# 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:** 26
**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 21, 2020, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428/501 "2020-04-21T19:55:56Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Just a note, but I believe $8M is the total cut for all lawyers and Saul is entitled to a percentage of that. I think he said his final cut would be in the ballpark of $2M given Kim’s estimate of the settlement. > [@Pantastic](#): > > OK, I thought his cut had gone up that much. $2m is much easier to run out, even if there isn’t a disaster of any sort. Just did the math - according to Kim, Piper’s last offer was $26 million. The total lawyer cut was stated as one third, so assuming 33.3% that’s $8.658 million. Jimmy is entitled to 20% of that, so **$1.731 million**. That’s certainly enough to start two cheap storefront businesses( legal aid for the downtrodden and _Better Call Saul_ ), hire a few skilled workers away from their former firms in the short term and buy a decent house. But certainly not enough to retire in luxury. Especially not if future Kim is still working pro bono/nominal fee only with skilled salaried help supporting her. She’d be somewhat dependent on her slick husband’s income to continue to fund her charity work going forward. And a ‘Friend of the Cartel’ generates a lot more cash for good works than ambulance chasing. There are all sorts of hooks to keep Kim rationalizing away evil going forward. The early side speculation that we never saw/heard of Kim in BB due to him keeping her separate from his side of the business might actually work. Could be they didn’t split up for good until he was forced to flee and she just continued as a working poor lawyer for the downtrodden, her marital assets all seized by the government when Jimmy takes a powder. It’s still more likely she still comes to a bad end( or wises up and gets out ), but it is becoming slightly more plausible that any separation from Jimmy was purely involuntary and came at the end of BB, not before it. ---
**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:** [April 21, 2020, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428/502 "2020-04-21T22:03:56Z")
The guy standing at the open bathtub looking down into the tunnel was dumb - he should have been hiding in a corner of the room, because presumably other members of the household, if any are still alive, are going to run to this tunnel to try to escape, and he can shoot them as they enter the bathroom, as opposed to letting them sneak up behind him. And did the team leave _anybody_ outside? I assume they arrived in a vehicle of some kind; was there a driver? Is Nacho going to find their empty vehicle in the dark somehow or is he supposed to walk all the way back to town? ---
**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:** [April 21, 2020, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428/503 "2020-04-21T23:16:01Z")
Sending two people down the tunnel was ridiculous. Just one would have been reasonable. Lalo is fucked. How does he explain to Bolsa that the guy that he introduced as an unofficial Salamanca was a traitor? That was majorly poor judgment. The BB desert scene is about four years in the future from the events at the end of the most recent BCS season. At that time, Nacho could be dead but Saul at least thinks that Lalo is still alive. Kim may or may not be in the picture at that point. She could be dead, left Jimmy and somewhere else or she was around though some or all of BB but we never see her. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428/504 "2020-04-21T23:22:09Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Anyone else think the actor that plays Don Eladio has aged the most? He looks 30 years older. Yes, it grabbed me and yanked me right out of the immersion of the show. Steven Bauer is 63, and he looks every bit of it - gray, weathered, and considerably more frail than the hearty and hale Don Eladio of Breaking Bad. The difference is so striking that it would have been better to just not include the character at all. He did a commendable job conveying the distinctive vocal mannerisms, but the physical presence is just too incongruous, considering that it’s set many years before we see him in Breaking Bad. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428/505 "2020-04-22T01:37:33Z")
Mike looks like a hundred…or more ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428/506 "2020-04-22T01:45:41Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > The thing I love about Howard is that both Kim and Jimmy have the wrong idea about him, due to their particular perspectives and history. Howard is not a bad guy. He’s a spoiled rich kid with cheesy, stereotypical rich kid tastes and a sort of fake, ultraprofessional corporate attitude, but he’s not a bad guy. But he sided with Chuck against Jimmy and played the hard ass boss to Kim, so they both see him as worse than he actually is. I could see them ruining his life while thinking they’re just taking him down a peg. You can see that with Kim saying “it’s just a career setback”. They’re already minimizing in their minds what they plan to do to Howard. > > Also, I don’t think a couple million dollars is going to prevent Saul from becoming the guy we see in Breaking Bad. The Cadillac, the cheesy strip mall office with the columns and big desk and Constitution wallpaper, the ubiquitous over the top advertising, all his cheesy suits, those seem like just the sort of things a crooked lawyer with a big bankroll would spend his money on. Also, I expect he and Kim have a falling out, they split, and she takes half his money. I’m crossing my fingers that all this foreshadowing of Kim’s bad ending is just setting us up to subvert our expectations. Certainly Lalo, and probably Nacho, will die next season, but I think Kim’s ending will be sad but not violent or deadly. While I think it’s possible Saul and Kim are still together during Breaking Bad, I don’t think that’s actually going to be the case. Bob Odenkirk said he doesn’t think Saul in Breaking Bad is going home to Kim at night, and I believe him. I still don’t think she’ll die. I agree on Howard. At the very worst, his major flaw is he is a douchebag. I don’t think he had any malice for Jimmy and his job offer was genuine, in response Jimmy acted like a dick. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ---
**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 22, 2020, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428/507 "2020-04-22T01:54:59Z")
I liked the scene where Don Eladio talks to Nacho. One dressed in white, the other in black. ---
**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 22, 2020, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428/508 "2020-04-22T03:59:48Z")
I was surprised Kim didn’t blow Howard’s mind by telling him Jimmy actually tried to talk her out of quitting Schweikart & Cokely. > [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > I’ll have to think about it more, but I didn’t really like the finale. In the moment, didn’t buy Kim’s transformation. Obviously she’s been gradually going down a bad path, but pretty much everything she’s done so far has been 1) saving her/Jimmy, 2) against people that seemed shitty, or 3) can argue it’s victimless. Trying to destroy Howard doesn’t fit and rubbed me the wrong way. > > Agree on the assassins being amateurish. I didn’t flat out dislike the finale, but I definitely did not think it was as good as most of the other episodes this season. I agree that the Kim transformation is a little much to swallow. I assume they did not have this in mind all along, and it’s a little reminiscent of the Chuck heel turn, which they did not initially intend. I always think those kinds of twists are a little rough, when they weren’t woven into the writing and acting from the beginning. (See also: LOST, 24.) ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428/509 "2020-04-22T06:07:33Z")
I hope Kim survives to BB time. It makes more sense that way. ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428/510 "2020-04-22T06:18:47Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > I was surprised Kim didn’t blow Howard’s mind by telling him Jimmy actually tried to talk her out of quitting Schweikart & Cokely. > > I didn’t flat out dislike the finale, but I definitely did not think it was as good as most of the other episodes this season. I agree that the Kim transformation is a little much to swallow. I assume they did not have this in mind all along, and it’s a little reminiscent of the Chuck heel turn, which they did not initially intend. I always think those kinds of twists are a little rough, when they weren’t woven into the writing and acting from the beginning. (See also: LOST, 24.) Damn had no idea this was the Finale. I was looking forward to Monday night to see what Lalo will do! Agree the hit squad was amateur hour. Cartels typically hire highly trained former Mexican military special forces for this kinda of stuff. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Smid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Smid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smid)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428/511 "2020-04-22T07:51:33Z")
Worst assassins evah! Did they go to the stormtrooper school of gazing into the distance once the shooting stops? If I was a hired goon, and saw there was a tunnel, I’d be throwing a grenade down there to collapse it, then turning around and sweeping out the house, three man taking turns to cover and flank. Or set a trap lying on the floor waiting for the mark. Sending two men down the tunnel as TV stoopid. Having someone just watch, was TV stoopid… I think Gus skimped on the costs here… Especially with the competition being the almost godlike Salamanca cousins. ---
**Author:** ![Pantastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3bc359/32.png) [@Pantastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pantastic)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428/512 "2020-04-22T11:48:25Z")
> [@russian\_heel](#): > > Agree the hit squad was amateur hour. Cartels typically hire highly trained former Mexican military special forces for this kinda of stuff. The part that started bugging me plot wise is why they needed a guy inside - all they have Nacho do is open a single lock on a gate. There’s a bunch of different ways to get a locked gate open, and they could just bring a ladder or rope and grappling hooks to scale the wall and get inside without relying on someone who may not be able to get to the gate at the exact time needed. Their plan also seems like someone couldn’t decide between full-on stealth or shock-and-awe, and just sort of half-assed both. The cousins attack on the rival gang compound was more effective - hit the guard quickly and quietly, then rush in and kill everyone before they can figure out what’s going on - and they’re definitely not presented as professionals. It was really amateur hour. I’m kind of hoping that becomes a point between Gus and Mike next season, that the hit squad was just not competent and that they need to vet people like that better. ---
**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 22, 2020, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428/513 "2020-04-22T13:31:50Z")
Perhaps it wasn’t Gus/Mike. Why would they burn their inside asset? ---
**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 22, 2020, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428/514 "2020-04-22T14:11:09Z")
I don’t understand what Nacho was doing to the padlock on the compound gate to open it. Someone 'splain that, please? ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428/515 "2020-04-22T14:34:30Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I don’t understand what Nacho was doing to the padlock on the compound gate to open it. Someone 'splain that, please? Sliding thin metal down into the lock mechanism to push back the pins holding the bars in place…kind of like using a credit card to open a door lock. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428/516 "2020-04-22T14:42:50Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Sliding thin metal down into the lock mechanism to push back the pins holding the bars in place…kind of like using a credit card to open a door lock. Does that actually work IRL? > [@Pantastic](#): > > I think that Kim had idealistic ambitions of being a lawyer, put in the work to do it, and then had her spirit crushed when she got everything she wanted but it still didn’t satisfy her. I forget A LOT from previous seasons, but does anyone else remember the scenes of Kim and other associates doing endless hours of discover in a windowless room at HHM? IMO, one of the most realistic TV/movie portrayals of IRL lawyering. Here’s my problem w/ the tunnel bit - could ANYONE count on shooting down a long narrow tunnel through blind spraying? Couldn’t imagine why he didn’t jump down and aim. Had no idea this was the finale. So, anyone have any idea how long I have to forget all of this before the next season? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![DrForrester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8edcca/32.png) [@DrForrester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrForrester)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428/517 "2020-04-22T15:13:57Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Does that actually work IRL? It absolutely works. Shims are even available commercially if you want high quality for really well designed locks. (Some people cut soda cans down to size, as they are thin & curved.) Most locks aren’t particularly well designed. The one in the show looked ancient. Rust would’ve been my biggest concern. Locks, in general, do a good job of stopping casual people or unprepared people. They’re essentially window dressing against a well prepared professional person. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428/518 "2020-04-22T15:18:08Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Had no idea this was the finale. So, anyone have any idea how long I have to forget all of this before the next season? :rolleyes: Remember the old days, when TV series started a new season every September? 🙂 BCS season premieres: Season 1: 2/8/15 Season 2: 2/15/16 Season 3: 4/10/17 Season 4: 8/16/18 Season 5: 2/23/20 So: God (and Vince Gilligan) only knows. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428/519 "2020-04-22T15:33:50Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Remember the old days, when TV series started a new season every September? 🙂 > > BCS season premieres: > > Season 1: 2/8/15 > Season 2: 2/15/16 (12 mos) > Season 3: 4/10/17 (14 mos) > Season 4: 8/16/18 (16 mos) > Season 5: 2/23/20 (18 mos) > Season 6: 10/21 (20 mos?) So, ya gotta figure Nacho’s dad is as good as dead, no? How long did the events in this season’s shows cover? Didn’t seem too long to me. Couple of months? ---
**Author:** ![DrForrester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8edcca/32.png) [@DrForrester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrForrester)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428/520 "2020-04-22T15:57:18Z")
I’m guessing that Nacho is somehow saved by Mike, but saved in such a way that Gus believes that Nacho is dead. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428.md?page=25) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-5-spoilers/848428.md?page=27)