Better Call Saul: "Wine and Roses"/"Carrot and Stick”

These reviews assume you watched all of Breaking Bad. If you don’t want to risk spoilers, don’t read this article.

Coming off of it's best season yet, Better Call Saul has proven to be equal to Breaking Bad in nearly every way, if not more so in certain areas. While not as fast-paced as it's predecessor, the show has proven the art of the "slow-burn tragedy". We know what happens to Jimmy and Mike in Breaking Bad, yet there are enough elements at play to keep us guessing as to how their journey unfolds. Rhea Seehorn's Kim Wexler is one of the best female characters on television and watching her character arc unfold has been both exciting and dread-inducing. The cartel storyline, while occasionally feeling like fanservice, has only grown in quality thanks to the inclusion of Lalo Salamanca (played by a menacing Tony Dalton), easily one of the best antagonists in both shows. Add all of that along with the same level of writing, performances and directing of the parent show and Better Call Saul is a recipe for success.

The two-episode premiere continues the level of quality we’ve come to expect from this show. Nacho is on the run following the assassination attempt, not knowing that Lalo is still alive and coming after him. This is easily the most action-packed and intense part of the episode, as Nacho anxiously awaits for help from Mike, only to have to take matters into his own hands once he realizes he's on his own. Michael Mando's performance has never been as noteworthy as Odenkirk or Seehorn's, but he shows how far he's come from a character and performance standpoint as he escapes the motel he's stationed at in an excellent action sequence.

Meanwhile, Jimmy and Kim plot to take down Howard Hamlin by getting Cliff Main to doubt his long-time friend's professionalism. The scheme unfolds in typical Better Call Saul fashion, letting us slowly fill in the blanks as Jimmy breaks into the country club Howard and Cliff go to and planting "cocaine" in Howard's locker. Jimmy and Kim then recruit the Kettlemans from Season 1 into their plan, tricking them into thinking that their embezzlement lawsuit is open for a civil case which leads to them going to Cliff to accuse Howard of drug use during their case.

Kim is still the biggest question mark of this show. Given how Season 5 threw a curveball by implying she'll "break bad" rather than simply leave Jimmy, the premiere continues this by having her spearhead the plot to take down Howard. Her ruthlessness is further shown when she blackmails the Kettlemans into staying silent about their scheme as well as shutting down their tax returns scam. Jimmy is shown to be increasingly disturbed by her behavior, leaving the conclusion to her journey being able to go in any possible direction. Whatever her outcome is, it'll be both exciting and heartbreaking to watch.

Notes and observations:

* While each season has opened with a black and white sequence of post-Breaking Bad Saul living his life as Gene Takovic, this season opens up with a full-color sequence of the police exhuming Saul's house of all his possessions. Not only is it exquisitely filmed and scored, it's also hilarious and true to character to see how self-indulgent Saul was (the golden toilet was the cherry on top). It also opens the door to the possibility of a Gene-focused episode in the future.

* Lalo continues to show how crafty and sociopathic he is, paying a visit to a couple he is on friendly terms with the goal to kill them and use the husband's corpse to trick Gus into thinking the assassination attempt worked. For a relatively late addition to the show, Lalo has proven to be one of the best and most terrifying characters in the Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul universe.

* Kim makes a point of heaving the “Best Lawyer” mug she gave Jimmy back in Season 2, now riddled with a bucket hole from last season's "Bagman". If that’s not a signifier that the end is coming, I don’t know what is. 

* The scene at the country club where Jimmy loudly accuses a resentful Kevin and the tour guide of antisemitism is a brilliant comedic showcase by both Bob Odenkirk and James Urbaniak, as well as puts Saul's Jewish credentials to effective use.

* "Our children have to go to PUBLIC school!" I'm so glad the Kettlemans came back.

* Mike is disturbed by Gus' lack of consideration for Nacho's life and is clearly conflicted, before eventually drawing his line in the sand by refusing to use Nacho's father as leverage. Given how Mike's character ends up on Breaking Bad, it wouldn't surprise me if it's Mike who ends up pulling the trigger on Nacho's life.

* It's not a coincidence that the second episode, which contained the excellent motel shootout, was directed by Vince Gilligan, who also directed last season's "Bagman" and the movie El Camino. His Western chops are on full display at this point and it makes me beyond excited for the penultimate episode of the series, which was both written and directed by him.

* The note of panic in Gus’ voice as he lets Mike know that Lalo’s alive is perfectly played by Giancarlo Esposito. Only the Salamancas can ignite that reaction in him. 

*Kudos to Jonathan Lack on Twitter for pointing out the significance of H.G. Wells' The Time Machine, which appears in both episodes. I've already mentioned his podcast The Weekly Stuff Podcast on here, but go follow him on Twitter if you want to hear more from him.

* I'll be reviewing both Better Call Saul and Barry this month. It's a great time for television!