Something Beautiful (Better Call Saul)

Last updated
"Something Beautiful"
Better Call Saul episode
Episode no.Season 4
Episode 3
Directed by Daniel Sackheim
Written by Gordon Smith
Featured music"The Elements" by Tom Lehrer
Editing by Skip Macdonald
Original air dateAugust 20, 2018 (2018-08-20)
Running time43 minutes
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
← Previous
"Breathe"		Next →
"Talk"
Better Call Saul season 4
List of episodes

"Something Beautiful" is the third episode of the fourth season of the AMC television series Better Call Saul , a spin-off series of Breaking Bad . The episode aired on August 20, 2018, on AMC in the United States. Outside of the United States, the episode premiered on streaming service Netflix in several countries.

Contents

Plot

Nacho Varga aids Victor and Tyrus Kitt in making it appear that Nacho's car was attacked and the drugs he and Arturo Colon picked up at Los Pollos Hermanos [lower-alpha 1] were stolen. Victor and Tyrus riddle the car and Arturo's body with bullets and shoot Nacho twice. Nacho calls the Cousins, who burn the car and take Nacho to veterinarian Dr. Caldera, who succeeds in saving Nacho's life.

Juan Bolsa tells Gus Fring that because drug and cash shipments have been disrupted several times, Gus should begin investigating the feasibility of making meth within the United States rather than relying on cocaine from Mexico, unaware this is what Gus intended. Gus visits Gale Boetticher, a post-graduate student and researcher at the University of New Mexico, who reports on the poor quality of a meth sample Gus asked him to evaluate. Gale says he could produce a higher quality product, but Gus assures him he is destined for better things.

Jimmy McGill asks Mike Ehrmantraut to steal a valuable Hummel figurine from Neff Copiers [lower-alpha 1] and replace it with an inexpensive one that looks similar. Mike refuses, so Jimmy turns to Ira. Ira agrees, but during the theft, he finds one of the owners is sleeping in the office. Ira calls Jimmy, who creates a distraction that enables Ira to leave with the Hummel.

Kim Wexler returns to work on the Mesa Verde account. Bank president Kevin Wachtell welcomes her back and shows her plans for the bank's aggressive expansion. Concerned about the rate of growth, and increasingly bored with banking law, Kim gives more of the work to her paralegal, Viola Goto, and asks to be dropped off at the courthouse.

The next morning, Kim gives Jimmy Chuck McGill's letter. [lower-alpha 1] Kim offers to leave him to read it alone, but says she wants to stay after Jimmy suggests it. The letter is undated but appears to have been written when Jimmy worked in HHM's mailroom. [1] [2] [3] On the surface the letter is full of praise, but it is slightly condescending and contains backhanded compliments. [1] [2] [4] Jimmy does not respond emotionally and calls it "nice", but Kim begins crying and runs off to their bedroom. [1] [3]

Production

"Something Beautiful" is the first Better Call Saul episode for Breaking Bad character Gale Boetticher, portrayed by David Costabile (pictured). David Costabile cropped.jpg
"Something Beautiful" is the first Better Call Saul episode for Breaking Bad character Gale Boetticher, portrayed by David Costabile (pictured).

This episode includes the first appearance of Gale Boetticher, a major character from Breaking Bad's third season played by David Costabile, into Better Call Saul. Costabile had been in Albuquerque filming Dig while Better Call Saul's team was wrapping up production of the final episode of the first season. He ran into co-producer Peter Gould and had a meal with him, during which they agreed that it would be great to have Gale appear on Better Call Saul. Costabile had not thought about it until he was contacted by the show's team, asking if he was ready to come back as Gale. Costabile was able to work in filming for Better Call Saul between filming on Billions . [5] Costabile had only about a week with the script to memorize both his lines and to be able to sing karaoke to Tom Lehrer's "The Elements", in contrast to his past singing performances on Breaking Bad where he had more time to learn the lyrics. [5] His filming for the episode, done within a day, was between shooting shots for Billions, requiring him to keep his beard he had grown for the role in Billions; Costabile considered this part of developing the background of the Gale character. [6]

Reception

"Something Beautiful" received critical acclaim. On Rotten Tomatoes, it garnered a perfect 100% rating with an average score of 9/10 based on 18 reviews. The site consensus reads, "'Something Beautiful' is full of strong, small moments that continue to drive the show's complicated characters forward – if ever so slowly." [7]

Ratings

"Something Beautiful" was watched by 1.51 million viewers in the United States on its original air date. [8]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 As seen in "Breathe".

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saul Goodman</span> Fictional character in Breaking Bad series

James Morgan "Jimmy" McGill, better known by his business name Saul Goodman, is a fictional character created by Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould and portrayed by Bob Odenkirk in the television franchise Breaking Bad. He appears as a major character in Breaking Bad (2008–2013) and as the titular protagonist of its spin-off Better Call Saul (2015–2022).

<i>Better Call Saul</i> American crime drama television series (2015–2022)

Better Call Saul is an American legal crime drama television series created by Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould for AMC. Part of the Breaking Bad franchise, it is a spin-off from Gilligan's previous series, Breaking Bad (2008–2013), to which it serves primarily as a prequel, with some scenes taking place during and after the events of Breaking Bad. Better Call Saul premiered on AMC on February 8, 2015, and ended on August 15, 2022, after six seasons consisting of 63 episodes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gus Fring</span> Fictional character in the Breaking Bad franchise

Gustavo Fring is a fictional character portrayed by Giancarlo Esposito in the Breaking Bad franchise, serving as a major antagonist in the crime drama series Breaking Bad and a supporting character in its prequel Better Call Saul. He is a Chilean-American businessman and major narcotics distributor in the Southwestern United States who uses several legitimate businesses, including a chain of successful fast food restaurants called Los Pollos Hermanos and an industrial laundry facility called Lavandería Brillante, as fronts used to launder money for a vast drug operation.

"Nacho" is the third episode of the first season of the AMC television series Better Call Saul, the spinoff series of Breaking Bad. The episode aired on February 16, 2015 and lasted 45 minutes and 12 seconds, on AMC in the United States. Outside of the United States, the episode premiered on streaming service Netflix in several countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kim Wexler</span> Fictional character from Better Call Saul

Kimberly Wexler is a fictional character in the television series Better Call Saul, a spin-off of Breaking Bad. Kim is primarily portrayed by Rhea Seehorn, and was created by Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould. An intelligent and proficient lawyer, she is the confidant and love interest of Jimmy McGill / Saul Goodman, whom she later marries. Kim's characterization and Seehorn's performance have received critical acclaim, earning her two Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series nominations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nacho Varga</span> Fictional character in the television series Better Call Saul

Ignacio "Nacho" Varga is a fictional character who appears in the AMC television series Better Call Saul, a prequel spin-off of Breaking Bad. He is portrayed by Michael Mando and was created by Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould.

<i>Better Call Saul</i> season 4 Fourth season of the AMC crime drama television series

The fourth season of the American television drama series Better Call Saul premiered on August 6, 2018, and concluded on October 8, 2018. The fourth season consists of 10 episodes and aired on Mondays at 9:00 pm (Eastern) in the United States on AMC. A spin-off prequel of Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul was created by Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould, both of whom also worked on Breaking Bad.

"Off Brand" is the sixth episode of the third season of the AMC television series Better Call Saul, the spinoff series of Breaking Bad. The episode aired on May 15, 2017 on AMC in the United States. Outside of the United States, the episode premiered on streaming service Netflix in several countries.

<i>Better Call Saul</i> season 3 Third season of the AMC crime drama television series

The third season of the American television drama series Better Call Saul premiered on April 10, 2017, and concluded on June 19, 2017. The ten-episode season was broadcast on Monday nights in the United States on AMC. A spin-off of Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul was created by Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould, both of whom also worked on Breaking Bad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Ehrmantraut</span> Fictional character from Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul

Michael Ehrmantraut is a fictional character in the television series Breaking Bad and its spinoff prequel Better Call Saul, portrayed by Jonathan Banks. Mike is a former Philadelphia police officer and United States Marine Corps veteran who works for Gus Fring—and, on occasion, Saul Goodman—as a private investigator, head of security, cleaner, and hitman. While an officer in Philadelphia, he engaged in corrupt activities that indirectly led to the death of his son Matt, leading Mike to move to Albuquerque to watch over and financially support his daughter-in-law Stacey and granddaughter Kaylee through jobs in the criminal underworld.

"Talk" is the fourth episode of the fourth season of the American television drama series Better Call Saul, the spinoff series of Breaking Bad. Written by Heather Marion and directed by John Shiban, "Talk" aired on AMC in the United States on August 27, 2018. Outside of the United States, the episode premiered on streaming service Netflix in several countries.

"Breathe" is the second episode of the fourth season of the AMC television series Better Call Saul, a spin-off series of Breaking Bad. The episode aired on August 13, 2018, on AMC in the United States. Outside of the United States, the episode premiered on streaming service Netflix in several countries.

"Wiedersehen" is the ninth and penultimate episode of the fourth season of the AMC television series Better Call Saul, the spinoff series of Breaking Bad. The episode aired on October 1, 2018, on AMC in the United States. Outside of the United States, the episode premiered on streaming service Netflix in several countries.

"Winner" is the tenth and final episode of the fourth season of the AMC television series Better Call Saul, the spinoff series of Breaking Bad. The episode aired on October 8, 2018, on AMC in the United States. Outside of the United States, the episode premiered on streaming service Netflix in several countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lalo Salamanca</span> Character from the TV series "Better Call Saul"

Eduardo "Lalo" Salamanca is a fictional character in the AMC television series Better Call Saul, which is a companion show to Breaking Bad. Lalo, who was created by Peter Gould and screenwriter Gordon Smith, and is portrayed by Tony Dalton, is introduced in the show's fourth season. Lalo is mentioned in dialogue in the Breaking Bad episode "Better Call Saul" that introduces Saul Goodman, though Lalo does not appear in the series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">50% Off</span> 2nd episode of the 5th season of Better Call Saul

"50% Off" is the second episode of the fifth season of the AMC television series Better Call Saul, a spin-off series of Breaking Bad. The episode aired on February 24, 2020, on AMC, in the United States. Outside of the United States, the episode premiered on the streaming service Netflix in several countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bad Choice Road</span> 9th episode of the 5th season of Better Call Saul

"Bad Choice Road" is the ninth and penultimate episode of the fifth season of the AMC crime drama television series Better Call Saul, a spin-off series of Breaking Bad. The episode aired on April 13, 2020, on AMC in the United States. Outside of the United States, the episode premiered on streaming service Netflix in several countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Something Unforgivable</span> 10th episode of the 5th season of Better Call Saul

"Something Unforgivable" is the tenth and final episode of the fifth season of the AMC television series Better Call Saul, a spin-off series of Breaking Bad. The episode aired on April 20, 2020, on AMC in the United States and Canada. Outside of the United States, the episode premiered on streaming service Netflix in several countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carrot and Stick</span> 2nd episode of the 6th season of Better Call Saul

"Carrot and Stick" is the second episode of the sixth season of Better Call Saul, the spin-off television series of Breaking Bad. Vince Gilligan directed the episode written by Thomas Schnauz and Ariel Levine. The episode aired back-to-back with "Wine and Roses" on April 18, 2022, on AMC and AMC+. In several countries outside the United States and Canada, the episode premiered on Netflix the following day.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Heil, Aaron (August 31, 2018). "Better Call Saul 4 x 3, "Something Beautiful"". The Game of Nerds. San Martin, CA: Aaron Heil. Retrieved August 20, 2020. Chuck has crafted a condescending, picture perfect version of their relationship.
  2. 1 2 Bloom, Andrew (August 27, 2018). "Better Call Saul: Nacho and Kim Are in Too Deep in "Something Beautiful"". The Andrew Blog. Andrew Bloom. Retrieved August 20, 2020. At the end of the episode, Jimmy sees the piddling distribution Chuck left for him, reads a mildly condescending but still genuine and heartfelt letter from his brother, but remains nonplussed.
  3. 1 2 Herzog, Kenny (August 20, 2018). "Better Call Saul Recap: Letter-Day Saints". Vulture.com. New York, NY. Retrieved August 20, 2020. After Jimmy reads aloud his brother's unconvincing letter professing reluctant sibling admiration (color me surprised that development occurred so matter-of-factly), she tears up and gets some distance, coming to terms for the first time with the pure tragedy of it all.
  4. ↑ Sepinwall, Alan (August 20, 2018). "'Better Call Saul' Recap: Dead Letter Office". Rolling Stone. New York, NY. Retrieved August 20, 2020. In a poignant twist, it's followed by Kim finally giving him the letter from Chuck. ... But those good feelings were based on a very specific set of circumstances, particularly Chuck's need to feel superior to his troublemaking kid brother.
  5. 1 2 Snierson, Dan (August 21, 2018). "Breaking Bad alum on his surprise Better Call Saul appearance — and whether he'll sing again". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  6. ↑ Fienberg, Daniel (August 21, 2018). "'Breaking Bad' Favorite Discusses His 'Better Call Saul' Debut in "Something Beautiful"". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Something Beautiful". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  8. ↑ Welch, Alex (August 14, 2018). "Monday cable ratings: 'WWE Raw' ticks up, 'Better Call Saul' dips". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on August 15, 2018. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.