Better Call Saul: Ep. 302 Witness
Some good old-fashioned police work leads Mike even closer to discovering who’s been tailing him. After turning the tables on the gas cap tracking strategy, Mike spends the night tailing a suspect. With the hunted now the hunter once again, Mike follows a trail of digital breadcrumbs that eventually lead him to a familiar location for Breaking Bad fans. With the marketing employed by AMC this summer, the location doesn’t come as a surprise but the way it’s revealed should bring a smile to viewer’s faces.
Jimmy and Kim welcome a new addition to their offices. Francesca’s interview is subtly comic with Kim’s priceless facial expressions eliciting some chuckles. The interview also further highlights the partner’s differing styles and foreshadows potentially choppy waters ahead. The comedy takes a backseat to the intrigue of Witness’ first few moments as Francesca takes a call for Jimmy from Mike.
Mike needs Jimmy’s help and this brings us to everyone’s favorite fast food chicken joint, Los Pollos Hermanos. The scene where Jimmy waits inside of the restaurant is like going back and spending time in a house you once lived in. Although Saul is a prequel, several of the characters and locations are Breaking Bad throwbacks. With the reintroduction of Los Pollos Hermanos, its charismatic owner can’t be far behind and with it some of the flavor that made Breaking Bad so compelling.
For an episode that could have been incredibly tense, Witness goes for its fair share of laughs. From the quirky office manager interview to Jimmy’s fumbling surveillance techniques, the episode slow plays the action and softens the first reappearance of Gustavo Fring. Knowing what we already know, Fring’s presence on screen has the potential to distract from the narrative. While his true nature will always be in longtime viewers’ minds, softening his first scene almost allows for his character to build towards the inevitable menace he brings, particularly for new viewers to the Breaking Bad/Saul franchises.
The existence of Chuck’s tape featuring Jimmy’s confession comes to light and immediately throws Kim and Jimmy for a loop. Realizing how damaging the tape could be, Kim springs to action and consults with Jimmy on how to defend themselves moving forward. As Kim talks to him about the recording Jimmy coolly unravels painters’ tape from the newly painted wall in their lobby. The irony of the scene isn’t lost as the contrast of the audiotape and the painter’s tape both reveal what’s hidden beneath the surface. As Jimmy continues to unravel the tape, he tries to maintain an air of serenity until his emotions get the better of him and we see something rare from Jimmy McGill – anger.
Better Call Saul just keeps getting better. Witness is a potentially heavy episode that contains enough subtle humor and physical comedy to keep it from feeling like it should’ve come near the end of the season. With Gustavo Fring back on the scene and the mounting tension between the McGill brothers the intrigue on Better Call Saul is poised to reach new heights.
