Saul Goodman’s days as a fictional lawyer are almost certainly over, which is bad news for many of us.

In case you’re unaware, Saul Goodman is the central character in Better Call Saul, a TV masterpiece that recently ended its six-season run on AMC and AMC+. Saul is the tale of an often loudly dressed scallywag who pushes the bounds – and crosses the lines – of legal ethics as he builds a law practice doomed to crash and burn.

Saul is a sleazy, lying, underhanded scam artist. But he is also a talented, funny, street-smart charmer.

Played masterfully by Bob Odenkirk, Saul Goodman is a maze of contradictions. He knows the difference between right and wrong, but his modest moral compass slowly disintegrates. His idealistic fight for justice on behalf of the little guy gives way to cynicism and a simple thirst for money.

Why Do We Love Troubled Fictional Lawyers?

Saul is a flawed person and a flawed lawyer whom none of us in our right minds would ever hire to represent us in real life. But, of course, in the world of TV or movies, that is why we find characters like Saul fascinating.

It’s not just Saul. Other morally ambiguous lawyers in TV and film have captured our attention despite – or maybe because of – their defects. We’re not sure what that says about us viewers and our perceptions of the legal profession. But now that Saul has apparently ended his run as the undisputed king of flawed lawyers in film and TV, maybe it’s a good time to review his closest competitors:

So, why do we love these imperfect lawyers? Is it because we dislike lawyers and enjoy it when they are something less than perfect?

Or is it the opposite? Maybe we love them because they represent a profession with a reputation for being buttoned-up – but, for once, they give us a glimpse of their own fears, their own demons. And, as it turns out, they’re just like our own.

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