Better Call Saul Review: Magic Man (Season 5 Episode 1)

Change is in the air, but it may not be for the better on Better Call Saul Season 5 Episode 1, “Magic Man.”

The “present” day sequence finds the return of the taxi driver from Better Call Saul Season 4 Episode 1, “Smoke.” His recognition of Gene, as it turns out, is very much a real thing. Donald Patrick Harvey’s character has the kind of personality that Saul could have represented in the past, and his adamance that Saul admit who is is easily the most tense moment of the episode.

All of that time on the run, hiding as Gene Takavic, may now be for nothing. He didn’t escape far enough, and perhaps never can. But the strangeness of the situation is that the stare from that episode is not quite nefarious, but one almost of admiration. That moment at the bench in the mall could go any which way, with the risk of the cab driver wearing a wire or it’s someone Jimmy screwed over in the past.

What Gene could possibly do next is something that will be painful to wait another entire season for. He’s clearly done running, and the risk he takes saying Saul’s catchphrase when there’s the possibility the police are so close, listening in, is a sign that Jimmy/Saul/Gene doesn’t care about consequences anymore.

Perhaps he’s taking a page from Walter White, and plans one last hurrah as Saul Goodman. He could talk his way out of the situation, and it could be his big chance to take back that shining light he’s put aside. But it could also be his undoing, the hubris of thinking he can talk his way out of anything.

The entire sequence is a strong metaphor of Gene being the anti-Saul, a quiet, unassuming soul that wants nothing more than to blend in. Compare that to Saul, whose flashy orange shirts and loud personality draws all air in the room to him. But the flighty nature of his current life, where every look, mishap, and concern may lead back to the past, may leave Gene needing that Saul persona to dig him out again.

A standout of the episode is the filmmaking. The frame catches the smallest of things throughout the opening sequence, like the way the snow gradually blows off the car windshield to reveal what’s outside, the lonely image of Gene and his car at the mall parking lot, and especially the tight framing of Gene’s gaze as he does a threat assessment in the mall. They all work together to brilliantly make everything feel like a threat.

The rest of the episode feels like a conclusion to the fourth season more than a starting step for what’s to come, but that isn’t a bad thing whatsoever. The fourth season left some doors open, and this episode effortlessly closes them with brilliant precision.

Jimmy embraces his Saul Goodman persona with open arms, and while it’s a fantastic change of pace to see Jimmy finally getting what he wants, it does come at a cost. His relationship with Kim feels like it’s on a razor’s edge, where all of the effort to rehabilitate his image at the end of last season is all for naught because Jimmy learned nothing.

After Jimmy calls the decision board a bunch of “suckers” and drops the legacy the McGill name holds, Kim is starting to see that questionable side she purposely kept herself from seeing. There’s no longer any facade of partnership between Jimmy and Kim, as it has been before; the decision to become Saul and defend the less favorable of Alburquerque is the death knell of that pretext.

To be fair to Jimmy, though, he knows how to sell himself. His attempts at drumming up business are fairly brilliant ways of drawing attention to himself, but the unfortunate side effect is that it’s likely to put his name into worlds he may not be ready for.

But the real moment of clarity is when Jimmy refuses to take no for an answer on behalf of scamming Kim’s client. Rhea Seehorn plays the scene with such a heavy heart as the badgering for Kim to play along becomes almost like a drug for Jimmy, this need to insert himself into questionable territory.

Kim’s final moment, in the stairwell and at a loss, feels different than the other times she’s scraped along the edges of law, as those times come with the need for creativity to help Jimmy out; this time, there’s no need for her to lie to her client, but the fact that she does, and even worse that it works, is likely making her question her entire worldview.

If cheating, of a kind, gets better results, what’s the point? It’s a hard point for Kim to face, but a fascinating direction to take her character, as Saul Goodman is only getting started and she has a front row seat.

Mike’s descent into darkness leaves him boiling and showing a side of himself that he’s done well to keep on the sidelines for a while. There are flare-ups, like on Better Call Saul Season 4 Episode 4, “Talk,” with the grief counseling when the memory of his son is questioned, but murdering Werner appears to be that raw nerve Mike is not ready to deal with.

He punches Kai when Werner’s memory is tainted, and accepts the harsh words when Werner is praised. He feels the evil he has committed, and it’s something he clearly holds over Gus with how quickly he turns down the retainer fee and the possibility of new work. The damage is done, and a good man is taken.

But Mike may find an outlet for his anger with Lalo’s deep interest in him. Their cat and mouse game on Better Call Saul Season 4 Episode 10, “Winner,” appears to have left quite the impression on Lalo, as he sees how capable Mike is and may be out to either take his expertise off the table or, less likely, try and woo him to his side.

Mike doesn’t look too enthused by him, however, so maybe their shaky handshake is the start of a cold war. Nacho could be a mediator of sorts, to keep Lalo occupied. But Lalo is the kind of loose cannon that the show does wonders with, and given how determined he is, this isn’t going to end well for anyone.

Better Call Saul Season 5 Episode 1, “Magic Man,” is a remarkable premiere that accomplishes its goal of solidifying Saul Goodman into the Alburquerque consciousness while never taking that fact for granted. Jimmy has a long way to go still, but he’s certainly on the track toward Breaking Bad. His descent has a peculiar sense of optimism to it, as the reality isn’t setting in yet.

Kim is becoming the most tragic figure of the show, her guilt by association so palpable with Seehorn’s performance.

Better Call Saul has always been about a descent into darkness, but now that Saul Goodman is officially here in a legal capacity, that darkness feels ever closer. At least getting to that darkness is a whole lot of fun.

Some stray thoughts on the episode:

• Robert Forster’s appearance is such a wonderful surprise. He’s such a vital supporting character to the survival of every major character, whether it’s Jimmy and Walt back on Breaking Bad and Jesse on El Camino. This is likely his final appearance on the show, but it’s always great to see him.

 

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Better Call Saul airs Mondays at 9/8c on AMC.

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