Was Howard Hamlin Really a Villain? Debunking a Common "Better Call Saul" Misconception
Throughout Better Call Saul, Howard Hamlin is often seen as a bad guy - and let's face it, a lot of us just didn't like him. But, before you jump to conclusions, you need to consider just how morally gray the whole "Breaking Bad" universe really is. It's a world of shady deals and a ton of twisted personalities, and judging someone based solely on whether they're an "antagonist" doesn't really do justice to this show.
The truth is that Howard isn't some mastermind villain like Gus Fring. He’s more of a regular guy who gets caught up in some really tough situations and makes mistakes that, for all his intentions, are often seen as pretty bad decisions by Jimmy and Kim. And, honestly, since those are the characters we're mostly seeing things from, it's easy to see how Howard’s image ends up all messy. It’s the whole “judging someone based on your own experience" thing, and sometimes we’ve got to get out of that, right?
What Made Howard Look Like the "Bad Guy"
Okay, you're thinking, “Wait, but Howard wasn't always the best to Kim and Jimmy. He gave them hard jobs at HHM and didn’t always support their ambitions. Maybe those were evil moves!” But remember, Howard always felt like he was doing the right thing for the firm. He definitely didn’t intentionally set out to harm anyone. Even with his bossy “doc review” assignments for Kim, he just felt like a high-strung corporate lawyer who wanted the best for everyone.
And compared to some of the other folks in the show? You could definitely argue Howard’s almost boring. We’re talking about the guy who's just kind of level-headed and follows the rules. Meanwhile, Jimmy and Kim? Well, they're a little more rebellious and not exactly known for being on the right side of the law. It makes you think that maybe they were the ones getting more messed up, but then again, we can’t really judge without understanding the pressures that got them to that point, too.
What’s That? A "Good" Thing Howard Did?
While everyone has been freaking out about the way Howard treated Jimmy, the reality is that Howard actually did some decent things for him! Before Chuck, who we can actually call the real “villain” in the mix, decided to shut him down, Howard wanted Jimmy to join the firm! That could've completely changed everything for Jimmy!
And when Chuck sadly died, Howard even tried to extend that job offer again. Think of that! He's really not some crazy monster like Gus Fring who takes over a whole fried chicken joint. If we can see that part of Howard, maybe it's time to give the "unlikable" character another chance.
Was it Howard's Faults, or Everyone Else’s?
Honestly, it's kind of unfair to judge Howard without looking at how those around him influenced him. There was always this underlying tension between Howard and Chuck, a toxic relationship that created a huge dynamic throughout the show. And, if we’re being honest, we can't help but remember that a lot of Howard’s problems really came from Chuck.
It’s like watching that scene when your friend's boyfriend totally undermines their relationship. It feels almost like Howard got swept up into that mess, with Chuck’s actions painting him as an unsavory character too. So, when you remember all the things that were thrown his way, the story of Howard gets more complex. That makes the finale even more tragic. Maybe the end was right, but we can't blame him. The fact is, a lot of people feel like Howard got painted into a corner and became a scapegoat. There are definitely different perspectives we’ve got to take into account.
Who Was Really "Wronged" in “Better Call Saul?”
Sure, Jimmy felt wronged by Howard, but those wrongs, compared to some of the really dark, immoral things that everyone was doing - maybe they were a little minor? Remember all the times that we were kind of pulling for Jimmy, hoping that he would stay on the good side, but things just went haywire? Sometimes, you’re kind of left with this feeling, “I kind of see his point, but this dude is getting really crazy."
That’s when Howard's "bad guy" title starts to lose steam and becomes a little questionable, if you’re actually watching the show. You end up questioning, "was he just unlucky? was he really as bad as everyone was portraying him?” So the next time you’re watching, don't forget: everyone’s flawed, and those "villain" titles aren’t always as accurate as we might think!
