Better Call Saulshowrunner Peter Gould reveals that Jimmy didn’t work at a Cinnabon in the original plan for post-Breaking Bad. In the original AMC series, created by Vince Gilligan, Walter White and Jesse Pinkman’s unscrupulous criminal lawyer,Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk), is introduced in season 2, episode 8. DuringBreaking Bad’s penultimate episode, Saul assumes a new identity and envisions an ordinary future for himself in which he manages a Cinnabon in Omaha. Originally a throwaway line,Better Call Saulshows this very future in which he is living as Gene Takavic, manager of a Cinnabon in Omaha, Nebraska.
However,the original plan wasn’t for Saul to work at a Cinnabon,Breaking Badwriter andBetter Call Saulshowrunner Peter Gould revealed onBluesky Social.Check out his post below:
Gould shared an early draft of a script forBreaking Bad’s penultimate episode and, instead of a Cinnabon,Saul says he will be “managing a Hot Topic in Omaha.“Gould goes on to explain that the change was made because they learned thatHot TopiccarriedBreaking Badmerchandise, and they didn’t want to make the line seem like a promotion.
What Peter Gould’s Hot Topic Reveal Means For Better Call Saul
Vince Gilligan started considering a Saul Goodman spinoff as early as 2009, though development didn’t officially begin until production ofBreaking Bad’s final season in 2013. Even though development began beforeBreaking Badended, it appearsthey didn’t have every detail regarding Saul’s future planned out well in advance. In early drafts of the scripts forBreaking Bad’s penultimate episode, Saul worked at Hot Topic instead of Cinnabon so at this point, they likely didn’t know many details about Saul’s future, such as how his past identity would eventually be discovered.
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Peter Gould’s reveal means that Jimmy didn’t work at aCinnabon inBetter Call Saulas part of their original plan. At this point, it seems almost impossible to imagine him working anywhere else. Though only briefly shown,his job at Cinnabon in Omaha became a crucial part of the show, serving as a poignant reflection on his past life as Saul Goodman, and the mundanity of his new life highlighting his fall from grace. Gene’s limited interaction with his customers and colleagues also highlights his desperation and longing for connection, creating a more sympathetic character.
Our Take On Jimmy Originally Working At Hot Topic
It Just Wouldn’t Have Been The Same
If Gene had worked at a Hot Topic, as they originally planned,the narrative impact would have shifted significantly. Hot Topic’s more youthful and vibrant aura wouldn’t have aligned with Gene’s somber existence, and would have undermined the character’s complexity. The emphasis on routine and familiarity at Cinnabon amplified his sense of isolation, while Hot Topic’s edginess might have distracted from those underlying themes. Overall, the contrasting environment would have diminished the poignant introspection that defines Gene’s story inBetter Call Saul, making it less compelling and emotionally resonant.
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.
