The second season of Better Call Saul has finally landed, and done so in a typically character-driven way. Starting off in a black-and-white present, we see the current Cinnabon-managing Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk) looking more like a particularly ragged Jim Gordon in very convincing old-age makeup. As he locks himself in a mall trash room, the action then jumps right where we left off last season: It seems the (SPOILER?) death of his old pal and fellow con-man Marco (Mel Rodriguez) left Jimmy in a state of reassessment and this episode takes its time reacquainting us with our favorite crooked lawyer…
Elsewhere, we are reintroduced to Mike Erhmentraut (Jonathan Banks), who not only bears witness to Jimmy’s self-actualization, but also cuts his ties with an inept, amateur drug dealer (played by a nebbish Mark Proksch) as well; I mean–his gaudy, loud, wildly conspicuous choice of ride would raise a series of red flags to even me. We revisit this character, Daniel Warmolt, throughout the episode, and, judging by what happens to him, he’ll probably grow to be one of the major recurring characters for at least this season.
What this show — and its predecessor — does so well is take its time with its characters, and allows a bit of indulgence that doesn’t seem at all pretentious. The show still looks gorgeous, and is just as gorgeously, classically framed. Hell, the framing of Jimmy near the end of the episode, under-cranked (as he is about to enter David & Main law firm), is beautiful enough to be framed.
This establishment of mood, tone, and environment makes Better Call Saul one of the better character-based dramas on television right now. To say nothing of Odenkirk’s continued charm and wry humor, and his easy chemistry with Rhea Seehorn’s Kim Wexler… Theirs is a relationship that is at once friendly, adversarial, professional, and physical. She isn’t just ONE type of character–as in just a lover, just a career woman, etc. They often play these different aspects of their relationship from one line to the next.
The writing is top-notch this time out as well, although not as sharply-witted as the last few episodes of the previous season. The highlight was watching Jimmy and Kim cooperate to simultaneously finagle a free bottle of obscenely priced tequila while humiliating a loud, obnoxious yuppie banker bro to boot.
If there is one downside to this opener, it’s that we don’t see Jimmy do much (yes, that is the point, as he is suffering through an existential malaise…but it still doesn’t make for riveting drama). And while the episode ends with what is undoubtedly a high-point for the character, it goes without saying that it won’t last. Taking a slow pace to reorient ourselves to these characters won’t keep me (or many others, I’m sure) from watching; but hopefully next week will pick up the pace a bit and not spend so much time floating in the pool.
And, damn, if this show doesn’t make me want to eat nothing but Cinnabons.
