Better Call Saul Review: Talk (Season 4 Episode 4)
As soon as we see Jimmy McGill slip a couple rungs toward Saul Goodman, he begins to steady himself. That is, after all, what Better Call Saul is all about. The journey.
Better Call Saul Season 4 Episode 4, “Talk,” though, is just as much about the journeys of others.
For instance, Kim’s journey takes her on the search for a deeper meaning in her career. This is something everyone seeks but few find. Gustavo Fring’s journey leads to carving out a market in the local drug trade, something Breaking Bad fans are all too familiar with. Nacho’s journey leads him both to intense self-reflection and drives Fring’s story further, and establishes the Salamanca brothers as genuine threats.
The most compelling journey on “Talk,” though, is Mike Ehrmantraut’s. He’s been largely absent from the past few episodes, and “Talk” brings him back with a vengeance.
Watching Mike in Better Call Saul has been largely about him doing cool spy things and less about taking him to emotionally vulnerable places, with rare exceptions such as Better Call Saul Season 1 Episode 6, “Five-O,” (one of the series’ best). “Talk” took him back to a state of humane vulnerability, still hurting over the loss of his son.
Maybe the most compelling story that Better Call Saul has told so far in Season 4 was Mike’s handling of Henry, a man that Mike believes to be lying about his experiences in the grief sharing group. When Mike is emotionally involved, he cannot stand for someone manipulating others the way Henry does.
Better Call Saul doesn’t always dive deep into the emotions of Mike Ehrmantraut, a stoic fixer. But when they do, it’s a masterclass in storytelling. Nothing changes about Mike or how he conducts himself, but they’re still able to create a richer character by exploring the loss of his son, and his love for his daughter-in-law and granddaughter.
Honestly, it’s beautiful. Especially knowing how things end for Mike.
Though the show is about Jimmy, he definitely plays second fiddle to Mike in “Talk.”
It deserves mention, though, that Jimmy took another (albeit, different) step toward the man we know as Saul Goodman. Since Jimmy has taken a temporary gig at a cell phone store, his plan to drum up more excitement for himself appeals to criminals needing multiple phones, and directly flashes us back (forward?) to Saul’s drawer full of burner phones.
“New job, new phone. You never know who’s listening.” – Ira
Better Call Saul continues to project confidence as it rolls ever closer to its parent show. The more that the stakes stand on their own, the more recognizable the show becomes.
Here are a few stray thoughts:
- The scene where Nacho watches while the Salamanca twins wreak havoc was absolutely incredible. Not showing everything they did just lends to the mystery and power behind those figures.
- Jimmy appears to be restless in a slow store, but there are worse things to do at work all day than throw a racquetball.
- I can’t help but relate so hard to Kim’s search for meaning in her career right now.
- This is the second straight episode without Howard, and I’m continually surprised at how much he is missed.
- Shout out to Marc Evan Jackson, the guy from every show I like.
- It seems to be up to the audience to decide whether Henry is actually lying or not. Is he?
What did you think of this episode of Better Call Saul? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Better Call Saul airs Mondays at 9/8c on AMC.
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Nick Hogan
Nick Hogan is an experienced podcaster and writer (particularly on media topics), who loves discussion and analysis of TV and is always looking for new shows to watch. He is also a parent who loves buffalo wings, blowing raspberries, and his beloved Cincinnati Reds.