'Better Call Saul' Recap: 'Something Stupid'

written by John Edward Betancourt

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When it comes to every television series out there, there is quite the laundry list as to what exactly will keep a show fresh and invigorating for audiences, allowing for said series to enjoy one heck of a run. But of the many things on that list, one that ranks highly for me is the ability for a series to continue to surprise its audience and keep us guessing. Because in doing so, it means the show is taking risks with its storylines in a world where formula and the least path of resistance are king, and if there’s one show that still continues to find ways to take risks and surprise me every single step of the way, it’s Better Call Saul.
 
Because this series consistently leaves my jaw on the floor with plot twists that I don’t see coming and last night’s episode of the show, ‘Something Stupid’, is one that stunned me once again by sending quite a few unexpected surprises my way. Case in point, the fact that it performed a time jump for our characters right before our eyes, which was…genius in its own right. After all, most shows wait until a season finale to advance the plot forward in time, but here we were, watching time fly by for both Jimmy and Kim, allowing for Jimmy’s probation to come to a close and we also able to bear witness to the unthinkable in the process…by watching this dynamic couple begin to grow apart.
 
Yet what made this opening sequence so brilliant, is that it was able to show these two moving in separate directions without an ounce of exposition or heavy dialogue. We simply saw Kim fulfilling some life-long dreams as she enjoyed great success in her new role at Schweikart and Cokely all while helping people as a pro bono public defender, while Jimmy…stayed Jimmy. He sold his burner phones with Huell, screwed around at work and in essence stayed in a rut and it was both fascinating and heartbreaking to watch these two lovebirds grow apart over the course of roughly a year and come to realize that this divide was going to cause trouble for them down the line, and boy…did it ever. 
 
Because Jimmy struggled with Kim’s success, whether he wanted to acknowledge it or not. She was the hot shot lawyer now that she always said she was going to become, and her fancy office and accolades no doubt reminded him of Chuck, and what he thought of Jimmy and all those insecurities about his career coming to a screeching halt seemed to bubble to the surface at a company gathering he was invited to and it allowed for Jimmy to unleash his inner jerk and humiliate Kim’s boss in the most creative of ways, by in essence putting Richard on the spot in front of his employees and while it seemed like nothing more than harmless spit balling, it was obvious to Kim and Richard that Jimmy was out of line and insulting Richard with zest and zeal.

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​Yet while that may not seem that shocking and par for the course for a man still struggling with some demons, have no fear, Jimmy made sure to up his game in this episode. Because his side gig, which we learned was all part of his plan to return to practicing law, blew up in his face in this tale, since the law got involved after Albuquerque P.D. came to discover that a ‘Saul Goodman’ was selling burner phones to criminals, and a heated confrontation between Jimmy and a plainclothes detective ended in disaster when Huell took the wrong kind of initiative and knocked the officer down with a bag of sandwiches and quickly found himself facing some serious charges from the District Attorney’s office.
 
Which of course, put that sparkle in Jimmy’s eyes, because this posed a challenge, one he believed he could overcome. But it would take some serious effort for him to jump that hurdle without a law license and he sought out Kim’s help instead, offering up one sneaky and deceitful plan to get Huell off the hook, something that Kim wanted no part of. She wanted to do this with honesty and integrity, and unfortunately for her, the straight arrow path, revealed some unfortunate truths about her darling Jimmy, in that he is already viewed as a scumbag and a failure and well, knowing full well that without her help Jimmy will do something rash, Kim agrees to step in and act and that’s where this tale leaves us, with Kim doing Jimmy a solid once again and with this duo facing an uncertain future…
 
If anything, this episode felt prophetic and really, that was part of its magic. Because we know full well that at some point this couple will part ways since Saul works alone and this appeared to be the genesis of that and kudos to the show for showing us a relationship on the brink since few shows go there and for reminding us that Kim really does love Jimmy since she’s willing to put her neck on the line for him once again. But no good can come of this latest bail out from Kim, and considering how the Breaking Bad timeline draws closer now more than ever thanks to Mike and Gus’ journeys, the strain and this case, could be the last straw for Kim. Either way, this episode was brilliant to say the least, and I love how it kept me on my toes and that it showed us how Jimmy is slowly letting his pain and anger take over as he draws ever closer to his transformation into Saul. Until next time.   

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