Dedicado a Max

{{Infobox television episode | series = Better Call Saul | image = Dedicado a Max promotional poster.jpeg | caption = Promotional poster | season = 5 | episode = 5 | editor = | airdate = {{Start date|2020|03|16}} | writer = Heather Marion | director = Jim McKay | length = 50 minutes | guests = * JB Blanc as Dr. Barry Goodman * Dennis Boutsikaris as Rich Schweikart * Rex Linn as Kevin Wachtell * Cara Pifko as Paige Novick * Barry Corbin as Everett Acker * Keiko Agena as Viola Goto * Steven Ogg as Sobchak * John DiMaggio as The Construction Foreman * Alejandra Flores as Mrs. Cortazar | music = | prev = Namaste | next = Wexler v. Goodman | episode_list = List of Better Call Saul episodes | season_article = Better Call Saul season 5 }} "'''Dedicado a Max'''" (Spanish for "Dedicated to Max") is the fifth 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 16, 2020, on AMC in the United States. Outside of the United States, the episode premiered on the streaming service Netflix.

In the episode, Mike awakes in Mexico at one of Gus's ranches after the beatdown in the previous episode. Meanwhile, Jimmy and Kim draw themselves closer in the ''Acker vs. Mesa Verde'' case.

== Plot == Mike Ehrmantraut wakes on a ranch just inside the Mexican border that is owned by Gus Fring and includes a fountain dedicated to Max Arciniega. He finds his stab wounds{{efn|name=Namaste|As seen in "Namaste".}} were treated by Dr. Barry Goodman, who cautions him to stay and heal in the care of Señora Cortazar, the housekeeper and cook. Mike calls Gus to learn his intent, but Gus hangs up. Days later, Gus arrives and asks for Mike's help. Mike refuses to become a "button man" and engage in killing simply to further Gus's war against the Salamancas, but Gus says he wants Mike with him because Mike understands the need for revenge.

Howard Hamlin phones Jimmy McGill and inquires if he has considered Howard's offer to join HHM;{{efn|name=Namaste}} Jimmy claims he is still thinking it over. Jimmy creates delays in Mesa Verde's eviction of Everett Acker,{{efn|As seen in "The Guy for This".}} including changing Acker's street number to claim the eviction notices are for the wrong address, planting fake Native American artifacts and low-level radioactive material, and passing off a spray-painted image of Jesus on Acker's home as a miracle. Kim Wexler tried to remove herself from the case by claiming a conflict of interest due to Jimmy's involvement, but Kevin Wachtell insists she remain. As matters relating to Acker's eviction arrive at Schweikart & Cokely, Kim assigns them to the firm's associates, claiming they have expertise that she does not. Facing further delays, Rich Schweikart encourages Kevin to follow Kim's plan to locate Mesa Verde's call center at an alternate site, but Kevin adamantly demands Acker's eviction.

Kim resigns herself to Acker's eviction. Jimmy suggests they could find "dirt" on Kevin and blackmail him into compromising but counsels against doing it. Kim decides to proceed, and Jimmy agrees. After Mike refuses the job, Jimmy hires Sobchak, who surveils Kevin and surreptitiously searches his house. Sobchak tells Jimmy and Kim that his search of Kevin's home revealed nothing damaging. Jimmy dismisses Sobchak from their meeting after Sobchak suggests kidnapping Kevin. Kim's knowing smile as she looks through Sobchak's photos indicates she found something on Kevin. Rich suggests that Kim temporarily disengage from all Mesa Verde business, correctly deducing that she asked Jimmy to sabotage their efforts. She refuses and angrily denies the allegations in front of their co-workers.

== Production == On the ''Better Call Saul Insider'' podcast, showrunner Peter Gould said Mike's scenes in this episode were partially inspired by the television show ''The Prisoner''. Gould said that while Mike was not trapped on Gus' villa as with ''The Prisoner'', the idea of being stuck in one place and using that as a form of self-reflection helped move Mike's character from what was established within ''Better Call Saul'' toward what audiences had come to know within ''Breaking Bad'', through Gus showing Mike a more personal side while standing next to the fountain that reminds Gus of Max.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/better-call-saul-creator-peter-gould-explains-why-gus-fring-sent-mike-to-mexico.html/ |title='Better Call Saul' Creator Peter Gould Explains Why Gus Fring Sent Mike to Mexico |first=Fred |last=Topel |date=March 19, 2020 |accessdate=March 20, 2020 |work=Cheat Sheet |archive-date=March 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320141513/https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/better-call-saul-creator-peter-gould-explains-why-gus-fring-sent-mike-to-mexico.html/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Giancarlo Esposito, who plays Gus, described in an interview with ''Variety'' that the idea of the villa setting was for Gus to share with Mike the idea of the utopia that Gus wanted, one where there may be need for enforcement via the armed guards, but otherwise everyone was free to enjoy life. Esposito said the scene was to try to show Mike how this setting contrasted with what was happening with events in Albuquerque with Lalo disrupting Gus' operations, and why Gus needed to recruit Mike to help.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://variety.com/2020/tv/features/better-call-saul-season-5-episode-5-giancarlo-esposito-interview-1234696197/ | title = 'Better Call Saul' Star Giancarlo Esposito Reflects on Gus Recruiting Mike in Season 5 | first = Michael | last = Schneider | date = July 8, 2020 | accessdate = July 8, 2020 | work = Variety | archive-date = July 13, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200713024005/https://variety.com/2020/tv/features/better-call-saul-season-5-episode-5-giancarlo-esposito-interview-1234696197/ | url-status = live }}</ref>

The scenes of Gus' ranch were filmed at El Rancho de las Golondrinas, a historic ''rancho'' that currently operates as a living history museum located near Santa Fe, New Mexico.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Gaberscek |first1=Carlo |last2=Stier |first2=Kenny |title=In Search of Western Movie Sites |date=2014 |publisher=Lulu Press, Inc. |isbn=9781312625020 |page=85}}</ref>

Bill Burr was originally slated to reprise his ''Breaking Bad'' character Patrick Kuby, who was to surveil Kevin's house during the episode.<ref name="Sepinwall-Aug2022">{{Cite magazine |last=Sepinwall |first=Alan |author-link=Alan Sepinwall |date=August 1, 2022 |title='Better Call Saul' Writer on Finally Entering the World of 'Breaking Bad' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-features/better-call-saul-breaking-bad-episode-interview-writer-1389065/ |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220802050426/https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-features/better-call-saul-breaking-bad-episode-interview-writer-1389065/ |archive-date=August 2, 2022 |access-date=August 2, 2022 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref> However, scheduling fell through due to Burr needing to attend to a personal matter.<ref>{{cite web |last=Mullen |first=Amanda |url=https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/better-call-saul-bill-burr-reprise-role-breaking-bad-prequel.html/ |title='Better Call Saul': Why Bill Burr Didn't Return for the 'Breaking Bad' Prequel |work=Showbiz Cheatsheet |date=September 27, 2021|access-date=October 23, 2021|archive-date=November 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105165040/https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/better-call-saul-bill-burr-reprise-role-breaking-bad-prequel.html/|url-status=live}}</ref> The role was rewritten for Steven Ogg's character Sobchak instead.<ref name="Sepinwall-Aug2022" />

== Reception == "Dedicado a Max" was well received by critics. At Rotten Tomatoes, it received a perfect 100% approval from 14 reviews with an average 7.93/10 review rating, with a summary "It's all coming together in 'Dedicado a Max,' a callback-heavy installment that thrillingly expands on the characters of Mike and Kim, with Rhea Seehorn's performance a highlight."<ref>{{cite web |title=Dedicado a Max |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/better_call_saul/s05/e05 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220623113902/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/better_call_saul/s05/e05 |archive-date=June 23, 2022 |accessdate=June 24, 2020 |website=Rotten Tomatoes}}</ref>

=== Ratings === "Dedicado a Max" was watched by 1.45 million viewers on its first broadcast,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-monday-cable-originals-network-finals-3-16-2020.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200317214201/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-monday-cable-originals-network-finals-3-16-2020.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 17, 2020|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 3.16.2020|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=March 17, 2020|work=Showbuzz Daily|accessdate=March 17, 2020}}</ref> which was an increase from the previous week of 1.22 million.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-monday-cable-originals-network-finals-3-9-2020.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200311203358/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-monday-cable-originals-network-finals-3-9-2020.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 11, 2020|title=Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 3.9.2020 |last=Metcalf |first=Mitch |date=March 10, 2020 |website=Showbuzz Daily |access-date=March 10, 2020}}</ref>

== Notes == {{notelist}}

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * [https://www.amc.com/shows/better-call-saul/full-episodes/season-05/episode-05/dedicado-a-max "Dedicado a Max"] at AMC * {{IMDb episode|8772194}}

Category:Better Call Saul season 5 episodes Category:2020 American television episodes Category:Television episodes directed by Jim McKay (director) Category:Television episodes set in Mexico