“Better Call Saul!” That’s where it all started. That smile. That damned smile. We became fans of Bob Odenkirk ever since that infamous commercial aired in Breaking Bad.
We became fans of Jimmy McGill, aka Saul Goodman, when iconic writers Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould wrote the story for Better Call Saul. However, Bob Odenkirk had some initial doubts about the spin-off.
Bob Odenkirk was concerned about Better Call Saul
There was no doubt in the iconic character of Saul Goodman. The man knows how to steal the spotlight whenever he makes an appearance in Breaking Bad. Helping Walter White and Jesse Pinkman run their drug empire, it was time for this attorney to get his own show.
So when Breaking Bad ended and Walter White got his end, Odenkirk got his prequel with Better Call Saul airing in 2015 (while Jesse Pinkman’s future was depicted in the 2019 film El Camino).
In an interview with Rolling Stone, lead star Bob Odenkirk talked about how the spin-offs often fail for several reasons. That was one of the greatest concerns that Odenkirk had faced while filming the show.
Everybody associated with this project knows exactly what you’re talking about and approached it with – I wouldn’t say trepidation because we’re braver than that, I think we’re all a little bit of a showbiz veteran group and that toughens you up a little.
He continued,
The way to counter-balance those concerns is “are we pursuing an idea because there’s an original inspiration to it?” And I left that question to Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould, and their answer was a pretty assured, “yes.”
Of course, Better Call Saul went on to become one of the finest prequel/sequel shows that was ever created. Although the show didn’t receive any notable awards, Odenkirk and the entire crew made a name for themselves in the hearts of fans.
So what made the spin-off different from other shows? How did Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould come up with an iconic story that fit so perfectly within the narrative of Breaking Bad? The answer: they planned it.
Better Call Saul was planned before Breaking Bad was over
It seems like a common practice that many spin-offs are made after the original show has exceeded expectations. Maybe a side-character became a fan favorite? Or maybe a character has a mysterious past? Or just the need to create a cinematic universe out of everything leads to spin-offs and sequels.
As the interview with Bob Odenkirk continued, the actor revealed that Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould had already planned a story for Saul Goodman before Breaking Bad was even finished.
And keep in mind, they started thinking about this years ago. It didn’t come out of finishing Breaking Bad and being lost for another project. The thing is, they work so motherf*cking hard, man.
He continued,
I’m thrilled, amazed and astounded at how well it has played for people. It’s so much fun to have this many ideas, that much story, that many surprises in one hour of TV.
It came as no shock to anyone when Better Call Saul turned out to be so good. The finale of the show is one of the most iconic finales that the world has ever seen, and it’s all thanks to Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould.
With 6 seasons to its name, Better Call Saul currently stands at a rating of 9/10 on IMDb and a whopping 98% on Rotten Tomatoes. The iconic show is available to stream on Netflix.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
