The animosity between Chuck and Jimmy is crazy this year, with Chuck rallying especially hard against him.
Was it exciting to reach this stage of their relationship?
Its the best writing on TV.
No, I think the heartbeat started going up at the end of last season.
You know, if you strip away everything else there are only two stories: revenge and redemption.
So its kind of a little of both.
I think that Chucks cast himself as the avenger and put his considerable brain to work on that.
Heres this guy whos a lawyer.
Hes used to thinking somewhat schematically and manipulating peoples emotions, so hes probably pretty good at this.
I dont know how its going to work.
Sure, and it keeps developing as a continually complicated relationship.
I think its the notion of thinking of a series as a finite thing.
As Vince and Peter did withBreaking Bad.
They said this is a five-year show and it ends.
Its just thinking about things like a big novel.
So its been three years, but fur the story its not, its just a handful of months.
I think thats fascinating.
The shows all about slowing things down, showing intricate work sequences, and just taking its time.
Its a super slow burn.
Yeah, it works for me.
I like it a lot.
In fact, hes really just doing whats right in this situation after what Jimmys done.
I completely agree, and theres nothing facile about it.
Nothing is happening because its how things go down on TV.
You know what Im saying?
It looks like somebody realized they had to lose five minutes and then just started hacking.
I dont ever feel that with our show.
I didnt feel that either inBreaking Bad.
Its not as much fun!
What you guys do also makes it all feel very theatrical.
Theres more than one way to do TV just like theres more than one way to do widescreen movies.
Do you think its possible that Chuck and Jimmys relationship can recover after what happens this season?
Or are they past the point of no return now?
I, Michael McKean, has always thought that it would be possible.
Chuck however is an emotionally challenged man.
Its not smooth sailing in there.
It doesnt even have to be dire, it just has to be perceived that way.
So with Chuck, its daddy issues and mommy issues.
Its how their mother felt about Jimmy and how she didnt feel about Chuckat least in his imagination.
I also think that he truly does blame Jimmy for their fathers death.
Its pretty heavy stuff.
Anyways, it all had to make sense to me, otherwise I wouldnt be able to do it.
Whats great though is that you understand Jimmy so well that youre able to make him do everything here.
You yourself arent doing anything illegal, youre just bending his hand to makehimdo something that is.
Theres no law against what I do.
I trick someone into committing a crime.
Chuck will admit to that, too.
Do you get to have fun with any more of those this season?
Well I will say that towards the end of the season theres a flashback thats not that far back.
Its just a piece of the puzzle thats been missing.
Its sort of a signal moment that ties into the rest of that episode.
Theres a lot in it.
Im in it a lot and Chucks story sort of hinges on itI wish I could say more.
I get to work with Ann Cusack again [Rebecca McGill] and I just adore her.
Shes so real and just fun to hang with.
Sometimes you just fall into a pot of jam.
And you get to talking.
Some people are just fun to hang with and be around, with Duchovny being one of those people.
The late Kim Manners was a lovely guy and just a maniac at his job.
He went after it though and he was a lot of fun.
There was kind of a bunker mentality there and the funniest guy in the bunker wins.
Whenever Vince was working on something new he would call and have me in.
If he also never called me again, thats fine too.
Hes already done such an amazing favor for me.
He says Ive pulled through for him and Im glad to hear it!
When he was doingBreaking Badwere there any roles that you came in to read for?
Its been a fun way to stay in the loop and remain connected though.
Its a nice balancing act of tone.
So much of that great Mike Ehrmantraut stuff is completely silent.
At the same time, would you like to be getting some scenes with Mike, or even Gus?
Would it be fun to see how Chuck interacts with those guys?
Well, this season Chuck and Mikeareface to face at one point.
I will say no more.
Well heres how I would do it.
It would not involve me as an actor.
I would spin Chuck off as an 18-year old law student.
Its kind of aDoogie Howsereffect.
I think that would be a lot of fun.
And I wouldnt have to do anything!
Let me read the scripts and call myself an executive producer!
We get to see that relationship.
Listen, whatever they do is fine with me.
Ill watch it even if Im not in it.
Lastly Michael, what are you most excited for people to see in this new season?
I look forward to people being surprised every week.
I think thats sort of our responsibility and so far, so good.
