Better Call Saul (TV Series) Mijo (2015) User Reviews

Yes! TightTightTight.

[oliverbjerregaard · 10/10 · 9 February 2015]

Better Call Saul certainly delivers!

This is exactly the blend of a dark plot, clever dialogue and intensity that i love! "Mijo" was more action-packed and certainly contributed to the development of Saul Goodman (James McGill). He is definitely heading for a dark route!

The episode was flawlessly written, superb acting and the directing + cinematography is outstanding! (Just like Breaking Bad, but yet Better Call Saul has its own soul)

My vote is: 9.4/10. So far I love the show. Give it a chance, and we will certainly see our beloved lawyer (and others) break-bad!

If Vince was setting out to outdo himself, he succeeded

[Meven_Stoffat · 10/10 · 10 February 2015]

Alright, that's a bit hyperbolic. So far we are two episodes into the show and I am not sure if I would call it better than Breaking Bad. But this episode is miles ahead of the pilot. So far, I'm beginning to wonder if we should even call this show a "spin off" at all, because while that is indeed what it is, it's turning out to be something so much more. Last night had one half consisting of nothing but suspense thrust in your face, and a second half consisting of mesmerizing character development and well executed drama courtesy of Vince Gilligan. Of course, on Sunday night, the last we saw of Jimmy McGill was that he got held at gunpoint by terrifying drug dealer Tuco (if you remember how scary he was in Breaking Bad, you're in for a surprise- He's ten times more terrifying here!), and this episode picks up right where it left off

We discover that the old lady that the twins messed with was Tuco's grandmother, and Tuco keeps the twins captive in his house and simultaneously repeatedly threatens Jimmy. This leads to a beautifully tense scene in the Albuquerque desert that leads to the twins almost getting brutally tortured and slaughtered in the desert, but Jimmy manages to negotiate with Tuco and they get away with broken legs. Just this scene alone is enough to convince you that this show is not just another spin off. It's thanks to a mix of stunning cinematography, intense dialogue and incredible performances, and the eventual scene where the twins' legs are broken is intense and horrifying. Jimmy's facial expressions just sell the scene completely

After this and the brilliant moment where he can't even be on a date without thinking of said incident we get an incredibly compelling scene that furthers the relationship between him and his brother, where Saul is aware of his mental illness but doesn't want to tell him. Then we get to see a bit more of his lawyer skills and this is where the show's masterful editing is noticeable-showing how frenetic his life is

In short this was an absolutely excellent episode and proof that this spin off was a great idea. The writing is tight, the suspense hasn't died a bit and all the trademark Gilliganisms are there while the show still stands on its own. Cannot wait for next Monday

Great episode, better than the pilot

[PulpPhiction · 9/10 · 9 February 2015]

Better Call Saul is going to be an excellent series, and I am really looking forward to the rest of it. This episode is most of the reason why.

I don't know how they pull it off, but Better Call Saul somehow has a Breaking Bad vibe and feel to it, while also feeling like a completely new and fresh show.

Unlike the first act (which was still great), this episode spends less time developing characters, setting the scene and building the story-line, and more time jumping right into the excitement, suspense and intensity.

Overall this episode was definitely better than the first, and I'm definitely looking forward to the rest of the series.

9/10

Review of Season 1: Episodes 1-2

[851222 · 9/10 · 15 April 2015]

Greetings from Lithuania.

So finally, it's here. It happened. The sequel or a spin off to one of the greatest TV shows of all time is here.

After seeing first two episodes, it's safe to say that it's a really good show so far. It's hard and impossible to compare these two shows so far, but overall feeling after two episodes is very positive.

Acting is gear here as usual. But the real star of the show so far is writing. Fast, realistic, intriguing, involving and down to earth real - the same thing that was a driving force behind "Breaking Bad" is driving "Better Call Saul" so far.

Overall, first two episodes of this show are very good, vote for both episodes is 9/10.

Gets Off the Ground Running!

[gab-14712 · 10/10 · 12 April 2020]

The first season of Better Call Saul is starting off with a bang thanks to a wonderful blend of old and new characters. This episode, "Mijo" notches up the tension a level or two with the events that transpired here. Facing death in the eye, we see that Jimmy is no Walter White. Jimmy trying to bluff his away from a horrible situation is funny....and ultimately pathetic. After an episode solely designed for character building, the episode goes right into the action and excitement. I was clinging to my chair the entire first half due to everything going on. I wouldn't think that Jimmy would be facing death in Episode 2, but this might be the moment that truly opens the door on his criminal proceedings. Also, do NOT mess with Tuco's abuelita!

When the last episode ended, the skateboarders Jimmy hired to scam Betsy Kettleman were captured and hogtied by Tuco. Jimmy comes along to the rescue and the skateboarders point out he is the leader of the scam. The three of them are taken to the desert where Tuco is ready to exterminate them. Jimmy pleads for his life and only survives after Tuco's right-hand man, Nacho Varga (Michael Mando) sees through Jimmy. It also makes for a very painful ordeal for the skateboarders, but they all live to see the next day. Jimmy is now involved with Tuco and Nacho, whether he likes it or not. If he wants to live, he better move ahead with the embezzlement scheme.

The plot I mentioned describes the first half of the episode. The second half is a montage of Jimmy going back to his public defender work and his interactions with Chuck. Interesting note is that Chuck wears a space blanket every time he is contact with electronic devices. I also like how we see Jimmy tries to be a good person and that he wants what is best for Chuck, even if Chuck doesn't see it.

The acting remained phenomenal. Bob Odenkirk continues to destroy this role. His best acting moment came in the desert where he pretends to be an FBI agent, but has no idea about this assignment. His facial expressions when the skateboarders have their legs broken is masterful acting. I was so glad to see Tuco! He still has a way with words. I also want to give a shoutout to Michael Mando who plays Nacho, a series regular introduced in this episode. Mando is sharp, intelligent, and a guy you would not want as your enemy.

Overall, this is a tense episode that gets off the ground at high speed. The second half allows you to breathe, but the first half is some of the best television out there. I can't give enough credit to Michelle MacLaren. She directed some of the greatest Breaking Bad episodes, so it's no surprise we get a near perfect episode here.

My Grade: A+

The Ball Is Now Rolling

[r-kerr0992 · 9/10 · 16 February 2015]

OVERVIEW It's starting to flow now. With the majority of the stage setting executed in the first episode, they could really get the ball rolling with this second episode. With Tuco greeting Jimmy down the barrel of gun, and the ginger brother tied up in the garage, it sets up for a great scene in the desert. It's also the start of Jimmy's involvement as a 'criminal lawyer', with the consequences of his actions bringing misery to others.

We're introduced to a new character also. Tuco's associate Nacho (Michael Mando), who seems to take a more careful and smart approach to the drug trade, opposing Tuco's brashness. With the three scam artists tied up in the desert, nacho talks Tuco down from killing the lawyer, as somebody would notice and come looking for him.

PERFORMANCES Characters are starting to get fleshed out more with a little bit more screen time, so I can now make a judgment on a few of them. Raymond Cruz put in a solid performance as the hot and cold lunatic Tuco. The introduction of Michael Mando as Nacho was also a highlight, with him taking a more subtle approach to Tuco's world of 'insanity'. Fans of Michael Mando will get that horrible joke. But in seriousness he was good in the final scene when he was seeking McGill's help in finding 1.5 million dollars from one of McGill's failed clients in the first episode who overheard him mentioning. It seems like he'll play a solid, prominent role in the series but only time will tell.

Again, Bob Odenkirk carrying a majority of scene time and carrying it well throughout. He had a lot more emotional depth to play with and he excelled in both the troubled and frightened scenes as well as his comedic counterpart, and sometimes in the case of the desert scene a mixture of both. Still the highlight in my opinion, however he can't really be opposed down to the level of dialogue he has.

NOTEWORTHY MOMENTS The scene in the desert is fantastic. It really summarises the vibe of the show, a mixture of serious drama and comedy. The whole scene revolves around Jimmy, now being set free by Tuco and Nacho now trying to somewhat barter for the ginger brother's lives, trying to tell Tuco that being just and fair has more of an impact. The back in forth between the two characters is hilarious, with Tuco taking some points McGill makes literally. One example is when he tries to explain that they don't see what the problem was in the first place, so Tuco goes to take their eyes out. He eventually manages to make an agreement on breaking one leg each on the brothers, to impact their skateboarding. With the almost light-hearted approach to the scene coming to an end, the brutality sets in as McGill watches to the out of camera view of these young men being horribly assaulted, and its all his fault. The whole scene was like a warped version of a case hearing in a courtroom, with the defence trying to come to an agreement with the judge for a more appropriate sentence. It was very well done and it seems like the best is still yet to come.

I also like the back and forth between Jimmy McGill and his brother Chuck when he throws his phone onto the front garden as he is scared of the radiation it omits. All the while, he is wearing a foil suit to combat it. There was also a nice sequence as Jimmy goes through the motions again trying to make an honest living by taking on bottom of the barrel defence cases knowing that he is still in dire straits. It highlights that there is definitely a problem financially and he desperately needs a solution.

FINAL VERDICT The bold, violent start of this episode is really what I wanted to see in this dark comedy. The mood is set and jimmy McGill is starting to question what is right, and what will pay. With Nacho coming into his place of work to inquire about one of the clients he failed to achieve in order to use Jimmy to steal the 1.5 million from them, it really sets the central premise of the series, and the beginning of Saul Goodman. It is now in motion, and as Walter White would say 'We're just getting started, no-one stops this train'.

Going to keep watching

[serhanozel-34168 · 8/10 · 12 April 2021]

This episode encourages us to keep watching the rest of the show by creating a complicated, unique man who is someone of a rarity, named James M. McGill. We find a chance to know him deeply and see how he can use his cogency and persuasiveness. It seems to me that he'll earn a massive amount of money and live in peace for a while. But in the beginning of the show, we saw that his condition after all of these adventures he'd been through with his corporation "Better Call Saul" is desperate, miserable. The best thing about this episode was to see Tuco for one more time and I'm looking forward to seeing Gus euphorically.

It's a Hard World

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 26 April 2018]

Saul/McGill ends up being quite heroic. He manages to avert the deaths of three people. The downside is that he now is in bed with some really bad men. The scene in the desert is incredible. I love it when a director can portray true human fear like they do here. I enjoyed what was done in "Fargo." We have fascinating characters whom we can believe in. For all his foibles McGill is a truly good man. Somehow, he did all the work to become a lawyer, yet he continues to work the tunnels as a public defender. He has an opportunity, but he really doesn't know enough to act. He would also make himself a felon. We are, for the first time, introduced to his brother, a small time criminal who only appears when he needs something.

Excellent

[smithzed · 9/10 · 20 April 2022]

Jimmy's negotiation skills are very present in this episode, and Tuco again is portrayed very well as a maniac. The drama & high stakes of the opening scene make this a very engaging episode.

Already at a high

[Leofwine_draca · 9/10 · 1 June 2021]

Only the second episode but already a step up from the first introductory one. The set-piece dialogue scene in the desert is absolutely riveting and a top-quality combination of writing, acting and direction, as good as anything in BREAKING BAD. The rest continues to amuse and build world and character in equal measure.

Part 2...

[njnya · 9 February 2015]

It picks up right where the last one left off (well, a few minutes before technically).

Unlike the first episode, rather than setting a lot of things up, this episode jumps right into action, and keeps the suspense up throughout the whole first half! And trust me, it gets REALLY intense, especially for the second episode.

The second half is much more laid back, but it's still very good! Also, it reminds me of the Breaking Bad episode, "Grilled." And that's definitely a good thing.

Overall, this episode was great, even better than the first. I have high hopes for this series, give it a watch.

Nerve-racking Episode!!

[brightestar-34645 · 9/10 · 4 June 2022]

The appearance of Tuco made this episode great. This episode was a perfect continuation of the previous episode and the perspective of Tuco at the beginning was really well done.

The Conversation between Tuco and Jimmy was very enjoyable and as Tuco's word Jimmy really got a mouth on him!

The Iconic desert sequence is back. And We've got the first appearance of Nacho! This Show is really great of making you nervous even though you know Jimmy is going to be fine. Again this sequence shows how Jimmy is great at getting out from bad situation by talking. He Really does have a Mouth!

The Jimmy and Chuck conversation was Really good as per Usual. Nacho's Arrival at Jimmy's Office was interesting to see and it was perfectly done.

This episode was beautifully shot. The Desert sequence was awesome And another great episode following the pilot episode..

The brother needs to go

[DaveduFresne80 · 4/10 · 10 February 2015]

This show is garnering a lot of views due to its association with Breaking Bad. That's the only reason I watched it. It has some bright spots, but overall is a weak effort so far. The chief problem with it is the brother, who reminds me of some character from an 80's vacation movie or maybe a cheap horror movie. The brother has cancer and is terrified of electro- magnetic radiation, so they use an ice-filled cooler for a refrigerator, gas lamps for light, and the guy actually drapes himself with tin foil in one scene. Whatever they talk about is so dull I've forgotten it already.

Tuco returns to the show, which is good, but it's hard to get around how much older he looks, a serious problem with bringing back the Breaking Bad characters, especially if this show is going to last. Jonathan Banks is also back, this time as some kind of parking lot Nazi, and provides little comedy and no relief.

While Saul, or McGill, (his original name), still brings some charisma and keeps the show watchable, he seems to be channeling Woody Allen rather than his more energetic characterization in Bad. In one scene, where he tries to save the lives of two small time scammers who are about to be cut into pieces by Tuco, rather than coming off as the man who can smoothly talk his way out of anything, he is more bumbling coward which somehow impresses Tuco's associate. This will apparently be the focus of future episodes, and if Saul/McGill can present more personal magnetism, the show may keep the built in audience it's had so far, but only if they go back and edit out the older brother scenes. They are a complete buzzkill.

Final verdict- After two episodes, somewhat watchable, but needs a serious infusion of red bull, and hopefully the brother's chemo is less successful than Walt's.

Don't call it a prequel or a sequel or a spin off

[fredschaefer-406-623204 · 9/10 · 11 February 2015]

I must admit to having some doubts when Vince Gilligan announced he intended to do a "spinoff" of his BREAKING BAD, which in my opinion is a legitimate contender for greatest TV show of all time. Anybody remember AfterMASH and JOEY; I didn't think so, and that's the point. But BETTER CALL SAUL is the example that disproves the point; after only two episodes, I am hooked on this show and I am not saying that because I am a BREAKING BAD fanatic desperate to return to the world of Walter White and Jessie Pinkman one more time. This show and the character of Jimmy McGill (aka Saul Goodman) more than stands on its own.

The series opens with a brief glimpse at Saul's grim life post Walter White and then flashes back years before BB when Jimmy McGill is a small time pubic defender in Albuquerque, representing bottom feeders for peanuts. He is a glib ambulance chasing hustler, quite the contrast to his older brother, who was once the top litigator in a very lucrative law firm, now a mentally ill agoraphobic. The plot of the first two episodes turns on Jimmy's attempt to land a potentially high profile (and quite guilty) client who has a stolen million stashed away. What is so great about this show is how one seemingly unrelated action snow balls: the scam with the red-headed idiot skate boarders to trap Mrs. Kettleman backfires and leads to a confrontation with BB drug kingpin Tuco Salamanca; ending up in the desert where Jimmy has to use his fast tongue to save his life. The final scene brings him right back to a new scam to get the Kettleman's ill gotten gains, only now Jimmy has to team up with Nacho, Tuco's #2 guy.

This is real storytelling, along with a lot of character development. The tone of the series is not nearly as dark as BB was in its later seasons, if it was, then everyone would be very dead very soon; instead there is a good balance between comedy and drama. And plenty of things to remind us that we are in the BREAKING BAD universe: that tense scene in the desert, where Jimmy has to talk his way out of a very bad situation echoes a dozen similar sequences in BB.

The acting is superb, starting with Bob Odendkirk as Jimmy/Saul, who dispels all doubts he and his character could not carry a show. Michael McKean, who was once Lenny on LAVERNE AND SHIRLEY way back in the last century, plays Jimmy's pathetic brother. Raymond Cruz reminds us why we remembered him so well from the early seasons of BB and seeing Jonathan Banks back as Mike Ehrmantraut, if only in a few scenes as a parking lot attendant who gives Jimmy a hard time, makes me smile. Michael Mando's Nacho is clearly a character to watch. But there are small performances that are perfect as well, such as Miriam Colon as Abuelita, Tuco's elderly SUV driving Grandma, and especially Daniel and Steven Levine as the two twenty something skate boarders.

BETTER CALL SAUL, like BREAKING BAD before it, is a show about Americans who have been consigned to the status of loser, and how they rage and fight against such a fate without any concern for the morality of their actions. They're not good people, but we understand them.

All thanks to Vince Gilligan for knowing what he was doing all along.

Saul at his best!

[edvin-miler · 10 February 2015]

My expectations are different judging by some other reviews.

To me the ending is not as exciting as I wanted it to be, BUT that's because of my expectations from the guy who acted as Vaas in Far Cry 3 game (if you don't know it, you have to check it out). I want this guy to have that same intensity and for me he is too chill at the moment. Just a bit inpatient that's all, but since he'll be pretty important in this show, I know he'll live up to the expectations.

So really, not disappointed, just wanted more intensity at the end.

Otherwise: the montage, the bar scene and the desert scene are just so good. The music, camera angles, smart dialogue, plot progression, and attention to detail is what makes Vince Gilligan a master of the arts.

'Best lawyer ever'

[odderr · 10/10 · 20 July 2022]

Wow wow wow.

Jimmy, tuco, nacho...enoughhhh.

Perfect confrontation scenes.

That's how you build tension.

And this quality already for 2nd ep is why this show is great.

The Consequences

[CineNerd70 · 10/10 · 27 July 2022]

Jimmy's first ever exposure to the world of Magic Man. It's pulled off very well, and a pinpoint for his future history that'll never be forgotten. I loved how this pointed to the idea of his fate and impossible odds of escaping The Game.

It's confusing !

[keraghel_mehdi · 9/10 · 24 November 2020]

I'm confused ! and I don't think I'm the only one ! How did Jimmy find Tuco's house ?! I know that he kept searching for the car but this is not an easy thing to do so simple like he did ! 🤷‍♂️ Beside this , the episode was amazing 👍9/10

1st Half = Amazing, 2nd Half = Eh

[qwertyuiop47 · 8/10 · 15 February 2015]

The first episode of Better Call Saul was pretty good, not amazing, but still a solid start. However, the ending of it got me really excited for this episode. This episode however, was way more action-packed and the story really began moving here. The whole situation with Tuco was crazy, and it really let Saul's personality shine. Not only that, but it also showed how amazing a lawyer he is. My only complaint is that the second half of the episode, while not bad by any means, was just kinda boring. I'm really looking forward to the next episode though. I'd love to see more interactions between Tuco and Saul, as those scenes are what really made the episode.

Talk about deescalation

[TheCorniestLemur · 9/10 · 16 June 2022]

I'm going to continue my method of reviewing each individual episode of The Witcher for this show (and probably many more shows to come), which was that, unless I think something I mentioned in my review of the first episode (i.e the acting, directing, cinematography, and pacing) is notably better or worse from episode to episode, I won't mention it.

So on that note, the pacing, and general plot. Holy crap it's soooo much better than the pilot. Everything with Tuco is every bit as entertaining and tense as the character was in Breaking Bad,and the writing in his half of the episode is just so damn good.

The restaurant scene was beautifully shot, the montage scene was beautifully edited (and I love the coffee cup and breadstick symbolism), and the ending scene is brilliant at getting you excited for whatever is to come.

The only problem I had is that I'm still not sure what the point of Chuck's character is, and I really don't think he's that interesting so far. This is a Vince Gilligan show we're talking about though, so that could change at any time.

And something I didn't mention in my review of the first episode is that it looks as though this show's use of licensed music may turn out to be just as great as Breaking Bad's, so yeah. NOW I'm looking forward to the rest of this. In many ways, this feels like the actual pilot episode.

8.5/10, Great

[dcdude-26988 · 8/10 · 24 August 2023]

This was close to being rated a 9/10, because this better than the first episode, and this was just a great episode. I am actually having high hopes for this series right now. The pacing maybe kind of slow, but I would much rather just appreciate all of the screentime Vince Gilligan gave us. Anyways, my favorite characters in this episode were Saul, Tuco, and Nacho. My favorite things about this episode were the Protagonist, the storyline, and the Cinematography. This honestly would've made it to being a 9 star rating for me if this episode was 0.1 decimal point higher, but oh well. I am excited to see how Mike becomes what he was in Breaking Bad.

Boring

[asupergav · 4/10 · 6 June 2021]

How anyone can rate this episode so highly is beyond me. The beginning was interesting as others have alluded, but when the incident dragged on till nearly half the length of the show with little happening, my boredom increased exponentially.

From then on, we are treated to nothing more than 'padding', with shots of silent conversations in a restaurant accompanied by fill-in music, close-ups of coffee machines (perhaps the director had a fetish for coffee spilling into paper cups), endless repeat shots of Saul in court, again with no sound, all with no meaningful purpose.

I get that the audience want to see another successful show from the makers of the excellent 'Breaking Bad', but wishing it and getting it are two different things. I expect future episodes to be a lot better.

A lawyer you can trust.

[wavos_216 · 23 March 2023]

Jimmy is not Saul! At least not yet...

In "Mijo" we see face of Jimmy that we couldn't see in "Breaking Bad" Saul - that is a person with morals, that is traumatized by people like Tuco, not one that suggests sending people on a trip to Belize. This contrast is strengthened in the last scene where Jimmy outright refuses to partake in crime.

Pacing in this episode was great, from tension and danger of negotiations with psychopath, to visually telling bar scene, and my personal favourite "It's Showtime" montage.

Chuck scene felt kind of slower but I guess necessary to emphasize characteristics of his "condition".

Overall, I think "Mijo" is an upgrade from previous episode. 9/10.