So long, Saul
It’s the end of the road for BOB ODENKIRK’S lawyer
Better Call Saul
Available: Tuesday 19 April
Genre: Drama Season: 6 (par t A) Episodes: 7 (first two eps from19 Apr, then weekly)
THE FINAL SEASON of Breaking Bad prequel Better Call Saul lands on Netflix this week – but lead actor Bob Odenkirk, who plays small-time attorney Jimmy Mcgill, almost never got the chance to complete filming. In July, the 59-yearold actor suffered a heart attack while making the series, and admits he was lucky to survive.
‘I don’t remember any of it, but I guess
I turned grey and stopped breathing. I would have been dead if someone hadn’t been there to perform CPR, and if there wasn’t a defibrillator on set,’ he reveals.
EMERGENCY
Co-stars Patrick Fabian and Rhea Seehorn were with Odenkirk during the incident, and held his hand while medical help was summoned. After emergency surgery to have stents fitted, he was able to return to the set last September.
‘I’m doing great,’ he reveals. ‘I got such love from people around the world, and for the rest of my life I will be thinking about the warmth that was sent my way.’
The final season is split into two parts, with seven episodes in the first batch, and the final six episodes airing from July onwards, completing the backstory of how Jimmy transforms into the Saul Goodman character we know and love from Breaking Bad.
‘I can’t wait for people to see the final season – so much happens in it,’ says Odenkirk. ‘It’s a killer ending. One of the cool things about the final season is that the two shows have never been better connected.’
Saul was first introduced in season two of Breaking Bad as Walter White’s (Bryan Cranston) unscrupulous lawyer, and the character was such a hit that producers decided to expand the role in a spin-off.
‘I have been playing this guy for almost 15 years,’ says Odenkirk.
‘Saying goodbye to the character has given me a real feeling of completion.’
One of the things that
Odenkirk will miss most about the show is the lousy
Suzuki Esteem driven by his character – until it ended up in a ravine.
‘I really, truly enjoyed driving that little hunk of metal,’ smiles Odenkirk.
‘I’ve told my son that I’m going to get him one of those for his first car, and he thinks that’s pretty cool.’