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canyonwalkerBetter Call Saul episode 4.10, the season 4 finale, is where Jimmy McGill finally completes his transformation in Saul Goodman. ...Well, almost. He announces that he's going to file a DBA to start practicing under the name Saul Goodman.
For Saul Goodman to be "born", of course, Jimmy has to "die". Jimmy gives his own eulogy, in a fashion, in an impromptu bit of unsolicited advice— that's partly a rant— to an aspiring college student, Kristy Esposito.
Jimmy catches Kristy outside the law offices. "You didn't get it," he tells her. "You were never gonna get it." He explains that it's because the people in circles of power make decisions very quickly about whether a person will ever be allowed into their circle. Kristy has a minor crime on her record, a small shoplifting offense from a few years ago, and the people with power will only ever see her as a person with a criminal record, he says. It doesn't matter what the circumstances of that one bad act were, nor does it matter what good she does after that; most people will not look past it. Thus he encourages her not to play by the rules, to "cut corners", and to "do what they won't do" in order to get ahead.
Jimmy's really explaining himself here. It's like Hamlet's "To be or not to be" soliloquy scene. Kristy is Ophelia, who hears what Hamlet is saying even though really he's talking to himself as he rationalizes the choices he's making. Jimmy's trying to convince himself that all the corners he cut were actually a noble thing and that becoming a person who, as a rule, doesn't play by the rules is the path to success.
Then Jimmy's car dies.
No, seriously. He goes to the garage, gets in his car, and the car won't start. Jimmy starts crying.
No, he's not crying about the car. I mean, literally he is, but the car not starting is the straw that breaks the camel's back. Jimmy is releasing his emotions about his brother, Chuck, who died a year ago now, and releasing his misgivings about whether he should even try to play by the rules as a lawyer.
In the denial at Jimmy's first hearing, the committee chair explained to him that he wasn't "sincere" enough. Jimmy was actually very sincere and gave a fantastic answer when they asked, "What does the law mean to you?" But it wasn't what they wanted to hear. They wanted to hear about Chuck. It was well known that Jimmy's suspension was because he committed a wrong against Chuck. As Jimmy explained in his soliloquy, that's all they saw in him. Chuck, Chuck, Chuck. Thus for him to do anything other than gush with praise and remorse about Chuck was "insincere". Because, again, to them, he's nothing except what he did to Chuck.
So Jimmy comes back to the appeal hearing and talks about Chuck, Chuck, Chuck. At least one of the committee members is moved to tears. Kim, who's in the audience, is moved as well. She's also beaming with pride, as she counseled Jimmy heavily on his presentation for this appeal.
Out in the hallway while the committee is deliberating, Jimmy and Kim are jubilant. They're sure he's won. But Jimmy starts laughing. Did you see those suckers? he sneers. That one asshole was crying, he had actual tears! Jimmy reveals that nothing about this new, more "sincere" presentation was actually sincere. It was just the right amount of tug-the-heartstrings emotional claptrap to fool a bunch of arrogant people who expect to hear a particular story and nothing else.
Let me come back to that point in a moment.
Minutes later Jimmy gets word from the committee that they're reinstating him. As he goes to sign the papers he asks the secretary for a DBA document— because he'll be practicing law from now on as Saul Goodman.
RIP, Jimmy who sometimes cuts corners McGill. Long live Saul sneering disdain Goodman.
For Saul Goodman to be "born", of course, Jimmy has to "die". Jimmy gives his own eulogy, in a fashion, in an impromptu bit of unsolicited advice— that's partly a rant— to an aspiring college student, Kristy Esposito.
Jimmy's Advice/Rant/Soliloquy
Kristy applied for a scholarship under a grant created in Charles McGill's name. Jimmy is on the board of the scholarship committee that's chaired by Howard Hamlin and filled with a bunch of HHM people. There are 3 scholarships available, and maybe 10 students have made it to this final round, where they answer questions in a group interview with the committee members. The winners are chosen but not informed yet.Jimmy catches Kristy outside the law offices. "You didn't get it," he tells her. "You were never gonna get it." He explains that it's because the people in circles of power make decisions very quickly about whether a person will ever be allowed into their circle. Kristy has a minor crime on her record, a small shoplifting offense from a few years ago, and the people with power will only ever see her as a person with a criminal record, he says. It doesn't matter what the circumstances of that one bad act were, nor does it matter what good she does after that; most people will not look past it. Thus he encourages her not to play by the rules, to "cut corners", and to "do what they won't do" in order to get ahead.
Jimmy's really explaining himself here. It's like Hamlet's "To be or not to be" soliloquy scene. Kristy is Ophelia, who hears what Hamlet is saying even though really he's talking to himself as he rationalizes the choices he's making. Jimmy's trying to convince himself that all the corners he cut were actually a noble thing and that becoming a person who, as a rule, doesn't play by the rules is the path to success.
Then Jimmy's car dies.
No, seriously. He goes to the garage, gets in his car, and the car won't start. Jimmy starts crying.
No, he's not crying about the car. I mean, literally he is, but the car not starting is the straw that breaks the camel's back. Jimmy is releasing his emotions about his brother, Chuck, who died a year ago now, and releasing his misgivings about whether he should even try to play by the rules as a lawyer.
Jimmy Comes Back from Suspension— As Saul
In the last part of the episode Jimmy goes back before the board of the State Bar to petition for his license back. He's already been denied once; this is an appeal.In the denial at Jimmy's first hearing, the committee chair explained to him that he wasn't "sincere" enough. Jimmy was actually very sincere and gave a fantastic answer when they asked, "What does the law mean to you?" But it wasn't what they wanted to hear. They wanted to hear about Chuck. It was well known that Jimmy's suspension was because he committed a wrong against Chuck. As Jimmy explained in his soliloquy, that's all they saw in him. Chuck, Chuck, Chuck. Thus for him to do anything other than gush with praise and remorse about Chuck was "insincere". Because, again, to them, he's nothing except what he did to Chuck.
So Jimmy comes back to the appeal hearing and talks about Chuck, Chuck, Chuck. At least one of the committee members is moved to tears. Kim, who's in the audience, is moved as well. She's also beaming with pride, as she counseled Jimmy heavily on his presentation for this appeal.
Out in the hallway while the committee is deliberating, Jimmy and Kim are jubilant. They're sure he's won. But Jimmy starts laughing. Did you see those suckers? he sneers. That one asshole was crying, he had actual tears! Jimmy reveals that nothing about this new, more "sincere" presentation was actually sincere. It was just the right amount of tug-the-heartstrings emotional claptrap to fool a bunch of arrogant people who expect to hear a particular story and nothing else.
Let me come back to that point in a moment.
Minutes later Jimmy gets word from the committee that they're reinstating him. As he goes to sign the papers he asks the secretary for a DBA document— because he'll be practicing law from now on as Saul Goodman.
RIP, Jimmy who sometimes cuts corners McGill. Long live Saul sneering disdain Goodman.
