10 Best Performances In Better Call Saul
3. Bob Odenkirk (Jimmy McGill)
Bob Odenkirk is a comedy legend, and his recurring role as Saul Goodman in Breaking Bad was well suited to his skills. Saul started off as a cartoon character in a grimy world, and while the criminal lawyer was fleshed out over time, Odenkirk was still primarily brought in for purposes of comic relief.
That all changed when he stepped back in time to play Jimmy McGill. Not unlike Walter White, McGill starts off as chucklesome, something of a likeable sad sack, then strips away layers of morality to reach his goals.
Odenkirk has consistently impressed season after season with his ability to reach deeper into Jimmy McGill. He’s tasked with portraying many versions of the character - Chicago huckster, struggling lawyer, Breaking Bad-era, and post-disappearance in Nebraska, and he adjusts his manner masterfully for each version of the character.
It’s this layering that makes the performance so impressive - in season five, particularly, Odenkirk is often playing Jimmy McGill playing Saul Goodman. The show, through Odenkirk, has patiently shown us how McGill becomes Goodman, and watching the actor and character on this descent is captivating, and at times heartbreaking.