# Better Call Saul season 5 (spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 24, 2020, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428 "2020-02-24T11:43:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428/281 "2020-04-07T21:23:44Z")
> [@DrForrester](#): > > My guess regarding Kim - > > Kim is forced to launder cartel cash through Mesa Verde. She resists, ultimately is forced to do so, then gets caught & imprisoned. > > If Mike keeps the cartel $$, that would be a big win for Gus - repaying him for the fire & chicken slaughtering line & the costs involved with the Zeigler Operation. It would also keep Lalo in prison. > > I don’t know how Saul walks away from that with his life, however. They don’t want Lalo in prison. They want him out, presumably, so they can kill him. ---
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428/282 "2020-04-07T21:41:53Z")
> [@Crane](#): > > However, why was Mike driving up the road following the bad guys. Mike had a tracker on Saul. That’s why he took the gas cap. When he puts it in his bag you can see the receiver stowed away. How he found out about the exchange? Don’t know yet, but my guess is he found out through Nacho. I don’t know if he called Nacho to arrange the cash, or he made the call direct from his cell. > [@Crane](#): > > If he had the road under surveillance he would have been in a key position to stop anyone on the road, And why didn’t the Salamanca twins see the gang of cars on their way out. They each went out the way they came in. The twins went back to Mexico, Jimmy went back to Albuquerque. The intercept was on the road back to Albuquerque. And Mike was in a key position. He was able to set up an ambush on the ambushers because he was watching the road. > [@Crane](#): > > And how did the bad guys get cars on both sides of Jimmie. Group A sets up a roadblock. Group B drives down the road and conceals the car. When Jimmy passes Group B, they pull out from cover and follow so Jimmy can’t flip the car around and flee when he reaches the roadblock. > [@Crane](#): > > And why was Mike driving an untraceable truck if he did not plan to abandon it. Mike thought it was possible that he would be in a gunfight. If he is, and something happens to his truck, his traceable property is now at the scene of a crime. Why not bring an untraceable vehicle? > [@Crane](#): > > And why was the truck suddenly leaking fuel or water or whatever. I don’t believe it was in the battle. And why didn’t they search the wrecked cars for water. Everybody carries enough water for themselves, an emergency and the car. I carry eight gallons. Why would they? It’s less than 30 miles in off the highway. Wouldn’t be surprised if they only brought beer. It is not that hard to find people not prepared for shit happening in their cars. I missed that part, but when Mike pulls up the survivor bad guy opens up with his rifle before fleeing. I think that’s when his truck gets hit. > [@Crane](#): > > And why didn’t they stash the cash and set up an ambush for the missing bad guy. They had enough guns and ammo to fight a war. Mike knew he’d be back. And, oh yeah, by morning there would have been scores of vultures circling such a tasty site drawing cadres of police vehicles up the road. Because there’s a concern he comes back with friends? Friends who know they’re up against a sniper, and will be better prepared? Doesn’t matter what guns Mike lifts from the dead – there’s only him shooting. That’s not a war. Why would a cadre of police go out to see vultures? Animals die all the time. It’s not like they only circle for people. > [@Crane](#): > > Lalo must have set it up through Nacho and Nacho told Gus and Mike may have been sent to intercept the cash, but Nacho sent his guys to steal it first, or something like that. But, who cares, it was BCS and I love it! I don’t think Nacho would try to steal it, as if he found out about it through Lalo he’s #1 on the shit list. Lalo does mention there are factions that want him in jail, and I think it driven by that angle. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428/283 "2020-04-07T21:42:15Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > I’m wondering who the guys are who tried to rob Saul. They knew he was there and that he had money; it wasn’t an opportunistic grab. They obviously weren’t Gus’s guys, since Mike works for Gus. The Salamancas presumably want Lalo to get his bail. So is this some third cartel faction? Corrupt cops? Mercenaries hired by Frau Ziegler? > > ETA: Perhaps Nacho trying to pull strings from afar? I was wondering this too. I think it has to be an internal cartel struggle. With Hector out of the business though, who would have done so? I hope it’s not Deus Ex robbery. ---
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428/284 "2020-04-07T21:45:48Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > I thought that as well. But even after the wreck, I thought they might find a cooler full of ice cold bottled water in the wrecked vehicle, 3 minutes after Saul had to drink his own urine. 🙂 I thought about that, but I don’t believe the point of this episode is to play for humor, but to show a turning point. Like the reasons Mike explained, Jimmy’s discovered why he’s out there, and has found the strength to overcome his weaknesses to get out. If Mike had handed him a bottle of water afterwards it would have been just another shit moment in Jimmy’s life. Instead, I think this is a turning point in his character, and more of the “Nice Jimmy” is going away. He’s not leaving the desert the same man that went in. ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428/285 "2020-04-07T23:46:46Z")
Patch - interesting comments. I didn’t pick up on the gas cap. Noticed it but let it slide. In New Mexico we carry water even on I25 or I10. The twins and Jimmie left by the same road. They both had to get back to I25. I’ll watch it again tonight. The wife was asleep and wants to see it. ---
**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:** [April 8, 2020, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428/286 "2020-04-08T00:11:43Z")
That last guy they killed was carrying water. Mike pulls out the jug, but it has been ruptured and only a few drops spill out. > [@friedo](#): > > Assuming he shot the tire, yeah. Old SUVs like that are crazy top-heavy and he was going fast. Spinning out on a flat like that can definitely roll you. It doesn’t mean it’s _likely_, but it’s possible. I think all of you guys are making it too complicated. IMO Mike was aiming at the driver, not the tires or anything else. On the Insider podcast, they said that stuntman is the best in the business at making vehicles go into those kinds of rolls. They didn’t mention anything about explosives or anything like that: it sounds to me like he just makes the vehicle do that purely by something he does with the steering wheel. Thus, logically, someone driving at high speed could do it accidentally upon being hit by a bullet. > [@UltraVires](#): > > Is there any reason that Kim has to be dead/gone/in prison when we get to the Breaking Bad years? I don’t remember the show going into a lot of detail about Saul’s home life. Is there any reason that Kim couldn’t have been doing pretty much what she is now throughout Breaking Bad, but the show never mentions her? The writers have not spoken on the subject, but Rhea Seehorn, who plays Kim, has advanced exactly this hypothesis in interviews. Speaking of Seehorn, there’s a great interview with her by the Ringer’s Chris Ryan in a recent (maybe the latest?) episode of The Watch podcast. She is such a great actor, it was no surprise to hear that her method involves a very specific paradigm I hadn’t heard of (I guess the only one I’ve heard of is “The Method”) called “practical aesthetics” (I haven’t Googled it yet, but it’s got to be a good approach if someone as stellar as she is uses it). A charming little detail that made me like her even more: for all her clear intelligence, she thinks singing without instrumental accompaniment is called “a capello”. I rewound it three times to make sure! Aww. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428/287 "2020-04-08T00:27:14Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > Speaking of Seehorn, there’s a great interview with her by the Ringer’s Chris Ryan in a recent (maybe the latest?) episode of The Watch podcast. It’s a good interview. The guys at the Ringer love her. For those interested in Seehorn, I suggest checking out Alan Sepinwall’s recent [profile of her](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-features/better-call-saul-rhea-seehorn-interview-971200/) for Rolling Stone. I find it interesting just how many talented actors Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul have pulled out of obscurity. Good writing is of course immensely important, but their casting directors also seem to have the Midas touch. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428/288 "2020-04-08T00:42:45Z")
That whole shootout–actually what remained in the aftermath–reminded me of the scene that Josh Brolin stumbled upon in _No Country For Old Men_. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428/289 "2020-04-08T02:13:51Z")
> [@Crane](#): > > And, oh yeah, by morning there would have been scores of vultures circling such a tasty site drawing cadres of police vehicles up the road. How big do you think vultures are? No matter how many vultures there were, they wouldn’t be visible from 30 miles away (or even 10 miles away). And even if cops did see it, they would assume it was a couple of dead livestock, not a massacre. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428/290 "2020-04-08T02:16:31Z")
Excellent episode in true Gilligan style. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428/291 "2020-04-08T02:29:35Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > I’m wondering who the guys are who tried to rob Saul. They knew he was there and that he had money; it wasn’t an opportunistic grab. They obviously weren’t Gus’s guys, since Mike works for Gus. The Salamancas presumably want Lalo to get his bail. So is this some third cartel faction? Corrupt cops? Mercenaries hired by Frau Ziegler? > > ETA: Perhaps Nacho trying to pull strings from afar? > [@Hatchie](#): > > Remember the guy in the money-counting place who saw the twins leave with bags o’ loot, and made a phone call? I assume that has something to do with it. The guy on the phone, who works for (but isn’t loyal to) the Salamancas, said “I’ve got something for him if he’s still interested.” So he’s the one who tipped off the ambushers about the money. It remains to be seen who “he” is, but it doesn’t seem to be Salamanca management or Gus. ---
**Author:** ![splatterpunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3be4f8/32.png) [@splatterpunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/splatterpunk)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428/292 "2020-04-08T02:31:12Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > That whole shootout–actually what remained in the aftermath–reminded me of the scene that Josh Brolin stumbled upon in _No Country For Old Men_. Yep. And that spot under the trees where Mike and Jimmy rested was reminiscent of the spot where Josh found the dead guy with the money. ---
**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:** [April 8, 2020, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428/293 "2020-04-08T03:00:23Z")
I guarantee Saul’s not absconding with the money. And it wouldn’t keep Lalo in prison anyway, since that money room had apparently hundreds of millions left after the cousins finished filling their bags (those were kind of neat, how they unfolded, BTW). ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428/294 "2020-04-08T04:27:26Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > I guarantee Saul’s not absconding with the money. And it wouldn’t keep Lalo in prison anyway, since that money room had apparently hundreds of millions left after the cousins finished filling their bags (those were kind of neat, how they unfolded, BTW). In the sneak peak we [see](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiObIrDFEpE) Saul delivering the money to the courthouse. So Lalo is definitely getting out. Whether he makes it back to Mexico is anyone’s guess. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428/295 "2020-04-08T05:33:29Z")
> [@Pantastic](#): > > Post therapy-and-meditation Howard offering Jimmy a job was a surprise for me - I really didn’t think that would be his angle. I think Howard must think that the document doctoring was all in Chuck’s head, because I can’t see him wanting to bring Jimmy in otherwise. I don’t think Saul will seriously try to work for HHM, but I wouldn’t put it past Saul to accept the job and do something to tarnish what he sees as his brother’s legacy. > . . . Saul was deeply insulted by this offer of charity. Howard basically says he wants Jimmy as a salesman, not as a lawyer. Saul wants to make Howard pay through the arse for underestimating him. > [@DrCube](#): > > . . . > When Gus tells Mike he understands revenge too, is he talking about the crooked cops in Philly? If so, how did he know about them? Or is it something else? Remember “Because I’m not done with Hector Salamanca.”? > [@Lamoral](#): > > The guy who plays Schweikart, by the way - [Dennis Boutsikaris](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Boutsikaris) - . . . I looked over his full list of credits and I _haven’t_ seen _any_ of them. So I think it’s that he reminds me strongly of another actor. But who? Murphy Brown, ER, The X-Files, Monk, Law and Order, CSI (three versions of it), House, The Good Wife, Elementary You’ve seriously never seen any of these?!? He’s in EVerything. > [@friedo](#): > > The chicken was frozen, so when it hits the hot oil it goes [FWOOSH](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gn895y4wkc). No, I still have the same question. Your video shows a pot of oil above an open flame. Commercial deep fryer flames are necessarily quite well housed from the oil. I understand that the oil would splash impressively, but I’m not so sure about the ignition. Also, even if it works, this is a method that a chicken restaurant owner would think of. Its not what some mob dufus sent to create chaos would come up with. They don’t know from hot oil and frozen chicken. > [@Pantastic](#): > > Not very long, I think. Kim was hoping that the marriage would reign Jimmy in, and isn’t a fan of the ‘friend of the cartel’ business. Shes going to call him out on that even more, but might still go along with it because she has gotten on the ride. I don’t think she was hoping any such thing. I think she finally realized that he was not going to change and then that she didn’t want to give him up anyway. So she did what would protect her in the seemingly inevitable event that he goes to prison. ---
**Author:** ![TheSundial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6f9a4e/32.png) [@TheSundial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheSundial)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428/296 "2020-04-08T06:18:10Z")
So if the man on the phone tipped of someone unknown that set up the ambush then who sent Mike? He could only be sent by Gus unless he was tailing Jimmy. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428/297 "2020-04-08T07:11:26Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > Remember “Because I’m not done with Hector Salamanca.”? Also, Gus would obviously be checking into Mike’s background. The unsolved murder of Matt Ehrmantraut, and then the also-unsolved murders of two Philly cops who happened to know him would be matters of public record. Gus is smart and could easily put 2+2 together to figure that out. (Just like the Philly detectives did, but couldn’t prove.) > [@](#): > > No, I still have the same question. Your video shows a pot of oil above an open flame. Commercial deep fryer flames are necessarily quite well housed from the oil. I understand that the oil would splash impressively, but I’m not so sure about the ignition. Good point. Maybe there was a gas-fired grill near the fryer or something. > [@](#): > > Also, even if it works, this is a method that a chicken restaurant owner would think of. Its not what some mob dufus sent to create chaos would come up with. They don’t know from hot oil and frozen chicken. One of the things that I really love about this show (and also _Breaking Bad_) is that it doesn’t usually insult the characters’ intelligence. The professional criminals in the show may not be geniuses, but they tend to be pretty savvy (except Tuco). Same with the cops and federal agents. I view the whole arson episode as akin to the horse head in _The Godfather_. The Salamancas wanted to send Gus a very specific message. What better way to fuck with “the chicken man” than to blow up his restaurant using a chicken? Remember, the arson _has to appear_ as if it came from the Salamancas, not some random methed-up 50% off knuckleheads. All of this assumed the chicken actually survives the fire, of course. I’m curious to see what the arson investigators think. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428/298 "2020-04-08T07:13:58Z")
> [@TheSundial](#): > > So if the man on the phone tipped of someone unknown that set up the ambush then who sent Mike? He could only be sent by Gus unless he was tailing Jimmy. Gus definitely sent Mike to follow Jimmy. Gus has people following everyone. ---
**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:** [April 8, 2020, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428/299 "2020-04-08T07:14:30Z")
The arson method is perhaps a little too cute. ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428/300 "2020-04-08T11:16:28Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > People always cite this as their rebuttal whenever I argue about this, and I think that’s telling… > IMO it’s not heartbreaking at all to watch Jimmy become Saul. It’s awesome. What’s heartbreaking is to see him become Gene. Even if you discount the opening episode, the rest of Saul’s career on BB can be summed up as “facilitating the murders and crimes of murderous criminals”. This goes beyond “not super ethical”. Over the course of the show gets more and more mired in criminal conspiracy to the point in season 5 where he recommends to Walt that Jesse be killed like [a rabid dog](https://breakingbad.fandom.com/wiki/Rabid_Dog). Jimmy becoming Saul is not awesome, it’s tragic. Jimmy has been given several opportunities to have jobs where he can use his unique talents legally and successfully,and thus build a life together with Kim. He rejects all of these, and ends up as Saul in BB BB ends for Saul with his one-way trip with the vacuum repair guy. You say it’s heart-breaking to see him become Gene: Jimmy became Gene because and only because he first became Saul. And Gene was the _best possible_ ending Saul could have had. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428.md?page=16)