Summary
Better Call Saulstar Patrick Fabian has defended his character, Howard Hamlin, from being perceived as a villain, explaining how he views the role in contrast to his antagonistic label. Out of all thecharacters inBetter Call Saul, Howard is Jimmy’s greatest legal rival, the pair constantly butting heads as the main character slowly evolves into his Saul Goodman persona. However, things come to a climax in season 6, episode 8, when a scheme pulled by Jimmy and Kim inadvertently results in the lawyer getting shot in the head by Lalo.
Speaking withMovieWeb,Fabian explained why he doesn’t view Howard as a villain, specifically because of his consistency in his views contrasted to Jimmy and his brother, Chuck. The actor explained the tragedy of his character, and how the way he devolved over time was specifically because of the people around him. Check out what Fabian had to say below:
I think you can make a quick case, over the six seasons of that show, that Howard’s the only one who is actually constant in his character and what he’s trying to do, which is basically just maintain a law firm. It’s those crazy McGill brothers and other characters that sort of, you know, send [Howard] in a spiral, which is unfortunate.
Why Howard Isn’t Really A Villain In Better Call Saul
Howard’s Character Is Complex
When he’s first introduced, Howard appears to be a thorn in Jimmy’s side, refusing to pay Chuck out of HHM despite his mental condition. However, it’s soon revealed that he simply has loyalty to his friend, oftentimes doing what he thinks is right, even if it’s for occasionally selfish reasons. This comes to a head after Chuck’s death in season 4, when he tries and succeeds in recovering from feeling responsible for what happened. However, Jimmy and Kim are unable to let go of their past with him, resulting in his accidental demise.
5 Reasons Chuck Is Better Call Saul’s Most Tragic Character (& 5 Reasons It’s Howard)
Better Call Saul was as tragic as Breaking Bad, if not more, and the two characters who suffered the most were arguably Chuck and Howard.
While Howard was a business rival for Jimmy throughout the show, the protagonist went to great lengths to ruin his career for reasons that weren’t justified.This resulted in him getting caught in the crossfire after Lalo’s return, the guilt of his death also causing Kim to leave Albuquerque. By theend ofBetter Call Saul, though, justice has been served, with both the main characters confessing to what happened and owning up to their past mistakes. It also illustrates how the antagonistic lawyer was more a villain in their minds than in reality.
While Howard is technically an antagonist inBetter Call Saulbecause he went against the plans of the main character, Fabian is right that he was always consistently trying to improve. Because of this, it’s hard to call him a bad guy, especially when his fate was so tragic. While he wasn’t perfect, as evidenced by much of what he did to Jimmy throughout the show,he wasn’t as horrible a person by the end, making his evolution a complex narrative within the overall series.
Better Call Saul
Cast
Better Call Saul follows small-time lawyer Jimmy McGill as he navigates the legal world to make ends meet. The series, set six years before his encounter with Walter White, chronicles Jimmy’s evolution into Saul Goodman, with notable interactions alongside fixer Mike Ehrmantraut.
