Namaste (Better Call Saul)

"Namaste" is the fourth episode of the fifth season of the AMC television series Better Call Saul, a spin-off series of Breaking Bad. The episode aired on March 9, 2020, on AMC in the United States. Outside of the United States, the episode premiered on the streaming service Netflix in several countries.

Plot
After a night of drinking and sex, Jimmy McGill and Kim Wexler head to work. Jimmy convinces Sticky and Ron, two drug users who had his "50% off" business cards, to keep him as their counsel when they seem ready to accept a free public defender. Jimmy later has lunch with Howard Hamlin, who admits that HHM wronged Jimmy in the past, but says the feud was between Jimmy and Chuck McGill, not Jimmy and the firm. Howard offers Jimmy the chance to join HHM but Jimmy is dubious of the offer given their acrimonious history. As Howard drives away, Jimmy sees he has a vanity plate reading "NAMAST3".

Kim recommends an alternate building site to Kevin Wachtell and Paige Novick that will enable Mesa Verde to work around Everett Acker's refusal to vacate his home, but they insist on eviction. Kim looks on as Jimmy uses the Saul Goodman persona in a courtroom con that achieves a mistrial. She asks Jimmy to represent Acker against Mesa Verde, and Acker agrees. After buying three bowling balls at a pawn shop, Jimmy flings them over Howard's front gate, damaging his expensive car.

The Albuquerque Police and DEA stake out Gus Fring's dead drops. Diego collects the money before being chased by the DEA, escaping through a small tunnel after abandoning the cash. While Hank Schrader is disappointed they did not get information on the higher-ups, the DEA and police celebrate the seizure of the drug money and the arrests of the three men who made the drug drops. Diego regroups with Victor and they contact Gus to inform him their task is complete. Gus has been seething in anger at Los Pollos Hermanos over the loss of the dead drops, and venting his frustration on Lyle, the assistant manager, by making him repeatedly clean the fryers. After Gus hangs up, Lyle asks if the fryers are clean enough, and Gus coldly replies that they are "acceptable."

Mike Ehrmantraut arrives at Stacey Ehrmantraut's home to watch Kaylee Ehrmantraut but finds Stacey hired another babysitter. She tells Mike she does not feel comfortable leaving Kaylee with him as a result of his previous outburst. As Mike is walking home later that night, he is set upon by the street thugs he previously encountered. They beat and stab him, and Mike wakes up in a pueblo at an unknown location.

Production
"Namaste" is the directorial debut of Gordon Smith, who had started off as a production assistant on Breaking Bad before becoming a screenwriter for both that show and Better Call Saul. In addition, Smith wrote the screenplay. The episode marks the final appearance of Dean Norris in the Breaking Bad franchise as Hank Schrader.

Namaste is a Sanskrit customary greeting; in the episode, it is depicted on the vanity license plate ("NAMAST3") of Howard's car.

Reception
"Namaste" received critical acclaim. On Rotten Tomatoes, it garnered a 92% rating with an average score of 8.21/10 based on 14 reviews. The site's critical consensus is, "Everyone is struggling to keep their cool in a Better Call Saul entry that meticulously sets up the season's storytelling pins, racking up suspense for the impending bowling ball that'll knock everything down."

Ratings
"Namaste" was watched by 1.22 million viewers on its first broadcast, which was a slight increase from the previous week of 1.18 million.