Did Google Maps Catch Better Call Saul Filming?
Better Call Saul S04E04 Spoilers!
Astute fans in the Better Call Saul subreddit noticed that the shootout in the latest episode of Better Call Saul was a real place in Albuquerque, NM. For a brief moment, the motel’s sign is visible, and it wasn’t a prop sign. The “Westward Ho Motel” is a real place located at 7500 Central Ave SW and it served as the backdrop for a bloody scene where the Salamanca Twins took out the Espinoza family.
So it looks like the Google Maps satellite image was shot during filming of the latest #BetterCallSaul episode. #Albuquerque #NM pic.twitter.com/yn9GcQAPf1
— Clayburn Griffin (@Clayburn) August 29, 2018
The debate on Reddit began over whether or not police should have arrived on the scene. The shootout lasted for several minutes and included an explosion that launched flames into the sky. Some buildings, which appear to be residential, can be noticed in the background. Since the cameras stay closely trained on the Breaking Bad characters, we don’t see any background movement going on to suggest the neighborhood is inhabited, and New Mexico is known to be a fairly rural state.
However, after tracking down the real Westward Ho Motel, anyone can see that if a shootout like the one in Monday’s episode actually happened there, police would have been called and arrived on the scene in no time. In fact, the Albuquerque Police Department is only 4 minutes away.
The bloody aftermath of the Westward Ho Shootout left the Espinoza gang out of commission, and made for a beautiful cinematic moment.
What’s interesting, though, is that this scene wasn’t just captured by Vince Gilligan’s cameras. The satellite imagery Google uses for its Google Maps product also appeared to have captured the scene. The debris inside the motel grounds looks to be set the same as it was during and after the shootout. You can also see a couple of tents on either side set up for production services. Also, the large trucks and trailers around the sides are likely there for the production as well. The actual shot seemed to come in between shooting since it shows cast and crew milling about outside, perhaps preparing for the next shot.
