The Missteps and Purpose of Mike's Note-Stealing in Better Call Saul Season 1 Episode 6

In the critically acclaimed television series Better Call Saul, the seventh episode of Season 1, "Five-O", delves deep into the complex psyche of Mike Ehrmantraut—a character known for his meticulous and often lurid approach to crime. The central mystery revolving around Mike's note-stealing from a detective's notebook raises several intriguing questions and offers a glimpse into the mind of a man who is about to walk into a trap.

Why the Notebook Was Crucial to Mike

The notebook served as a crucial piece of evidence or a strategic advantage for Mike. The narrative suggests that Mike wanted to glean as much information as possible from the contents of the notebook to understand where the investigation was heading and possibly to manipulate the outcome of the investigation against his own interests.

First and foremost, Mike was likely trying to uncover clues as to why the Philadelphia police had come to Albuquerque specifically to question him. The detective's notebook might have provided Mike with information that his own paranoid mind couldn't discern on its own. This would have helped him anticipate the police's moves and perhaps even devise a plan to evade or confront them more effectively.

Weak Points in the Narrative

Despite the compelling motivation, the method employed by Mike leaves significant questions unanswered and presents a series of implausible scenarios that undermine the story's coherence. Here are a few points that stand out:

How the Police Located Ehrmentraut

The narrative doesn't clarify how the police knew where to find Sue Ehrmentraut, Mike's partner. Considering Mike's actions, it seems illogical that he would be so careless with his whereabouts. Even if he wasn't hiding from the Philadelphia police, he should have anticipated that the officers who knew his victims well would have taken their loss very hard and could have used this knowledge to their advantage.

Mike's Lack of External Intelligence

Another point of contention is why Mike didn't use his connections in his former department to monitor the investigation. It's clear from the episode that Mike has loyal old allies within the police force. These allies could have provided him with valuable information, even alerting him to the impending visits of detectives to his wife's home and ultimately to Mike himself. This missed opportunity weakens the overall plot.

Unlikely Police Tactics

The detective's decision to visit Mike's wife's home before confronting him is another significant weakness in the episode. If the police's goal was to corner Mike, they would have started at his known location rather than his wife's home, which was likely a safer and more secure area to be.

Mike's Motivations

Mike's intentions, however, were clear. He wanted to know what the police had on him and what he could expect from the investigation. By stealing the detective's notebook, Mike aimed to:

To throw the investigation off track

Primarily, Mike was responsible for the murders of Dale Hoffman and Kenneth Fenske. By stealing the notebook, he hoped to keep the police from making a straightforward connection between these deaths and his involvement, thereby buying himself more time to either flee or set up an elaborate alibi.

To gather leads and hunt down the responsible party

Alternatively, Mike could use the information in the notebook to find the drug dealer who had killed Matt Poplari. With a clearer picture of the investigation's progress, he could start hunting down the responsible party with the leads he had gathered.

While Mike's actions were largely motivated by self-preservation, the notebook's utility was questionable. The episode's writers could have enhanced the narrative by providing a more detailed explanation of why the police knew where to find Sue and why Mike didn't use his connections within the department. These ambiguities detract from the overall quality of the story and make the note-stealing seem less strategic and more arbitrary.

Overall, the incident with the detective's notebook in Better Call Saul Season 1 Episode 6, "Five-O", is a pivotal moment that reveals much about Mike Ehrmantraut's character, his paranoia, and his desperation. While his actions were understandable given the circumstances, the underlying narrative and logic need work to ensure a more coherent and compelling story.

Additional Insights

The episode also provides a deeper understanding of Mike's relationship with Matt Poplari and his partner, Sue Ehrmentraut. As Mike explains to Matt's wife, the murder of Matt was not just a personal vendetta but a calculated move to eliminate a threat to his operation. Mike's actions are driven by a stark sense of survival, even as he grapples with the ethical implications of his choices.