Hit and Run (Better Call Saul): Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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~~{{Short description|Fourth episode of the sixth season of Better Call Saul}}~~

{{Infobox television episode

| series = [[Better Call Saul]]

| image = Hit and Run promo.jpg

| image_alt = Poster for the episode featuring a yellow striped parking space and a leaning sign that reads, "Patients only".

| caption = Promotional poster

| season = 6

| episode = 4

| director = [[Rhea Seehorn]]

| writer = Ann Cherkis

~~| producer = {{Plainlist|~~

* Jenn Carroll

* [[Bob Odenkirk]]

* James Powers

}}

| music =

* {{Work by author|"Best Things in Life"|The Dreamliners}}

Line 28 ⟶ 24:

* Julia Minesci as [[Wendy (Breaking Bad)|Wendy]]

* [[Eileen Fogarty]] as [[Mrs. Nguyen (Better Call Saul)|Mrs. Nguyen]]

* Victor Rivas Rivers as Howard's ~~psychologist~~Psychologist

| prev = [[Rock and Hard Place]]

| next = [[Black and Blue (Better Call Saul)|Black and Blue]]

| season_article = Better Call Saul (season 6)

| episode_list = List of Better Call Saul episodes

}}

"'''Hit and Run'''" is the fourth episode of the [[Better Call Saul (season 6)|sixth season]] of ''[[Better Call Saul]]'', the spin-off television series of ''[[Breaking Bad]]''. Actress [[Rhea Seehorn]] directed the episode written by Ann Cherkis. The episode aired on May 2, 2022, on [[AMC (TV channel)|AMC]] and [[AMC+]]. In several countries outside the United States and Canada, the episode premiered on [[Netflix]] the following day.

In the episode, [[Jimmy McGill]] faces the repercussions of having defended [[Lalo Salamanca]] in court and [[Kim Wexler]] starts to believe she is being followed as they continue their plan to sabotage [[Howard Hamlin]]'s career. The episode was the television directorial debut of Seehorn, who plays Kim. "Hit and Run" was met with positive reviews for its direction, on-screen performances, cinematography, and pacing. An estimated~~ ~~ 1.16  million viewers saw the episode during its first broadcast on AMC.

== Plot ==

~~Mrs~~Mr. and MrMrs. Ryman return home after riding their bicycles through an Albuquerque suburb. ~~The~~Their house is revealed to be the operations center of people who are surveilling [[Gus Fring]]'s ~~house~~home. Gus returns to his home and uses a tunnel system to enter the Ryman home, from which he oversees a widespread ~~surveillance~~search ~~operation that searches~~of Albuquerque for [[Lalo Salamanca]]. [[Mike Ehrmantraut]] says no leads have been found, but Gus insists that Lalo is alive.

While [[Howard Hamlin]] visits his psychologist, [[Jimmy McGill]] disguises himself as Howard, uses his duplicate key to take Howard's car, and picks up [[Wendy (Breaking Bad)|Wendy]] at a motel. They drive past [[Kim Wexler]] and [[Clifford Main]] and Jimmy pretends to force Wendy out of the car, making it appear to Cliff that Howard is ~~using~~frequenting prostitutes.{{efn|Jimmy previously ran a similar con in "[[Wexler v. Goodman]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://25yearslatersite.com/2022/05/05/better-call-saul-s6e4-hit-and-run-lets-us-breathe/|title=''Better Call Saul'' S6E4: 'Hit and Run' Lets Us Breathe|date=May 5, 2022|first=Ali|last=Sciarabba|website=25YearsLater|access-date=May 13, 2022|archive-date=May 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505212227/https://25yearslatersite.com/2022/05/05/better-call-saul-s6e4-hit-and-run-lets-us-breathe/|url-status=live}}</ref>}} Jimmy returns the car just as Howard leaves his appointment~~, but makes a narrow escape~~. Kim drives Wendy back to the motel and Wendy alerts her to a nearby car, which Wendy believes to be undercover police. Kim notices the same car continuing to follow her. While meeting ''pro bono'' clients at the El Camino Dining Room, Kim spots the car again and confronts the occupants, who drive away. Later, Mike reveals that the men following her work for him, that Lalo may still be alive, and that Mike is having men monitor anyone Lalo may contact. Kim realizes Mike is the man who saved Jimmy's life in the desert{{efn|As seen in "[[Bagman (Better Call Saul)|Bagman]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/better-call-saul-season-6-recap-premiere-1235231562/|title=''Better Call Saul'': 6 Things You Need to Remember for Season 6|date=April 17, 2022|first1=Ethan|last1=Shanfeld|first2=Jordan|last2=Moreau|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=May 13, 2022|archive-date=May 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513165104/https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/better-call-saul-season-6-recap-premiere-1235231562/|url-status=live}}</ref>}} and asks why he told her, not Jimmy. Mike replies that she is "made of sterner stuff." As he leaves, she recognizes him as the former courthouse parking lot attendant.

Jimmy notices that he has become a pariah among courthouse staff, which [[Bill Oakley (Better Call Saul)|Bill Oakley]] explains is because Jimmy defended Lalo. Jimmy later discovers that his defense of Lalo has made him popular among local criminals seeking representation from "Saul Goodman". [[Mrs. Nguyen (Better Call Saul)|Mrs. Nguyen]] evicts Jimmy from the nail salon because of the high client volume, so Jimmy begins scouting for a new office. That night Kim meets Jimmy at a potential location for his new office{{efn|This location becomes Saul Goodman's office in ''[[Breaking Bad]]''.<ref name="VultureReview" />}} and is still shaken by the possibility that Lalo is alive. Despite poor maintenance and other problems, Kim approves, citing its proximity to the county courthouse and jail, and Albuquerque's bail bonds offices. She and Jimmy leave for dinner, and Kim opts not to mention her meeting with Mike.

== Production ==

The episode was written by Ann Cherkis and directed by [[Rhea Seehorn]], who plays Kim, marking Seehorn's television directorial debut.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shanfeld |first=Ethan |date=April 9, 2022 |title=''Better Call Saul'': Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul Will Guest Star in Final Season |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/bryan-cranston-aaron-paul-better-call-saul-1235229217/ |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=May 2, 2022 |archive-date=April 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410040314/https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/bryan-cranston-aaron-paul-better-call-saul-1235229217/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://bleedingcool.com/tv/better-call-saul-s06e04-preview-kim-believes-theyre-being-followed/|title=''Better Call Saul'' S06E04 Preview: Kim Believes They're Being Followed|date=April 28, 2022|first=Ray|last=Flook|website=[[Bleeding Cool]]|access-date=May 2, 2022|archive-date=May 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220502004247/https://bleedingcool.com/tv/better-call-saul-s06e04-preview-kim-believes-theyre-being-followed/|url-status=live}}</ref> She isbecame the first ''[[Better Call Saul]]'' cast member to direct an episode of the series; [[Giancarlo Esposito]], who plays Gus, directed an episode of the sixth season as well. Seehorn said co-creators [[Vince Gilligan]] and [[Peter Gould]] and executive producers Melissa Bernstein and [[Thomas Schnauz]] had often promoted the idea of actors guest directing on ''Better Call Saul'' after actor [[Bryan Cranston]] directed some episodes of ''[[Breaking Bad]]''.<ref name="THRInterview" /> Editor Kelley Dixon recalled Seehorn visiting the editing room of ''Better Call Saul'' during the second or third season and sharing her desire to direct an episode.{{r|BCS Podcast|p=5:29–8:36}} Seehorn said she was very observant of other directors on set, including [[John Shiban]], [[Norberto Barba]], [[Scott Winant]], and [[Michael Slovis]]. Gilligan and Gould also gave her access to shot lists and she would work with frequent ''Better Call Saul'' director [[Michelle MacLaren]] to break down episodes. Seehorn was initially hesitant about asking for permission to direct the episode but found the courage to bring it up due to her relationship with the crew.<ref name="THRInterview" />

[[Michael Morris (director)|Michael Morris]] was the episode's producing director, Angie Meyer was the assistant director, and Paul Donachie was the cinematographer. The first scene that was shot for the episode was the nail salon scene, which Seehorn said made her nervous due to the number of crew members on set. She described the experience as a fun trial-by-fire. She said she received one piece of advice about being truthful when she did not know something: "Being full of crap, they'll see through it in a heartbeat. So there was a lot of, 'I don't know! That's a very good question! I'm gonna think about that!'" Gilligan and Gould told her that the job would be stressful but said that "as hard as it is ... just try and find some joy when you can. Be as present as you can and have some good times as well."<ref name="THRInterview" />

[[File:Breaking Bad Locations (17351692370).jpg|thumb~~|200px~~|"Hit and Run" marks the first appearance of the Crossroads Motel in ''Better Call Saul''.]]

Seehorn and Cherkis noted how the episode displayed intimate and vulnerable moments in a majority of the character's lives, from Howard's therapy session, Clifford Main's revealing his son has a drug problem, Gus being irritated with removing his concealed weapon, Bill Oakley's conversation with Jimmy about ethics, and Kim's initial realization that she is being followed.{{r|BCS Podcast|p=39:12–41:00}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2022/05/rhea-seehorn-interview-directing-herself-better-call-saul-1234721709/|title=''Better Call Saul'': What Rhea Seehorn Learned When She Directed Herself|date=May 3, 2022|first=Steve|last=Greene|website=[[IndieWire]]|access-date=May 6, 2022|archive-date=May 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505102305/https://www.indiewire.com/2022/05/rhea-seehorn-interview-directing-herself-better-call-saul-1234721709/|url-status=live}}</ref> "Hit and Run" introduces several settings and characters from ''Breaking Bad'', including the strip mall location of Saul Goodman's eventual office, the Crossroads Motel, and minor characters [[Spooge (Breaking Bad)|Spooge]] and [[Wendy (Breaking Bad)|Wendy]], played respectively by [[David Ury]] and Julia Minesci.<ref name="RollingStone" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/05/rhea-seehorn-better-call-saul-season-6-interview|url-access=limited|title=''Better Call Saul''{{'}}s Rhea Seehorn on Inching Closer and Closer to ''Breaking Bad''|date=May 3, 2022|first=Derek|last=Lawrence|website=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]|access-date=May 5, 2022|archive-date=May 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220504071128/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/05/rhea-seehorn-better-call-saul-season-6-interview|url-status=live}}</ref> The strip mall location of Goodman's office had, since the end of ''Breaking Bad'', been leased by a few sports bars, but by the time ''Better Call Saul'' ~~had been~~was ready to shoot there, the property had become vacant.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/better-call-saul-melissa-bernstein-talks-goodman-hamlin-fight-1235144018/|title=''Better Call Saul'' Executive Producer Melissa Bernstein Discusses Kim's 'Dark Side' and Breaks Down Goodman-Hamlin Title Fight|date=May 10, 2022|first=Brian|last=Davids|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|access-date=May 11, 2022|archive-date=May 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511175523/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/better-call-saul-melissa-bernstein-talks-goodman-hamlin-fight-1235144018/|url-status=live}}</ref> Seehorn took a detail-oriented approach as a director, working with Meyer and Donachie to storyboard the shots during the weekends. The episode's cinematography was rigorously considered: Seehorn made sure the [[point-of-view shot]]s in the episode were only included if they moved the story forward, so as to avoid breaking audiences' immersion. The only scene Seehorn had to watch the playback of during filming was the scene with Kim and Clifford Main because the action was occurring behind her.<ref name="THRInterview" />

Married couple Joni and [[Kirk Bovill]] played the Rymans, the couple riding their bicycles in the episode's [[cold open]]. Seehorn wanted the sprinkler they ride past to sound like a [[machine gun]], and worked with sound mixer Phil Palmer and boom operator Mitch Gebhard to accomplish the effect.{{r|BCS Podcast|p=20:15–22:20}} The song in the sequence, "Best Things in Life" by The Dreamliners, was selected early on in the production by music supervisor [[Thomas Golubić]] to highlight the developing contrast between the scene's beginning and end.{{r|BCS Podcast|p=20:15–22:20}} As Seehorn put it, "I wanted everything that was idyllic in the beginning to be awful and violent in the end."<ref name="THRInterview" /> The crew said the opening sequence was included because they trusted viewers to notice and remember information through visuals instead of exposition.{{r|BCS Podcast|p=24:31–30:17}}

The reveal of the tunnel system underneath Gus's house took weeks of preparation to film.{{r|BCS Podcast|p=30:18–37:10}} The interior and exterior of the ground floors of both houses, including the bedroom and closet in Gus's house, were real locations, while the tunnel and the two basements were all part of a connected set constructed on a soundstage. Donachie shot the sequence to look like it was filmed in one take.{{r|BCS Podcast|p=30:18–37:10}} Some visual effects in the episode added in during post-production by [[Rodeo FX]] included the red house from the opening sequence,{{r|BCS Podcast|p=22:33–23:02}} and the windshield and rear-view window of the car belonging to Mike's men in the long [[Zooming (filmmaking)|zoom shot]] when Kim confronts them.{{r|BCS Podcast|p=48:00–49:32}}

The episode also features the first interaction between Kim and Mike, who is played by [[Jonathan Banks]]. It was the only scene that was not rehearsed beforehand and was inspired by ''[[Heat (1995 film)|Heat]]'' (1995), specifically by the first interaction between [[Robert De Niro]]'s Neil McCauley and [[Amy Brenneman]]'s Eady. Cherkis's script called for the scene to take place outside the diner but it was Seehorn's decision to change the setting. Some ideas for the scene would have seen Mike standing at a bus stop or sitting on a bench but these concepts were scrapped due to logistical issues, such as the amount of natural light, limited coverage of the actors, and the fact that the exterior of the diner had already been shown in "[[Wine and Roses]]".{{r|BCS Podcast|p=17:00–20:15}} Seehorn told Banks she wanted to honor the moment by making him walk out of the diner when there was a lot of sunlight so he could "be backlit like the icon you are!"<ref name="THRInterview">{{Cite web |last=Fienberg |first=Daniel |date=May 3, 2022 |title=''Better Call Saul'': Rhea Seehorn Discusses Her 'Hit and Run' Directing Debut |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/better-call-saul-rhea-seehorn-directing-debut-interview-1235139353/ |access-date=May 3, 2022 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |language= |archive-date=May 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503022712/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/better-call-saul-rhea-seehorn-directing-debut-interview-1235139353/ |url-status=live }}</ref> During post-production, editing for the episode was completed by [[Chris McCaleb]] in Albuquerque with the assistance of Seehorn, who was in Los Angeles. They worked remotely using [[FaceTime]] to communicate and the ClearView system to edit.<ref name="BCS Podcast">{{cite podcast|url=http://movietouch.sony.com.edgesuite.net/podcasts/better_call_saul_v1/Better_Call_Saul_Insider_604.mp3|title=604 ''Better Call Saul'' Insider|date=May 3, 2022|first1=Chris|last1=McCaleb|author-link1=Chris McCaleb|first2=Kelley|last2=Dixon|first3=Peter|last3=Gould|author-link3=Peter Gould|first4=Vince|last4=Gilligan|author-link4=Vince Gilligan|first5=Rhea|last5=Seehorn|author-link5=Rhea Seehorn|first6=Ann|last6=Cherkis|first7=Joey|last7=Reinisch|publisher=[[AMC (TV channel)|AMC]]|access-date=May 5, 2022|archive-date=May 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503195613/http://movietouch.sony.com.edgesuite.net/podcasts/better_call_saul_v1/Better_Call_Saul_Insider_604.mp3|url-status=live}}</ref>{{rp|4:04–5:26}}

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On the review aggregator website [[Rotten Tomatoes]], 100% of seven reviews are positive, with an average rating of 9.0/10.<ref>{{cite Rotten Tomatoes|type=tv|id=better_call_saul|season=6|episode=4|title={{PAGENAMEBASE}}|access-date=May 5, 2022}}</ref> Critics were positive of Seehorn's direction and performance, the episode's pacing, and the return of Wendy's character.<ref name="VanityFair" /><ref name="IndieWire" /> Michael Hogan of ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]'' complimented the makeup design.<ref name="VanityFair">{{cite web|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/05/better-call-saul-604-recap|url-access=limited|title=''Better Call Saul'' Season 6, Episode 4 Recap: The Calm Before Lalo's Storm?|date=May 2, 2022|first=Michael|last=Hogan|website=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]|access-date=May 5, 2022|archive-date=May 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503041026/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/05/better-call-saul-604-recap|url-status=live}}</ref> Scott Tobias, writing for ''[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]]'', called the cold open a "fun tease" for its use of the 1965 song "Best Things in Life" by the Dreamliners. He also noted the episode as "the fork in the road where Jimmy and Kim's paths diverge."<ref name="VultureReview">{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/article/better-call-saul-season-6-ep-4-recap-hit-and-run.html|url-access=limited|title=''Better Call Saul'' Recap: Best Things in Life|date=May 2, 2022|first=Scott|last=Tobias|website=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]]|access-date=May 5, 2022|archive-date=May 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505035220/https://www.vulture.com/article/better-call-saul-season-6-ep-4-recap-hit-and-run.html|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Rolling Stone]]''{{'}}s [[Alan Sepinwall]] highlighted Kim and Mike's first interaction as a scene that was both "wracked with tension ... and yet also understated and lovely in the way you would hope for these two when they finally got to speak". He also praised Jimmy's steady transformation into Saul Goodman as well as Seehorn's direction, writing that "tonally and visually, this one felt and looked very much like an episode helmed by a ''Saul'' vet, rather than by someone whose only previous directorial credit on [[IMDb]] is a short film called ''How Not to Buy a Couch''."<ref name="RollingStone">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-recaps/better-call-saul-recap-season-6-episode-4-hit-run-1340272/|url-access=limited|title=''Better Call Saul'' Recap: Do I Know You From Somewhere?|date=May 2, 2022|first=Alan|last=Sepinwall|author-link=Alan Sepinwall|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=May 5, 2022|archive-date=May 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505100642/https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-recaps/better-call-saul-recap-season-6-episode-4-hit-run-1340272/|url-status=live}}</ref> Steve Greene from ''[[IndieWire]]'' said the actress played Kim's "internal calculus unsurprisingly well."<ref name="IndieWire">{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2022/05/better-call-saul-season-6-episode-4-review-hit-and-run-spoilers-1234721435/|title=''Better Call Saul'' Review: Ominous 'Hit and Run' Shows What It Takes to Have All the Answers|date=May 2, 2022|first=Steve|last=Greene|website=[[IndieWire]]|access-date=May 5, 2022|archive-date=May 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505035220/https://www.indiewire.com/2022/05/better-call-saul-season-6-episode-4-review-hit-and-run-spoilers-1234721435/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[The A.V. Club]]''{{'}}s Kimberly Potts gave positive notes to the cinematography and Seehorn's work on the episode, calling it a "stellar directorial debut in a Kim Wexler-intensive episode".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/better-call-saul-review-season-6-episode-4-hit-and-ru-1848871012|title=In ''Better Call Saul'', it's all fun and games until someone gets a visit from Mike|date=May 2, 2022|first=Kimberly|last=Potts|website=[[The A.V. Club]]|access-date=May 5, 2022|archive-date=May 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505011833/https://www.avclub.com/better-call-saul-review-season-6-episode-4-hit-and-ru-1848871012|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Ratings and accolades ===

An estimated~~ ~~ 1.16  million viewers watched "Hit and Run" during its first broadcast on [[AMC (TV channel)|AMC]] on May 2, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|author-link=Mitch Metcalf|url=https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-monday-5-2-2022-top-150-cable-originals-network-finals.html|title=ShowBuzzDaily's Monday 5.2.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated|website=ShowBuzzDaily|date=May 3, 2022|access-date=May 5, 2022|archive-date=May 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220504041022/https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-monday-5-2-2022-top-150-cable-originals-network-finals.html|url-status=live}}</ref> At the [[74th Primetime Emmy Awards]], [[Rhea Seehorn]] received her first [[Primetime Emmy Awards|Primetime Emmy Award]] nomination for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series|Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series]] for this episode.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rosen |first1=Christopher |last2=Beachum |first2=Chris |date=July 22, 2022 |title=Rhea Seehorn (''Better Call Saul''): Emmys 2022 episode submission revealed |url=https://www.goldderby.com/feature/rhea-seehorn-better-call-saul-emmys-2022-episode-submission-1205016044/ |work=[[Gold Derby]] |access-date=August 15, 2022}}</ref>

== Notes ==

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[[Category:2022 American television episodes]]

[[Category:Better Call Saul (season 6) episodes]]