This article examining what happens to Kim Wexler contains spoilers for Better Call Saul seasons 1-5.
Better Call Saul is widely regarded as one of the best shows on television right now. As a follow up to the immensely successful Breaking Bad, it had a lot to live up to. And after five seasons, it has cemented itself as a more than worthy successor. Better Call Saul is a prequel series that explores the transformation of struggling lawyer Jimmy McGill into Saul Goodman, who we met in Breaking Bad. Part of the reason the show is so highly regarded is its expertly written and nuanced characters – some of which weren’t even mentioned in Breaking Bad. Perhaps the most beloved by fans is the excellent Kim Wexler (portrayed by Rhea Seehorn). She serves as Jimmy’s closest confidant throughout the series. But she’s not in Breaking Bad. So, what happens to Kim Wexler in Better Call Saul?
What Happens to Kim Wexler in Better Call Saul
Many fans want to know why Kim Wexler appears in Better Call Saul but doesn’t ever show up in Breaking Bad. Alongside what triggered Jimmy to turn to a life of crime, it’s probably the biggest question of the series. After five seasons of seeing Jimmy and Kim become increasingly intertwined, it’s almost impossible to imagine one without the other. In season 5, they even get married.
However, as we know, nobody is safe in the Breaking Bad universe. And given Jimmy’s increasingly dangerous antics and work for the cartel, Kim’s future is beginning to look increasingly grim. With the sixth season being Better Call Saul‘s last, it’s almost certain we’ll finally learn what happens to Kim prior to the start of Breaking Bad.
This is what happens to Kim Wexler in Better Call Saul. Writers Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould didn’t start out with a concrete plan as to what happens to Kim in Better Call Saul. However, as of season 5, Gilligan has explained her arc as an “impending tragedy”. This has lead many fans to speculate that Kim will die before the events of Breaking Bad.
Does Kim Die in Better Call Saul?
We don’t know for certain if Kim Wexler dies in Better Call Saul. But Vince Gilligan describing her story as an “impending tragedy” suggests she will.
Gilligan has said that Kim Wexler began life in the writer’s room as “perhaps a love interest past tense, or potential love interest future tense” for Jimmy, yet they had few ideas for where the character would end up. As Rhea Seehorn made the role her own, the character’s place in the series became clearer. She wouldn’t serve simply as Jimmy’s closest confidant and love interest, but also as a participator in his cons. Seehorn reportedly identified this element of Kim’s character early on. As a result, she factored it into her performance with subtle facial expressions, which in turn influenced the writers’ intended direction for Kim.
As the series progressed, we saw Kim become increasingly involved in Jimmy’s cons – and shift from being a tempering influence to his enabler. In fact, by the end of season 5, she indicates she’s willing to go further than Jimmy and bring down their former boss, Howard Hamlin.
Also in Better Call Saul‘s fifth season, Jimmy and Kim find themselves at the mercy of Cartel boss Lalo Salamanca. Fortunately, Kim lies to Lalo and her quick thinking saves the pair. But they go into hiding in case he returns. While they’re safe at the season’s conclusion, the future is uncertain. And if Lalo finds out Jimmy and Kim tricked him, it could well be game over.
The upcoming sixth and final season will finally reveal what happens to Kim before Breaking Bad. There’s still time for her to course correct and abandon Jimmy. Which could be what leads him to fully embrace the Saul Goodman persona. However, it seems unlikely and her fate appears all but sealed.
When does Better Call Saul Season 6 begin?
Better Call Saul season 6 arrives on the 18th April in the US and the 19th April in the UK.
Are you excited for the final season of Better Call Saul? Let us know in the comment section below and don’t forget to check out our other Film & TV articles…
