Dedicado A Max
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"Dedicado a Max" (
Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine **Spanish history **Spanish culture ...
for "Dedicated to Max") is the fifth episode of the fifth season of the
AMC AMC may refer to: Film and television * AMC Theatres, an American movie theater chain * AMC Networks, an American entertainment company ** AMC (TV channel) ** AMC+, streaming service ** AMC Networks International, an entertainment company *** ...
television series ''
Better Call Saul ''Better Call Saul'' is an American legal crime drama television series created by Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould for AMC. Part of the ''Breaking Bad'' franchise, it is a spin-off of Gilligan's previous series, ''Breaking Bad'' (2008–201 ...
'', a
spin-off Spin-off, Spin Off, Spin-Off, or Spinoff may refer to: Entertainment and media *Spinoff (media), a media work derived from an existing work *''The Spinoff'', a New Zealand current affairs magazine * ''Spin Off'' (Canadian game show), a 2013 Canad ...
series of ''
Breaking Bad ''Breaking Bad'' is an American crime drama television series created and produced by Vince Gilligan for AMC (TV channel), AMC. Set and filmed in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the series follows Walter White (Breaking Bad), Walter White (Bryan Cran ...
''. The episode aired on March 16, 2020, on AMC in the United States. Outside of the United States, the episode premiered on the
streaming service Streaming media refers to multimedia delivered through a network for playback using a media player. Media is transferred in a ''stream'' of packets from a server to a client and is rendered in real-time; this contrasts with file downl ...
Netflix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...
. In the episode, Mike awakes in Mexico at one of Gus' ranches after the beatdown in the previous episode. Meanwhile, Jimmy and Kim draw themselves closer in the Acker vs. Mesa Verde case.


Plot

Mike Ehrmantraut Michael Ehrmantraut () is a fictional character portrayed by Jonathan Banks in the television series ''Breaking Bad'' and its spinoff prequel ''Better Call Saul''. Mike is a private investigator, head of security, cleaner, and hitman who works f ...
wakes on a ranch just inside the Mexican border that is owned by
Gus Fring Gustavo Fring is a fictional character portrayed by Giancarlo Esposito in the ''Breaking Bad'' crime drama franchise. Introduced in ''Breaking Bad'' season 2, he serves as the main antagonist in seasons 3– 4 of the series, and a major char ...
and includes a fountain dedicated to Max Arciniega. He finds his stab wounds were treated by Dr. Barry Goodman, who cautions him to stay and heal in the care of Señora Cortazar, the housekeeper and cook. Mike calls Gus to learn his intent, but Gus hangs up. Days later, Gus arrives and asks for Mike's help. Mike refuses to become a " button man" and engage in killing simply to further Gus's war against the Salamancas, but Gus says he wants Mike with him because Mike understands the need for revenge.
Howard Hamlin Howard Hamlin is a fictional character who appears in the crime drama television series ''Better Call Saul'', a Spin-off (media), spin-off prequel of ''Breaking Bad''. He is portrayed by Patrick Fabian and was created by Vince Gilligan and Peter ...
phones
Jimmy McGill James Morgan Jimmy McGill, better known by his business name Saul Goodman, is a fictional character created by Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould and portrayed by Bob Odenkirk in the television franchise ''Breaking Bad''. He appears as a major ch ...
and inquires if he has considered Howard's offer to join HHM; Jimmy claims he is still thinking it over. Jimmy creates delays in Mesa Verde's eviction of Everett Acker, including changing Acker's street number to claim the eviction notices are for the wrong address, planting fake Native American artifacts and low-level radioactive material, and passing off a spray-painted image of Jesus on Acker's home as a miracle.
Kim Wexler Kimberly "Kim" Wexler is a fictional character in the television series ''Better Call Saul'', a spin-off of ''Breaking Bad''. Kim is primarily portrayed by Rhea Seehorn, and was created by Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould. An intelligent and pro ...
tried to remove herself from the case by claiming a conflict of interest due to Jimmy's involvement, but Kevin Wachtell insists she remain. As matters relating to Acker's eviction arrive at Schweikart & Cokely, Kim assigns them to the firm's associates, claiming they have expertise that she does not. Facing further delays, Rich Schweikart encourages Kevin to follow Kim's plan to locate Mesa Verde's call center at an alternate site, but Kevin adamantly demands Acker's eviction. Kim resigns herself to Acker's eviction. Jimmy suggests they could find "dirt" on Kevin and blackmail him into compromising but counsels against doing it. Kim decides to proceed, and Jimmy agrees. After Mike refuses the job, Jimmy hires Sobchak, who surveils Kevin and surreptitiously searches his house. Sobchak tells Jimmy and Kim that his search of Kevin's home revealed nothing damaging. Jimmy dismisses Sobchak from their meeting after Sobchak suggests kidnapping Kevin. Kim's knowing smile as she looks through Sobchak's photos indicates she found something on Kevin. Rich suggests that Kim temporarily disengage from all Mesa Verde business, correctly deducing that she asked Jimmy to sabotage their efforts. She refuses and angrily denies the allegations in front of their co-workers.


Production

On the ''Better Call Saul Insider'' podcast, showrunner
Peter Gould Peter Gould is an American television writer, director and producer. He worked on all five seasons of the AMC drama ''Breaking Bad'', and was nominated for four Writers Guild of America (WGA) Awards for his work on the series. After ''Breakin ...
said Mike's scenes in this episode were partially inspired by the television show ''
The Prisoner ''The Prisoner'' is a British television series created by Patrick McGoohan. McGoohan portrays Number Six (The Prisoner), Number Six, an unnamed British intelligence agent who is abducted and imprisoned in a The Village (The Prisoner), mysteri ...
''. Gould said that while Mike was not trapped on Gus' villa as with ''The Prisoner'', the idea of being stuck in one place and using that as a form of self-reflection helped move Mike's character from what was established within ''Better Call Saul'' toward what audiences had come to know within ''Breaking Bad'', through Gus showing Mike a more personal side while standing next to the fountain that reminds Gus of Max. Giancarlo Esposito, who plays Gus, described in an interview with ''Variety'' that the idea of the villa setting was for Gus to share with Mike the idea of the utopia that Gus wanted, one where there may be need for enforcement via the armed guards, but otherwise everyone was free to enjoy life. Esposito said the scene was to try to show Mike how this setting contrasted with what was happening with events in Albuquerque with Lalo disrupting Gus' operations, and why Gus needed to recruit Mike to help.
Bill Burr {{Infobox comedian , image = Bill Burr by Gage Skidmore.jpg , alt = , caption = Burr in 2018 , birth_name = William Frederic Burr , birth_date = {{birth date and age, 1968, 6, 10 , bi ...
was originally slated to reprise his ''
Breaking Bad ''Breaking Bad'' is an American crime drama television series created and produced by Vince Gilligan for AMC (TV channel), AMC. Set and filmed in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the series follows Walter White (Breaking Bad), Walter White (Bryan Cran ...
'' character Patrick Kuby, who was to surveil Kevin's house during the episode. However, scheduling fell through due to Burr needing to attend to a personal matter. The role was rewritten for
Steven Ogg Steven Ogg (born November 4, 1973) is a Canadian actor and writer. Ogg is best known for playing Trevor Philips in the 2013 video game ''Grand Theft Auto V,'' Simon in '' The Walking Dead,'' and being a spokesman for '' Old Spice.'' He has ...
's character Sobchak instead.


Reception

"Dedicado a Max" was well received by critics. At
Rotten Tomatoes Rotten Tomatoes is an American review aggregator, review-aggregation website for film and television. The company was launched in August 1998 by three undergraduate students at the University of California, Berkeley: Senh Duong, Patrick Y. Lee ...
, it received a perfect 100% approval from 14 reviews with an average 7.93/10 review rating, with a summary "It's all coming together in "Dedicado a Max," a callback-heavy installment that thrillingly expands on the characters of Mike and Kim, with Rhea Seehorn's performance a highlight."


Ratings

"Dedicado a Max" was watched by 1.45 million viewers on its first broadcast, which was an increase from the previous week of 1.22 million.


Notes


References


External links


"Dedicado a Max"
at
AMC AMC may refer to: Film and television * AMC Theatres, an American movie theater chain * AMC Networks, an American entertainment company ** AMC (TV channel) ** AMC+, streaming service ** AMC Networks International, an entertainment company *** ...
* {{Better Call Saul Better Call Saul season 5 episodes 2020 American television episodes Television episodes directed by Jim McKay (director) Television episodes set in Mexico