‘Better Call Saul’ Recap: ‘Winner’

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

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The point of no return. It’s a phrase that we have heard or will use at some point in our lives and there’s good reason for that, because such a point in our lives exists. It can flat out mean that we’ve made serious progress in our career goals and have reached a point where it’s success and nothing more from here on out. But often times, the phrase carries negative connotations with it, since there also comes a point where our life, or the life of someone else, is spiraling out of control and when we or they have hit that point, it’s all downhill from there and that phrase is on my mind today, because last night’s episode of Better Call Saul, ‘Winner’, saw several characters reach the point of no return when it comes to their respective journeys and nothing will ever be the same for them from here on out.
 
Take Mike for example. Because for some time now, he’s been walking the line between bad guy and good guy, and while he’s done questionable things in his past, and the present for that matter as well, he’s never quite given into the darkness surrounding him, and he’s always tried to throw people a bone and give them the benefit of the doubt when possible. But last night, Mike finally gave in and embraced his role as Gus Fring’s true right-hand man by conducting the hunt for Werner and dealing with the gentle German’s escape in the most brutal fashion imaginable, by putting the man down for his betrayal. And while he was still kind enough to help in keeping Werner’s beloved wife alive, the choice had indeed been made and there’s no going back to Mike’s old life, he’s a henchman from here on out.
 
But while Mike’s story was tragic in its own right as he finally crossed an important line, it was Jimmy McGill’s journey that took every incredible twist and turn imaginable as he too reached that proverbial point of no return and I’ll be honest, his actions in this episode were downright heartbreaking. Because in this story, Jimmy continued his powerhouse long con in order to get his law license back, going so as to take the time to ‘grieve’ at his brother’s grave so that people with ties to the state board could see his sincerity and he even wrote a check for twenty-three thousand dollars to dedicate a reading room to his brother at Hamlin, Hamlin and McGill to help in the effort of showing the entire world how much he cared about Charles and well, this sequence was quirky, yet tough to watch since Jimmy made it clear just how much none of this mattered in the end, all that mattered was being able to practice the law once again. 

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Yet, while one would think that such a long con was simply par for the course when it came to Jimmy, the true point of no return for this broken man was tied together by two key moments. Because part of the long con involved Jimmy serving on the board of the foundation that his brother left behind and while he was on the board, he saw an opportunity to give a young woman, who made a mistake with the law, such as he has on a few occasions, a second chance at life and becoming a lawyer, something that was staunchly shot down and well, that flat out broke him. Because he saw himself in her shoes, even going so far as to give her advice on how to handle her life and the system from here on out, when in reality, that advice was for himself, and seeing how she was treated and viewed reminded Jimmy of his own journey to this point, and his relationship with his brother and in one powerful isolated moment, we saw all of his pain and anguish come boiling to the surface and the genuine tears and stunning pain that Jimmy experienced led him to quite the decision.
 
One that at first, seemed noble and moving since Jimmy faced the state board with his head held high, and he was able to finally put together some eloquent and moving words in order to finally get his law license back. But as it turns out, Jimmy orchestrated all of this as part of the con, and he brought some members of the board to tears to get what he wanted and in that moment, we came to realize that Jimmy truly came to believe the words he told that young woman, in that, the system was rigged and the odds were always against him. Because he was Slippin’ Jimmy McGill, a man who would never be taken seriously as an honest and just lawyer, he would always be a joke, so it was time to give the system what it wanted and in a stunning and powerful moment, he made it clear that he was no longer going to practice under his given surname of McGill and just like that ladies and gents, the big moment arrived, and Saul Goodman was born. 
 
Yet, this grand moment, one that we’ve all been waiting for, fit the bill perfectly for ‘be careful what you wish for’. Because the birth of Saul was a painful and heartbreaking affair, since this alter ego was born out of revenge, and hate and a chance to stick it to the man and help the ‘little guy’ fight against a system that favors others, at least in Jimmy eyes. And to make matters worse, Saul arrives at quite the great cost as well. Because in creating this man, he’s also isolated the outright love of his life, and likely ruined their future together since it was clear in those closing moments that Kim Wexler realized what she had been party to and that Jimmy played her like a damn fiddle. But, the moment arrived none the less, and Jimmy McGill has reached the point of no return, and now his fate and his future are in the hands of one Saul Goodman…

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