Title: Better Call Saul: “Fall”
Air Date: June 12th, 2017
Network: AMC
Genre: Drama, Crime-Thriller
It’s finally happened. The seeds have been planted since the beginning of Better Call Saul, as they bore fruit in the last few episodes, but “Fall” is where the lovable delinquent lawyer we met in season 1 fully transitioned to a criminal, criminal lawyer.
It was written in stone at the beginning of the episode just how things were going to play out after Jimmy “coincidentally” visits one of his former Sandpiper clients Irene, who also just so happens to be the class representative for the lawsuit, with cookies. Jimmy’s face told the whole story after he reads the offer and then does the math later.
Elsewhere, Mike’s interaction with Lydia at Madrigal was both comical, yet interesting under the guise of hindsight. Ehrmantraut’s obvious displacement in the pretentious modern workplace of the office and his quiet reaction to it is a nice touch to back the skepticism he displays in his conversation with Lydia.
Just like in Breaking Bad though, Lydia is composed, professional and surprisingly convincing, after stating not only that she admires Fring, but that he admires Mike, as this is the first time he’s made someone his “guy.” It’s neat to see the actual paper start to the two’s relationship established in the previous show, but the best part is the foreshadowing in regards to Madrigal, as Mike’s skepticism about using his name has him state how “The Germans love a good Audit.”
While it’s been teased for a while now that Hector would end up in a wheelchair as a result of Nacho, unfortunately, this episode of Better Call Saul simply teased the possibility, but there is always the finale.
I’ve been wondering just what the effects of Jimmy’s conversation at the malpractice office would have on Hamlin, Hamlin, and Mcgill since it occurred in episode seven, but I never thought it’d be this important. Not only did the practice raise the firm’s premiums for each of its lawyers following the news, it was the straw that broke the camels back in Howard’s words regarding Chuck.
“If enough people tell you you’re drunk maybe it’s time to sit down.” Despite Chuck’s improving medical condition, Howard thinks that while Chuck is the best legal mind he ever knows, his decision making has become unpredictable.
Chuck’s been a character I’ve flip-flopped with almost every episode of Better Call Saul since it was revealed he kept Jimmy from becoming a lawyer and finding out he’s being forced out of the company he built just when he’s getting better makes me feel for him. It’s why, despite it being somewhat of a bluff, seeing him in his kitchen with the lights on, cooking and telling Howard he was going to sue the firm was so satisfying to see.
Hamlin has definitely shown a lot more character depth in the past couple episodes of Better Call Saul as well, as the calm, cool and collected man we see throughout the first couple seasons is finally started to get frustrated with the situations he’s being put in. The way he handles seeing Jimmy in the parking garage, calling him Gollum, offering him a handout and telling him to bring a beggar’s cup at least next time is a side I’d never thought we’d see of Howard.
It would certainly have put me on Jimmy’s side of the argument if everything that Hamlin was saying wasn’t, in fact, true though, and it all comes back to Sandpiper. The parallel between the character he is in Season 1 in regards to the old folks home and how he is now is night and day.
Despite carrying the same charming demeanor – also still joking around and hosting bingo – his intentions have gone from helping the residents of the community, knowing it’ll help him somewhat as well, to using its residents as a matter of getting a huge payday, despite hurting them. Maybe it’s because my grandmother’s name is Irene, maybe I just hate seeing old folks taken advantage of, but Jimmy’s con in “Fall” – while brilliant – shows he’s gone.
The result of Jimmy setting up Irene with the shoes and then gossiping to her friends about how she can afford nice ones and obviously doesn’t need the Sandpaper money is one of the saddest things I’ve ever seen. Seeing just how happy she is when she’s power walking with her group at first, then seeing her isolated and alone in those same situations later is heartbreaking, and it’s all just for a payday for Jimmy.
Better Call Saul is acutely aware of this though, as it doesn’t even let Jimmy celebrate with the one person he still seems to care about. The entire scene where he tells Kim about the case settling, all while she is preparing to go to a huge client meeting after no sleep and being overworked seems like it’s going to play a big role in why the two stop talking to each other.
Especially considering Kim’s terrifying scene that ends the episode. One moment rehearsing her lines for the meeting, the next she’s headfirst in an airbag, yelping in pain off the side of the freeway.
It was quick, shocking and the most accurate depiction of a car crash that’s ever been displayed on a television show. On top of everything that happened (and didn’t), the show’s abrupt ending with Kim falling asleep at the wheel just makes me what the season finale even more.
Did you catch the second to last episode of this season of Better Call Saul? If so, what did you think? What scene or scenes did you like the most? What are your predictions for the rest season 3 as it winds down? Be sure to let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to check back next week for the finale “Lantern” immediately after it airs on AMC at 10 PM EST.
VERDICT: “Fall” is the episode that most people thought the entire premise of the show would revolve around in regards to Saul Goodman, conning people for his own benefit regardless of consequences with a smile on his face, and it was damn good. Everything that went unanswered in this episode only promises that the finale will be even better.
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