BWW Recap: Bingo, Blackmail, and BETTER CALL SAUL

Guys, guys, listen up, I have an announcement to make! Are you ready? Brace yourselves, here it is:

After tonight's episode, there are only three more episodes left in BETTER CALL SAUL'S inaugural season. I know, it's hard to believe. It feels like it just premiered yesterday. Let's take a moment to allow that to sink in.

All good? Great. Moving right along.

We've learned how Jimmy McGill becomes Saul Goodman. We've witnessed the softer side of Mike Ehrmantraut. Tonight, we'll watch Jimmy expand his brand (if you can even call it that yet) as he moves his headquarters from the back room of a sketchy nail salon to to a larger, for-real office.

And so the metamorphosis from Jimmy to Saul officially begins.

Well, at least sort of begins. As of now, he's still practicing elder law, and we all know that by the time Walter White enters the picture, you'd be hard pressed to find anyone in Saul's office who's there to establish a last will and testament for reasons unrelated to drugs or crime.

So how does the change begin? We'll all just have to watch and see.

Still curious? Watch the clip below to get your fill of BETTER CALL SAUL before tonight's episode, and then join me here and on Twitter @CourtHenley at 10:00 PM PST as I live recap the show!

---

10:00 : "Once again: I do all the talking. That's the only way this works." Just about sums up their relationship for...basically the rest of ever.

10:04 : Already done with Jimmy that quickly, Mike? You sure that's wise?

Actually, yeah, no, it probably is wise.

10:07 : "Some rocks you don't turn over." Sometimes I think I should start making a list of Life Wisdom gems from this show.

10:10 : One thing that always catches my eye about this show: the distinct camerawork/cinematography.

Wait - I'll get back to that thought, but what's Chuck doing outside?! He's trying to basically vaccinate himself against (or rather, build up an immunity to) electromagnetic fields? His whole condition still confuses me. Is it all in his head, is it a real medical condition, or is it a combination of both?

But back to the camerawork. It's great, it's distinct, and it gives the show a unique style that you recognize as soon as you see it.

10:15 : Alright, Jimmy, sure, you left that box of case files there accidentally. Right.

Wait, that's Jimmy's new office building? That place is like the Plaza Hotel! How do you go from a tiny little back room in a nail salon to a huge, open floorplan office in a luxury professional building? Move right on up, Jimmy! But maybe ignore that Cracker Barrel suggestion.

10:18 : Right, Kim. Took you long enough to catch on to that.

10:25 : Oh, those Kettlemans. When will they ever learn? It's always a good idea to take the deal. Always. Don't these guys ever watch Law & Order?

I don't know how Kim deals with these people. I'd have thrown a chair across the room by now. Why do people never listen to their lawyers?!

She's a great lawyer. No wonder Jimmy wants her as his partner. It's a shame those Kettlemans are so stupid.

10:27 : I don't love bingo, but if Jimmy McGill were the bingo caller, I'd totally be in that gym in no time. He was made to be a bingo caller. "B6, just like the vitamin you should be taking...keep things moving in the ol' GI tract..."

10:31 : And just like that, the Kettlemans are right back in Jimmy's hands.

They seem pretty insistent, though, about there not being any money, even though Jimmy literally saw them with the money in their hands (or rather, their duffle bag)...

They're so stupid! Or smart, I guess, depending on how you want to look at it, but in my opinion, they're stupid. Why offer someone a retainer that you can't pay unless you plead not guilty, which would basically lead to guaranteed prison time? You're basically paying Jimmy $30,000 to get you a lengthy prison sentence. I guess it's their loss, though!

10:40 : Poor guy, hauling all those boxes of files down to the parking garage all by himself. Oh wait, is that Kim? How terribly convenient! And what's that? She's been fired? That's too bad. If only there was a nice lawyer who had an opening in his new business...

But no, seriously, if only that were the case, because Jimmy's back in the nail salon and he could probably use a bigger office, too.

10:49 : Hang on a second, did we just witness the first off-the-books collaboration between Mike and Jimmy? Methinks we did! Those Kettleman prints are lighting up that house like stars in the night sky. Jackpot.

10:56 : Just when you thought Jimmy was using his criminal act (y'know, stealing that money) for his own benefit, he surprises us and reveals that he was doing it all to help Kim.

Also, he just used "kerfuffle" in a sentence and that makes me really really happy.

10:58 : At least Mr. Kettleman has some ounce of sense left in his brain. Although if he had any real sense at all, he would've never embezzled all that money to begin with...

You know, part of me feels a little bit bad for the Kettlemans. And then I remember how dumb they are, and those feelings pretty much disappear.

11:00 : Come on, Jimmy, just take that corner office for yourself. You know you want to...

Except I don't think he actually does. As evidenced by the little door kicking temper tantrum. He was this close to getting Kim, and just like everything else in his life, it was pulled out of his reach just when he really thought he had a chance. Quick, somebody give him a hug!

His heart is broken, but he must continue on, as always, as if his heart wasn't just ripped out of his chest and stomped on.

What did you think of tonight's episode? Are your pro-Jimmy & Kim, or do you think he's better off without her? And am I the only one who thinks the Kettlemans are dumb? Let us know in the comments below or chat with me on Twitter @CourtHenley!

To post a comment, you must register and login.