Jonathan Banks Tried to Fix This Cringey Breaking Bad Scene, But Writers Never Listened
Jonathan Banks was the grammar police of Breaking Bad.
Jonathan Banks flawlessly portrayed one of Breaking Bad’s most iconic characters, Mike Ehrmantraut, who has a knack for fixing things. While Mike is good at sorting sticky situations, Jonathan Banks is a stickler for grammar.
During Breaking Bad’s cast appearance on Conan, Banks revealed that he was so committed to making his character sound intelligent that he often challenged the show’s writers on how sentences were structured in the script.
One memorable instance was when the script had Mike saying, “who killed who.” Banks was quick to correct it to “who killed whom,” emphasizing the importance of proper grammar. Despite his efforts, the writers didn’t always heed his advice. In this particular case, they kept the original “incorrect” version.
But it wasn’t the only problem Banks had with the creators. In the spin-off series Better Call Saul, Banks found himself at odds with the show’s creators once again. This time, it was about a scene in the season 5 premiere where Mike lashes out at his granddaughter.
Banks disagreed with this portrayal of Mike, feeling it wasn’t in line with the character’s usual demeanor. To be honest, this scene was indeed out of character, even though the reasons for such behavior can be explained. It is still one of the most cringe-worthy scenes of Better Call Saul
Banks expressed (via Cheat Sheet) that while he may not always agree with the writers’ choices, he trusts them and does what is asked of him as a professional actor.
Banks has always seen Mike as a complex character, consistent across both Better Call Saul and its predecessor. He believes that Mike is a product of his environment and the people he interacts with, which is why he’s been “hard” for a long time.
Jonathan Banks’ commitment to his character goes beyond just acting; it’s about preserving the integrity and intelligence of Mike Ehrmantraut. Whether it’s correcting grammar or questioning a scene that doesn’t feel right, Banks was deeply involved in the crafting of his character, and we can only admire it.
