s now a criminal.
Margaux: That was an amazing speech. And I loved “it’s my nephews name” Price. But what I loved the most about Mike’s speech is how coolly prepared he always is, not only did explain to Price that he’s a criminal now, Mike managed to glean a lot of useful information from both sides – which I’m sure will come into play with Nacho later on and explain how Tuco came into the fold.
Also: fuck that dick who called Mike “Uncle Fester.” Eat parking lot cement, jerk.
Trevor: He didn’t know how real Mike keeps it. He even scared away the guy with the big beard! I loved Mike staring down Nacho over $20. Goddamn I’m glad Jonathan Banks is back on my TV.
Margaux: I think we’re starting to see shades of how Saul came to be. The last 20 minutes of “Pimento” was a pile on for Jimmy, everyone he trusts seem to be throwing him under the bus, he can’t count on Kim or Chuck to be in his corner – they’ll always side with Hamlin. So, will Jimmy take HHM’s deal? What happened to Jimmy huge, fancy office?
Trevor: I think Jimmy is in full-on “fuck you” mode, so whatever choice he makes, it’s probably going to be rash and fueled by spite.
Margaux: Things won’t go well at this week’s Bingo night.
Trevor: You wanna talk stars?
Margaux: I’d give it four stars, I feel like Better Call Saul is hitting the stride I felt was missing from last week’s episode. Odenkirk’s emotional performance struck such a nerve, if he doesn’t get nominated for an Emmy, riots should ensue.
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