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Warning: This post contains spoilers for Monday’s Better Call Saul midseason finale.
We thought Better Call Saul might end the first half of its final season with a bang — but we didn’t know that would literally be true.
The last few minutes of Monday’s midseason finale left us with our jaws on the floor, as a defeated Howard confronted Jimmy and Kim after their carefully planned scheme to humiliate him and get the Sandpiper case settled worked like a charm. Howard came to their apartment to congratulate them and then to berate them — but he was interrupted by Lalo, who barged in wanting to speak to his lawyers while he calmly screwed a silencer into his pistol. Before anyone could react, he nonchalantly shot Howard in the head, leaving him to die on the floor before turning to Jimmy and Kim: “OK… let’s talk.”
Yeah, after seeing that, we definitely did need to talk, so TVLine reached out to Saul executive producer Thomas Schnauz — who wrote and directed this episode — to unpack that shocking final moment, what Howard’s murder means for Jimmy and Kim’s future and what’s on tap for Saul‘s final six episodes (premiering July 11).
TVLINE | Peter Gould told me you and the writers didn’t know the final season would be split in two when you were writing it. But you couldn’t have picked a better scene to end on, could you?
It’s really funny… I mean, in the history of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, we’ve had some very good luck — and I don’t want to call Bob [Odenkirk] having his heart incident and COVID “luck” — but facing these horrible things and doing what it did to the season, it just so happened that Howard’s death came right in the middle of the season. And it was a good breaking point, midseason, for AMC.
TVLINE | Did you always know that Howard wouldn’t survive?
No, we didn’t. I mean, at the beginning of the season, if you’d asked me when we started breaking it. I didn’t know. I probably could have guessed that he wouldn’t make it, but I didn’t know how. We knew for sure that Jimmy and Kim going after Howard was going to lead to something very bad for Jimmy and Kim. We didn’t know that it meant that he would be shot right in front of them in their apartment. But we knew some bad outcome had to happen because of what they were doing. They couldn’t just succeed, and whether that was Kim getting caught or Howard getting suspicious and getting Kim disbarred… Whatever different scenarios we had, we didn’t know for sure Howard would die. But as we went along, we just felt like, “Well, this is where it’s going.” We really wanted the two separate storylines, the cartel world and the legal-slash-scamming Howard world, to come together, and it just happened to come together like it did in this episode.
TVLINE | Yeah, I was just going to say: It feels like now the Jimmy/Kim storyline and the Gus/Mike storyline have collided, violently, and there’s no going back from here.
Oh, absolutely. As far as getting Jimmy McGill down the pathway to Saul Goodman, this was a giant, giant step.
TVLINE | The return of Lalo kind of overshadowed the fact that Jimmy and Kim’s scheme went off perfectly. Jimmy will get his cut of the Sandpiper settlement, but does that even matter now?
Yeah, there’s this dark cloud hanging over all that. The Sandpiper settlement, I don’t think that’s on their minds right now after what happened at the end of the episode. We spent more time on this scam than any other scam in the history of the show, showing every step. And we did something that we don’t always do is, which is keep some information from the audience, like the private detective being on Jimmy’s and Kim’s side, as opposed to being Howard’s. That was the biggest thing we hid from the audience.
TVLINE | It was impressive how Howard deduced the whole thing and explained it pretty rationally to Cliff, all things considered. But by that point, it was too far gone.
Yeah, that was also one of the tricky things we had to do. We had to think: How do they do this scam? And we know Howard’s going to figure it out, but the results have to be in a way that it ruins the Sandpiper settlement. Even if Cliff believes Howard and everything that he says, it does too much damage to the Sandpiper case. So it’s better to settle now, as opposed to going back in and refighting. Schweikart knew he had those guys over a barrel, so he took advantage.
TVLINE | I did love that shot of Jimmy and Kim making out as Cliff announced the settlement. That kind of proves Howard was right: They do get off on it!
Oh yeah, definitely. Right from Episode 1 this season, when Jimmy says, “So we were doing this?” And Kim says, “Wait, we’re not?” Kim kind of withdraws, and Jimmy sees the disappointment there. It’s like, if we’re going to have that magic spark, we better go ahead. It ties into our “Days of Wine and Roses” concept, that these guys are addicted, not to alcohol, but they’re addicted to the scamming, and the rush of that.
TVLINE | One thing that did puzzle me: Why didn’t Kim tell Jimmy that Lalo was still alive, after she had that conversation with Mike?
Well, for the very reason we were just talking about: The scam is the most important. If she told Jimmy about Lalo, that means they go back to the hotel, they go into hiding, he freaks out… The scam goes away, basically. So she did it to save the plot against Howard. She also had Mike telling her: “We have guys watching you, so if Lalo does show up, we’re here.” What she doesn’t know is that Lalo hears the phone tap at Casa Tranquila. So he knows that Gus knows, and he pulls a little switcheroo, saying “I’m gonna come after him tonight.” They pull everybody to Gus’ house. So whoever was watching Jimmy and Kim that night left to go to Gus’ house.
TVLINE | Yeah, I was going to ask you what changed Lalo’s mind. I didn’t pick up that he had realized Hector’s phone was tapped.
That’s a very tricky thing. It’s in the episode, and that’s the one thing that’s always worried me. It was in the script that he hears a click on the phone. That’s why he smashes the lawn chair in the tunnel. He hears this clicking noise. He’s like, “Oh crap, it’s being tapped, and, well, who would tap Hector Salamanca’s phone?” That’s why he says, “Clever Chicken Man.” He thinks, “Shit, this guy knows. He just heard my voice. The cat’s out of the bag. So I’m going to call Hector back and just say, ‘I couldn’t find proof. Back to Plan A. I’m gonna go get him.'” And that’s when he looks through the binoculars and he sees Mike coming out, Tyrus going in. He knows that this place he was going to go into and shoot everybody is more heavily armed. If it wasn’t for Gus’ phone tap, he would have gone in there and died, because there was no way he was going to get in there and shoot the couple of guards that were there, when there’s Mike and all these other guys inside.
TVLINE | Howard mentioned Chuck in this episode, and it’s really one of the first times Chuck’s name has been mentioned in the last couple of seasons. He was such a big part of the first three seasons. Will Chuck’s legacy play a bigger role in what ultimately happens to Jimmy?
I think even though we don’t talk about Chuck, Chuck hangs over everything. Jimmy is responsible for Chuck’s death. In Season 3, he does this insurance scam that totally messes with Chuck and actually leads to him being let go from HHM, which is what makes Howard think that Chuck’s suicide, tipping over the lantern, is his fault, when in reality, if Jimmy hadn’t done this childish prank, Chuck would still be alive. And I think Jimmy carries that with him all the time. All this guilt that Howard’s been carrying and going to therapy for, everything that Howard’s doing, is the thing that Jimmy should have been doing: admitting what he’s done, working it out with a therapist and getting better. Instead, he just fell in love with Kim and decided to do all these horrible scams to Howard instead.
TVLINE | So now we have just six episodes left, and a whole lot of loose ends left to tie up and connect it all back to Breaking Bad and Gene in Omaha. What can you tease about this final run of episodes?
Uh, I’m basically not allowed to say anything. [Laughs] But I’m very, very proud of them. We don’t spell a lot of things out for the audience, so hopefully everything ties together in a way that is satisfying for the audience, so when we get to the end of [Season 6], the Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul of it and the Gene world all make sense.
Once you’ve recovered from that ending, give the Better Call Saul midseason finale a grade in our poll, and hit the comments to share your thoughts.
I was not expecting that ending at all! Pretty sure my jaw hit the floor! This is really one of the best drama ensembles on TV right now. This was Patrick Fabian’s episode. I feel like he doesn’t get enough recognition, but he was great tonight!
I’ve been a fan of Patrick Fabian since Joan of Arcadia, so I was glad to see Howard have a more important role this season, but I couldn’t imagine it was building up to this.
Poor Howard didn’t deserve this, and a lot of what the said about Jimmy and Kim at the end was dead-on. Can’t wait to get even more devastated by the last six episodes.
…….with 6 left in part 2 of the series finale, things are going to move fast, as the meth lab is done – so Heisenberg will be making an early appearance! OMG – way too good!
Walt and Jesse work on their own for a long time. Might get to see Gale there though!
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Did not see that coming!!!! And the candle flame….that was masterful. A-ma-zing!!
This episode was FANTASTIC! Just wow – I didn’t see that ending coming at all – what an amazing show – I’m going to be so sad to see it end
Even though I knew Howard was going to die as soon as Lao was in the room, it still somehow shocked me when it happened. It was like when you’re in a car crash and everything slows down but you can’t stop it. I’d compare the shock to Chuck’s suicide. This episode is one of the series’ best, and the whole series is a classic. I look forward to owning it all. I hate it is ending and there is so much to do in just six more episodes, but I can’t wait to see them. I’m grateful they come out weekly so we can process the emotions together.
There were essentially four people at the beginning of the series that were major characters on Saul that we never see in Breaking Bad: Chuck, Nacho, Howard, and Kim. Now three of those four are dead.
I’m terribly worried about Kim!
That black and white tease at the end of tonight’s episode, too! The suspense is killing me!
I missed it on first watch as I wasn’t expecting a mid-credits. That has to be Gene talking since it is black and white?
Yeah, that’s right about these four! But in one later episode in BB, through a phone call to Mike he tells Heisenberg that this order comes from Nacho! So when Nacho died, I was like OMG they haven’t even brought in or referenced Heisenberg and his over 90% blue meth in Gus’ lab – and the lab is built!
…….so in the beginning of BCS, I was thinking Nacho was more of a drug king leader to transition to this mention in BB!!!! So wrong that 2 great characters had to die!
Don’t forget Lalo. In BB, Gustavo tells Hector that after Jesse shot and killed Joaquin (Hector’s grandson), that the last of the Salamanca’s are dead!
So completely shocked at the ending. My jaw is still on the floor. One thing, though, comes to mind. Is this the scene they were shooting when Bob OdenKirk had his heart attack? He mentioned in an interview that Rhea Seahorn and Patrick Fabian came to his aid. Since this is the first scene this season with the three of them in one room and with Howard dead, there won’t be any more.
Yes, I think you’re right. For some reason I thought he had said they were shooting in the apartment as well. I was disappointed he wasn’t asked on Talking Saul.
That candle flickering at Howard and then Lalo’s presence was awesomely eerie!
I’m a little disappointed that Mike fell for Lalo’s bait and switch
But other than that… Forking incredible. The way that last scene was filmed I don’t think I’ll ever forget, and I have terrible memory hah
Despite coming into the ep with the utmost faith in the BCS creators, I was a little underwhelmed by Howard’s death. The moment Lalo entered the apartment, I couldn’t help but compare the scene to another character death in Breaking Bad’s Ozamandias, and this version left me a little cold. In part, it’s hard to find an organic reason for Lalo to go to Saul for info about Gus/the lab (tho I’m hopeful this will be adequately answered when the show returns) vs. going to someone who would be more useful as leverage with Mike like Nacho’s father if not his family. Not understanding the logic of Lalo’s destination makes the ending read a little forced for me.
….in the end, I wasn’t that surprised. As Lalo knew Nacho turned on him and suspected Gus – the chicken man. So knowing Mike worked with Gus, it wasn’t too hard to put Mike helping Jimmy/Saul with his bail money, thus tying him to Gus, as J/S was already worked in securing bail for Nacho and other lower level drug dealers. I just thought his visit to their apartment would be after he went in the laundry/meth lab facility.
When he was putting the silencer on the gun I almost expected him to shoot Kim.
The series have lost it this season. The beauty of Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul is that the actions are driven by the characters, not by what is required for plot conventions or mere shock. Now, it is broken. By example: Kim is paranoid of been watched, but she keeps working on this plan (including the sidewalk lunch) without even a strong motivation? Also, Howard would interrupt the meeting and express his concerns in a private meeting; his humiliating roaming in front of all parties was contrived. Plus, the Jimmy/Kim plan is unbelievable (they knew that Howard will contract an investigator? that he will left the pictures in his office while going to the meeting?) This is the kind of crap for other series. Better Call Saul jumped the shark.
Any episode with Hector is worthy of an “A”. Six episodes to go and no Gene sightings – hope they don’t shortchange the Omaha portion.
Pretty sure we had a Gene moment in the mid-credits scene showing their empty, clean, no sign Howard died there apartment in black and white with Jimmy/Saul/Gene’s voice saying, “after all this a happy ending?”
.
It could be incredulous that such a thing was possible, or shock that it has happened.
While enjoying the show, I now more than ever want to see both Kim and Jimmy/Gene pay dearly for their despicable acts of cruelty.
Howard’s final speech was accurate, these two people are sociopaths who don’t care who they harm while seeking to fulfill their selfish desires and pleasures.
Incredible episode! The minute Mike said he was moving around the surveillance teams, I knew Jimmy and Kim would be getting a visitor, but Howard getting shot was shocking and horrifying. That candle flicker was so perfectly eerie. Can’t wait for July 11th to come!
….I didn’t expect that at all. I expected Lalo to hit the laundromat/meth lab facility. Then summon Jimmy/Saul and Kim to aid his escape!
Wt… – really Howard!!!!! First it was Nacho, now Howard???? I really expected what Jimmy/Saul did, but Kim was truly soulless, as Howard said. She really went farther than J/S ever did in such a shorter period of time, which shows just how crueler she is and can be! This s season finale episodes are turning out to be one shocking turn after another! Kudos to the writers for keeping things tight and each episode segment relative to the outcomes of each characters actions! I cannot wait for the second half of the series finale to begin!
OMG, I was shocked when Lalo showed up – but the candle flickering kind of foreshadowed it. I was doubly shocked he killed Howard, but given his choices, who else but the weakest loose end to place him at Jimmy/Saul and Kim’s apartment. Poor Howard, but at least he called out just how soulless J/S and Kim are. I hope they suffer in part 2 of the series finale.
…….also, poor Howard going to therapy because he felt he let Jimmy’s brother down and then coming to the realization that it was Jimmy all along! At least he said his peace before dying! I really felt so sorry for scummy Saul but still felt him redeemable on some level, but I guess it was Kim that really turned him into the soulless person he is becoming! That’s what I’ll have to believe.
They are watching My Fair Lady about a girl who is lower class who rises to become higher class. Is that what happens with Jimmy and Kim?
It is Born Yesterday. Similar. But, yes, Saul is now a millionaire,
Better Call Saull is alone in its willingness to let the characters fulfill their roles to a predictable conclusion. Jimmy and Kim killed Howard as surely as if they pulled the trigger. The torrential scam they put him through was bizarre and, yes, evil. The writers are fearless and determined not to avoid the logical horror resulting from the characters’ actions and schemes. And that’s why we watch this extraordinary show.
Once we got past all the padding of watching Lalo creep around in the sewer, which I fast-forwarded through, it was excellent. I would never watch this show live.
Saul/Jimmy does, in fact, represent the worst of the legal profession. Just his getting Lalo out on bail under a false identity is quick disbarment material. The show plays it well, by having lawyers, judges and courtroom personnel scorn Saul/jimmy after it seems to have become known that the man who got bailed out by him was no a small timer. Courthouse reputations, once gained, are just like white on rice. So the writers deserve credit for showing Saul being called on his sleaze.
Thank you for connecting the dots. Some ‘clues’ are SO subtle, such as wiretap click. Remind us, please, how Lalo knows Mike and why that makes him think J/S knows more about Gus? Caught the cockroach clue on rewatch. Thanks, too, for the real life legal point, re J/S being black-balled for being a “friend” to the cartel/drug dealers. A++
@Lindy: In Season 4, when Lalo was snooping around Fring’s businesses, he started following Mike. This was during the time that Mike was in pursuit of Werner Ziegler. Before Werner was found by Mike, he inadvertently leaked information about the work to Lalo on the underground lab.
After eluding Lalo, and executing Ziegler, Mike hatches up a plan with Gus to make it appear that the construction/excavation crew was building a freezer at Fring’s chicken warehouse. This is where Mike formally meets Lalo face-to-face.
Here’s a bit of trivia…Mike and Nacho are the only primary characters to have shared a scene with every major Salamanca (Hector, Tuco, Leonel, Marco and Lalo).
Wow! We need to rewatch S4. Thanks for all the dots. And, Lalo knows that J/S works with Mike, how? Mike is usually so careful about avoiding tails.
I don’t think it is ever established that Saul has any connection to Mike, from Lalo’s perspective. In fact, Mike isn’t even Lalo’s focal point. Lalo ‘s primary focus is on Gus and the secret underground lab.
Lalo and Hector are convinced that Fring was behind Lalo’s assassination attempt, though they have little proof other than the “superlab”. Since Nacho betrayed Lalo., they (correctly) believe he’d been working for Gus, while playing Lalo along the way.
So where do Jimmy/Saul and Kim fit into all of this? It was Nacho who introduced Lalo to Saul. Anyone tied to Nacho must immediately be viewed as a suspect or a threat. Lalo shows up at the apartment in the final scene of Episode 7 to investigate the assumption that Saul is also tied to Fring, and to get him to spill the beans on everything that he knows.
Thank you! Yes, Nacho was the associate in common. Let’s hope more loose ends are tied up in 2nd half of S6.
*************SPOILER ALERT***********
@Lindy…..and as if on cue, in the 608 episode ‘Point and Shoot’, Lalo tells Jimmy “So who did Nacho introduce me to? You!”