Winner (Better Call Saul)

Opening flashback

In 1998, the staff of Hamlin Hamlin McGill visit a karaoke club to celebrate Jimmy's admission to the New Mexico bar.^[a] Chuck tries to leave early, but is cajoled by Jimmy into going on stage with him and singing a duet ("The Winner Takes It All" by ABBA). The two return to Jimmy's apartment, where they lie down together in Jimmy's bed, blearily singing the same song as they fall asleep.

Main story

In 2004, Mike Ehrmantraut finds out that Werner Ziegler has visited a money wire agency and convinces the clerk to let him view security camera footage. Mike guesses Werner is going to meet his wife at a hot spring resort and begins calling hotels. He notices Lalo Salamanca's car following him and evades it. Lalo goes to the money wire agency, kills the clerk, reviews the agency's security footage, then calls hotels until he locates Werner. On the phone, Lalo pretends that he works for Gus Fring and manages to extract some details about the construction project before Mike arrives at the hotel and grabs the phone. Gus decides Werner must die and plans to send men, but Mike accepts responsibility. He has Werner call his wife and convince her to return home, even yelling at her angrily when she protests. Mike promises to make Werner's death look accidental, and guarantees the safety of Werner's crew; Werner mentions how beautiful the stars are in New Mexico, and says that he will take a walk and look at the night sky. Mike shoots him in the back of the head. After Mike returns, Gus inspects the unfinished meth lab with its designer Gale Boetticher, who is eager to start working right away. Gus appears very agitated, refusing to start cooking until the construction is completely finished.^[b]

Kim and Jimmy set up several events where Jimmy pretends to mourn over Chuck's death in front of members of the legal community, with the goal of influencing the appeals panel to reconsider Jimmy's disbarment.^[c] Later, Jimmy sits on a panel reviewing candidates for scholarships in Chuck's name. Jimmy tries unsuccessfully to persuade Howard Hamlin and the other members to award a scholarship to a student named Kristy,^[1] whose background includes a shoplifting charge. Afterward, he encourages her not to stick to the upright path she is attempting to follow, but to do whatever is necessary to succeed because "the winner takes it all".

At his appeal, Jimmy plans to read aloud the letter he posthumously received from Chuck.^[d] As they arrive at the hearing, Kim reminds him that the contents of the letter are not as important as how he reads it. Jimmy begins stiffly reading the letter, but then pivots into a seemingly heartfelt speech about what his brother meant to him and how he wants to be "worthy of the name McGill". His speech moves the appeal panel and even Kim. However, he later stuns Kim by revealing his performance was insincere. The appeal turns out to be successful, and Jimmy asks a clerk for a DBA form, saying that he will not be practicing under the name McGill. Kim expresses confusion to Jimmy, who replies "s'all good man!" as he leaves.

Accolades

The episode received four nominations at the 71st Primetime Emmy Awards: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Bob Odenkirk, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for Jonathan Banks, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series for Peter Gould and Thomas Schnauz, and Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for Michael McKean.

Ratings

"Winner" was watched by 1.53 million viewers on its first broadcast, earning a 0.5 rating for viewers between 18 and 49.^[5]