TV Recap: Better Call Saul, ‘Rico’ & ‘Pimento’

‘Pimento’ Summary

Chuck (Michael McKean) convinces Jimmy (Bob Odenkirk) that the class action lawsuit case they are building against the Sandpiper Retirement Home is too much for them to handle and they may have to bring in an actual law firm to take over the leg work. Mike (Jonathan Banks) finds work protecting a doctor on his first drug deal.

For any aspiring television writers out there looking for inspiration, look no further than the latest episode of Better Call Saul because that was one fine hour of television. Following the build up form last weeks ‘Rico’ episode where Jimmy and Chuck teamed up on a class action lawsuit case against a retirement community, ‘Pimento’ takes place after the final moments of last weeks episode when Chuck realizes he unconsciously walked outside. Jimmy tries to get Chuck’s mind off his illness by having him embrace the outside world and not just the electricity that is all around. Last week showed a how much Jimmy wants Chuck’s approval and support and he’s willing to do anything to make him proud.

Because the company they are going after is so massive, Chuck regrets to inform Jimmy that they will have to give the case to a bigger firm because the amount of work is too much for two people. Jimmy doesn’t want anything to do with HHM and as we learned from last week’s episode, he tried to work there before and was denied by Howard. When Chuck and Jimmy go to HHM with the case the offer Jimmy a great deal that will have him set with cash to start his own practice, but when Jimmy asks for an office next to Chuck’s, he is once again denied a position at HHM. Jimmy is beyond furious, and even Kim questions Howard’s action, but something seems off. Howard is kind of a dick, but he’s not heartless.

It wasn’t until the final moments of the episode when it is revealed, in a very emotional scene, that Chuck never wanted Jimmy to work for HHM or even become a lawyer! The entire series thus far has had you convinced that Chuck was a good guy who wanted to take care of his brother, but in that scene he shows his true colors and proves how egotistical and selfish he really is. Just because Jimmy received his law degree online and not from an Ivy League school, Chuck tells him that he’s not a real lawyer. He basically wanted him to stay in the mailroom and away from crime so he wouldn’t fall back into his old tendencies. After Jimmy gets Chuck to admit he never wanted him to work for HHM, he leaves and tells Chuck he is on his own.

Surprisingly the emotional scene between Jimmy and Chuck or the boardroom scene at HHM weren’t the highlights of the episode. The best part came from Mike’s continuing storyline trying to find odd jobs to get extra money for his late son’s wife and daughter. The veterinarian sets Mike up as a third man hired to protect a doctor during a drug deal. Mike and the two large men meet in a parking garage. One of the bodyguards starts talking to Mike and asks him what kind of gun he’s carrying. When Mike, the smallest out of the three, say’s he isn’t carrying one the other bodyguard tries to get Mike kicked out of the job. In what can only be described as one of the most badass moments ever shown on television, Mike disarms the large man pointing a gun to his face, dismantles it, and hits him in the throat. He then finds about four guns on him and throws them in the trashcan while the bodyguard tries to breathe. It was a quick and awesome action proving once and for all that Mike Ehrmantraut is one of the coolest characters on television. Later during the actual drug deal Nacho is revealed to be the person buying the pills from the doctor. Mike explains that Nacho is trying to make deals behind his bosses back and delivers a great speech about the difference between good and bad criminals.

Overall ‘Pimento’ was one of the strongest episodes to date. Better Call Saul continues to surprise its viewers each week with new storylines and character growth. Will Jimmy actually take the deal knowing that he will never work for HHM? Will Mike get more involved with Nacho? Will we get to see Tuco again? Hopefully some of these questions are answered on the season finale next week.

‘Pimento’ Rating: 9/10

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