Which mysterious stranger is following Jimmy’s car at the end of Better Call Saul season 6, episode 2? After a painfully long absence, Better Call Saul returns to AMC in style, dropping the opening two installments of its final season in one big hit. Season 6’s action-packed double-header sees Bob Odenkirk’s Jimmy McGill and Rhea Seehorn’s Kim Wexler begin their grand plan to destroy Howard Hamlin – a scheme that involves cocaine, the Kettlemans, and strategic nudity. Elsewhere, Nacho is on the run after betraying Lalo Salamanca, while Lalo himself plots revenge after tricking everyone (apart from Gus Fring, of course) into believing his assassination went as planned.
Better Call Saul season 6, episode 2 (“Carrot & Stick”) concludes with Jimmy and Kim successfully wrapping up their Kettleman business – not only tricking the couple into reporting Howard Hamlin’s drug use, but blackmailing them into handing back money they conned out of unsuspecting customers. Jimmy and Kim drive off feeling pretty happy with themselves – and justifiably so. As their car pulls away, however, a black sedan creeps into frame like a dusty, four-wheeled Star Destroyer, tailing from a distance. Who’s following Jimmy’s car at the end of Better Call Saul season 6, episode 2?
Perhaps the biggest contender is Lalo Salamanca. Though Tony Dalton’s charismatic crook doesn’t appear onscreen in “Carrot & Stick,” Better Call Saul season 6’s premiere ends with Lalo formulating a plan. Though he initially planned to smuggle across the border and get revenge on Gus Fring for the botched assassination attempt, a phone call to Uncle Hector quells Lalo’s anger, with the Salamanca family patriarch stressing their need for proof of Gus’ involvement. Lalo experiences a light bulb moment, and heads off. Could Jimmy McGill be that proof? Back in Better Call Saul season 5, Lalo Salamanca suspected Jimmy of lying to him after finding the lawyer’s bullet-ridden car in the desert. Though Kim convinced Lalo he was being paranoid, the recent assassination might’ve sharpened his perspective. Maybe paramilitary soldiers storming his family home proved that, yup, Jimmy was lying, and can provide the concrete link to Gus that Lalo needs.
Equally, Lalo may seek out Jimmy because he erroneously believes “Saul Goodman” is a man he can trust. Kim’s argument in Better Call Saul season 5 sounded incredibly convincing, and with few other allies, Lalo might want Jimmy – in his capacity as a legal expert – to find evidence Gus ordered the hit squad. Following Jimmy’s car in Better Call Saul season 6, episode 2 may be a simple precaution before making contact. If Lalo puts his faith in Jimmy’s legal skills, Gus can finally bring the Salamanca boss down. Nacho’s true allegiance might’ve been rumbled, but Jimmy can become Gus’ brand new mole – which might explain why Jimmy is so scared of Lalo in Breaking Bad.
Who else might be following Jimmy and Kim’s car in Better Call Saul season 6? Howard remains blissfully unaware of any plot against him, while the authorities surely wouldn’t let Jimmy continue practicing law if he were a suspect in an investigation, ruling out those options. One plausible, non-Lalo candidate is Gus Fring (not personally, obviously, but one of his men). Now Gus knows for sure that Lalo lives to smirk another day, he’ll be watching like a hawk for the Salamanca to resurface. For all the reasons described above, Jimmy is perhaps the one person Lalo could still turn to, and Gus will undoubtedly be keen to avoid that happening. So, as much as Lalo might be following Jimmy and Kim’s car, Gus could be following them looking for Lalo.
Better Call Saul continues Mondays on AMC.