Dedicado a Max

"Dedicado a Max" (Spanish for "Dedicated to Max") is the fifth episode of the fifth season of the AMC television series Better Call Saul, the spinoff series of Breaking Bad. The episode aired on March 16, 2020 on AMC in the United States. Outside of the United States, the episode premiered on streaming service Netflix in several countries.

"Dedicado a Max"
Better Call Saul episode
Episode no.Season 5
Episode 5
Directed byJim McKay
Written byHeather Marion
Original air dateMarch 16, 2020 (2020-03-16)
Running time50 minutes
Guest appearance(s)

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 wakes on a ranch just inside the Mexican border which is owned by Gus and includes a fountain dedicated to Max. Mike finds his stab wounds were treated by Dr. Barry Goodman who cautions him to heal for a week while in the care of Senora Cortazar before attempting to return to Albuquerque. Mike calls Gus to learn his intent, but Gus hangs up on him. Days later, Gus arrives in person 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 Gus's need for revenge.

Howard phones Jimmy and inquires if he has considered Howard's offer to join HHM; Jimmy claims he is still thinking it over. Jimmy as Saul creates delays in Mesa Verde's eviction of Everett Acker, including changing Acker's street number and claiming the eviction notices are for the wrong address, creating fake Native American artifacts, planting low-level radioactive material, and passing off a spray-painted image of Jesus on Acker's home as a miracle to hundreds of tourists and religious faithful. Kim tries to remove herself from the case by claiming a conflict of interest due to Jimmy's involvement, but Kevin 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 encourages Kevin to follow Kim's plan to locate the Mesa Verde 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 a compromise, but also counsels against doing it. Kim decides to proceed against Kevin, 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 at his office in the nail salon after Sobchak's half-serious recommendations for what to do next include kidnapping and murder. Kim's knowing smile as she looks through Sobchak's photos indicates she has found something she can use against Kevin. The next day Rich suggests to Kim that she temporarily disengage from all Mesa Verde business, correctly deducing that her heart is not in it, but she angrily refuses.

Production

On the Better Call Saul Insider podcast, showrunner Peter Gould said of Mike's scenes in this episode were partially inspired by the television show The Prisoner. 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.[1] 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.[2]

Reception

"Dedicado a Max" was well received by critics. At Rotten Tomatoes, 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."[3]

Ratings

"Dedicado a Max" was watched by 1.45 million viewers on its first broadcast,[4] which was a increase from the previous week of 1.22 million.[5]

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gollark: Take the cells you have in the input slot out.
gollark: You *can* also just shuffle around the innards of the reactor without actually losing any fuel, as long as you break not the controller.
gollark: Make sure to take the cells you have left in there out!
gollark: I can prove it.

References
  1. Topel, Fred (March 19, 2020). "'Better Call Saul' Creator Peter Gould Explains Why Gus Fring Sent Mike to Mexico". Cheat Sheet. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  2. Schneider, Michael (July 8, 2020). "'Better Call Saul' Star Giancarlo Esposito Reflects on Gus Recruiting Mike in Season 5". Variety. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  3. "Dedicado a Max". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  4. Metcalf, Mitch (March 17, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 3.16.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  5. Metcalf, Mitch (March 10, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 3.9.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
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