Banks says ‘Better Call Saul’ episode a ‘love letter’ for his tragic character

TORONTO – “Breaking Bad” fans knew from the get-go that the much lighter spin-off “Better Call Saul” would be weighted by the dark future of its shared characters.

The heartbreaking past that led former Philly cop Mike Ehrmantraut on his doomed path to Albuquerque was revealed in last Monday’s emotional episode.

Those who haven’t seen Vince Gilligan’s searing portrait of a drug lord’s rise to power may want to avoid reading further, lest they learn too much about the ultimate price Mike pays for his burden of guilt.

But actor Jonathan Banks notes it’s not hard to extrapolate how irretrievably damaged Mike becomes, noting he’s “very much” a tragic character.

“But there’s not an iota of him that feels sorry for himself,” Banks adds in a phone interview from Malibu, Calif.

“He is somebody who carries his guilt…. If it’s not debilitating, it marks his life and there’s no amount of: ‘You must live ahead, look to the future.’ No, that’s not for Mike. Mike knows his guilt and he lives with his guilt.”

A searing monologue at the end of last Monday’s “Better Call Saul” is a revelation for those wondering what could have possibly turned Mike into the hardened henchman we find in “Breaking Bad.”

It also showcases the impressive acting chops of Banks, whose taciturn character has largely been confined to a parking lot booth in previous episodes.

Critics and fans have exploded with praise online, and Banks, like his unassuming alter ego, accepts the kudos modestly.

“It’s better than a kick in the head, what can I tell you. It’s wonderful, is what it is. I’m very lucky,” he says.

“I thought (writer) Gordon (Smith) and all the other writers had written a love letter for me. They gave me a script that I could really work with and so enjoyed and admired.”

Banks says the seeds for the most-recent episode were sown in his “Breaking Bad” days. He told Gilligan that whatever caused Mike to lose his soul and dedicate his life to his granddaughter had to do with his son. Several years later, “Better Call Saul” co-creator Peter Gould called him up and told him that was exactly the backstory cooked up for the prequel.

As for where things go from here, Banks notes the investigation into Mike’s role in some ugly Philly police business is “not over yet.”

Meanwhile, his relationship with Bob Odenkirk’s sleazeball lawyer, Jimmy McGill, is reset to a certain degree now that Jimmy has a glimpse into what makes Mike tick.

“Mike is not without gratitude, you know. As much as Jimmy may be an irritant to him, he also realizes that the guy stood up for him just by spilling the coffee, if nothing else,” says Banks.

But there’s still quite a ways for Mike to go before his association with a certain Gustavo Fring in “Breaking Bad,” a path that is not entirely dissimilar from Walter White’s misguided journey.

“The difference with Walter is that Walter could justify anything and Mike tries to justify nothing,” says Banks.

“Mike knew, or at least suspected, that he would die violently. It was just a matter of when.”

“Better Call Saul” airs Mondays on AMC.

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