Emmy voters gave Bob Odenkirk an impressive farewell gift in his final run, starring in “Better Call Saul,” the prequel to AMC’s acclaimed “Breaking Bad.” Ending August 15th, “Sole” (returning after a break earlier this week) has a total of seven nominations, including the best drama series and support actresses for Odenkirk’s co-star Rhea Seehorn’s drama series. Won.
In a telephone interview on Tuesday, Odenkirk told him how his ethically challenged lawyer evolved from season to season, what awaits the finale of the series, and “Sole” is “Breaking Bad.” We talked about whether it is better than. These are excerpts edited for conversation.
Congrats! Are you doing ok?
I’m doing [expletive] very. I’m really ~ I am very happy and very surprised.
What came to your mind when you heard the news?
You have to take into account what went through my head a few weeks ago, that is, we haven’t been on the air for a long time because of Covid and my heart attack. Also, I think some people think that it is an extension of “Breaking Bad”, but I feel that it has been broadcast for 15 years. I thought there were a lot of great new releases and good shots that were often overlooked. So I’m very grateful that we’re back on the air and people have noticed that the show looks as good as it used to be. And obviously, Rare was nominated. I’m grateful for the many nominations, but it’s easy to imagine that in these really rewarding scenes the person I play primarily is unnoticed or unaware. It’s very good to share this with her.
This is the fifth time he has been nominated for “Sole”. Has it settled down yet?
I didn’t take it for granted. It was always a surprise. Certainly the first two years were unbelievable. But I think this makes more sense. I am deeply grateful to the people, the level of quality the artist has brought, and the maintenance of the show. All actors and all talents. It makes a lot of sense to me as it was born out of one of the greatest series in history, “Breaking Bad.” It has always been my goal to stay at the standard level without dropping the ball.
Revival of “Better Call Sole”
The first part of “Breaking Bad” ends this year.
The final season of the show is back this week. Is it strange to celebrate while the show is on air?
Not at all. In fact, I feel it is more correct. It ’s better than feeling like, Oh, it’s over.. That was it.. I feel like a lot of good things are coming. I feel like I’m making money next month. Next week’s episode will celebrate this.
Before “Sole”, you were best known as a comedy actor. Now you are famous for this dramatic role. What did the show do for your career?
The show certainly professionally challenged me like no other in my life. And it showed me acting rewards and challenging acting rewards. Acting for me is rewarding when it’s difficult and when you really have to push yourself and dig deeper into that role. It’s when you feel like you’ve done something meaningful. So I want to keep in touch with it. I also want to do fun comedy, but that’s not all. I definitely want to continue working in the arena where I am, and it put me here.
When you first thought of the show, did it happen naturally to think of yourself as a leader?
As you know, I didn’t think too much about it. I treated it like all other roles, but there are more lines.And i had many More lines than anything I’ve ever done. However, it was a kind of compartmentalization mechanism that tried to continue it, and did not actually adopt it. I was really impressed with how much I was leading with this until the sign went up after the first season. A big show. And that’s when I started sweating.
This season we are looking at the final stages of Jimmy’s transformation into sole. What did you see in your character, or what did you try to bring to your character that wasn’t in the previous season?
one thing [the creators of “Better Call Saul”] What Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould have shown us is that everything is personal. After all, it’s very deep, deep and personal to let people choose what to do, where to go and who to be. It’s not a plan you can make. When choosing a path to move forward, you follow your instincts and hurt your emotions.
Jimmy always felt that he had a very high emotional intelligence, but he couldn’t apply it to himself. Who am I, what am I doing, and why did I do what I did? He always feels like he’s running away from such thoughts. I think my favorite this season is that they give him the opportunity to do so. At the finale, without any specific mention, he was able to gain that self-awareness and I am really grateful for it. It was sometimes difficult to play him because of the way he refused to consider his choice.
What do you think about saying goodbye to the show at this point?
After watching the season finale, you can answer that question. I think I need to see the story come to some conclusion. Obviously, I know what will happen. But I have lived with this guy for 12 years. I have been in and out of Albuquerque and have been playing Saul Goodman for 12 years. So it’s still unrealistic in my mind that I’m walking away from him.
Over the years, the show has seen significant growth in estimates before discussing whether “Sole” is actually better than “Breaking Bad.” Where is the question?
I think “Breaking Bad” is a more universal story. This is a midlife crisis, and the danger is even more pronounced. Guns fly around and the protagonist interacts with the drug dealer almost immediately. That’s not the case at our show. Our show is more internal. It’s a strange journey. It involves many inside and outside of being a lawyer. Because of the subject, it will be less relevant. But with hard work and beautiful strokes of genius, the writer has figured out how to get people to understand some of the tensions and pressures these characters face and relate them to their own personal journey.
What’s great is that Vince Gilligan and the “Breaking Bad” writing crew have shown the audience the value of watching something carefully.And they took the audience and they took the investment and they said very Closely. “I couldn’t do that without first making a” Breaking Bad “. A show like us wouldn’t have existed.
