Better Call Someone Else

How to adjust when your lead character is your least compelling character

We first encountered Saul Goodman somewhere along season two of Breaking Bad. On a show that was becoming increasingly violent and depressing (this was right around the time Jesse was relapsing with his then-girlfriend), Bob Odenkirk's performance was a breath of fresh air. It was his character who helped lift that show's spirits through its darkest times. He was more than comic relief; Saul Goodman was a comic necessity. And he became such a necessity that creator Vince Gilligan was convinced he needed a show all its own.

For a while, it seemed like he was absolutely right. And he probably still is absolutely right. I've noticed a key and troubling distinction, however, as I slog my way through season two of Better Call Saul. Unlike Walter White, Jimmy McGill hasn't developed into the dynamic, driving force of a character that someone can build a show around. In fact, he's arguably the least compelling character on the show.

It all starts with Mike Ehrmantraut, portrayed by Jonathan Banks, who's come a long, long way from Beverly Hills Cop. I can't take my eyes off the screen when this guy is filling it. Everything he says, everything he does, and everyone with whom he associates makes for compelling television. And it's much more than his ability to either kill or beat the shit out of people. He's quietly indignant, deceptively clever, and as we found out recently, has massive cajones. If we were thrust into that kind of life, this is the person we'd all want to be: direct, unflappable, and uncompromising. And as we've learned more about his granddaughter and the complicated relationship he has with her mother, Mike's character has become even more alluring. A show centered around him would be an excellent one.

Plus he maintains the show's legacy of stunningly bald characters.

But there's plenty more where Mike came from. Jimmy's/Saul's love interest is equally remarkable. Rhea Seehorn's Kim Wexler is caught in between two sides of her personality much like Jimmy is. The difference is her defiance towards the situation she's been put in is much more complex. Instead of simply acting out, she's deftly navigating through the tightrope of political correctness that she needs to remain well-respected in the attorney community.

She has the same drive for more that Jimmy does. That's why they're attracted to each other in the first place and manage to pull off those marvelous cons we've seen over the course of this season. While she plays it straight with the law, her spirit of independence is so exciting to see, especially from a female character. Internet trolls always ragged on Breaking Bad's Skyler anytime she kept Walt from being unleashed. They can't have the same complaints about Kim; she enables Jimmy, if anything. A show centered around her would be, you guessed it, excellent.

But as it currently stands, Jimmy McGill lags behind the rest when it comes to his character arc. We know that will change soon enough, but maybe that's part of the problem. How are we expected to sit through the bumbling, stumbling, Slippin' Jimmy McGill when we know he's going to turn into this? We're starting to see that side of him come out in bits and pieces, but Gilligan and company are deliberately testing our patience.

Personally, I'm willing to wait it out. I want to be there when the full transformation from James to Saul is complete, just as I was there for the transformation from Walter to Heisenberg. I admire anyone and everyone who plans to stick it out, but in the meantime, I'd suggest sharpening your focus onto some of the show's other characters. You'll probably like what you see.