Monday, April 24, 2017

What I’m Watching: Better Call Saul


Better Call Saul: Season 3, Episode 2 “Witness” (B+)

I was questioning during the extended exposition scene just how much the location of Los Pollos Hermanos and the return of Giancarlo Esposito as Gus Fring needed to be primed. I always argue that this show is solid enough in its own right that it needs no connection to the original as a regular reminder of its quality, but Gus was an inarguably excellent part of that show, and Esposito is terrific. I knew that was him walking by and mopping the floors without showing his face, and he was ready to dig right into the trash so that Jimmy could get his watch back. Jimmy being there means that, as Mike continues his own little test, he’s going to have one old friend and one new one to fall back on when he hits hard times very shortly. I like that Ernie came to Kim out of genuine affection and concern for Jimmy, and that Kim right away made Jimmy give her money to become his client. She wasn’t furious again about what he had done, she just wanted to look out for him and assure him that they would figure it out. Just as he was far too casual with the hire of his new assistant, who tried to sell Mike on the merits of air-conditioned fast country food, he seemed to dismiss any real threat in terms of Chuck’s words against his. And then, for possibly the first time on this show, he exploded and got so angry, kicking in Chuck’s door and demanding to see the tape. Chuck acknowledging that there were not one but two witnesses, including Howard, to his behavior was a somber ending that puts Jimmy’s entire fate in future in flux.

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