Better Call Saul: Ep. 204 Gloves Off
Mike’s face says it all at the start of Gloves Off. The cash he earns comes with a price but it’s obviously one he’s willing to pay. Mike is a man of many talents and we’re introduced to some more of them during the course of an episode that reveals a little bit more of his back story as well as how far he’s willing to go to get the job done.
Jimmy’s unethical and unorthodox commercial doesn’t go over well with the upper management at Davis & Main. The damage to the company’s reputation makes things difficult for Jimmy moving forward but the damage isn’t limited to just him. Reputation is something Jimmy has never really been concerned about and his selfish ways catches Kim in the crossfire.
Mike and Krazy 8 discuss the finer details of a hit on Tuco. Whether it’s the underworld or the world of law there are rules of engagement that must be adhered to and once those rules are breeched all hell can break loose. Mike offers another way around Krazy 8’s plan and the escapade hints at some unresolved pain in Mike’s past.
Jimmy’s tendency to play fast and loose with the rules has consequences for Kim and puts her in the doghouse with Howard. Jimmy’s cavalier way of doing things and treating people is like a wrecking ball to those around him. Things only begin to fall apart, or for him to see the damage he’s caused, when his charm is unable to get him off the hook.
The a and b stories in Gloves Off feature Mike and Jimmy at work in their respective elements. What’s clear is that they are both problem solvers – even though their solutions sometimes lead to more problems. While Jimmy is willing to cross any line to achieve his goal, there are some things Mike refuses to do even if it makes things easier. So different and yet so similar, it’s no surprise that the fates and their own actions would somehow lead them to one day work so closely with each other.
