The fourth season of the American television drama series Better Call Saul premiered on August 6, 2018, and is scheduled to conclude on October 8, 2018. The fourth season will consist of 10 episodes and airs on Mondays at 9:00 pm (Eastern) in the United States on AMC. Better Call Saul is a spin-off prequel of Breaking Bad created by Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould who also worked on Breaking Bad.
The fourth season, like the previous one, mainly takes place in 2003, the first and second season took place in 2002. Jimmy (Bob Odenkirk) and Kim (Rhea Seehorn) struggle to cope with Chuck's (Michael McKean) death. Howard Hamlin (Patrick Fabian) believes that his decision to force Chuck out of HHM led to his death. Mike (Jonathan Banks) performs security inspections at Madrigal, disregarding the fact that his consulting contract was supposed to be only a paper transaction. Gus (Giancarlo Esposito) has his suspicions about Nacho (Michael Mando) after Hector's (Mark Margolis) collapse.
Video Better Call Saul (season 4)
Production
AMC renewed the series for a 10-episode fourth season in June 2017.
Filming
Better Call Saul is set and filmed in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the same location as its predecessor. Filming for the fourth season of Better Call Saul began in January 2018. The first episode was directed by Minkie Spiro. Production wrapped on May 30, 2018.
In the first scene from the first episode of season 4, Saul (now under the Gene Takovic alias), is at his workplace in a Nebraska Cinnabon. This scene in all season premieres so far are all set in Omaha, but all four scenes were filmed in Albuquerque at the Cottonwood Mall.
Mark Margolis, who plays drug kingpin Hector Salamanca, required brain surgery after suffering severe head injuries in an accidental fall.
The episode "Piñata" was directed by Andrew Stanton, who is better known for writing and directing several Pixar films, including Finding Nemo and WALL-E. During a conversation with Mark Johnson and Melissa Bernstein, the show's executive producers, they suggested the opportunity for him to direct a Better Call Saul episode, which he jumped at, as he had already been a fan of both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, and wanted the opportunity to work with the creators Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould.
Casting
Bob Odenkirk returns as James Morgan "Jimmy" McGill, Jonathan Banks as Mike Ehrmantraut, Rhea Seehorn as Kimberly "Kim" Wexler, Patrick Fabian as Howard Hamlin, Michael Mando as Ignacio "Nacho" Varga, and Giancarlo Esposito as Gus Fring. Michael McKean (Chuck McGill), who was credited as a main cast member in previous seasons, does not return as a series regular. In a June 2017 interview following the third season finale, McKean commented on the possibility of returning to the series, stating "I know they want to bring me in for some flashbacks this coming season." McKean made a guest appearance in a flashback sequence at the start of the sixth episode, "Piñata".
In May 2018, it was reported that Stefan Kapi?i? would have a recurring role in the fourth season. Kapi?i? stated, "I'm thrilled that I have a chance to become a part of Better Call Saul family. It is one of my favorite shows on TV and it's a dream come true be a part of the Breaking Bad universe." It has also been confirmed that a character, Lalo, portrayed by Tony Dalton, who was mentioned in the Breaking Bad episode "Better Call Saul" would appear during this season.
The episode "Something Beautiful" marks the first Better Call Saul appearance of Gale Boetticher, a major character from Breaking Bad played by David Costabile. Costabile had been in Albuquerque filming Dig while Better Call Saul's team was wrapping up production of the first season. He met with co-producer Peter Gould, and they agreed to have Gale appear on Better Call Saul. Costabile was able to work in filming for Better Call Saul between filming on Billions, but had only about a week to memorize both his dialogue and the lyrics to Tom Lehrer's "The Elements" which he had to sing karaoke style in his scenes. This short period contrasted with his past singing performances on Breaking Bad, when he had more time to learn the lyrics.
Maps Better Call Saul (season 4)
Plot
The death of Jimmy's brother Chuck serves as a catalyst for his further transformation into Saul Goodman, and Jimmy's entrance into the criminal world puts a strain on his relationship with Kim and his future as a lawyer. Chuck's death also deeply affects Kim and Howard. Mike becomes a security consultant for Madrigal. The collapse of Hector Salamanca impacts the cartel and plans plotted by Gus Fring and Nacho.
Series showrunner Vince Gilligan said in January 2018 that Better Call Saul "gets darker this season", while Bob Odenkirk (Jimmy McGill) said that the fourth season goes to "another level."
Cast and characters
Main
- Bob Odenkirk as James Morgan "Jimmy" McGill, an attorney who explores the criminal world after his law license is suspended during a dispute with his now-deceased brother Chuck.
- Jonathan Banks as Mike Ehrmantraut, a security consultant for Madrigal Electromotive, now working closer with Gustavo Fring.
- Rhea Seehorn as Kimberly "Kim" Wexler, a lawyer now running her own practice, who is Jimmy's girlfriend and confidant.
- Patrick Fabian as Howard Hamlin, sole managing partner of Hamlin, Hamlin & McGill after Chuck's death.
- Michael Mando as Ignacio "Nacho" Varga, a criminal working for the Salamanca drug ring, who gets co-opted by Gustavo Fring after trying to kill Hector Salamanca.
- Giancarlo Esposito as Gustavo "Gus" Fring, a methamphetamine distributor who uses his fast food restaurant chain Los Pollos Hermanos as a front, and blackmails Nacho into working for him.
Recurring
- Mark Margolis as Hector Salamanca, a drug kingpin who is part of the same cartel as Gus, and also Gus' principal competition.
- Kerry Condon as Stacey Ehrmantraut, Mike's widowed daughter-in-law and the mother of Kaylee Ehrmantraut.
- Jeremiah Bitsui as Victor, Gus' henchman.
- Vincent Fuentes as Arturo, a criminal associate of Hector Salamanca.
- Ann Cusack as Rebecca Bois, Chuck's ex-wife.
- Dennis Boutsikaris as Rick Schweikart, the attorney for Sandpiper Crossing in the class action lawsuit Jimmy develops.
- Andrew Friedman as Mr. Neff, manager of Neff Copiers.
- Poorna Jagannathan as Dr. Maureen Bruckner, a Johns Hopkins neurosurgeon secretly paid by Gus to oversee Hector's treatment.
- Daniel and Luis Moncada as Leonel and Marco Salamanca, Tuco's cousins and Hector's nephews, who are hitmen for the cartel.
- Javier Grajeda as Juan Bolsa, a Mexican drug cartel boss
- Ray Campbell as Tyrus Kitt, a henchman on Gus Fring's payroll.
- Juan Carlos Cantu as Manuel Varga, Nacho's father, who is the owner of a car restoration shop.
- Abigail Zoe Lewis as Kaylee Ehrmantraut, Mike's granddaughter.
- Rex Linn as Kevin Wachtell, the CEO of Mesa Verde and one of Kim's clients.
- Cara Pifko as Paige Novak, the senior counsel of Mesa Verde and one of Kim's clients.
- Franc Ross as Ira, a burglar Jimmy hires, and the owner of Vamonos Pest.
- Keiko Agena as Viola Goto, the paralegal of Kim Wexler.
- Tommy Nelson as Rocco, the leader of a group of thugs who mugs Jimmy.
- Carlin James as Zane, a thug who mugs Jimmy.
- Cory Chapman as Jed, a thug who mugs Jimmy.
- Eileen Fogarty as Mrs. Nguyen, owner of a nail salon where Jimmy rents the back room.
- Rainer Bock as Werner Ziegler, an engineer hired by Gus to plan and oversee construction of his meth "superlab."
- Stefan Kapi?i? as Casper, a member of Werner Ziegler's team for the construction Gus' meth "superlab".
- Ben Bela Böhm as Kai, a member of Werner Ziegler's team for the construction of Gus' meth "superlab" who Mike grows suspicious of.
- Lavell Crawford as Huell Babineaux, a professional pickpocket hired by Jimmy.
- Tony Dalton as Eduardo "Lalo" Salamanca.
Guest stars
- Ed Begley Jr. as Clifford Main, founder of the law firm Davis & Main, where Jimmy worked as an attorney in season 2.
- Laura Fraser as Lydia Rodarte-Quayle, a Madrigal Electromotive executive and associate of Gus Fring.
- JB Blanc as Barry Goodman, a doctor on Gus Fring's payroll.
- Joe DeRosa as Dr. Caldera, a veterinarian who serves as Mike and Jimmy's liaison to the criminal underworld.
- David Costabile as Gale Boetticher, a cheerful, friendly chemist Gus helps pay to educate, and later consults with, reprising his role from Breaking Bad.
- Tamara Tunie as Anita, a member of Mike's support group, whom he befriends.
- Tina Parker as Francesca Liddy, Jimmy's receptionist.
- Peter Diseth as Bill Oakley, a deputy district attorney.
- Michael McKean as Charles Lindbergh "Chuck" McGill, Jr., Jimmy's elder brother and a founding partner of HHM, appearing in a flashback.
- Max Arciniega as Domingo "Krazy-8" Molina, reprising his role from Breaking Bad.
- Josh Fadem as Camera Guy, a film student who helps Jimmy on various projects.
- Hayley Holmes as Drama Girl, a film student who helps Jimmy on various projects.
Episodes
Reception
The fourth season has received critical acclaim, particularly for its pace and character development. On Metacritic, the season has a score of 87 out of 100 based on 16 critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the season has a 99% approval rating with an average score of 8.86 out of 10 based on 30 reviews. The site's critical consensus states, "Well-crafted and compelling as ever, Better Call Saul deftly balances the show it was and the one it will inevitably become." Based on the first three episodes of season four, Liz Shannon Miller of IndieWire gave the series a highly positive review with an "A" grade. She wrote that season four is "better, deeper, and more daring" and that it is "one of the most subtle and brilliant shows on TV."
Ratings
References
External links
- Official website
- List of Better Call Saul episodes on IMDb
Source of article : Wikipedia
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