Klick (Better Call Saul)
"Klick" is the tenth and final episode of the second season of the AMC television series Better Call Saul, the spinoff series of Breaking Bad. The episode aired on April 18, 2016 on AMC in the United States. Outside of the United States, the episode premiered on streaming service Netflix in several countries.
"Klick" | |
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Better Call Saul episode | |
Episode no. | Season 2 Episode 10 |
Directed by | Vince Gilligan |
Written by | Heather Marion Vince Gilligan |
Original air date | April 18, 2016 |
Running time | 48 minutes |
Guest appearance(s) | |
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Plot
Opening
In a flashback to 1999 , Chuck and Jimmy are in the hospital at their mother's bedside. Jimmy leaves to buy sandwiches for himself and Chuck, who has not eaten in days but refuses to leave. While Jimmy is gone, his mother wakes and calls his name twice—ignoring Chuck—before dying. After Jimmy returns to find his mother's room empty, Chuck tells Jimmy that their mother has died. Jimmy asks if their mother awakened or had any last words and Chuck falsely says that she did not.
Main story
Chuck is unconscious after hitting his head at the copy store. Jimmy rushes in to give first aid and tells the clerk to call an ambulance. In the hospital, Chuck is awake and wonders how Jimmy knew to come to his aid in the copy store when Chuck had been unconscious for less than a minute, correctly deducing that Jimmy had bribed the clerk to lie and then stayed nearby to see if Chuck would show up to question the clerk. Ernesto covers for Jimmy by claiming that out of concern for Chuck's health, he called Jimmy before bringing Chuck to the copy store.
Jimmy refuses to have Chuck committed for psychiatric care, but takes temporary guardianship and allows an MRI and a CAT scan to determine whether Chuck suffered head or neck injuries. Kim visits Jimmy at the hospital and they watch Jimmy's new TV commercial. The doctor treating Chuck tells Jimmy that Chuck is healthy, but has entered a self-induced catatonic state as a result of the medical tests. When Chuck returns to consciousness, Jimmy informs him of the test results and takes him home.
Mike purchases a sniper rifle and ammunition, intending to kill Hector Salamanca. He positions himself on a ridge overlooking a spot in the desert where Hector and his crew are preparing to execute Ximenez, the driver whose truck Mike robbed, but Mike is unable to get a clear shot because Nacho is standing between Mike and Hector. Behind him, Mike hears his car horn blaring, so he leaves to investigate. When he gets to his car he finds a branch wedged against the horn and a note on the windshield with a single word: "Don't."
Jimmy and Kim are working in their new offices. Howard calls Kim several times trying to locate Jimmy. Jimmy calls Howard and learns that Chuck is concerned that his mistakes on Mesa Verde's paperwork mean his judgment is no longer sound, so he's decided to retire. Jimmy rushes to Chuck's house, where he finds that Chuck has plastered the walls, windows, and ceiling of his living room with reflective space blankets, insulation panels, and mylar sheets, claiming that he needs Faraday cage-like protection from the ambient electromagnetic waves. Desperate for Chuck to stop behaving erratically, Jimmy confesses to tampering with the Mesa Verde documents and bribing the copy store clerk to keep quiet. When Jimmy leaves, Chuck unveils a tape recorder he had activated prior to Jimmy's arrival.
Production
Series co-creator Vince Gilligan revealed that he wanted to have Breaking Bad alum Betsy Brandt (Marie Schrader) make a cameo appearance in the episode, but the Writer's Room objected, considering the idea to be distracting for audiences.[1]
Reception
Ratings
Upon airing, the episode received 2.26 million American viewers, and an 18–49 rating of 0.8.[2]
Including DVR playback, the finale was watched by 4.78 million viewers.[3]
Critical reception
The episode received acclaim from critics. It holds a perfect 100% positive rating with an average score of 9.16 out of 10 on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. The critics' consensus reads: "Subtle but with detail-oriented precision, 'Klick' further scrutinizes the complex relationship between the brothers McGill while setting the stage for a potent next season."[4] Bob Odenkirk received a nomination for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his performance in this episode.
References
- Snierson, Dan (April 22, 2016). "'Breaking Bad' alum Betsy Brandt talks nixed Marie cameo on 'Better Call Saul'". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on March 2, 2020. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
- Welch, Alex (April 19, 2016). "Monday cable ratings: 'Better Call Saul' finale holds steady, NBA Playoffs soar". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 20, 2016. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
- Porter, Rick (2016-05-09). "Cable Live +7 ratings, April 18–24: 'Fear the Walking Dead,' 'Better Call Saul' outgain 'Game of Thrones' premiere – TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com". Tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com. Archived from the original on 2016-05-10. Retrieved 2016-12-18.
- "Klick". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved June 24, 2020.