Monday night's episode of Better Call Saul (non-car) (SPOILERS)

"WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe" (wesbarton89)
03/11/2015 at 11:51 • Filed to: None

Wow. That episode was insane. There will be spoilers in this post, so read at your own warning.

I watched the episode yesterday evening, and based on how episode five ("Alpine Shepherd Boy", formerly titled "Jello"), ended, I knew we'd be diving deeper into everybody's favorite cleaner/enforcer/parking booth worker/troll, Mike Ehrmantraut. But man, I didn't expect what we got.

Episode six, titled Five-O, goes into Mike's mystery with the Philadelphia PD. Mike's son, Matty, also a Philly cop, was killed months before Better Call Saul started. Three months following his death, his partners in the force show up dead. The next day, Mike is in Albuquerque. Some guys from the Philly PD show up at his door, and he's taken in for questioning, as he's a suspect in their death. Mike calls Saul/Jimmy to serve as his lawyer, to set up a little deal to get the cops off his back.

We later learn that Mike's son was killed by his partners, due to illicit dealings and kickbacks, and that his reluctance to finally accept the kickbacks gets him killed. Since he was so reluctant to be corrupted, his partners feared that he would rat them out, so they disposed of him.

Matty was reluctant to go through with this as was said, but Mike told him to do it anyway. We learned it's essentially Mike's fault that his son died.

There's far more to the episode than that, it's very nuanced, and greater depth than my reviewing skills can handle right now. But, my next point is this.

Jonathan Banks' acting in the final scenes of the episode. We see Mike Ehrmantraut, one of the hardest, most stoic characters in the BB/BCS cry . When he's explaining to Matty's widow, and coming clean, the way he breaks down when he delivers the line, "I broke my boy!" It will send chills down your spine, and you'll get a case of the feels as well. He deserves an Emmy for this scene alone. Just the raw emotion, the heartbreak that Mike is experiencing, that we've never seen before, and Jonathan Banks just kills it. The pain in his face, and in his voice.

I think it's better than any of his other performances of either show in this universe. Saul/Jimmy is only in the episode for just a few short minutes, and that's all he really needs. I loved this episode, and I think Better Call Saul certainly has the potential to live up to Breaking Bad. Maybe it won't be as good, but it's certainly putting up a fight, and episodes like this are proof that Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould, and their team know exactly what they're doing.

Thoughts?

DISCUSSION (7)

BeaterGT > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
03/11/2015 at 11:57

Such an amazing episode. I really enjoyed how they built the suspense at the end of Alpine Shepherd Boy and then were able to tell the whole story, flashbacks and all, in one episode. It felt complete, not like other shows where they feel the need to drag things out. Also, very emotional. Breaking your son's will only for him to end up dead anyway. And the bar scene scam...so good.

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > BeaterGT
03/11/2015 at 12:01

It really was. Jonathan Banks can play a drunk scarily well, or even someone obfuscating being drunk. BB and BCS tend to manage the time on their episodes very well. The only problem, I want more as soon as it's over.

It wasn't as bad with BB, because I started late, and could binge watch. But this week-by-week thing is hard. But, I don't really have to worry about spoilers as much this way.

Klaus Schmoll > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
03/11/2015 at 12:22

Yep, pretty intense episode. One of the best in the whole BB/BCS series. You always wondered what his bagage was, but I never would have expected something like this. Jusz sad that have to wait another week to see it continue. Just like you I started BB pretty late and could binge watch most of it.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
03/11/2015 at 12:50

Dude I have the exact same problem. My wife and I did the same thing with BB, started the show right before the last season started so we caught up like crazy - like fiends we also were addicted to the blue meth . Now we've got the same itch with BCS. We have a tendency to record and watch later though so i may intentionally put us behind, if i can hold off. Only other stuff we're really watching on TV right now are 30 minute sitcoms, so we zip through those all the time.

Epic episode, my only huh? moment was why didn't he pick up the "empty" gun that the cops lifted off him. Why leave evidence behind?

I figured out why he went into the women's room real fast my wife was like "WTH IS HE DOING?" I was like "He was holding his shoulder, my guess- gunshot wound he's trying to bandage" Couple seconds later -OOOOOO

StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8 > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
03/11/2015 at 14:07

Really liked this episode. I was a little worried watching episode 1 on how good this show would be, but it's been getting better with every shot.

ranwhenparked > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
03/11/2015 at 15:41

I was impressed that they showed Philadelphia police cars pretty accurately and didn't just take whatever NYPD or LAPD liveried cars were in stock at the theatrical car rental company and slap Philly badges on the sides. Because that happens a lot.

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > ranwhenparked
03/11/2015 at 16:55

Gilligan and Co. tend to do their research very well for the most part. I've never seen a Philly cop car, but it doesn't surprise me that they would take great care in making it look authentic. They always seem to take great care in their job.

Imagine if Gilligan's team ran a restaurant business, with different dishes from all over the world. They'd all be authentic, and taste great, and you would go broke very quickly.