Better Call Saul Review: 50% Off (Season 5 Episode 2)
Jimmy and Nacho dig deeper into their respective worlds and find success in their gambles on Better Call Saul Season 5 Episode 2, “50% Off.”
The drastic measures both men make to cement their place may be settling them into a world they may not be entirely built for. Jimmy’s descent into Saul Goodman is littered with undesirable attention, as he realizes at the end of the episode, and Nacho’s descent into winning over Lalo’s trust and confidence is placing a need to satisfy Gus that may be unsustainable.
The episode does a wonderful job of escalation, where the easing of tension during Better Call Saul Season 5 Episode 1, “Magic Man,” is nothing more than the start of a cold war. While Nacho may have a shaky start in winning over Lalo’s trust, it’s with Jimmy and Kim where the picture is less clear.
The open house represents Jimmy’s attempt to win Kim over by showing the possibilities of their newfound success. But what he isn’t realizing is that their issue may not be as simple as closet space or a disagreement over handling a client; their issues cross into fundamental differences in law, and the ethical way to advocate for it. Kim sees the law as a tool for good; Jimmy sees it as a tool to exploit.
But they are both giving things a shot, despite Kim’s reservations. That history they share, and all of the ups and downs that come with it, is what makes their bond so interesting. Let’s just hope Saul Goodman doesn’t get in the way of Jimmy’s attempts at fixing things.
Kim accepts his promises to never do certain things again with some positivity, but the show hasn’t given us a proper check-in with Kim this season yet, so perhaps there is more to see coming up.
Saul’s case load is like Jimmy’s Huell save from Better Call Saul Season 4 Episode 8, “Coushatta,” but on steroids. Everything is up for negotiation or to be massaged to the point where negotiation is possible. When the elevator gets stuck with Suzanne, our immediate reaction is to think that Jimmy caused this, and we’d be right.
But it’s somewhat of a double-edged sword, as Jimmy is advocating for his clients and helping them in any way he can. It’s this conundrum of Jimmy doing a good job for those who need it, but he’s undercutting the success with cheap tricks, tainting what should be a win.
The entire sequence at the courthouse is packed with details that show how Jimmy views everyone he now must deal with. It’s Suzanne who is the most formidable to him, as he spends his time in the hallway practicing his speech to win her over while he makes easy moves to shut down competitors. It’s Suzanne who he decides to lock in an elevator with him, since he knows she will prove most difficult to convince.
It’s a clever switcheroo, to make the person good at their job a nemesis of sorts for Saul.
When Nacho’s father is threatened, there is this distinct feeling it evokes that Breaking Bad fans may remember: the scene echoes Jesse watching Andrea get murdered on Breaking Bad Season 5 Episode 15, “Granite State.” The knowledge of how that scene plays out makes Nacho’s reaction just like ours, as it’s almost like resistance is futile, and there is no hope beyond doing as you’re told.
But the moment is like a lightning rod for Nacho, as he continues to show how useful he is under pressure. The problem with Gus wanting Nacho to spy on Lalo is the fact that Lalo is a little more than unpredictable, and placing any trust or security onto him is like tying one’s hopes to a shark: in the end, it’s more likely to be eaten than to benefit.
But for now, sneaking into the house to save the product and promising to deal with Krazy 8’s arrest by bringing in Jimmy appears to be working in Nacho’s favor. It can be difficult to tell, with the unnerving long stares that Lalo provides when he’s reading someone, but there’s at least some progress.
The problem comes through Naco being stuck between a rock and a hard place, and there’s not much left but to hope either the rock or the hard place don’t exist soon (and given Breaking Bad, we know at least one of those will continue on).
Mike’s temper is something that’s been mostly implied than overtly shown, making his flare-up at Kaylee a sign that Mike is heading down a dark path. Mike has definitely been more than a little annoyed on Breaking Bad, mostly with Walt, and has provided choice words for Werner’s men during the fourth season of Better Call Saul; but to berate the person he cares the most about is an unexpected turn.
His son Matt is a touchy subject, to be sure, but Kaylee is coming from the angle of a curious child wanting to know more about her father, and Mike is only seeing the pain these questions are causing. Perhaps he’s even equating what happened to Werner to what happened with his son: a good man making a mistake and paying the ultimate consequence. It’s eating him up inside and taking away the only brightness in his life.
Better Call Saul Season 5 Episode 2, “50% Off,” is a spirited return to a status quo, but with Jimmy now riding off to a massive challenge (how can he get drugs landing at Krazy 8’s feet off as a misunderstanding?) and Mike now lost to his misery, this is becoming a grim status quo.
The episode is a case of its characters digging holes for themselves where climbing out is no longer an option. They’re in too deep, and the only way out is to either keep digging, or to start looking for help. Maybe Jimmy is Nacho’s means of help, and there will be more to his potential proposal. But for now, no one is looking to come out of this clean.
Some stray thoughts on the episode:
- The two knuckleheads going on an epic tour of crime while shouting about Saul’s discount is one of the best uses of electrically-charged filmmaking the show has done in some time. It’s sparingly used until utterly necessary, and watching their increasing descent into disorganized chaos is so much fun. It’s a shame about the gnome, though.
- Howard’s appearance is more energized than the last time we see him, so maybe Jimmy’s tough love worked. It will be interesting to see what he plans to offer Jimmy, now that he looks to be back on his feet. Will it be revenge for the “cross to bear” line from Better Call Saul Season 4 Episode 1, “Smoke,” that left a mark, or will it be civil?
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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Kevin Lever
Kevin Lever has been following television closely for most of his life, but in starting to cover it, he has grown a further appreciation. He strives to give the blockbusters their due, and give the lesser known shows a spotlight to find more fans.