TV Review: Better Call Saul: Episode 9: Pimento (Spoilers)

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

This recap/review of Better Call Saul is written with the expectation that everyone who reads this and comments below will have seen the episode already. Thus, if you’ve yet to see the episode in question, DO NOT GO ANY FURTHER. SPOILERS!

EPISODE: Season 1, Episode 9: Pimento

PLOT: Jimmy (Bob Odenkirk) is pressured by his brother to bring his RICO case against Sandpiper Crossing to Hamlin Hamlin & McGill. Meanwhile, Mike (Jonathan Banks) takes on a new line of work.

REVIEW: If the first season of Better Call Saul has been all about the evolution (or de-evolution) of Jimmy McGill into Saul Goodman, the penultimate episode of the season just gave us the biggest piece of the puzzle yet. The second Jimmy brought Chuck (Michael McKean) into the Sandpiper case, it was obvious that his brother’s loyalty to HHM would put him at odds with Jimmy. Once Chuck started showing signs of recovery from his illness, it was inevitable the two would find themselves at odds, especially now that Chuck doesn’t really need Jimmy anymore (or so it seems).

What makes things all the more tragic for Jimmy are his good intentions. Even after all of his battles with Hamlin (Patrick Fabian) he was still willing to play ball with HHM. Through it all, it seems he just wants the respectability that comes with HHM and to be on the same level as his brother and Kim (Rhea Seehorn). Hamlin quickly shoots him down, so harshly that Kim later confronts her boss on Jimmy’s behalf, only to make an about-face and urge Jimmy to take HHM’s deal. What she clearly already knows is that as much as Hamlin dislikes Jimmy, it’s not even close to how little regard his own brother has for him.

The episode comes to a heartbreaking conclusion when Jimmy finally has it out with his brother who says that he’ll always think of him as Slippin’ Jimmy, and that he was happy having him in the mail-room, but that with a law degree he’s like a chimp with a machine gun. What’s doubly tragic is that everything Chuck says about him winds up coming true before long, with his words sending Jimmy into a tale-spin which will likely lead to him taking the Saul Goodman moniker before the end credits roll on the last episode of the season.

At the same time, we also got a few great scenes with Mike, as he expertly takes down two wannabe tough guy bodyguards. His actions protecting his meek charge bring him face to face with Michael Mando’s long-MIA Nacho, with Mike already knowing all about him Nacho’s going behind Tuco’s back by dealing pharmaceuticals. This should pay off big time – if not next week that at least next season – although we’ll see. Anyone think we might get a Gus Fring cameo?

Once again, Better Call Saul is well on its way to establishing itself as a classic, totally separate from Breaking Bad, although they share a few key things in common, most important being that both just happen to tell great stories with compelling characters. I can’t wait to see what the finale has in store.

Breaking Bad Crossover: Nada, although Mike seemed to be in full-on Breaking Bad mode.