Smoke (''Better Call Saul'')

"Smoke"
Better Call Saul episode
Episode no. Season 4
Episode 1
Directed by Minkie Spiro
Written by Peter Gould
Featured music "We Three (My Echo, My Shadow and Me)" by The Ink Spots
Original air date August 6, 2018 (2018-08-06)
Running time 46 minutes
Guest appearance(s)

"Smoke" is the fourth season premiere of the AMC television series Better Call Saul, the spinoff series of Breaking Bad. The episode aired on August 6, 2018 on AMC in the United States.[1][2]

Plot

Teaser

In the present, following the introductory scenes of "Mabel", "Gene" collapses at the Cinnabon in Omaha, Nebraska and is taken to the hospital. The doctors affirm that Gene did not suffer a heart attack and is fit to leave. Gene is nervous when the hospital receptionist appears to have problems verifying his drivers' license and Social Security numbers. On his taxi ride home, Gene becomes more uneasy when the driver makes lingering eye contact with him and he sees an Albuquerque Isotopes air freshener hanging from the rear view mirror. Gene gets out of the taxi before reaching his home and quickly walks away.

Main story

Picking up from the end of "Lantern", Jimmy and Kim receive a call from Howard the following morning and learn about the fire Chuck deliberately started. They race to the ruins of the house and arrive just as the medical examiner's van drives off with Chuck's body. Jimmy tells Kim that Chuck seemed well five days prior, and showed no signs of his electromagnetic hypersensitivity. Jimmy also notices that all of Chuck's home appliances had been stacked outside his house before the fire was set, indicating that Chuck had relapsed. Despite Kim's efforts, Jimmy falls into a deep depression, which is exacerbated by Howard reading aloud a draft of Chuck's obituary that is filled with his numerous accomplishments.

Mike receives his first payment from Madrigal Electromotive for his role as a contracted "security consultant", which Gus arranged to launder the money Mike stole from the Salamancas. Though it's supposed to be a paper transaction, Mike decides to embrace the role, and easily gains access to a secured Madrigal office and warehouse during a workday. After touring the facility, he confronts the facility's manager, identifies several security deficiencies, and insists that the manager let Lydia know he stopped by.

Gus and Nacho watch as Hector is taken to the hospital after suffering a stroke following Nacho's switching of his heart medication for ibuprofen lookalikes. Following the advice Mike previously gave him, Nacho switches the medication again so the real nitroglycerin capsules will be found on Hector's person, and then attempts to dispose of the fakes. Gus interrupts Nacho and informs him they need to meet with Juan Bolsa. Bolsa informs Gus and Nacho that, with Hector hospitalized, the cartel wants Nacho to take charge of the Salamanca drug operation and continue business as usual. Not revealing his role in harassing Salamanca drug deliveries from Mexico, Gus warns Juan Bolsa that continuing to use the Salamancas could draw the attention of the DEA, which previously detained one of Hector's trucks. Once he's alone after the meeting, Nacho stops on a bridge and disposes of the fake nitro capsules, unaware that Victor is watching him.

Howard helps to arrange for Chuck's funeral, which many of Chuck's former legal associates attend. After the service, Howard approaches Jimmy and Kim and takes the blame for Chuck's death, suggesting it resulted from Howard forcing Chuck out of HHM due to the firm's insurance rate hike, which Howard is unaware that Jimmy helped cause. Upon hearing Howard's admission, Jimmy immediately regains his happy-go-lucky composure and callously allows Howard to shoulder all of the guilt, something that visibly upsets Kim.

Production

In the first scene from the first episode of season 4, Saul is at his workplace in a Nebraska Cinnabon. This scene is set in Omaha, but the scene was filmed in Albuquerque at the Cottonwood Mall.[3]

Reception

"Smoke" received critical acclaim from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it garnered a perfect 100% rating with an average score of 8.76/10 based on 13 reviews. The site consensus reads, "'Smoke' kicks off Better Call Saul's fourth season by finally shifting Jimmy's disturbing transition to Saul into full gear."[4] Matt Fowler of IGN gave "Smoke" a positive review, with an 8.3/10.0 rating writing, "It's a heavy, reflective chapter that readily relies on silence to create both suspense and sorrow."[5]

Ratings

"Smoke" was watched by 1.77 million viewers in the United States on its original air date,[6] below the third season finale which brought in 1.85 million American viewers.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Sepinwall, Alan (August 6, 2018). "'Better Call Saul' Season Premiere Recap: Funeral for a Friend". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  2. ↑ Herzog, Kenny (August 6, 2018). "Better Call Saul Recap: Waiting to Exhale". Vulture. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  3. ↑ "The 11 Most Iconic ABQ Locations From 'Better Call Saul' Season 1". NewsCastic. April 7, 2015. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Smoke". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  5. ↑ Fowler, Matt (July 23, 2018). "Better Call Saul Season 4 Premiere Review: "Smoke"". IGN. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  6. ↑ Welch, Alex (August 7, 2018). "Monday cable ratings: 'Better Call Saul' returns down, 'WWE Raw' slips". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  7. ↑ Welch, Alex. "Monday cable ratings: 'Better Call Saul' season finale ticks up". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.