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{{DISPLAYTITLE:RICO (''Better Call Saul'')}}
{{Infobox television episode
{{Infobox television episode
|title = RICO
| series = [[Better Call Saul]]
|series = [[Better Call Saul]]
| image =
|image =
| caption =
|caption =
| season = 1
|season = 1
| episode = 8
|episode = 8
| editor =
|airdate = {{Start date|2015|3|23}}
| airdate = {{Start date|2015|3|23}}
|writer = [[Gordon Smith (screenwriter)|Gordon Smith]]
| writer = [[Gordon Smith (screenwriter)|Gordon Smith]]
|director = [[Colin Bucksey]]
| director = [[Colin Bucksey]]
|length = 47 minutes
| length = 47 minutes
|guests = *[[Kerry Condon]] as Stacey Ehrmantraut
| guests = * [[Kerry Condon]] as [[Stacey Ehrmantraut]]
*[[Dennis Boutsikaris]] as Richard Schweikart
* [[Dennis Boutsikaris]] as [[Richard Schweikart]]
*[[Jillian Armenante]] as Paula
* [[Jillian Armenante]] as Paula
*[[Joe DeRosa (comedian)|Joe DeRosa]] as Caldera
* [[Joe DeRosa (comedian)|Joe DeRosa]] as [[Dr. Caldera]]
*Jean Effron as Irene Landry
* Jean Effron as Irene Landry
*Marty Lindsey as Alvin Reese
* Marty Lindsey as Alvin Reese
*Brandon K. Hampton as Ernesto
* Brandon K. Hampton as [[Ernesto (Better Call Saul)|Ernesto]]
*Faith Healey as Kaylee Ehrmantraut
* Faith Healey as Kaylee Ehrmantraut
|prev = [[Bingo (Better Call Saul)|Bingo]]
| prev = [[Bingo (Better Call Saul)|Bingo]]
|next = [[Pimento (Better Call Saul)|Pimento]]
| next = [[Pimento (Better Call Saul)|Pimento]]
|episode_list = List of Better Call Saul episodes
| episode_list = List of Better Call Saul episodes
|season_article = Better Call Saul (season 1)
| season_article = Better Call Saul season 1
}}
}}
⚫
"'''RICO'''" is the eighth episode of the [[Better Call Saul season 1|first season]] of the [[AMC (TV channel)|AMC]] television series ''[[Better Call Saul]]'', the spinoff series of ''[[Breaking Bad]]''. The episode aired on March 23, 2015 on AMC in the United States. Outside of the United States, the episode premiered on streaming service [[Netflix]] in several countries. It is named after the [[Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act]].

⚫
"'''RICO'''" is the eighth episode of the [[Better Call Saul (season 1)|first season]] of the [[AMC (TV channel)|AMC]] television series ''[[Better Call Saul]]'', the spinoff series of ''[[Breaking Bad]]''. The episode aired on March 23, 2015 on [[AMC (TV channel)|AMC]] in the United States. Outside of the United States, the episode premiered on streaming service [[Netflix]] in several countries. It is named after the [[Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act]].


==Plot==
==Plot==
===Opening===
===Opening===
In a [[Flashback (narrative)|flashback]], Jimmy works as a mail clerk for Hamlin, Hamlin & McGill. He receives notice that he has passed the state [[Admission to the bar in the United States|bar exam]] and reports the good news to Chuck. He hopes to be hired by the firm as an attorney, but Chuck hesitantly replies that the hiring must first be cleared by the other partners. During an office celebration, Howard tells Jimmy that the firm will not hire him immediately, and says the partners will re-examine Jimmy's application in six months.
In a [[Flashback (narrative)|flashback]], [[Jimmy McGill]] is working in the mail room at Hamlin, Hamlin & McGill when he receives notice that he has passed the state [[Admission to the bar in the United States|bar exam]]. He tells Chuck, hoping to be hired as an attorney, but Chuck seems unenthusiastic. Later, [[Howard Hamlin]] tells Jimmy the firm will not hire him, but he promises to re-examine his application in six months.


===Main story===
===Main story===
Jimmy grows suspicious when a client mentions her [[nursing home]], Sandpiper Crossing, controls her [[pension]] and [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]] payments by giving her a $500 monthly allowance, deducting fees, and putting the rest in savings. Upon reviewing her invoices, Jimmy's suspicions grow and he begins collecting invoices from other residents. Jimmy and Chuck analyze the documents and find evidence of Sandpiper Crossing systematically overcharging residents, making the company guilty of [[fraud]]. Chuck suggests there are grounds for a [[class action]] lawsuit, and encourages Jimmy to continue looking for evidence.
Jimmy is suspicious when a client mentions that her [[nursing home]], Sandpiper Crossing, controls her [[pension]] and [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]] payments while only providing her a monthly allowance. Upon reviewing her invoices, Jimmy's suspicions grow and he begins collecting invoices from other residents. Jimmy and Chuck analyze them and find evidence of Sandpiper systematically overcharging residents, making the company guilty of [[fraud]]. Chuck suggests there are grounds for a [[class action]] lawsuit and encourages Jimmy to continue investigating.


Jimmy is turned away at Sandpiper Crossing's front desk, preventing him from seeing his clients or meeting with prospective new ones. He can hear that papers are being shredded in the nearby office and goes to a bathroom to hastily write a [[demand letter]] on toilet paper, which informs Sandpiper Crossing to cease document destruction. He hands the letter to a manager as he's being escorted from the premises, and later rummages through a dumpster hoping to find more evidence. He finds plastic bags containing the shredded paperwork, which Chuck and Jimmy sort through and piece together to recover an incriminating document. With a solid case against Sandpiper Crossing, Chuck decides to become Jimmy's co-counsel in the case, and Sandpiper Crossing's attorneys agree to a meeting.
Jimmy is stopped at Sandpiper Crossing's front desk, preventing him from seeing clients. He hears papers being shredded and goes to a bathroom to hastily write on toilet paper a [[demand letter]] for Sandpiper to stop destroying evidence. He hands the letter to a manager as he is escorted out.


That night, Jimmy looks through the retirement home's dumpsters for shredded papers. Chuck and Jimmy sort through the shreds and piece together an incriminating document. Chuck decides to become Jimmy's co-counsel, and Sandpiper's attorneys agree to a meeting.
⚫
Mike babysits Kaylee for the day. When Stacey returns from work, she asks Mike what to do with the bribe money Matt hid in her suitcase. Mike tells her she should use it for herself and her daughter so some good can come of it. Stacey tells Mike that even if she uses it, she still doesn't have enough to cover living expenses for Kaylee and herself. Mike returns to Dr. Caldera to follow up on his previous offer of illegal work. He gives Kaylee the dog he used as cover for his visit to Caldera, and promises Stacey he'll cover the costs of keeping it.


⚫
[[Mike Ehrmantraut]] babysits Kaylee. When [[Stacey Ehrmantraut|Stacey]] returns from work, she asks Mike what to do with the money from her suitcase.{{Efn|name="Five-O"|During "[[Five-O (Better Call Saul)|Five-O]]".}} Mike says she should use it to do something good for herself and her daughter. Stacey says that even if she does, she will not have enough to cover living expenses. Mike returns to [[Dr. Caldera]] to follow up on Caldera's previous offer of illegal work.{{Efn|name="Five-O"}}
⚫
Sandpiper Crossing's attorneys deny the company is defrauding residents, but concede some were overcharged. The company offers $100,000 to compensate them, but Jimmy presents evidence that Sandpiper Crossing engages in illicit [[interstate commerce]], which makes them eligible for a [[RICO Act|RICO]] case. Chuck demands Sandpiper Crossing pay $20 million to settle, which their attorneys refuse. As Chuck and Jimmy prepare to take the case to court, an exhausted Jimmy leaves some paperwork in his car. Preoccupied with his work, Chuck casually leaves his house to retrieve the documents, with none of the usual precautions he takes because of his [[electromagnetic hypersensitivity]]. Chuck drops the paperwork, and Chuck and Jimmy stare at each other in amazement as they realize Chuck has gone outside without regard for the symptoms of his illness, but suffered no ill effects.

⚫
Sandpiper's attorneys deny the company is defrauding residents, but concede some were overcharged. The company offers $100,000 in compensation, but Jimmy presents evidence that Sandpiper's fraud makes them eligible for a [[RICO Act|RICO]] case. Chuck demands Sandpiper pay $20 million to settle, which their attorneys refuse. As Chuck and Jimmy continue to prepare their case, a preoccupied Chuck casually leaves his house to retrieve documents from Jimmy's car, taking none of his usual [[Electromagnetic hypersensitivity|EHS]] precautions. Jimmy is speechless as he watches from inside the front door, then softly calls Chuck's name. Chuck is stunned to realize where he is and drops the papers.


==Production==
==Production==
This was the second episode written by [[Gordon Smith (screenwriter)|Gordon Smith]] and directed by [[Colin Bucksey]], respectively.
This was the second episode written by [[Gordon Smith (screenwriter)|Gordon Smith]] and directed by [[Colin Bucksey]].


==Reception==
==Reception==
Upon airing, the episode received 2.87 million American viewers, and an 18-49 rating of 1.3.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/03/24/monday-cable-ratings-monday-night-raw-tops-night-love-hop-hop-better-call-saul-teen-mom-more/378639/|title=Monday Cable Ratings: 'Monday Night RAW' Tops Night + 'Love & Hop-Hop', 'Better Call Saul', 'Teen Mom' & More|work=TV by the Numbers|last=Kondolojy|first=Amanda|date=March 24, 2015 |accessdate=March 24, 2015}}</ref>
Upon airing, the episode received 2.87 million American viewers, and an 18-49 rating of 1.3.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kondolojy |first=Amanda |date=March 24, 2015 |title=Monday Cable Ratings: 'Monday Night RAW' Tops Night + 'Love & Hop-Hop', 'Better Call Saul', 'Teen Mom' & More |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/03/24/monday-cable-ratings-monday-night-raw-tops-night-love-hop-hop-better-call-saul-teen-mom-more/378639/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150328001521/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/03/24/monday-cable-ratings-monday-night-raw-tops-night-love-hop-hop-better-call-saul-teen-mom-more/378639/ |archive-date=March 28, 2015 |access-date=March 24, 2015 |website=TV by the Numbers}}</ref>

⚫
The episode received a generally positive reception from critics. On [[Rotten Tomatoes]], based on 23 reviews, it received a 96% approval rating with an average score of 7.97 out of 10. The site's consensus reads, ""RICO" introduces an intriguing fraud case while providing insightful backstory to Jimmy's unlikely beginnings as a lawyer."<ref name="RT">{{Cite web |title=RICO |url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/better-call-saul/s01/e08/ |access-date=June 24, 2020 |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |publisher=[[Fandango Media]]}}</ref> Roth Cornet of [[IGN]] gave the episode an 8.8 rating, concluding, "With 'RICO', ''Better Call Saul'' lays the foundation for the circumstances that will likely transform sweet(ish) Jimmy McGill into the hardened Saul Goodman."<ref name="Cornet">{{Cite web |last=Cornet |first=Roth |date=March 23, 2015 |title=Better Call Saul: "RICO" Review |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/03/24/better-call-saul-rico-review |access-date=March 23, 2015 |website=[[IGN]]}}</ref> ''[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]'' rated the episode 4 out of 5 stars.<ref name="Power">{{Cite news |last=Power |first=Ed |date=March 24, 2015 |title=Better Call Saul: Rico, episode 8, review: 'satisfyingly conventional' |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/tv-and-radio-reviews/11490596/Better-Call-Saul-Rico-episode-eight-review.html |access-date=March 24, 2015}}</ref>


==Notes==
⚫
The episode received generally positive reception from critics. On [[Rotten Tomatoes]], based on 19 reviews, it received a 95% approval rating with an average score of 7.7 out of 10. The site's consensus reads, ""RICO" introduces an intriguing fraud case while providing insightful backstory to Jimmy's unlikely beginnings as a lawyer."<ref name="RT">{{cite web |url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/better-call-saul/s01/e08/ |title=RICO |publisher=Rotten Tomatoes |accessdate=March 24, 2015}}</ref> Roth Cornet of [[IGN]] gave the episode an 8.8 rating, concluding, "With “RICO”, Better Call Saul lays the foundation for the circumstances that will likely transform sweet(ish) Jimmy McGill into the hardened Saul Goodman."<ref name=Cornet>{{cite web|last=Cornet|first=Roth|title=Better Call Saul: "RICO" Review|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/03/24/better-call-saul-rico-review|publisher=IGN|date=March 23, 2015|accessdate=March 23, 2015}}</ref> ''[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]'' rated the episode 4 out of 5 stars.<ref name=Power>{{cite news|last=Power|first=Ed|title=Better Call Saul: Rico, episode 8, review: 'satisfyingly conventional'|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/tv-and-radio-reviews/11490596/Better-Call-Saul-Rico-episode-eight-review.html|accessdate=March 24, 2015|work=The Telegraph|date=March 24, 2015}}</ref>
{{notelist}}


==References==
==References==
Line 52: Line 55:


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.amctv.com/shows/better-call-saul/episodes/season-1/rico "RICO"] at [[AMC (TV channel)|AMC]]
* [http://www.amctv.com/shows/better-call-saul/episodes/season-1/rico "RICO"] at [[AMC (TV channel)|AMC]]
*{{imdb episode|3895284|RICO}}
* {{IMDb episode|3895284|RICO}}


{{Better Call Saul}}
{{Better Call Saul}}


[[Category:Better Call Saul (season 1) episodes]]
[[Category:Better Call Saul season 1 episodes]]
[[Category:2015 American television episodes]]

Latest revision as of 22:49, 3 June 2024

"RICO"
Better Call Saul episode
Episode no.Season 1
Episode 8
Directed byColin Bucksey
Written byGordon Smith
Original air dateMarch 23, 2015 (2015-03-23)
Running time47 minutes
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
← Previous
"Bingo" 		Next →
"Pimento"
Better Call Saul season 1
List of episodes

"RICO" is the eighth episode of the first season of the AMC television series Better Call Saul, the spinoff series of Breaking Bad. The episode aired on March 23, 2015 on AMC in the United States. Outside of the United States, the episode premiered on streaming service Netflix in several countries. It is named after the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.

Plot

[edit]

Opening

[edit]

In a flashback, Jimmy McGill is working in the mail room at Hamlin, Hamlin & McGill when he receives notice that he has passed the state bar exam. He tells Chuck, hoping to be hired as an attorney, but Chuck seems unenthusiastic. Later, Howard Hamlin tells Jimmy the firm will not hire him, but he promises to re-examine his application in six months.

Main story

[edit]

Jimmy is suspicious when a client mentions that her nursing home, Sandpiper Crossing, controls her pension and Social Security payments while only providing her a monthly allowance. Upon reviewing her invoices, Jimmy's suspicions grow and he begins collecting invoices from other residents. Jimmy and Chuck analyze them and find evidence of Sandpiper systematically overcharging residents, making the company guilty of fraud. Chuck suggests there are grounds for a class action lawsuit and encourages Jimmy to continue investigating.

Jimmy is stopped at Sandpiper Crossing's front desk, preventing him from seeing clients. He hears papers being shredded and goes to a bathroom to hastily write on toilet paper a demand letter for Sandpiper to stop destroying evidence. He hands the letter to a manager as he is escorted out.

That night, Jimmy looks through the retirement home's dumpsters for shredded papers. Chuck and Jimmy sort through the shreds and piece together an incriminating document. Chuck decides to become Jimmy's co-counsel, and Sandpiper's attorneys agree to a meeting.

Mike Ehrmantraut babysits Kaylee. When Stacey returns from work, she asks Mike what to do with the money from her suitcase.[a] Mike says she should use it to do something good for herself and her daughter. Stacey says that even if she does, she will not have enough to cover living expenses. Mike returns to Dr. Caldera to follow up on Caldera's previous offer of illegal work.[a]

Sandpiper's attorneys deny the company is defrauding residents, but concede some were overcharged. The company offers $100,000 in compensation, but Jimmy presents evidence that Sandpiper's fraud makes them eligible for a RICO case. Chuck demands Sandpiper pay $20 million to settle, which their attorneys refuse. As Chuck and Jimmy continue to prepare their case, a preoccupied Chuck casually leaves his house to retrieve documents from Jimmy's car, taking none of his usual EHS precautions. Jimmy is speechless as he watches from inside the front door, then softly calls Chuck's name. Chuck is stunned to realize where he is and drops the papers.

Production

[edit]

This was the second episode written by Gordon Smith and directed by Colin Bucksey.

Reception

[edit]

Upon airing, the episode received 2.87 million American viewers, and an 18-49 rating of 1.3.[1]

The episode received a generally positive reception from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, based on 23 reviews, it received a 96% approval rating with an average score of 7.97 out of 10. The site's consensus reads, ""RICO" introduces an intriguing fraud case while providing insightful backstory to Jimmy's unlikely beginnings as a lawyer."[2] Roth Cornet of IGN gave the episode an 8.8 rating, concluding, "With 'RICO', Better Call Saul lays the foundation for the circumstances that will likely transform sweet(ish) Jimmy McGill into the hardened Saul Goodman."[3] The Telegraph rated the episode 4 out of 5 stars.[4]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b During "Five-O".

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (March 24, 2015). "Monday Cable Ratings: 'Monday Night RAW' Tops Night + 'Love & Hop-Hop', 'Better Call Saul', 'Teen Mom' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 28, 2015. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
  2. ^ "RICO". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  3. ^ Cornet, Roth (March 23, 2015). "Better Call Saul: "RICO" Review". IGN. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  4. ^ Power, Ed (March 24, 2015). "Better Call Saul: Rico, episode 8, review: 'satisfyingly conventional'". The Telegraph. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
[edit]
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