Better Call Saul odds and ends: Inside Fall + hear from Laura Fraser and Patrick Fabian
We go inside the penultimate episode of Better Call Saul season three and sift through Q&As from cast members Laura Fraser and Patrick Fabian.
Despite Better Call Saul concluding its season tomorrow, there will be one more “odds and ends” feature releasing next week. Beyond that, considering the scarcity of new things to talk about, this weekly tradition is up in the air. Forget that though, lets live in the now! In the now, we’ll take a deeper look at last Monday’s episode, Fall, and hear from two cast members. As always, we hope these bits from AMC’s website help to curb your Better Call Saul appetite before tomorrow’s new episode.
Inside Fall
This week’s “inside the episode” feature focused on three of Fall’s scenes. Crew members on board to discuss these scenes include Co-Executive Producers Diane Mercer and Nina Jack, as well as Producer/Writer Gordon Smith. Additionally, cast members Jonathan Banks and Rhea Seehorn are present to talk about their respective scenes. Specifically Mike’s meeting with Lydia and Kim’s episode-ending car accident. However, it was the crew’s discussion of Jimmy/Saul that I found most interesting. Smith called the scene where Jimmy consoles Irene “almost the final straw for him” in becoming Saul Goodman. As Smith puts it, “it’s his last chance to not be a dick…and he chooses to be a dick.” Watch the entirety of this week’s “inside the episode” here.
Irene Landry (Jean Effron) and Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk) in Episode 9 Photo by Michele K. Short/Sony Pictures Television/AMC
Fraser’s Q&A
After making her Better Call Saul debut a few weeks ago during the episode Off Brand, Breaking Bad’s Lydia returned to the show during Fall. The episode saw her set Mike up with a job in which he can launder his money through. After the episode aired, AMC’s Insider’s Blog released a Q&A with Laura Fraser, who plays Lydia. Topics discussed include her life after Breaking Bad as well as Lydia’s relationship with Gus and her first impressions of Mike. Additionally, and what I found most interesting, was Fraser’s discussion of the differences between Breaking Bad Lydia and Better Call Saul Lydia:
Q: This takes place several years before we first met Lydia in Breaking Bad. How, if at all, is she different?
A: She hasn’t started unraveling. She feels really secure and confident in her place in the world, and she even experiences moments of happiness and contentment. She’s ambitious and enjoying her profession. She still has this air of irritability that betrays her genuine comfort levels, but she hasn’t yet started to fray. My husband calls this version of her “Lydia Lite.” [Laughs] Before, on Breaking Bad, she was motivated by fear whereas now she’s motivated by ambition, which for her is just a different kind of fear.
Check out the full interview here.
Lydia Rodarte-Quayle (Laura Fraser) and Mike Ehrmantraut (Jonathan Banks) in Episode 9 Photo by Michele K. Short/Sony Pictures Television/AMC
Fabian’s Q&A
A big story line the past few episodes has been the crumbling relationship between HHM’s partners. Fall saw Howard attempt to push Chuck into retirement and Chuck threaten to sue in response. Patrick Fabian, who plays Howard, also had a Q&A with the Insider’s Blog this week. Topics for which include fan perception of his character as well as Howard’s long relationship with Chuck. Oh, and the fact he and Michael McKean don’t actually drink whisky in their scenes:
Q: How much would you like to get your hands on a real 35-year-old Macallan?
A: I have never had a 35-year-old Macallan. Back in the day, I drank Maker’s Mark whiskey. That’s how classy I got. Those scotches smell so amazing and I believe the makers actually sent a bottle, but it never made it to the McKean or Fabian dressing room so I’ll have to talk to somebody in Props about that. It was iced tea [in the scene]. I don’t think it would have helped had it been the real thing.
Check out the full interview here.
Chuck McGill (Mike McKean) and Howard Hamlin (Patrick Fabian) in Episode 9 Photo by Michele K. Short/Sony Pictures Television/AMC
Better Call Saul’s final episode of season three airs tomorrow night at 10/9c on AMC.
