Better Call Saul

Mike was right to lose the IT guy when he did. He's super dumb on every level.

I loved Jimmy's scam, and Kim seemed into it to. Funny stuff.

Vince Gilligan really doesn't seem to have much to do with this show. 3 1/2 stars.

IT guy is super dumb. I love Nacho making fun of how lame the SUV is. Mike is a pretty canny professional when it comes to carrots and sticks himself. Him calling Jimmy was the smart play.

Chuck's resentments towards Jimmy are clearly more pathological than anything else. There is nothing rational about the fact that Jimmy is a good lawyer who his clients love that should be outraging him. Maybe the hang-up is that he's clearly better at it than Chuck.

Good episode. 3 1/2 stars.

It's kind of sucky that Mike would rather put his daughter through the hassle of the move instead of tell her the truth that he was there that night and knows it wasn't gunshots. Nacho is also not a good friend to be making.

Walter White's descent into villainy happened because of self-delusion and the inability to take responsibility for his actions. Saul Goodman's downfall will probably have to do with the fact that Jimmy likes to take shortcuts. Frankly, I don't know WHY his boss is so mad at the ad, but it's a nick in Jimmy's armor and reputation that will LEAD to Saul.

Interesting episode. 3 1/2 stars.

I'll tell you what I didn't like. I didn't like Mike walking away at the end when Nacho asked him why he went to ALL that trouble and pain not to have to pull the trigger. I didn't like him not answering the question, because there IS no good answer I'd believe. But television thinks it deserves one so making Mike laconic is supposed to stand in for that and explain everything (or at least enough). I think somebody having their face turned into hamburger at the expense of $25,000, simply to save TUCO'S life of all people's, is an actual bad decision. If Mike had such a problem with it, he shouldn't have taken the job at all.

After all Jimmy does for him in the episode Chuck gives absolutely nothing back. By the way, I don't agree what Jimmy is demanding he ask him is extortion. Not in a legal sense. And dammit Jimmy wants him to say it because he knows it and Chuck acting like it is is crazy. And the thing that bothers me is after the commercial Chuck might have had the moral high ground before Jimmy came in and essentially took care of him. Now Howard's resentments are as irrational and damaging as his electricity phobia. It's SO fucking stupid and tiresome. Chuck Sucks.

Didn't love this episode. 2 1/2 stars.

Hector is like a bad penny. He always turns up. What has Nacho gotten Mike into?

I think Chuck resenting Jimmy because his wife liked him is a bit stupid, but we didn't actually learn what happened to Rebecca, so maybe there's a reason for it. His story to Kim certainly put things in a whole different perspective. At least for me.

A Beanie Baby is NOT a bribe. That being said, it's idiotic to do it while his babysitter is watching. It's like he's TRYING to cause trouble for himself and Kim.

Speaking of which, the moral seems to be that while he's taking shortcuts, Kim is putting in the hard and steady legwork to get back into Howard's good graces. The fucked up thing is her way doesn't appear to be working. Very interesting irony. Luckily Chuck will probably run interference.

I genuinely laughed at Jimmy humming the Rocky Theme upon seeing Mike's face. How is he supposed to explain that to the babysitter anyways?

I think Walter White was always headed down a bad path, if not as a criminal than as a shitty husband and father. Jimmy's downward spiral is tragic because unlike Walt, he clearly has the potential to do good. And it just isn't in the cards. Partly due to Chuck, partly due to his own stupidity. As Chuck says, he can't help himself. Which makes him a far more tragic figure than Walter White, 4 stars.

I loved Jimmy's phone message to Kim at the beginning. You see him winning her over with the song.

I love that she uses the Giselle name and calls Jimmy because she has a live one on the hook. Cashing the check would be besides the point.

Howard is impossible. He's not giving Kim much choice BUT to take the other job offer.

I love that Kim actually realizes she was in the wrong for convincing Jimmy to take the job at Davis and Main to begin with. I don't agree with her that Jimmy's path in the pool was remotely reasonable or healthy, but the truth is neither of them would be in this trouble in the first place had she not browbeaten him into it. Jimmy is a better person than me because he denies it's actually her fault, and lies about actually wanting and liking the job, but Kim is right that this isn't JIMMY'S bad decision, but hers.

I love that Mike give Nacho back the $25,000. But honestly, thinking harder on it, Mike's plan to send Tuco to prison had a million holes in it the second he put the beatdown on the guys hired to rough him up. Now there are questions raised how he did that and the fucking Cousins are called in. In hindsight Mike simply should not have taken the job.

Good episode. 4 stars.

I love Jimmy telling Cliff he thinks he's a good guy and Cliff saying he thinks Jimmy's an asshole. Jimmy can't really argue that point.

I love that he and Omar part on good terms. I like Omar.

The flashback teaser gives me extra insight into Chuck, even though he doesn't appear. I haven't seen Stephen Snedden in anything since he played Jimmy Bond on The Lone Gunmen nearly 20 years ago, and he doesn't look like he's aged a day in the meantime. He was probably cast because Vince Gilligan cocreated that X-Files spin-off himself.

Anyways, Chuck insisted to Kim his father was a good man and sinless.

I don't see it that way. And God bless Jimmy if he didn't as a kid either. His father wasn't virtuous. He was weak. He was stupid. He set a poor example for his son. If Chuck sees it otherwise, Chuck is wrong. Jimmy took money from the till not because he was born crooked. But because on some level his father deserved it. Chuck can whine about his father dying six months after he found out a few years later, but it's not that his heart was broken. It was simply weak.

Cool episode. 3 1/2 stars.

Jimmy is proving he puts more legwork into his scams than Chuck does the actual case. This is probably both why Jimmy is a better lawyer and WHY Chuck resents him.

Jimmy and Kim were so cute together this episode.

Weird crafts project for Mike to involve his granddaughter in.

Solid. 3 1/2 stars.

Chuck may have been right about Jimmy's crime. But the reason that despite the fact that Kim is an ethical attorney, and never would have sanctioned Jimmy doing that herself, Kim sided with Jimmy even KNOWING his story was bullshit wasn't because she believed she deserved the client more. It wasn't even because of the serious legal trouble he'd be in. It's because when she told Chuck that Jimmy did everything for him and Chuck did nothing but look down on him and never support him, that's the truth. It's why she punches Jimmy in the car. But the reason she doesn't turn on Jimmy is that even after doing THAT, Chuck does NOT have the moral high ground with his brother. He never did. And that's enough for Kim to stick by him.

But that ending. Maybe using Chuck's craziness against him wasn't such a good idea after all.

Mike seems to be swatting the hornet's nest too. I'd be more alarmed, but the fact that Hector spends most of his time in a wheelchair with a bell on Breaking Bad tells me Mike isn't the dude to worry about. Nacho is such a great character because he's rational. He's what would happen if Jesse Pinkman had even a LICK of common sense. I don't believe Mike when he says it's over between him and Hector. Mike will NOT be able to let the dead Good Samaritan stand.

If Mike IS the guy who puts him in the bell wheelchair, I wonder if that's why Gus Fring trusted him so much. I think Gus needs to show up now and confirm that.

Good episode with a bad ending. But it was a GOOD bad ending. 4 stars.

Chuck sucks because his electricity phobia is awfully selective. He can use a tape recorder so long as the reason is totally selfish.

I loved Ernesto lying for Jimmy. And you know why he did it? Because Chuck was being an asshole to him, and Jimmy always treated him decently. Same reason their dying mother asked for Jimmy even though he was getting sandwiches. Maybe Chuck's hang-ups are because he knows he's worse than somebody he considers a terrible person in every single respect.

Vince Gilligan came down from on high to cowrite the episode. Literally the first script he's cowritten since the damn Pilot. Hope he is more involved going forward.

Pretty good finale but I can't help feeling like it probably should have been better. 3 1/2 stars.

Ernesto seems to hate Chuck. For good reason. Chuck treats him like shit.

Regardless of the fact that Chuck didn't make a mistake in the case, Paige was right to be insulted that he was all "You're muddying the waters." Regardless of whether he was right or wrong, the thing she took most from that bad day is how utterly disrespectful Chuck was to her. Chuck wonders why people like Jimmy more than him? THAT'S why.

Mike is doing a lot of tech stuff but since he isn't telling a second person precisely what he's doing or what his plans with the tracker are it's probably not as compelling as it could be. And you know what? I'm okay with that. Real-life people don't go around explaining their actions clearly to unseen viewers. If Mike's actions are narratively frustrating, they are also entirely realistic, which is the far more important thing and the better trade-off. I am totally fine with that.

Vince Gilligan cowrote this and directed it. I hope he's more involved going forward. 3 1/2 stars.

Gus Fring shuffling from the background of the restaurant to the foreground was delight. Well played.

Weird Jimmy didn't question where the watch strap in the garbage came from. That is a part of the story that would have definitely interested Mike.

I don't think Jimmy is as bad off as Chuck and Howard think he is. This specific thing will NOT make their firm look good. They have nothing to gain and everything to lose.

We find out Rebecca left. And I don't blame her one bit.

Chuck is really starting to annoy me. But Gus Fring! 4 stars.

I honestly think the prosecution's case is quite weak. If it were ANYBODY but Chuck pressing the charges, Jimmy might be jammed up, but Goddam, the court is gonna have to spend TIME with that asshole, and will probably nominate Jimmy for Sainthood for not actually knocking the bastard off. Likability in court actually matters.

Mike misses the shoes on the telephone wire the first couple of times because the show is realistic / not written by totally incompetent idiots.

I liked it. 3 1/2 stars.

Big moment between Gus and Mike at the end. When Gus said a bullet in the head was too quick and painless for Hector, Breaking Bad proves he sincerely meant that. And I agree with him. In the Gus and Hector war, Walter White landed on the wrong side of it. Story of Walt's life.

Things are getting interesting. My highest compliment. 4 stars.

What dynamite drama. And Chuck is exposed as the fraud he is. Goddam Jimmy and Kim played that fucking perfectly. And yeah, with that context, the recording sounds entirely different. Well done.

Amazing episode. 5 stars.

Lydia showed up.

Rebecca is furious at Jimmy, but after all that, washing his hands of Chuck is the only rational thing Jimmy could do. His brother is currently toxic. And he owes him nothing.

Hector isn't just crazy, he's stupid. He's putting everybody's interests in jeopardy because he doesn't understand the proper way to do this and not get caught. And he's surprised Tuca went psycho in prison? I'd be more surprised if he didn't.

Pretty good. 3 1/2 stars.

I don't believe Jimmy's last scene was convincing enough for the audience. I kind of wish I had half-believed he was crying instead of scamming. But for some reason there was very little nuance in how Bob Odenkirk chose to play the scene.

Also, fuck Chuck. I understand Kim's leeriness over Paige making fun of the guy, but the truth is Jimmy is right that he earned every bad thing that happened to him. And considering what an ineffective lawyer he currently is, it's not right his insurance doesn't reflect that while Jimmy is being penalized solely for something Chuck did. Some payback is due Jimmy and he's the bitch.

The one scene in the episode I really liked was Mike's scene with Nacho. The thing I like about Mike, is that no matter WHO he is dealing with, he always offers wise advise. It's a VERY interesting character quirk that even if Mike has a beef with someone, he always seems to be doing the people he deals with a favor somehow. It's very interesting.

But the rest of the episode was dour as hell and not my jam. 2 stars.

Slippin' Jimmy rocking it over those asshole twin brothers at the guitar store. Also used his smarmy lawyer superpowers to fuck up the Community service guy.

Howard seems pissed at Kim, but considering not only how he's treated her in the past, but that he supported Chuck during the dumbass trial, he has no moral leg to stand on.

Speaking of which, Chuck worries about what he's done if it isn't real. The right thing to worry about is all that JIMMY has done for him. The battery trick proves Jimmy never ONCE thought it was real and still did all those things for him anyways. That's the real thing Chuck needs to feel bad about.

Decent episode. 3 1/2 stars.

Usually when Jimmy scams people you smile. It's different with Irene. She's kind and innocent and is very good to Jimmy. I think this is the first thing on the series Jimmy has done that is unforgivable.

Howard seems shocked Chuck is suing the firm, but the truth is Chuck has loyalty to no one, and after what he did to Jimmy, Howard should know that. He saw it first-hand. Chuck is the leopard, Howard's the face. No matter how much he sobs, it's actually no surprise.

Nacho's problems with his father are kind of heartbreaking.

Mike asks the right questions of Lydia.

I'm mad at Jimmy. 2 1/2 stars.

If Chuck is dead, I won't miss him. Him telling Jimmy he doesn't matter to him is just unforgivable after what he's done for him. And he was so shocked Howard paid the buy-out out of his own savings. Doing something for the good of the firm is entirely outside of his nature.

It's not fair Francesca had to be let go. She was amazing and always went above and beyond.

I mentioned Jimmy's actions in the last episode were unforgivable. I now forgive him. He LOVED those old people sincerely. But he cared enough about Irene to blow up his relationships with ALL of them just to get her friends speaking to her again. He'd never need to do this if he hadn't created the problem in the first place, but it says he still hasn't lost ALL of his decency yet because he was willing to do that.

Hector was getting TOO erratic. Nacho is very lucky the switched out meds worked when they did. If they hadn't, his father wasn't just in trouble. So was the whole operation.

It seems ill-advised to me for Gus to stay around for the ambulance. What am I missing there?

Goodbye, Chuck, I think. You deserved no better ending, you piece of shit. 3 1/2 stars.

Mike spends the episode proving WHY you should hire him as a security consultant.

Annual teaser B&W flashforward. Resolved last year's cliffhanger but didn't give us another (exactly). But Gene is one paranoid dude.

Are the Isotopes a reference to The Simpsons?

Decent premiere. 3 1/2 stars.

In hindsight, Jimmy has some responsibility for Chuck's suicide, but damn it, Kim is right that he isn't owed that specific burden. Of having to go through a burned house for stuff he doesn't want. Have to read a final "Fuck you," from his cruel dead brother. Or deal with a puny inheritance JUST big enough so the will can't be legally contested because Chuck was a total bastard. Whatever responsibility Jimmy has for forcing the insurance issue, it's not enough to warrant ANY of that. Not at all.

Lydia is a bit chagrinned Gus is siding with Mike already, but I'm not shocked. Just because Mike's ideas are actually sound and he's already better at this than she is.

That Johns Hopkins doctor had no idea how much danger she was actually in.

I have mixed feelings about Jimmy being disgusted at being hired on the spot. On the one hand he's right it's kind of ridiculous that song and dance won them over. The thing is, he himself forced the issue. If these guys are a couple of dumbasses, it's because he made them that. This is another demonstration that Jimmy sabotages and punishes himself because he refuses to believe he actually deserves any better.

Solid. 4 stars.

And here's Gale. I like that Gus treats him very kindly and respectfully. The antithesis of Walter White. I think Breaking Bad was asking us to root for the wrong drug dealer.

The Cousins. This is serious.

I get the need to make it look real. But I also had the sneaking suspicion they enjoyed that a little too much.

Jimmy's trick with the car alarm was great.

Mike didn't give any indication of WHY he declined the job, but the interesting thing to me is he told Jimmy it was wrong for him too. I would have liked to have known what he meant by that.

Another good episode. This show isn't as great as Breaking Bad routinely was, but it also doesn't routinely piss me off as much as that show did. Trade-off. 3 1/2 stars.

Speaking of which, what I found most interesting about Mike blowing up the therapy group is that he hinted to Anita ahead of time his problem was with Kevin and his lies. In reality he shares contempt for the rest of the group too for them having to be pointed out. That is not a setting where the veracity of a person's story is ever questioned, which is ripe to have people like Kevin take advantage of them. And I like that Mike's perspective is that's not actually okay. If the forum rules insist everyone swallows bullshit, what's the point of working out the problems to begin with? Because if you are cool with that, you aren't working out ANYTHING. You are just swapping misery porn. And if Anita reads Mike the riot act in the next episode, the truth is this is something that should have been addressed long ago.

It's interesting Jimmy's partner in crime shared the bounty with him. Because Jimmy did him a solid in the parking lot. I like that. I also like the sign Jimmy painted outside the mobile store. I wonder when his bosses will notice that. I would not keep that up for long if I were him.

The snarky judge played by Star Trek: Voyager's Ethan Philips is an asshole. He sort of talks down to Kim and suggests she needs to find a new hobby. But when he sit down on the bench she's still there. Apparently the guy is not as wise and insightful as he thought he was.

Feeling for Nacho. This is why you never call the Cousins (or as they are referred to here, the Brothers). Nacho's haplessness at being in danger he never signed up for reminds me greatly of Jesse Pinkman, with the difference being that unlike Jesse, Nacho is probably a good person deep down. As horrified by the violence as Jesse always was, he could never get away from it BECAUSE he had no skills to do anything better with his life. I doubt the same it true for Nacho.

Again, not as good as Breaking Bad. But I also always seem to have less to complain about. That's not nothing. 3 1/2 stars.

Mike has a weird job.

Howard may be falling apart the most visibly, but both Jimmy and Kim are also disintegrating in different ways. For Kim's questionable choices, it's doing good deeds at the expense of her job. For Jimmy, it's running yet another con. The flashforward in the teaser was not black and white, or set AFTER Breaking Bad, but was concurrent with that show's final episodes. Him calling himself Jimmy there is notable.

Chuck's death seems to have broken Howard, but really I think it's done far worse to Jimmy. It's made him cold. It's made him refuse to care because only bad things happen when he does. I don't find much rationality in the transition from Walter White to Heisenberg. It's all some sort of delusion on Walt's end. But I see Jimmy's downfall as a defense mechanism after having been burned for the sin of caring about his brother. I understand why he became Saul better than why Walt became Heisenberg. For Walt, the overwhelming drive was vanity. For Jimmy, it's pain. And his character feels realer for that.

But you know, that WAS a slow-ass episode. 2 1/2 stars.

Kai is going to be trouble. The restraint Mike showed with him worried me. Because that means he's not going to be reigned in and he will fuck up big time.

"Fuck you, Jimmy!" What I love about how pissed Howard got is that Jimmy was actually right about everything. I love him telling Howard he's a shitty lawyer but a great salesman. Me? I'm wondering what the actual difference is there.

Good to see Mike making up with his daughter-in-law over the group disaster. Anita will be a tougher sell. You know it never occurred to me Mike might have done what he did there because he was mad his daughter-in-law said she was forgetting his son's face. But that might have been a big part of it.

Gus' scene with Hector was spooky as hell. Dude is scary.

"Howard's End" in the Oscar Pool in the flashback? When exactly does this show take place?

The great episodes of this show are few and far between. Stipulated. But shitty episodes seem to be entirely absent. I'll take that trade gladly. 3 1/2 stars.

Jimmy's Aspen thing at the party was so dumb. Not only was it an incredibly stupid thing to say, but it hurt Kim's standing for no reason. I would not have blamed her if after he asked that crooked lawyer favor for the end she had dumped him and left.

I like the head German guy Werner. He's nice. I think Mike is right that Kai is trouble though.

I loved the split perspective montage teaser. It was brilliant. Great rendition of "Saying Something Stupid Like I Love You." I also have never heard the full song track to "Big Rock Candy Mountain" before either. The lyrics to that one are a hoot.

Again, not amazing. But just good enough that I don't understand anybody's beef with the show either. 3 1/2 stars.

Kim and Jimmy have a happy ending (so far). Upon their scam being successful Kim isn't enraged, she kisses him! And she wants to do it again. Great twist to them falling apart. Even the Korean hair stylist agrees Jimmy is in the doghouse and apparently the right way out of it was to make the scam as insane and funny as possible. And pull it off!

I think part of why Kim enjoys the D.A.'s discomfort and alarm is because she was right in the last episode that Huell was overcharged solely due to his race. Seeing the D.A. so frustrated and hamstrung is rewarding when you understand she is a racist piece of shit.

Huell as the Church Saint hero amuses me. But the question is is HUELL happy? Yeah, he is.

Lalo's menacing friendliness is exactly as terrifying as Hector's unpredictable and unhinged insanity. Just for entirely different reasons. Nacho is fucked.

Great episode. I wish there were more of these. 4 1/2 stars.

I am not worried about Mike. I am worried about Werner. That poor oaf just killed himself and maybe his wife.

Sincerity is now needed to be a lawyer? I'm calling bullshit. Kim was right they probably objected to him not talking about Chuck, but Jimmy was right that it was ultimately irrelevant. Talk about insincerity!

Where Jimmy is wrong is being mad at Kim and thinking she's always been against him. All of the big things she's mentioned are just the tip of the iceberg. She has done SO much stuff for him she's never had to do simply because she likes him. Not cool, Jimmy. Not cool.

Interesting episode. 4 stars.

And yet what he told the girl who didn't get the scholarship felt true. If Saul Goodman is a corrupt bastard, he got there honestly.

But hey, the teaser proves that not EVERYTHING between the McGill brothers was always terrible. That's something.

Jimmy and Mike's stories are so far afield from each other at this point they feel like they belong in separate shows.

Mike's final scene with Werner broke my heart. It's the fact that Werner is so stupid which is why this is so tragic. And Mike had to do it himself because he DOES consider him a friend. Whether he wants to or not. For the record I don't necessarily agree with Mike that Gus was making the wrong play. Before the call from Lalo there was a legit case that he could be handled nonlethally. After that, there is no question he is a complete liability on every level. And him being forced to yell at his wife to get her to turn around is especially tragic because of how much he loves her. It was great drama and it felt earned. Even Breaking Bad rarely did that.

I thought it was pretty amazing. 4 1/2 stars.

The stuff with Gene is getting interesting. Frustrating we'll probably have to wait another season to see it continue.

Mike had two great moments. Kai gets socked in the jaw for calling Werner weak. The dude who gets up in his face and says Werner was worth 50 of Mike, gets to walk away unmolested. Shit like that is why I like Mike. And I especially love the scene where Mike is outraged by the term "compensation" with regards to Werner's widow, and Gus warns him to choose his next words very carefully. And Mike just don't give a fuck and says, "Keep your Goddam retainer." Gus probably doesn't like the fact that Mike is his only employee who isn't remotely afraid of him. But if you ask me, that actually makes his loyalty MORE valuable, not less.

The end was a big moment for Kim. It's the first time she didn't smile after a Jimmy scam. This one actually upset her. I took notice of that.

Good premiere. Wish we'd get back to Gene sooner rather than later. 4 1/2 stars.

Good for Nacho for seeing an opportunity to impress Lalo. By the way, Gus is total bastard.

Finally Nacho and Jimmy are intersecting.

Mike as Pop-Pop screwed up.

Knew Jimmy was behind the elevator break-down. It would be weirder if he wasn't.

The real estate lady doesn't like Jimmy and Kim. They're wet.

Hector remains gross.

Good episode. 4 stars.

Man, Barry Corbin has gotten OLD! Like I KNOW Northern Exposure was 30 years ago, but still, dayum!

Acker is a dillweed. I love that Kim didn't stand for it, and when she shows some empathy at the end and tells him some painful truths about herself he's too dumb to know she's actually his best friend in the entire world right now.

That is an unrealistic amount of ants at the beginning.

Lalo likes Saul. He amuses him. The fact that Jimmy's good at his job is a bonus.

Loved the end gag of Jimmy and Kim smashing the beer bottles.

Solid. Again. I seem to keep saying that. If the show ever STOPS being that, I'll quit it. But I hope it doesn't. 3 1/2 stars.

I love his daughter-in-law. She not only isn't afraid of him and can handle him when he's enraged. But she's insightful enough to know there is a problem in the first place.

Hank is not satisfied with that outcome, because despite being shitty as his job, he's not entirely stupid.

Speaking of being broken, somebody ought to do a wellness check on Gus more often. The thing with the fryer was INSANE.

As was Jimmy and the bowling bowls. The crazy Saul trick I liked was switching out the defendant on the eyewitness. Pretty sure I've seen that on other lawyer shows before, but it's always a goodie. Saul's defense for that stunt is solid: "You didn't notice either, your honor."

Saul gets Acker on-board by showing him a picture of a man fucking a horse. Saul is not proud.

The bowling ball thing is overkill, but I kind of get his rage at Howard. Howard is nice to him, but he could have sorely used that kindness when he was in actual financial and legal trouble. Now that he's becoming successful, Howard blames all that shit on Chuck and makes him that offer? Howard at LEAST acknowledges not doing so before was a huge mistake (his only moral defense in the offer in my book) but that's the actual reason his million Watt smile and great car is so troubling to me.

When the show stops being solid, I'll stop calling it that. For now, it seems like you are gonna be getting boring-ass reviews from me saying the same fucking thing over and over again. I'm glad the show is good and all, but I'm not happy about that bit either. 3 1/2 stars.

But the way, the reason this show is better for me than Breaking Bad is it's fun. Saul tricks to put off construction are hilarious as is the sheriff's response ever time: "I have to make a call." Acker likes Saul because he promised a horsefucking and he delivered.

I also laughed upon "Mr. X's" suggestion of putting a bag over Kevin's head and driving him out into the-- Thanks, Mr. X,, your services will no longer be required. This is what you are into now, Kim. It's MOSTLY fun and games, but it's not ALL fun and games.

I can see WHY Mike was so pissed when Walt killed Gus on Breaking Bad. Mike puts up a big show at the end to sort of let Gus know he's no monkey puppet, but I think his allegiance was already won by his conversation on the road with the doctor. "What does Gus Fring want with me?" "He wants to keep you alive." And that's clearly true and that clearly means something.

If I were Gus I would value Mike for the specific reason that he isn't afraid of him, and is willing to what's best for the job itself, even if it means pushing back again him. Whether Gus thinks he was wrong about Werner or not (and unlike Gus, I don't think he was) that a RARE skill for someone in Gus' position to come across.

Bonus points for not just being solid, but fun. 4 1/2 stars.

This is when the fun stops being fun. Honestly, what Jimmy did is unforgivable. What kills me is he thinks he even SHOULD be. Kim talking about getting married so she's just as crazy as he is.

The scene between Nacho and Mike has many layers. Nacho asks Mike if he knows who he's working for. Mike says he tried to warn Nacho. And Nacho reveal Gus has a gun to his father's head. After Lalo is gone, Mike will see what he can do, but both Jonathan Banks and Michael Mando played the scene with great pathos.

I'm trying to see what Jimmy is getting out of these childish pranks on Howard. I could almost excuse the bowling ball thing. He was pissed, and it ultimately wound up a private matter. This is different.

Rich always struck me as smarmy but he's shockingly reasonable.

Riveting episode with Saul Goodman at his most deplorable. 3 1/2 stars.

Oh, the marriage thing is to protect Kim legally? I'd say that's smart, but it's still crazy. The smart move would be for her to leave.

I like that Howard is still apologetic to Jimmy even knowing he did those things. When Jimmy screams he killed his brother, it's not precisely true, but they both think it is, and Howard is a fair enough person to let the crazy shit slide because of that. But it's clearly driven Jimmy nuts.

I'm think all this is only happening because Patrick Fabian is still a series regular and the show doesn't have much for him to do anyone.

Mike and Saul finally reconnecting again. The two shows this has turn into are starting to feel like one again.

7 Million will NOT be a problem for Lalo. I love the look on his face when he said that, and also when he insisted Jimmy's the dude picking it up.

Gus did NOT like burning down his own restaurant. This is a man who will do ANYTHING to win, even if it hurts him.

Mike saying Lalo ordering the restaurant being burned down means Lalo has NOT been handled it right. I'm feeling for Nacho about this.

I love that Kim gets Kevin back simply by treating him as an adult and pointing out the biggest mistakes were his, not hers. The response? "See you Thursday." Kevin's not all bad.

Stop being solid and I'll stop calling you that. Until then you have more of my dull as shit reviews coming. 3 1/2 stars.

I wish we didn't have to see Jimmy drink the piss. But we kind of needed to.

Lalo seems outraged Jimmy's told Kim his business, until she explains they are married and have spousal privilege, and he becomes amused instead.

The reason I like Jimmy McGill better than Walter White is because Jimmy is never gonna get used to this. Violence and mayhem will never become normalized for him and okay, and something he always avoids at all costs for the rest of his life. He's better than Walt just for that.

Amazing episode. Vince Gilligan came down from on-high to direct it because he knew it would be. 5 stars.

I love how she convinced Lalo. Her gift is getting angry at a person she by all rights should either fear or answer to. It not only makes them respect her, it makes what she's saying seem not just truthful, but common-sense. I don't think even SHE believed the bullshit here, but Lalo did because it sounded believable, she was angry, and she wasn't shitting her pants.

It's almost too bad Kim is NOT in the game. She'd be running rings around every else if she were. 4 stars.

Lalo survived the assassination attempt? Pretty much everyone is screwed now.

I love after Howard's "dire warning" about Jimmy, Kim laughs. How can she not? After all she and Jimmy have been through in the past couple of days, only Howard Hamlin could possible think bowling balls and prostitutes matter. What an ass.

Lalo is going be on the warpath going into the final season. Yikes. 4 stars.