Better Call Saulis a great show for many reasons.
Chief among those reasons is that it trusts its own mythology.
So they highlight, reference, and remix it in every way they can over and over.
Its actually quite poignant as Chuck is reading the book The Adventures of Mabel to his little brother.
This book was referenced in the season premiere, fittingly titled Mabel.
The strange, ancient temple that Kim goes to is called Blockbuster.
Jimmy brings baked goods from ABC Cake Shop to Mrs. Landrys to celebrate their legal victory over Sandpiper.
ABC Cake Shop is a real bakery in Albuquerque on San Pedro Drive.
Yelp reviews are mixed but seem to agree they do an excellent job with wedding cakes.
When Hector has his cardiac episode, Gus actually goes out of his way to save his life.
He demands that 9-1-1 be called and begins administering CPR.
Ultimately Gus mercy (or cruelty) will eventually get him killed when Hector eventually suicide bombs him.
Kim wants to watchMonty PythonorTo Kill a Mockingbirdagain before settling onTo Kill a Mockingbird.
She loved Atticus Finch growing up and who wouldnt.
Atticus is one of literatures greatest characters and the platonic ideal for the concept of a heroic lawyer.
She still hates Jimmy quite a bit.
Lanterns fittingly play a big role in this finale called Lantern.
Young Chuck reads Mabel to his little brother by lantern-light.
Its the same lantern, by the way, that Mike snaps a picture of in episode four Sabrosito.
Jimmy visits Irene Landry, his old Bingo buddy and the first person to alert him of Sandpipers crimes.
She last appeared in Season 1s RICO.
Lydia informs Mike that there are no other men on Frings payroll.
Billy Gatwood is played byTwin PeaksChris Mulkey, who is not slated to appear inTwin Peaks: The Return.
Hamlin makes a refers to Jimmy as Gollum, which is a timely reference in 2003.
Jimmy is back doing Bingo in hisMatlocksuit, just like in Season 1s BINGO.
Jimmy wants to celebrate with a bottle of Zafiro Tequila.
Zafiro is a fictional brand.
Mel Rodriguez returns as Marco in a flashback, last seen in the Season 1 finale, Marco.
Quarters were 90 percent silver between 1932-1964.
-Mike returns to the Oasis Motor Home sign, last seen in the season premiere.
-Dr. Cruz returns again as Chucks doctor, last seen in the Season 2 finale, Klick.
Finks Cold Feet plays as Nacho prepares the fake pills.
-The closest Traingle Grocery to Chucks house would be in Cedar Crest, New Mexico.
Nacho reunites with an old acquaintance.
Mike helps Stacey with a project and makes a meaningful connection.
Frank Deal fromLaw & Order: SVUplays Parks Supervisor.
Jimmy wears a Panovision hat.
Panavision is an American motion picture equipment company specializing in cameras and lenses.
Daniel Pryce Wormald resurfaces, last appearing for some Crybaby Squat Cobbler in Season 2s Cobbler.
Anita is played by another SVU alum, Tamara Tunie.
Ritiche Blackmore is indeed a founding member of Deep Purple and the heavy metal band Rainbow.
Blackmore indeed plays a modified Fender Stratocaster.
The sound guy incorrectly repeats Pink Floyd lyrics, mistaking them for Deep Purple.
Comedy duo the Sklar Brothers play the owners of ABQ In Tune, a fictional music store.
Anita states that her husband disappeared in Gila National Forest, home of the Gila Cliff Dwellings.
Once again, Jimmy compares himself to Kevin Costner.
We witness said hook-up in theBetter Call SaulSeaosn 1 finale, Marco.
Mike checks Nachos gas cap fearing he was bugged by Gus just as he was in the season premiere.
The poor guy cannot catch a break.
Krazy-8s family owns the store and he and Walt sing the jingle from their infomercial.
Later, this is wear Walt buys Walt Jr.s crib.
Krazy-8 is short on his payment because a new kid has an issue with some police.
Could he possibly be talking about Jesse Pinkman?
Whats the deal with Nacho sewing straight through his hand and not reacting?
In that scene he realizes that hes not feeling pain anymore!
Its a big moment of discovery for how far hes gone.
Rebecca arrives to Chucks house in an ABQ Cab Co. taxi.
Stacey asks Mike if hell help build a playground for the church.
One of Jimmys clients actually piloted the B29 aircraft FIFI from the episode of the same name.
Speaking of Fifi Jimmy reunites his commercial gang from that episode for his new venture as an ad man.
Crack open your magic bag, well have to Karloff this thing, Jimmy tells the makeup artist.
He is referring toFrankensteinactor Boris Karloff who routinely portrayed Frankensteins monster and other creatures under heavy makeup.
Gus inspects the industrial laundromat that is for sale that will eventually become Walter Whites superlab.
Laura Fraser returns to Vince Gilligans world as Lydia Rodarte-Quayle, in her first appearance onBetter Call Saul.
Head of Logistics at Madrigal Electromotive GmbH, Lydia helps Gus acquire methylamine for his operation.
She first appeared inBreaking BadSeason 5 Episode 2, Madrigal.
On Chucks night time walk we can spot the KiMo Theater, one of Albuquerques most recognizable landmarks.
Chuck makes a call to Dr. Cruz, who treated him in the episodes Alpine Shepherd Boy and Klick.
Jimmy warns a prospective client not to wear stripes for his commercial because of the moire effect.
This is due to interlaced scanning in televisions and non-film cameras, referred to as interline twitter.
As the person moves about, the Moire pattern is quite noticeable.
Chucks electric company lie has to do with transposed addresses, just like the Mesa Verde scandal.
Jimmy suggests that he, Rebecca and Chuck should go to Seasons for dinner since the power is out.
Seasons Rotisserie & Grill is a real restaurant in Albuquerque.
you’ve got the option to add two jjumbo pan-seared scallops to any entree for $12!
The Best Friends Animal Society publishes the Best Friends Magazine seen in Dr. Calderas waiting room.
The organization is focused exclusively on ending the killing of dogs and cats in Americas shelters.
For a criminal, Dr. Caldera is wildly passionate about animals.
Before Kim cross-examines Howard she stands up straight and buttons her blazer just like Howard always does.
We finally meet Mr. Huell Babineaux, who was introduced inBreaking BadSeason 4 Episode 1, Box Cutter.
Huell was hired for protection by Saul Goodman after Mike threatened to break his legs.
Since his time onBreaking Bad, actor Lavell Crawford has lost over 100 pounds.
Don Eladio reappears in a flashback, marking his firstBetter Call Saulappearance.
Gus Frings main adversary and boss of the Ciudad Juarez Cartel first appeared via flashback in theBreaking Badepisode Hermanos.
Point of view shots from pools have always been a popular convention inBreaking Badas well.
An underwater shot facing upward opened up season 2 ofBreaking Badin Down for instance.
We also see Juan Bolsa, the cartels liaison between Eladio and Gus.
Bolsa first appeared in theBreaking Badepisode I.F.T.
ordering the hit on Tortuga.
The Spanish word Sabroso means delicious.
Ximenez is the truck driver that will later be robbed by Mike and killed by Hector in Season 2.
Michael Mando makes his first appearance of the season as Nacho.
Martins Handyman and Repair doesnt seem to be a real business in Albuquerque.
This is the first time Mike Ehrmantraut and Chuck McGill have met onscreen.
24 episodes into the series.
Francesca is overheard on the phone discussing a problem with a Pomeranian.
InThe Big Lebowski, Walter looks over his ex-wifes pomeranian, which also causes problems.
Jimmy critiques Mikes photos, telling him he should take into account the rule of thirds.
Jimmy compares Mike to Ansel Adams, a famous American nature photographer.
Mike can be seen reading Handyman magazine after fixing Chucks door.
Meanwhile, Mike meets a formidable ally who presents an enticing offer.
Shoe flinging, or shoes hanging on telephone lines, has a variety of meanings in North America.
The precise meaning of a pair of shoes hanging in a particular location depends in every case.
During Jimmys booking montage, Little Richards Hurry Sundown plays.
The song was released in 1967 as a B-side to Richards I Dont Want to Discuss It.
Peter Diseth resurfaces as DDA Bill Oakley, his first appearance since season twos Rebecca.
Oakley refers to Jimmy as one of the hoi polloi.
Alfonso Muskedunder by Todd Terje plays during Kims morning montage.
Its from Norwegian DJ Todd Terjes debut studio album, Its Album Time (2014).
I fucked up, Jimmy tells Kim.
Thats our first F-word in season 3.
He is played once again by J.B. Blanc.
The prosecutor for Jimmys case is being brought in from Belen, New Mexico.
Over 21 movies have been filmed in Belen.
Mike seeks out a mysterious acquaintance.
Chuck uses the law to gain an advantage over Jimmy.
Chucks private investigator explains why casinos punch holes in decks of cards after they are done using them.
The deck the investigator is playing with is from Caesars Palace.
In that commercial, a copyright says Los Pollos Hermanos Inc. is a registered trademark of Madrigal Electromotive GmbH.
Madrigal of course is the employer of Lydia Rodarte-Quayle.
Actress Tina Parker recently appeared as Mary Todd Lincoln in Adam Sandlers Netflix comedy,The Ridiculous 6.
You look a little crooked she tells Jimmy referring to the painting.
Jimmy tells Francesca to mention Cracker Barrel, the Southern Country themed restaurant, to his elderly clients.
Brads Wife has spawned a Change.org petition, which so far has over 24,000 signatures.
The henchman that Mike follows drives a Chevy Blazer.
Interestingly enough, GMC introduced its own model of the K5 Blazer, which was called the Jimmy.
Jimmy makes a reference to the daytime game showThe Price is Right.
Pre-fame,Breaking Badstar Aaron Paul was a contestant onThe Price is Right.
Kim is pointed to the case of United States v. McKeever.
Jimmy rolls the tape off his wall just as Chuck taught him in the last episode, Mabel.
Giancarlo Esposito gets the first credit under Starring in the ending credits.
Fitting for his first episode back in theBreaking Baduniverse.
Better Call Saul Season 3 Episode 1: Mabel
Official Synopsis:Jimmy and Chucks relationship deteriorates.
Kim feels the pressure of running her own firm.
Mike investigates the note left on his car.
The amplifier used at the Cinnabon is a McGohan.
Just like Jimmy McGill, these vintage amplifiers hail from Chicago and have seen better days.
Nancy Sinatras Sugar Town soundtracks the cold open.
Lee said the song was supposedly about LSD.
Zooey Deschanel performed a karaoke version of the song in(500) Days of Summer.
White Satin Sugar is produced by the Amalgamated Sugar Company, based out of Idaho.
Though the sign still stands today, it no longer displays White Satin Sugar.
It became a registered historic landmark in 1977 and now promotes the city of Portland.
Niven also played James Bond 007 inCasino Royale(1967).
Gene uses a Kansas City Royals lunchbox.
Omaha hosts the Triple-A baseball team for the Royals.
Dylan Riley Snyder, from the Disney seriesKickin It, plays the young shoplifter.
After the cold open, we witness the final scene from Klick outside of the space blanket barricade.
A shot lingers on Jimmy still wearing Marcos ring.
Jimmy references wax on, wax off and Mr. Miyagi fromThe Karate Kid.
The Adventures of Mabelby Harry Thurston Peck was published in 1896-97.
Peck was fired from a long-term position at Columbia College due to an infidelity scandal.
Chuck says that their grandmother was readingThe Adventures of Mabelthe year the Titanic sunk.
The Titanic sunk in 1912.
Five Js Auto Parts is a real auto salvage yard located on Broadway in Albuquerque.
The Eagles should make Mike feel at home since hes from Philadelphia.
We cant really see him being a big Andy Reid fan though.
Mikes dismantled car is an 87 Caprice Wagon.
Ludacris drives an 87 Caprice inFurious 7.
Thats Captain Bauer, the gullible air force captain from Fifi.
Here is isThe Oatmeals helpful primer on semicolons.
Honestly, youd be surprised at how loosey-goosey semicolon rules are.
Just use it to connect to main clauses when you feel a comma isnt strong enough.
We also get an appearance from Caldera, the veterinarian from Five-O, RICO, and Amarillo.
