20 Best TV Episodes Of 2018
7. Something Stupid - Better Call Saul
Based on the cold open alone, Something Stupid would be in contention for being one of the best episodes of the year. Starting with Jimmy and Kim together, the screen then splits in two, dividing the pair by a thick black line. We're then treated to a montage that spans nine months; a period where we get to see them drift apart while staying together. They're still partners in just about every sense, but there's a literal barrier between them. It's not just one of the most stunning depictions of the passage of time on TV, but one that does it while advancing the show's characters, plot, and themes.
The purpose of all this, ultimately, is to end Jimmy's probation and take us even closer to Saul Goodman. But Something Stupid recognises that the key part of that journey now is Kim and Jimmy's fracturing relationship, and this episode plays on that in ways that offer both hope and despair.
It's one that offers up some fun for Breaking Bad fans, with plenty of Huell to enjoy, but the crux here is on Jimmy's actions and Kim's response. It's one of the most purposeful, measured episodes the show has delivered; it doesn't need the major action or intensity of its parent show, when what we've got here is such thrilling, gut-wrenching character work.