Tonight’s ‘Better Call Saul’ made Giancarlo Esposito scream. Here’s why

The following story contains spoilers for “Axe and Grind,” the sixth episode of “Better Call Saul” Season 6. Gus Fring, the bone-chilling drug kingpin who first appeared in “Breaking Bad,” does not appear in a single frame of Monday night’s episode of the AMC series’ prequel, “Better Call Saul.” But the Emmy-nominated actor’s presence is still very much felt. That’s because Esposito shelved his character’s piercing stare and deadpan facial expressions and instead put his behind-the-camera skills on display: “Axe and Grind,” the sixth episode of the show’s final season, marks his TV directorial debut. It’s only the second time in 56 episodes that a member of its cast has sat in the director’s chair — earlier this season Rhea Seehorn became the first with “Hit and Run.” The Times spoke to Esposito about what went into his return to directing, how he shot that intense Lalo Salamanca scene, and what his experience as a first-time TV director was like. Rhea Seehorn and Christopher Kelly in “Better Call Saul.” Let’s discuss some specifics regarding the episode.