“The Right Thing”: A Review of Better Call Saul Season 1, Episode 7 “Bingo”

Episode: 107
Airdate: March 16, 2015
Directed by: Larysa Kondracki
Showrunners: Vince Gilligan & Peter Gould
Written by: Vince Gilligan (creator) & Peter Gould (creator); Gennifer Hutchison (episode)

After last week’s focus on Mike Ehrmantraut [Jonathon Banks] and his reasons for coming to Albuquerque, this week we spend more time with Jimmy [Bob Odenkirk]. Things with the Kettlemans are coming to a head, and Betsy [Julie Ann Emery] isn’t happy when people try to accuse her dear Craig [Jeremy Shamos] of any kind of malfeasance. So how do they take the increasing pressure? Click through for my synopsis and review.

<<Spoiler Alert: The following review will discuss Better Call Saul Season 1, Episode 7 “Bingo” at length, as well as discussing ongoing storylines.>>

Elder Law: A Review of Better Call Saul Season 1, Episode 5 “Alpine Shepherd Boy”

Episode: 105
Airdate: March 2, 2015
Directed by: Nicole Kassell
Showrunners: Vince Gilligan & Peter Gould
Written by: Vince Gilligan (creator) & Peter Gould (creator); Bradley Paul (written by)

Right up front, I need to make a brief mea culpa for this review: I’m enjoying Better Call Saul so much, that I’m afraid it’s beginning to impact my reviews. Tonight gave us insights into Jimmy’s character that somehow seem to make up for the foibles on display last week, as well as developing both Chuck and Mike Ehrmantraut. Granted, the Ehrmantraut piece comes at the very end of the episode, and is an obvious set-up for next week, but the focus on Chuck brings to mind the kind of early plot development and foreshadowing Gilligan and Gould showed us in Breaking Bad, specifically beginning with Season 2 (pink teddy bears, anyone?).

<<Spoiler Alert: The following review will discuss Better Call Saul Season 1, Episode 5 “Alpine Shepherd Boy” at length, as well as discussing ongoing storylines.>>

‘Sall Good, Man: A Review of Better Call Saul Season 1, Episode 4 “Hero”

Episode: 104
Airdate: February 23, 2015
Directed by: Colin Bucksey
Showrunners: Vince Gilligan & Peter Gould
Written by: Vince Gilligan (creator) & Peter Gould (creator); Gennifer Hutchison (written by)

Last week, before calling the Kettlemans with his anonymous warning, Jimmy struggled with his conscience, saying to himself, “I’m not a hero.” Based on the title of tonight’s episode, it would appear that maybe he actually is – but the kind of hero Jimmy is, is anything but conventional. Don’t mistake for a second that this sloppy, apparently out of control “little man” is, in fact, very much in control of his situation. And if he’s not really a hero, maybe the perception that he is can be more than enough.

<<Spoiler Alert: The following review will discuss Better Call Saul Season 1, Episode 4 “Hero” at length, as well as discussing ongoing storylines.>>

Nacho Guy: A Review of Better Call Saul Season 1, Episode 3 “Nacho”

Episode: 103
Airdate: February 16, 2015
Directed by: Terry McDonough
Showrunners: Vince Gilligan & Peter Gould
Written by: Vince Gilligan (creator) & Peter Gould (creator); Thomas Schnauz (written by)

Last week, Nacho [Michael Mando] gave Jimmy [Bob Odenkirk] an offer Jimmy felt he could refuse – but that doesn’t mean Nacho is forgetting about his plans for the Kettleman family. Jimmy, who is desperately trying to stick to the straight-and-narrow, finds himself suffering a major case of conscience, and the decisions he begins to make could have some pretty major consequences…permanent consequences. Click through for my complete review.

<<Spoiler Alert: The following review will discuss Better Call Saul Season 1, Episode 3 “Nacho” at length, as well as discussing ongoing storylines.>>