Thanks, Thants.

I feel like Hamlin was sincere, but overplaying it a bit, probably due to being relieved that Chuck's "shut out Jimmy" embargo had finally been blown open and he didn't have to play the bad guy anymore.

I wouldn't be surprised if by the end of the season Jimmy runs into a reason to cash that check.

I had the same thought; it didn't occur to me to interpret it as frailty.

"Walk of Life" by Dire Straits

My money's on dead, since I don't see Electrophobe Grudgeholder somberly playing from his ex-wife's sheet music.

I'd very much like for it to turn out that you're right.

I'm not buying Chuck's softening for a moment. I agree that this episode plays it straight, and I don't have any explicit evidence for my position. But I think Chuck was passively and is now actively moving to estrange Kim from Jimmy as revenge/punishment. For Chuck, Howard's anger simply illuminates that potential…

If he'd lingered over the height notches without her name being revealed, and then it went to the exterior shot with the signs coming into frame, the sequence would have been perfect.

"Because you're my new son now, so I took a literal beating to protect you from your dangerous partner as symbolic penance for my previous failure."

Chuck did it through not saying "no" to Howard doing it. His management style is like that of the guy in the chair from Mulholland Drive.

The priest was also the apparently-separated-at-birth twin of British Briggs from season four, played by real-life twins Alan and Alan Smyth.

I felt from the start like there was something a little off about the welcome Jimmy got, and always suspected some "humor this guy because the case is so big" kind of vibe behind the almost-bland politeness. But I wasn't sure if I was being too cynical.

I assumed that was simply Cliff's receptionist/assistant we saw through the door.

*shot of entire pie on counter with knife and fork*

It bugged me while it was happening, but when it paid off so quickly, by the episode's end, I didn't mind it so much in retrospect.

Nacho's another smart guy who considers himself surrounded by dumb/careless people, which makes it nice to watch his gradual recognition of Mike's intelligence (and adds to the parallels between the two).

I'm concerned Chuck's going to end up being proven right, which, the show may as well just punch me in the heart as hard as it can.

For nine hundred days, as of a little under an hour ago.

She's really riding an interesting line, and it's hard to tell just how much of her bad reaction is about Jimmy being dishonest and how much is about him just being sloppy.