Me and the Brothers McGill
(Spoiler Alert: This blog contains spoilers about the season three finale of Better Call Saul)
One of my favorite shows on cable television over the past three years is entitled Better Call Saul. Loved by both audiences and critics alike, it is a prequel to the highly successful series Breaking Bad. Better Call Saul focuses on the character development of one Jimmy McGill, attorney at law later to be known by the moniker of Saul Goodman. One of the great things about the show is that you don't have to be a fan of Breaking Bad to enjoy this portrayal of the misadventures of Jimmy and those in his universe. The creators and writers of Better Call Saul have developed complex characters with rich dialogue that flows like a work of art. There are good guys, not so good guys, bad guys and really bad guys in the world that Jimmy McGill finds himself. To me the richest relationship on the show is the one between Jimmy and his older brother Chuck. In fact, there are some interesting parallels between the brothers McGill that would fit in Jesus' parable of the Prodigal Son if there were no father present in the story. So let's examine the relationship between these two brothers and see how it fits into our context.
Jimmy McGill/Saul Goodman, the Younger Brother
The character of Jimmy McGill as portrayed by the excellent Bob Odenkirk is often his own worst enemy. He is a con man by nature. He has been grifting people since he was a kid. Known in his early days as "Slippin' Jimmy," he even stole from his father's store because he thought his dad deserved it for being an "easy touch" by his customers. He reasoned that if these other people would take advantage of kind-hearted Mr. McGill, why shouldn't he join as well. His reputation kept him in trouble both with friends and family and the law. Throughout the series, we see Jimmy not only take advantage of people but also show great kindness and generosity as well. He will do terrible things to his brother (who has issues we will discuss in the next section) and later confess to him when his guilt as well as his brother's condition bring out his empathetic side. He even takes advantage of an elderly client by getting her friends to turn against her so that she will sign an offer to settle a suit, in order that Jimmy can receive his fee, only to later out himself on purpose because his conscience is getting the better of him.
Jimmy reminds me of the younger brother in the parable of Jesus, for he wants to have his riches and wants to live life on his terms only to later regret his decision and desire to make amends and restitution to those he has hurt. Unfortunately, there is no father to welcome him home and throw a party in his honor, no one is there to tell him the good news that there is unconditional love available to him. Jimmy needs grace but even when he receives a form of forgiveness he will eventually throw it away when he sees it is to his advantage.
Charles (Chuck) McGill, the Older Brother
Whereas Jimmy is a fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants kind of free spirit, Chuck is the exact opposite. The elder McGill brother, portrayed by the wonderful Michael McKean (he has long left Lenny Kosnowski of Laverne and Shirley behind) is a Type-A personality on steroids. His entire life has been about doing the right thing in every situation no matter who gets hurt along the way. The law is Chuck's god. He is a great lawyer and he knows it. This is why his greatest pain in life is that his con man younger brother has passed the bar and is casting a stain upon his sacred profession. Chuck also suffers from a "disorder" that causes him great pain and discomfort whenever he is around electricity or electromagnetic fields. He no longer goes to the office, he has the electricity cut off in his home, and does his work by Coleman lanterns. People who come to see him have to deposit their cell phones and watches in the mailbox outside. This older brother despises all that Jimmy is and would love nothing more than to see him disbarred (which Jimmy actually deserves because of an action that he took to discredit Chuck's firm in the eyes of a potential client). He is resolute in his belief that the law must be followed to the letter. This hardness is reflected when in the season three finale, he tells his brother, "You know Jimmy, the truth is you've never really mattered that much to me." The episode ends with our elder brother, who has suffered a mental break, kicking over a lantern in his home and we watch the flames begin to spread.
In the character of Chuck we see the older brother in Jesus' parable shining through. Like the elder brother in the parable, whenever his brother seeks to do the right thing, he cannot be happy because Jimmy deserves to be punished and he won't allow himself to extend grace to this criminal. His rigidity is what drives everyone away from him and even causes his partners in the firm to push him into resigning. Unfortunately, as is the case with the younger there is no father present to lovingly plead with his eldest son to come and rejoice in his brother's contrite heart.
How Do I Fit In?
Right about now you may be saying to yourself, "Rex I know good and well you are not a character on Better Call Saul, so what do you have to do with these guys?" Good question and one we will now consider as we finish up our look at these battling brothers. The simple reason is that I have been both Jimmy and Chuck in my life. There have been times when I have hurt those that I love most, especially when alcohol was involved. I have stolen from my family and lied repeatedly to those I proclaim to love the most. I would often walk around with a giant load of guilt and shame and eventually try to get back into their good graces. I have also been an all consuming legalist, who prided himself on how well he could follow a moral code and condemn all others who didn't measure up, all the while ignoring the giant tree that was emanating from my eye socket. Sometimes a wicked hedonist, other times a self-righteous jerk have been part and parcel of my own character and I dare say, dear reader, that you too may have found yourself identifying with both Jimmy and Chuck. So, what's a prodigal/legalist to do?
The answer is found in the Gospel (Good News) of Jesus Christ. He took our sin and shame upon Himself and suffered for our inability to be good enough or moral enough. He died for our stealing, lying, cheating, fornicating, envying, gossiping, drunkard, addict selves and provides us with forgiveness and a restored relationship to God as adopted sons and daughters of our Abba. God has fully accepted us in Christ even though we sometimes do despicable and callous things as well as sit in judgment and condemn others who have different sins than our own. Jimmy and Chuck need to hear that there is an answer for all of their foibles, screw ups, and character defects but it is not in doing some kind of penance or raising already impossible moral expectations to even more unrealistic goals. They need to hear that they can be reconciled to God and to each other. All they need to do is believe the Gospel. This is the message that we all need. So let's turn around, have a change of heart (repent) and go home to the party that Abba is throwing for His prodigals. Both the hedonist and the moralist are welcome!
