No, this is not a recap for the Breaking Bad series. Instead, it's a tribute to the latest episode of Better Call Saul's sixth season, episode 11. The title itself is a nod to the episode's title, a fitting tribute to one of the greatest TV duos of all time.
As the episode opens, we're thrown back to an episode of Breaking Bad's second season, episode eight. We see Saul in a van, held at gunpoint by Walter and Jesse. Their worker, Badger, has been arrested by an undercover DEA agent for dealing and distributing drugs. Jesse and Walter must find a way to not only free Badger from prison but also keep their names out of it. And who better to turn to than Saul? More on that later.
In the Better Call Saul universe, episode 11 picks up from the events of the last episode, but not immediately after it, but at some undefined time in the future. We bid a tearful goodbye to Francesca in the show. She's still in the city, even after everything that went down in the Breaking Bad days. Her tenants give her a lot of trouble, but she goes along with it. The Feds occasionally tail her to see where she's going. This is one of those occasions, and they eventually lose interest, leaving Francesca free to go to an abandoned gas station where she's called by Saul. He calls to give her the last of the money she's owed. She's more than a servant; she's a co-conspirator. Gene (Saul) is emotional as he bids her goodbye, and she explains to him all the intricate news pertaining to his "special situation." The Feds are desperately looking for all the main culprits from the drug bust. Saul and Jesse are the only two who have yet to be captured. Jesse's car is found on the border (a throwback to El Camino's ending), while they're out there for Saul.
All the money that was secretly stashed by Saul from his cut is discovered by the Feds. But what catches Gene's attention the most is a phone call from Kim and her asking about Saul to Francesca. He's filled with new energy and even decides to call the place she works at.
The next conversation he engages in is submerged by the relentless hum of highway traffic. We witness solely his reaction to a call's content, causing him to erupt in fury, smashing the phone booth in a display of uncharacteristic discontentment for Saul. Whatever was said must have been truly abhorrent, for his next action is to return to Jeff's house. Marion welcomes him as the cabdriver enters, visibly agitated over something he might have done wrong. Recall Gene's admonition in the previous episode: "If you see me, walk on the other side of the street." Why then is he back? It's another ruse. Saul yearns to "break out" of the suffocating Gene persona that haunts him daily. That call has left him unhinged, perhaps extinguishing any glimmer of hope he had at winning Kim's affection. Though it seems unlikely that money is at play, given Francesca's mention that he brought a truckload with him to Omaha.
We next witness the scheme unravel with the first "victim," Alfred. Gene sits with him in a bar and loses every bet, each loss resulting in him purchasing another round of drinks. As the night draws to a close, Gene hails a cab, and so does Alfred. However, Alfred's cab arrives first, and he is sent on his way by Gene, who then extracts a water bag strapped to his stomach and spills its contents. Jeff drives Alfred home and reports his "status" to operator Rick, the friend from the previous episode.
Alfred stumbles home, safe but unsteady, while Jeff deploys a clever ruse—a piece of tape holding the door shut—to ensure no unwelcome interruptions. Rick follows close behind, his loyal dog at his heels. Alfred, weakened by a cocktail of drinks and drugs, is left unattended. Rick seizes the opportunity to sift through important documents, cards, and personal passwords, snapping photos as he goes. It's a well-orchestrated con, with the odds heavily in their favor and the stakes sky-high. This becomes a common occurrence, with the slick criminals ensnaring countless victims.
In the Breaking Bad (BB) timeline, Saul is first introduced to Walter and Jesse's meth lab in a van. He marvels at the purity of the product, manufactured in such a shabby setting. He agrees to lend a hand to the duo, taking on Badger's case and convincing him to remain silent to protect the operation. His eyes widen in concern as he notices Walter coughing up blood.
Meanwhile, in Better Call Saul (BCS) timeline, a cancer patient becomes the target. Gene continues the charade, but when Rick discovers the disease, he refuses to be part of it anymore. In Jeff's garage, Gene relieves Rick of his duties and asks him to join him.
In the BB timeline again, Saul entertains Mike, his former private investigator, revealing Walter's (Heisenberg's) cancer diagnosis and dismissing him as "small and insignificant." Saul then heads to Walter's high school to meet him in person.
In the BCS timeline, Gene ventures into the house without hesitation, boldly breaking protocol. He has gone off the reservation, emboldened by his newfound freedom.
