The spinoff series, which premiered in 2015 and concluded last year, chronicles the journey of Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk) as he transforms into the titular character of Saul, a criminal lawyer.
Several main characters are introduced along the way, including Jimmy’s love interest Kim Wexler (Rhea Seehorn), his brother and rival Chuck (Michael McKean), and Chuck’s law partner Howard Hamlin (Patrick Fabian).
How Chuck McGill Evolved into a Villain Despite Initial Plan
In an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, Better Call Saul star Rhea Seehorn shared that Chuck, played by Michael McKean, was not originally intended to be a villain in the show.
Seehorn revealed that initially, Chuck was supposed to be an “invalid” who would bring out Jimmy’s softer side. Still, as McKean played the character with so much complexity and subtext, the writers recognized his potential as a formidable foe for Jimmy. This caused a shift in the planned character arcs and dynamics, including delaying Jimmy’s transformation into Saul until later seasons.
The change in Chuck’s character also allowed for a deeper exploration of Howard’s character, who was previously thought to be an antagonist but was revealed to be a victim of Chuck’s machinations.
Kim’s role as Jimmy’s love interest took on a new significance as she became the one who brought out his softer side instead of his brother. Despite the changes in character plans, Better Call Saul remains a masterclass in storytelling, with each character given intricate attention to detail and complexity.
