he says of his rehearsal process.
His favorite scene from his four-season run onBreaking Badcame in his first free-wheeling, shady-dealing appearance in season 2.
It was so goddamn well-written, recalls Odenkirk.
Ursula Coyote/AMC
I loved that first scene where he introduces himself.
It was so different in tone from anything I had done…
I couldnt believe how much Saul there was.
Im aghast, alarmed, at my own confidence in playing the character.
I mean, I didnt know what the f I was doing.
Were going to get a real actor.
I was amazed at how completely I embraced the character and dug in.
The monologue isreallyfun, where hes telling Walter White that hes a fraud and that its a front.
And hes just enjoying himself.
That was really fun to play, and I fully understood how much fun it was at the time.
I didnt have many scenes inBreaking Badwhere Saul dropped his front, says Odenkirk.
I mean, the jig was up.
I still dont really know what it is, but Ireallyhad no idea about what his past was.
He also had no idea how much his career would be altered by his stroke ofBadluck.
I got to start with the best writing there is on TV.
It also landed him his ownBreaking Badprequel spin-off inBetter Call Saul.
Not that he jumped at that opportunity when creators Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould started broaching the possibility.
So I basically backed off every single time it was suggested to me.
Its your free time.
Do what you want with your time.
We didnt really know who the character was when we leftBreaking Bad.
As he notes: My first question when we talked was, How do you make him likable?
Because I didnt like that guy.
I mean, I like watching him like a car wreck when youre not in it.
It pulls you in.
But hes a bad guy.
Its not acompletelydifferent person, but I really like the guy.
As season 4 approaches, however, the actor feels an inevitable dread.
If he was my friend, I would say, Dont go that route.'
For moreBreaking Badreunion coverage,head over here.
Tread not-so-lightlyin this direction to check out the gallery from the bigBadphoto shoot.
