Better Call Saul (TV Series) Five-O (2015) User Reviews

Mike's Emotional Backstory!

[gab-14712 · 10/10 · 18 April 2020]

"Five-O" is an amazing episode and a very important episode. It helps if you have knowledge of Breaking Bad because you will need to apply it here. In that second season, we are introduced to Mike, Saul's cleaner. Mike instantly became a fan favorite and is essential piece for the father series. This episode, directed beautifully by Adam Bernstein, is the episode we have all been waiting for. The backstory of Mike and how he came to be. It is a haunting story with performances you'll never forget.

Mike is a former Philadelphia cop and he relocated to Albuquerque after his son, Matt was murdered. He wanted to be close to his daughter-in-law Stacee (Kerry Condon) and his granddaughter Kaylee. Mike, who possessed poor morals as a Philly cop, was partners with Matt. He said corruption is necessary to survive in the precinct, which ultimately led to Matt's death. He later seeks revenge on these cops. Months later, detectives from Philly are at his doorstep inquiring about these missing cops. If he wants to make it out of here in good shape, Mike will need to rely upon Jimmy McGill.

I loved this Mike-based episode. It pauses the main story as we focus more on Mike as a character. Jonathan Banks was always a great actor and this episode's performance deserved him an Emmy. I'll never forget his haunting quote as he wails, "I lost my boy." Mike took control of the episode as Odenkirk appears for only about eight minutes. But his character makes an important choice regarding his future. The teaming of Mike and Jimmy. This is an emotional, character-driven episode that is one of the major highlights of Better Call Saul's first season.

My Grade: A+

A perfect hour of Television

[harsh3651 · 10/10 · 10 March 2015]

An absolute masterclass of an episode which magnificently explains the tragic story behind one of many exceptional characters of the BB universe Mike, and how delightfully well is it done. Jonathan Banks is such a terrific actor and his performance today was perfect. In this character-driven origins story he left me absolute stunned and changed the way I have always perceived Mike and although it is too early to say but he will win an Emmy this year, yes his acting was that good in this episode.

Although Mike hasn't been in the forefront of the show we all knew that sooner rather than later Mike would team up with Saul and become a larger part of the show. In the five episodes until now Gilligan and Gould have just given us brief glimpses of Mike which left us wanting for more. But i guess it was their way of saying to stay patient as something huge was in works. And after watching this episode I hold the writers in the highest regard for plotting such an intense, dialogue -driven hour which ends with Mike finally showing us that like all humans even he has a vulnerable side. The final moments of the episode are absolute magic especially that look of guilt and despair on Mike's face which will haunt me for at least a few days.

This gives us an insight on how well Gilligan and co. had developed these characters while creating them in BB and as layer after layer of their motivations gets dissected and we get to see the characters naked underneath their skin.

An inspiring delight that had all the hallmarks of a classic BB episode which ends on a poignant note leaving the viewers thoroughly satisfied as the credits roll.

P.S. -Let me repeat Jonathan Banks is such a terrific actor.

A movie potential

[Oktay_Tuna · 10/10 · 19 December 2019]

The themes and writing in this episode are thought provoking. The acting amazing and even if you didn't watch the previous episodes and only watched Breaking Bad, this will be a great prequel for Mike. This episode not only made this show better but also added more to the Mike in Breaking Bad.

Great writing brings forth the best acting I can remember.

[zoocar · 10/10 · 12 March 2015]

This episode reminds me of the surprising and well deserved letter Sir Anthony Hopkins wrote to Alan Cranston after binge viewing Breaking Bad. As a refresher I will quote how it began and highly suggest Goggling the remainder:

"Dear Mister Cranston.

I wanted to write you this email - so I am contacting you through Jeremy Barber - I take it we are both represented by UTA . Great agency.

I've just finished a marathon of watching "BREAKING BAD" - from episode one of the First Season - to the last eight episodes of the final Season. A total of two weeks (addictive) viewing.

I have never watched anything like it. Brilliant!

Your performance as Walter White was the best acting I have seen - ever.

I know there is so much smoke blowing and sickening bullshit in this business, and I've sort of lost belief in anything really.

But this work of yours is spectacular - absolutely stunning..." .

While later in the letter Anthony Hopkins tributes others including Jonathan Banks, it seems he could now easily be inspired to followup his praise with another about Jonathan's portrayal of Michael.

We have all loved Mikes impenetrable stoic character in BB and certainly delighted to see him back for further study in these earlier adventures of the ever entertaining Saul. But, I highly doubt anyone foresaw this further depth of Gilligan and Goulds character construction talents and impeccable story-line placement of them.

As it all came together in production, I would guess even they were blown away at these understandably rare final results.

When it comes to writing and actor portrayal on a level this transcendent it is no longer about intellectual definition, dissection, or description; but sheer personal delight that registers as indelible ink on ones private soul.

Only in an amazingly stupid alternate universes could one possibly not hear these words next winter; "..and the Emmy goes to.. Jonathan Banks."

A back story that doesn't disappoint

[Leofwine_draca · 9/10 · 6 June 2021]

An excellent stand-alone episode delving into Mike's back story. I adore the Mike character, he's one of my favourite in the shared universe, so inevitably this one doesn't disappoint. Jonathan Banks takes his acting to a new level here and the scene in which Mike gets angry for the first time ever is astonishing. Excellent viewing.

Spellbound. Jonnathan Banks always brings out the badass but vulnerable mike so good.

[ansharora-12638 · 10/10 · 14 August 2019]

Always loved the character of Mike. You could easily see the pain but still he would look strict, on point and boss. Loved how this episode was crafted and made into a necklace with all the beads of events. Beautiful story telling. Show changed a course from here and went on to honor revenge story. His son Matt was inadvertently killed by 2 corrupt no-good cops and got away with it. Not anymore. Mike makes them regret every decision they ever made and comes clean to her daughter-in-law. Totally impressed.

A masterclass of television

[TheFirst01 · 10/10 · 30 September 2019]

The "One Minute" of Better Call Saul. A masterclass of an episode which highlights great acting, and great writing.

Gilligan and Gould in the writers hall of fame

[A_Different_Drummer · 9/10 · 19 April 2016]

I have covered in previous reviews the contribution Joss Whedon is considered to have made to the modern TV drama (the "long arc") but watching this incredible episode I could help but think that Gilligan and Gould need acknowledgement too.

We already know (Breaking Bad) that their key theme is human foibles. This episode, which seems at first glance to break almost every rule of episodic TV (the star is barely doing a cameo?) is a tour de force not only for Banks' acting but also for way the viewer is hooked off the top and just cannot walk away.

Incredible TV.

And notice how all the episodes for the season end in "O" -- showing off maybe, but they earned the right.

((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

Mike, Mike, Mike

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 15 May 2018]

Mike Ehemantraut returns (actually he goes back in time) to his earliest appearance. In "Breaking Bad," he was already the cool foundation of Gus's drug empire. Here we meet the Philadelphia cop whose son was gunned down by his own kind. Mike is damaged by this and has done something (but we don't know what it is). He visits the widowed daughter-in-law who makes him tell the story. Saul has suddenly been embedded in the criminal world we saw in "Breaking Bad." Mike's character is so sound and so taciturn that he is hard to like, but we can't take our eyes off him. I thought after the last episode this was that actor playing a different character. I apologize for my stupidity.

Enlightens Mike On The Inside & McGill Makes An Important Choice

[AudioFileZ · 10/10 · 10 March 2015]

This is an exceptionally good episode of Better Call Saul...and Jimmy McGill is barely even in it. Wisely, the writers have inserted a really good character's story inside of Saul Goodman's. Not only do we finally get inside of Mike Ehrmantraut, we see why he's so dour, we see how complex his life became when his son joined the Philadelphia PD. Ehrmantraut had long ago made his own "left turn" into the crooked cop thing. Mike rationalizes being so because only the scumbag criminals get hurt while the inner circle of the brotherhood pocket some extra cash. But Ehrmantraut knew his son's code of ethics would set him up because without a "push" from dad his son was sure to alienate the shady brotherhood putting himself, and his family, in peril. Mike convinced his son it was OK to "twist" the law because the cops benefit and the criminal still goes down...just in a more immediate kind of way. It wasn't what Mike had hoped for, yet he was all about protecting his son. His plan failed horribly and he's left with dire consequences and guilt. Still, Mike is the kind that follows through as we see.

So, overall, this Mike centric episode which was paced, and played out, to perfection. Exposing both Mike's faults and his cunning set against his guilt, which, crucially still doesn't stop him from taking care of business. It is as if you feel the turmoil swirling inside the normally silently suffering Mike. A Mike that has to finish something he always wished would never happen and has the guts to do it.

Like a diamond dropped in to break up the investigation as to who killed the son's murderers, Jimmy McGill becomes a crucial confidant to Mike. Like Mike's son McGill would rather stay on the straight and narrow yet that isn't in the cards. McGill is as smart and wily as Mike and they become, finally, bonded. Within this episode we see McGill is anything but a elder care attorney, plus we get a handle on Mike. I say brilliant storytelling bringing into focus why these two will bond.

Step into the dark

[dancedance_itsok · 27 October 2018]

A stunning episode and a defining moment in this series. We follow mike into his past and discover the car parking attendant is much more than he seems. Something I've loved throughout this season one has been the lighting and how its used to portray each character. In Mikes episode we descend into almost pure darkness, one scene that stands out is a beautiful shot of Mike inside his symbolic prison that is his parking attendant booth highlighted with a halo of street lights and almost complete darkness. A moving episode and perfectly sets Mike up as a force to be reckoned with as well as his dark origins.

Review of Season 1: Episodes 5-6

[851222 · 10/10 · 19 April 2015]

Greetings from Lithuania.

So, the 5 and the 6 episodes of "Better Call Saul" moves a story a bit further but not to much.

5 episode was good, but really nothing special. Acting, writing, pacing and directing were solid as usual.

However 6th episode was superb. Simply the best episode of the series so far, it lets the background story of Mike, how he ended up in Albuquerque and the story behind him is sad and tragic. I won't going to go into details, but it's a superbly paced, written and acted by Jonathan Banks. This episode truly captures the spirit of "Breaking Bad" and show life as it is.

Overall, 8/10 for 5th episode, and 10/10 for 6th.

Felt like an amateur film noir

[jbudd2 · 6/10 · 11 October 2016]

This episode was very off, so I had to figure out who was behind it, and was shocked that all the reviews are all hunky dory. The dialogue is cheesy, on-the-nose, and out of character. It didn't feel like a Vince Gilligan show. These shows are all about realism, but this episode had lines you'd hear in like a cheesy 80's cop show.

"What's so important in there that we had to pull that third-rate Marx brothers routine?" -yes, please do tell!

"But in case you missed it, your friends from Philly back there... they think you killed two cops." -hey audience, listen up!

It had long monologues that I could see the actor's trying their hardest to make sound like natural dialogue. It told instead of showed. It had some solid plot / character points, which is probably why people liked it, but the dialogue is just amateur.

10/10

[MattBrady099 · 9/10 · 15 March 2015]

Mike: "I broke my boy".

Better Call Saul so far has been amazing and it's episodes have been great, until I sawed Five-o which I think is one of the best episode of this season so far and possibly in TV history.

Jonathan Banks was just perfect in this episode. He broke my heart with his excellent performance and he also reminds us why we loved Mike in Breaking Bad. I heard from critics and pretty much everyone that Jonathan Banks might win a Emmy or a Golden Globe because of this episode and I will be so over the moon if he dose win, because he actually give a groundbreaking and the best TV performance of the year. Most actors nominated or probably win don't really break any new grounds when it comes to they performance, well to me it didn't wow me, but this performance right here is just a masterpiece of acting.

We got shows like The Walking Dead which is on right now as I'm speaking but every Monday I'm not normally looking forward to Walking Dead that much to be honest, but I'm always looking forward to Better Call Saul. Why you may ask? because the show has such intelligent and brilliant writing that glues me into the screen and get's me interested every week.

I'm not going to say anything else about this episode, just watch it it's amazing.

The Most Critical Episode Thus Far

[mfleck-280-68286 · 10/10 · 10 March 2015]

The great thing about a prequel is that the creative minds have a chance to put meat on the bones of characters that we already know from a certain point in time - like meeting a person who becomes a close friend of yours and years later, you sit down and finally ask, "so why are you always initially suspicious of everyone at a party" or "why do you cry every time there's a commercial with a horse?" And then they give you this incredible back story that explains it all.

This is what we get to see in BCS - for both Saul and for Mike (and quite likely for many others as we work our way back to WW's birthday party). What's great is that we see how an innocuous line or scene from BB now has a complex back story. We expect that for Saul, but this Five-O episode was definitely Mike's turn to shine and put some meat on the bones of Mike Ehrmantraut.

Mike is Mike in large part because of the events that played out in Philly and how he "broke" his son. An already hardened cop with questionable morals (an apparent requirement to survive in his precinct), Mike tries desperately to save his rookie cop son from the consequences of having a moral compass in an immoral environment. In turn, he breaks his son and breaks himself. We learn how the stoic Mike has a burning and broken heart inside - one that will rarely, if ever, be seen again by anyone.

Mike gets revenge for his son, and his fellow Philly coppers find their way to the ABQ to ask him a few questions about the 2 dead cops who died a few months after his son.

Five-O gives us the chance to see this process, and to see some of the best acting in BCS or BB ever. Jonathan Banks gives an Emmy- worthy performance and delivers one of the most gripping monologues along the way. Saul is a tangential part of this, and up to this point, is not aware of the import of this encounter with the guy who keeps asking him to get more stickers so he can leave the parking lot. But even so, Saul slips ever more into the ethical abyss that he was born to plummet into by helping Mike get the Philly investigator's note pad.

Mike took no half measures, not even then.

Banks..he stole the show

[keonalauren · 9/10 · 6 August 2018]

A step from the usual tone of Better Call Saul, "Five-O" is a little more noir, a little less quirky, but a wonderful dive into the world of Mike. Jonathan Banks impells the viewer to watch the story unfold until the final scene. The character is grounded and subtle, a nice foil to Saul, holding a few gritty secrets up his sleeve. Wait until the near end, a heart wrenching moment. This is one of the reasons I love Better Call Saul. First the show makes you laugh, then takes a sober turn to explore the grey area between good and bad, lawful and criminal. It's a familiar story, but done in a poignant, charming way. Concerning the one star I omit, Kerry Condon, who plays Mike's daughter-in-law Stacey, is underwhelming. In her defense, the writing for her character is an awkward throwback to cliché terms like "thick as thieves." Perhaps it's a stylistic choice as the uncharacteristic language is also apparent in Saul for the episode, however, her dialogue is more distracting than immersive. To end an episode with the word wow repeating in your head, to feel the depth in a character, this is the sign of a solid season.

The Birth of Mike Ehrmentraut

[heisenberg12 · 9/10 · 20 June 2015]

Just when you thought Better Call Saul was hitting a low point in boredom in season one of its' much long awaited and anticipated premiere, off steps Mike Ehrmentraut, a beloved Breaking Bad character, from a train in the opening teaser. This scene was reminiscent of classic filmmaking right off the bat- the bad guy has just arrived in town in the west.

Like many Breaking Bad episodes, this particular BCS episode had that "too good to be true" feel to it, like you were being spoiled as a viewer- "They're actually going to show it? We're really going to see where Mike came from?" How awesome can it be! Sure enough, we are privileged to get a flashback to life as a Philadelphia cop from Mike's past after his son was ambushed in a drug raid. He's hitting the bottle and heartbroken with his eye on who did it.

While the climax of this episode is sure to satisfy and be worth your while, the really best highlight actually comes after, when Mike delivers his (what will likely be) Emmy Award winning monologue and most emotional performance of his Breaking Bad era to date that will leave you speechless and frozen in your seat for minutes after the credits roll.

Filled with the mixture of comedy, drama, dialogue, suspense, storytelling, and cinematography that Breaking Bad became known for, this is easily one of the top 2 episodes of season 1 of Better Call Saul, and a must see for any fan of Breaking Bad. It's awesome!

Better Call Saul has finally arrived.

Leading Mike

[krullie · 10/10 · 14 March 2015]

This episode sees Better Call Saul swinging into full gear. So far the series has been good, but not great. Though it's not fair to compare the show to Breaking Bad, the comparison is also inevitable.

Where that show took off right away, BCS has spent the majority of the first four episodes setting up characters and story lines which I hope will interconnect and climax as we come to the end of the first season. Gilligan & co. have already showcased some of their great writing talent, creating intriguing relationships and narrative arcs, but you can notice that they're feeling their way through this new show, trying to get the right tone and style. This has caused for some of the narrative to feel fragmented and uncentered.

But then came episode six, focusing on Mike's past as a cop in Philadelphia. The episode serves as back story for one of the most interesting, mysterious, dangerous and likable characters of Breaking Bad, someone we want to see much more of.

Unfortunately for Saul, this was the best episode of the series so far. And not just because of the great writing. Before the show started I had my doubts about Bob Odenkirk/Saul Goodman as leading man/character. The first five episodes hadn't convinced me and this episode confirmed my belief that he serves better as a supporting character, providing some sad wit and comic relief in a story that centers on the tension between morality and opportunity; the ambition to make something for yourself whilst not neglecting the people you love, even though they might hold you back sometimes.

Jonathan Banks IS a leading man. His intriguing, emotionally balanced performance in this episode alone is Emmy-worthy. The feeling that the series has been a little underwhelming and uncentered was completely absent in this outing and we have Mike Ehrmantraut to thank for that.

I'm very curious to see where the creative minds behind the show will steer his and Saul's characters. It's definitely worth the watch.

Brilliant from Banks, but extra wonderful from one detail

[bgaiv · 10/10 · 10 June 2022]

Jonathan Banks' performance here is the finest I've personally ever seen.

But one detail I personally enjoyed is that, 99.99% of the time--including in this show-- they say someone was pick pocketed.

Here, watch it, you can literally see Mike take the detective's notebook.

Very very nice.

Special

[adamtrubacs · 10/10 · 24 March 2021]

I haven't felt the urge to write any reviews on this site, though I've always appreciated the feedbacks and thoughts from other members. Aftet this episode, I had to write a couple of lines myself to show my appreciation.

It was not too long ago that I finished the Breaking Bad series and it's still a fresh memory thinking back of how stunning episode 14 was of the final season. I have that same mixture of emotions now watching this episode that I had watching episode 14.

First of all the level of acting enables you to be absolutely forget about the thing that you are currently watching a TV show. It's an intense touching story that you are told by Mike while you sit right next to him on that couch. You can feel the weight of his words, the sorrow and grief he's been gone through and the cold calculated actions he took. Killing those 2 cops never meant to be a redemption for Mike and he knew it but it simply had to be done as no other solution would have been closer to justice by Mike's morals.

The high tension of the scene is supported by the slow pace in which the action and the story is told by Mike which could easily be boring if the writing would not be so superb. It keeps you craving for the full story to be revealed while with each and every word leaving Mike's mouth the depth of his and his son's character just getting deeper and deeper helping you fully understand his situation and pain.

You know a show is good when your breathing only goes back to normal after the credits pop up... amazing! Can't wait to see what the rest of the series hold!

Full measures !

[omarabdelrafei · 7/10 · 9 August 2016]

you know .. it reminds me with that freaking episode of breaking bad that was the finale of season 3 better call Saul starting to be the flash back of breaking bad or its already i don't know! not much similar but when mike said this to Walter i remembered this word when i saw him killing those who killed his son..

otherwise every thing here in this series explains the history of mike and jimmy i expect to Gus fringe to jump through the story line may be in season 2 ! no much to explain but i gave this f**king episode 8 because its was the first time i see mike in emotional scene ..really it was great!

This episode really stands on its own

[goat-04054 · 10/10 · 2 January 2021]

This episode is amazing. It's basically Mike's origin story.

Can't perfect perfection

[decent_aries87 · 10/10 · 10 August 2020]

This was the most amazing piece of acting, direction and cinematography in tv ever! The story is simple but the way scene is shot accomapnied by Bank's acting just nails it!! This episode has its own fans.

Applause To Jonathan Banks

[p-57286 · 10/10 · 11 November 2022]

This episode is proof that Jonathan Banks is a sensational actor. This episode arrives in the quality of Felina and even Ozymandias, with the last one being the best episode of Breaking Bad. The script is very complex, has excellent dialogue and the final monologue by Jonathan Banks is the best thing about the episode. Bob Odenkirk serves as a cameo in this episode as there is no place for him. There is room for Jonathan Banks to show his skills as an actor. Mike wasn't as well developed in Breaking Bad, but here, in Better Call Saul, Mike manages to be, at times, better than Saul himself. This episode just proves that.