For all “Better Call Saul’s” seemingly random one word episode names, no episode title better represented the events in the hour it’s named for as “Fall,” the penultimate episode of “Better Call Saul’s” 3rd season.
And no man is more responsible than Jimmy McGill for the fall of so many last night. Or should we start calling him Saul Goodman now? Because Jimmy’s actions in “Fall” are as despicable as any act (with the exception of poisoning Brock) Saul commits in “Breaking Bad.”
Jimmy’s wrath helped take down a prestigious law firm (at least that is where things appear to be headed with Chuck and Howard), a sweet old lady’s final years, and a bad ass lawyer’s career.
Well, maybe that last paragraph was a little dramatic. Irene could still salvage her friendships with the ladies at Sandpiper. And Kim may still have a long career practicing law ahead of her (at least I sure hope she does). But the point is we are finally starting to see the carnage we’ve long expected to follow Jimmy McGill as he follows the dark path to becoming Saul Goodman.
We’ll get to everything laid waste by Jimmy in just a bit. But let’s start with one fall this episode that the future Saul Goodman had nothing to do with.
“The Salamanca’s?”
Last week, Nacho set into motion a plan to kill Hector “Ding Ding” Salamanca by replacing the man’s heart pills with fakes. And during a meeting with Gus (more on that later), Hector has another episode where he must take pills. The Placebo Effect appears to be at work here as the fake pills seem to work just like the real ones. We’ll see how long that lasts.
But Nacho’s mission this week may have been tougher than last week’s as Nacho informed his father that Hector was coming to talk to him.
The late-night dinner table conversation revealed much about the seemingly good relationship between father and son. We learn that Nacho’s father is aware that his son has been a drug dealer (though he doesn’t appear to realize how long Nacho’s been back in the game). We also learn that Nacho’s father knows who Hector Salamanca is.
Nacho tells his dad to do whatever Hector asks because the situation will be taken care of. Then, Nacho’s father sternly asks his son to get out of the house.
“This Is Not What Fine Looks Like”
Meanwhile, over at the law firm of Hamlin, Hamlin, McGill, Howard and Chuck met with representatives from Santa Rosa, the liability insurance company Jimmy met with two weeks ago and spilled the beans to about Chuck’s condition.
Santa Rosa not only wants to raise Chuck’s premiums, they want to raise premiums on every attorney at HHM. Howard wants a deal, while Chuck wants to sue.
The threat of a lawsuit sends the Santa Rosa representatives away. But Howard is not through with Chuck. He wants the elder McGill to retire, and it’s not a suggestion. Chuck insists he’s fine, picking up a lamp like the crazed pyscho he is and showing Howard just how “normal” he is now. But Howard insists. Of course, Howard still wants to keep the McGill name on the firm and the money owed Chuck should his name be removed.
“You Think I’m Trouble as Your Partner? Imagine Me as Your Enemy.”
Chuck’s response is to sue Howard and HHM. This discussion was first had in the very first episode of “Better Call Saul” when Jimmy tore up a check Howard sent to Chuck. Jimmy wanted HHM to release Chuck and pay him a third of what the firm was worth. At the time, Chuck was reluctant to do that because it would sink the firm and cost many their jobs.
Now, Chuck has no such issues seeing those people suffer. He’s either going to receive the share Jimmy pushed for back in season 1, or he’s going to sue for it. Chuck also reveals the $8 million (so it’s just 8 million now?) he’s owed is a bill the firm cannot afford to pay.
$1,160,000
Now onto Jimmy’s story, which takes us back to the Sandpiper case that launched Jimmy a stretch as a very successful lawyer.
With all the financial concerns he and Kim are having at Wexler, McGill, Jimmy decides it’s time to push for a settlement in the case so he can go ahead and receive the percentage he’s entitled to.
Jimmy meets with Irene Landry, the old lady whose bills revealed to the younger McGill the corruption at Sandpiper. She reveals (and a little too freely with the legal council she received) that Davis and Mane are advising her not to accept Sandpiper’s current offer. Irene then shows Jimmy (once again Irene, a little too free with sharing the legal council you received) the amount of that offer.
Jimmy does the math in his head and figures out that, if this offer is accepted, he will receive $1,160,000.
“You’ll Get Your Damn Money, You’re Just Going to Have to Wait For It.”
Jimmy’s first attempt to push for a settlement is with Howard. And, well Howard is in no mood to entertain Jimmy in the parking garage of HHM on this day. He dismisses Jimmy’s push for a settlement as nothing more than a selfish action by Jimmy to get his money now. Of course, he’s correct. But did Howard really think he was going to make “Slippin Jimmy” wait for his “damn money?”
“Listen to Your Heart.”
Nothing shows the complete 180 happening to Jimmy McGill like the scam he runs on Irene.
The whole purpose of the Sandpiper case was to target a company that was blatantly taking advantage of the elderly. Yet, here is Jimmy taking advantage of Irene and her trust in him all so he can profit now.
The first part of the scam involves Jimmy joining the ladies of Sandpiper for mall walking. He strikes up a conversation with Irene and gives her a new pair of shoes (the same kind he’s wearing at the moment).
Then, Jimmy starts talking to Irene’s friends at Sandpiper. He sows the seeds of jealousy and resentment, questioning why Irene hasn’t accepted the settlement from Sandpiper. Though Irene is the main party, her decision to accept would benefit all of them. But she must not need the money since she just bought a new pair of shoes (brilliant but so despicable).
All of Irene’s friend turn against her, setting up the last part of Jimmy’s scheme. He creates a set of rigged bingo balls, making them magnetic from the inside. When Irene enters the room to join the game, her friends continue to shun her. So she finds an empty seat in the back. Jimmy preps a new game right after Irene sits down, handing her the card that will win.
Vince Gilligan and crew are brilliant at contrasting moments. It seemed insignificant at first, but a winner was announced and applauded just as Irene sat down. But when Irene is announced as the winner, nobody claps or cheers.
Irene runs out of the room and into the hallway crying. Jimmy goes to comfort her and tells her the reason the ladies are so mad is because she hasn’t agreed to the settlement yet. Then, Jimmy tells her, “Listen to your heart” when Irene asks what she should do.
We don’t see her actually agree to settle. But Jimmy’s celebratory mood when he enters the office of Wexler McGill indicates she did. But Kim is in no mood to celebrate. She has a pressure packed presentation for a new client she rushes off to take care of.
“Kevin Sent me a Miracle Worker.”
Season 3 has convinced me that Kim Wexler is the best and hardest working attorney on the show. It’s clear she’s done great work with Mesa Verde. But her solution for her recently added 2nd client is even better.
The man’s name is Rob Gatwood, owner of Gatwood Oil, and he has a pressing tax issue. He’s been pulling oil from both sides of the Texas/New Mexico border, and now both states want to collect taxes from him.
Kim’s solution: push for a payout with one of the states (I’m not sure which one) for diminishing resources instead of paying yearly tax revenue. It is a brilliant solution. The only problem is Kim has two weeks to get it drafted so it can be presented to whatever board needs to hear the presentation.
“Our Troubles are Over. Come On!!!!
Kim gets the presentation together with no sleep and runs out of the office just as Jimmy declares their troubles are over (more on the irony of this statement later).
Kim is practicing what she’s going to say in her car as she’s surrounded by boxes full of files. Suddenly, her car crashes. Kim fell asleep at the wheel. Her lack of sleep this season finally caught up to her. Kim steps out of the wrecked car holding what appears to be a broken arm and stares at all the paper work spread out on the ground as the episode ends.
Of Note
-So Jimmy declares “Our Troubles are Over” the moment before what is likely the beginning of the end for his relationship with Kim?
-More symbolism from the masters of the art last night as Kim nearly runs her car into an oil rig, a little foreshadowing to her wreck at the end of the show.
-Mike was officially hired by Gus in “Fall.” His contract is for 20 weeks. He also met Lydia, and neither seems to be happy to be working with the other.
-The consolidated transportation Gus and Hector “agreed” to several weeks ago has been so successful that Don Eladio wants the arrangement to be permanent.
-I hated Jimmy for scamming Irene, but the forethought to buy numerous pairs of shoes of all different sizes to insure he would have Irene’s shoe size was brilliant.
-Was anybody out there hoping Erin (Jimmy’s babysitter last season) would appear after Irene referenced her to Jimmy? Really? No One?
-Another nice touch by Jimmy presenting the store bought kitten cookies to Irene as if they were homemade.
-Back in season 1, Jimmy though Chuck’s share of HHM was worth $26 million. But tonight, Chuck revealed it would be worth only $8 million. Has the value of HHM diminished that much since season 1? Or has Howard been keeping the company’s true worth a secret all along?
-More fake confidence from Howard this week. After tearing up a $14,000 check last week, he throws bills at Jimmy like he’s loaded (though we know HHM has some financial problems). And then, he gets a letter from Chuck and assumes the elder McGill has decided to retire. Has Howard yet to learn that nobody ever listens to him or does what he asks on this show?
Which teetering relationship is blowing up first next week?
-Kim and Jimmy?
-Howard and Chuck?
-Nacho and the Salamancas?
-Or do they all make it still together to season 4?
I can’t believe the season finale is next week. We’ll see you then.