Better Call Saul certainly sounded like an odd idea when it was first announced, as Breaking Bad's slimy Saul Goodman becoming practically a different person for a loosely connected prequel series sounded like a tough sell under any most circumstances. But fans instantly grew attached to Jimmy McGill, and while many may be excited to see Bob Odenkirk dive further into his Saul transition, the actor isn't all that thrilled about it. With Season 4 not far away, Odenkirk recently spoke about Jimmy's slow but inevitable transformation.
They made [Jimmy] such a likable guy, and yet kept it organic. It's not a completely different person, but I really like the guy. I'm having to confront the fact that he is becoming Saul, and I don't like Saul. If he was my friend, I would say, 'Don't go that route.'
Bob Odenkirk isn't happy to see Jimmy go full-tilt Saul. All hope is not lost for the surviving McGill brother, however, as even Saul showed flashes of being a caring human being throughout Breaking Bad, so we know from that and the Gene flash-forwards that there is still good inside him somewhere. Of course, it was nowhere near the level of compassion or caring shown by Jimmy at points throughout Better Call Saul, and it seems that's something Odenkirk will miss.
Bob Odenkirk said he was confused when Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan first approached him about making Better Call Saul, wondering how it would work out. The veteran comedy actor defaulted to Gilligan and his writing anyway, and lo and behold, the creator came up with a spin that made Saul bearable enough to lead a series. Jimmy McGill embodied the humbled, do-good persona that Saul fans didn't know about, and it's one even Odenkirk admitted he's still getting to know today. Breaking Bad fans may be quick to point out the world got a brief glimpse of Jimmy breaking through Saul's exterior in Breaking Bad's penultimate episode, but Odenkirk told EW he just played that scene as honestly as he could, without any real knowledge of what Saul's past life had entailed. But changing things up was the first thing on the actor's mind.
We didn't really know who the character was when we left Breaking Bad. My first question when we talked was, 'How do you make him likable?' Because I didn't like that guy. I mean, I like watching him --- like a car wreck when you're not in it. It's intriguing. It pulls you in. But he's a bad guy.
He'll still be a nice guy when Better Call Saul returns to AMC for what should be an exciting Season 4 starting on Monday, August 6, at 9:00 p.m. ET. For a look at what all television shows are slated to premiere or return in the next couple of months, visit our summer premiere guide. For more on Better Call Saul, check out the storyline that creator Vince Gilligan is most excited to share with fans.
