RICO (Better Call Saul)

"RICO" is the eighth episode of the first season of the AMC television series Better Call Saul, the spinoff series of Breaking Bad. The episode aired on March 23, 2015. It is named after the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.

Plot

Sometime in the past, a young Jimmy works as a mail clerk for Hamlin Hamlin & McGill. One day, he receives notice that he has passed the state bar exam. He reports the good news to Chuck, expecting to be hired by the firm as an attorney. Chuck hesitantly replies that the hiring must first be cleared by the partners. During an office celebration, Howard Hamlin tells Jimmy that the firm will not be hiring him immediately, coldly suggesting he re-examine his application in six months.

In the present, Jimmy grows suspicious when a client mentions that her nursing home, Sandpiper Crossing, controls her pension and Social Security by giving her a $500 monthly allowance, deducting fees, and putting the rest of the money in savings. Upon receiving her invoices, Jimmy's suspicions grow and he begins collecting invoices from other residents. Jimmy returns to Chuck's house to analyze the invoices and they find evidence of Sandpiper Crossing systematically overcharging its residents, making them guilty of fraud and forming grounds for a class action lawsuit. Chuck suggests that Jimmy should look for more evidence.

Jimmy is turned away at the front desk at Sandpiper Crossing. However, Jimmy can hear documents being shredded and hastily writes a demand letter in the bathroom. After being removed by security, he resorts to rummaging through the living home's dumpster in an effort to find shredded documents. Upon finding some in a recycling bin, he begins to sort through them at Chuck's house. Chuck helps out Jimmy and manages to recover an incriminating document. With a solid case against Sandpiper Crossing, Chuck decides to become Jimmy's co-counsel and assist him in the case. They then contact Sandpiper Crossing's attorneys with their evidence and they agree to meet.

Meanwhile, Mike goes to babysit his granddaughter for the day. When Stacey returns from work, she asks Mike what to do with the bribe money Matty had stashed away. Mike tells her that she should use it for herself and her daughter, so that some good can come from the dirty money. Stacey thanks Mike, but notes that even with the bribe money, it is not enough to cover her expenses. Troubled by this, Mike returns to the vet who had treated his bullet wound in "Five-O" and asks him if there is any "work" available. He brings a dog he acquired at a local shelter as cover for the visit, and later gives the dog to his daughter-in-law and granddaughter, insisting that the dog has all its shots and that he will cover all expenses.

Sandpiper Crossing's attorneys deny that the home is defrauding its residents, but concede that some of them were overcharged and are willing to compensate them for a total of $100,000. However, Jimmy presents the incriminating document that Chuck had found: evidence that Sandpiper Crossing had engaged in illicit interstate commerce, which makes them eligible for a RICO lawsuit. Chuck demands that Sandpiper Crossing pay $20 million in settlement fees, which the attorneys refuse. As they make preparations for a court case, an exhausted Jimmy leaves some paperwork in his car. Preoccupied with his preparation, Chuck casually leaves his house to retrieve the paperwork. As a stunned Jimmy follows him, Chuck suddenly realizes what happened and drops the paperwork as they stare at each other in shock.

Production

This was the second episode written and directed by Gordon Smith and Colin Bucksey, respectively.

Reception

Upon airing, the episode received 2.87 million American viewers, and an 18-49 rating of 1.3.^[1]

The episode received generally positive reception from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, based on 19 reviews, it received a 95% approval rating with an average score of 7.7 out of 10. The site's consensus reads, ""RICO" introduces an intriguing fraud case while providing insightful backstory to Jimmy's unlikely beginnings as a lawyer."^[2] Roth Cornet of IGN gave the episode a 8.8 rating, concluding, "With “RICO”, Better Call Saul lays the foundation for the circumstances that will likely transform sweet(ish) Jimmy McGill into the hardened Saul Goodman."^[3] The Telegraph rated the episode 4 out of 5 stars.^[4]

References

External links

• "RICO" at AMC
• "RICO" at the Internet Movie Database