The One Aspect Of Saul Goodman Bob Odenkirk Never Learned To Like
Bob Odenkirk has spent a long time inside the flashy suits and complicated mind of Jimmy McGill aka Saul Goodman. Over the course of five seasons in "Better Call Saul" and three in "Breaking Bad," audiences have witnessed the rise and fall of the ambitious defense attorney. For Odenkirk, he is nearing the satisfying completion of his character's arc, one carried across two shows and at least one upcoming animated spin-off.
As a man who's been cheated and sabotaged by others (including people close to him), the character of Jimmy/Saul can be both incredibly empathetic and cruelly vengeful. Odenkirk portrays these sudden pendulum swings between the two beautifully and often hilariously. But as plenty of fans of the show can attest the character is not without his ruthless moments. So it should come as no surprise then that Odenkirk has mixed feelings about the idealistic but often led-astray lawyer.
Odenkirk never warmed-up to Jimmy's resentful nature
We've seen Jimmy/Saul do and say some pretty terrible things. From turning the elderly Irene's friends against her just to win a big payout, to going out of his way to embarrass and torment Howard Hamlin — an action spurned on by repressed guilt over destroying his brother's career and driving him into a depression that leads to suicide. In an interview with "Variety," the actor was asked whether he found Saul after six seasons sympathetic or psychopathic. He gave a rather sobering answer:
"Big question, man. [long pause] I've had mixed feelings over the years. I don't like how much resentment drives the character. There's that great Randy Newman song, 'I Just Want You to Hurt Like I Do.' As a person who has to do the math on my own bitterness about life, I think bitterness and resentment are bad reasons to make any choice. You have to be able to let stuff go, and he just can't."
Odenkirk really nails it on the head with the Randy Newman song. Morbid, satirical, just enough hyperbole to make you laugh and then cry when you realize it's not an exaggeration but just human nature. Such is the experience of watching Jimmy/Saul make the same mistakes over and over. Simply because he's unable to forgive, forget, and move on with his life. Instead, he obsesses over his vindication and revenge with the same ingenuity that makes him a spectacular lawyer. As Odenkirk reminds us, it also clouds his judgment and often leads him to make mistakes that irrevocably damage his career aspirations and personal relationships. This brings us to one of the increasingly few redeeming aspects of Jimmy/Saul's character: Kim Wexler, who is played by the incredible Rhea Seehorn.
Kim Wexler: Saul's redeemer or loving enabler?
Given just how much Saul has come to rely on her in recent seasons the show might as well be called "Better Call Wexler." After all, she's often the first one he calls (when he's not hiding something from her she'd disapprove of) when he's in a jam. So of course, in that same interview, Odenkirk was asked why Kim's love for Jimmy isn't enough to save him.
"She loves him, but she doesn't respect him. She kind of pities him. And he wants genuine, full-fledged, 'You're great.'"
There is a deep, unspoken bond that exists between Jimmy and Kim throughout the show. Their love is confirmed by the lengths they go to either protect or help one another, crossing moral lines and legal boundaries without hesitation. But Kim has made compromises in her estimation of Jimmy — something he is woefully aware of. She loves Jimmy whether or not he's Saul Goodman, whether or not he's a successful and respected lawyer, whether or not he ever sees himself the way she sees him. But Jimmy/Saul would rather have undeniable respect over unconditional love and loyalty.
Then there's the fact that Saul's proximity to Kim is compromising her once ironclad ethics. One prime example is when the two decide to get married. The whole purpose serves an ulterior motive: as his wife, she wouldn't be able to legally testify against Saul. When the sixth season arrives next month, we'll finally see the complete and tragic transformation of Jimmy into the narcissistic Saul. Odenkirk might loathe playing some of the character's worst bit but we're anxious to find out just how his relationship with Kim and everyone else falls apart.