Better Call Saul 508 – Bagman
Living life as the Seven Million Dollar Man is a risky proposition for Jimmy but becoming intoxicated by the perks of having the cartel as a client tends to erase any fears. By agreeing to pick up Lalo Salamanca’s bail he negotiates a tidy fee for his efforts but this being Jimmy, you know there will be a complication or two down the road.
Kim realizes the inherent danger of Jimmy’s latest tweak in his job description and to say it frightens her is an understatement. Her offer to accompany him to pick up Lalo’s bail money demonstrates her loyalty but there is a definite level of apprehension in her voice. She’s right of course, Kim’s instincts and first impression as usual proving to be spot on, particularly when the hand off between Jimmy and The Cousins inevitably goes south in a hail of gunfire shortly afterwards.
Bagman begins with promise and only gets better with each successive scene. The shootout in the desert is full of suspense and danger with Jimmy’s fate hanging in the balance until the very last bullet is fired and Mike his guardian angel steps into frame to offer assistance. What follows is a desperate, but slow trek across the desert as Mike and Jimmy attempt to escape their pursuers and get Lalo’s bail money back to him. As their journey continues Jimmy’s naivete in the ways of the underworld and outdoor survival become increasingly apparent. He’s stuck in a world where his velvet tongue is absolutely powerless. This is Mike’s world and without his savvy and military experience Jimmy is as good as dead.
An interesting thing happens midway through the episode. Kim, worried about Jimmy’s failure to show up the previous night, arranges a meeting with Lalo to find out where Jimmy might be. Kim’s face-to-face with the drug lord proves her devotion to Jimmy and demonstrates her fearlessness but it also pulls her into the spiral that Jimmy finds himself in. By exposing the fact that she knows about Jimmy’s connection to the Salamanca’s, Kim is now in at Lalo’s mercy. Her attempt to save Jimmy has now put her in the cartel’s crosshairs and judging by Lalo’s smile he’s going to use her to his advantage at some point down the line.
Bagman is a pretty straightforward episode with Jimmy and Mike’s storyline taking up the bulk of its runtime. As usual though it’s an excellent example of storytelling and character development. Mike’s resolve to get through the challenges in the dessert are in stark contrast to Jimmy’s. While Jimmy is willing to give up, Mike knows that he has people that rely on him. His obligation to keep his granddaughter and her mother safe drive him to do what he does. Jimmy has always looked inward first and outward second. He does it time and time again while trudging across the dessert with two bags full of money. Even his final act of desperation is a selfish one and if it didn’t work out could have put Kim in peril as well. Jimmy has a lot to learn if he’s going to swim in the Salamanca’s pool. It’s filled with sharks and his usual approach to things will only guarantee that he’ll end up getting bitten.
