Better Call Saul (Season 4)

[Peng]

Three episodes in, and the three/four storylines grow more disparate than past seasons. I feel like the show's uniquely deliberate, mostly engrossing pace works best for Jimmy's part, although all of them are of interest. The appearance of Gale in Gus Fring's situation is delightful, and Nacho's predicament is growing grislier by the episode. Still waiting for Mike's section to kick into gear though.

Jimmy's part builds from last season in wonderful, sometimes chilling way. From that cold ending of the first episode to this week's last scene, is this season the one that finally breaks Jimmy and Kim apart? (And it's probably one of the few ways left for the show to advance, now that the brother dynamics is gone.)

[Ezee E]

I don't really even know what Mike is doing at this point, but it's humorous seeing him as a security consultant gone wild.

Nacho, I'm hoping they have something better in mind for him other than a death. He's been a pretty great actor.

Jimmy/Kim is rightfully the best storyline going on, and keeps me watching the show. Rhea Seahorn, as Kim, has been fantastic this season. The pace of the show makes it seem like it's maybe one season away from hitting where Breaking Bad starts? With that, Gus Fring seems a lot more intense and involved than he does in Breaking Bad.

[Grouchy]

I was a bit mixed on the first three episodes. I still liked it a lot, I just didn't feel that strong drive to watch the next episode everytime one ended.

But last night's was brilliant. That Mike scene, my god.

[Milky Joe]

This is one show I wish I could binge. Every episode leaves me wanting more. But I just can't wait until it's all over.

[Ezee E]

Someone on reddit made a funny comment that if they started watching BCS without knowing about BB, that they'd be thoroughly confused about why there's the whole cartel plotline. Made me laugh.

[Grouchy]

Someone on reddit made a funny comment that if they started watching BCS without knowing about BB, that they'd be thoroughly confused about why there's the whole cartel plotline. Made me laugh.
I know a person who actually does that. I couldn't believe it when he told me his favorite character was Gus Fring because he was so mysterious.

EDIT: He started watching Breaking Bad years ago but the whole cancer premise rang too close to home for him.

[Grouchy]

Great episode. I love that the show opened the possibility of having scenes set in the Breaking Bad timeline.

[Gizmo]

Still enjoying the show, though I liked the drama Chuck provided, and that has hurt this season a bit. Kim's a great player, and I enjoy the Nacho story as well. Wish Mike and Gus had better things to do right now.

[Ezee E]

As it gets closer to Breaking Bad, there's more "Breaking Bad-isms" which isn't entirely a good thing in this case. I'm enjoying it, but Kim's the star of the show right now.

[StuSmallz]

As it gets closer to Breaking Bad, there's more "Breaking Bad-isms" which isn't entirely a good thing in this case.
How so, out of curiosity?

[Grouchy]

I guess he means the cartel storyline is a lot more prominent than in previous seasons.

But specifically, this week's cold open takes place during the final season of Breaking Bad.

[Ezee E]

It's naturally going to happen because it's inevitable.

At some point, there's something that's going to link Saul/Nacho/Mike/Gus all together. That's likely to occur with whoever this Lalo person is that was mentioned in Breaking Bad. Through that, Nacho either dies or disappears like Saul.

I do hope to see more of the "Present Day Saul" in Omaha, but it seems we only see one clip a season.

[Grouchy]

Best cliffhanger so far.

[Peng]

That opening montage is a beautiful and terrific way to both do a time jump and show two people's growing distance. With that party scene and the conflict unresolved at the end of the episode, I suspect this is the season where their turning (…breaking?) point for Jimmy and Kim will occur. I feel though that if it continues in this trajectory, there might be at most one season left after this?

Gus' one scene is so chilling, and is the good kind of Breaking Bad connectivity that really adds to both series.

[Peng]

With two epsiodes left, I'm ready to say this is my least favorite BCS season, even though it's still good, at times excellent (like tonight). However it shakes out the season is worth it for the full breakout of Kim's character alone though. With Chuck gone the show sometimes feels adrift and disparate, but it starts to look like Kim will be more than able to fill in for him as the cohereing complexity the show needs.

[Grouchy]

One thing that stood out for me about this all around outstanding episode is that we rarely see Jimmy and Kim in a sexual or even post-coitus scene. We rarely even see them passionately kissing like in this episode, which made those scenes all the stronger. Their relationship is constructed out of tiny snippets of intimacy that only show their routine - what to eat, making decisions together. And so until this episode we were really unsure about the status of their relationship. I was beginning to doubt they had sex anymore.

Besides the obvious effect of the misdirection and the payoff, it also made me ponder the laziness with which most writers portray a succesful relationship only through good sex.

[Ezee E]

Maybe it's just me, but I wouldn't really think Kim would actually do all of that for Huell. But I guess it could be for whatever she has in mind for the next case.

[Grouchy]

The real reason she did it was at the end of the previous episode the Judge called Jimmy a loser. It was payback.

[Gizmo]

One thing that stood out for me about this all around outstanding episode is that we rarely see Jimmy and Kim in a sexual or even post-coitus scene. We rarely even see them passionately kissing like in this episode, which made those scenes all the stronger. Their relationship is constructed out of tiny snippets of intimacy that only show their routine - what to eat, making decisions together. And so until this episode we were really unsure about the status of their relationship. I was beginning to doubt they had sex anymore.

Besides the obvious effect of the misdirection and the payoff, it also made me ponder the laziness with which most writers portray a succesful relationship only through good sex.

Based on the past few episodes, they probably hadn't had sex in a while, I'd think, until Kim "broke bad" again.

[Ezee E]

Hoping the Lalo character gets some time to shine. Seems like a different villain compared to the other Salamancas and Gus Frings. Curious where the show will take him.

[Winston*]

I have been confused by their decision to devote so much time to the backstory behind the underground laundry lab. The actor who plays the German structural engineer is excellent, but it's been difficult to see the point aside from giving Mike something to do.

[Grouchy]

I agree, but I trust these writers an awful lot. I'm sure it will pay off. The group therapy storyline ultimately did. Even the priceless dolls did.

[Ezee E]

The Gus/Mike story basically is just there to connect the dots in the end, right?

[Milky Joe]

These last two episodes have been really strong. Give Odenkirk an Emmy.

[Grouchy]

Kim and Jimmy are already my favorite TV couple.

[Ezee E]

Lalo quickly ascending the Breaking Bad-Saul world as one of the best characters.

[Ezee E]

Hmm... Maybe it's just me but Jimmy's plea to the council at the end just didn't seem like it would deceive the group considering what his reputation was like. Even moreso that Kim was also affected, and shattered when he revealed he was leading them on. A great acting moment by her, but I feel like the character would've been smarter than that.

Going into the next season, I'm more interested in Lalo VS. Mike/Gus now. Outside of Kim finally giving up on Jimmy, I'm not sure what else there is in that story, if anything.

[Grouchy]

Is the next season supposed to be the last one?

I agree that Mike's season finale was strangely more compelling than Saul's (that scene under the starry Albuquerque sky was incredible) this time around.

[Winston*]

Woah. Didn't realise that Lalo and Nacho were mention by Saul in season 2 of Breaking Bad.


"When Saul Goodman is kidnapped by Walter White and Jesse Pinkman and taken to the desert, Saul assumes that it is Lalo who has abducted him and starts begging for his life, blaming Ignacio for what happened, swearing he's always been friends with the cartel. After realizing Walter and Jesse's confusion, he understands he had mistaken them for Lalo and sighs in relief. ("Better Call Saul")"

[Ezee E]

Is the next season supposed to be the last one?

I agree that Mike's season finale was strangely more compelling than Saul's (that scene under the starry Albuquerque sky was incredible) this time around.

I haven't heard anything if it'll be the last. They shouldn't have as long as a wait though. I'd have to crawl through reddit to see how much is left, but I think they could easily wrap it all up in next season if the intention is to lead one timeline to another. Depends how much "afterwards" they want to go with it is what I wonder about.

[Peng]

Strong finish, but apart from Jimmy's and Kim's stellar-as-usual arcs, I don't feel like other characters' plots progress throughout the season, more like being incidents upon incidents leading up to Breaking Bad. But I always start a new season of Better Call Saul remembering exactly where Jimmy's story leaves off from last season while having to read up summaries for Mike and Nacho, and now I think with Lalo being a common-interest unifier I probably won't have that problem next year. Speaking of, even without Chuck, Jimmy's arc is particularly strong this year, and ends on a rather powerfully, quietly crushing note.

[Gizmo]

Good season. I believe the next season will be the last for these reasons: 1) Breaking Bad was 5 seasons (5.5?) 2) Most of the story archs seem to be reaching a point where they can be concluded/led into BB 3) show has not had the strongest numbers, and if I recall, got green lit for season 4 late. Unless they plan on a season following "Gene" around, I think season 5 should be enough to finish it off, and I'd hate for it to overstay it's welcome.

[Ezee E]

Agreed. Even with Saul/Jimmy going to Omaha, he's so far withdrawn, that I'm hoping we see what causes him to be so solemn. Even in his final moments in BB, he was still fairly energetic. I figure there's some overlap of shows, which could be cool to see.

But yeah, two more seasons of this seems over the top. I figure they can take care of mostly everything in eight or nine episodes, with the last two or so being dedicated to "Gene."