- This article is about the pilot episode of Better Call Saul. For the Breaking Bad pilot, see Pilot.
"Uno" is the first episode of the first season of Better Call Saul and the first episode of the series altogether.
Summary[]
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In a black and white flash-forward sequence, a man named Gene works behind the counter at a shopping-mall Cinnabon in Omaha, Nebraska. He gets nervous when a customer seems to be staring at him, but is relieved when he passes by him. That night, inside a modest house, Gene is flipping through TV channels when he decides to retrieve a VHS cassette from a hidden shoebox. The tape is revealed to be a reel of television commercials from Gene's former life as the flamboyant criminal lawyer Saul Goodman. As the ads play, "Gene" begins to weep.
Act I[]
In May 2002, Jimmy McGill is a struggling Albuquerque public defender representing three teenagers charged with breaking into a funeral home, decapitating a dead body and performing a sexual act with the severed head. His argument to the jury is that the youths' actions were simply "boys being boys." In response to this, the prosecutor — without saying a word — plays a videotape which contains footage of the teens' offenses. Several members of the jury, the judge, and the court reporter are unable to look at the tape.
After he fails to win an acquittal for his clients, Jimmy gets a $700 paycheck as a public defender — not $700 per defendant, as he had presumed. He complains about the measly payment. While walking to his dilapidated car, a potentially big client calls on his cell phone; Jimmy pretends to be his own British secretary in an office. As he drives away from the courthouse, he gets stopped by the parking lot attendant, Mike Ehrmantraut, because he doesn't have proper validation.
At Loyola's restaurant, Jimmy meets Craig Kettleman, the treasurer for Bernalillo County, who has been accused of embezzling $1.6 million and is eager to secure a deal for Jimmy's services. Just as Craig is about to sign the letter of engagement, his wife Betsy, whom he has brought along, stops him and asks Jimmy for time to think things over.
While Jimmy is driving in a residential neighborhood, he suddenly hits a skateboarder, Cal Lindholm. Cal's twin brother Lars, who videotaped the incident, rushes up to confront Jimmy. The brothers demand an instant settlement of $500, threatening to call the police unless he complies. Realizing that the twins are attempting a scam, Jimmy calls out them out for their ruse and choice of victim, upon which the two run away. Jimmy drives to his office — the back room of a Vietnamese nail salon — and finds no messages on his answering machine. Opening his mail, he finds a $26,000 check from the law firm of Hamlin, Hamlin & McGill (HHM), which he tears up.
Act II[]
Jimmy drives to HHM to confront one of the firm's named partners, Howard Hamlin. He accuses Howard of trying to cheat Jimmy's brother Chuck — a founding partner of the firm — out of his rightful share. He further demands that HHM give Chuck his $17 million severance package. Howard refuses to concede, stating Chuck is still on "extended sabbatical." He tries to pass along some documents for Chuck but Jimmy refuses, insisting that he "doesn't work here anymore." As he leaves, Jimmy notices the Kettlemans in HHM's lobby, surmising that they are hiring the firm over him. He maintains enough composure to reach the parking garage before venting his frustration on a trash bin. Noticing an HHM attorney, Kim Wexler, standing nearby smoking a cigarette, Jimmy borrows a drag off it before pleading to her for help. Kim states she can do nothing.
Act III[]
Jimmy visits Chuck, who believes himself to be suffering from electromagnetic hypersensitivity and requires visitors to leave personal electronic devices in the mailbox before entering his house. The power to the house is shut off and he works by lantern light on a manual typewriter. Chuck declines Jimmy’s pleas to demand a payout from his partners, as HHM would probably have to liquidate to raise the necessary cash. Jimmy says his public defender work won't keep both of them afloat, but Chuck replies that the experience of helping people is more important than money. Chuck also reassures Jimmy that he does not have to provide for him, since Howard stopped by to deliver a $857 check, the first of a new weekly stipend. He relates Howard's concern about Jimmy using his name in his law practice, suggesting he change it so as not to confuse potential clients. An infuriated Jimmy leaves.
Act IV[]
Desperate for money, Jimmy tracks down the Lindholm twins and proposes a partnership. He explains how, back in his hometown of Cicero, Illinois, he was known as "Slippin' Jimmy" — reputed for finding slippery patches of ice every winter, stage a fall, and extort money from people. He enlists the twins in a plan to use a similar gambit on Betsy, staging a slip-and-fall scenario at a certain intersection on her daily commute. One of the twins will be hit by Betsy's station wagon, after which Jimmy will intervene, having just "happened" to be driving by, and offer his legal services to her. Jimmy will purportedly talk the twins out of suing the woman, later paying both $2,000 for their troubles. In her gratitude, Betsy will then convince her husband to drop HHM and hire Jimmy for the embezzlement case.
Act V[]
The twins execute the plan perfectly, but moments after the “accident” occurs, the station wagon drives off. The twins give chase, skitching on the back of a truck. Jimmy sees this as an opportunity to gain more money at the prospect of defending a felony hit-and-run case. The station wagon pulls into a driveway, where a Hispanic elderly woman exits the car. Despite knowing that she is not Betsy, the twins attempt to extort the woman anyway and follow her into her house. Jimmy frantically searches for the twins — they were briefly communicating by cell phone — and happens across the parked station wagon. He knocks on the front door, claiming to be an officer of the court. However, when the door opens, he comes face to face with Tuco Salamanca, who pulls Jimmy into the house at gunpoint.
Official Photos[]
Trivia[]
- At the time, this episode marked the earliest chronological appearance of Saul, Mike and Tuco, who first appeared in Breaking Bad.
- Saul and Mike have since appeared in earlier time frames.
- This episode marks the first appearance of Chuck McGill, Kim Wexler and Howard Hamlin.
- This episode is the first episode in the Breaking Bad universe in which Walter White and Jesse Pinkman do not appear.
- This episode is written by showrunners Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould and is directed by Vince Gilligan. It is the first part of the two-episode premiere, which aired on February 8, 2015 and February 9, 2015.
- It is known that in Breaking Bad, Jimmy was first seen in the 8th episode of Season 2. Apparently, it is not a coincidence that the Better Call Saul's premiere aired on February 8. "08/02" (episode/season, day/month)
- Jimmy's "office" is in the Vietnamese nail salon. In Season 3 of Breaking Bad, he tries to convince Jesse to launder his money through a nail salon. ("Kafkaesque")
- The act of Jimmy kicking the dented trash can is very similar to Walt punching the paper towel dispenser in the doctor's office bathroom. ("4 Days Out") ("Gliding Over All") This has been confirmed as an intentional easter egg.
- Jimmy is parked next to a white Cadillac similar to the one he will be driving during the events of Breaking Bad.
- During the teaser, Gene becomes nervous upon noticing a suspicious-looking stranger watching him in the Cinnabon (although this stranger turns out to be innocent as he is seen hugging a woman as he walks outside). This is similar to Jesse becoming nervous after noticing a suspicious-looking stranger watching him while he speaks on the payphone with Walt, although the stranger was really watching his daughter in the park. ("Rabid Dog")
- When arguing with Walt in the cellar of Best Quality Vacuum in "Granite State", Saul states "If I'm lucky, best case scenario i'm managing a Cinnabon in Omaha", where he did end up working as shown in the flash-forward at the start of the episode.
- Jimmy's red key chain is the same Walter uses to open the trunk of his car and killed Jack Welker's gang in Breaking Bad's finale. Also when he leaves the court lobby the hat and jacket of Walter can be seen on a hanger while Getz is wanded at security.
- Nacho Varga does not appear, despite Michael Mando being credited as a main cast member. By comparison, every member of Breaking Bad Season 1's main cast was introduced in "Pilot".
- The twins confuse the Kettleman's Mercury Sable Wagon with Abuelita's Ford Taurus LX Wagon.
Production[]
Credits[]
Starring
- Bob Odenkirk as Jimmy McGill
- Jonathan Banks as Mike Ehrmantraut
- Rhea Seehorn as Kim Wexler
- Patrick Fabian as Howard Hamlin
- Michael Mando as Nacho Varga (credit only)
- Michael McKean as Chuck McGill
Guest Starring
Co-Starring
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Uncredited
- Rick Anglada as Albuquerque Police Officer
- Alan Humphrey as Lawyer
- Justin D. Moore as Mall Shop Customer
Filming Locations[]
- The very first scene shows Saul (aka "Gene") working at a Cinnabon. This is a tie in to the end of Breaking Bad where Saul tells Walt "If I'm lucky, a month from now, best-case scenario, I'm managing a Cinnabon in Omaha." The filming was done at the Cinnabon located inside Cottonwood Mall, 10000 Coors Blvd, Albuquerque NM, 87114.
- The coffee shop location in the scene where Saul aka "Slippin Jimmy" and the Skateboarders stage the car accident was filmed at "Cafe Lush" 700 Tijeras, Albuquerque NM, 87102.
- In the final scene Saul ends up at Tuco's Grandmother's house instead of the Kettlemans House. Its located at 12204 Manitoba Dr, Albuquerque NM, 87111.
Featured Music[]
- "Address Unknown" by The Ink Spots & Ella Fitzgerald
- "Liar's Game" by Jim Wolfe
- "When Blue Days Are Gone" by Arthur Smith
- "Se Bruciasse La Città" by Massimo Ranieri
- "Milestones" by Shook
- "Drop" by Firstcom Music
- "Magic Hands" by Dave Porter
- "Shared Smoke" by Dave Porter
- "Ass Over Tea Kettle" by Dave Porter
References to other media[]
Jimmy makes many references to other media during the series. In this episode, he makes references to:
Viewership[]
The episode became the highest-rated series premiere for a scripted series in U.S. cable history, with 6.9 million viewers according to the Nielsen ratings. The show placed second for the night among U.S. cable networks, behind only its lead-in show The Walking Dead, which as of February 9, 2015, ranks as the second-highest rated entertainment broadcast with adults 18-49 in the U.S., behind The Blacklist post-Super Bowl broadcast.
Reception[]
The episode gained generally positive reviews:
- Roth Cornet of IGN gave the episode an 8.7 out of 10, saying "Can Saul compete with Walter White? No. But he doesn't have to. Better Call Saul poses one simple, but fascinating question: What happened to Jimmy McGill that forced him to transform himself into the ruthless, hardened, yet entirely entertaining *criminal* lawyer Saul Goodman? The man that we came to know and love on Breaking Bad. I, for one, look forward to watching that story unfold."
- Erik Kain of Forbes said of the episode and series: "[It] isn't just a spin-off of a popular TV show. So far, it's a terrific TV show on its own merits. It covers familiar ground, but it still manages to be its own unique snowflake."
- Hank Stuever of The Washington Post graded it a "B+" and wrote the series "is right in line with the tone and style of the original, now-classic series" and that it "raises more questions in two hours than it will readily answer".
- Kirsten Acuna of Business Insider declared the initial episodes "everything you could possibly want from a spinoff television series".
Memorable Quotes[]
- "Oh, to be nineteen again! You with me, ladies and gentlemen? Do you remember nineteen? Let me tell you, the juices are flowing. The red corpuscles are corpuscling, the grass is green, and it's soft, and summer's gonna last forever. [Chuckles, inhales sharply] Now, do you remember? Yeah, you do. [Clears throat] But if you're being honest...I mean, well, really honest, you'll recall that you also had an underdeveloped nineteen-year-old brain. Me, personally, I...it...If I were held accountable for some of the stupid decisions I made when I was nineteen... [chuckling] Oh, boy, wow. And I bet if we were in church right now, I'd get a big "amen!" Which brings us to these three...Now, these three knuckleheads. And I'm sorry, boys, but that's what you are. They did a dumb thing. We're not denying that. However, I would like you to remember two salient facts. Fact one: nobody got hurt, not a soul. Very important to keep that in mind. Fact two: Now, the prosecution keeps bandying this term "criminal trespass." Mr. Spinowzo, the property owner, admitted to us that he keeps most portions of his business open to the public both day and night. So, trespassing? That's a bit of a reach, don't you think, Dave? Here's what I know: These three young men, near honors students all, were feeling their oats one Saturday night, and they just went a little bananas. [Chuckles] I don't know. Call me crazy, but I don't think they deserve to have their bright futures ruined by a momentary, minute, never-to-be-repeated lapse of judgment. Ladies and gentlemen, you're bigger than that."
- ―Jimmy defending his clients.
- "You know Jimmy, sometimes in our line of work you can get so caught up in the idea of winning that you forget to listen to your heart."
- ―Howard to Jimmy.
- "Employee of the Month over here! Yeaaah! [claps his hands] Hooray! Give him a medal!"
- ―Jimmy to Mike.
- "Lawyers – you know, we’re like health insurance. You hope you never need it. But, man oh man, not having it – no."
- ―Jimmy to the Kettlemans.
- "The only way that entire car is worth 500 bucks is if there's a $300 hooker sitting in it."
- ―Jimmy on the blackmailing of the two skateboarders.
- Jimmy: "You can tell me what this, uh, $26,000 is supposed to be for."
- Howard: "That's money for Chuck. Isn't that what you wanted?"
- Jimmy: "A measly 26 grand? Jesus, you're like Peter Minuit with the Indians. Throw in some beads and shells while you're at it."
- ―Jimmy and Howard arguing over Chuck's severance.
- "You got to stop putting bacon on the list, 'cause that cooler's looking like a trichinosis stew."
- ―Jimmy to Chuck on the contents of his cooler.