In a series that has been historically snubbed, this year, Better Call Saul has one final swing at Emmy gold. Nominated for a plethora of awards, the AMC series, which ended last year, hopes to break the cycle of near-misses and score an award at the 2023 Emmys.
Bob Odenkirk, the man behind the ambitious lawyer Jimmy McGill, later known as Saul Goodman, has been nominated for an Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series award. This nomination is the sixth for Odenkirk in the same category, a feat that stands testament to his portrayal of the morally flexible, yet somewhat endearing lawyer. He squares off against the likes of Jeff Bridges, Brian Cox, Kieran Culkin, Pedro Pascal, and Jeremy Strong in a category laden with heavy hitters.
Despite his previous snubs, Odenkirk maintains a sense of appreciation and joy for his work on the series, expressing his gratitude for everyone involved, from the cast and crew to the fans of the show. Odenkirk celebrated one of his co-stars, Rhea Sheehorn, as well after she was nominated for her second Emmy for her role as Kim Wexler, a woman who becomes one of the few to have seen the transition from Jimmy McGill back to Slippin’ Jimmy and finally, to Saul Goodman.
Better Call Saul has a legacy of remarkable performance, tallying more than 50 nominations over its run, with 46 of those coming before its final season. It’s a testament to the quality and dedication of those involved, a group that has pushed the narrative boundaries and asked viewers to reconsider their ideas about redemption and morality. Yet the coveted statuette has been elusive, with Better Call Saul returning empty-handed from each ceremony.
A year after ending, the newest nominations pile includes not only Odenkirk and Seehorn but also recognition for the series finale, with nominations for Outstanding Picture Editing, Sound Mixing, and a pair of Writing nominations. The spinoff also scored a nod for Outstanding Short Form Comedy, Drama, or Variety Series for its web series Better Call Saul Filmmaker Training.
Much of the strength of Better Call Saul is found in its writing. Odenkirk’s sentiments echo this, giving due credit to Peter Gould and Gordon Smith, both nominated for their extraordinary scripts. Gould’s nomination for “Saul Gone,” and Smith’s for “Point and Shoot,” are further testament to their narrative prowess and their ability to maintain an edge-of-your-seat tension that kept viewers coming back for more.
This run for Emmy recognition, however, is not without stiff competition. The series finds itself pitted against such shows as Andor, The Crown, House of the Dragon, The Last of Us, Succession, The White Lotus, and Yellowjackets, each leaving their mark on audiences and critics alike.
Nevertheless, the hope lingers that this might be the year that Better Call Saul finally gets its flowers, thanks to its nuanced character development and tight storytelling, making it a beacon of quality television – the lack of accolades be damned.
The show may have concluded, but the spirit of Better Call Saul and the impact of its characters live on. Whether or not the Emmy voters decide to bestow their favor upon the series remains to be seen. But one thing is certain, the legacy of Better Call Saul is indelible, and its influence will continue to resonate in the hearts of its viewers, Emmy win or not.
Breaking Bad, central to the Breaking Bad Universe, received a total of 58 Emmy Awards nominations throughout its five-season run, of which it won 16. Another spin-off is currently not in development, but, Giancarlo Esposito, the actor behind the series’ overarching “villain”, Gustavo Fring, has expressed his interest in exploring the mysterious life of the infamous drug kingpin.
