Better Call Saul (S5E08) -- "Bagman" -- 4/6/20
 

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/dvdtalk...8b129eae31.jpg

Re: Better Call Saul (S5E08) -- "Bagman" -- 4/6/20
 

Awesome, my favorite episode of the series.

After Jimmy drank the piss, I thought the camera was going to pan to Mike holding a couple jugs of water that he found in the trunk.

Re: Better Call Saul (S5E08) -- "Bagman" -- 4/6/20
 

I thought it was good until near the end. I hated how they handled the bait scene.

They need the car, correct? Why not keep Jimmy off the road and get the guy to get out of the car so Mike has the easy shot and they have the use of the car?

And just because they took him out doesn't mean that the roads are now clear to roam. Mike would know this.

It just seemed a lazy way to have a cool shot of the blazer flipping behind Jimmy's head.

Not to mention Mike should have been better prepared and it seemed out of character that he wasn't. The throwaway line of him thinking it wouldn't happen doesn't really absolve the writers of that. And Kim made the dumb move of going to the jail...just thought she would be smarter than that.

So...I loved the set up but thought the writers fucked up on several character traits.

Re: Better Call Saul (S5E08) -- "Bagman" -- 4/6/20
 

This had a Pine Barrens feel to it.

Re: Better Call Saul (S5E08) -- "Bagman" -- 4/6/20
 

No, it was much more “4 Days Out” the Season 2 Breaking Bad episode where Jessie accidentally kills the RV battery during a marathon cook session in the desert. This felt way too much like that. But just like that episode, this was intense and stressful. Very well done. Nice direction by Vince. Looking forward to listening to the podcast tomorrow.

Re: Better Call Saul (S5E08) -- "Bagman" -- 4/6/20
 

A little cliche'd and predictable and had a few flaws in characters decisions, but it was still enjoyable.

I guess they eventually got a cell signal and were able to call for help.

Re: Better Call Saul (S5E08) -- "Bagman" -- 4/6/20
 

^ We don’t yet know how they make it out. That will be next week.

Just read Alan Sepinwall’s recap on this episode and it’s a doozie. One of his longest ever. Lots of discussion of “4 Days Out” of course and lots of other stuff.

Two things I missed : The significance of the space blanket and why Jimmy wouldn’t use it at night, and how Mike kept track of Jimmy from a distance in this episode (it’s why he took off the gas cap before dumping the Esteem in a ravine).

Re: Better Call Saul (S5E08) -- "Bagman" -- 4/6/20
 

I picked both of those up and I love how this show throws stuff in without hitting you over the head about it. Just like in s5e6 when Det. Roberts is heard talking to someone on the phone about a possum under their porch, which is a story Jesse told during BB.

Re: Better Call Saul (S5E08) -- "Bagman" -- 4/6/20
 

Were there any indications who exactly was trying to steal the money?

Re: Better Call Saul (S5E08) -- "Bagman" -- 4/6/20
 

That's funny - I thought it was my least favorite episode of the series.
Too much like BB, not enough like BCS.

Re: Better Call Saul (S5E08) -- "Bagman" -- 4/6/20
 

Based on Twitter comments from some of the cast, I was expecting something huge to happen.

Good episode, but far from my favourite.

Re: Better Call Saul (S5E08) -- "Bagman" -- 4/6/20
 

I am curious to see how this gets explained to Lalo and the Salamancas. Obviously Jimmy didn't kill all those guys by himself and Lalo is a sworn enemy of Mike and Gus, so whatever the explanation is for his absence will be interesting.

On a related note, I saw in The Ringer's recap that the Season finale episode title will be :



Re: Better Call Saul (S5E08) -- "Bagman" -- 4/6/20
 

Now modeling the new Bell & Howell Tactical Golf Bag -- choice of all Navy SEALs and retired Philadelphia cops turned hitmen.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/dvdtalk...9d8155bb0b.jpg

Re: Better Call Saul (S5E08) -- "Bagman" -- 4/6/20
 

Behind the scenes for this episode

Re: Better Call Saul (S5E08) -- "Bagman" -- 4/6/20
 

Except for Kim, Jimmy did not tell anybody what he was doing that day, so is the explanation for Mike even being there that Mike is always following Jimmy around with survival gear and a sniper rifle?

The money drop-off was handled in Mexico, which would suggest to me that, while the robbery attempt was make in the US, it originated through a leak on the Mexico side of cartel business. From Lalo's perspective, the robbery would be a betrayal in his organization, and someone saving Jimmy would be a positive act on Lalo's behalf.

It is a problem that they have to explain or cover up that it was Mike, but how do they explain to Lalo's satisfaction that a protector was out there to begin with?

Re: Better Call Saul (S5E08) -- "Bagman" -- 4/6/20
 

Watch the opening again. A phone call is made after the twins leave with the money.

Re: Better Call Saul (S5E08) -- "Bagman" -- 4/6/20
 

...and I think the chances of Kim getting killed just went way up.

Re: Better Call Saul (S5E08) -- "Bagman" -- 4/6/20
 

I dunno. We know Jimmy, Gus and Mike (as well as some cartel) all survive the BCS world - so it would make sense that Kim would die close to the end of the series to have a major impact on the show.
The problem is that Kim dying would/should just break Jimmy, yet he continues on into BB like his world didn't just shatter a few weeks/months earlier. I don't think Jimmy's the type to just move on so easily after his wife gets killed - especially when he's at fault. I suspect Kim took off or is in witness protection or something, and that we'll see her again in the post-BB world at the end of BCS.

Re: Better Call Saul (S5E08) -- "Bagman" -- 4/6/20
 

That the biggest of all the big-picture questions regarding this show : Does Jimmy/Saul DESERVE a happy ending or even just resolution with Kim after what he's done?

Re: Better Call Saul (S5E08) -- "Bagman" -- 4/6/20
 

Good episode, but a letdown after the immense hype

Re: Better Call Saul (S5E08) -- "Bagman" -- 4/6/20
 

Deep down he has a soul. He felt really bad for that grieving family last week. I really hope there is some form of redemption for him. (Kind of like with Jesse.)

Re: Better Call Saul (S5E08) -- "Bagman" -- 4/6/20
 

Best ep of the season for me, really well done.. my Kim worry meter shot way up....

Re: Better Call Saul (S5E08) -- "Bagman" -- 4/6/20
 

is this Series worth watching?

Re: Better Call Saul (S5E08) -- "Bagman" -- 4/6/20
 

Absolutely. One of the best television shows of the past decade. But ONLY after finishing Breaking Bad. Though it is a prequel series, much of the enjoyment one will derive from it is predicated on knowing the Breaking Bad universe. It's like how Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is supposed to be set before Raiders but if you watched it first, you wouldn't get the reaching for the empty gun holster joke. This show is full of empty gun holster gags. It assumes you have seen all of Breaking Bad and have a good working knowledge of the world.

Re: Better Call Saul (S5E08) -- "Bagman" -- 4/6/20
 

I just don't understand how you can post $7M in bail in Cash?!?!?

There are Anti-Money-Laundering laws and Know-Your-Customer rules for banks - but I guess if you get busted the government is happy to take your illegal money and use it as a get out of jail free card.

Its crazy that you can show up with 2 huge duffel bags of $100 bills and the court clerk says "here's your receipt, and your next appearance date."