Better Call Saul Ep. 202 The Cobbler
Chuck McGill is a man of many talents and faults and some of them are on full display before the opening credits of The Cobbler. The episode begins with Chuck playing beautifully on a piano but his inability to get through the piece defines his tortured existence in a nutshell. He’s supremely talented and yet unable to realize it due to his failings. He’s the opposite of Jimmy who almost seems to revel in his imperfections. Jimmy is brilliant in his own way, perhaps not on the same level as Chuck, but extremely sharp none the less.
When Howard comes in to deliver Chuck’s supplies, the topic of Jimmy comes up working for Davis and Main. Chuck’s sibling rivalry is hard to miss and Jimmy’s success – on a case he helped build – eats away at Chuck.
The Cobbler features some interesting developments and shines a light upon the masks that each of the principals wear to hide from the outside world and in some cases from themselves. As the Sandpiper case rolls along Jimmy’s fortunes continue to rise. His new found success leads to a conversation with Kim regarding new living arrangements.
Mike runs into Pryce who is on his way to meet the police concerning the break in and theft of his vintage baseball cards. Despite Mike’s advice to ditch the meeting with the cops, Pryce refuses citing the importance of the cards. He holds his position until Mike offers to get his cards back for him. By my count that’s strike two for Pryce. Mike then goes for a chat with Nacho, finds him at his humble day job and offers him a deal for the cards.
Jimmy’s at the top of his game in The Cobbler. He demonstrates a proficiency for corporate law when dealing with the Sandpiper case but is at his best when pulled back into the arena of criminal law. Jimmy’s talents with various areas of the law are great, but he seems more at ease in the criminal world. Perhaps that’s the fundamental difference between the McGill brothers. Chuck won’t dance with the devil while Jimmy gladly would. It’s his ethics that’s Jimmy’s weakness. A weakness that may ultimately lead him to the future he now inhabits.
