Better Call Saul Review: Namaste (Season 5 Episode 4)

Everyone wants in on Saul Goodman’s brand of justice on Better Call Saul Season 5 Episode 4, “Namaste,” but with great success comes options.

That old version of Jimmy McGill can’t help himself with finding heavy but throwable projectiles, a sign that Slippin’ Jimmy may just be Saul Goodman with a fresh coat of paint rather than a new and improved version. But after all of the trouble Howard’s caused Jimmy over the years, one can’t entirely fault him for wanting perfect bowling aim.

Howard is a reminder of that painful past he’s trying to shed, and a job offer, now that Saul is back in business and booming, lands like a great thud. It’s likely Howard’s new line of life that caused this rule of acceptance and kindness, to the point even his license plate proclaims a more solemn, calm lifestyle.

But Jimmy isn’t interested in new outlooks and people changing; rather, he’s interested in being his own man. Joining Howard’s firm, with the baggage the McGill name carries, is a harsh reminder of all of Jimmy’s inadequacies and the legacy his brother has created while tainting Jimmy’s along the way. It’s a kind gesture, but far too late down the road after so much anger has been spilled.

Besides, Jimmy is doing wonderfully with tricking witnesses on the stand and getting his clients lower sentences. It may be a tad sleazy and unorthodox, but it gets the desired result, so who’s to judge?

Kim, however, still has a firm hold of her conscience. Even the shattered beer bottles that closed out Better Call Saul Season 5 Episode 3, “The Guy For This,” are not something she can live with. Goodness runs through her entirely, so much so that she isn’t willing to accept a man being run out of his home, law be damned.

It’s been clear for a while now that Kim would have the urge to use some good old Saul Goodman tactics to clear up the Mesa Verde mess, but to essentially pit herself against Saul to protect the homeowner is certainly a creative move. While it may be unethical for her work, it’s selfless and kindness to help an elderly man.

It will come down to having to throw the legal battle to Saul’s favor, even though she’s representing a powerful banking division, making Saul’s David and Goliath reference to Howard a very real thing he’s about to endure. There’s this sense that Jimmy won’t be able to help himself and may do things off the cuff that will eventually hurt Kim, but hopefully Jimmy isn’t so far into becoming Saul to let that happen.

The reaction to the picture with the man and the horse is a stroke of genius, and one of the most hysterical moments the show has done in quite some time. The Mesa Verde logo of the man and the horse won’t ever be the same now.

The perfectionist mannerisms of Gus when he can feel a loss is one of the most interesting character portrayals both Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad has done. There is something methodical and almost unnerving about his need to make sure the fryer is clean, reminding of the moment with the box cutter during Breaking Bad: this compulsive need for everything to be perfect no matter the circumstance.

This is eating him, having to hand over so much money just to appease the Salamanca crowd. But as we know about Gus, this is something he will hold inside and wait for the right time to strike back. Perhaps the payback is occurring during Breaking Bad, or perhaps it will occur before then on this show. Either way, the Salamanca crew don’t know what they have started.

This all gives a win to Hank and Steve, too, which is a nice little windfall for their endeavors.

But poor Lyle doesn’t deserve to be worked so hard, especially for just “acceptable.” He doesn’t work for Los Pollos Hermanos during Breaking Bad (at least, not at the location Gus headquarters out of), so maybe the underappreciation reaches a particular point. Let’s hope it’s that and not another Lalo vent situation.

Mike, however, is not having such a great time. He’s still looking to be punished and have the guilt beat out of him over Werner, but to be fair, he definitely holds his own against a large number of enemies. The knife is such a sudden, jarring moment, and the way the scene cuts out at that exact impact is a great way to show how much pain and brutality Mike can take before there is simply too much.

But there is now the question of where he is when he wakes up. The first thought is to Gus, as it’s a somewhat similar location to when Mike, Gus, and Jesse are down in Mexico during Breaking Bad’s fourth season. But it could also be Lalo, looking to turn Mike to his side and to pump him for information about the building project.

Either way, Mike owes somebody now, and he won’t be happy about that.

Better Call Saul Season 5 Episode 4, “Namaste,” wants to promise people better lives, but their actions don’t necessarily help them get there. Jimmy may be the one with the most figured out now, and while no one should follow his lead, it’s understandable for Kim to want some of that magic on her side when doing the right thing only goes so far. It’s another exceptional episode, and sets up a great (fake) battle ahead between Jimmy and Kim.

 

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

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