Piñata (Better Call Saul)
"Piñata" is the sixth episode of the fourth season of the AMC television series Better Call Saul, the spin-off series of Breaking Bad. The episode aired on September 10, 2018 on AMC in the United States. Outside of the United States, the episode premiered on streaming service Netflix in several countries.
| "Piñata" | |
|---|---|
| Better Call Saul episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 4 Episode 6 |
| Directed by | Andrew Stanton |
| Written by | Gennifer Hutchison |
| Original air date | September 10, 2018 |
| Running time | 48 minutes |
| Guest appearance(s) | |
| |
Plot
Opening
In a flashback taking place in early 1993, about ten years before the show's current setting, Jimmy pushes the mail cart at HHM while collecting ballots for an office pool predicting the outcomes of the 65th Academy Awards. He talks with Kim, who is working in the mailroom while finishing her final year of law school, when Howard announces that Chuck has successfully closed a lucrative case for the firm by arguing obscure case law. The office applauds and cheers Chuck's victory, including Kim, who takes the opportunity to show off her own legal acumen. She tells Jimmy she admires Chuck's work and hopes to do the same herself someday. Jimmy tries to congratulate Chuck, but Chuck is dismissive. As Jimmy continues to deliver mail, he passes the firm's law library. Checking to make sure no one is watching, he enters and lets the door close behind him.
Main story
Late at night, Kim tries to review her Mesa Verde records for the next day's work, but her attention is drawn to her pro bono criminal defense cases. She goes to bed and finds Jimmy asleep, surrounded by notes and sketches that show he still dreams of re-starting the Wexler-McGill law office once his suspension is over. The next morning, Jimmy explains that he decided not to go to the psychologist as she suggested, and leaves for work at the cell phone store. Kim meets with Rich at Schweikart & Cokely, where she makes a successful pitch to join as a partner and run a new banking division, which will enable her to handle both Mesa Verde and criminal cases. She informs Jimmy of her acceptance over lunch, falsely telling him that Schweikart & Cokely sought her out. He leaves the table and experiences an anxiety attack, but returns to congratulate her and tell her he's supportive.
While at the cellular phone store, Jimmy gets a call from a relative of his first elder law client, Geraldine Strauss, and learns that she died and the relative is her executor. The executor asks questions about the will Jimmy drew up. He explains that he no longer practices law and refers the executor to HHM. Jimmy breaks down emotionally from the call, and after work, Jimmy re-watches his first elder law commercial, which starred Geraldine.
Gus and Mike discuss arrangements for housing Werner Ziegler and his construction crew while they build the meth "superlab" under the laundry. While Gus has already installed two modular homes within a large warehouse for basic needs, Mike recommends adding several amenities to keep the workers happy, as well as security and monitoring provisions for both entrance and exit. Gus agrees, and after learning that Hector's health has taken a turn for the worse, has Mike work with Tyrus to complete preparations. Mike apologizes to Stacey for his behavior in exposing Henry's lies at the support group meeting, and Stacey allows him to begin seeing Kaylee again. Mike meets Werner and his workers when they arrive, and explains their living arrangements. Kai, one of the workers, appears dismissive and disdainful, but Werner vouches for him and says he'll settle in once the work starts. Despite Werner's assurances, Mike tells his security team to pay special attention to Kai's activities.
Gus visits a still hospitalized and unconscious Hector late at night and recounts a childhood story about a coati that ate the fruit from a lúcuma tree Gus had carefully tended in Chile. He trapped the coati, which broke its leg in trying to escape. Rather than killing it, which would have been humane, Gus held it and let it suffer until it died. As Gus finishes the story, he gets up to depart, with Hector still unconscious in his bed.
Jimmy visits HHM to pick up his $5,000 inheritance check, and notices the firm is downsizing and Howard is still disengaged and depressed following Chuck's death. Howard explains that HHM is having trouble paying out to Chuck's estate and its reputation has been severely damaged by recent events, so clients are leaving. Before departing, Jimmy tries a "tough love" pep talk to rouse Howard back into action. Jimmy uses the money to buy pay-as-you-go phones for resale on the street, which he stores at the nail salon against Mrs. Nguyen's wishes. He preemptively seeks out the three teenagers who robbed him before and tries to convince them to either help sell his phones for a share of the profits, or take a smaller cut as protection money for leaving him alone. They attempt to rob him again instead, but he leads them on a chase that ends with the boys caught in a trap sprung by Huell and Man Mountain. They tie the boys up and hang them upside down. While Huell and Man Mountain use bats to smash through a room full of piñatas close to their heads, Jimmy obtains an agreement that the boys will leave him alone and tell everyone else on the street that he's off-limits.
Production
This episode features the return of Michael McKean (Chuck McGill), who last appeared in the third season finale when his character was killed off-screen after he deliberately set his house on fire in an apparent suicide.[1]
This episode was directed by Andrew Stanton, who is better known for writing and directing several Pixar films, including Finding Nemo and WALL-E. He also had directed John Carter, which had given him the idea of doing more live-action directing work. "Piñata" is Stanton's second television production, following directing of two episodes of the second season of Stranger Things, an opportunity given to him by Shawn Levy. From Stranger Things he spoke to more people about his interest in further television productions. During such a conversation with Mark Johnson and Melissa Bernstein, the show's executive producers, they suggested the opportunity for him to direct a Better Call Saul episode, which he jumped at, as he had already been a fan of both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, and wanted the opportunity to work with the creators Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould.[2]
The scene with Gus and Hector ends with a shot of Hector's right hand as Gus walks out; this was intended to allude to the scene in the Breaking Bad fourth season episode "Face Off", in which Hector uses the same hand to trigger the explosive that kills both him and Gus. Two takes of this scene were shot, one with Hector's finger twitching and one without, as there had been debate on the production team over which version would be better. The episode as broadcast did not include the twitch.[2]
Reception
"Piñata" received critical acclaim. On Rotten Tomatoes, it garnered a perfect 100% rating with an average score of 8.52/10 based on 11 reviews. The site's critical consensus is, "Though more of an expositional creep than previous episodes, 'Piñata' maintains the season's emotionally charged character growth and provides a powerful, mildly petrifying performance from Giancarlo Esposito."[3]
Ratings
"Piñata" was watched by 1.40 million viewers on its first broadcast, earning a 0.4 ratings for viewers between 18 and 49.[4]
References
- https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1016143/Better-Call-Saul-season-4-episode-7-promo-trailer-Something-Stupid-AMC-Netflix
- Fienberg, Daniel (September 10, 2018). "'Finding Nemo' Director Andrew Stanton's 'Better Call Saul' Debut Goes Dark (Literally)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
- "Piñata". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
- Welch, Alex (September 11, 2018). "Monday cable ratings: 'Monday Night Football' easily leads, 'Better Call Saul' stays steady". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on September 11, 2018. Retrieved September 11, 2018.