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| Rhea Seehorn |
Welcome to the TV Recap series Better Recall Saul that chronicles the adventures of Better Call Saul and a young criminal lawyer as he cuts his teeth down in ABQ (and his Breaking Bad buddies might stop by to wish him luck). Feel free to join every Tuesday as the adventures unravel and the story behind one of the funniest and sleaziest lawyers in TV history begins to take form and remind us why he is such a great character in the first place. Is this spin-off meant for greatness, or is it the worst idea that AMC has ever done? You'll have to read on to find out the truth.
Season 2, Episode 7: "Inflatable"
"For what it's worth, I think
you're a good guy."
- Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk)
Plot:
Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk) tries to help Mike Ehrmantraut (Jonathan Banks) with his issues involving the Salamancas by having Mike take the rap for the gun. However, the police aren't buying it. Jimmy is also growing weary of his position, choosing to invest in flashy outfits inspired by an inflatable man. This upsets his boss (Ed Begley Jr.), who asks him to get his act together. Jimmy refuses and leaves instead while moving his new office back to the old salon stomping grounds. Mike looks at a new home to protect his family in. Kim Wexler (Rhea Seehorn) also leaves her old job for an intriguing position. However, Jimmy insists that she go with him to start their own law firm. She agrees, on the grounds that they bill their names separately. In a flashback, Jimmy is seen making a moral decision to help a robber or be honest. He chooses to be a robber, stealing a small handful of money from his father's register.
Rating: 4 out of 5
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| Bob Odenkirk |
MVP:
Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk)
If there's one thing that the previous 15 episodes have shown, it's Jimmy's attempt to button up and fly right. He doesn't do it well, choosing to give into frivolous behaviors. However, this is the first time since he decided to take things seriously where he seems to be forming the path to Saul Goodman. From an incredible montage to playing bagpipes, he shines in this episode as the man who no longer cares about doing things the right way. It's curious what is in store for McGill and Wexler going forward, and if things will go incredibly bad in the next few episodes. The build up suggests that Kim might be part of a tragic turn for Jimmy to the dark side, though the show has never given into predictable patterns. Either way, it's curious to see what is ahead for everyone.
Best Scene
In an episode that reflects what Better Call Saul does at its best, it's intriguing to note how much value can be found in a brief montage sequence. We've seen a painstaking recount of Jimmy's quest to be a good lawyer. However, it only takes a few minutes for him to give into his bad impulses and just annoy everyone with flashy suits, bagpipes, and other obnoxious trinkets. In typical fashion, the montage is full of stylized split screens that also somehow get an inflatable man to be among the MVP's of the episode. He doesn't say anything, but watching him waver in the wind is such a dizzying sight that you can't help but enjoy it. It also embodies what's to come with Saul Goodman, who is nothing but a flashy man waving his arms. If nothing else, it is very memorable.
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| Left to right: Odenkirk and Jonathan Banks |
Overall Thoughts
While I have been very tepid towards this show, I still get some intrigue in seeing how the ABQ universe is expanded upon. Every episode has been packed with at least one or two memorable moments, which pays off nicely here when Jimmy decides to break bad. It isn't clear how McGill and Wexler will be, but there's hope that maybe things will pan out for a little while. The episode has at least one thing of value in the montage that embodies everything that Saul Goodman stands for. One can only hope that the show manages to find more humor and life, especially since it looks like we're closer to Goodman than Slippin' Jimmy. Hopefully things won't turn out too badly in the last bit of episodes here.
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