Better Call Saul 1.05
Mar. 3rd, 2015 06:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenakIn which, at the end, yours truly protested "but can that be the entire episode already?"
On the one hand, nothing much happens in this one. Jimmy, having finally managed to get some potential clients call him, visits them and finds out that if you advertise, err, extravagently, some of the people who'll respond are just plain nuts. And some are kind old ladies getting their 170 dollars out of their tiny purses. This combined with Kim's comment about the elderly later at least gives Jimmy an idea, and in a priceless sequence which made me wonder whether Gilligan and friends can truly have the rights for the Harry Lime Theme (what are Anton Karas' heirs doing right now? Or David Selznick's?) finds a whole bunch of clients in a retirement home where he gives away jello in cups with the message "Need a will? Call McGill!" This is the first example of Jimmy advertising a la Saul, but you know, as of this point I'm actively rooting for Jimmy NOT to become Saul soon. Mostly because Saul doesn't have Chuck and Kim in his life anymore, and this episode made me realise I've become invested in these relationships pretty quickly.
The scene with Jimmy painting Kim's toenails while they chat about their respective crappy days was downright sweet. (Whereas BB era Saul doesn't seem to have a woman in his life he doesn't pay; certainly not one he's best friends with.) And the relationship with Chuck hits my soft spot for sibling relationships. The episode clarifies that Chuck's condition, while very real and painful for Chuck, is psychosomatic, not physical, when Doctor Clea DuVall demonstrates this to Jimmy and Kim by cunningly switching a device on without Chuck seeing or noticing. It also presents a real dilemma for Jimmy, when he's told he should commit Chuck to a psychiatric hospital. On the one hand, yes, Chuck needs therapy. On the other, there's no way that wouldn't feel like a horrible betrayal to Chuck, and the episode also clarifies Chuck, other than his light allergy, is still smart, full of lawyer-fu and caring, not harming anyone with his hermit existence. Then there is the fact Jimmy's arch nemesis wants Chuck uncommitted for financial reasons (or so Jimmy thinks). Not to mention Jimmy's suspicion that Chuck's condition gets worse when he worries abut Jimmy being back on the criminal path, though Chuck denies that. What to do? Unfortunately, I can't see any happy ending there. Say Chuck gets therapy, gets better, in the process accepting Jimmy having him committed was for his sake, then we still know Jimmy ends up as Saul and there's no way that will won't break Chuck's heart. Say Jimmy doesn't have Chuck committed, then once Jimmy has more clients like Nacho I foresee an awful revenge plot and/or just the type of living ruining that comes in this verse when making it in the criminal world. And again, heartbreak. In conclusion, try to stick to the slightly bend straight and relatively narrow for a while longer, Jimmy. Being Saul means better cars and more colourful suits, but it also means Walter White around the corner, and no more Kim and Chuck. Woe!
Of course, there's one relationship in progress which will survive into Saul Goodman's time. The last five minutes of the show are a pov switch from Jimmy (who finally pays Mike the correct parking fee) to Mike, reminding us of the mystery again: he's no more the cop from Philadelphia, not yet a master assassin and cleaner, but was there really nothing but this crappy job for him to do? Mike's routine after leaving his working place also includes a long silent exchange of looks with the woman whose house he drives to without ever leaving his car. Estranged daughter or daughter-in-law? I know Jonathan Banks said back in the day that he imagined Mike's granddaughter to be the daughter of Mike's son, not daughter, but that doesn't have to be necessarily the case since it was never mentioned on screen. Anyway, the grandkid is nowhere in sight, and since the show takes place with enough temporal distance from Breaking Bad it could mean she's not born yet. Or a baby to small to take to work, where the young mystery woman is obviously going. Next thing we know, Mike relaxes in front of his tv when some cops from Philly show up. As they do. And the only lawyer whose calling card happens to be at hand right then is...
So, guesses: No, I don't think Mike is just on holidays from a lucrative job for Gus and working in that parking booth because he's got nothing better to do He's not there yet. Otoh clearly he's done SOMETHING already, going by those unhappy faces at the end. (And also his depressing half measures tale in the mother show.) And I very much look forward to more Mike and Jimmy interaction, as their few scenes so far have always been golden. But here, too, one is tempted to yell: stay legit, Mike! Better for you and all those people you'll kill.
On the one hand, nothing much happens in this one. Jimmy, having finally managed to get some potential clients call him, visits them and finds out that if you advertise, err, extravagently, some of the people who'll respond are just plain nuts. And some are kind old ladies getting their 170 dollars out of their tiny purses. This combined with Kim's comment about the elderly later at least gives Jimmy an idea, and in a priceless sequence which made me wonder whether Gilligan and friends can truly have the rights for the Harry Lime Theme (what are Anton Karas' heirs doing right now? Or David Selznick's?) finds a whole bunch of clients in a retirement home where he gives away jello in cups with the message "Need a will? Call McGill!" This is the first example of Jimmy advertising a la Saul, but you know, as of this point I'm actively rooting for Jimmy NOT to become Saul soon. Mostly because Saul doesn't have Chuck and Kim in his life anymore, and this episode made me realise I've become invested in these relationships pretty quickly.
The scene with Jimmy painting Kim's toenails while they chat about their respective crappy days was downright sweet. (Whereas BB era Saul doesn't seem to have a woman in his life he doesn't pay; certainly not one he's best friends with.) And the relationship with Chuck hits my soft spot for sibling relationships. The episode clarifies that Chuck's condition, while very real and painful for Chuck, is psychosomatic, not physical, when Doctor Clea DuVall demonstrates this to Jimmy and Kim by cunningly switching a device on without Chuck seeing or noticing. It also presents a real dilemma for Jimmy, when he's told he should commit Chuck to a psychiatric hospital. On the one hand, yes, Chuck needs therapy. On the other, there's no way that wouldn't feel like a horrible betrayal to Chuck, and the episode also clarifies Chuck, other than his light allergy, is still smart, full of lawyer-fu and caring, not harming anyone with his hermit existence. Then there is the fact Jimmy's arch nemesis wants Chuck uncommitted for financial reasons (or so Jimmy thinks). Not to mention Jimmy's suspicion that Chuck's condition gets worse when he worries abut Jimmy being back on the criminal path, though Chuck denies that. What to do? Unfortunately, I can't see any happy ending there. Say Chuck gets therapy, gets better, in the process accepting Jimmy having him committed was for his sake, then we still know Jimmy ends up as Saul and there's no way that will won't break Chuck's heart. Say Jimmy doesn't have Chuck committed, then once Jimmy has more clients like Nacho I foresee an awful revenge plot and/or just the type of living ruining that comes in this verse when making it in the criminal world. And again, heartbreak. In conclusion, try to stick to the slightly bend straight and relatively narrow for a while longer, Jimmy. Being Saul means better cars and more colourful suits, but it also means Walter White around the corner, and no more Kim and Chuck. Woe!
Of course, there's one relationship in progress which will survive into Saul Goodman's time. The last five minutes of the show are a pov switch from Jimmy (who finally pays Mike the correct parking fee) to Mike, reminding us of the mystery again: he's no more the cop from Philadelphia, not yet a master assassin and cleaner, but was there really nothing but this crappy job for him to do? Mike's routine after leaving his working place also includes a long silent exchange of looks with the woman whose house he drives to without ever leaving his car. Estranged daughter or daughter-in-law? I know Jonathan Banks said back in the day that he imagined Mike's granddaughter to be the daughter of Mike's son, not daughter, but that doesn't have to be necessarily the case since it was never mentioned on screen. Anyway, the grandkid is nowhere in sight, and since the show takes place with enough temporal distance from Breaking Bad it could mean she's not born yet. Or a baby to small to take to work, where the young mystery woman is obviously going. Next thing we know, Mike relaxes in front of his tv when some cops from Philly show up. As they do. And the only lawyer whose calling card happens to be at hand right then is...
So, guesses: No, I don't think Mike is just on holidays from a lucrative job for Gus and working in that parking booth because he's got nothing better to do He's not there yet. Otoh clearly he's done SOMETHING already, going by those unhappy faces at the end. (And also his depressing half measures tale in the mother show.) And I very much look forward to more Mike and Jimmy interaction, as their few scenes so far have always been golden. But here, too, one is tempted to yell: stay legit, Mike! Better for you and all those people you'll kill.
