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Better Call Saul

 To me, one of the most gripping episodes of "Better Call Saul" is "Bagman"; as others have noticed, the writing feels like Shakespeare.


Lalo Salamanca--a kind of Iago, without a conscience--finds himself in need of bail money. Specifically, he needs seven million dollars. He knows he can get this money from a cartel he is linked with, but he can't leave his cell to travel to the desert of New Mexico. So he sends his lawyer; he knows his lawyer craves cash and power; also, he doesn't really care if the lawyer is murdered. Lalo enjoys drama; a death would be intriguing, at least. Worse things could be imagined.

To mix "play metaphors," our Macbeth, our lawyer, Saul Goodman, tells his wife he is going to fulfill Lalo's command. ("To think! I could be a FRIEND OF THE CARTEL!") Mrs. Goodman has concerns--but there's no stopping Saul.

Saul picks up the cash--two massive duffle bags--and he begins his long, long trek back toward Albuquerque. Of course, thieves fall out; a spy within the cartel has alerted a rival gang about the money in transit; the rival gang attempts to murder Saul. Saul's escape--with the aid of a mysterious "friend"--takes over the remainder of the episode.

The showrunner, Vince Gilligan, loves plans that go wrong. ("You're safe till Burnham Wood comes to...." "No man born of woman will claim your crown....") In the desert, we have the murderers, we have the broken car, we have a limited water supply, we have one lone antagonist who waits until the Third Act. Most enjoyably, we have the issue of sore arms. Saul doesn't want to carry his big bags, so he decides he will drag the bags. Immediately, one entangles itself with a cactus; a hole begins to grow; money flies off into the sands. Saul's friend--the smarter, tougher half of this pair--rolls his eyes, grabs a file folder, and wedges it between the hole and the rest of the cash. We learn about character here: Saul is scrappy but impetuous, and his friend is simply brilliant. (Another time Gilligan shows character through a small gesture: Jesse Pinkman, riding in a desert, tries to fill his lonely hours by smooshing his face against a car window, in novel ways. Jesse becomes like a child. Unforgettable writing and acting.)

I have just about one hour to go in "Better Call Saul"; this series has filled a month for Marc and for me. I agree with Joyce Carol Oates that the show can be slow and repetitive, but the acting is worthy of a chef's kiss. I agree with Mark Harris that Rhea Seehorn should win a Best Lead Emmy, and the Best Supporting Emmy should go to Seehorn's left hand. (Watch that hand! It is so expressive!) I'm just happy to have this show in my life.
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