This episode features the first proper overlap with the breaking bad timeline and boy do we want more of these. Hopefully these overlaps will feature more prominent events and characters from the breaking bad timeline in the future episodes ofbetter call saul.
20 Reviews
Strongest episode of the season so far.
jay-955784 September 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I just can't get enough of how this show is put together. Game of Thrones can keep it's massive budget, this episode reinforces the notion that Better Call Saul is the most carefully and artfully presented TV series at the moment (just as breaking bad was back in its day). Take the cold open, for instance, we're suddenly back in Breaking Bad not just in time and place, but in aesthetic too. The clean Digital look of Better Call Saul is replaced with Breaking Bad's trademark hand held, grainy, contrast-y Super 35 film cinematography (I'd be interested to know if they shot the open on film or just edited digital footage to look grainy - I suspect the later). Later in the episode we're treated to a gorgeous montage, and in general the visual storytelling is just the best on TV.
Cinematography aside, I think this was the strongest episode of the season so far, and I hope one which will prove to be a turning point in the series. I'm looking forward to Jimmy going off the rails somewhat.
Cinematography aside, I think this was the strongest episode of the season so far, and I hope one which will prove to be a turning point in the series. I'm looking forward to Jimmy going off the rails somewhat.
Picking up steam!
mm-396 September 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Quite a Ride picks up the speed for the series. Better call Saul is about ready to go into high gear. Jimmy needs the juice of the hustle/street, and lies to Kim. Kim find corporate law lacking and needs more purpose. Similar to Kim's relationship of helping Jimmy. A split is developing. Mike and Guss have a master plan! Mike does security while Guss is the macro planner. A sub story Rex is losing the edge with guilt over Chuck. A tragic sub story. Interesting build up, rev up, and build up more episode. We see the type of lawyer Jimmy will be as the evolution of Jimmy into Saul is happening. One day Jimmy will run into Mike making a nasty team. Well acted and directed. A movie quality T V series. 8 out 10 stars.
Solving the Saul Puzzle
greggwager5 September 2018
Warning: Spoilers
This episode's teaser opens with Saul at the end of Breaking Bad. He is tearing down his office and getting ready to call the man (Ed) who will remake him into Gene Takovic. "Quite a ride," he tells Francesca Liddy, his faithful, but jaded secretary. She's not nearly as impressed.
Now midway through this season, we are getting bits of answers to some of our questions as to how Saul's "ride" starts. The biggest unanswered mysteries involve how and why Saul will leave Kim (which must eventually happen, and we fear it might possibly involve Kim getting herself killed); and when Walter White reenters.
As Gus plans the familiar ultimate meth lab in his industrial laundromat, he rejects one natty but smug French architect in favor of a messy, unstable German named Werner Ziegler. Gus prefers Ziegler's seemingly more thorough and less slick approach, which is odd because Gus is such a cleanliness and control freak. Apparently Gus is building the lab for Gale, which is a new wrinkle in the franchise story.
The real puzzler remains Kim Wexler. Why is she getting herself involved with two-bit public defender cases, leaving Mesa Verde high and dry when they need her most? Is she deliberately sabotaging the good relationship? When apologizing to Paige, Kim does not appear to be genuinely contrite. Kim also does not explain to Paige that she had an appointment to keep with a judge. Her public defender work remains a secret. We remember from a few episodes ago when Kim intensely stared at the statue in the lobby of Mesa Verde, after which she tells her paralegal that she needs a ride over to the courthouse. What is Kim really up to?
As this drama keeps Kim busy at nights, Saul appears to miss his after-dinner movie with her (to the strains of Maurice Jarre's familiar music). Instead, he decides to turn his do-nothing job into a street hustle of pay-as-you-go cellphones. He rubs elbows with Albuquerque's nocturnal crowd hanging out at the hot dog stand known as the Dog House, not anticipating that once he has moved his product he will be mugged.
Saul ends the episode expressing his big plans to restart the law firm with Kim, and he sounds sincere. His meeting with an insomniac Howard at the courthouse bathroom convinces him to tear up the contact information of the shrink Kim recommended to him. There is enough of Jimmy still in Saul to do what he can to please Kim, because he still wants to be with her, both personally and professionally. Meanwhile, Chuck's hatred has killed Jimmy and given birth to a still embryonic Saul, who nonetheless is growing fast.
"Quite a Ride" emphasizes the importance of the Saul puzzle without really telling us yet how to put it together. Each week also tells us a little more about the wacky world of 21st-century crime: a libertarian world of secretive entrepreneurs navigating with cracked moral compasses. Placed in juxtaposition between their family and professional lives are shoot-'em-ups and long purely procedural sequences. We keep watching because we want Gilligan/Gould's take on how it all works-especially if we've ever had a boss like Lydia Rodarte-Quayle or an uncle like Mike Ehrmantraut. The pedigree derives from great American stock: Westerns; Great Gatsby; Godfather; Pulp Fiction; and Sopranos. If it makes you dizzy or nauseous, order more French fries from Los Pollos Hermanos.
Now midway through this season, we are getting bits of answers to some of our questions as to how Saul's "ride" starts. The biggest unanswered mysteries involve how and why Saul will leave Kim (which must eventually happen, and we fear it might possibly involve Kim getting herself killed); and when Walter White reenters.
As Gus plans the familiar ultimate meth lab in his industrial laundromat, he rejects one natty but smug French architect in favor of a messy, unstable German named Werner Ziegler. Gus prefers Ziegler's seemingly more thorough and less slick approach, which is odd because Gus is such a cleanliness and control freak. Apparently Gus is building the lab for Gale, which is a new wrinkle in the franchise story.
The real puzzler remains Kim Wexler. Why is she getting herself involved with two-bit public defender cases, leaving Mesa Verde high and dry when they need her most? Is she deliberately sabotaging the good relationship? When apologizing to Paige, Kim does not appear to be genuinely contrite. Kim also does not explain to Paige that she had an appointment to keep with a judge. Her public defender work remains a secret. We remember from a few episodes ago when Kim intensely stared at the statue in the lobby of Mesa Verde, after which she tells her paralegal that she needs a ride over to the courthouse. What is Kim really up to?
As this drama keeps Kim busy at nights, Saul appears to miss his after-dinner movie with her (to the strains of Maurice Jarre's familiar music). Instead, he decides to turn his do-nothing job into a street hustle of pay-as-you-go cellphones. He rubs elbows with Albuquerque's nocturnal crowd hanging out at the hot dog stand known as the Dog House, not anticipating that once he has moved his product he will be mugged.
Saul ends the episode expressing his big plans to restart the law firm with Kim, and he sounds sincere. His meeting with an insomniac Howard at the courthouse bathroom convinces him to tear up the contact information of the shrink Kim recommended to him. There is enough of Jimmy still in Saul to do what he can to please Kim, because he still wants to be with her, both personally and professionally. Meanwhile, Chuck's hatred has killed Jimmy and given birth to a still embryonic Saul, who nonetheless is growing fast.
"Quite a Ride" emphasizes the importance of the Saul puzzle without really telling us yet how to put it together. Each week also tells us a little more about the wacky world of 21st-century crime: a libertarian world of secretive entrepreneurs navigating with cracked moral compasses. Placed in juxtaposition between their family and professional lives are shoot-'em-ups and long purely procedural sequences. We keep watching because we want Gilligan/Gould's take on how it all works-especially if we've ever had a boss like Lydia Rodarte-Quayle or an uncle like Mike Ehrmantraut. The pedigree derives from great American stock: Westerns; Great Gatsby; Godfather; Pulp Fiction; and Sopranos. If it makes you dizzy or nauseous, order more French fries from Los Pollos Hermanos.
Episode 5 Quite A Ride Review: Quite An Episode Full of Great Performances
ashboomstick-505404 September 2018
Over the course of it's 4-Season run, Better Call Saul has never felt more like Breaking Bad than "Quite A Ride", the season's fifth episode. Each of the three storylines get equal weight and attention, resulting in an altogether fantastic episode.
Kim/Howard Storyline: 8/10 The Kim/Howard Storyline is still by far the weakest of the three storylines that take up Better Call Saul's episodes every week, but it is certainly getting better. Depending on the episode, the storylines involving these two characters could come across as a bit boring, but in the case of this episode, it is quite the contrary.
Kim trying her hand at becoming a criminal lawyer is incredibly entertaining. Certainly she seems to be enjoying this side of the law much more. Just watching her communicate with different people who have committed crimes is so incredibly thrilling to watch and I hope that this storyline continues to get better and better, because it has been running a bit slow recently. However, one has to wonder, what happens to Kim and Howard that makes them not end up on Breaking Bad. I guess we'll just have to wait and see then.
Mike/Gus Storyline: 10/10
This storyline is without a doubt the greatest storyline currently on Better Call Saul. Watching Mike work more and more for Gus is so incredibly entertaining. We know that at some point Mike will be working full-time for Gus, but for now, we will wait in anticipation.
This episode certainly does a very good job of taking the viewer slowly back into the world of Breaking Bad by introducing the Superlab shown in Breaking Bad. Incredible cinematography is displayed as we see Mike try to find a person who can restore the lab. It's exciting to see where Vincent Gilligan and Peter Gould go from here in terms of this storyline.
Jimmy/Kim Storyline: 9/10
Normally I would give this sequence a 10/10, but this episode brings it down one point. We spend the whole episode showing great character transformation for Jimmy, by showing him go around town selling pay as you go phones to criminals. Stunning cinematography and acting from Bob Odenkirk once again as he sells the phones and runs into several thugs in a familiar Breaking Bad restaurant, Dog House. We are also treated to the first actual scene with Odenkirk acting as Saul Goodman in the beginning of the episode. The scene takes place in between two top-notch Breaking Bad episodes, Ozymandias and Granite State. Getting back to the current storyline, everything is going so wonderfully until everything goes down-hill for Jimmy. After making money from selling the phones to different criminals, he gets robbed by three teenagers. The scene was stunningly executed, but I felt a little bit robbed because we spent the whole episode with Jimmy finally scamming people, and acting like Saul, and then it all gets undone. I have no doubt however that this episode ended up with Jimmy closer to becoming Saul than he ever has been before, which is fantastic.
Overall, this episode was a great episode of Saul, really showcasing all of it's incredible, top-notch actors, all while retaining a good tone and pace, with excellent cinematography as well.
"Quite A Ride": 94% -two points taken off for Jimmy still not entirely transforming into Saul -two points taken off for backtracking Jimmy's transformation by having him get robbed (also telling guy that he still has the intention of continuing partnership with Kim, even though he's probably not going to do that) -two points taken off a little bit of a slow pace for Kim/Howard Storyline.
Kim/Howard Storyline: 8/10 The Kim/Howard Storyline is still by far the weakest of the three storylines that take up Better Call Saul's episodes every week, but it is certainly getting better. Depending on the episode, the storylines involving these two characters could come across as a bit boring, but in the case of this episode, it is quite the contrary.
Kim trying her hand at becoming a criminal lawyer is incredibly entertaining. Certainly she seems to be enjoying this side of the law much more. Just watching her communicate with different people who have committed crimes is so incredibly thrilling to watch and I hope that this storyline continues to get better and better, because it has been running a bit slow recently. However, one has to wonder, what happens to Kim and Howard that makes them not end up on Breaking Bad. I guess we'll just have to wait and see then.
Mike/Gus Storyline: 10/10
This storyline is without a doubt the greatest storyline currently on Better Call Saul. Watching Mike work more and more for Gus is so incredibly entertaining. We know that at some point Mike will be working full-time for Gus, but for now, we will wait in anticipation.
This episode certainly does a very good job of taking the viewer slowly back into the world of Breaking Bad by introducing the Superlab shown in Breaking Bad. Incredible cinematography is displayed as we see Mike try to find a person who can restore the lab. It's exciting to see where Vincent Gilligan and Peter Gould go from here in terms of this storyline.
Jimmy/Kim Storyline: 9/10
Normally I would give this sequence a 10/10, but this episode brings it down one point. We spend the whole episode showing great character transformation for Jimmy, by showing him go around town selling pay as you go phones to criminals. Stunning cinematography and acting from Bob Odenkirk once again as he sells the phones and runs into several thugs in a familiar Breaking Bad restaurant, Dog House. We are also treated to the first actual scene with Odenkirk acting as Saul Goodman in the beginning of the episode. The scene takes place in between two top-notch Breaking Bad episodes, Ozymandias and Granite State. Getting back to the current storyline, everything is going so wonderfully until everything goes down-hill for Jimmy. After making money from selling the phones to different criminals, he gets robbed by three teenagers. The scene was stunningly executed, but I felt a little bit robbed because we spent the whole episode with Jimmy finally scamming people, and acting like Saul, and then it all gets undone. I have no doubt however that this episode ended up with Jimmy closer to becoming Saul than he ever has been before, which is fantastic.
Overall, this episode was a great episode of Saul, really showcasing all of it's incredible, top-notch actors, all while retaining a good tone and pace, with excellent cinematography as well.
"Quite A Ride": 94% -two points taken off for Jimmy still not entirely transforming into Saul -two points taken off for backtracking Jimmy's transformation by having him get robbed (also telling guy that he still has the intention of continuing partnership with Kim, even though he's probably not going to do that) -two points taken off a little bit of a slow pace for Kim/Howard Storyline.
We knew that "Better Call Saul.
unionsovietica-734204 September 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Well, look who's here. At long last, Saul Goodman, in the flesh. Four years and five episodes into the show that is named for him, television's sketchiest plaintiff's attorney has finally turned up. Sadly, he lingers only for a matter of minutes, in the midst of a frenzied effort to shred documents, collect cash and skedaddle out of town.
We knew that "Better Call Saul" was sneaking up on the time frame of "Breaking Bad," but the mischievous writers have decided to jump ahead, giving us this show's first look at the titular esquire on the very day he is calling the professional disappearance service that will transform him yet again - this time into a Cinnabon manager in Omaha.
It's both a foretaste and a tease. And there's something poignant about Saul's instructions to his dutiful, benighted assistant, Francesca Liddy (Tina Parker), who is told to lawyer up with this hint: "Tell 'em Jimmy sent you." By the time this spectacle unfolds, Jimmy McGill is long gone, replaced by a hustler in a Technicolor shirt. No wonder Francesca - who also worked for Jimmy in a nobler phase of his career, when he was helping senior citizens win a class action settlement - won't hug him.
We knew that "Better Call Saul" was sneaking up on the time frame of "Breaking Bad," but the mischievous writers have decided to jump ahead, giving us this show's first look at the titular esquire on the very day he is calling the professional disappearance service that will transform him yet again - this time into a Cinnabon manager in Omaha.
It's both a foretaste and a tease. And there's something poignant about Saul's instructions to his dutiful, benighted assistant, Francesca Liddy (Tina Parker), who is told to lawyer up with this hint: "Tell 'em Jimmy sent you." By the time this spectacle unfolds, Jimmy McGill is long gone, replaced by a hustler in a Technicolor shirt. No wonder Francesca - who also worked for Jimmy in a nobler phase of his career, when he was helping senior citizens win a class action settlement - won't hug him.
Best in the season so far.
dalsgaardman5 September 2018
Warning: Spoilers
As much as i like Breaking bad, i feel like better call saul has become its very own thing in the last couple seasons. But now that we've become used to this new side of saul goodman, it was such a shock for me, when we suddenly jumped forward to the near end of the breaking bad timeline. this episode played a lot with breaking bad references and nostalgia for the show. and that for me, made it a lot more interesting than the other episodes.
Tv's best written show
gosthfreak15 September 2018
Just can't stop loving BCS
viniciusrhcp15 August 2021
This is an amazing show and this one episode is quite special.
It's wonderful to see clear references to The Sopranos (the "remaining board" "S THE MAN" on CC Mobile), to Tarantino's movies (what was the song "Street Life" playing while Jimmy selled those mobile phones? Yeah!!), to BB itself (double "you're goddamn right!" with Huell), and, last but not least, the issue with the mobile phones itselves, a signature of The Wire. All subtly and intelligently put on the screen.
Direction and screenwriters really shine on this show, which has already become one of my favorites.
It's wonderful to see clear references to The Sopranos (the "remaining board" "S THE MAN" on CC Mobile), to Tarantino's movies (what was the song "Street Life" playing while Jimmy selled those mobile phones? Yeah!!), to BB itself (double "you're goddamn right!" with Huell), and, last but not least, the issue with the mobile phones itselves, a signature of The Wire. All subtly and intelligently put on the screen.
Direction and screenwriters really shine on this show, which has already become one of my favorites.
Not Done?
darbski4 September 2018
Warning: Spoilers
***SPOILERS*** I may have mentioned in another review that it is only a matter of time before Jimmy's tripped up by his own arrogance - I think. The thing to wonder about though, is the fact that Jimmy only had 4 cel phones with him. My thinking (and probably ONLY mine) is that the bikers will no doubt want more. Now, I think that a little birdie may mention to our two wheeled friends, and I'm a biker myself, that maybe, just maybe, a lesson should be applied. A solution, if you will. Kind of Newtonian/Darwinian. The action-reaction principle, and the survival of the fittest. Looks like Kim is getting closer to the inevitable ending between her and Mesa Verde. Howard's in some kind of deep water, too. What can it be? Is it possible that Chuck was really the big brain at HHM? Nah - just spitballin'.
The crooked engineers being called in to do the underground chem lab? Which I always found a great cover, and worthy of an entry in Popular Mechanics - brilliant diversion, and I gotta think that Gus is getting his talent pool from some connections in Madrigal. Mike's REALLY got his security talents under pressure, don't he? Gee - if he can handle this kind of set-up, it's hard to envision just HOW Walt ever got the better of him... anyway, it seems that way to me. One more small point. If you like scenery, this one points out the fact that New Mexico is on of our more spectacular states. Our beautiful country is ALL just too wonderful for words, but this episode shows a good reason to make the southwest a destination, even if only for a little while. This episode is a 10.
The crooked engineers being called in to do the underground chem lab? Which I always found a great cover, and worthy of an entry in Popular Mechanics - brilliant diversion, and I gotta think that Gus is getting his talent pool from some connections in Madrigal. Mike's REALLY got his security talents under pressure, don't he? Gee - if he can handle this kind of set-up, it's hard to envision just HOW Walt ever got the better of him... anyway, it seems that way to me. One more small point. If you like scenery, this one points out the fact that New Mexico is on of our more spectacular states. Our beautiful country is ALL just too wonderful for words, but this episode shows a good reason to make the southwest a destination, even if only for a little while. This episode is a 10.
Quite a Ride
bobcobb30124 September 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Jimmy hawking phones and searching for an identity was good. Almost everything with Mike this season has worked.
The episode fell a little flat though. The big "reveal" of Gus at the end felt kuje a tiny deal despite how the scene was directed.
The show still has strong writing, but this was a mediocre episode by Better Call Saul standards.
The episode fell a little flat though. The big "reveal" of Gus at the end felt kuje a tiny deal despite how the scene was directed.
The show still has strong writing, but this was a mediocre episode by Better Call Saul standards.
Come on...
zackayotte14 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I feel like we're spinning in circles here. Nothing happened in the last 5 episodes. I could have just skipped them, seriously. This is "Fly" from Breaking Bad all over again, but not as well directed.
MOVE IT ALREADY!
MOVE IT ALREADY!
Back on track!
jdjc00120 June 2020
I was starting to get a little worried about the slow pacing (particularly concerning Jimmy's arc) but this episode managed to cover a lot of ground and I personally think it's the best they've done this season so far. It was great to see a post-BB cold open and it tied in perfectly with the events of the episode. As well as Jimmy's fantastic (yet tragic) storyline, it was nice to see Kim doing what she does best but also to see her fatal flaw at its most prevalent. The only gripe I have with this episode is the Mike/Gus storyline which, while necessary to the plot, felt a little drawn out.
On the Edge
Hitchcoc17 March 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Jimmy has survived a long time with what appears to be a death wish. He is an incredible con man/salesman/lawyer. He gets a job at a phone shop and begins to develop a business of his own. Kim is working as a PD which cuts into her time working on the big corporate case. Good episode.
Hangs together very nicely
Leofwine_draca30 November 2021
Warning: Spoilers
A really enjoyable and strong episode once again. This one is dominated by the actors, all of whom put in fine work, even Patrick Fabian in his one-scene role. Jimmy's scheming is a delight to behold and the whole thing just hangs together very nicely indeed.
Starting to pick up
perlshop5 September 2018
Warning: Spoilers
After the snoozefest that was the first 4 episodes this was somewhat better. Though the pace is still very slow and scenes are dragged out for no reason just to pass time.
I wish the role of Kim wexler would reduce. The actor is fine but her voice is so sleep inducing and her character is just boring. Hope we see more of nacho, gus and the gang.. then the real excitement will start!
I wish the role of Kim wexler would reduce. The actor is fine but her voice is so sleep inducing and her character is just boring. Hope we see more of nacho, gus and the gang.. then the real excitement will start!
confusion
ellimic9 October 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I really enjoy Better Call Saul, it's a 10 Star Series. I love watching it but this episode really confused me; and I was confused about it for several weeks after it aired.
It really annoyed me that there's nothing in this episode, or in previous episodes, to explain what's happening - one minute Mike is doing his security rounds in Fring's warehouses, then Mike and Fring suddenly start hiring to build this underground place with nothing to indicate what it is for or why they're suddenly doing it!?
I like to watch the episodes as they are released on TV but my family didn't want to start season 4 until it finished (so they could watch it all at once - they only begun watching them a few days before episode 10 was released, and finally they got to this episode and have clarified it for me)
I now understand this underground place that Mike and Fring contracted the Germans to build is a drug lab used in the later Breaking Bad (having never seen Breaking Bad I had no idea)
This is a terrible assumption on the directors part, you assume ALL of the viewers have watched Breaking Bad! Well I haven't, and surely I'm not the only one? They could have done much better to help the viewer, simply having a scene of Fring and Mike discussing hiring someone for this job would have been helpful - just something to show that Fring had been planning this (even if they don't say what it's for - that would also be plausible as Fring hasn't let Mike in on his drug operations)
That would be better than this sudden change which creates so much confusion (especially as it's such a big part of future episodes)
To be honest they could have left out everything about the whole drug thing with Fring and Salamanca, reduced Mike, Nacho and everyone else's roles only to thier interactions with Jimmy and I would still like Better Call Saul just as much as I do now.
It really annoyed me that there's nothing in this episode, or in previous episodes, to explain what's happening - one minute Mike is doing his security rounds in Fring's warehouses, then Mike and Fring suddenly start hiring to build this underground place with nothing to indicate what it is for or why they're suddenly doing it!?
I like to watch the episodes as they are released on TV but my family didn't want to start season 4 until it finished (so they could watch it all at once - they only begun watching them a few days before episode 10 was released, and finally they got to this episode and have clarified it for me)
I now understand this underground place that Mike and Fring contracted the Germans to build is a drug lab used in the later Breaking Bad (having never seen Breaking Bad I had no idea)
This is a terrible assumption on the directors part, you assume ALL of the viewers have watched Breaking Bad! Well I haven't, and surely I'm not the only one? They could have done much better to help the viewer, simply having a scene of Fring and Mike discussing hiring someone for this job would have been helpful - just something to show that Fring had been planning this (even if they don't say what it's for - that would also be plausible as Fring hasn't let Mike in on his drug operations)
That would be better than this sudden change which creates so much confusion (especially as it's such a big part of future episodes)
To be honest they could have left out everything about the whole drug thing with Fring and Salamanca, reduced Mike, Nacho and everyone else's roles only to thier interactions with Jimmy and I would still like Better Call Saul just as much as I do now.
Albuquerque at night
gedikreverdi8 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Jimmy was beaten and robbed by some kids while he was selling those phones in the streets late at night. They're looking for someone to excavate under the building for Gustavo Fringe. Howard's having insomnia. 9 months later jimmy will be a lawyer again.
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