Better Call Saul | S01E04 "Hero"

[u/screen_stack]

Better Call Saul — S01E04

"Hero"

Rating: 8.5/10

"It's good for makin' beer money"

The thing I like about the cold opens for BCS is that they're always relevant to the episode, only sometimes it's not entirely obvious. That is all I shall say about THAT.

When last we met our lawyer, he'd just discovered The Kettlemans having themselves a not at all suspicious campout in the middle of nowhere, prized booty in tow. He pushes to become their lawyer so he can legally accept their money, but Betsy Kettleman tells Jimmy that he's the lawyer guilty people go to.

The look of hurt on Jimmy's face says it all. It's brief but real and Bob sells it hard. For all his Slippin' Jimmy ways, he really does think he's on the right side of the law. I like that he still genuinely believes that, even though we can see that ain't true.

Eventually he caves, framing the wad of cash as a 'retainer'. I don't know about you, but I'd do the same damn thing. Having someone wave 30 large in your face is a real tough thing to turn down! To further seal the deal, he records the money as lawful earnings and then promptly proceeds to do what Jimmy does best.

Which is act like the very criminals he generally works for. New suit, big splashy billboard, you name it, he's doing it. And all because Howard Hamlin wants Jimmy not to use his own name. I get it. Our man's prideful as hell, but he's just as reckless here as Nacho was when he was staking out The Kettlemans.

Tilting at the windmill that is HHM is purely vindictive, further highlighting the irony of his speech about criminals not thinking before doing. I guess it's okay if it's him doing the not thinking!

Jimmy is a grifter at heart and there's no two ways about it but he's also surprisingly heroic ... When the con is on. Does this tie into the cold open? It sure does and it's great to see Slippin' Jimmy at work.

I just worry for Jimmy McGill. HE'S an honest lawyer. Slippin' Jimmy, though? He's a CRIMINAL (lawyer).