Great episode! Slow pacing yes but you can sense how its all building up to the presentation of Saul Goodman. We get a glimpse of the seemingly heartless Saul at the end of the episode as Jimmy is handling his feelings towards his brothers death by distancing himself from it. Every plotline is so interesting and remarkably layerd as each and every season continues to improve. Looking foward for whats to come!
34 Reviews
Avoiding cliches
mattyankster1024 August 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I can just imagine the writer's room for this episode. So Chuck has just died and of course instead of having the eulogy scene which is one of the most clichéd scenes ever they tell his eulogy over a phone call. What a creative and clever way of getting around the cliché. The Coen brothers would be proud.
The brilliance of that scene is that it serves a second purpose. It shows us that Jimmy is uninterested in hearing about his brothers successful legal life as was highlighted by Howard, the fact that he puts down the phone once Howard starts talking about Chuck's charitable contributions shows us that Jimmy really does not want to hear anything good about his brother. He knows it's all fake and that Chuck was never truly a good person.
The main thing we learn from this episode or at least are reminded of is how Jimmy has lost any feelings of love towards his older brother. He flat out did not care at all that he had burned to death in a house fire. We see this during the funeral. Jimmy just looks bored more than anything else as he shakes the hands of people offering their condolences.
Perhaps the most disturbing part of this episode that cements the feeling of indifference towards his brother's death comes at the end. Jimmy gets the idea from Howard that his death was probably a suicide rather than an accident and it was triggered by the insurance debacle which was in fact a revenge act by Jimmy. Creative directing by Vince Gilligan shows us to our shock that Jimmy is happy with himself for having been responsible for Chuck's suicide. What's more, he's happy with letting Howard feel responsible for it.
To conclude, all I can say is that despite the unlikableness of Chuck, for Jimmy to be proud of himself for getting one over on Chuck so to speak and having his revenge ploy lead to his suicide leaves a lot to be desired about Jimmy's character. His actions at the end of the last season were honourable and made me really like Jimmy but now after this, his character took a massive turn for the worse. Part of what makes this such a good show is that Jimmy is an imperfect character and his actions make us unsure how to feel about him. Perhaps as the season goes on the essence of his character will take a more concrete shape one way or the other.
After what they did to The Walking Dead, AMC owed us.
fredschaefer-406-6232047 August 2018
Warning: Spoilers
AMC owed some of us big time after what they did to their Walking Dead franchise this past year, and I am glad to say they came through in the fourth season opener of BETTER CALL SAUL, the great sequel to the now legendary BREAKING BAD. This fine show, which has been off the air for more than a year has returned in fine form, picking up pretty much where the third season ended, focusing on the aftermath of fateful decisions made by Chuck McGill, Mike Ehrmantraut and Nacho Vega in that season's finale.
As we all saw, an utterly defeated Chuck McGill took his own life be setting his house on fire after having been pushed over the edge by the loss of his position at his law firm. The catalyst for this had been brother Jimmy's call that resulted in a substantial hike in the firm's malpractice insurance due to Chuck erratic behavior brought on by his intense phobia to electricity. This episode, titled "Smoke," picks up with Jimmy learning of Chuck's fate, and for the next hour, he appears to be a genuinely grief stricken man, clearly in turmoil over what he knows is his role in Chuck's downfall. This is anything but the sly and confident Saul Goodman that we know he will become, and it looks like Jimmy might have finally seen the error of his ways. That is until the final scene, when an agonized Howard Hamlin confesses to Jimmy and Kim Wexler that he blames himself for what happened to Chuck. Jimmy's response tells us this is a man who has made a final turn to dark place.
The segments with Nacho picks up as Hector Salemanca is taken away in an ambulance after he suffers a stroke brought on after Nacho switched out Hector's medication; at first it appears that he has gotten away with it after carefully planning the whole scheme, and right under the noses of the cartel bigwigs and Gus Fring, but it is reveled that Nacho may well have fooled nobody and is in more trouble than he thinks.
By far and away, the part of the episode with Mike Ehrmantrout and his new job with Madrigal was the highlight of the show, and his infiltration of the Madrigal facility might just be best TV I have seen this year. Mike is truly one of TV's all time great bad asses, and it is all due to the great acting of Jonathan Banks, an actor who got good long before he ever got famous. Love to catch him in reruns from WISE GUY, a great series from the late 80's, and he was a tough guy then as well. I do smile every time they mention the name of Lydia, just because we know her ultimate fate.
Then there is the opening scene, set in the present day (I think), where Gene passes out at Cinnebon, and has to go to the hospital. It turns out to be a false alarm, but then this show wrings amazing suspense out of a sequence where Gene has to give his fraudulent identification to admissions at the hospital and it looks as if his fake identity might just get blown right there. This is followed by one of the most ominous cab rides ever, and we are left to wonder if the driver is someone from Jimmy/Saul's past, or just a manifestation of his justifiable paranoia. Or is it just a red herring.
Again, all praise to Vince Gilligan and his crew for doing the impossible, and giving us a BREAKING BAD sequel/prequel that rapidly becoming the equal of the original.
As we all saw, an utterly defeated Chuck McGill took his own life be setting his house on fire after having been pushed over the edge by the loss of his position at his law firm. The catalyst for this had been brother Jimmy's call that resulted in a substantial hike in the firm's malpractice insurance due to Chuck erratic behavior brought on by his intense phobia to electricity. This episode, titled "Smoke," picks up with Jimmy learning of Chuck's fate, and for the next hour, he appears to be a genuinely grief stricken man, clearly in turmoil over what he knows is his role in Chuck's downfall. This is anything but the sly and confident Saul Goodman that we know he will become, and it looks like Jimmy might have finally seen the error of his ways. That is until the final scene, when an agonized Howard Hamlin confesses to Jimmy and Kim Wexler that he blames himself for what happened to Chuck. Jimmy's response tells us this is a man who has made a final turn to dark place.
The segments with Nacho picks up as Hector Salemanca is taken away in an ambulance after he suffers a stroke brought on after Nacho switched out Hector's medication; at first it appears that he has gotten away with it after carefully planning the whole scheme, and right under the noses of the cartel bigwigs and Gus Fring, but it is reveled that Nacho may well have fooled nobody and is in more trouble than he thinks.
By far and away, the part of the episode with Mike Ehrmantrout and his new job with Madrigal was the highlight of the show, and his infiltration of the Madrigal facility might just be best TV I have seen this year. Mike is truly one of TV's all time great bad asses, and it is all due to the great acting of Jonathan Banks, an actor who got good long before he ever got famous. Love to catch him in reruns from WISE GUY, a great series from the late 80's, and he was a tough guy then as well. I do smile every time they mention the name of Lydia, just because we know her ultimate fate.
Then there is the opening scene, set in the present day (I think), where Gene passes out at Cinnebon, and has to go to the hospital. It turns out to be a false alarm, but then this show wrings amazing suspense out of a sequence where Gene has to give his fraudulent identification to admissions at the hospital and it looks as if his fake identity might just get blown right there. This is followed by one of the most ominous cab rides ever, and we are left to wonder if the driver is someone from Jimmy/Saul's past, or just a manifestation of his justifiable paranoia. Or is it just a red herring.
Again, all praise to Vince Gilligan and his crew for doing the impossible, and giving us a BREAKING BAD sequel/prequel that rapidly becoming the equal of the original.
A premiere done right
strider-544537 August 2018
Warning: Spoilers
The first 10 minutes of this episode are so incredibly suspenseful it's as if Breaking Bad lives on. Gene feels as if there's somebody around every turn and this time, he may be right. Jimmy in the past steals the show with his depressive state over Chuck's death, which turns cruel & uneasy at episodes end toward Howard. Don't look now but Saul is emerging. Mike is starting to envelop everything we've learned to love about his BB character, attention to every detail. And Gus, is just smarter than everybody else. Fantastic episode. Sets up what could be the funniest BCS season yet.
What a way to start season 4!
FabledGentleman7 August 2018
There is no doubt anymore, we are witnessing the best spinoff series of all time. This is just getting better and better with each season, taking it's time to build the characters, and slowly but steady leading us towards the events of Breaking Bad.
There is so many ways this show could have gone wrong, just that they try and make a spinoff to maybe the best tv series of all time, is brave or stupid enough, but that it is turning out to become maybe on par with Breaking Bad, totally unprecedented, it has never before happened in Tv series, ever.
This first episode of Season 4 just nails it to the core, it is perfect, i could not take my eyes off the screen for one second, every scene is orchestrated with surgical precision, the suspense is immense. And now finally we start to see the transition from BCS to BB, it is what we have all been eagerly waiting for.
I can't really go into specifics without spoiling anything. But holy cow, now it begins folks, this is IT!
I will go as far as to say that this might be the best episode of the series yet, It set's up all the play for weeks to come, it's just masterfully done, what brilliant brilliant writers Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould are.
And a big big shout to Minkie Spiro which directed this masterpiece.
There is so many ways this show could have gone wrong, just that they try and make a spinoff to maybe the best tv series of all time, is brave or stupid enough, but that it is turning out to become maybe on par with Breaking Bad, totally unprecedented, it has never before happened in Tv series, ever.
This first episode of Season 4 just nails it to the core, it is perfect, i could not take my eyes off the screen for one second, every scene is orchestrated with surgical precision, the suspense is immense. And now finally we start to see the transition from BCS to BB, it is what we have all been eagerly waiting for.
I can't really go into specifics without spoiling anything. But holy cow, now it begins folks, this is IT!
I will go as far as to say that this might be the best episode of the series yet, It set's up all the play for weeks to come, it's just masterfully done, what brilliant brilliant writers Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould are.
And a big big shout to Minkie Spiro which directed this masterpiece.
So it begins...
ste_palom10 August 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Great way to start season 4, which might become the darkest one in the series.
The episode opens with one of the most tense scenes in BCS.
Man that kept me on the edge of my seat!
And it makes me wonder how long will Saul be able to remain hidden.
Now back to the past, we see a very depressed Saul that feels a lot of guilt because of Chuck's death. That scene of the Howard phone call that then concludes with Jimmy and Kim drinking was the most depressing scene in the series yet. However, as soon as Howard confesses his own actions against Chuck and mentions that the insurance situation was the reason behind his conflict with Chuck, something snaps in his mind, his guilt turns to satisfaction, he finally slayed his annoying brother that was always in his way and... we see him... for the first time... Saul Goodman is here, the heartless lawyer that has no problem in letting other people die as long as he is safe. But the transformation is not permanent, we are still far from Jimmy's fully turn into Saul. But we are seeing the beginning of Jimmy's road to darkness.
Now back to the past, we see a very depressed Saul that feels a lot of guilt because of Chuck's death. That scene of the Howard phone call that then concludes with Jimmy and Kim drinking was the most depressing scene in the series yet. However, as soon as Howard confesses his own actions against Chuck and mentions that the insurance situation was the reason behind his conflict with Chuck, something snaps in his mind, his guilt turns to satisfaction, he finally slayed his annoying brother that was always in his way and... we see him... for the first time... Saul Goodman is here, the heartless lawyer that has no problem in letting other people die as long as he is safe. But the transformation is not permanent, we are still far from Jimmy's fully turn into Saul. But we are seeing the beginning of Jimmy's road to darkness.
Just Right
Hitchcoc16 March 2020
It had been quite a while since I saw the last of Season 3. The transition here was excellent. Instead of jumping ahead a year, things went right on from the previous episode. Anyone who says that this is filler reminds me of someone who said they didn't like Casablanca because there were no aliens or intergalactic battles. Ah, ye of the short attention spans. I thought that we were able to embrace the souls of the characters. When Chuck dies in a fire, Jimmy moves on with tons of angst. He suddenly drops into reality mode and doesn't hold back. There are some great scenes. Mikey driving that golf cart through the warehouse. The funeral we've all been to where Jimmy has to endure condolences from people who couldn't care less about the departed during his life. I'm really excited to be watching these again and hopefully jumping into the fifth season.
Find the stars.
caballero-1922 March 2022
Like much of Better Call Saul, Smoke is a very slow episode, and not slow on the pacing of a story - although that might be the case with the series as a whole - it's slow on sitting down to what each character is thinking or doing.
After what happened with Chuck, Jimmy spends time deeply sad and thinking: if only I would done this differently, if this had not happened like that. He's carrying the guilt of the death of his brother, a guilt that - miserably - not even Saul Goodman himself could have endured. The important thing about Jimmy as a character in this series is his elusive responsibility for the consequences that he provokes, and in Smoke at least for 25 minutes we could see Jimmy taking the blame for one of his actions, because yeah, Chuck's suicide is Jimmy's fault, maybe not all, but it's a big part of the reason why Chuck did what he did. And as viewers we have the fortune -or misfortune- to know the whole truth about what lies behind these characters and their relationships. And it's in cases like this episode where the characters are on the same narrative page as we are, this makes an intimate and outstanding tv show.
Quick note: That scene of Mike writing down: Find the stars. Bravo! I would never change that scene for another one with bullets or explosions. That's how you write a tv show la chsm.
After what happened with Chuck, Jimmy spends time deeply sad and thinking: if only I would done this differently, if this had not happened like that. He's carrying the guilt of the death of his brother, a guilt that - miserably - not even Saul Goodman himself could have endured. The important thing about Jimmy as a character in this series is his elusive responsibility for the consequences that he provokes, and in Smoke at least for 25 minutes we could see Jimmy taking the blame for one of his actions, because yeah, Chuck's suicide is Jimmy's fault, maybe not all, but it's a big part of the reason why Chuck did what he did. And as viewers we have the fortune -or misfortune- to know the whole truth about what lies behind these characters and their relationships. And it's in cases like this episode where the characters are on the same narrative page as we are, this makes an intimate and outstanding tv show.
Quick note: That scene of Mike writing down: Find the stars. Bravo! I would never change that scene for another one with bullets or explosions. That's how you write a tv show la chsm.
Cain slew Abel (or was that Jimmy Dean?)
greggwager8 August 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Remember "Expenses" (an episode late in season 3)? The grimace on Jimmy's face as he walks out of Doreen Valco's office? Had Slippin' Jimmy just let slip to his brother Chuck's malpractice insurance company (Santa Rosa Insurance) that his brother was mentally ill? No slip, rather, an intentional sabotaging of an otherwise brilliant career. Slippin' Jimmy confirms his wicked deed at the end of "Smoke" when he subtly presses the insurance issue during Howard's confession: Santa Rosa's hike for Chuck's malpractice insurance was the last straw for Howard. It became the last straw for Chuck too.
Chuck is dead. Saul is born.
Gilligan/Gould retell Steinbeck's East of Eden, which retells Genesis 4: rivalry between brothers, one blessed and the other neerdowell. It's a modern parable told with soap opera suspense, accompanied by music from the Ink Spots to Gabriel Fauré.
Pay attention TV viewers. This is getting real good. Take notes.
Chuck is dead. Saul is born.
Gilligan/Gould retell Steinbeck's East of Eden, which retells Genesis 4: rivalry between brothers, one blessed and the other neerdowell. It's a modern parable told with soap opera suspense, accompanied by music from the Ink Spots to Gabriel Fauré.
Pay attention TV viewers. This is getting real good. Take notes.
very good season premier
zaidmqm7 August 2018
Very suspenseful episode and this episode is telling us that this season is going to be dark and I've been scared that this episode is going to be bad after watching the walking dead season 8 and the season 9 trailer but they've really surprised me with this episode.
Smoke
bobcobb30111 August 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Glad to have Better Call Saul back, but don't turn this into Mad Men. We expect action or at least big developments to happen and we didn't get any here. We got Kim, Jimmy and the cartel sitting around and complaining, but nothing to set the stage for the future of the season.
Chuck dying wasn't exactly unexpected, but the show is missing a key theme it had in the brotherly rivalry without him.
Chuck dying wasn't exactly unexpected, but the show is missing a key theme it had in the brotherly rivalry without him.
Great opener
Leofwine_draca25 November 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Love this season opener, one of the strongest yet. It hits the ground running with the emotion of the Jimmy storyline and the huge suspense of the Mike sub-plot. The scene of Mike going undercover at the business is incredibly good, funny and tension-filled at the same time.
I now review BCS in 4 parts: Gene, Saul-Kim-Howard-Chuck, Mike, and Gus
heisenberg128 August 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Gene- 9/10
Saul-Kim-Howard-Chuck- 4/10
Mike- 7/10
Gus- 8/10
Unfortunately, Saul-Kim-Howard-Chuck still occupy the most screen time minutes so that results in another deduction...If there was more time with Gus, Mike, and Gene, I'd probably give it an 8, but the way it is:
Total= 6.5/10.
Unfortunately, Saul-Kim-Howard-Chuck still occupy the most screen time minutes so that results in another deduction...If there was more time with Gus, Mike, and Gene, I'd probably give it an 8, but the way it is:
Total= 6.5/10.
Nobody puts Chuck in a corner
dierregi28 March 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I was expecting some relief after the end of the brotherly feud, but unfortunately Chuck casts a long shadow and this episode is almost all about his death.
When people commit suicide, friends and relatives may feel guilty, but the truth is that nobody can stop anybody from deciding what to do with their lives. In the case of Chuck, it should have been pretty obvious that such a strong-willed, arrogant manipulator wasn't going to be pushed over the edge.
Chuck's demise is his own, angry decision. Chuck can't have it his way, has nobody left to manipulate and like an angry child, he punishes himself.
Apart from this and the unlikely event of Howard willing to bear a cross, very little happens. Mike is bored and decides to take his consulting job seriously and Gus is suspicious of Nacho (how does that happen?) And why the big cartel boss doesn't decide to give the Salamanca territory to some other of his men remains a mystery, since everyone agrees Salamanca is a mighty pain in the a**.
A very somber Jim didn't help with the general grim atmosphere of the episode.
When people commit suicide, friends and relatives may feel guilty, but the truth is that nobody can stop anybody from deciding what to do with their lives. In the case of Chuck, it should have been pretty obvious that such a strong-willed, arrogant manipulator wasn't going to be pushed over the edge.
Chuck's demise is his own, angry decision. Chuck can't have it his way, has nobody left to manipulate and like an angry child, he punishes himself.
Apart from this and the unlikely event of Howard willing to bear a cross, very little happens. Mike is bored and decides to take his consulting job seriously and Gus is suspicious of Nacho (how does that happen?) And why the big cartel boss doesn't decide to give the Salamanca territory to some other of his men remains a mystery, since everyone agrees Salamanca is a mighty pain in the a**.
A very somber Jim didn't help with the general grim atmosphere of the episode.
No smoke without fire
TheDonaldofDoom12 October 2018
Warning: Spoilers
This season, like the previous one, is in no rush to get going and that's fine. It allows room to breathe, to absorb the intent of each scene. The B&W cold open is an atmospheric feast. When Jimmy finds out his brother is dead, his realistic reaction is an example of what makes this show great. He doesn't cry, he doesn't cheer. In fact, he must be wondering how to react to the death of someone who made things so difficult for him. There is sadness there though, as Jimmy clearly did care for Chuck and wouldn't have wanted him to go down this route.
We check in with Gus, Nacho and Mike, though nothing terribly important happens, not even character-wise. Clearly, development is being left for future episodes, and I wouldn't complain of being bored when BCS can make even the dullest scenes fascinating to watch. Seeing Mike get away with pretending to be someone else in the company that employs him is entertaining.
A solid, mostly stationary start to the new season.
8.3/10
We check in with Gus, Nacho and Mike, though nothing terribly important happens, not even character-wise. Clearly, development is being left for future episodes, and I wouldn't complain of being bored when BCS can make even the dullest scenes fascinating to watch. Seeing Mike get away with pretending to be someone else in the company that employs him is entertaining.
A solid, mostly stationary start to the new season.
8.3/10
Only the Beginning
zenrgreen8 August 2018
Warning: Spoilers
This was a great season premiere. The show has drifted away from it's original comedic and comical style to a more dark, realistic and tragic story. Jimmy has begun his transformation into Saul, something in him just snaps at the end of the episode. There is also this overarching feeling of danger and dread throughout the entire episode, especially for Jimmy and Nacho while Mike confronts Madrigal. Overall this was a great storybuilding episode with some of the best cinematography I have ever seen for a television series. Welcome back Vince and Peter.
Great start to new season.
robofverobeach4 September 2018
Poignant start to season 4
jules-m8 August 2018
Warning: Spoilers
This is the kind of episode that keeps you focused the entire episode, even though there isn't much action. The cinematography and style were both superb as well as the realistic acting of the major characters. I really liked Jimmy's anguish the entire episode, it really made me feel like he lost his real brother. When a character such as Jimmy stops talking and is reflective, you know he is disturbed by his brother's passing.
Looking forward to the rest of the season!
Looking forward to the rest of the season!
So I Lied
darbski11 August 2018
Warning: Spoilers
***SPOILERS*** so far, the most interesting characters in the show are Kim Wexler, And Mike Ehrmantraut. I've said so all along, and I'll say again that what ever Jimmy does, I just hope he doesn't hurt Kim. Naturally, it's because I like her, and so far, I like Jimmy. I didn't like Chuck, and I said so several times in other reviews. I still say that we only have Chuck's words telling how bad Jimmy was. Nonetheless, everyone keeps saying just how bad Jimmy was and is going to be. We'll see, won't we? I wonder about Howard, and whether he'll finger out that it was Jimmy who tipped off the insurance company about Chuck, thereby starting the trouble that drove chuck off the cliff (so to speak). I actually knew it wasn't nice, but the way they were screwing around with Kim, I don't have any problem with it. Howard? He helped try and sink Jimmy, so, he gets to swim in the same water. I don't know exactly what to make of Mike's covert excursion into money launderingland, but I know it's gonna be interesting. He's still by far the best character in both series, and his end in BB was not only uncalled for, but outright stupid - - whew! I'm giving this one a 9.
Smoke
lassegalsgaard22 September 2023
After three seasons, this is now a show that feels like it's in uncharted territory. A lot of the threads that were spun during the first couple of seasons have now been wrapped up and we're waiting to find out what the next step for these characters are. It's clear that there's something for everyone to do in this new chapter of "Better Call Saul," but it's going to be really exciting to see what role it is they'll have and where it will lead. This opening felt like a great bridge and it started a lot of paths, a dangerous one for Jimmy specifically.
Minkie Spiro comes in to helm the episode, following her debut in the show last season, and she does a great job with the material, provided to her by Peter Gould. The opening flashforward was full of great tension and sets up another fascinating storyline for Gene Takavic, who isn't as safe in his new role as he thought he was. It leads directly into the main storyline and everything is in shambles. The aftermath of Chuck's death played out very well, and it was a nice touch that we never really saw what had happened to him. Jimmy is definitely going down a path that we know isn't going to end well, but he also seems to be burning a lot of bridges on that path already. Gould's writing wonderfully weaves all the stories together and goes in and out of the different narratives with ease, and Spiro visualizes them beautifully, giving us some truly amazing cinematic moments, including a montage with Mike that bordered on the excellently hilarious. They're also starting to play into the characters that we don't get to see in "Breaking Bad" and teasing their faiths, with both Howard and Nacho finding themselves at some serious points of contention in their respective storylines. It's still up in the air, but it feels like the writers are starting to plant the seeds for the inevitable finish. The show is staying consistent, but it feels like there's a definite change in attitude coming up, which I can't wait to see in full.
"Smoke" continues the tradition of having excellent premiere episodes, this time doing a wonderful job of bridging the gap between the old and new era. The characters are at a crossroad, but they all seem to be clear on the path, a lot of that is due to the brilliant writing provided by Peter Gould.
Minkie Spiro comes in to helm the episode, following her debut in the show last season, and she does a great job with the material, provided to her by Peter Gould. The opening flashforward was full of great tension and sets up another fascinating storyline for Gene Takavic, who isn't as safe in his new role as he thought he was. It leads directly into the main storyline and everything is in shambles. The aftermath of Chuck's death played out very well, and it was a nice touch that we never really saw what had happened to him. Jimmy is definitely going down a path that we know isn't going to end well, but he also seems to be burning a lot of bridges on that path already. Gould's writing wonderfully weaves all the stories together and goes in and out of the different narratives with ease, and Spiro visualizes them beautifully, giving us some truly amazing cinematic moments, including a montage with Mike that bordered on the excellently hilarious. They're also starting to play into the characters that we don't get to see in "Breaking Bad" and teasing their faiths, with both Howard and Nacho finding themselves at some serious points of contention in their respective storylines. It's still up in the air, but it feels like the writers are starting to plant the seeds for the inevitable finish. The show is staying consistent, but it feels like there's a definite change in attitude coming up, which I can't wait to see in full.
"Smoke" continues the tradition of having excellent premiere episodes, this time doing a wonderful job of bridging the gap between the old and new era. The characters are at a crossroad, but they all seem to be clear on the path, a lot of that is due to the brilliant writing provided by Peter Gould.
A slow yet powerful start
reaperbiswal3 November 2023
The first episode of a Better Call Saul season usually is slower paced than the rest of the episodes - it was more so in the Season 4 opener as people dealt with the aftermath of Chuck's death in the last season. The continuity between the seasons is again top notch! Probably the only time in the show in which Harold is shown a bit shaken & doesn't have the air of superiority he always carries along like the smell of a perfume.
There are no major developments here apart from Mike taking his 'Security Consultant' job role seriously! It would be interesting to see where Nacho's character goes from here, as there is clear suspicion among Gus's people about his hand in Hector Salamanca's sudden paralysis.
There are no major developments here apart from Mike taking his 'Security Consultant' job role seriously! It would be interesting to see where Nacho's character goes from here, as there is clear suspicion among Gus's people about his hand in Hector Salamanca's sudden paralysis.
A filler episode!
mm-3916 August 2018
Warning: Spoilers
A filler episode! A character development episode. The story of a funeral and wake of some one no one likes! I've been to a few funerals like this dark, somber, uptight, and the director, actors portray Smoke episode theme perfectly. Why was this episode made? Empathy for Sal? Maybe! Slow and cumbersome episode. Back ground, character development for the character development of Sal and his brother Chuck! I felt like um,,, ugh...... well okay with the Smoke episode. Skip this one, unless a big fan of the series. 6 out of 10 stars.
Incredibly solid start to a GREAT season!
mpopcorn8 August 2021
Smoke
gedikreverdi7 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I can't believe that Chuck's gone. He's not my favorite character but he was different and intriguing. Mike quit his depressing job at the parking lot. Nacho wanted Hector dead so much but he's not dead. Mike is a security consultant at Madrigal now. Howard feels responsible for Chuck's death. And one of Salamanca's man saw Nacho getting rid of the pill.
And the same boring episodes return..
teetugill15 August 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I don't know why many people found this episode a great one. It was still the same slow and boring BCS episode that i usually hate. BCS is not even comparable to BB as BCS contains a lot of filler episodes with nothing happening. Only scene i liked and enjoyed was of Mike's security investigation , other than that whole episode was a snoozfest.
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