Spoilers for the whole series ahead. This was a hard one to get down to ten entries, because there were so many good options, as the long list of honorable mentions makes clear. The episodes below are unranked, and ordered by airdate.
"Mijo" - This is the second episode of the series, where Jimmy manages to talk Tuco out of killing the skater guys, representing his first brush with the cartel and demonstrating his wiliness in a bad situation. The negotiation sequence is one of the most intense and hilarious of the entire series. I'm thrilled that they brought Raymond Cruz back, and some of the other "Breaking Bad" alumni. This also has the first encounter with Nacho, and Michael Mando is already firing on all cylinders.
"Pimento" - The episode where the tensions between Chuck and Jimmy boil over, as HHM is brought on to the Sandpiper case. Jimmy learns what Chuck actually thinks of him, and his legal career, with all the consequences that this entails. It's incredibly poignant in retrospect, knowing that Chuck was right, but also more responsible for the creation of Saul Goodman than anyone. This is also the episode where Mike takes on a bodyguard job and gets to show off being a competent badass.
"Nailed" - I couldn't choose between the last two episodes of the second season, so I included both. "Nailed" has one of the next examples of the Chuck and Jimmy dynamic, where even when it seems like Jimmy has pulled off a brilliant maneuver, Chuck is so relentlessly arrogant, stubborn, and intelligent that he simply refuses to concede. The shock of him unraveling Jimmy's plan so quickly, and the cliffhanger at the print shop make this one of the most exciting hours of "Better Call Saul."
"Klick" - And here's the follow-up, where the whole episode is spent getting us to let our guard down, and believe that Chuck has finally turned a corner after his health scare. Instead, we get that great final shot, promising that the war between the McGill brothers will not only continue, but is bound to escalate to new heights. The visual of Chuck's house plastered in space blankets is one of my favorites. Also, special kudos to Ernesto, a character we sadly didn't get to see much more of.
"Chicanery" - The theatricality of the bar association hearing being prepared for Chuck's arrival is so good at setting up the fireworks to come, and I love that ominous shot of the "EXIT" sign that comes back in the finale. Jimmy pulls off one of his best misdirections with Huell's help, setting up a chance for Michael McKean to give what's probably his best performance as Chuck McGill. His rant in the final scene is so heartbreaking because the consequences are so immediately apparent.
"Winner" - The fourth season suffered for the lack of Chuck and some format changes, but the finale managed to leave me and Kim Wexler speechless. The transformation of Jimmy McGill into Saul Goodman started long before this, but the reinstatement hearing makes it clear that Saul has been pretending to be Jimmy for longer than we may have realized. It's fitting that we get Chuck back briefly in the cold open for some karaoke. Oh, and the whole Mike and Werner plot finally resolves.
"Wexler v. Goodman" - I did not expect Kim to be okay with what Saul pulled, but as the heartbreaking opening scene flashback makes it clear, we don't really know a lot about Kim Wexler up until this season. While watching Saul go after Kevin Wachtell and Mesa Verde is a lot of fun, it's also nerve wracking in light of the impact on Kim's career. Rhea Seehorn gets a juicy final scene to excoriate Saul, and then to pull the rug out from under him. Also, the ongoing Howard harassment campaign gets funnier.
"Bad Choice Road" - This one narrowly edged out the episode immediately before iit, "Bagman," where Mike and Saul have to make a trek through the desert. "Bad Choice Road," however, is more interesting because it's all about the resulting consequences. Tony Dalton's Lalo takes his place as "Better Call Saul's" most dangerous villain, ending the episode with a visit to Saul and Kim's apartment that is one of the best things the show has ever done. And Kim's not only in the game now, but a very good player.
"Carrot and Stick" - I'm sorry that I haven't given more time to Nacho and Mike, but their parts of the story honestly paled in comparison with Saul and Kim's. Even here, the excellent suspense and action sequences with Nacho facing off against the Salamanca cousins end up not being as entertaining as Kim threatening the Kettlemans, now running a memorable kitschy tax scam. I really wanted more out of Nacho's storyline, and his exit in the next episode feels more like a wasted opportunity than anything.
"Plan and Execution" - The climax of the Howard Hamlin harassment campaign is initially a lot of fun to see come to fruition, without all the complicated emotions involved in the similar one Saul waged against Chuck. However, the consequences catch up to Saul and Kim even faster, with the return of Lalo. Saul realizing the whole situation is out of his control, and the fact that the show's two major storylines haven't converged at all this season until now, ratchets up the tension to new heights.
"Saul Gone" - Finally, we see the end of Saul Goodman as Jimmy finally decides to do the right thing and it costs him everything. I love the cinematography, the callbacks, the flashback to Saul's conversations with all the other "Better Call Saul" and "Breaking Bad" tragic figures, and finally that final meeting with Kim. I have my quibbles with some choices - it really feels like Howard and Nacho should get some acknowledgement - but this is as good a finale as I've ever seen a show get.
Honorable Mentions: "RICO," "Switch," "Rebecca," "Fifi," "Fall," "Lantern," "Wiedersehen," "Bagman," "Something Unforgivable," "Rock and Hard Place," and "Nippy."
---
No comments:
Post a Comment