Greatest Prequel Series Nearly Stopped Because Of Near-Fatal Heart Attack
If you’ve spent any time watching the hit AMC original series Better Call Saul, you likely already know that the show has been called one of the greatest series of all time. Many fans even rank the prequel higher than its predecessor, Breaking Bad, as Better Call Saul offers a few new characters that make the overall television universe much more interesting. However, fans were almost completely deprived of a proper ending during 2021, when lead actor Bob Odenkirk suffered a near-fatal heart attack on set.
Bob Odenkirk’s Heart Attack
Odenkirk has explained that he would have wanted Better Call Saul to go on without him somehow, even if it meant replacing him with another performer. While describing his wishes for the series, Odenkirk specifically stated “They would have just stopped the show if I wasn’t capable of doing it. They wouldn’t have tried to go on, which makes me feel bad! If that’d happened, I would have liked it if they got some actor to play him. Just to tell the story that they had written.”
Despite these wishes, Better Call Saul creator Vince Gilligan has explained numerous times that this was never even a consideration. In fact, Gilligan has stated that if Odenkirk had passed away, the team would have agreed to never air any of the final season’s episodes, including those that had already been shot in full.
Better Call Saul Wouldn’t Go On
In a sense, this is perfectly reasonable, as Bob Odenkirk is truly the heart and soul of Better Call Saul, representing the eponymous Saul Goodman as he transitions from a well-meaning lawyer to the criminal mastermind we know and love from Breaking Bad.
Still, this would have had catastrophic ramifications for the show’s legacy, as it would have left fans everywhere hanging on a never-ending cliffhanger. Other shows like Netflix’s House of Cards have lost their lead due to death or personal controversy and attempted to continue under the circumstances, though this rarely pans out in the long run.
Missing Breaking Bad Closure
If the entirety of Better Call Saul‘s sixth season were never released to the public, this would mean that the expanded Breaking Bad universe would have never gotten closure on a few key plot points. Some of the most notable elements of the narrative include the fate of characters like Lalo Salamanca and Ignacio “Nacho” Varga, as well as the conclusion of Saul Goodman’s character arc after years in hiding following the thrilling conclusion of the original show.
Final Episodes Were The Best
Better Call Saul‘s final episodes are among the highest-rated in the entire series, offering one of the most clean, concise, and well-handled conclusions of all time. Gilligan and company may have been able to deliver a finale via graphic novel or some other means had Odenkirk passed, though it obviously wouldn’t have been quite as impactful.
Thankful Bob Odenkirk Is Okay
Needless to say, we are all extremely lucky that Bob Odenkirk survived his terrifying medical encounter, and has made a full recovery. The Better Call Saul lead has praised his coworkers who were on set that day for their quick reaction and helpful response, and has even stated that they saved his life by administering CPR before paramedics could arrive on the scene.
If Odenkirk had died that day, not only would we all be deprived of some of the best TV ever made, we would have also lost a generational talent known for brightening the world with his penchant for quick-witted comedy.
Source: IndieWire
