BETTER CALL SAUL SCRAWL: MIKE STEPS OUT IN EPISODE 106 FIVE-O

FIVE-0 Grade: A–

No one’s allergic to electricity. There’s no time for that. Put away childish things. It’s Mike’s turn at bat…

Jonathan Banks has played villains for an entire career, and since 2008 he’s been a "good guy" on two shows about crooked anti-heroes. And what’s ironic about the title of this BREAKING BAD spinoff, BETTER CALL SAUL, is that Saul... whose name was, and is, Jimmy McGill... would call Mike after Walter White called him...

Beverly Hills Cop, 1984

Because Mike is the bottom line, and this entire episode, FIVE-O, centers on his backstory – arriving into town before holding that catatonic job at the parking booth: getting off a train, bandaging a mysterious wound, and bonding with his daughter-in-law and granddaughter in a dilapidated Albuquerque backyard.

Then we learn more about what we need to learn, as usual, and it’s an intentionally slow, Neo-Noir potboiler of a process: Including a crooked cabbie and a secret cash-only doctor. And, of course, a shifty lawyer. Surprisingly enough, Jimmy still holds onto a few remaining shards of honesty. And the nickle-plated payoff comes towards the end when we flashback even further. But what makes this a real keeper are all the expressions Jonathan Banks can morph into one cold-blooded stare that's still completely sympathetic. It’s an amazing thing and difficult to explain. Finally unchained from cameo guest-spots, let’s hope he’s more than just a random backup. Maybe his prequel story will continue. Now that's a "cop show" with real edge!