The Ultimate Better Call Saul Scams: Unveiling Slippin' Jimmy's Enduring Legacy

Jimmy McGill, initially known as Saul Goodman, planned on leaving his dishonest past behind when he transitioned into a career as a lawyer. However, the series Better Call Saul revealed that even with a professional license, Jimmy still engaged in his former "Slippin' Jimmy" behavior. In Breaking Bad, Jimmy was mainly portrayed as the comedic relief, with little insight into his personal life. Nonetheless, his character was eventually given a spin-off series that delved into his untold history and showcased a more complex side to this cunning attorney.

In his hometown of Cicero, Illinois, long before adopting the persona of Saul Goodman or other aliases like Gene Takavic or Viktor St. Claire, Jimmy was known as "Slippin' Jimmy." However, once he made the decision to lead an upright life and pursue a legal career in Albuquerque, he left behind the nickname. Despite this change, Jimmy never truly abandoned his slippery ways, and his "Slippin' Jimmy" tactics seeped into his practices as a lawyer. He relied on the deceptive techniques he learned as an unscrupulous con artist to secure victories in court, such as using a doppelganger of his client to deceive a witness.

10 Fake Blueprints

At the beginning of season 4, episode 9, “Wiedersehen,” Jimmy and Kim successfully execute a scam to switch the blueprints for a new Mesa Verde branch in Lubbock, Texas. Kim assumes the role of an overwhelmed single mother, while Jimmy adopts the persona of her annoying and unhelpful brother, who carelessly left the baby alone in the car. By "accidentally" spilling milk on the original blueprint, Jimmy prompts the clerk to offer a replacement using Kim's modified copy, creating the illusion that the unapproved building plans were actually approved. This elaborate scheme not only showcases the synergistic effectiveness of Jimmy and Kim as a team, but also demonstrates Jimmy's willingness to compromise his own integrity in order to enhance the believability of his character.

9 Getting Fired From Davis & Main

In season 2 of Better Call Saul, Jimmy quickly realizes that he doesn't fit in well with the corporate environment at Davis & Main. However, if he were to quit, he wouldn't receive his bonus. In episode 7, "Inflatable," Jimmy goes to great lengths to intentionally get fired. From playing bagpipes in his office to neglecting to flush the toilet in the men's bathroom, he attempts various tactics to lose his job. Eventually, Cliff Main decides that losing the bonus is a small price to pay in order to get rid of Jimmy. This scheme showcases Jimmy's innate tendency to rebel against authority (and his complete lack of shame).

8 Leaving A Sleazy Stockbroker With A Huge Bar Tab

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7 A Phony Heartfelt Speech To The Bar Association

In season 4, episode 10 titled "Winner," Jimmy finds himself in a hearing with the bar association as they contemplate reinstating his law license. During the hearing, Jimmy delivers a seemingly impromptu and deeply heartfelt speech, reflecting on the loss of his brother and vowing to live up to the McGill name. However, to everyone's surprise, Jimmy later admits that it was all orchestrated. When Kim asks for an explanation, Jimmy simply responds, "It's all good, man!" This leaves Kim in a state of shock, questioning whether Jimmy is truly capable of genuine empathy.

6 The Fake Mesa Verde Class-Action Suit

When Mesa Verde threatens to evict a man from his residence, Jimmy and Kim plot a plan to compel the bank to offer a larger sum of money as settlement. In season 5, episode 6, titled "Wexler v. Goodman," Jimmy captures footage of actors portraying dissatisfied Mesa Verde customers, who are supposedly seeking a class-action lawsuit. His intention is to present this recorded evidence to Mesa Verde's management. Despite Kim's last-minute decision to call off the scam, Jimmy proceeds with it anyway. While Jimmy revels in the success of the scam, Kim is enraged at being deceived by him. This storyline highlights Jimmy's tendency to become entranced and overly enthusiastic about executing scams.

5 Changing The Address On Chuck's Paperwork

In season 2, episode 8, titled "Fifi," Jimmy becomes furious when Chuck undermines Kim's deal with Mesa Verde. In retaliation, Jimmy decides to carry out his own act of sabotage. He takes all of Chuck's files pertaining to Mesa Verde to a Xerox establishment, where he meticulously alters the numbers in the address on every single page. Throughout the night, he painstakingly shifts the numbers around. This careful alteration of each and every Mesa Verde document in Chuck's possession showcases Jimmy's deep affection for Kim, as well as his profound resentment towards his brother (or perhaps a combination of both emotions).

4 Turning Huell Into A Hometown Hero

After Huell is apprehended for assaulting a police officer under mistaken circumstances in season 4, episode 8, titled "Coushatta," Kim initiates work on his legal defense alongside her colleagues at Schweikart & Cokely. Simultaneously, Jimmy embarks on a bus journey to Huell's birthplace, Coushatta, Louisiana. During the course of the trip, Jimmy and his fellow passengers dedicate themselves to writing numerous letters extolling Huell's virtues as a revered local figure. In a stroke of good timing for Huell's trial, the judge becomes inundated with an abundance of mail, all painting Huell as an extraordinary individual. To solidify his case, Jimmy procures the services of actors to answer calls from prosecutor Suzanne Ericsen, perpetuating the praise for Huell. In his unwavering loyalty, Jimmy demonstrates his willingness to go to any length for his loved ones.

3 Robbing The Mall With Jeff

Despite becoming one of the most notorious criminals in America and going into hiding in Nebraska, Jimmy cannot resist engaging in more "Slippin' Jimmy" mischief. When a taxi driver named Jeff recognizes him, Jimmy enlists Jeff's help in carrying out a heist at the mall where Jeff works at Cinnabon. What makes this con truly remarkable is the bond Jimmy forms with the mall's security guard. Every night, Jimmy cunningly brings the security guard a complimentary snack to divert his attention from the surveillance footage while Jeff pilfers merchandise. In a display of his improvisational prowess, Jimmy even impresses with an impromptu emotional breakdown.

2 The Phone Battery

Chuck's case against Jimmy finally goes to court in season 3, episode 5, "Chicanery," which is widely regarded as one of the top episodes of the entire series. Chuck anticipates Jimmy's attempt to deceive him, so Jimmy resorts to a double-cross. During the trial, Jimmy casts doubt on Chuck's electromagnetic hypersensitivity by revealing a cell phone he supposedly carries in his pocket, but Chuck quickly deduces that it has no battery. Unbeknownst to Chuck, the battery has actually been planted in his own pocket by Huell. This clever maneuver is particularly memorable because it sets the stage for Chuck's unforgettable breakdown reminiscent of "The Caine Mutiny," portrayed brilliantly by Michael McKean, resulting in one of the most captivating monologues in Better Call Saul.

1 Destroying Howard's Reputation

Throughout the first half of Better Call Saul season 6, Jimmy and Kim orchestrate an elaborate scheme targeting Howard Hamlin. In episode 7, titled "Plan and Execution," their plan reaches its climax during the Sandpiper settlement mediation. To tarnish Howard’s reputation, Jimmy and Kim employ a combination of tactics including a drug that dilates pupils, rumors of cocaine use, and manipulated photographs depicting the mediator accepting a cash bribe from Jimmy. This intricate and impressive con, however, comes at a heavy cost as it ultimately leads to Howard’s brutal execution at the hands of Lalo Salamanca. Now, Jimmy and Kim are left pondering the purpose behind their actions.