‘Better Call Saul’ Recap: Season 6, Episode 10 — Gene in Omaha

Where can Better Call Saul go after last week’s game-changing episode? Back to black-and-white Omaha, apparently.

Monday’s episode was all about Gene Takavic, finally giving us an update on Saul’s post-Breaking Bad identity. Last we saw Gene (in the Season 5 premiere), he was being tailed by a mysterious guy named Jeff, but he told cleaner Ed Galbraith he would “fix it myself.” Now we see what that looks like: Gene tracks down Jeff’s elderly mom Marion — hi, Carol Burnett! — and ingratiates himself to her with a made-up story about his missing dog named Nippy. (He also secretly snips a wire in her motorized scooter so he’ll have to help her home.) When Jeff gets home from work, he finds Gene laughing it up with Marion in their kitchen — and Gene shoots a puzzled Jeff a smug look.

Once they’re alone, Jeff threatens Gene: “All I have to do is pick up the phone, and it’s bye-bye, Saul Goodman.” But Gene has a better idea: He knows all Jeff wants is a bigger piece of the pie, and he promises to cut him one. “Here’s the deal: I will show you the game, and then we’re done,” he tells Jeff — and a new scam is born. (Gene goes home and puts on his Saul Goodman pinkie ring, to complete the transformation.) Gene starts bringing a couple extra Cinnabons to the mall’s security office, which the head security guard Frank — hi, Parks and Rec‘s Jim O’Heir! — happily gobbles up with his back to the monitors. Gene times exactly how long it takes Frank to finish his bun each time, and he also browses the mall’s department store Lancaster’s, counting his steps as he goes. What is this guy up to?

We find out when Gene sets up an exact replica of the department store’s dimensions in a snowy field, training Jeff to steal the priciest stuff during the three-plus minutes it takes Frank to eat his Cinnabon. Just take three of each item, though, Gene warns Jeff: That way, they won’t notice until they do inventory in three days, by which time the security tapes will have been taped over. Jeff isn’t sure about the scheme, which sounds crazy to him. So Gene invokes the story of Walter White: “I’ll tell you what’s crazy: A fifty-year-old chemistry teacher comes into my office. The guy is so broke, he can’t pay his own mortgage. One year later, he’s got a pile of cash as big as a Volkswagen. That’s crazy.” That’s enough to convince Jeff to take the plunge.

The Lancaster’s manager Kathy does a morning walkthrough, noting a scuff on the floor, when she’s interrupted by a delivery of a huge wooden crate. She didn’t order it, so she calls the delivery guy’s supervisor — i.e., Gene — to complain. Gene launches into a long story about how long it would take him to come pick it up, so Kathy reluctantly agrees to hold the crate there overnight. Now the stage is set, and when Frank digs into his Cinnabon that night as usual, Gene texts Jeff that it’s go time. Jeff emerges from the crate and runs through the store, grabbing Armani suits and Air Jordans just like they practiced. Gene watches over Frank’s shoulder as Frank drones on obliviously about Nebraska…