Breaking Down ‘Saul’: “Carrot and Stick” (Season 6, Episode 2)

“Whatever happens next, it’s not gonna go down the way you think it is.”

In the second part of Better Call Saul‘s two-episode premiere event, “Carrot and Stick”, Mike (Jonathan Banks) gets down to business at Nacho’s (Michael Mando) house. He offers Nacho’s girlfriends some cash to get outta dodge, and gets up to some funny business around his place (obviously on Gus’s orders). They replace Nacho’s safe with a new one and plant an envelope intended to lead Bolsa and the Salamancas right to him, throwing them off Gus’s trail. Nacho, stir-crazy in his motel room and sure he’s being watched, makes a break for it just in time for the Salamancas to ambush the place. He struggles to hot wire a truck to speed away in, drawing the attention of the cousins, who want to take him in alive. It’s thrilling stuff, the kind of sequence that made Breaking Bad such an exhilarating watch at its height. (I found myself checking my pulse more than once). After an intense shootout, Nacho escapes, but it won’t be long before the Salamancas (and everyone else) are on his tail again.

Gustavo (Giancarlo Esposito) is distressed by Nacho’s disappearance, worried he might blow the whole operation. Even if Mike knows he’s lost Nacho, he seems determined to keep Nacho’s father out of it all, and when Gustavo suggests they bring in the senior Varga, Mike vehemently opposes. Mike doesn’t often disagree with his employer, but this seems like where he draws the line. Only time will tell if Gustavo will respect it, but one thing’s for sure: he’s got bigger fish to fry. After visiting Hector (Mark Margolis) and receiving a stunning handshake, Gustavo knows Lalo is still alive. And he knows he’ll be at the top of Lalo’s list for revenge.

While matters of life and death rage on in the desert, Jimmy (Bob Odenkirk) and Kim (Rhea Seehorn) continue their plot against Howard by turning to some familiar faces: the Kettlemans. The disgraced couple are less than thrilled by this blast from the past, but intrigued by the idea Jimmy pitches them: exoneration for Craig via suing HH&M on the grounds of inadequate representation. (Yep. Publicly accusing Howard of being a cokehead). Unwilling to give Jimmy the business, the Kettlemans take this case to Cliff Main (Ed Begley Jr.), who turns them away (along with several other firms). It seems no one is willing to believe Howard Hamlin was “nose deep in the devil’s dandruff”, and the Kettlemans now don’t believe it, either. When they threaten Jimmy, Kim decides it’s time for the gloves to come off: no more “carrot”. She makes a call to a buddy at the IRS and informs them that she knows of a small business committing tax refund fraud, which scares the hell out of the Kettlemans – especially because Craig would be facing a lot more prison time if convicted. Looks like the Kettlemans might be cooperative after all. (And Kim might be more conniving than Jimmy – or any of us – ever imagined).

If there was ever any doubt Better Call Saul might not finish strong, “Wine and Roses” and “Carrot and Stick” quickly remind us why it’s one of the best shows on television. There’s heart-racing suspense and intrigue, beautiful little moments of character development. It’s hard to ask for much more. And Kim! God, Kim. In these first episodes of Season 6, Kim is acting more like Saul Goodman than Jimmy is. Scheming and plotting and reveling in taking people down never seemed to be Kim’s jam before, but boy, has she changed. Rhea Seehorn has long been the series’ most under-appreciated hero, and watching the way Kim has evolved and grown in her hands since she dressed down Lalo last season only speaks further to her immense, one-of-a-kind talent. If this is only the beginning of the season, I’m equal parts terrified and thrilled to see what else is in store for Kim Wexler.

What do we have? 

We finally discover the origination of the famous inflatable Lady Liberty, seen here at the Kettlemans’ Sweet Liberty Tax Services.

Seem familiar? 

We first see Lady Liberty when Saul is introduced in Breaking Bad Season 2, Episode 8, “Better Call Saul“.

What do we have? 

A customer of the Kettlemans named Joseph Prado has his truck parked outside their office.

Seem familiar?

That looks an awful lot like the beat up Chevrolet truck Walter buys off a man in the desert in Breaking Bad Season 5, Episode 14, “Ozymandias.” Saginaw Grant, who played the owner of the truck on Breaking Bad, passed away last year, so it’s entirely possible that the man getting his tax refund is the same character now recast.

That’s all ’til next week, folks!

Jade Budowski is a freelance writer with a knack for ruining punchlines, hogging the mic at karaoke, and thirst-tweeting. Follow her on Twitter: @jadebudowski.