where can The best of Saul on demand Going after last week’s game-changing episode? Back to black and white Omaha, it seems.
Monday’s episode was all about Gene Takavich, and he finally gave us an update on what’s after Saul-Too bad identification. The last time we saw the gene (In the fifth season premiere), was pursued by a mysterious man named Jeff, but he told cleaner Ed Galbraith he would “fix it myself.” Now see what that looks like: Jane tracks down Marion’s elderly mother Jeff – Hi Carol Burnett! – And he honors himself for her with a made-up story about his missing dog named Nebi. (He also secretly cuts a wire on her motorized scooter so he has to help her out with her house.) When Jeff comes home from work, he finds Jane laughing with Marion in their kitchen—and Jane shoots a puzzled Jeff with a smug look.
Once they’re on their own, Jeff threatens Jen: “All I have to do is pick up the phone, bye-bye, Sol Goodman.” But Jane has a better idea: He knows that all Jeff wants is a bigger piece of the pie, and he promises to cut one piece for him. “Here’s the deal: I’ll show you the game, and then we’re done,” Jeff said – and a new scam was born. (Jane goes home and wears his pinky ring from Saul Goodman, to complete the transformation.) Jane begins bringing an extra couple of Cinnabons to the mall’s security desk, which was chief security guard Frank—hello, Gardens and recommendationJim O’Hare! – He happily devours his back to the screens. Jane determines exactly how long it takes Frank to finish his cake each time, and also browses the Lancaster store in the mall, counting his steps as he goes. What is this man intending to do?
We discover when Jane sets up a replica of store dimensions in a snowy field, training Jeff to steal the most valuable items during the three minutes it takes Frank to eat a Cinnabon. Just take three of each item, though, Gene Jeff warns: That way, they won’t notice until they do the inventory in three days, at which time the safety tapes will be taped. Jeff isn’t sure about the scheme, which seems crazy to him. So Jane recalls Walter White’s story: “I’ll tell you what’s crazy: a fifty-year-old chemistry teacher comes into my office. The guy’s so broke, he can’t pay his mortgage. One year later, he’s got a pile of cash the size of a Volkswagen.” This is madness.” That’s enough to convince Jeff to take the initiative.
Lancaster’s manager, Cathy, is making a morning run, noting a scuff on the floor, when she is interrupted by a massive wooden box delivery. She didn’t order so I called the delivery guy’s supervisor – ie Jane – to complain. Jane gets off on a long story about how long it will take him to take, so Cathy reluctantly agrees to keep the box there for the night. Now the stage is set, and when Frank looks at Cinnabon that night as usual, Jane sends Jeff a message that it’s time. Jeff gets out of the box and runs through the store, taking the Armani and Air Jordan suits just like they were practicing. Gene watches Frank’s shoulder while Frank’s drones are oblivious to football in Nebraska, and everything will plan…until Jeff runs to the freshly cleaned spot where the watercress was and slips, and kicks himself out of the cold. Excuse me.
Jane can only watch in horror as Jeff lies motionless on the tiles and Frank finishes off Cinnabon. He starts to go back to the cameras, but Jane stops him by breaking into tears, crying that he doesn’t know what to do with his life. Frank has a wife to go to, but “I have no one. My father is dead. My brother is dead. I have no wife. No children. No friends. If I die tonight, no one will care.” (Wow…that hits hard, knowing how true that is for Jimmy after what happened to Chuck and Kim.) Frank heartily consoles him, giving Jeff time to get back on his feet and out of the frame before Frank gets back to work. Whew. The next morning, Jeff snuck out of the store after hiding in the bathroom all night, and the delivery man took the box, now teeming with luxury goods.
Back in his garage, Jeff and his friend laugh at their newfound riches, but Jane isn’t laughing. He reminds them that they will face several decades in prison if they get caught, and if they turn against him, he will punish them. “You don’t have to threaten us. We’re all friends here, but Gene is firm,” pleads Jeff. “I’m not your friend.” He warned them not to try anything like that again and stay out of his life starting now, and ordered Jeff to say the words, “We’re done.” Marion almost catches them, but they pretend they’re working on Jeff’s car, Jane helps her with a grocery, Marion tells him that Jeff caught up with a bad crowd in Albuquerque, but she’s glad Jane has a good influence. She asks about Nebe, and Jane says he brought her back: “After all That, happy ending.”
Jen returns to work at Cinnabon, looking more confident than we’ve ever seen. He takes his lunch break and heads to the store, checking out a glowing colored shirt and tie that Saul Goodman would love. He puts it in front of himself in the mirror…but finally he puts it back on and it goes away.
Are you satisfied with the ending of Jane’s story, if this is the end? And when will we see Walt and Jesse – and maybe even Kim again – in the last three episodes? Leave your thoughts in a comment below.
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