# Better Call Saul 1.08 "Rico" 3/23/15 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 23, 2015, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-1-08-rico-3-23-15/715799 "2015-03-23T17:40:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-1-08-rico-3-23-15/715799/61 "2015-03-24T23:47:26Z")
> [@Push\_You\_Down](#): > > I disagree. If you saw Breaking Bad, you UNDERSTAND more of the flashforward opening but there’s no reason that someone going in blind, wouldn’t assume that the flashforward has to do with the events of BCS. Is Saul hiding out before or after Breaking Bad? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-1-08-rico-3-23-15/715799/62 "2015-03-24T23:48:48Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Is Saul hiding out before or after Breaking Bad? After. It’s his new identity. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-1-08-rico-3-23-15/715799/63 "2015-03-24T23:58:38Z")
> [@Casey1505](#): > > I’m on the other side. I thought that he began to freak once he realized where he was, and was about to go catatonic. > > I’ve been wrong before. Just ask my wife. Well they left it as a cliff hanger but I can’t see it going any way other than Chuck being “cured”. He’s been mostly rational throughout his illness. How could he not see that this proves it was all in his head? ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2015, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-1-08-rico-3-23-15/715799/64 "2015-03-25T00:34:30Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Well they left it as a cliff hanger but I can’t see it going any way other than Chuck being “cured”. He’s been mostly rational throughout his illness. How could he not see that this proves it was all in his head? I thought the same thing, as the episode ended – is he freaking out, or does he realize that he’s cured? But: The scenes from “next week on BCS” show Chuck outdoors, and in a meeting outside his house. So apparently, he’s cured. ---
**Author:** ![theR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@theR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/theR)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2015, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-1-08-rico-3-23-15/715799/65 "2015-03-25T00:42:41Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Well they left it as a cliff hanger but I can’t see it going any way other than Chuck being “cured”. He’s been mostly rational throughout his illness. How could he not see that this proves it was all in his head? Because the illness isn’t rational in the first place, so we shouldn’t expect him to be suddenly rational about it just because he got distracted for a minute. Maybe he will realize he is fine, maybe he won’t. I lean towards the latter given his surprised/pained expression right before they showed him collapsing. ---
**Author:** ![Kaboodle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8edcca/32.png) [@Kaboodle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaboodle)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2015, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-1-08-rico-3-23-15/715799/66 "2015-03-25T01:00:49Z")
> [@theR](#): > > Because the illness isn’t rational in the first place, so we shouldn’t expect him to be suddenly rational about it just because he got distracted for a minute. Maybe he will realize he is fine, maybe he won’t. I lean towards the latter given his surprised/pained expression right before they showed him collapsing. The ‘collapsing’ part confused me so I went back and watched it. At the very end, Chuck doesn’t collapse, he drops the file box he’s holding but he’s still standing. Chuck’s ill but he’s not dumb. After reading this thread I’m leaning toward Chuck realizing that his illness is psychological but it will be devastating to him. Instead of ‘I’m ill and I’ll work towards getting better’ it will be ‘Oh my god, I’m crazy!’. ---
**Author:** ![soonerblue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/soonerblue/32/3302_2.png) [@soonerblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soonerblue)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2015, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-1-08-rico-3-23-15/715799/67 "2015-03-25T01:23:05Z")
Maybe when Chuck dropped the box he realized that his poison aversion therapy was working … that he had built up his tolerance for electromagnetic fields. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2015, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-1-08-rico-3-23-15/715799/68 "2015-03-25T02:16:55Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > He was involved in crime, but only peripherally, and he seemed to talk sense into people rather than egging them on. He was a criminal, but not evil the way Walt, Gus, Tuco and other criminals on the show were. He was not overtly evil but he was helping them launder drug money and was definitely encouraging them by the third season when both Walt and Jesse were trying to extricate themselves from the business. IIRC he got something like a 20% cut for laundering. [spoiler]He lives. Happy housewarming, kid. Don’t look so glad to see me. Thanks. Interesting decor. It’s subtle. The whole minimalist thing never really blew my hair back, but hey. So how are you doing? Staying clean? Good. I was kind of worried that you were back to old habits since I didn’t hear from you, you know. You realise how stupid it is to ignore your counsel’s phone calls? What if I was trying to warn you that the DEA was gonna kick down your door? What then? Why don’t you spare me the sermon and get to why you’re here? Fair enough. Remember the other day when I brought up the idea of you getting back in touch with your partner? Well, I kind of wanted to re-float that boat. I’m not suggesting you yourself get back to cooking. I mean, you being in rehab and all. I only want you to convince the master chef to do his thing. So, what do you say? Sure, man. Whatever. Okay. Whatever what? I mean, you gonna call him? I said I’ll handle it. Final thought. Look at this place. You’re house-poor, you got no bankroll. If you get the maestro cooking again, I’ll make it worth your while. Call him.[/spoiler] ---
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2015, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-1-08-rico-3-23-15/715799/69 "2015-03-25T03:06:48Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > I also notice that Michael Mando (Nacho) has his name in the opening credits, but we haven’t seem him in about 5 episodes. Seems likely he’ll be back, although how he could relate to the nursing home storyline is beyond me. And I feel like Mike needs to get looped back in somehow as well. If Jimmy wins, he may be coming back for the money he feels Jimmy owes him for the Kettlemans? ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2015, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-1-08-rico-3-23-15/715799/70 "2015-03-25T03:19:18Z")
> [@standingwave](#): > > He was not overtly evil but he was helping them launder drug money and was definitely encouraging them by the third season when both Walt and Jesse were trying to extricate themselves from the business. IIRC he got something like a 20% cut for laundering. > > [spoiler]He lives. Happy housewarming, kid. Don’t look so glad to see me. > > Thanks. > > Interesting decor. It’s subtle. The whole minimalist thing never really blew my hair back, but hey. So how are you doing? Staying clean? Good. I was kind of worried that you were back to old habits since I didn’t hear from you, you know. You realise how stupid it is to ignore your counsel’s phone calls? What if I was trying to warn you that the DEA was gonna kick down your door? What then? > > Why don’t you spare me the sermon and get to why you’re here? > > Fair enough. Remember the other day when I brought up the idea of you getting back in touch with your partner? Well, I kind of wanted to re-float that boat. I’m not suggesting you yourself get back to cooking. I mean, you being in rehab and all. I only want you to convince the master chef to do his thing. So, what do you say? > > Sure, man. Whatever. > > Okay. Whatever what? I mean, you gonna call him? > > I said I’ll handle it. > > Final thought. Look at this place. You’re house-poor, you got no bankroll. If you get the maestro cooking again, I’ll make it worth your while. Call him.[/spoiler] IIRC, he also was the first to suggest just killing Badger when he got arrested. I think Saul was a pragmatic opportunist, but not eeeevvvvvil. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2015, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-1-08-rico-3-23-15/715799/71 "2015-03-25T04:15:30Z")
> [@Push\_You\_Down](#): > > IIRC, he also was the first to suggest just killing Badger when he got arrested. I think Saul was a pragmatic opportunist, but not eeeevvvvvil. Much better to kill the lawyer’s client than the lawyer himself, particularly from the lawyer’s POV. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2015, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-1-08-rico-3-23-15/715799/72 "2015-03-25T07:36:02Z")
Unless New Mexico or US Federal Rules are different (markedly so from everywhere else) there is no property in a client and I cannot see Chuck’s use of Westlaw being enough to give the case to HHM unless HHM can convince the clients that they would be better off using them, which considering how big the case is going to get, is likely. Although the exact terms of Chucks Partnership agreement will also matter. I think far more likely is that Jimmy accepts a payoff from the mega corp to drop or settle the case. I loved the way Chucks actor portrayed him. The manner in which he brings up the demanded settlement during the negotiation was right on the money, although in real life the goateed fuck would have known not to speak so much and expose his hands. And the Federal issue. ---
**Author:** ![Encinitas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Encinitas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Encinitas)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2015, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-1-08-rico-3-23-15/715799/73 "2015-03-25T09:28:24Z")
I desperately want a t-shirt that says: “Go Land Crabs!” ---
**Author:** ![theR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@theR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/theR)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2015, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-1-08-rico-3-23-15/715799/74 "2015-03-25T11:51:49Z")
> [@Kaboodle](#): > > The ‘collapsing’ part confused me so I went back and watched it. At the very end, Chuck doesn’t collapse, he drops the file box he’s holding but he’s still standing. > > Chuck’s ill but he’s not dumb. After reading this thread I’m leaning toward Chuck realizing that his illness is psychological but it will be devastating to him. Instead of ‘I’m ill and I’ll work towards getting better’ it will be ‘Oh my god, I’m crazy!’. Okay, I thought he fell over. It will be interesting if he turns on Jimmy to help HHM get the case as some people are guessing. It would also explain why they show Chuck’s clear hesitation when Jimmy asks for a job as a lawyer in the flashback. They needed to show that Chuck has never really trusted Jimmy’s abilities to explain the motivation. ---
**Author:** ![SJL4041](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/73ab20/32.png) [@SJL4041](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SJL4041)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2015, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-1-08-rico-3-23-15/715799/75 "2015-03-25T13:29:35Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > Five was supposed to be “Jello” but the company wouldn’t grant them use of their trademark. Thank you for posting this; it makes a lot of sense. Unfortunately, I had spun a whole Unified Theory of Better Call Saul based on the one episode being so strangely named. I theorized that Alpine Shepherd Boy (which was given as a gift to Jimmy by one of his first wills client) was a stand-in for Jimmy retaining his soul, and that it was the crux of the entire season: will Jimmy stay straight, be the Alpine Shepherd Boy and all-around good guy or will he choose the easier path of Slimy Park Bench lawyer. It turns out Jell-o are just bitches. I hope you get gutted by your new private equity owner! ---
**Author:** ![Sauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Sauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sauron)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2015, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-1-08-rico-3-23-15/715799/76 "2015-03-25T13:37:21Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > I loved the way Chucks actor portrayed him. The manner in which he brings up the demanded settlement during the negotiation was right on the money … If you’re a fan of 70s television, or even acquainted with it, prepare to have your mind blown: Chuck (Michael McKean) was Lenny on _Laverne and Shirley_. Here’s another mind-blower: He was one of the stars of (and helped write) _This is Spinal Tap._ The man is immensely talented. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2015, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-1-08-rico-3-23-15/715799/77 "2015-03-25T13:46:56Z")
> [@Sauron](#): > > If you’re a fan of 70s television, or even acquainted with it, prepare to have your mind blown: Chuck (Michael McKean) was Lenny on _Laverne and Shirley_. > > Here’s another mind-blower: He was one of the stars of (and helped write) _This is Spinal Tap._ > > The man is immensely talented. Remember the episode of Friends, where Monica interviews with a company making imitation chocolate (“mocklate”) and has to cook with it? Michael McKean was the interviewer. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2015, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-1-08-rico-3-23-15/715799/78 "2015-03-25T13:47:03Z")
And he nails Superman’s mom! ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2015, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-1-08-rico-3-23-15/715799/79 "2015-03-25T13:55:49Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > I don’t know, man. It’s not action packed, but it is really clever, and seems to try a new genre on for size ever week. It’s got variety, character development (still waiting for Kim to break out, though), and a unique, interesting vision. My girlfriend likes it, and she didn’t watch more than one season of Breaking Bad, so never got to Saul. > > Also, count me in as one who doesn’t remember Saul being a bad guy on BB. He was involved in crime, but only peripherally, and he seemed to talk sense into people rather than egging them on. He was a criminal, but not evil the way Walt, Gus, Tuco and other criminals on the show were. This show is about Jimmy becoming Saul, but it isn’t going to be a downhill slide from good to evil the way Breaking Bad was. More of a gradual, meandering, wrestling with tough choices type of show with Jimmy realizing one day that he’s a pretty far down a road he didn’t intend to be on and learning to deal with it. This. All of it. Cosigned! > [@Critical1](#): > > The impression that I got was he started to freak out then just realized that he was fine outside. As in he just had a sort of “OMG it was all in my head moment” That was how I took it too. Or, as others have suggested, that his “aversion therapy” has been a success. I will be surprised if he’s like “OMG I’m outside, the RAYZZ” and has another space blanket freakout. > [@Evin](#): > > Wow. As a lawyer who does a lot of the type of work that Chuck does (class actions, RICO), I was amazed at the attention to some very fine detail in this episode. For example, when Chuck emerges from his foggy hypochondria (“$20 million”), he starts rattling off the quite accurate legal punch list of items to be prepared at once. He stated that he would prepare a motion for conditional certification of the class action that “they will try to pierce” in order to get discovery going. The thing is, conditional certifications were eliminated from the Federal Rules in December, 2003. But upon checking on this “error,” I see that what is happening in the show is occurring in 2002, when this “tricky” device was still around. Kudos! > > As for Jimmy’s getting cut out of the entire fee, I can see only 2 ways this could really happen, both draconian events, but I won’t venture out on that. Very interesting on the legal background. But please feel free to “venture out” further! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2015, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-1-08-rico-3-23-15/715799/80 "2015-03-25T13:59:19Z")
> [@Sauron](#): > > If you’re a fan of 70s television, or even acquainted with it, prepare to have your mind blown: Chuck (Michael McKean) was Lenny on _Laverne and Shirley_. > … It wasn’t obvious to me, but now that you’ve mentioned it, I can see it. [http://i.ytimg.com/vi/RWkhAajHSWQ/hqdefault.jpg](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/RWkhAajHSWQ/hqdefault.jpg) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-1-08-rico-3-23-15/715799.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-1-08-rico-3-23-15/715799.md?page=5)