Bob Odenkirk’s Dramatic Breakout Post-Breaking Bad: Better Call Saul’s Jimmy McGill

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I first noticed Bob Odenkirk’s talent when he appeared as Saul Goodman in Breaking Bad, and I was surprised by his dramatic side! But I think his role as Jimmy McGill really showed what he could do. Before that, I knew him as a writer on shows like Saturday Night Live and The Ben Stiller Show – he was a huge name in ‘90s comedy. Then, he created Mr. Show with David Cross, and that show was truly groundbreaking – it really cemented his place in TV history, in my opinion.

Bob Odenkirk had already achieved incredible success in comedy and could have easily retired at that point. However, he decided to keep working. In the late 2000s, while balancing directing and smaller TV roles like on How I Met Your Mother, he landed the role of Saul Goodman, Walter White’s lawyer, on Breaking Bad. This role dramatically changed the course of his career.

Bob Odenkirk gained recognition for his dramatic acting in Breaking Bad, which led to roles in acclaimed films like Steven Spielberg’s The Post and Greta Gerwig’s Little Women. He surprised audiences by becoming an action star in the Nobody films. However, many consider his best performance since Saul to be playing Saul Goodman—or, more accurately, his earlier persona, Jimmy McGill.

Better Call Saul’s Jimmy McGill Was An Even More Fascinating Character Than Saul Goodman

It’s understandable that people were unsure about a series centered on Saul Goodman when it was first announced. While he was a memorable character in Breaking Bad, he mainly provided comedic moments. Though Bob Odenkirk had opportunities to showcase dramatic acting, like when Saul was threatened by Walt or confronted by Jesse, his role was largely to offer lighthearted humor and quick wit.

After just a couple of seasons of Better Call Saul, it became obvious that the Saul Goodman we knew from Breaking Bad wasn’t his true self. The show revealed that his flamboyant persona was a disguise for a deeply troubled person trying to hide his emotional pain. Better Call Saul demonstrated that Saul hadn’t always been that way; it showed us his life before he became the character we saw in Breaking Bad.

Jimmy McGill started as a lawyer trying to build an honest career, but negative perceptions and his brother’s doubts held him back, ultimately leading him down a criminal path. Better Call Saul transformed what was initially a funny, supporting character into a compelling and ultimately heartbreaking main character.

Saul Goodman was a compelling character even in Breaking Bad. The show only revealed him in his professional role as Walt and Jesse’s lawyer, keeping his personal life hidden, which made viewers even more intrigued. He’s a lawyer who’s willing to do almost anything to avoid a courtroom battle and readily stretches the boundaries of the law to assist his clients.

Better Call Saul Made Jimmy Just As Tragic & Complex As Walter White

By the series finale of Better Call Saul, Jimmy McGill had evolved into a deeply flawed, yet sympathetic and complex character, much like Walter White in Breaking Bad. Over five seasons, we watched Walter White change from a kind, ordinary teacher into a ruthless criminal, and Bryan Cranston brilliantly portrayed every step of that transformation.

Many people doubted Bob Odenkirk could recapture the success of his role in Breaking Bad, or that the character Saul Goodman could carry a show on his own. However, Better Call Saul quickly proved those doubts wrong with its clever writing, a story that explored both Saul’s past and future, and Odenkirk’s outstanding acting.

Bob Odenkirk gained significant recognition for his dramatic work on Breaking Bad, which opened doors to many exciting projects. He’s appeared on Broadway in Glengarry Glen Ross, had a role as Uncle Lee in The Bear, and recently starred in a thriller directed by Ben Wheatley. However, many consider his most successful role since Breaking Bad to be reprising his character Saul Goodman in the show’s spin-off series.

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2026-04-03 20:18