Before he was the award-winning star of Better Call Saul, Bob Odenkirk played a memorable recurring supporting role on the TV sitcom How I Met Your Mother. His character was not only one of the show's funniest, but he turned out to be a crucial part of Marshall Eriksen’s arc and even ended up inspiring the rest of the gang with a heartfelt message about love.
Odenkirk’s work opposite David Cross in Mr. Show made him a comedy icon. From Seinfeld to The Office, he has also made memorable guest appearances on a ton of sitcoms before becoming a dramatic TV star. In the years since the Breaking Bad actor's appearance on HIMYM, he has become much more famous for his role as the criminal lawyer Saul Goodman, which he reprised in the spinoff Better Call Saul.
Bob Odenkirk Played Arthur Hobbs
In several How I Met Your Mother episodes from season 3 through season 8, Bob Odenkirk played Arthur Hobbs, Marshall's boss during his career as a corporate lawyer. Arthur held a lucrative position at Goliath National Bank, and his no-holds-barred management style earned him the unflattering nickname “Artillery Arthur.”
Odenkirk made his first appearance as Arthur Hobbs in How I Met Your Mother season 3, episode 15, “The Chain of Screaming.” Marshall began working under Arthur and was instantly petrified of his new boss’s abrasive management style. Arthur was known around the office as “Artillery Arthur” because the way he yells at his employees is reminiscent of a drill sergeant. The episode's title came from Barney’s shady idea that Arthur yelling at his employees is part of a chain. Arthur’s boss’s boss yells at Arthur’s boss, Arthur’s boss takes it out on Arthur, and Arthur takes it out on his employees.
Artillery Arthur became a recurring character in seasons 5 and 6 of How I Met Your Mother when Marshall reluctantly took a corporate job with Barney at Goliath National Bank. Initially, Arthur didn’t even remember Marshall’s name, but after they bonded over smoking cigarettes on the roof, he never forgot it again. From that point on, Arthur’s entire attitude toward Marshall changed, and he started acting a lot friendlier to him. This kinder Arthur was more in line with Odenkirk’s affable on-screen roles. Arthur eventually became so endeared to Marshall that he tried to sabotage his attempt to leave GNB for another job.
Arthur Actually Helps Characters Positively
Arthur was so memorable – and such a funny character – because he was mean, aggressive, and unlikable to an absurd degree. However, when he returned in How I Met Your Mother season 8, episode 2, “The Pre-Nup,” Arthur turned out to be surprisingly sensitive. Throughout the episode, Marshall and Lily were bickering while Ted, Robin, and Barney all had problems in their relationships as well. Arthur impacted their lives positively with sweet sentiments, telling them, “You all have someone who loves you, and you’re screwing it up over what, who has the most power? That's not love. Love is trusting someone enough to tell them what’s really bothering you.”