Agreed on Norma and Shelly. We're seeing two generation of abuse survivors watch a third go down the same dark path they once did.

The death was very The Man Who Wasn't There. Granted, this was an accidental version, but the idea of something small and sharp suddenly entering a neck and slicing just the right vein…ugh.

RIP poor PEPPERONI

I wondered if Varga is referencing A Serious Man, that he's supposed to be a Dybbuk, symbolically. Explains why he can't eat, so to speak.

His ploy with Rebecca was borderline, I agree. The saving grace was that since he had assisted Chuck in gaslighting her years back, he was only showing her who and what Chuck really was now, even if it did help him.

I.e, his ego supersedes his morality. It's okay if he does it, but not for others to. What's worse is that Chuck tries to con people emotionally.

So many thoughts:

Okay

Which, weirdly, made me more impressed with his acting. Because he plays a decent guy super well, knowing the truth makes it all the more amazing.

One thing that seemed confirmed by Don Eladio's crudeness was that Gus and his partner were more than simply friends.

Regarding some of the stray observations, the shoes Hector has are huaraches, common Mexican sandals. Another detail regarding Hector I thought was quite clever is when he's alone on Don Eladio's patio, the wind chime keeps dinging like his bell will later.

Yep

Bruce Campbell is in Hudsucker Proxy as Smitty, Amy Archer's fellow reporter.

Emotions we can take for granted that he shares with others. Because he acts peachy keen to Jimmy about their ma.

Well, we know that Jimmy is a scam artist, but what we've seen him doing in the show, law wise, is try to apply his slippin' ways to help elderly people who are cast aside. So Chuck isn't actually benefiting anyone.

I agree with what you said, but I'd argue that Jimmy isn't very worrying. A guy who will "Saul Goodman" for his clients in elder law is a needed thing. Chuck is wanting to punish Jimmy for daring to even enter his field.

Basically, Chuck has no emotions we can take for granted as being genuine.

Well, there it is, then.

Plus there's just the fun stunt casting aspect of such a series. People'd be champing at the bit to give their favorite old time actor or actress a spin.

I think the read was that the young guy was implied to most likely be gay, hence identifying with the outsider never giving up hope aspect.