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Saul-lute to AMC's 'Breaking Bad' Season 4, Odenkirk's better than ever
By April MacIntyre Jul 17, 2011, 21:11 GMT
Saul makes being a sleazy ambulance chasing criminal lawyer look like great fun, and showrunner Vince Gilligan and company get to write some delicious dialogue that Odenkirk rattles off with gleeful perfection.
AMC's 'Breaking Bad' kicks it this Sunday for its fourth season, and after watching the first three episodes, it is as twisted, gruesome and dark as can be.
Real life and decisions made add up, the mood is one of pensive regrets, indifference, acceptance and careful planning.
The relief from these Western genre visual moments and dark themes is a character that actor Bob Odenkirk has created with gusto and charm: Saul Goodman.
Saul makes being a sleazy ambulance chasing criminal lawyer look like great fun, and showrunner Vince Gilligan and company get to write some delicious dialogue that Odenkirk rattles off with gleeful perfection.
This kind of noir morality tale of a good man going bad needs this expert comic relief, and it's done just right, never too much.
Tonight "Breaking" picks right up immediately from the cliffhanger and does not let up, as Gus (Giancarlo Esposito), teaches Walt (Bryan Cranston) lesson in expendability.
Jesse (Aaron Paul) continues his excellent turn as the sidekick who has barely a grasp on his soul and person. Anna Gunn (Skyler) is being sucked into Walt's dark orbit.
Hank (Dean Norris) is absolutely on fire too as an angry recovering DEA agent who is couped up and bitter, and really on to something. Betsy Brandt is pitch-perfect as the wife who cannot break through or comfort her husband; we feel for her.
By the way, Nerve.com gets the frakking gold star of life for this gem:
Walt - through osmosis - is immersing his heart now into the life, and has made the leap from chemistry teacher moonlighting for the greater financial good of his family, to ego-driven politically savvy survivor and drug kingpin. It's hard to watch good go bad, but Cranston's nuanced performaces and understanding of who Walt is makes him one of the best actors ever.
AMC will show a sneak peek for Season 2 of “The Walking Dead” during Sunday’s “Breaking Bad” premiere.
A good night for television.
