Read our review for Better Call Saul Season 6, Part 1
by Samuel Nichols, Contributing Writer
It’s been said that the hardest part of flying a plane is the landing. The same can be said of wrapping up a TV show. Loose ends need resolving and characters arcs need finishing. The stakes for the final half season of Better Call Saul were incredibly high, as everything needed to be put in place for the rest of the universe created by Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould to play out, and vital questions needed answering. What was to happen with Lalo Salamanca and his desire to expose Gus Fring? Where was Kim during the events of Breaking Bad? Where would Walt and Jesse show up in those promised cameos? Would Jimmy stay under the radar in Nebraska? After seeing the final episodes of Saul Goodman’s journey, I am happy to announce that all questions were answered, and that it concluded the story of this universe perfectly with no strings left to pull on.
Picking up right where the midseason finale left off, we follow Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk) and Kim Wexler (Rhea Seehorn) as they deal with the fallout of their con on Howard Hamlin (Patrick Fabian) and his death at the hands of Lalo Salamanca (Tony Dalton). Lalo’s quest remains to expose Gus Fring’s (Giancarlo Esposito) disloyalty to the cartel, but with the help of Mike (Jonathan Banks), Gus has remained prepared for this eventuality. Of equal importance, several years in the future, Gene, Jimmy’s new identity after fleeing Albuquerque post-Breaking Bad, is still trying to lay low in Omaha, Nebraska. Masquerading as a Cinabbon manager, he deals with the consequences of cab driver Jeff (Pat Healy) recognizing him for who he really is. We bounce back and forth between these two timelines and occasionally flirt with some events between them, as Jimmy struggles to keep himself alive and out of reach of the law.
Within that first episode back, we get our showdown between Gus and Lalo. Of course we know Gus must survive to play the foil for Walter White years later, but that does not stop their conflict in “Point and Shoot” from being tension-filled and terrifying. Seeing the chaotic nature of Lalo strike out at Gus and his methodical demeanor is a matchup made in heaven by these great writers and directors. Both Dalton and Esposito deliver bone chilling dialogue and remind us why they are the best two villains conceived in this universe. Part of the fallout is Howard’s death being framed as a suicide, leaving his wife and friends mortified at the loss of their friend. Even more so, Jimmy and Kim have to double down on their lies about him, which ends up fracturing their relationship and splitting them up.
After fast-forwarding through most of the events of Breaking Bad, we return to the black and white world of Nebraska. Gene proves that he still has that Saul Goodman genius behind his every move. Although Gene has not been much of a flex for Odenkirk as an actor, here we get to see him mix the forced-meagerness of Gene with the crafty nature of Saul. The episode titled “Nippy” could be a perfect send off for the character in that way, but there is still more to come for Gene. Eventually his schemes catch up to him and Jimmy is forced to face the law. His nature as Saul could not be escaped.
The heart of the show is revealed in the final couple of episodes: the relationship between Jimmy and Kim. Jimmy/Saul/Gene or whatever name he comes up for himself can be a complete and total tool. Playing every single person in front of him for either the love of the game or for selfish ends. No one means anything to him, nor will they stop him from running a con. No one except Kim. She brings the best out of him. When they were partnered together, he was doing great things for marginalized people in the Sandpiper case in the early seasons. She is his reason to be a better person. Likewise, he pushes her to do some of her best work too. She protects underserved defendants at Jimmy’s encouragement. They both made mistakes along the way, of course, but together they are at their best. They are miserable when they are separated. Their final interaction in the show reminds us that these two are in it together.
Praise needs to be showered on everyone involved in this project. First, to the amazing cast. Odenkirk and Seehorn are deserving of their upcoming Emmy nominations, and I hope even more of the cast will rewarded at the next round of Emmys. Banks, Esposito, Fabian, and Dalton are nothing short of incredible in their roles as well. Not to mention the likes of newcomers like Carol Burnett and Heely who took over for Don Harvey as Jeff the Cab Driver. Although their appearances were brief, it was also nice to see Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul return as Walt and Jesse, not to mention Betsy Brandt returning as Marie Schrader.
The sets and cinematography are beautiful as usual. The music is haunting and beautiful all at once. Everyone here is due for the acclaim they deserve.
Finally, I want to specifically applaud creators Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould. These two are the only people capable of wrapping up all the loose ends with such finesse. One of my early concerns coming into this season was just how much was needed to be done in this final season. All of the stories and loose ends to be resolved makes for a daunting challenge. To tie everything off in a little over 13 hours would be nothing short of herculean. But they did it. It’s all over now, and I will miss this universe they have created. I am glad and thankful for the work they have done. Maybe one day I’ll get a hankering to dive back into this universe. If I do, I know who I will call.
Score: 10/10
You can follow Samuel Nichols on Twitter