Better Call Saul (TV Series) Carrot and Stick (2022) User Reviews

Better Call Kim!

[MamadNobari97 · 10/10 · 19 April 2022]

Wolves and sheep indeed Saul!

"You think you've lost everything? You have no idea." This is the exact moment Kim Wexler became... something that I think even intimidated Saul Goodman himself. How have these actors not won awards yet?

Kim is just going full turbo now and no one can stop her! Such a great character.

So, in this fairly action-packed episode, we get more scenes with Nacho and they are tense af! Nacho is a really smart dude in this episode and we'll have to see what his next step is in the future episodes.

And we also have some despicable characters (not gonna spoil it here) we haven't seen since season 1 and it's so satisfying to see them in pain and agony again haha. They are as obnoxious and deplorable as ever, and show through the episode that they haven't changed a bit. They are a great addition to this plotting of Saul and Kim against Hamlin and they also make for one of, if not the best Kim Wexler scene of the whole show.

There is also another great scene with Gus in the middle of the episode that reminisces and parallels that famous scene from Breaking Bad beautifully, and also reminds us how smart Gus is. "Lalo Salamanca lives"!

The Twins are also back again, but we already saw them in the last episode. But their presence is just frightening in this episode. Also, they do speak! Have they ever spoken before?

The mentioned action scene is really well-done and intense too and makes the episode so much better, but the last scene with Kim is the thing that makes this episode a 10/10.

I also forgot to mention what a beast of a character Mike is. His last scene with Gus is just too intense, even though we know how Breaking Bad goes, it doesn't make it any less intense and great, and you gotta admire the balls on this old man.

Anyway, this episode was great from the beginning to the end and it was masterfully written and truly deserving of a complete rating. Can't wait to see the rest.

Even Better !

[tristan_19 · 10/10 · 19 April 2022]

Betsy and Craig are back in a wonderful fashion and it's a really great surprise. They're seemingly at the center of the framing Howard plot, and the actors are still brilliant. Love reminiscing over Season 1, and now Kim and Jimmy are both involved with them at the same time, in a totally new dynamic. At the end of the episode, Kim gets to play dirty and blackmail the Kettle-team, breaking bad further. It's pretty unsettling seeing her like this.

Nacho's situation escalates. Mike gets a fantastic scene standing his ground against Tyrus, even with a gun in his face. Talking of guns, Nacho kills someone, and the cousins show up. Once again, I like the callbacks to Breaking Bad, and Nacho pulls the Hank move, driving backwards, towards the Salamancas. The stress is felt by the audience during the whole scene.

Surprise return : check.

Great scheme progressing further : check.

Kim being unsettling : check.

Nacho's situation escalating : check.

Mike being a force to be reckoned with : check.

Fantastic actors : check.

We even get Erin back, and some reminiscing over Season 2, seeing her with Cliff Main in the office. I think we're in for quite a ride !

Love the Kettleman's

[Hitchcoc · 10/10 · 22 April 2022]

That awful inflated Statue of Liberty says it all. It's a symbol of decadence and bad taste. These two former yuppies who had it all early on, are now reduced to con men, fleecing poor old people out of their tax refunds. They come into play as Kim and Jimmy continue their assault on Howard, who is really small potatoes. They are so pathetic but Kim cuts them a new one. While this craziness is going on, we have intense conflict between the two main forces. Gus continues to be entirely self centered, no compassion for anyone, even those forced through extortion to aid him. Nacho is running for his life. Lalo is taking on the world. I'm so blessed to have been able to stream Breaking Bad and now this stellar creation. Not only is it great television, it is as good as any feature film offering. Can't wait for Episode 3.

Vince Gilligan gives us an unforgettable experience, "Carrot and Stick" contains everything you need and want for an episode of Better Call Saul

[Holt344 · 10/10 · 19 April 2022]

Co-Creator, Vince Gilligan returns in the director chair with an episode that's possibility among one of the best episodes in Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad, "Carrot and Stick" has everything an episode of these shows need to have and it's done brilliantly. There's comedy, drama, sequences full of suspension and tension but most importantly unpredictability.

"Carrot and Stick" is a direct continuation to the previous episode and the tension remains. The next part of Saul Goodman and Kim Wexler's plan puts into motion, that story arc brings characters from the first season back into the show, thus resolving that plot point. But the story arc that left me speechless was Nacho's and the cartel arc, the suspense was held throughout the entire movie with its music, direction and cinematography, but also the editing. The cinematography, editing and direction is three things the show like Breaking Bad have never failed as it's always been consistent in quality, extraordinary quality. "Carrot and Stick" is an episode that'll leave you on the edge of your seat, with scenes that'll leave you speechless. Vince Gilligan along with the writing team, truly, phenomenal work.

But the acting, what can I say about that? Every single actor from Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks, Giancarlo Esposito and Rhea Seehorn. Everyone gives a brilliant and memorable performance. But the episode's best performance goes to Michael Mando as Nacho Varga, a role he was born to do, and he have shown award worthy performances in each season, "Carrot and Stick" is one of the actor's best.

Better Call Saul is in a league of it's own. Incredible television!

[lovemichaeljordan · 9/10 · 20 April 2022]

The writing is so clever and Kim is just unbelievable. She is one of the greatest female character in television history. She is cold, ruthless and insanely smart.

Even though we know the fate of most characters the viewer is always on the edge of their seat. How are they going to get out of this? The talented writers always come up with the most insane and clever ways to solve problems. Your jaw will drop while watching this episode. At one point I could not help but to clap alone in my living room. Just phenomenal television!

10/10

[minifrolf · 10/10 · 19 April 2022]

Someone complained in both the trivia and a review that people were rating this and the previous episode a 10/10 before the episodes had aired. Indeed that is correct, people with AMC+ membership got early access, it doesn't mean they didn't see it.

Anyway, 10/10, amazing as always.

Better Call Saul is always worth the wait.

[fredschaefer-406-623204 · 10/10 · 19 April 2022]

After a two wait brought on by Covid, BETTER CALL SAUL has returned for its 6th and final season, and it picks up right where Season 5 left off in a two episode season premier. Both "Days of Wine and Roses" and "Carrot and Stick" are tense well written episodes that deliver the goods, and though it was a long wait to get to this final season, they are proof that absence does make the heart grow fonder, and good things do come to those who hang in there. This BREAKING BAD universe is like an old friend who never disappoints.

It is fair to say that both episodes move at a very deliberate pace, but that is just fine with me because these characters are great company and it is a pleasure watching them connive, plot, scam, double-cross, lie, brutalize, and murder their way through life. The best scene in "Days of Wine and Roses" was watching Jimmy talk his way out of a tough spot at the country club after being unmasked by an angry Kevin Wachtell, and then thinking fast his feet to further Kim's plan to take down an unsuspecting Howard Hamlin. We also got a reminder of why Lalo Salamanca has lasted so long in the Mexican drug cartels, displaying both irresistible charm and ruthless brutality depending on the situation, and being able to switch from one to the other on a dime.

The second episode, "Carrot and Stick," saw the return of Craig and Betsy Kettleman, now running a scam to cheat the elderly out of their income tax refunds. Betsy's line about how her kids now have to go to public schools is a perfect expression of unearned privilege, beautifully delivered by Julie Ann Emery, and a great example of how BCS can define a character with a single line. This episode also gave Jonathan Banks' Mike a chance to remind us just what a badass he can be when he stands his ground against Gus Fring, who also reminds us just how smart he can be. But the standout moments in "Carrot and Stick" belong to Michael Mando's Nacho, who is fighting with the desperation of a cornered rat after his betrayal of Lalo in Mexico not to be caught by the vengeful Salamancas, and Rhea Seahorn's Kim Wexler, Jimmy's better half, who accelerates her embrace of the dark side in her scheme to get Howard. The confrontation and shootout at the motel, where Nacho has to face down the fearsome cousins, is BCS at its best, and a great payoff to some suspense well built. Kim's moment when she pulls the stick on Craig and Betsy is truly character defining, and a marker of how far her moral compass has turned. Yet it should be noted that she does make sure the Kettlemans' cruel scam is shut down and their victims compensated, so maybe Kim is not as far gone as she appears.

Anyway, we know the end is coming, and in the BREAKING BAD universe the old adage, "you reap what you sow" is never truer. All these dishonest characters are heading toward a reckoning, many of whose fates are already known, while others, like Kim and Nacho, are very much up in the air. And I still think there is a big shoe to drop with Jimmy/Saul/Gene and just what really has been going on since the finale of BREAKING BAD. One thing Vince Gilligan and company know how to do better than anyone else is how to subvert audience expectations and deliver a killer twist.

Heart wrenching.

[rxckne · 9/10 · 24 May 2022]

It hurts to see what is happening to Nacho here. The Salamanca's are now on his tail, and it's not seeming good for him. The scene with Mike, Gus and Tyrus was a lot. Even though we know their fates, it still had me at the edge of my seat. It's great to see how much Mike is caring about Nacho and his family, and how far he's willing to go to make sure his father stays safe. Putting his own life on the line. It goes to show some of the relationship with Jesse and Mike as well and how this all correlates Mike's character. He's fair, and he has the heart that Gus doesn't have.

Beautifully intense and terrifying.

[gug05 · 9/10 · 19 April 2022]

This episode was amazing. The Kettlemans are some of the funniest characters of breaking bad ever. Kim truly stepped up in this episode and cemented herself as Saul goodmans wife. Incredible. But the showstopper here is Nacho. He has limited time in this episode but he uses that time beautifully. The window scenes are intense and horrifying. Hitting that one guy in the head *chefs kiss* beautiful. And then the twins come in and they end his story arc for this episode there. I already want more but I have to wait until next week. This episode is yet another episode that will show what is to come this season. Phenominal.

Better Call Saul Returns in a masterpiece to start the season

[ThomasJ_9120 · 10/10 · 19 April 2022]

The writing, acting, directing etc etc are amazing in this series and the whole crew is back to finish the series and I believe they'll end it just like it started... one of the best TV shows ever!

This episode is definitely a strong start to start the final season picking up where we left off pretty much immediately after last season ended and it's a 10/10 !

Better Call Kim

[Adam-09265 · 9/10 · 20 April 2022]

Things are starting to stir up nicely. Nacho isn't as safe as he thought, Gus learns a truth, Mike gets a threat and Kim becomes Saul Goodman. Second episode in and it's starting to show the tensional development for this final season outcome.

9.1/10.

Lady Liberty

[douglasmcbroom · 7/10 · 19 April 2022]

This review was written AFTER having watched the episode.

These people handing out 10's like lollipops are just mindless fanatics, paid reviewers and influencers, not objective reviewers. The first two episodes of Season 5 were 10's and two of the best episodes of the entire series. These two episodes are not in that league. Have some discernment people.

This episode, then, is clearly not my favorite. We're starting off Season 6 slowly. I find the plot line regarding revenge on Howard and Cliff Maine to be a bit of a sidebar, but perhaps it's key as to what happens to Kim. There will come an episode when it all heats up, hopefully soon, but we're not there yet.

Rambling

[ncoriordan · 4/10 · 22 April 2022]

Problem with better call Saul is that it's a one time watch show, the whole get back at Howard plot is a typical example of this, I found it boring the first time round, I'm certainly never going to line myself up to watch it again! Speaking of that one of Saul's strengths has always been his likeability, most people kind of like Howard and so this whole thing leaves a bad taste in the mouth, maybe that's what the writers are intending, get us to hate Saul, but please at least try and make it entertaining! Also these 'look how smart they are at doing a con' sequences are frankly a bit old hat now! Unfortunately I find myself often playing with my phone during these sections!

Omggggg!! I can't control My adrenaline!

[Moah-505q · 10/10 · 19 April 2022]

The thrill in this episode is extremely insane

the acting is unbelievable

the details are more than perfect

the cinematography is the best no wonder Vince is one the best directors.

Heartbreaking

[luisguillermoterreros · 10/10 · 19 April 2022]

Saul's face at the end of the episode, he is terrified of Kim, she is now more evil than him, almost at Walter's level without having to kill anybody, this will not end well. Prepare for the best series' finale in the story of tv...

He's as crooky as a crookety crook!

[bosporan · 8/10 · 19 April 2022]

Wonderful to see the Kettlemans return, again to be manipulated by Kim and Jimmy and we see Kim's Mr Hyde re-emerge as the stick to Jimmy's carrot. The fragrant Julie Ann Emery is delightful as Betsy, nailing a range of emotions from rage to submission.

The gunfight scene is fabulous, both as a spectacle and for its impact on the story.

A superb second episode with both Bob Odenkirk and Rhea Seehorn hitting their stride.

Kim Wexler

[benjaminchristopher · 9/10 · 20 April 2022]

I'm not going to gloss over details, as other reviewers have probably already have done that and better. But what I will say, is that the impending doom of Kim's fate is edging closer and closer.

People were moaning mid series that this did become the Kim Wexler show and in a way, they are correct. Just as much as the show is about Jimmy McGill transforming into Saul Goodman, it is a show about how Kim keeps on getting seduced by Saul's schemes. She keeps saying her professional life and career is getting better and and in the previous episode described to Jimmy it was "The best professional day in her life", but it is Saul's diabolical plans that she can't say no to.

5 seasons of build up and we are going to see not just the decline of ol' Slipping' Jimmy, but the decline of brutal legal lawyer Kim Wexler. The carrot is in fact dangling in front of her.

This season will hold up as the best we've ever seen from Vince Gilligan, let me tell you. The cinematography is always on point, the writing always so well done for each character and tensions rising throughout. The camera looms around softly sometimes just as the storytelling unravels. It's beautiful. All I can say for the rest of the season is- Hold on to yer Butts!

Carrot is Gus, stick is his leverage

[hotrobinproductions · 10/10 · 19 April 2022]

Amazing writing in this episode, and flips the script a bit on what will come of nacho, this is going to be getting very interesting really fast. The best thing that this episode has to offer are the surprises, the last episode was building more of the intensity from the ending of last season, but the set pieces are put together so well to buildup the hype for this episode and they execute it so well, these 2 episodes have slapped back to back amazingly, and it looks to be finishing on a more than a strong end, similar to the ending of breaking bad, better call Saul will end in a fabulous fashion if they keep this ball rolling. Gus is in command of everything as you can see on screen. He is pulling the strings of everyone. The title of the episode "carrot and stick" is a perfect title for the episode at hand. Because on one end you think Gus is going to lend a helping hand to nacho with Mike wanting to encourage that, but he's using it as false hope. A carrot on the end of a stick, and nacho is the rabbit stuck in a hole of chaos being chased by a coyote and his twins. It's exciting and thrilling, the scene towards the end with the cars and shooting was very intense. The episode is beautiful at conveying such a intense season that will be to come, carrot on a stick can symbolize the false hope of freedom for nacho just as much as it was for this episode with Kim and jimmy's 2nd execution at their attempt to bring down Hamlin. They provide a carrot for their "client" only for it to be held on by a stick. Genius,

Hype was real

[santimoya · 10/10 · 19 April 2022]

This is feeling even better than last BB season personal opinion, there's a lot of tension, dialogues are on top, everything is being so well conected a mixture of perfect drama and action in one episode.

Pretty great start to the season

[henrymoorby · 9/10 · 19 April 2022]

There's no drop in quality, the direction, acting and writing are all at top level, nachos scenes are intense and exhilarating, I really can't wait to see what happens to him. Both plot lines of better call Saul are equally as interesting at this point in time which made every scene really engaging, I honestly have no clue where the stories are going to go but I'm 100% invested.

Episode 602

[bobcobb301 · 7/10 · 13 August 2022]

A Breaking Bad esque feel to the tax cheat couple here. This was another good episode, but maybe a little below the quality we have come to expect. I think this was just to set the stage for more of the scheme to get Howard than anything else.

Viewers ready to vote 10 😒

[hkenaroglu · 4/10 · 24 April 2022]

What makes people hand out 10 for the last episodes is really confusing, these are the one of the weakest in terms of scenario. The success possibilities of plot for Hamlin is very low but somehow they succeed. This is a kind of disrespect to audiences who is waiting this long.

Incredible Episode

[matp-47600 · 10/10 · 20 April 2022]

My god. What a way to kick off a season with two incredible episodes with action, Comedy, intense drama and even horror.

So great to see the Kettlemans again. They were hysterical this episode and always have been the kind of characters you love to hate but they were so much fun this episode. Kim was a deadly weapon and absolutely tore them a new one. We got to see a glimpse of the evil Kim that as teased last season too, but that ending? Not sure who was following them. At first I thought it was Mike because it looked like his car but then my heart dropped thinking it might be Lalo...

The scene with Gus and Hector was brilliant knowing the history they have. This was Nacho's episode though and the revelation he makes that someone is watching him across the Street was terrifying and turned into an awesome action scene.

Mike even had a brilliant standoff scene with Gus that just makes you love him even more.

Everything in this episode was fantastic. I would place it in the top 10 best ever BCS episodes. This season really is going to be a masterpiece.

Carrot and Stick

[hjaccob · 9/10 · 13 September 2022]

I'm rewatching the whole series and I'm nothing but impressed about the connection of all the universe Vince & Peter gave to us. Even the tittle and what it's about gets kinda foreshadowed in S2 E2 when Mike is talking to Nacho in his father's business.

The acting of the whole crew its perfect, the photography, the ocasional music, it's just a step forward in every direction that they toke while making BB. This season might be my favorite out of the six but the other five are top tier as well

Simply amazing, nothing like Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul has been created and I'm sure it won't be created for a long time.

Whatever happens next, it's not going to go down the way you think it is

[wallaceb2111 · 9/10 · 20 April 2022]

This episode was another amazing episode and it felt like a very smooth natural continuation of the first episode. Both Nacho running to the hotel and the Howard cocaine shenanigans are continued here.

Mike is fine at the moment with Gus using Nacho to his own gain, but steps in when Gus threatens to get his father involved. I love this because Mike's philosophy for the entire show is that people who sign up to be criminals are "in the game" and therefore any bad things that happen because of that are justified. Papa Varga is not "in the game" so that is where Mike draws the line. It fits his character and it seems like we may get some minor Mike-Gus conflict.

We also get the Kettlemans back! Even though I did not like them much in season 1 it was delightful to see them again. We also get to see Cliff Main and the Davis and Main building again which we haven't seen since Season 2. I really loved Kim and Jimmy in Episode 1 and 2 because it's just them doing their hijinks like always. The main difference is now Kim is taking a bigger and bigger role in their mischief. The scene where Jimmy is talking to the Kettlemans as they gain the upper hand only for Kim to step into the situation and defuse the conflict reminds me a ton of the situation with Lalo. We the audience are like Lalo and the Kettlemans. We are too focused on Jimmy when Kim is really the one breaking bad here. The writers are really good at building suspense for her fate.

Nacho's whole situation is really interesting because Gus actually wants Nacho to be caught. He has been trying to keep Nacho in the motel by hiring eyes in Mexico and feeding information to Juan Bolsa. What's Gus' endgame here? What are his plans? I love how secret and mysterious Gus is and it's obvious hes setting Nacho up to take the fall.

Can't wait to see how this all plays out next week in episode 3!