5 hours ago, crumbs said:
Episode 5 was riveting from start to finish, just waiting to see what the 'play' was. Brilliant stuff!
Chicanery
Despite being credited neither Mike nor Gus appear in this. This episode is all about the disciplinary hearing.
In temrs of structure it's a very simple episode. We start with another flashback where Chuck, already suffering from his condition is having dinner with Rebecca, trying to get her back I suppose. We actually see Chuck lying as he tells her that they cut of the power because of a mix up with the bill. It seems to be going quite well till it turns out Rebecca has a cellphone on her. Jimmy is present during the dinner, and probably set the whole thing up trying to get Chuck and Rebecca back together.
There's another short scene with Kim and the Mesa Verde people. And a scene where Jimmy visits Mike's vet contact, asking about someone to do a job.
Everything else is about the hearing.
It's a brilliantly set up piece of TV. We see Howard trying to persuade Chuck not to take the stand. Mainly because of the risks to HMM if it doesnt go well. Chuck reassures him. Throughout this whole thing Chuck seems determined and well prepared.
Kim starts the hearing by attempting to grill Howard. She probably gets as much out of the situation as she could. Meanwhile we learn Jimmy has something planned but it isnt quite working out right.
Turns out Jimmy hired Huell from Breaking Bad! During a short recess Huell "accidentally" bumps into Chuck. We know something must have happened.
Rebecca arrives, apparently invited by Jimmy. She finds out about Chucks condition finally. It seems like a ploy of Jimmy's
The final act is brilliant. Jimmy takes Kim's place in questioning Chuck. Trying to build the case that he was lying about messing with the Mesa Verde. Chuck had earlier clearly and concisely stated his condition was only physical, not mental. Jimmy is trying to assert that it's actually a mental illness.
Throughout this Chuck is a rock. Seemingly seeing through all of Jimmy's ploys to get him to crack, and he doesnt.
Untill it turns out Huell has hidden a fully charged cellphone battery in Chucks pocket. According to the description he gave of his condition Chuck should have sensed it. But he didnt.Chuck finally does go off on a tangent. Not for very long, but just about enough.
It's a gripping reveal. So far the show has been very vague about the exact nature of Chuck's condition. It's obviously a real thing. But is it mental or physical? I've always wondered.
Now I wondered what happened to Chuck that brought this one. I would speculate next week's episode will start with a flashback that tells us.
The episode ends on a shot of Chuck in the background, with the EXIT sign in front!
Damn this was good TV!
I wonder why Jimmy brought Rebecca into this. Was he trying to hedge his bets and see if it would help Chuck to crack? It probably helped make Chuck angry and aided in his sudden outburst.
Great to see Huell! There's no reason why they could not have used another actor. But the fact that they didnt it's just...I dunno. Fun.
Top notch acting all around. From Kim's reserved professionalism to Jimmy's act as the wounded brother. McKean takes centre stage her. It's actually painful to see him fatally lose his cool. It certainly seems enough to establish a reasonable doubt about his mental condition.
