![better call saul season 1 episode 4 better call saul season 1 episode 4](https://occ-0-2794-2219.1.nflxso.net/dnm/api/v6/9pS1daC2n6UGc3dUogvWIPMR_OU/AAAABd34qtVvoqWepHdOt79lSSFWvOaBKWS8gqAD3NLK-lTynK3PEOaE-Lw5KEy6uM34UkGJEMz_i9ZZUz2pMFRryx2n2VEOunvseiJMjqH6gwxBJTDn.jpg)
The Kettlemans’ bribe tempts him, unsurprisingly, and so he pockets a bit of the dough. In the New Mexico woods, though, Saul fails to get any traction with the husband and wife, since they believe he’s the kind of lawyer guilty people hire. Jimmy can start turning into the man that will be Saul Goodman – the cold open even blatantly explains the genesis for that name – due to a payday in the tens of thousands from the Kettlemans.
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The opening sets up a few things that will show up during the rest of the episode, including the protagonist’s questionable spending habits and his smooth transition to playing a variety of different roles. Even though he pockets close to $600 from Stevie, Jimmy admits that the money is really going to temporarily support his substance abuse habits. Stevie is the mark and Jimmy plays his part with just the right amount of nervousness and naivety to eventual con his greedy friend. It turns out the whole miraculous discovery of the wallet is a con, organized by the mysterious alley man – one whose frequent use of the word “butthole” was not as amusing as it was safe for AMC – and Jimmy. “Hero” begins several years earlier, as Slippin’ Jimmy and pal Stevie (Kevin Weisman) look for after hours drinks, find a wallet belonging to a passed out drunk in an alley and decide to make away with the cash and the man’s watch. Like its precursor, Better Call Saul is showing off some memorable cold opens that play with time. How fitting that as soon as Jimmy McGill starts trying on three-piece suits and requesting Tasmanian wool from this tailor that Odenkirk starts fitting right back into the slick, sly motor-mouth that we loved on Vince Gilligan’s earlier series. “Hero” is the best hour of Better Call Saul yet, mostly because it strays very little from the Saul Goodman we love and (sort of) know. Saul began as a ruthless con artist and grew into a more ruthless con artist, although one with finesse, power and clients.