BETTER CALL SAUL, ‘BINGO’ PLOT SUMMARY
After last weeks emotionally devastating episode featuring an Emmy Award worthy performance from Jonathan Banks, the focus shifted back to Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk) as he tries to build a client base in the field of elder law. While the Kettlemans decide to seek different legal counsel.
The episode picked up immediately after the event of “Five-O,” and started with Mike and Jimmy back at the courthouse awaiting the arrival of the detectives from Philadelphia. Jimmy returned the notebook that he stole from the young hot headed Detective Abbasi (Omid Abtahi) that contained all the evidence they have against Mike. Mike asked Jimmy to leave and then he spoke with Detective Sanders (Barry Shabaka Henley).
From the past few episodes it was clear that Mike and Detective Sanders knew each other, but the nature of their relationship was never explained until this episode where Sanders warns Mike to tell his daughter-in-law to keep her mouth shut. Mike said he already spoke to her and doesn’t know what she is going to say. It’s clear that Sanders and Mike have a history and that Sanders knows Mike was the one who murdered the two cops that killed his son. Banks continues to deliver great performances without saying much.
The rest of the episode put the Kettleman’s back into the spotlight as Kim Wexler (Rhea Seehorn) tries to give them the best possible verdict for the case against Craig Kettleman (Jeremy Shamos). Unfortunately for Kim, Betsy Kettleman demands that the case go to trial. When Kim tells them that this is the best deal that Craig will get or he will face thirty years in prison, Betsy fires Hamlin Hamlin & McGill and goes back to the less successful McGill, who has since shifted his focus to elder law.
The Kettleman’s meet Jimmy at the same diner from the pilot episode and try to persuade him into becoming their lawyer. Kim explains to Jimmy over the phone that they have to give the money back and take the deal, but Betsy reminds Jimmy that they paid him a “retainer” for his service. The retainer in question was the bribe that the Kettleman’s gave Jimmy to keep his mouth shut about the stolen money. Knowing that he can’t represent them nor keep the money, Jimmy makes the bold decision to ask for help from the incomparable Mike Ehrmantraut. Mike cases the Kettleman residence in an incredibly shot sequence that was accompanied by a terrific score. Mike uses the skills he learned on the force to find where the Kettleman’s stashed the stolen money, and Jimmy has Mike bring it to the District Attorney’s office.
While “Bingo” concentrated mostly on the Kettleman’s legal issue, the episode did contain some great performances from Banks and Seehorn. It may seem repetitive at this point, but Bob Odenkirk keeps outdoing himself with his performance as Jimmy McGill. Watching him rise and fall again just shows off his amazing acting ability and range. There’s a small scene towards the middle of the episode where Jimmy is shopping for a new office space for his growing business and he takes Kim along to show her. He asks her to be his partner, but she declines because she has too much invested in Hamlin Hamlin & McGill. The last scene takes place in the same office space where Jimmy is now broke again after giving back the Kettleman’s money. He starts getting upset, freaks out, and proceeds to kick the door. He then receives a phone call, fighting back tears of rage he puts on his fake assistant voice and answers the call, showing that although he is down again, he won’t stop until he is where he wants to be in his career. Odenkirk perfectly emphasizes Jimmy’s need to succeed and it has already been shown that he will do anything to make sure that happens. Jimmy is the embodiment of the American dream, and journey is just getting started.
‘Bingo’ Rating: 8.5/10
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Al Mannarino is the managing editor for Pop-Break. He is also host of the News Over Brews Podcast, Loot Care Unboxed, Backstage Break, and the producer of Behind the Brews. He graduated Rowan University with a degree in Radio/TV/Film & History and is currently a Promotions Assistant for Clear Channel Media + Entertainment. When he isn’t writing he is either trying to build his own TARDIS or taking a nap. Follow him on Twitter: @almannarino
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