Breaking Bad star Bob Odenkirk, who played Saul Goodman in the series, imagines how different Walter White’s life would be without his character supporting him in the show.
Widely considered the greatest television series of all time, Breaking Bad follows Walter White, a chemistry teacher suffering from cancer, and his journey to become a drug lord who produces and sells a unique blue meth.
Throughout the series, White relies on Goodman, a shady lawyer, to help him evade the law and stay out of jail. Goodman’s character gained massive popularity after Breaking Bad, leading the makers to create a spin-off with him as the protagonist, titled Better Call Saul. Bob Odenkirk reprised his role as Goodman in the series.
While it is true that Goodman plays a significant role in Walter’s rise to power, Odenkirk believes that Goodman was not the main factor in White’s growth as a drug lord. He says that White had the same evil potential regardless of Saul’s involvement. Check out his quote (via Deadline) below:
“I think that Walter White would’ve still been Walter White without Saul, he just wouldn’t have lived as long, obviously. He would’ve had a shorter run. [But] I think Breaking
Bob Odenkirk
White may have been a ruthless criminal, but he owed his success to Goodman’s schemes. As Odenkirk rightly points out, he could have been caught way earlier had it not been for Saul.
The spinoff series, Better Call Saul, shows how Goodman helped to bring down Hector Salamanca’s drug cartel, opening the way for White to dominate the market. Without Goodman’s cunning moves in Better Call Saul, White’s business would have been destroyed before it could grow in Breaking Bad.
Breaking Bad makes it seem that White’s rise to power was his own doing, but Better Call Saul reveals the bigger picture. It shows the intricate and dark dynamics of the drug world that shape the situation. Better Call Saul portrays a gradual decay that culminates in White’s emergence as a key player. In simpler words, the events of BCS set the stage for White’s rise to power in Breaking Bad.
The prequel also changes the perception of Saul Goodman. By showing his human side and his tragic journey, Jimmy McGill’s change of identity becomes a fascinating part of Breaking Bad.
It invites the viewers to revisit every scene and look for the signs of his inner conflict. Goodman not only helped White to survive, but also reflected his moral downfall. He illustrates how White became a monster in a short time.
About Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad is an American crime drama TV show filmed in Alburquerque Studios in New Mexico and produced by Sony Pictures Television.
Directed by Vince Gilligan, the show follows the life of an overqualified, underpaid, and depressed chemistry teacher who gets diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. The show follows the story of White as he pairs up with his former student Jesse Pinkman as they enter the world of crime.
The show went on to win several awards including 16 Primetime Emmy Awards, eight Satellite Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, two Peabody Awards, two Critics’ Choice Awards, and four Television Critics Association Awards.
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