Jackson Ball reviews the fifth episode of Better Call Saul…
As we move into episode five of Better Call Saul, titled ‘Alpine Shepherd Boy, the series enters that crucial point: the difficult mid-season. Even the best television shows – including its predecessor Breaking Bad – tend to suffer a lull towards the season’s halfway point. Sadly it seems as though this show is no exception.
Warning! Spoilers Ahead – You have been warned!
In this week’s episode, we see Jimmy (Bob Odenkirk) trying to generate some business as a result of his publicity stunt in episode 4. This entails him jumping from one hapless ‘client’ to the next, each more ridiculous and eccentric than the last.
Sound familiar?
It’s not that these scenes aren’t entertaining; they are, and clearly show off Odenkirk’s array of charm and humour. Only, 5 episodes in and it feels like we are going around in circles. We’ve seen this: Episode 1 it was the lads that sexually violated a decapitate head; Episode 3 was the Kettlemans camping out in the woods; and now we have a wealthy New Mexican looking to start his own country and an elderly woman whose will consists entirely of miniature figurines.
And they all end the same way: with Jimmy gaining little-to-no benefit. To be fair, I can understand how Jimmy feels in that sense, as these scenes offer the audience little-to-no benefit also, failing to push the series narrative with any real conviction.
It’s a dry patch for the show but, as I said in the introduction, it’s something that happens to best of them. Having said that, the next few episode will be crucial; it is time for Better Call Saul to discover its purpose, its direction.
Jackson Ball – follow me on Twitter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL18yMRIfoszH_jfuJoo8HCG1-lGjvfH2F&v=SMekjOsexHs&feature=player_embedded
Originally published March 6, 2015. Updated April 13, 2018.
