The Season 3 finale for BETTER CALL SAUL truly delivered, as more than one story arc came to an end and at least one major character met his demise, while we find out how another one came to be the pathetic person he was in BREAKING BAD. SAUL is a show that takes its time getting where it is going, something that infuriates some viewers, while it is far too subtle in its story telling for others, but to those who appreciate good television when they see it, BETTER CALL SAUL has been a must see from the beginning.
The big resolution of this episode, titled "Lantern," was the relationship between the McGill brothers, Jimmy and Chuck, who have been waging war against each other all season long, a conflict that ultimately cost both of them their law practices, and then much more. If faithful viewers were anticipating the final comeuppance of the smug, overbearing Chuck, they sure got it, but somehow it was still sad in the end, even though we knew this man had brought it all on himself because he always had to come out on top. His attempt to forestall being forced out of H.H. & M. utterly fail when Howard Hamelin made it clear that he was willing to pay Chuck out of his own pocket to go away. When Jimmy makes an attempt at reconciliation, Chuck sends him away with one of the coldest put downs imaginable, one that makes any future relationship impossible. And with no one left to impose his will upon, Chuck's mental demons, whom he has temporarily conquered, come roaring back and his final and futile battle is with an electric meter that will not bend to his will. I think at the end, Chuck knew what he had lost, but that he couldn't help himself, no matter what, and it was literally time to kick the lantern over.
Other things got wrapped up in this episode as well, including Nacho's scheme to take out Don Hector Salamanca by switching out his pills. Nacho gets to see Hector crumple to ground, only to see him saved by Gus Fring, of all people, who administers CPR to the old man, and not before a look that tells us that Gus just might be onto Nacho. Nacho is another character who keeps trying to fix things, but only ends up in a deeper hole. He is trying to be a good son and protect his father's business from being sucked into the Salamanca's drug trade, but we know it is probably too late. For me, one of the highlights of the show is Hector's scene with Nacho's Dad, where he lays the dirty money on the counter to humiliate a proud and honest man who simply wants to be left alone. We know what Hector and Gus's final Waterloo will be, but this story line has still been riveting all season long.
The other thing that was finished in this episode was Jimmy's elder law practice, which goes down the toilet when, in an act of conscience, he fixes the relationship between Irene Landry and her fellow residents at Sandpiper, a particular bit of trouble he had deliberately stirred up to his financial benefit in last week's episode. That was a good thing, because what Jimmy did to Irene was despicable. In the end, Jimmy and the injured Kim Wexler closed up their office and headed for some relaxation after Kim realized her workaholic ways had nearly ended her life in a car crash. She seems to be one of the few characters capable of taking a look at themselves and making necessary changes. I'm glad she and Jimmy are together at the end of the show, they are both so lucky to have each other, but there was no sign of Kim in BREAKING BAD, an ominous omen indeed.
The scene where Chuck was destroying his own home in search of some secret wire leading to the meter was a shout out to a similar scene with Gene Hackman in Coppola's 70's classic, THE CONVERSATION. Also impressive was Chuck's exit from the law firm he'd help build, ending with him walking out the door to a waiting car in the bright sunshine as if he were heading into the hereafter.
It goes without saying that the acting was excellent: Bob Odenkirk, Rhea Seahorn, Michael Mando, Patrick Fabian, Mark Margolis and especially Michael McKean, all doing unforgettable work. And it was nice to see Bonnie Bartlett in a small supporting role; some of us remember her from ST. ELSEWHERE all those years ago. And that scene in a Blockbuster stocked with DVD's gives us a better fix on when these events are happening.
I have heard that AMC has yet to confirm a 4th season for BETTER CALL SAUL, it would be travesty not to continue with this show, which has the capacity, I think, to run longer than BREAKING BAD. If they had to, Vince Gilligan and company could pick up with Jimmy in the present day and go forward. Return to Albuquerque, I'd like to see that, maybe have Saul Goodman reconnect with some familiar faces like Jesse Pinkman, Skylar White and Walter Jr.
The big resolution of this episode, titled "Lantern," was the relationship between the McGill brothers, Jimmy and Chuck, who have been waging war against each other all season long, a conflict that ultimately cost both of them their law practices, and then much more. If faithful viewers were anticipating the final comeuppance of the smug, overbearing Chuck, they sure got it, but somehow it was still sad in the end, even though we knew this man had brought it all on himself because he always had to come out on top. His attempt to forestall being forced out of H.H. & M. utterly fail when Howard Hamelin made it clear that he was willing to pay Chuck out of his own pocket to go away. When Jimmy makes an attempt at reconciliation, Chuck sends him away with one of the coldest put downs imaginable, one that makes any future relationship impossible. And with no one left to impose his will upon, Chuck's mental demons, whom he has temporarily conquered, come roaring back and his final and futile battle is with an electric meter that will not bend to his will. I think at the end, Chuck knew what he had lost, but that he couldn't help himself, no matter what, and it was literally time to kick the lantern over.
Other things got wrapped up in this episode as well, including Nacho's scheme to take out Don Hector Salamanca by switching out his pills. Nacho gets to see Hector crumple to ground, only to see him saved by Gus Fring, of all people, who administers CPR to the old man, and not before a look that tells us that Gus just might be onto Nacho. Nacho is another character who keeps trying to fix things, but only ends up in a deeper hole. He is trying to be a good son and protect his father's business from being sucked into the Salamanca's drug trade, but we know it is probably too late. For me, one of the highlights of the show is Hector's scene with Nacho's Dad, where he lays the dirty money on the counter to humiliate a proud and honest man who simply wants to be left alone. We know what Hector and Gus's final Waterloo will be, but this story line has still been riveting all season long.
The other thing that was finished in this episode was Jimmy's elder law practice, which goes down the toilet when, in an act of conscience, he fixes the relationship between Irene Landry and her fellow residents at Sandpiper, a particular bit of trouble he had deliberately stirred up to his financial benefit in last week's episode. That was a good thing, because what Jimmy did to Irene was despicable. In the end, Jimmy and the injured Kim Wexler closed up their office and headed for some relaxation after Kim realized her workaholic ways had nearly ended her life in a car crash. She seems to be one of the few characters capable of taking a look at themselves and making necessary changes. I'm glad she and Jimmy are together at the end of the show, they are both so lucky to have each other, but there was no sign of Kim in BREAKING BAD, an ominous omen indeed.
The scene where Chuck was destroying his own home in search of some secret wire leading to the meter was a shout out to a similar scene with Gene Hackman in Coppola's 70's classic, THE CONVERSATION. Also impressive was Chuck's exit from the law firm he'd help build, ending with him walking out the door to a waiting car in the bright sunshine as if he were heading into the hereafter.
It goes without saying that the acting was excellent: Bob Odenkirk, Rhea Seahorn, Michael Mando, Patrick Fabian, Mark Margolis and especially Michael McKean, all doing unforgettable work. And it was nice to see Bonnie Bartlett in a small supporting role; some of us remember her from ST. ELSEWHERE all those years ago. And that scene in a Blockbuster stocked with DVD's gives us a better fix on when these events are happening.
I have heard that AMC has yet to confirm a 4th season for BETTER CALL SAUL, it would be travesty not to continue with this show, which has the capacity, I think, to run longer than BREAKING BAD. If they had to, Vince Gilligan and company could pick up with Jimmy in the present day and go forward. Return to Albuquerque, I'd like to see that, maybe have Saul Goodman reconnect with some familiar faces like Jesse Pinkman, Skylar White and Walter Jr.
