TheBreaking Baduniverse is filled with tragic characters, but there’s one from the spinoff series more tragic than any, and he was almost written to be the villain.Breaking Badis almost a Greek tragedy, at least in terms of how tragic our heroes and characters are. From Skyler White (Anna Gunn) losing everything simply for marrying someone who turns out to be the wrong man, to the young boy who stumbles upon the wrong train robbery, Vince Gilligan’sBreaking Badis filled with tragic charactersfrom top to bottom.
Better Call Saulalso has its fair share of tragic characters, though because the stakes are slightly smaller in theBreaking Badsequel/prequel series, the tragedies characters suffer tend to be a little less life-changing. Think an old lady whose friends suddenly turn on her through no fault of her own, or a lawyer who takes a swing on Jimmy (Bob Odenkirk) only to be humiliated for his efforts. However, there is one character inBetter Call Saulwhose life is more tragic than anyone’s. What’s more fascinating is that he was almost the series' villain.
Hamlin Is One Of The Saddest Victims Of Jimmy’s Criminality
Howard Hamlin (Patrick Fabian) is one of the most tragic characters in eitherBreaking BadorBetter Call Saul. One third of Hamlin, Hamlin, McGill, alongside Charles “Chuck” McGill (Michael McKean) and Howard’s late father, Howard is an exemplary attorney. With his bleach-blonde hair, fit and thin figure, piercing blue eyes, and sharp jawline, he is the quintessential high-powered attorney, able to dress his anger in a blazing white smile the moment an important client walks in. He’s everything Jimmy isn’t, and in his first few appearances, he seems like the perfect foil to our ratty underdog.
Then slowly, some new information comes to light. Despite what’s been previously said, Howard never wanted Jimmy out of the firm; he always liked him. Howard was only doing what Chuck asked of him, a request he could scarcely refuse from another partner.Howard proves to have a backbone and a strong moral compass, and it’s those qualities that actually make him everything that Jimmy is not, and why Jimmy decides to ruin his life. Howard did nothing wrong, except perhaps let a grudge last a bit too long once in a while.
Jimmy’s games bring an innocent man into cartel business, and Howard pays for Jimmy’s mistake with his life.
Howard certainly did not deserve what Jimmy and Kim Wexler (Rhea Seehorn) did to him, destroying his reputation, causing him untold stress and trauma, even drugging him at one point. And it was all for nothing. It was one of Slippin' Jimmy’s games that went too far. Even when Howard confronted Jimmy and Kim, he didn’t attack them or threaten them; he only said he would not let this bring him down. It’s inspiring, but it’s too late. Jimmy’s games bring an innocent man into cartel business, and Howard pays for Jimmy’s mistake with his life.
Howard Was Supposed To Be The Villain Of Better Call Saul – Why It Didn’t Happen
Vince Gilligan And The Writers Decided It Would Be More Interesting To Switch Chuck And Howard’s Characterizations
Howard is positioned as a villain at the beginning ofBetter Call Saul, and originally, that wasn’t a ploy to fool viewers. He was actually going to be the villain of the series. Originally,Chuck and Howard would have played each other’s roles, according to Vince Gilligan. Howard was originally envisioned as a “bad guy”. Gilligan said,
“Peter [Gould] and I and the writers were convinced that Howard Hamlin was going to be the bad guy. And we were convinced that Chuck was going to be this Mycroft Holmes [Sherlock Holmes’s older brother] kind of character who was emotionally damaged but very supportive. That was the original plan.”
Obviously, that’s not what ended up happening. Gilligan said,
“So we came to realize, Wouldn’t it be more interesting if Howard—who looks like the bad guy because he’s so polished and handsome and seems to be the king of the world—is not as bad as he appears? And what if Chuck isn’t as supportive of Jimmy as we first think he is?”
It’s a great turn, and shows the talent of the writers on staff that they came to this conclusion. Howard being the villain and Chuck being the friend would be the more obvious choice, but by flipping the characters,Better Call Saulelevates.
Better Call Saul Making Chuck The Villain Of Jimmy’s Story Made The Show Even Better
Chuck Is Critical To Seeing Jimmy As The Villain He Really Is
Making Chuck the villain ofBetter Call Saulwas a brilliant decision, in part thanks to Michael McKean’s performance and in part thanks to how well the story of brotherly jealousy works within the story.Better Call Saulis almost a villain origin story for Saul Goodman, and by making Jimmy’s brother his biggest enemy, it makes the viewers question how we consider these characters. No one knows Jimmy better than Chuck, and so if Chuck believes something to be true about Jimmy, we have to take it seriously.
At the same time, Chuck is just a jerk. He has no people skills, is underhanded and smarmy, and refuses to admit his mistakes. Making him a villain makes us want to root for Jimmy, which in turn forces us to root for the real villain because Chuck was right about Jimmy. Howard Hamlin says so himself just before he is killed, “Jimmy, you can’t help yourself. Chuck knew it. You were born that way.” Making Chuck the antagonist in theBreaking Badsequel reminds us that just because a character is a protagonist doesn’t mean they’re good.
Breaking Bad
Cast
Breaking Bad, created by Vince Gilligan, follows a chemistry teacher turned drug kingpin named Walter White (Bryan Cranston) as he attempts to provide for his family following a fatal diagnosis. With nothing left to fear, White ascends to power in the world of drugs and crime, transforming the simple family man into someone known only as Heisenberg.
