# Better Call Saul 2.07 "Inflatable" 3/28/16 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 29, 2016, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-2-07-inflatable-3-28-16/750500 "2016-03-29T03:17:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2016, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-2-07-inflatable-3-28-16/750500/41 "2016-03-29T21:52:27Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Well exactly like others have already said. Jimmy’s ad was pure ambulance chaser. Crying old lady, black and white closeups, fast talking narrator. You think a bank or old money wants to hire an ambulance chaser because his ad had better production value? Why would they want to hire an ambulance chaser at all? News flash: Cliff’s ad was an ambulance chaser. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2016, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-2-07-inflatable-3-28-16/750500/42 "2016-03-29T21:56:08Z")
Is the arrangement Kim proposes with Jimmy a common one for lawyers? ---
**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 29, 2016, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-2-07-inflatable-3-28-16/750500/43 "2016-03-29T22:14:52Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Why would they want to hire an ambulance chaser at all? News flash: Cliff’s ad was an ambulance chaser. They are building a class action suit. Some advertising is required. Jimmy was shameless about it, Cliff was as conservative as possible. ---
**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 29, 2016, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-2-07-inflatable-3-28-16/750500/44 "2016-03-29T22:38:33Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Is the arrangement Kim proposes with Jimmy a common one for lawyers? I believe that it’s common for all sorts of professionals. They would rent a space together, share utilities and an assistant. It’s a way to save money. My dentist does this with another dentist. Two separate practices but they shared an X-ray machine and a receptionist and other things as well. ---
**Author:** ![Pantastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3bc359/32.png) [@Pantastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pantastic)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2016, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-2-07-inflatable-3-28-16/750500/45 "2016-03-29T23:37:01Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > How is Jimmy’s ad more image-damaging than Cliff’s swirly background ads? Both are soliciting clients from aggrieved seniors, both associate the firm’s name with the pursuit of clients; how does using higher production values make Jimmy’s ad into client poison? Jimmy’s ad had lower production values, he had some film students who didn’t even have a dolly and did the voice-over himself (Cliff specifically commented on that). Cliff’s swirly background ad gave some information in a simple, informative way, Jimmy’s ad deliberately goes for emotional manipulation. There is a huge gulf between Jimmy’s off-the-cuff, fairly sleazy ad and Cliff’s professional, dull, but not manipulative ad, and if you can’t see the difference I’m unlikely to change your mind by typing. Further, Cliff clearly believes that the ad will damage his firm in the show, and even states some reasons why. So even if you think that a high-class firm will not be damaged if they start to run low-budget ‘Sandpiper stole my savings and now I’m going out in the cold’ ads, it’s clear that Cliff and his law firm, plus HHM and Kim, and really everyone but Jimmy, believe that the ad is wildly inappropriate. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2016, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-2-07-inflatable-3-28-16/750500/46 "2016-03-29T23:55:06Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > How is Jimmy’s ad more image-damaging than Cliff’s swirly background ads? Both are soliciting clients from aggrieved seniors, both associate the firm’s name with the pursuit of clients; how does using higher production values make Jimmy’s ad into client poison? The difference is figuratively night and day. Jacoby & Meyers puts out classier ads than Jimmy’s. ---
**Author:** ![sich\_hinaufwinden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@sich\_hinaufwinden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sich_hinaufwinden)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-2-07-inflatable-3-28-16/750500/47 "2016-03-30T00:43:27Z")
> [@Pantastic](#): > > …it’s clear that Cliff and his law firm, plus HHM and Kim, and really everyone but Jimmy, believe that the ad is wildly inappropriate. I thought I recalled Kim being impressed with Jimmy’s ad. Sure he lied and told her it had been approved when she asked, but she seemed pretty enthusiastic about it. If it was as ambulance-chasey as it’s being claimed here, I think she would have had a different opinion. She’s made out to be pretty straight laced and conservative as far as legal practice goes so I think her reaction speaks to the ad being okay. Cliff may never have signed off on it if it wasn’t his style, but it’s a far cry from what you actually see on television like the guy standing on top of a truck screaming “Have you been injured a truck accident! I fought for my client and put $235,000 in her pocket. Call me…”. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-2-07-inflatable-3-28-16/750500/48 "2016-03-30T00:45:01Z")
I believe Kim’s exact quote while watching the commercial was “I can’t believe they approved this.” ---
**Author:** ![sich\_hinaufwinden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@sich\_hinaufwinden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sich_hinaufwinden)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-2-07-inflatable-3-28-16/750500/49 "2016-03-30T01:03:46Z")
I’ll take your word on what exactly she said, but the tone of the scene to me was such that she didn’t see anything wrong with it. Not Cliff’s style up until then - sure. But something embarrassing or unethical? I didn’t get that feeling at all. It seemed like a happy scene to me (other than the phone call from Cliff that she wasn’t privy to). I take the remark you quoted as her being impressed that Jimmy was shaking things up there and getting things done so soon after being hired rather than disbelief that the firm had sunk to sleazy ambulance chasing. ---
**Author:** ![sich\_hinaufwinden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@sich\_hinaufwinden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sich_hinaufwinden)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-2-07-inflatable-3-28-16/750500/50 "2016-03-30T01:32:14Z")
I’m not the only one who is under the impression that Kim liked the commercial, even if she was surprised that Cliff “approved” it. > [@](#): > > …With VHS in hand, Jimmy is ready to show Cliff the potential Davis & Main spot that could lure in new Sandpiper clients — but he hesitates. Truth is, even though Kim was impressed by Jimmy’s directorial skills and the quality of the commercial, she still for a brief moment spoke of it like another “wacky” Jimmy idea that just might pan out. She never fully took Jimmy’s plan seriously, and perhaps that chipped away at Jimmy’s confidence in presenting it to the boss. > **['Better Call Saul' Episode 3: When Jimmy goes rogue, all ends well](https://mashable.com/archive/better-call-saul-episode-3-when-jimmy-goes-rogue-all-ends-well)** > > 'Better Call Saul' Episode 3: When Jimmy goes rogue, all ends well > [@](#): > > …Instead, Jimmy independently films his own ad, hiring the camera crew he previously used for the billboard stunt to depict one of his elderly clients as a poor old woman being victimized by Sandpiper Crossing and urging Sandpiper Crossing residents viewing the commercial to call D&M. Kim is impressed with Jimmy’s work, and Jimmy decides to run the ad without the firm’s approval. > **[Amarillo (Better Call Saul)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amarillo_(Better_Call_Saul))** > > "Amarillo" is the third episode of the second season of the AMC television series Better Call Saul, a spin-off series of Breaking Bad. The episode aired on February 29, 2016 on AMC in the United States. Outside of the United States, the episode premiered on streaming service Netflix in several countries. > In Amarillo, Texas, Jimmy McGill bribes a Sandpiper bus driver to fake a mechanical breakdown, which allows Jimmy to sign up residents as plaintiffs for the lawsuit while technically complying w... ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-2-07-inflatable-3-28-16/750500/51 "2016-03-30T02:20:24Z")
> [@sich\_hinaufwinden](#): > > I thought I recalled Kim being impressed with Jimmy’s ad. Sure he lied and told her it had been approved when she asked, but she seemed pretty enthusiastic about it. If it was as ambulance-chasey as it’s being claimed here, I think she would have had a different opinion. > > She’s made out to be pretty straight laced and conservative as far as legal practice goes so I think her reaction speaks to the ad being okay. > > Cliff may never have signed off on it if it wasn’t his style, but it’s a far cry from what you actually see on television like the guy standing on top of a truck screaming “Have you been injured a truck accident! I fought for my client and put $235,000 in her pocket. Call me…”. It was a great ad and had great production values on a meagre budget. The chair lift as camera dolly was genius! Ads use actors all the time to pull in your heart strings; nothing dishonest there. Maybe edging towards tacky, but I know we’ve all seen worse. Thing is, Jimmy knows his audience, which is why he is successful. People are enchanted by the story, not by the prospect of the hassles of legal action, and certainly not by the dry presentation methods of Davis and Main. Jimmy is tight to leave. His talents are underappreciated by the suits and the pencil pushers like Erin. He needs to blossom. And now he has a Cocobolo desk to begin his solo journey. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-2-07-inflatable-3-28-16/750500/52 "2016-03-30T02:25:30Z")
I hate his ties and the pastel suits, but does anybody else prefer his colorful shirts and the less-loud loud-suits to his conservative wear? It suits him better. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-2-07-inflatable-3-28-16/750500/53 "2016-03-30T02:56:29Z")
> [@Pantastic](#): > > I disagree with this - it got people to call in about Sandpiper, but it also would make the firm look like cheap ambulance chasers if it ran often (as a one-off in one state it’s probably not noticeable). Like Cliff said, that would kill the image they’ve spent years cultivating and scare off a lot of huge clients. It’s like building a campfire in the kitchen to cook a meal - the meal is nice and tasty, but now you’ve got a hole in the floor and smoke damage all around. But that’s easily remedied… just change the narration to give the phone number to call without naming the law firm, or create a wholly owned subsidiary to front for this class action or something. But it’s hard to argue, given what we’ve seen, that Jimmy’s ad isn’t going to generate far more phone calls, and far more clients, than the “official” ad. And fundamentally Davis and Main is a corporation trying to maximize its profits, which it at least arguably failed to do by rejecting Jimmy’s approach out of hand. That said, it’s probably an entirely realistic response for someone like Cliff to have. ---
**Author:** ![Pantastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3bc359/32.png) [@Pantastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pantastic)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-2-07-inflatable-3-28-16/750500/54 "2016-03-30T04:38:45Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > But it’s hard to argue, given what we’ve seen, that Jimmy’s ad isn’t going to generate far more phone calls, and far more clients, than the “official” ad. And fundamentally Davis and Main is a corporation trying to maximize its profits, which it at least arguably failed to do by rejecting Jimmy’s approach out of hand. As I said before and am done repeating, it’s going to generate phone calls on one short term, decent-value case. It’s not going to get far more of the clients that Davis and Main want and rely on for their long-term success. It’s easy to argue that a low-production values ambulance chaser ad is not actually helping them with their primary business, and easy to argue that damaging your primary business for a one-off case is a bad strategy. Also, they didn’t reject Jimmy’s approach in the sense of running an ad out of hand - Cliff was completely willing to give Jimmy’s approach a fair try. What they did reject was Jimmy’s approach of making a sleazy ad on a low budget (not even using a real voice actor) and running it without letting any of the partners so much as look at the ad first. Again, if you go out into the real world and get a company that isn’t a crazy startup, you WILL GET FIRED if you slap together an ad, put the company’s name on it, and run it with no approval from anyone higher up. This isn’t some weird Jimmy persecution thing, this is really basic working world stuff. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-2-07-inflatable-3-28-16/750500/55 "2016-03-30T06:02:18Z")
> [@sich\_hinaufwinden](#): > > I’ll take your word on what exactly she said, but the tone of the scene to me was such that she didn’t see anything wrong with it. She was indeed impressed by the ad, but not for the reason you think. The scene made a point that she was impressed Jimmy got approval for it. As she’s saying this, the camera is on Jimmy’s face, who looks uncomfortable and guilty. This signals to us viewers that no, he didn’t have approval for it. Her being impressed is evidence that the ad was low rent and ambulance chase-y, not that it wasn’t. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-2-07-inflatable-3-28-16/750500/56 "2016-03-30T06:19:49Z")
Unfortunately I can’t find the complete scene, only the commercial itself, but Kim’s reaction isn’t exactly “wow this is great” while watching it: [Sandpiper commercial](http://www.amc.com/shows/better-call-saul/video-extras/season-02/episode-03/clip-sandpiper-commercial-episode-203-better-call-saul-amarillo) Here she is immediately after that being impressed by Jimmy’s lie that Cliff loved it: [Golden boy](http://www.amc.com/shows/better-call-saul/video-extras/season-02/episode-03/talked-about-scene-episode-203-better-call-saul-amarillo) Kim is impressed with Jimmy doing well, not the commercial itself. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-2-07-inflatable-3-28-16/750500/57 "2016-03-30T12:15:22Z")
Once again, I differ from many of you - thought the suit montage went on way too long. Really made me wonder if they hadn’t written enough script to fill out the ep. I’ve never worked for or heard of a law firm that had a written dress code, only the understanding that, if you want to get ahead, dress like your superiors. So was it kosher for Mike and Jimmy to simply say it wasn’t Tuco’s gun? I thought the deal was to say it was Mike’s gun. And I’m really disliking Mike’s DiL. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-2-07-inflatable-3-28-16/750500/58 "2016-03-30T13:52:12Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Made me wonder if all the missing money Chuck talked about was really Jimmy’s fault, if dad was giving away so much if it. I could see Jimmy letting Chuck blame him, rather than say something negative about his dad. Yeah, that seems to be the case. Chuck doesn’t want to see his dad as a fool taken by every grifter who came by, he’d rather see Jimmy as the bad guy. > [@Pantastic](#): > > It doesn’t really matter that much (it could have been a negotiating tactic or justification for hesitation that would seem silly the next day), but it did strike me as surprisingly low for the role it played, since it’s been mentioned several times. I think a big reason that Kim had been hesitant before was because of the loyalty she felt, and then would just say the law school loans as another reason. It can be hard for people to change things from their current comfortable circumstances, so sometimes they come up with reasons that don’t entirely make sense if fully thought through, that’s what I figured was going on here. > [@Dinsdale](#): > > So was it kosher for Mike and Jimmy to simply say it wasn’t Tuco’s gun? I thought the deal was to say it was Mike’s gun. And I’m really disliking Mike’s DiL. Maybe it’s like pleading the fifth? But it does make it more obvious to the prosecutors that Mike had been threatened and/or bribed compared to if he had some story about how he didn’t want to say it was his gun. And I’m not sure what to think about his DiL. I started off wanting to give her the benefit of the doubt, and I was thinking that she legitimately thought she had heard gunshots at her old house because of stress and everything. But asking for that nice expensive house, and she has to know that Mike isn’t getting his money in legitimate ways. Maybe she knows that she’s using him and he’s getting his money in shady ways, but doesn’t know how dangerous the things he’s doing are. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_John_Marcej)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-2-07-inflatable-3-28-16/750500/59 "2016-03-30T14:18:32Z")
> [@Sam\_Lowry](#): > > And I’m not sure what to think about his DiL. I started off wanting to give her the benefit of the doubt, and I was thinking that she legitimately thought she had heard gunshots at her old house because of stress and everything. But asking for that nice expensive house, and she has to know that Mike isn’t getting his money in legitimate ways. Maybe she knows that she’s using him and he’s getting his money in shady ways, but doesn’t know how dangerous the things he’s doing are. Maybe she still blames Mike for the death of her husband, whether consciously or subconsciously she feels vindicated by using him to get what she wants. ---
**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 30, 2016, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-2-07-inflatable-3-28-16/750500/60 "2016-03-30T14:18:52Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > So was it kosher for Mike and Jimmy to simply say it wasn’t Tuco’s gun? I thought the deal was to say it was Mike’s gun. And I’m really disliking Mike’s DiL. I am not so sure it is kosher. That might explain why Mike was staking out the Taco place - he knows there’ll be trouble coming down for this. ISTM, the cops would suspect bribery or extortion even if he HAD said the gun was his but actively claiming the gun and simply refusing to testify that the gun was Tuco’s are not at all equivalent. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-2-07-inflatable-3-28-16/750500.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-2-07-inflatable-3-28-16/750500.md?page=4)