![]() Looking back on the season, there feel like two distinct peaks. Was the season worth 10 hours of our time? I’d say yes, for the nuances that we got along the way: Jimmy’s search for identity, his delicate relationship with Kim (oh, and there’s clearly a lot more backstory there to mine), Chuck’s strange, sad and awful breakdown… Oh, and the incredible Jonathan Banks as Mike. And that journey was pretty exciting, from a media critic’s viewpoint. Heck, the biggest surprise of “Better Call Saul,” for viewers, was probably just in figuring out what kind of show it was. For those with expectations drawn from loving five seasons of “Breaking Bad,” this might have been a disappointment. No explosions, no jaw-dropping twists, no unexpected deaths (Marco’s untimely passing was pretty well telegraphed in advance)… “Better Call Saul’s” first season ended as quietly as it began. Timeline-wise, this raises some questions (the original 1977 film isn’t explicitly set in New Mexico the 2006 film is, but “ Better Call Saul” is set approximately in the year 2003…). ![]() “Ever seen ‘The Hills Have Eyes’? It’s a documentary!” is just one of the many slams Jimmy unleashes against New Mexico right before abandoning his Bingo customers. There’s so much for Jimmy to say, it just takes until the end of the episode for him to decant it. But what makes the line really heartbreaking is that it’s a lie. When Jimmy admits to the reality of his new situation, Kim compliments him on his Zen-like attitude. Sometimes, the best lines are the most honest. “He’s my brother, he thinks I’m a scumbag… There’s nothing else to say.” (Maybe this also belongs in the period piece section.) Best Quote $5.50 for two beers? Even in a Chicago dive, that’s a good deal. That dedication to avoiding change, to being willfully blind to both the reality of his situation and what he’s taken from his brother, is far worse a situation than a simple “allergy” to electricity. Not only is he fully committed to his shut-in lifestyle, but while he’s clearly changed, he sees no potential for Jimmy to do the same. READ MORE: Will Audiences Keep Dialing In To ‘Better Call Saul’? What’s Wrong With Chuck? In the time before our magic pocket computers, connecting with the people in our lives was both a lot simpler and a lot trickier. The reason we’ve been tracking these elements is that there’s something very very interesting in looking at how just jumping back in time by a decade or so changes the subtleties in human communication. Of all the details that most struck me as old-school, Marco reaching behind the bar to make “a local call” on the bar’s landline was particularly special. We’ve basically now arrived at the key turning point in Jimmy’s evolution into Albuquerque’s most exclusive strip mall attorney - or, as Chuck put it last week, a “chimp with a machine gun.” And ironically, it’s all Chuck’s fault for breaking Jimmy’s heart Jimmy’s decision to abandon all his original ambitions and principles ultimately feels like a massive crisis of faith - one we know Jimmy will never really recover from. So really, this week the biggest tie-in is the fact that… On The Journey From Jimmy to Saul Instead, the Marco in question - played by Mel Rodriguez, currently charming Betty Draper on “The Last Man on Earth” - is Saul’s crime scene buddy from Chicago, previously only known as “Alley Guy.” (Hey, if “Mad Men” can give Don a secretary named Dawn, two separate shows in the “Breaking Bad” universe can have Marcos.) This episode (despite its name) has nothing to do with Marco Salamanca, one of “Breaking Bad’s” legendary murdering Cousins. ![]() Kevin Costner’s appeal is timeless.) Remembering What Hasn’t Happened Yet (The “ Breaking Bad” Tie-In) Also, lying about being Kevin Costner isn’t cool. Jimmy and Marco’s conning bender might not have crossed into felony territory, but it certainly wasn’t the wisest move. Except, of course, for the most obvious interpretation. “I know what stopped me, and it’s never stopping me again,” he says before driving off into a lawless future.Ī “World’s Greatest Lawyer” coffee cup comes crashing down to Earth - and with it my ability to interpret what each of these moments has to say about each episode. The only complication is when Marco dies halfway through one last con, and Jimmy realizes that he no longer feels obligated to prove himself to Chuck, or to anyone. Jimmy comes out of it realizing that he needs to go home especially after getting a call from Kim that brings with it a perfect job opportunity: A partner-track position with another law firm. Following his breakdown, Jimmy heads back to Chicago to reunite with Marco, a move which turns into a week-long scamming binge.
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