“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.>>

Biznatch: A Review of Better Call Saul Season 1, Episode 2 “Mijo”

Episode: 102
Airdate: February 9, 2015
Directed by: Michelle MacLaren
Showrunners: Vince Gilligan & Peter Gould
Written by: Vince Gilligan (creator) & Peter Gould (creator); Peter Gould (written by)

In an attempt to quickly hook viewers, AMC has gone with the two-night premiere (much the same as ABC did with Marvel’s Agent Carter a few weeks ago). It appears to be working, as AMC released initial viewing numbers last night showing that Better Call Saul had the biggest ever cable series premiere, with 4.4 million viewers in the prime 18-49 demographic. It’ll be interesting to see how those numbers move in the next few weeks. But on to the show. Last night’s premiere opened with a glimpse of Saul Goodman post-Walter White, flashed back to Saul’s pre-Saul days (when he was still Jimmy McGill), and finished with a huge surprise for fans of Breaking Bad. Things were looking pretty dicey for Jimmy – so how’s he doing tonight?

<<Spoiler Alert: This review of Better Call Saul Season 1, Episode 2 “Mijo” will discuss events and plot points revealed in the episode, and is written with the assumption that you have a basic knowledge of Breaking Bad (major plot points will not be revealed, but cross-over characters will be briefly discussed) – do not read through if you don’t want to be spoiled!>>

Slippin’ Jimmy: A Review of Better Call Saul Series Premiere – Season 1, Episode 1 “Uno”

Episode: 101
Airdate: February 8, 2015
Directed by: Vince Gilligan
Showrunners: Vince Gilligan & Peter Gould
Written by: Vince Gilligan (creator) & Peter Gould (creator); Vince Gilligan (written by) & Peter Gould (written by)

There was a fair degree of anticipation going into last night’s pilot episode of Better Call Saul, the latest outing by showrunners Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould, late of Breaking Bad success and adulation. Gilligan, who got his start with Chris Carter co-executive producing (and by 2000 executive producing) The X-Files, proved his chops beyond question with his masterful (and, according to many, best show of all time) turn creating and helming Walter White through his five years of transformation. One of the more interesting characters from Breaking Bad, Saul Goodman [Bob Odenkirk], White’s slick, slimy, and ethically challenged lawyer, is now getting his own prequel series. So, how well did the pilot do to capture our attention in a post- (or, in this case, pre-) Walter White world?

<<Spoiler Alert: This review of Better Call Saul Season 1, Episode 1 “Uno” will discuss events and plot points revealed in the episode – do not read through if you don’t want to be spoiled!>>