Thanks to a behind-the-scenes admission by star Rhea Seehorn, one of Better Caul Saul‘s greatest scenes became even more impressive. The Breaking Bad prequel/sequel wrapped up its six-season run in 2022 as one of the best television series of all time and a worthy successor to its predecessor. A large part of the series’ success was the performances of leads Bob Odenkirk (Jimmy McGill/Saul Goodman) and Rhea Seehorn (Kim Wexler). Audiences were already familiar with what Odenkirk brought to the role, so Seehorn’s performance especially stood out for its depth and complexity over 60+ episodes.
No Better Call Saul episode better demonstrated Seehorn’s talents than the penultimate episode, “Waterworks.” Seehorn called it the most difficult episode to film and for good reason. Fans watched as it was revealed Kim Wexler led a boring, unassuming life in Florida far away from Saul and their criminal life in Albuquerque. When she does return to face Howard’s widow, Kim experiences an emotional breakdown while riding a bus. An interview with Seehorn sheds light on her mindset approaching the pivotal scene, making it all the more impressive.
Better Call Saul’s Kim “Challenge” Makes Rhea Seehorn’s Bus Scene Even More Impressive
Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Rhea Seehorn explained the most challenging aspects of filming Better Call Saul season 6. The Emmy nominee highlighted “Waterworks” as the episode that created a level of self-doubt and uncertainty. The challenge stemmed from understanding who Kim was at that moment in the Better Call Saul timeline. Seehorn revealed that she was essentially playing a brand-new character while portraying Kim Wexler’s emotional breakdown on the bus.
Even navigating what Kim is feeling was very hard, but technically “Waterworks” [episode 12], the Florida episode in black-and-white when Kim is an entirely different person who gets a phone call from Jimmy, was very, very challenging… That was a really interesting thing to navigate with Peter. Who is Kim in that moment? And doing so many scenes without any of my familiar scene partners, I felt like a fish out of water in the right way.
It’s extremely impressive that Seehorn was able to convey that level of emotion while in the mindset of “an entirely different person.” She wasn’t playing the same Kim Wexler fans saw through the previous five seasons of Better Call Saul. Instead, Seehorn had to discover who Kim was in Florida and how that person managed her emotions. It’s as if the actress was starting from scratch. Not only that, she was tasked with pulling off a pivotal, highly emotional scene without the benefit of playing off a co-star. It’s safe to say Seehorn beat the challenge and more than earned her Emmy nomination for “Waterworks.”
Why Kim Really Breaks Down In Better Call Saul Season 6’s Bus Scene
.jpg)
Kim Wexler breaks down on the bus back to the airport after confessing Howard Hamlin’s death to his widow, Cheryl. It is a tense exchange and one that doesn’t provide much closure for Cheryl or Kim. The confrontation contributes to Kim’s breakdown, but it isn’t the sole reason she hysterically cries on the bus. More than that, it is the culmination of guilt, grief, and the realization that whatever life she built in Albuquerque really is gone. The story of Jimmy and Kim is a tragic one, defined by wasted potential and a toxic relationship. Heading back to Florida, Kim realizes the mundane life waiting for her is all she has left.
The Kim Wexler from earlier seasons was much more restrained and in control of her emotions. She was calculated and attempted to solve problems, even if it meant crossing the line at Jimmy’s side. But the Kim in Florida doesn’t have that same drive, self-confidence, or resourcefulness to change her situation. Instead, she is rudderless in a fate Kim didn’t truly deserve. Rhea Seehorn plays it perfectly in perhaps Better Call Saul‘s greatest scene.
