In “Better Call Saul,” Who is the Other Hamlin?
Chuck McGill (Michael McKean) is the third partner of Hamlin, Hamlin and McGill, the Better Call Saul (2015) law firm where Jimmy (Bob Odenkirk) started his straight-arrowed life as a mailroom clerk and ultimately was denied employment as a lawyer by his own brother. Howard Hamlin (Patrick Fabian) is the outspoken, wildly successful firm partner who serves as Jimmy’s antagonist for the first season. But who is the other Hamlin? Despite the firm’s name referencing two Hamlins, we only ever see Howard, and the show has conveniently refused to draw any attention to the matter.
At this point, it can only be speculated why two Hamlin names are attributed to HHM. A logical assumption is that one of the Hamlins is Howard’s father. Seeing as there’s a considerable age gap between Howard and Chuck, it would make sense that Chuck had originally founded the firm with Howard’s father, and Howard was brought in later. Whatever the case may be, it’s likely something the show will address moving forward.
Update: May 2016—It was confirmed during the show’s second season that the other Hamlin is Howard’s father.