Better Call Saul 409 – Wiedersehen
The art of the scam, or fun and games with Kim and Jimmy reaches new heights when a milk-laced bait and switch reaches Mesa Verde’s doorstep. If there was any doubt regarding Kim’s complicity regarding Jimmy’s errant walks on the wild side the opening moments of Wiedersehen erases it. There’s a limit to Kim’s covert behaviour though and while Jimmy sees scams as a way to a fast buck Kim’s hustle has nobler roots.
Nacho and his new best friend Lalo make the rounds and visit Hector in the old age home. After a one sided walk down memory lane Lalo presents Hector with a sentimental gift that is also a nod to long time fans of the Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul universe. Lalo makes his presence felt even further when he has a sit down with Gus at Los Pollos Hermanos. Small talk soon turns to business but the genial nature of their chat is laced with menace.
Meanwhile Mike has his hands full with problems at the superlab’s construction site. During some tense moments during a blast session, Mike’s detective skills kick in and cause him concern. All’s not well with Werner and a bout of anxiety starts to kick in. The time away from his wife is wearing on him and a return to Germany is on his mind. Mike nixes the “flight of fancy” but realizes that having the leader of his construction crew under such duress could bring disaster to the operation.
Reinstatement is in order for Jimmy and his hearing goes well – at first. Jimmy’s genius is on full display as he tap dances around the panel and charms his way into their good graces. Jimmy’s soliloquy is passionate and revealing, particularly with what he leaves out of the performance. The result sows the seeds for what may be one of the final catalysts that allows Saul Goodman to become fully actualized.
Everything is in flux. Jimmy’s career, the state of the superlab and Gus’ autonomy now that Lalo is watching his back are all facing uncertainty. Wiedersehen is like an elastic band that has reached its limits. The emotional back and forth between characters and within themselves teeters on a breaking point several times. Like an elastic things return to normal once the forces acting on it have ceded but eventually things wear out. When things don’t snap back as they are expected to the end result can be catastrophic. Dark times are on the horizon. Just how dark remains to be seen.
