What Better Call Saul Teaches About Addiction to Approval and the Consequences of Seeking Validation
Better Call Saul offers a sharp look at how addiction to approval can shape decisions and reshape lives. Throughout the series, Jimmy McGill’s journey is driven not just by a desire for success or money, but by his craving for validation from those around him—whether it's his brother Chuck, his colleagues, or Kim Wexler. This longing often leads him down risky paths, as he bends rules and reinvents himself to gain the acceptance he never fully receives.
The story reveals how the pursuit of approval can become its own form of addiction, quietly influencing behavior and self-image. Viewers see how Jimmy’s need for affirmation turns into a guiding force, affecting his morality and pushing him deeper into the persona of Saul Goodman. It’s a portrayal that encourages reflection on the powerful hold that the desire for approval can have, both on screen and in real life.
The Psychology Of Approval In Better Call Saul
Better Call Saul explores how the drive for approval can shape choices and lead to profound personal changes. Through Jimmy McGill’s evolution into Saul Goodman, the series offers specific insights into the role approval plays in identity and behavior.
Understanding Jimmy McGill’s Addiction to Approval
Jimmy McGill’s life is marked by a deep need for approval, especially from his older brother, Chuck. From early on, Jimmy seeks validation for his efforts to go “straight” and leave behind the persona of Slippin’ Jimmy. This desire for acceptance influences many of his decisions, including his choice to become a lawyer.
Key relationships drive his actions:
Chuck McGill: Jimmy craves respect but rarely receives affirmation, fueling self-doubt.
Kim Wexler: Her approval becomes essential, motivating both personal growth and risky behavior.
He constantly wavers between genuine reform and falling back into old habits. Approval acts like a reward, but its absence pushes Jimmy toward the Saul Goodman identity—a mask to protect himself from the pain of rejection.
How Approval Shapes Identity and Transformation
The transformation from James McGill to Saul Goodman is not just about career change, but about constructing an identity that is less vulnerable to others’ judgments. As Saul Goodman, he controls interactions and creates distance from those whose approval he used to seek.
Approval, or the lack of it, steers each pivot in his journey. When denied respect by Chuck or others, Jimmy often doubles down on behaviors that win immediate, if shallow, admiration—from clients and fellow criminals. This reliance on external validation cements Saul’s persona.
Bob Odenkirk’s portrayal shows how seeking approval can be both a motivation and a trap. The approval-driven identity shift leaves Jimmy caught between the honest self—James McGill—and the armor of Saul Goodman, showing the psychological cost of sustained validation-seeking.
Key Relationships Impacting Approval-Seeking Behavior
Central figures in Jimmy McGill’s life shape not just his professional ambitions but also his ongoing need for validation. Their influence highlights how approval-seeking tendencies are often reinforced by close and powerful relationships.
Chuck McGill’s Influence and Sibling Rivalry
Chuck McGill, portrayed by Michael McKean, stands as a primary force behind Jimmy’s approval-seeking behavior. As Jimmy’s older brother and a renowned legal mind, Chuck sets high and often unattainable standards.
Jimmy’s early efforts to gain Chuck’s respect frequently lead to frustration and self-doubt. Chuck’s refusal to recognize Jimmy as a true lawyer or equal drives Jimmy to continually prove himself, sometimes through questionable means.
The sibling rivalry is intensified by Chuck’s belief that Jimmy is incapable of change. This skepticism not only undermines Jimmy’s self-worth but also reinforces his dependency on external approval, particularly from those he admires or fears.
Kim Wexler’s Role in Jimmy’s Choices
Kim Wexler, played by Rhea Seehorn, represents a complex blend of support and challenge for Jimmy. Her respect is deeply meaningful to him, and he often seeks her approval when making choices about his career and personal life.
Kim’s own ambition and moral compass sometimes clash with Jimmy’s tactics. Still, her loyalty offers him encouragement at key moments, leading him to strive for better decisions—even when those choices are in conflict with her values.
Their personal and professional partnership becomes a lens through which Jimmy measures his worth. He is especially affected by moments when he senses Kim’s disappointment, highlighting how approval-seeking can be both motivating and anxiety-inducing in intimate relationships.
Howard Hamlin and Law Firm Dynamics
Howard Hamlin, as a law firm leader, brings another dimension to Jimmy’s struggle for recognition. The power dynamics at HHM often place Jimmy on the margins, reinforcing his perception of being undervalued.
Howard’s professional demeanor and the institutional expectations at the firm influence Jimmy’s behavior. Jimmy’s desire for legitimacy within the law community, and specifically at HHM, is repeatedly stymied by Howard’s actions and policies.
These workplace tensions reflect the broader theme of seeking validation in hierarchical organizations. Despite apparent success, Jimmy remains preoccupied with how he is seen by authority figures like Howard and the wider legal establishment.
Crossroads Of Legality And Morality
The journey of Jimmy McGill to Saul Goodman highlights the blurry boundaries between lawful practice and moral responsibility in Albuquerque’s legal scene. These dilemmas show how the need for approval can influence choices, shaping both career paths and personal values.
Criminal Lawyer or Elder Law: The Choices of Jimmy McGill
Jimmy McGill stands at a critical point between two legal worlds: elder law and criminal defense. As an elder law attorney, Jimmy seeks validation by helping vulnerable clients, earning respect from his brother Chuck and love interest Kim.
But the pull toward being a criminal lawyer—promising more excitement and recognition—proves hard to ignore. The table below outlines the differences Jimmy faces:
Path Motivation Impact on Morality Elder Law Gain respect, help vulnerable Upholds ethical standards Criminal Defense Quick wins, thrill, peer approval Justifies ethical compromises
The rapid transformation into Saul Goodman happens as Jimmy accepts shortcuts, using loud advertising and bending the rules to win approval. This signals a move from seeking genuine respect to craving public recognition, even at ethical cost.
Navigating Ethics in Albuquerque’s Legal World
Albuquerque’s legal community tests its lawyers with constant ethical dilemmas. For Saul Goodman, navigating this world means choosing between the letter of the law and doing what feels right, decisions often influenced by the opinions of colleagues, clients, and even adversaries.
Lawyers in this environment, such as Saul, grapple with institutional pressures and client expectations. The show highlights that the justice system doesn’t always deliver true justice, often leaving practitioners to rely on personal judgment.
Their moral choices are regularly challenged. Approval from others pushes some, like Saul Goodman, to twist legal means in pursuit of success or acceptance. In this context, legal skills become tools for personal validation rather than simply vehicles for justice.
Interactions With Crime And the Drug Cartel
The world of Better Call Saul is heavily shaped by connections to organized crime and the drug trade. Relationships among key characters demonstrate the series’ approach to approval-seeking amid dangerous, high-stakes environments.
Connections With Gus Fring and Mike Ehrmantraut
Gus Fring (portrayed by Giancarlo Esposito) is calculated, careful, and commands respect by projecting an image of stability and control. His relationship with Mike Ehrmantraut (played by Jonathan Banks) is built on a mutual, unspoken appreciation of professionalism and reliability. Both men operate with meticulous attention to detail, and their need for approval is channeled into earning trust and respect from one another and their criminal associates.
Mike’s story arc often revolves around his efforts to remain reliable in Gus’s eyes. This dynamic is evident in how Mike manages operations for Gus, balancing moral boundaries with the need to meet Gus’s high standards. Approval becomes a currency, especially as Mike justifies his actions—such as violence or surveillance—by the loyalty and authority Gus grants him.
Character Actor Key Motivation Gus Fring Giancarlo Esposito Authority, respect Mike Ehrmantraut Jonathan Banks Competence, trust
The Salamanca Family and Nacho Varga’s Storyline
The Salamanca family brings volatility and violence through figures like Lalo Salamanca. Their criminal operations contrast sharply with Gus’s methodical style, thriving on intimidation and family loyalty above all else. Nacho Varga (played by Michael Mando), caught between these dangerous factions, is driven by a constant struggle for approval but also survival.
Nacho’s involvement with the cartel begins as a way to gain standing but grows increasingly desperate as he tries to keep both the Salamancas and Gus satisfied. This forced loyalty leads him to take enormous risks, including covert betrayals and keeping critical secrets. His predicament highlights the dark side of trying to please multiple, conflicting parties—where approval is often fleeting and the risks are fatal.
Nacho’s journey encapsulates the anxiety and danger of seeking validation from powerful, unpredictable figures in the criminal world. His story underscores the emotional cost tied to approval within a ruthless environment.
Approval And Identity: Parallels With Breaking Bad And The Sopranos
Approval shapes identity in complex ways within Better Call Saul, often echoing character arcs seen in Breaking Bad and The Sopranos. Characters are driven by deep, sometimes destructive, needs for validation, shaping their choices and sense of self.
Contrasting Walter White and Jimmy McGill
Walter White, the protagonist in Breaking Bad created by Vince Gilligan, seeks approval hidden under his pursuit of control and respect. His journey from chemistry teacher to drug kingpin reflects a shift in his identity, fueled by resentment and an unacknowledged need for recognition.
Jimmy McGill in Better Call Saul is driven more openly by a hunger for approval. His strained relationship with his brother Chuck centers on being seen as legitimate and worthy. Whereas Walter’s quest for validation leads to domination and destruction, Jimmy’s need for acceptance results in compromise, self-deception, and ethical erosion.
Both shows use approval as a lens for identity transformation, but while Walter’s addiction to respect is masked, Jimmy’s dependence on others’ views is more evident. Peter Gould’s writing highlights how Jimmy crafts new personas—first as Jimmy, then Saul Goodman—to fit others’ expectations and gain validation.
Character Core Need Method Result Walter White Respect/Power Domination, secrecy Isolation, downfall Jimmy McGill Approval/Acceptance Deceit, reinvention, charm Moral compromise
Lessons From The Sopranos on Seeking Validation
The Sopranos paved the way for the character complexity in both Breaking Bad and its prequel. Tony Soprano’s need for approval, whether from family, peers, or his psychiatrist, drives much of his internal conflict. He craves affirmation but often finds only fleeting satisfaction.
This pattern shows up in Better Call Saul, where characters construct and deconstruct themselves to earn validation, sometimes at the expense of their genuine self. The shifting lines between approval and authenticity become blurred, just as they are for Tony in The Sopranos.
The influence of The Sopranos is clear in how Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad approach morality and desire for affirmation. As in The Sopranos, the characters’ attempts to earn respect and love lead to cycles of deceit, anxiety, and regret rather than true contentment.
Notable Settings And Motifs Of Approval
Physical and emotional environments shape Jimmy McGill’s pursuit of approval. Locations like Cinnabon in Omaha and legal spaces in Albuquerque function as symbols, mirroring his complicated relationship with validation and identity.
Cinnabon and the Symbolism of Omaha, Nebraska
After Breaking Bad, Jimmy—now living as Gene Takavic—works at a Cinnabon in a mall in Omaha, Nebraska. This drab, low-key setting contrasts starkly with his once-flamboyant life in Albuquerque. The anonymity and monotony of Omaha reflect his exile from both recognition and the approval he endlessly sought.
Gene's paranoia and constant vigilance while working at Cinnabon underscore his fear of exposure. Even mundane interactions, such as a tense moment with a stranger in the mall, highlight how the absence of approval leaves him isolated and anxious. Omaha is not just a hiding place; it is a daily reminder of loss—of identity, purpose, and any external validation.
Legal Offices, Courts, and the Albuquerque Backdrop
The law offices and courts of Albuquerque anchor much of Jimmy's transformation. Spaces like HHM's stark conference rooms or Kim Wexler’s neatly organized desk set the stage for his ongoing attempts to earn respect, admiration, and legitimacy.
In these professional settings, Jimmy vacillates between genuine legal brilliance and questionable tactics aimed at gaining the approval of figures like Chuck, clients, or peers. Albuquerque's familiar sights—the courthouse steps, strip malls, and law offices—form the backdrop for Jimmy’s struggle, shaping a cycle of effort, recognition, and sometimes rejection.
The city’s settings reinforce the high stakes of Jimmy’s ambition. His addiction to approval thrives and falters amid the polished corridors, busy offices, and local landmarks of Albuquerque. Each location reflects another attempt—and sometimes failure—to secure affirmation.
Character Development And Storytelling Techniques
Better Call Saul uses a mix of sharp dialogues and multi-layered characters to examine how seeking approval drives decisions. The storytelling structure on AMC's show amplifies the tension, making the characters’ vulnerabilities and motivations explicit.
Dialogues That Highlight the Need for Approval
Dialogue in Better Call Saul often exposes the characters’ deep-seated desire for validation. Jimmy McGill’s conversations with Chuck reflect his constant struggle to earn respect from his older brother. When Jimmy pleads for Chuck's trust, every line hints at his craving for approval and his frustration at being dismissed.
A repeated theme is Jimmy cloaking his need for acceptance behind humor or deflection. This technique reveals his insecurity while not needing to overtly state it. Key interactions with Kim Wexler also use subtext to show how much Jimmy values her opinion. Silence, pauses, and sidelong glances are just as telling as the spoken words.
These carefully crafted exchanges accomplish two things:
They make Jimmy’s internal conflict visible to the audience.
They keep viewers invested by showing instead of telling his emotional state.
Supporting Cast and Their Impact
The supporting cast’s reactions and choices intensify the series’ exploration of approval. Chuck’s skepticism and coldness repeatedly push Jimmy toward questionable paths. Chuck’s calculated language makes his disapproval clear, affecting Jimmy’s self-worth.
Kim Wexler provides another layer. Her loyalty and disappointment deeply influence Jimmy’s behavior. When Kim challenges or supports Jimmy, it directly impacts his decisions and risks. Even minor characters, such as Howard Hamlin and Mike Ehrmantraut, use their authority and approval to push Jimmy in one direction or another.
Relationships in the series become a barometer for the need for external validation. The responses Jimmy receives—positive or negative—shape his transformation into Saul Goodman, showing how addiction to approval can shift priorities and values over time.
