Better Call Saul: Ep. 206 Bali Ha’i
A restless night finds Jimmy in front of the television watching a replay of his forbidden advertisement. When the sandman refuses to knock on his door, Jimmy hops into his car and returns to the nail salon. Back in his element, he finally finds some solace.
Fresh out of purgatory, Kim reluctantly gets back into the swing of things at Hamlin, Hamlin and McGill when she finds herself back in court fighting the Sandpiper case. After her time in court, Kim gets an important life lesson and an incredible offer that causes her to reassess her life. What are we worth? How do we measure up in the eyes of those around us? It’s a painful realization when one realizes that they’re being taken for granted and that reality hits Kim hard.
Mike’s altercation with Tuco literally brings trouble to his front door. A lifetime of busting crooks and straddling the line between right and wrong has left him with blood on his hands. Through all of it though, he’s above all else a man of honor. His resourcefulness and willingness to stand by his principles and to fight for what he’s worth earns him marks with his adversaries.
Bali Ha’i featured a strong, yet subtle performance by Reah Seahorn. In the moments when she’s speechless, Seahorn’s eyes and pauses effectively convey the myriad of thoughts racing through Kim’s mind. What does she value most? Money, respect or power? The unexpected job offer has opened up a whole new world for her. One that she’s not quite sure she’s ready to embrace.
Speaking of respect, it sometimes has to be earned. Mike’s battle of wills with Hector Salamanca established the boundaries of their working relationship. Although they’re on opposite sides, there’s more discourse and respect between them than there is between Howard and Kim. Perhaps that’s what makes Kim and Jimmy a good match. Even though Jimmy has cost her dearly, he still respects her and makes her feel good.
Is Schweikart and Cokely’s offfer to Kim genuine? Does it really matter? If Howard’s loyalty to her was stronger, if she didn’t feel like she was being taken for granted, perhaps her reaction to the offer would’ve been different. As was the case in Bali Ha’i, money isn’t everything particularly when there are other things that are deemed to be more valuable.
