Better Call Saul
Episode 1.5 “Alpine Shepherd Boy”
Directed by Nicole Kassell
Written by Bradley Paul
Starring Bob Odenkirk, Michael McKean, Jonathan Banks, Rhea Seehorn, Michael Mando, Patrick Fabian
AMC
Air Date: Monday, March 2, 2015, 10pm

While the episodes of AMC’s Better Call Saul so far showcased Jimmy McGill’s (Bob Odenkirk) struggles as a public defender in the Albuquerque, NM, courts before he became the big shot Saul Goodman in Breaking Bad, Episode 1.5 “Alpine Shepherd Boy” dealt more with Jimmy’s brother, Chuck (Michael McKean).

In previous episode’s flashbacks, we saw that Chuck was actually a successful lawyer who was part of a huge, profitable law firm, but now he has daily struggles of his own. Instead of picking up the pieces for “Slippin’ Jimmy,” now it’s Jimmy’s turn to take care of his brother. Eighteen months prior to the events of the first episode, Chuck developed a condition called electromagnetic hypersensitivity, where he can’t be around electronic devices, which have their own electromagnetic field. Because of this, he can no longer work and is a recluse trapped in his own house, with Jimmy bringing him all the essentials for survival. When exposed to electricity or even the world outside his house at this point, Chuck experiences problems like burning sensation of the skin, nausea, tinnitus, vertigo, shortness of breath, and more. In this episode, an unfortunate incident at his house lands Chuck in the hospital, where he becomes sicker than ever. It’s up to Jimmy to make a choice about his brother’s future.

We’ve seen four of the ten episodes of Season 1 of the AMC original series Better Call Saul, which sees Bob Odenkirk reprising his role from Breaking Bad in a prequel storyline. And so far, we’ve learned a lot about Jimmy McGill, the man Saul Goodman was before he became a strip-mall lawyer.

The latest episode, Episode 4 “Hero”, brings the end of the first natural arc of the series. When we first met Jimmy in the series premiere, he was downtrodden, struggling as a Public Defender in the Albuquerque, NM, courts, not making enough to even pay the meager $5 to get out of the court’s parking lot. He’s been trying to make a name for himself and build up his clientele, but he’s had a string of bad luck and can’t seem to get ahead. But everything changed in “Hero,” where Jimmy’s luck takes a turn for the better.

Episode 1.5 “Alpine Shepherd Boy” seems like it will be the start of something new for Jimmy, but after he gets alarming news, he’s forced him to make yet another choice.

Check out the preview photos and sneak peek video here below for Episode 1.5 “Alpine Shepherd Boy.”