TV Review: Better Call Saul – Season Two – Episode 10 (Season Finale)

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 2, Episode 10: Klick

PLOT: Jimmy (Bob Odenkirk) wrestles with guilt over the effect his latest scam has on his brother Chuck (Michael McKean), while Mike (Jonathan Banks) arranges a hit on Hector Salamanca (Mark Margolis).

REVIEW: Leading up to the season finale, there’s been a lot of speculation about how Vince Gilligan (who directed this week’s ep) and show-runner Peter Gould were going to end the wildly acclaimed second season of Better Call Saul. Many fans seemed to think Gus Fring would somehow be worked-in for the third season and while the resolution of Mike’s story-line in this episode certainly suggests that may well happen at some point, it’s clear that’s not territory Gilligan and Gould are in a rush to get into. After all, they already did that show. With both of them going on record saying how much they like Jimmy as a character, rather than Saul Goodman, by the time the credits roll on season two he’s still firmly in Jimmy McGill territory. That said, it’s the better side of Jimmy’s nature that’s clearly going to send him down this dark path, with him unburdening himself to Chuck as a means to keep his brother from going-off the deep end clearly leading to some shaky ground for him and Kim (Rhea Seehorn) next season.

In many ways, this was Chuck’s episode. My theory, that Chuck was dead or somehow permanently altered, wound-up being totally wrong. Even still, the relationship between the brothers has hit a breaking point, although the teaser, where Chuck bristles at his dying mother calling out for Jimmy even when Chuck’s the only one there for her when she’s on her death-bed, speaks volumes about his huge resentment for Jimmy. Unlike Chuck, Jimmy doesn’t need to work hard to win friends or clients. His “moxie” (as put by one of Jimmy’s elderly clients in his TV spot) is the only asset he needs – or at least the only asset Chuck thinks Jimmy needs.

My theory is that Chuck, having now recorded Jimmy admitting to fraud, with try to get him disbarred (or possibly locked-up) with Kim being collateral damage. Obviously Jimmy will emerge unscathed, but logically, it’s this perceived betrayal that’s going to push him into the amoral shoes of Saul Goodman, and I imagine that will be season three’s arc, although I’m just as intrigued to see what Kim’s involvement with all this will be.

As for Mike, it’s interesting that his murderous plot against Hector is motivated by him wanting to save the truck driver he spared last week, although he’s unable to rescue him due to Nacho (Michael Mando) blocking his shot. Even though Nacho’s not much better than Hector, to Mike he’s still someone worthy of saving, so as much as Jimmy’s not Saul yet, Mike hasn’t become the cartel hardened bad-ass we see in Breaking Bad.

Breaking Bad Crossover: Mike is distracted in his mission by his car horn being honked, and when he goes back to see what the problem is, he finds a note saying “don’t.” Clearly this is a message from someone wanting to use him – maybe even Gus – but I assume we’ll have to wait awhile to be sure. While I’m almost always wrong in my assumptions about the show, my guess is Mike’s gun dealer (Jim Beaver) tipped-off Gus, with him feeling that Mike was capable enough that he could be a valuable asset for the cartel. Overall, this was a damn fine end to an amazing season. By this point, Better Call Saul is so distinct from BB that next season I may do-away with this BB crossover section.