Five-O

"Five-O" is an amazing episode and a very important episode. It helps if you have knowledge of Breaking Bad because you will need to apply it here. In that second season, we are introduced to Mike, Saul's cleaner. Mike instantly became a fan favorite and is essential piece for the father series. This episode, directed beautifully by Adam Bernstein, is the episode we have all been waiting for. The backstory of Mike and how he came to be. It is a haunting story with performances you'll never forget.

Mike is a former Philadelphia cop and he relocated to Albuquerque after his son, Matt was murdered. He wanted to be close to his daughter-in-law Stacee (Kerry Condon) and his granddaughter Kaylee. Mike, who possessed poor morals as a Philly cop, was partners with Matt. He said corruption is necessary to survive in the precinct, which ultimately led to Matt's death. He later seeks revenge on these cops. Months later, detectives from Philly are at his doorstep inquiring about these missing cops. If he wants to make it out of here in good shape, Mike will need to rely upon Jimmy McGill.

I loved this Mike-based episode. It pauses the main story as we focus more on Mike as a character. Jonathan Banks was always a great actor and this episode's performance deserved him an Emmy. I'll never forget his haunting quote as he wails, "I lost my boy." Mike took control of the episode as Odenkirk appears for only about eight minutes. But his character makes an important choice regarding his future. The teaming of Mike and Jimmy. This is an emotional, character-driven episode that is one of the major highlights of Better Call Saul's first season.

My Grade: A+

The themes and writing in this episode are thought provoking. The acting amazing and even if you didn't watch the previous episodes and only watched Breaking Bad, this will be a great prequel for Mike. This episode not only made this show better but also added more to the Mike in Breaking Bad.

An absolute masterclass of an episode which magnificently explains the tragic story behind one of many exceptional characters of the BB universe Mike, and how delightfully well is it done. Jonathan Banks is such a terrific actor and his performance today was perfect. In this character-driven origins story he left me absolute stunned and changed the way I have always perceived Mike and although it is too early to say but he will win an Emmy this year, yes his acting was that good in this episode.

Although Mike hasn't been in the forefront of the show we all knew that sooner rather than later Mike would team up with Saul and become a larger part of the show. In the five episodes until now Gilligan and Gould have just given us brief glimpses of Mike which left us wanting for more. But i guess it was their way of saying to stay patient as something huge was in works. And after watching this episode I hold the writers in the highest regard for plotting such an intense, dialogue -driven hour which ends with Mike finally showing us that like all humans even he has a vulnerable side. The final moments of the episode are absolute magic especially that look of guilt and despair on Mike's face which will haunt me for at least a few days.

This gives us an insight on how well Gilligan and co. had developed these characters while creating them in BB and as layer after layer of their motivations gets dissected and we get to see the characters naked underneath their skin.

An inspiring delight that had all the hallmarks of a classic BB episode which ends on a poignant note leaving the viewers thoroughly satisfied as the credits roll.

P.S. -Let me repeat Jonathan Banks is such a terrific actor.

Mike: "I broke my boy".

Better Call Saul so far has been amazing and it's episodes have been great, until I sawed Five-o which I think is one of the best episode of this season so far and possibly in TV history.

Jonathan Banks was just perfect in this episode. He broke my heart with his excellent performance and he also reminds us why we loved Mike in Breaking Bad. I heard from critics and pretty much everyone that Jonathan Banks might win a Emmy or a Golden Globe because of this episode and I will be so over the moon if he dose win, because he actually give a groundbreaking and the best TV performance of the year. Most actors nominated or probably win don't really break any new grounds when it comes to they performance, well to me it didn't wow me, but this performance right here is just a masterpiece of acting.

We got shows like The Walking Dead which is on right now as I'm speaking but every Monday I'm not normally looking forward to Walking Dead that much to be honest, but I'm always looking forward to Better Call Saul. Why you may ask? because the show has such intelligent and brilliant writing that glues me into the screen and get's me interested every week.

I'm not going to say anything else about this episode, just watch it it's amazing.

This episode reminds me of the surprising and well deserved letter Sir Anthony Hopkins wrote to Alan Cranston after binge viewing Breaking Bad. As a refresher I will quote how it began and highly suggest Goggling the remainder:

"Dear Mister Cranston.

I wanted to write you this email - so I am contacting you through Jeremy Barber - I take it we are both represented by UTA . Great agency.

I've just finished a marathon of watching "BREAKING BAD" - from episode one of the First Season - to the last eight episodes of the final Season. A total of two weeks (addictive) viewing.

I have never watched anything like it. Brilliant!

Your performance as Walter White was the best acting I have seen - ever.

I know there is so much smoke blowing and sickening bullshit in this business, and I've sort of lost belief in anything really.

But this work of yours is spectacular - absolutely stunning..." .

While later in the letter Anthony Hopkins tributes others including Jonathan Banks, it seems he could now easily be inspired to followup his praise with another about Jonathan's portrayal of Michael.

We have all loved Mikes impenetrable stoic character in BB and certainly delighted to see him back for further study in these earlier adventures of the ever entertaining Saul. But, I highly doubt anyone foresaw this further depth of Gilligan and Goulds character construction talents and impeccable story-line placement of them.

As it all came together in production, I would guess even they were blown away at these understandably rare final results.

When it comes to writing and actor portrayal on a level this transcendent it is no longer about intellectual definition, dissection, or description; but sheer personal delight that registers as indelible ink on ones private soul.

Only in an amazingly stupid alternate universes could one possibly not hear these words next winter; "..and the Emmy goes to.. Jonathan Banks."