Better Call Saul Review: Wiedersehen (Season 4 Episode 9)
Previously unbeknownst to me, Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan has been away from the former while developing other projects this year. It may have been difficult for you to notice this, as it was for me.
Better Call Saul Season 4 Episode 9, “Wiedersehen,” however, was directed by Gilligan (something he’s done only a handful of times) and his presence is certainly felt, and has been sorely missed.
It feels appropriate to bring Gilligan in to direct an episode right as all hell breaks loose for pretty much every character. Jimmy’s law career hangs in the balance, Mike loses control over the construction project, and Gus is introduced to a wildcard (Lalo) that doesn’t bode well for his budding “business.”
A recurring theme on “Wiedersehen,” is men being trapped in their cages. Jimmy’s cage is his suspension. When his appeal hearing doesn’t go as planned, he lashes out like an animal in a cage they long to escape.
Werner’s trap is more obvious. He’s been working under close watch for months and he misses his wife (an understandable issue). His cage is quite a bit more literal, and so is his escape.
Then, there’s Hector. He’s trapped in the cage of his own, non-working body. This leads to the story of the iconic bell, and how he got it.
Nacho is even trapped by Lalo in a situation he didn’t want to be in.
Every single one of these stories combined makes for an exciting episode. There is a sense of urgency displayed on “Wiedersehen” that the 8 previous episodes (while compelling) didn’t quite match.
As a viewer, I’ve been itching for Mike to get into some real action instead of tense stand-offs with Kai. Though Mike hasn’t caught up to Werner, you know that he will and you know there will be hell to pay. I’m here for it.
Still, by far the most compelling story centers around Jimmy, Kim, and their legal careers versus their criminal careers. Slippin’ Jimmy desperately wants to become a lawyer again, but the committee deems him “insincere” in his appeal.
This story reveals passions that have been largely absent from the season at large, including Jimmy’s passion for his legal career and the passion in Jimmy and Kim’s relationship. Passionate couples fight, which we haven’t seen Kim and Jimmy do all year until “Wiedersehen.”
Ultimately, we know that Jimmy gets back to his law career in Breaking Bad, but practices under a different name. What remains to be seen is the role that Kim plays in that, and where she ends up during Breaking Bad. Which if you ask me, is the far more compelling question.
A few stray thoughts:
- The most tense scene of the whole episode was Gus meeting Lalo for the first time. You could argue that Gus was also trapped in a cage, because he could not unleash his true personality.
- Also, Giancarlo Esposito is downright terrifying sometimes.
- “Wiedersehen” also has some of the best acting we’ve seen all year from Bob Odenkirk.
- If you ask me, it’s about time for Howard Hamlin to intervene on Jimmy’s behalf? Right?
- I really want to know everyone’s theories on what happens to Kim before S2 of Breaking Bad. Is she practicing law but out of Jimmy’s life? Is she in jail? Dead?
- Of course, my finale wish-list is only one item long: I want Mike Ehrmantraut to beat somebody up.
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Better Call Saul airs Monday 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.