Better Call Saul tells a story about a morally dubious man, Jimmy McGill, and his transformation into his criminal alter-ego, Saul Goodman, a man who later on facilitated Walter White's drug empire in Breaking Bad. He is a complex anti-hero: he knows how to manipulate people and the judicial system in his favor, which is sometimes excusable since the system and people tend to be just as unjust.
Throughout versatile story arcs, Better Call Saul illustrates that Jimmy is the kind of a person who can easily warm the cockles of our hearts, but he can also make us hate him in a heartbeat.
Redeeming: He Is Intelligent
Leaving morality aside for a second, we can all agree that Jimmy McGill is an incredibly intelligent man. He is great at thinking on his feet.
While working in HHM's mailroom, he decided he was going to become a lawyer, so he worked and studied simultaneously and managed to eventually pass the bar without cheating. That's not something that anybody could do, especially not in secret.
Hate: He Lies, Even To Those Who Care About Him
It's infuriating to see Jimmy lie, especially to Kim who has been nothing but loyal to him every step of the way. Unlike in the beginning, she can now see right through his lies, which is beautifully shown in scenes in which she is looking through Jimmy's coffee mug with bullet holes in them.
Jimmy always puts on a remorseful act when he is caught lying, but he can't help but keep on conning and scheming. His actions sent Kim back to doc review in season 1, but even that wasn't a wake-up call for him to change his ways.
Redeeming: He Is Funny And Charming
It's hard to stay angry at Jimmy. He just seems like such a genuinely nice and funny guy. In "Rebecca", he managed to make his estranged brother's wife Rebecca laugh, which is something that Chuck can't do. Being charming is not something you can simply learn.
When Jimmy worked with the elderly, we were all cheering for him. He was kind, hilarious, and patient with his clients. No wonder the ladies from Sandpiper Crossing were all crazy about him.
Hate: He Sabotages Himself
It's not like Jimmy chooses to live a life of a criminal because he has no other choice; he had been given several amazing opportunities to turn his life around, but he always found a way to ruin it. He was bitter about the fact that Chuck wouldn't give him a job at HHM when he graduated, but Jimmy didn't want that kind of a life for himself anyway.
Jimmy had made a lot of mistakes in his life. He was hired by Davis & Main, but hated the lack of autonomy. He soon made Cliff Main fire him so he could get his bonus on his way out. Later on, he got another chance: Howard offered him a position at HHM, but Jimmy wouldn't hear anything about it. He finally got the validation he craved, but always managed to sabotage his chances at a normal life.
Redeeming: He Took Care Of His Brother
Jimmy is not a careless man. He has had several shining moments so far. Let's not forget about all the time he invested in taking care of Chuck, bringing him his favorite newspapers, food, and ice. He made sure to do everything exactly as Chuck pleased and he never mocked him for his condition, the hypersensitivity to electricity.
Jimmy once told Howard everything that taking care of Chuck entails. Even Howard was speechless: it was essentially Jimmy's part-time job. No wonder he struggled so hard to get ahead professionally.
Hate: He Takes Out His Frustrations On Howard
Kim's and Jimmy's hate for Howard feels incredibly personal, even though Howard hasn't personally done anything to deliberately hurt them. Howard always believed in Jimmy AKA Charlie Hustle; if it were up to him, he would let Jimmy work for HHM. Jimmy should have taken out his frustrations on Chuck rather than Howard.
Jimmy wrecked Howard's car with bowling balls and publicly humiliated him by sending prostitutes to his lunch table. Jimmy can be incredibly petty and cruel sometimes.
Redeeming: He Has A Sweet Spot For Underdogs
Jimmy hired Huell to work as his bodyguard when he was selling burner phones. Huell accidentally ends up hitting a policeman and gets convicted to two years and a half in prison. Jimmy does his best to do right by his friend. Kim and Jimmy come up with an elaborate scam that ultimately leads to Huell's release.
Jimmy is bothered by the fact that the judiciary system is crooked. Sometimes, he used his conning skills to bring about some good, which is definitely a redeemable quality.
Hate: He Is Okay With Murder
Breaking Bad has foreshadowed several things about Better Call Saul, including Jimmy's character. In season 1 of Better Call Saul, Jimmy really tries to be honest and lawful, which is why he returned the Kettleman's money. Fast forward to Breaking Bad and you've got a man who is not hesitant to suggest murder when convenient.
He proposed it at least twice: when Badger got busted for dealing drugs and to get rid of Hank, Walt's brother-in-law who works for the DEA.
Redeeming: He Is Tragic
It's not hard to hate Jimmy. After all, everything that he has done is his fault alone. But then again, he didn't have much of a choice once he got involved with the wrong people.
Meeting Nacho was a slippery slope that led him to work for Lalo. He was put in an ungrateful position: it's hard to say no to an impulsive cartel leader. He didn't really have a choice but to become the friend of the cartel and to drag their millions through the desert. There have been several other instances in which fans felt truly sorry for Jimmy, especially when it comes to his relationship with Chuck.
Hate: He Is Disrespectful, Especially Towards Women
There's a fine line between being charming and being utterly disrespectful, and Jimmy knows just where it is. He often teases and provokes people, especially women. He once lied about being Kevin Costner to get a woman to sleep with him and mocked her in the morning for believing him.
Similarly, he sweet-talks Francesca, even though she clearly hates it. The only woman he doesn't take for a fool is Kim, especially since she broke bad in the last season.