Sunk Costs (Better Call Saul)

"Sunk Costs"
Better Call Saul episode
Kim and Jimmy share a cigarette outside their office.
Episode no.	Season 3 Episode 3
Directed by	John Shiban
Written by	Gennifer Hutchison
Editing by	Skip Macdonald
Original air date	April 24, 2017 (2017-04-24)
Running time	45 minutes
Guest appearances
JB Blanc as Dr. Barry Goodman Kimberly Hébert Gregory as DDA Kyra Hay Molly Hagan as Judge Lindsay Arch Tina Parker as Francesca Liddy Brandon K. Hampton as Ernesto Jeremiah Bitsui as Victor Ray Campbell as Tyrus Kitt Peter Diseth as DDA Bill Oakley Jackamoe Buzzell as PI Dave Brightbill
Episode chronology
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Better Call Saul (season 3)
List of episodes

"Sunk Costs" is the third episode of the third season of the AMC television series Better Call Saul, the spinoff series of Breaking Bad. The episode aired on April 24, 2017 on AMC in the United States. Outside of the United States, the episode premiered on streaming service Netflix in several countries.^[1] The title of the episode is a reference to sunk costs.

Plot[]

After following his planted tracking device's signal^[a] to an empty stretch of highway, Mike finds it left in the middle of the road along with a ringing cell phone. He answers, agrees to the caller's request that no guns be displayed, and is told to wait for two cars to approach from opposite directions. The cars soon arrive, Gus exits one, and Gus and Mike discuss their concerns about Hector. They agree that Gus will no longer track Mike, and Mike will no longer try to kill Hector. Gus is amenable to Mike's continued disruption of Hector's drug business, and Mike suggests a way to draw police attention to Hector without killing him.

Mike acquires cocaine from Barry Goodman, stows it in a pair of sneakers, and throws them over a power line that spans part of a road in Mexico that he knows Hector's trucks use. When the next truck comes, the drivers stop to stash their weapons prior to being searched at the border crossing. Using a rifle with a scope, Mike fires a few rounds into the air to give the drivers the impression that there is a hunter or target shooter nearby. As the truck pulls away, Mike fires at the sneaker holding the cocaine, which causes the powder to spill onto the back of the truck. At the border crossing, drug-sniffing dogs discover the cocaine, and the drivers are taken into custody.

Jimmy is arrested for breaking into Chuck's house. Following a few harsh but hesitant words with Chuck, Jimmy goes against Kim's advice and represents himself, pleads not guilty, and posts bail. Jimmy later explains to Kim the details of the break-in and tells her she should work on Mesa Verde business while he takes care of his own legal battle, to which she flatly agrees.

Kyra Hay, the prosecutor in Jimmy's case, meets with Chuck and tells him she does not plan to let Jimmy off easy. Chuck describes his wish to see a "better solution for everyone." Jimmy talks with Kim outside the Wexler-McGill office and informs her he can avoid jail time if he confesses to the break-in and submits his confession to the New Mexico Bar Association, which will likely result in disbarment. Kim changes her mind and persuades Jimmy to let her help fight Chuck's plan.

Reception[]

Ratings[]

Upon airing, the episode received 1.52 million American viewers, and an 18–49 rating of 0.5.^[2]

Critical reception[]

The episode received critical acclaim, on Rotten Tomatoes, the episode holds a 100% rating with an average score of 8.09/10, based on 13 reviews. The site's consensus reads, '"Sunk Costs" edges Better Call Saul toward a narrative crossroads, foreshadowing events familiar to Breaking Bad fans while serving up gripping drama in its own right'.^[3]

Terri Schwartz of IGN gave the episode an 8.0 rating, writing "Whose storyline is going to come crashing down around them first: Jimmy or Mike?"^[4]

Notes[]

References[]

External links[]

• "Sunk Costs" at AMC
• "Sunk Costs" at IMDb