Saul Goodman's Best Moment In Better Call Saul Season 2
Over the course of its six-season run, "Better Call Saul" took a minor comic relief character from its predecessor, "Breaking Bad," and turned him into a tragic figure. Jimmy McGill, who eventually becomes the crooked lawyer Saul Goodman, is played to perfection by Bob Odenkirk and stands among the likes of Don Draper (Jon Hamm) and his franchise-compatriot Walter White (Bryan Cranston) in the pantheon of television icons.
Jimmy's struggle to rise above his con-man impulses is consistently derailed by his penchant for self-destruction, and many of the show's best moments emerge from the times when he puts his considerable talents to work in service of an ultimately ugly goal. His biggest strength is his ability to wheedle his way out of a situation with schemes so outrageous that they often succeed simply because no one suspects anybody would be so brazen. It's a trait that will ultimately be his downfall and leave him on the run from the law, but it makes for incredibly compelling moments of entertainment.
One such moment is a standout of Season 2 and shows the lengths Jimmy will go to get what he wants. It's also an opportunity for fans to see a hint of his Saul Goodman personality long before he takes the moniker on for good.
Jimmy's plan to get fired from his job is Better Call Saul at its best
Season 2, Episode 7 of "Better Call Saul" finds Jimmy stuck in a job at the posh offices of Schweikart & Cokely, a law firm that seems to be everything he always wanted. He's got an apartment, car, and a hefty bonus, all paid for by the firm. However, the job also forces him to hold back his flair for the theatrical in order to fit in with the buttoned-up culture of the corporate space. When he tries to quit, he finds out the only way to keep his bonus is by being fired, so he resolves to cause chaos, and it leads to the best moment of the season.
The episode, "Inflatable," draws its title from Jimmy's scheme. On his way home from work, he passes a dancing inflatable tube man, designed to look as though it's wearing a bright red suit. The camera work makes the wacky sales device look majestic and carefree blowing in the wind, representing the freedom Jimmy truly desires. It gives him an idea, and viewers are subsequently treated to a montage in which Jimmy wears increasingly garish suits to work while making life a living hell for his coworkers. He buys a juicer and sprays his colleagues with berries, refuses to flush the office toilets, and torments the firm with the sound of newly purchased bagpipes.
The montage, set to "Scorpio" by Dennis Coffey, is a burst of energy in an otherwise slow-burn show, equal parts comedy and visual storytelling. Fans on Reddit agree, with u/chairmanpete writing, "This was my favorite scene of the season so far. The music, editing, Bob Odenkirk's facial reactions were all top notch. Had a HUGE smile on my face throughout." And u/thetouchdownkid agreed, saying, "This scene was so unexpected and absolutely brilliant. I love a good montage."