Chicanery (Better Call Saul)

"Chicanery"
Better Call Saul episode
Episode no.	Season 3 Episode 5
Directed by	Daniel Sackheim
Written by	Gordon Smith
Original air date	May 8, 2017 (2017-05-08)
Running time	49 minutes
Guest appearances
Ann Cusack as Rebecca McGill Lavell Crawford as Huell Babineaux Joe DeRosa as Dr. Caldera Cara Pifko as Paige Novick

"Chicanery" is the fifth episode of the third season of the AMC television series Better Call Saul, the spinoff series of Breaking Bad. The episode aired on May 8, 2017.

Plot

Teaser

In a flashback, Chuck attempts to reconcile with Rebecca by inviting her for dinner at his house with the help of Jimmy. Due to him now having EHS, he has workers remove all the electronics from his household and tells Rebecca that the power company accidentally cut off his electricity. Although it seems successful, Rebecca answers a phone call from her conductor which causes Chuck to panic and knocks the phone out of her hands. When Jimmy attempts to tell Rebecca about his EHS, Chuck forbids him.

Plot

In the present, Jimmy meets up with Dr. Caldera if he knows "someone with a light touch" who would be willing to do a job. After a successful hearing before the New Mexico Banking Board, Kim informs Paige and Kevin of Chuck's allegations of Jimmy tampering the Mesa Verde files. Both Kevin and Paige disbelieve the allegations, which they think is the result of Chuck not wanting to admit a mistake. Kim assures Paige that Mesa Verde will not suffer any blowback. Before the bar hearing begins, Howard, reluctant with Chuck testifying, tells him that they could build a solid case based on his and David's testimony. He reminds Chuck too that he is putting HHM's reputation at risk. Chuck is dismissive of his concerns.

As the hearing begins, Kim and the bar's attorney make their opening statements, with Kim asserting that the real story is the feud between Jimmy and Chuck. Howard testifies first, explaining Jimmy's history at HHM and how Chuck didn't want to take Jimmy in as a lawyer, claiming that Chuck acted against Jimmy to avoid an appearance of nepotism. However, Kim points out Howard himself is the son of HHM's founding partner. Jimmy's confession tape is soon played before the panel presiding over the case. Meanwhile, Howard drives Chuck to the courthouse where the latter bumps into Huell Babineaux on the stairwell.

Jimmy leads Rebecca into the courtroom much to Chuck's surprise. After asking the panel for a recess, he meets with his ex-wife. Rebecca explains that Jimmy had contacted her about his condition and expresses sympathy. Chuck tells her that Jimmy brought her in as a psychological tactic.

During cross-examination involving the circumstances of the recording, Rebecca’s presence and his illness, Jimmy questions Chuck about how close he has to be to an electrical object to be affected by his EHS. He asks Chuck to identify the closest source of electricity and reveals that he has his cell phone in his pocket, but Chuck – calling his bluff – points out that Jimmy had removed the battery. However, Jimmy asks Chuck to remove an object from his breast pocket, which is to be the fully charged battery. Jimmy reveals that he had Huell plant it on Chuck in the stairwell, and although Chuck has been carrying it for an hour and 43 minutes, he has not been affected at all. When the bar attorney argues that Chuck's mental illness is an irrelevant detail – comparing it to schizophrenia – Chuck snaps and goes on an angry rant about Jimmy's behavior. He desperately pleads the panel to disbar Jimmy but stops in mid-sentence, realizing that he has shocked the entire courtroom including the committee. Jimmy somberly ends the cross-examination.

Production

The episode is directed by Daniel Sackheim, a first time director on the show, and written by Gordon Smith, who previously wrote the season 2 episode "Inflatable". This episode is the first time Jonathan Banks, who has appeared in every episode in the series so far, had not made an appearance as Mike. Lavell Crawford reprises his role as Huell Babineaux from Breaking Bad after last appearing in the season 5 episode "To'hajiilee".

Reception

Ratings

Upon airing, the episode received 1.76 million American viewers, and an 18–49 rating of 0.7.

Critical reception

The episode received universal acclaim from critics, with some considering it to be a series-best. Terri Schwartz of IGN awarded the episode 10 out of 10, describing it as "the best episode of Better Call Saul to date". It currently holds a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes with an average of 9.71/10 based on 11 reviews. The site consensus reads: "The war between Jimmy and Chuck comes to an unprecedented climax in the heartbreaking, sober, and defining 'Chicanery', an episode that clearly cements Better Call Saul as essential television." TVLine named Michael McKean the "Performer of the Week" for his performance in this episode, writing it was the "finest showcase yet for his fascinatingly layered performance as Jimmy's brother Chuck McGill."

Analysis

The episode's final scene is an homage to the climactic courtroom scene in the The Caine Mutiny, in which a suspicious, authoritarian, by-the-book Navy Captain cracks under cross-examination. Uproxx noted that even the facial expressions of "Chicanery's" three committee members mirror those of three judges in Caine. (The film — which Vince Gilligan counts among his favorites — is also referenced in the Breaking Bad episode "Madrigal", in which Mike can be seen watching it.)

External links

• "Chicanery" at AMC
• "Chicanery" at IMDb
• Template:Tv.com episode