Summary
Bob Odenkirk’sLucky Hankgetting canceled after only one season is still disappointing to me. The series garnered positive critical reception as it earned a 93% critical score on Rotten Tomatoes following its debut on AMC in March 2023. In his first live-action television series role since theend ofBetter Call Saul, Odenkirk played William Henry “Hank” Devereaux, a jaded English department chairperson and professor at Railton College, located in rural Pennsylvania.
Adapted from Richard Russo’s novelStraight Man, the comedic series follows Hank experiencing his own existential crisis while balancing family issues, political drama at Railton College, and the unexpected return of the father who abandoned him. Hank’s wife, Lily Devereaux (Mireille Enos), is a high school guidance counselor and is also explored with nuance as she confronts her professional and personal dissatisfaction, Hank’s spiraling, and the actions of their immature daughter and son-in-law. DespiteLucky Hank’s premature cancelation, it remains one of my favorite new shows from recent years.
Bob Odenkirk’s Action Movie Sequel Can Deliver My Dream John Wick Casting That Keanu Reeves' Franchise Hasn’t
I was sad to see one martial arts star left out of the John Wick series, but luckily, another exciting upcoming action sequel can fix this oversight.
I’m Still Disappointed Lucky Hank Was Canceled After Just 1 Season
Lucky Hank Is Relatable, Well-Written, And Entertaining
Lucky Hank’s relatable comedy, emotional depth, and colorful cast of characters quickly won me over. After the extreme danger and high tensionOdenkirk’s Saul Goodmanexperiences inBreaking BadandBetter Call Saul, it is a refreshing change of pace to see him portraying a character facing more low-stakes drama, with just as much sincerity and far more cynicism and self-awareness. BothHank and Lily deal with everyday mundanities that make them accessible characters, from Hank’s jealousy of a former colleague becoming more successful than him to Lily having to pay for basic supplies at her school without being reimbursed.
The eccentric cast of supporting characters surrounding Hank and Lily, especially among the faculty of Railton College, also makes the series worth watching. It is amusing to see certain professors' petty grudges and laughable attempts to undermine each other, but it is also easy to get invested in their all-too-common struggle to hold onto their jobs as the institution faces budget cuts. The rivalry between English professors Paul Rourke (Cedric Yarbough) and Gracie DuBois (Suzanne Cryer) is a particular standout throughout the series and has its own arc.
Henry Devereaux Sr.
Tom Bower
By the end of the season, Hank’s arc comes to a mostly satisfying conclusion as he confronts the unresolved trauma from his childhood, does right by his English department and by Railton College, and even leaves the rural town that tied him down so he can be in New York with Lily. Even with Hank’s development culminating this way and the series fully adapting its source material, there was still plenty that I was eager for the show to explore. Hank and Lily’s marriage and Lily’s personal journey still need more focus and resolution.
Lucky Hank Has An Episode That Rivals Odenkirk’s Best Work In Better Call Saul
“The Clock” Features One Of Odenkirk’s Career-Best Performances
Odenkirk is widely recognized for his outstanding performances inBetter Call Saul’sbest episodes, with “Winner,” “Bagman,” “Plan and Execution,” and the series finale “Saul Gone” among my personal favorites. As strong as these episodes are,Lucky Hankhas an installment that rivals it with episode 5, “The Clock.” As Hank and Lily host their annual dinner for the English department at their home, a grandfather clock being brought inside and a career-changing decision for Lily lead to a devastating revelation that completely recontextualizes Hank and the entire series.
Despite numerous nominations for his performances inBetter Call Saul, Bob Odenkirk has never won an Emmy Award for acting.
“The Clock” is whenLucky Hankreveals itself to be more than a lighthearted comedy, as the source of Hank’s childhood trauma becomes clear through Odenkirk’s palpable performance. The episode is cleverly structured, with the ongoing ticking of the grandfather clock established at the beginning of the episode, along with title cards sequencing the events through the various stages of a dinner party. As the dinner party becomes increasingly uncomfortable, this structure adds to a sense of dread, and that the series is building to something monumental.
“The Clock” is a narratively risky episode that could have been tonally jarring and destabilized the entire show. The risk instead pays off as it enhances the series by adding more depth to Hank’s character and the issues he has with his father.“The Clock” has stuck with me just as much as my favoriteBetter Call Saulepisodes, and I consider it among the best performances of Odenkirk’s career, and one that deserves more recognition.
What Could Have Happened In Lucky Hank Season 2
Hank And Lily’s Relationship Would Have Been Tested
With Hank unexpectedly resigning from Railton College and joining Lily in New York, season 2 would have explored what this development means for their marriage. When Lily first opens her apartment door, she is overjoyed and embraces her husband, but shortly after that, her smile falters, and she begins to look uncertain. Season 2 would explore how their marriage and Lily’s own journey, including her new career, would be impacted by this, along with whether Hank can actually be happy with the fresh start he never thought would be possible.
At Railton College, Dean Rose (Oscar Núñez) shreds Hank’s resignation letter, which already meansHank’s fresh start in New York is unfeasible. Meanwhile, the English department will be left in confused chaos as they are left leaderless and with each of them vying for the chairperson position as they did in parts of season 1.Lucky Hankmay not have had the most dramatic of television cliffhangers, but it left me wanting to spend more time with these characters and their relatable struggles.
Lucky Hank
Cast
A disenchanted college professor named Hank grapples with the absurdities of academia and the chaos of his personal life. Amidst departmental squabbles and a dwindling passion for his work, Hank’s life is turned upside down by a series of unexpected events.
