Jimmy McGill, portrayed by Bob Odenkirk, is the real name of the character who becomes Saul Goodman in the TV show "Better Call Saul." This series is a prequel to "Breaking Bad," which first introduced viewers to Saul Goodman as the flamboyant and morally flexible lawyer for the show's protagonist, Walter White. "Better Call Saul" chronicles Jimmy McGill's evolution from a struggling and idealistic public defender into the highly charismatic yet unscrupulous criminal defense attorney known as Saul Goodman. Here are key events and transformations that contribute to Jimmy's transformation: 1. Brother's Influence: Jimmy has always lived in the shadow of his older brother, Chuck McGill, a respected and successful attorney. Despite Jimmy's efforts to gain Chuck's approval by legitimately earning his law degree and attempting to practice law honorably, Chuck’s lack of faith in Jimmy plays a major role in his transformation. 2. Legal and Ethical Challenges: Throughout his career, Jimmy faces multiple legal and ethical dilemmas. His natural inclination towards bending the rules for perceived justice or personal gains increasingly puts him at odds with the legal establishment and often to great personal cost. 3. Chuck’s Betrayal: The pivotal moment in the series that triggers Jimmy's transformation is Chuck's betrayal. When Chuck secretly undermines Jimmy's career prospects at a prestigious law firm, it fundamentally changes Jimmy's outlook on law and justice, leading him to embrace his con-man instincts more fully. 4. Professional Developments: Jimmy's law practice often struggles to make ends meet, pushing him towards clientele on the fringe of legality. His experiences dealing with criminals begin to shape his attitudes towards the law and introduce him to the more lucrative and dangerous side of legal defense. 5. Identity as a Defense Mechanism: Jimmy steadily adopts the Saul Goodman persona as a way to protect himself both psychologically and legally. Saul becomes a mask for Jimmy, an uninhibited character that allows him to do things Jimmy McGill would never do, thus distancing himself from the disappointment and betrayal in his personal life. 6. Relationship with Kim Wexler: Kim Wexler, another lawyer and Jimmy's complex romantic interest, has a profound influence on Jimmy. Their relationship, both supportive and enabling, contributes to Jimmy's ethical decisions and his eventual full embrace of the Saul Goodman identity. 7. Embracing "Saul Goodman": After a series of suspensions from practicing law and feeling that the name "Jimmy McGill" does not carry the clout or respect he desires, he fully adopts the Saul Goodman moniker and begins using his considerable talents for persuasion and manipulation without the ethical constraints that bounded Jimmy McGill. By adopting the Saul Goodman persona, Jimmy is able to reinvent himself and create a character that aligns with the version of a successful lawyer that he believes he can never achieve as Jimmy McGill. The series is a tragic exploration of this character's journey and his relationship with morality, legality, and his personal identity. These events play out over the course of "Better Call Saul," which meticulously details how Jimmy McGill's experiences forge his eventual transformation into Saul Goodman, marking the moral erosion and pragmatic adaptation of a man caught in the complex interplay between his desires, his personal demons, and the pressures of his environment.