The Executive Who Hated Saul Goodman on ‘Breaking Bad’

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In a different phrasing:

Saul Goodman is arguably one of the most captivating characters in the realm of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. It’s hard to imagine a prequel series for such a critically acclaimed and iconic TV show could be anything but a poor idea. Yet, surprisingly, co-creator Peter Gould’s spin-off series Better Call Saul turned out to be equally well-written and performed as the legendary series that came before it. However, if one TV executive had his way, we might never have known the character of Saul Goodman.

Entertainment Weekly obtained an exclusive sneak peek from Saul Goodman v. Jimmy McGill, a book by TV expert Alan Sepinwall, which provides a detailed exploration behind the creation of this popular prequel series. In a specific part of the book, it’s disclosed that Gould initially hesitated when crafting the character’s debut in Breaking Bad, and those reservations would become reality as an executive expressed disapproval toward Saul as a character.

I became apprehensive since I was concerned that our creation of an overly eccentric character could disrupt the show’s balance, making him too outlandish for what I perceived as a realistically-grounded series. This fear intensified during our initial meeting with an unnamed executive on a conference call. During this call, Vince [Gilligan] and I were asked, in essence, “We aren’t fond of this character. Can we redo the story for this episode and develop a different character instead?

Saul Goodman is a Character Critical to ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Better Call Saul’

It’s fortunate that Breaking Bad‘s creator, Vince Gilligan, intervened to vouch for the script named “Better Call Saul” and its character development within the series. In an upcoming book, Peter Gould discusses how an unnamed executive followed Gilligan’s advice regarding the character’s significance in the show.

In a different scenario, if Vince had said “No,” he was passionately supporting the script and character. Remarkably, those on the call conceded, understanding they needed to rely on Vince’s judgment. However, imagine an alternate reality where we would have been forced to discard that episode due to his objection.

A world without Saul Goodman seems quite gloomy, but thankfully Jimmy McGill is a resilient character, taking on various identities, jobs, and eventually becoming an integral part of the story in Breaking Bad. Better Call Saul initially presents a tone different from Breaking Bad, as Gould mentioned his debut episode did, swiftly forging its own captivating and distinctive path.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but feel thrilled about how the series unfolds, delving deeper into the grittier aspects of Breaking Bad, giving Odenkirk ample room to explore Saul/Jimmy/Gene’s character arc. This journey promises to lead us to a finale that matches, if not surpasses, the iconic ending of Breaking Bad. Kudos to Gilligan and Gould for standing firm in ensuring Saul’s significance within the Breaking Bad universe.

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2025-01-31 00:02