Nacho (Better Call Saul)

"Nacho"
Better Call Saul episode
Episode no. Season 1
Episode 3
Directed by Terry McDonough
Written by Thomas Schnauz
Featured music "Find Out What's Happening" by Bobby Bare
Original air date February 16, 2015 (2015-02-16)
Running time 47 minutes
Guest appearance(s)
Episode chronology

"Nacho" is the third episode of the first season of the AMC television series Better Call Saul, the spinoff series of Breaking Bad. The episode aired on February 16, 2015.

Plot

The episode begins some time prior to the series. A younger Chuck meets Jimmy in Cook County Jail, where Jimmy has been imprisoned for unspecified offenses which risk having him labelled as a sex offender. Chuck warns Jimmy that his life will be ruined if the charges go through, and Jimmy pleads with Chuck to help get the charges against him dismissed. Chuck agrees to represent Jimmy under the condition that he cleans up his act.

In the present, Jimmy is anxious about Nacho's plot to extort the Kettlemans. He calls Kim Wexler, an acquaintance of his who works at Chuck's former law firm, which is providing legal counsel to the Kettlemans. Jimmy indirectly warns Kim about the potential danger to the Kettlemans, but then breaks off the call, insisting that he is "no hero." Later that night, Jimmy leaves an anonymous tip to the Kettlemans warning them that they are in danger. Concerned, the Kettlemans look outside their house and see somebody in a parked van watching them.

The next morning, after badgering a prosecutor into accepting a plea deal, Jimmy receives news from Kim that something has happened to the Kettlemans. He rushes to their house to find it surrounded by police, and finds out the Kettlemans, including their two children, are missing. Believing that Nacho has kidnapped them, Jimmy uses Nacho's contact number but only receives a voicemail. However, while waiting for Nacho's reply, Jimmy is picked up by the police, who tell him that they had arrested Nacho on suspicion of kidnapping the Kettlemans, and he had requested Jimmy as his legal counsel.

At the police station, Nacho admits that he had performed surveillance on the Kettlemans but denies kidnapping them. Nacho warns Jimmy that if he does not get the charges dropped, the police might uncover his connections to Tuco, which would result in Jimmy's death. Jimmy unsuccessfully tries to plead Nacho's case to the cops. Jimmy convinces Kim to take him to the Kettleman house to investigate the crime scene. Jimmy notices some inconsistencies, such as a missing child's doll, and theorizes that the Kettlemans staged their kidnapping. Jimmy privately admits to Kim that he warned the Kettlemans about Nacho and probably drove them into hiding.

Upon returning to the courthouse, Jimmy starts a fight with Mike, who effortlessly subdues him. The police ask Mike to press assault charges against Jimmy so that they can leverage him to testify against Nacho. Surprisingly, Mike takes Jimmy's side and refuses to press charges, as he believes his theory about the Kettlemans' disappearance is correct. Mike recounts a similar case he investigated as a Philadelphia police officer, where a suspect faked his disappearance. Mike tells Jimmy that the Kettlemans should still be hiding somewhere in the area. With the new lead, Jimmy explores the desert near the Kettleman home and finds their campsite. Jimmy confronts the Kettlemans and gets into a struggle, inadvertently discovering the stolen money.

Production

The episode was written by co-executive producer Thomas Schnauz, who was also a writer and producer on Breaking Bad.[1][2] It was directed by Terry McDonough, who directed episodes for Breaking Bad, including the episode that introduced Saul Goodman.[3]

Reception

Upon airing, the episode received 3.23 million American viewers, and an 18-49 rating of 1.6.[4]

The episode received positive reviews from critics. Erik Kain of Forbes said that "Overall, this was yet another strong entry in the show. Great shots of New Mexico, plenty of humor, and a little bit of mystery all kept this one humming from start to finish."[5]

Michael Hogan of The Telegraph gave the episode 4 out of 5 stars, concluding:

“ Better Call Saul has hit the ground running and already become one of the best shows on TV – even if it’s not on TV in the traditional sense. A worthy prequel to Breaking Bad. Perhaps lightning can strike twice in the same place after all.[6] ”

Roth Cornet of IGN gave the episode 8.5 out of 10, saying "Better Call Saul continues to settle into itself, as Jimmy McGill's will to do the right thing is tested."[7]" Richard Vine of The Guardian also gave a positive review, and was pleased that the episode began to examine Jimmy's relationships with Chuck and Kim, who "you really get the sense that she’s fond of him, against her better judgement".[8]

The episode earned a 100% "fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes, out of 13 reviews.[9]

References

  1. ↑ Littleton, Cynthia (December 20, 2013). "'Breaking Bad' Writers Join 'Better Call Saul' Staff". Variety. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  2. ↑ Couch, Aaron (February 16, 2015). "'Better Call Saul' Writer Teases More Flashbacks, "Very Bad" Nacho Threat". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  3. ↑ Hibberd, James (July 11, 2014). "'Better Call Saul': New photos, details from 'Breaking Bad' spin-off". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  4. ↑ Bibel, Sara (February 18, 2015). "Monday Cable Ratings: 'Better Call Saul' Wins NIght, 'Love & Hip Hop', 'Vanderpump Rules', 'The Fosters'& More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  5. ↑ Kain, Erik (February 17, 2015). "'Better Call Saul' Episode 3 Review: Nacho". Forbes. Retrieved February 17, 2015.
  6. ↑ Hogan, Michael (February 17, 2015). "Better Call Saul: Nacho, episode 3: 'coolly confident'". The Telegraph. Retrieved February 17, 2015.
  7. ↑ Cornet, Roth (February 16, 2015). "Better Call Saul: "Nacho" Review". IGN. Retrieved February 17, 2015.
  8. ↑ Vine, Richard (February 17, 2015). "Better Call Saul recap: season one, episode three – Nacho". The Guardian. Retrieved February 17, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Nacho". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
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