When Better Call Saul's first episode titled "Uno" aired on February 8, 2015, it not only topped the AMC performance charts but also set the record as the most-watched scripted series premiere in US cable history. It was obvious that viewers had really missed being immersed in the drama-packed Breaking Bad universe.
The series premiere set a foundation that was solid enough to keep viewers invested in the series. So far, 50 episodes of Better Call Saul have aired. Given the numerous little details that Peter Gould and Vince Gilligan fit into each episode, it might be hard to remember everything that happened at the beginning. Here's what you forgot about the pilot.
Saul's Old Commercials
There was a monochrome flash-forward scene that showed Jimmy aka Saul Goodman in his future life. After things got heated in the final season of Breaking Bad, Saul sought the services of Ed Galbraith aka The Disappearer. Ed set him up with a new life in Omaha, Nebraska where he'd use the fake name "Gene."
The episode gave viewers a brief look into Saul's new life as Gene. He was now working behind the counter at a restaurant in a shopping mall. Gene could be seen getting worried as a customer looked at him suspiciously. Later, he was shown watching videos of his old "Better Call Saul" commercials and crying.
Jimmy First Case Involved A Bunch Of Necrophiliacs
As a public defender, Jimmy McGill's first case in the series involved three teenagers that had been charged with breaking into a morgue and performing sexual acts on a dead body. Interestingly, he used the "boys will boys" argument while pleading with the jury. As expected, he failed to win the case.
To add to his woes, he got paid less than he expected. He had hoped for a $2100 paycheck ($700 for each boy) but the prosecutor decided to charge them as a group, hence he only got $700. Jimmy was clearly upset at the measly amount. This was the first sign of his ambition. He wanted more out of life and realized that being a public defender wasn't going to work for him.
Chuck's Lack Of Appreciation
Earlier in the episode, Jimmy stormed into HHM to demand his sick brother Chuck's $17 million severance package. He didn't quite manage to convince Howard but at least he was making an effort for his brother. Later on, Jimmy visited Chuck at his house where the audience learned that he was taking care of him his salary as a public defender.
Chuck didn't seem to appreciate Jimmy's efforts as he asked him to drop the name McGill in his law practice so that clients wouldn't have to confuse the two of them. In later episodes, it was revealed that Chuck just didn't want Jimmy to become a lawyer like him. He didn't believe he was cut out for it.
Jimmy Pretended To Be His Own Imaginary British Secretary
After losing the case involving the teenagers, Jimmy was called by a potential 'big client.' Since he didn't have a secretary, he pretended to be his own British secretary by adopting an accent. The client's agreed to meet him at Loyola's restaurant.
The big client turned out to be Craig Kettleman, a treasurer who had been accused of stealing $1.6 million from the Bernalillo County coffers. Just as Craig was about to sign a letter of engagement with Jimmy, his wife stopped him and asked for time to think about it. Jimmy later saw them hiring HHM when he went to confront Howard.
Mike's Introduction
Whereas he was only a supporting character in Breaking Bad, Mike has been one of the main characters Better Call Saul. He is tied to just about every storyline. But when he was first introduced in the spin-off, he didn't look like he was going to move much weight in the series.
Mike was introduced in the first episode as a parking lot attendant. He stopped Jimmy as he was driving away in his dilapidated Suzuki Esteem after his first court case. Jimmy didn't have proper validation stickers so Mike forced him to get some. The relationship between the two became more cordial in future episodes.
Jimmy's Disdain Towards His Own Car
While driving around ABQ, Jimmy suddenly hit a skateboarder. His twin brother appeared and rushed to confront him while videotaping the whole incident. The brothers demanded a payment of $500 or else they would call the police.
Jimmy hilariously told them that the only way his car would be worth 500 dollars would be if it had a 300 dollar prostitute in it. Thanks to his own crooked history, the lawyer quickly realized that the teens were trying to scam him and called them out. Realizing that he was not going to be one of their ordinary unsuspecting victims, they ran away.
Breaking Bad Easter Eggs
There were several visible easter eggs in the first episode. For example, Walt akaHeisenberg's coat and iconic hat were placed on a hanger when Jimmy entered the court lobby. Jimmy's red key chain was also the same one that Walt used to open the trunk of his vehicle before activating the machine gun that killed Jack Welker's Gang.
Outside the courthouse, Jimmy also parked next to the same Cadillac model that he drove in Breaking Bad. And in Breaking Bad's penultimate episode, Saul told Walt "If I'm lucky, I'll be managing a Cinnabon in Omaha." The flash-forward scene in the first episode showed him working at a Cinnabon in a mall.
Jimmy's Recollection Of His Past Life As A Petty Criminal
A quick thinker, Jimmy found a way to work with the twins that had tried to scam him. He wanted to use them to convince the 'big client' (Craig) to work with him again. So, he approached them again in an effort to bond with them. He told them how used to be a scammer too known as "Slippin' Jimmy" back in his hometown of Cicero, Illinois.
He earned the name because he used to stage falls and extort cash from unsuspecting citizens. This was the first time viewers learned that Jimmy used to be a criminal. The name "Slippin' Jimmy" would be referenced again in later episodes by a few characters, mostly Chuck and Kim.
Jimmy's Failed Plan To Get Craig Back
Jimmy's plan with the twins involved them doing exactly what they had done to him. One of them would hit the car of Craig's wife at an intersection and demand a settlement. Jimmy would then appear and pretend to have been driving by. He'd then talk the twins out of suing Crag's wife.
Impressed, Craig's wife would convince him to drop HHM and bring back Jimmy as their lawyer. It was a brilliant plan, except the car drove after 'hitting' one of the twins instead of stopping.
The Appearance Of A Major Breaking Bad Villain
Before Gus Fring, there was Tuco. He made the lives of Walt and Jesse miserable before Hank finally gunned him down. Tuco showed up once again in the final moments as he pulled a gun to Jimmy's head and pulled him into a house.
It's the incident with the twins that led to that moment. They followed the car that had sped off only for an elderly woman to come out, instead of Craig's wife. They tried to scam her anyway and followed her into the house. It turned out the woman was the grandmother of Tuco Salamanca. The villain was right inside the house too. And when Jimmy showed up to look for the twins, Tuco pulled him inside.