BETTER CALL SAUL “RICO” Review

What will Jimmy get up to now that he no longer has the Kettleman case hanging in the background? Read on to find out.

The official description from AMC:

Jimmy demonstrates to Chuck that he’s willing to do almost anything to win a case, even if it means getting his hands dirty.

Better Call Saul is a show that I knew I was going to love, as having been a fan of Breaking Bad, and the character of Saul Goodman, I had faith in this spin-off. I never on the other hand expected this first season to be as awesome as it has, as though it has yet to match, let alone beat the sheer class of it’s parent show, I wouldn’t be surprised if it does so within the next couple of seasons. Until then, we are more than content to accept the current quality of episodes that the creative team is distributing, with “RICO” being yet another amazing feather in this very impressive cap.

Having decided to do “the right thing,” and give back the Kettleman’s hush money, Jimmy is back to square one, no longer having the money to buy his dream business offices. This leads to the eccentric lawyer going back to his current speciality, elder law, writing wills to pay the bills. As ever with Jimmy, things don’t stay quiet for long, as when he investigates the reasons a client is unable to pay, he realises that the nursing home in which she resides, Sandpiper Crossing, is overcharging her massively. This is all knitted together by a fantastic script from Gordon Smith, as though it’s not as intense or exciting as some of the earlier episodes, it was certainly intriguing. Where this episode truly excelled however, was in bringing Jimmy and brother, Chuck, together, with the magnitude of this elaborate case bringing the “electro sensitive” lawyer out of his skin.

The chemistry that comes from the acting of Bob Odenkirk (Jimmy McGill/Saul Goodman) and Michael McKean (Chuck McGill) does a lot to help this development stand out, with the brash confidence of Odenkirk, and humble, scepticism of McKean complementing one another perfectly. As the episode moves forward, it’s McKean that starts to steal the show, with the drastic changes within his character being conveyed brilliantly. Sandpiper Crossing’s representing attorney, Rick Schweikart (Dennis Boutsikaris) also manages to bring a dramatic flair, with his familiarity towards Chuck, and optimism regarding the case, making for the perfect person to oppose the McGill brother. In other developments, Jonathan Banks (Mike Ehrmantraut) continues to prove a worthy addition to this show, with the dramatic interaction between Mike and daughter in law, Stacy (Kerry Condon), allowing for an immersive side story.

Better Call Saul is a show that everyone needs to try at least once, with it being in this fanboy’s opinion, TV gold. Bringing brothers together, “RICO” is sure to be the foundations on which Jimmy’s future transition into Saul is built on, with the outcome of this case having the potential to deliver shocking twists. The backstory featuring Mike is also something that will intrigue Breaking Bad fans, with there being great prospect to it’s future.