Kim was Always on the ‘Bad Choice Road’ - Better Call Saul
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- čas přidán 25. 06. 2024
- There was a scene at the end of season 6, episode 6, where Kim turns from one road to another. This was for many, considered as her literal turning point onto the ‘bad choice road’ that many like to quote. This is going to be my approach to the whole ‘bad choice road’ discussion. As striking as the visual is, I think it’s clear that this turn is not really Kim’s entrance onto the bad choice road, but instead something so solidify her path on it. One thing particularly revealing so far about season 6, and a scene that has been largely overshadowed by many of the other events, is a flashback scene for Kim, one of only two that we’ve had, both focusing on Kim and her mother.
Hope you enjoy!
You can watch Breaking Bad on Netflix: www.netflix.com/gb/title/7014...
Or get the full series on DVD: www.amazon.co.uk/Breaking-Bad...
You can watch Better Call Saul on Netflix:
www.netflix.com/gb/title/8002...
Or get the series on DVD:
www.amazon.co.uk/Better-Call-...
I do not claim to own the clips of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul used. They are used here under fair use for commentary and criticism.
Songs used are taken from CZcams Audio Library:
World War Outerspace - Audio Hertz
Clean and Dance - An Jone
Timestamps:
Intro 0:00
Kim's flashback 0:27
Quite sidenote 1:45
Ring & Earring 2:07
'Bad Choice Road' 3:45
What made Jimmy and Kim this way 7:27
Notable moment 8:20
Conclusion 9:56 - Zábava
The missing piece is significant. "Missing Kimmy" I call her. Both Howard and Chuck thought that Jimmy Corrupts Kim at first but Howard comes to understand that there is something inherently wrong with her..something she is missing that moves her and attracts her to the Saul Goodman aspect of jimmy. She is now even shaping "Saul" and guiding Jimmy to make an even "better" Saul persona. Jimmy has moved from Seeking Chuck's approval to needing Kim's. Jimmy, Kim, Mike, Lalo, and even Howard -at the end-- know that Kim is more wolf [sterner stuff] than Jimmy and we the audience are seeing this was present in Missing Kimmy from long ago.
This was hidden from the audience, even from Jimmy. That Jimmy wasn't corrupting Kim, but the other way around.
No they corrupt each other. Kim had some issues since her mom but she start progressively in to it when she met the "fun side" of jimmy. He was always the catalyser of her addictions.
Jimmy really didn't even want to do the Howard thing. Kim was the one that pushed it.
I really loved your parallel to Season 1 Kim being similar to Gene, a suppressed version of who they truly want to be. I've never heard that interpretation before but it's extremely fitting
I think by the second time Kim did a scam with Jimmy, I started seeing patterns of addiction in her.
There's many scenes in which she's smoking, which these days is a deliberate choice for a TV show that has a purpose, but not so often that it looks like a regular thing. She often has a good number of drinks in her, but never gets really sloshed. She throws herself into work when she's upset, but usually manages to do it properly. Until she crashes the car. And I think I vaguely remember her looking a bit sketchy with painkillers after her injuries. (Though I can't remember specific scenes.)
She does seem to have an addictive personality, but she also remains functioning.
Scamming is the same thing. When Jimmy goes to visit Marco again, all their interactions play out like two addicts who fail at staying clean. Later when Kim starts pushing Jimmy for more scams, his reaction comes across as someone being worried about a friend going overboard with a drug he introdced her too and she can't seem to manage. And the whole thing with Howard just gets ridiculous. It long ago stopped being a prank or serving a purpose, and Jimmy is ready to let it go, but Kim keeps being obsessed with it.
I disagree on one major point.
The bad choice road doesn't really exist. It's a false dichotomy made by Jimmy because of how he feels about his own ability to "move roads". Notice the difference in how Mike and Jimmy talk about the road. Mike never mentions that the road is "good" or "bad", just that they are roads that you go down and commit yourself to. Mike's road speech is about accepting the consequences of your actions, not about how your decisions impact who you are. In fact, by accepting that his actions have consequences, Mike manages to stay on the "good road" despite being very obviously on a similar road to Jimmy and Kim. This is because Mike can accept the consequences of his actions and therefore maintain a sense of self and his principals.
But the road for Jimmy isn't about consequences, it's about the self. Jimmy has been constantly made to believe that he can't change who he is as a person by Chuck and just the world in general. He's slipping Jimmy. He's been on the slipping Jimmy road since he was a child and he can't escape it. So he interprets Mike's road as the road of who you are. Jimmy feels as if he is a destructive force that hurts people and is incapable of change, and therefore he doesn't try to change to stop hurting people. Jimmy's perception of the bad choice road is what creates the bad choice road.
Kim puts herself on the "bad choice road" when she commits herself to ruining Howard's career - but after Howard's death, Kim is able to take responsibility for her actions. She realises that her relationship with Jimmy is what caused her to be put on the "bad choice road". She understands Mike's interpretation of the road. She can't get off of the road she's been put on - Howard is dead, and nothing can change that, but she can handle the responsibility of the road she's chosen and splits up with Jimmy. Kim actively admits her involvement in the terrible things that happened, saying "we're bad for eachother". She comes to the healthy realisation of the meaning of the road whereas Jimmy spirals, taking the exact opposite reaction to the road than what Mike meant.
The road is not who you are. It is not good, or bad, it just is. Mike understands the road. Kim comes to the same understanding. Only Jimmy feels he's on the "bad road", which is a self-fulfilling prophecy due to the incapability to change who he is as a person or how he interactions with others/the world.
What’s interesting to me is how many fans still to this day probably look at the situation as jimmy tainting Kim even though that has been pretty thoroughly debunked at this point
I have never seen a soul say this....
In other words, You are making sure we know that you are smarter than most people. Got it.
Edit…..you think you are smarter than most people.
I knew she was bad news from the first episode.
She smokes.
Only villains are allowed to smoke in popular media.
And she shares it with Jimmy.
Interesting theory, however: Yakuza
@@EdoloChannel Yakuza MCs actually only take the smoke into their mouths before huffing it right out like a cigar. It’s canon, it’s in the lore.
Been having this debate that Walter White never changed or became Heisenberg. He even admits it in the final episode "I did it for me, I enjoyed it...". No one under any pressure does something that harms others like make pure poison meth for profit that ruins lives, no one with a conscious anyway. They would find other means to support their family which Walt always had via his relatives and friends at Gray Matter. The same for Kim, she didn't change but as stated here had repressed her darker manipulative ways.
And that's another thing great about this show is that it just didn't come out of the blue, many hints were there that something was wrong in the head about Kim...the fact that she left two high paying jobs to do Pro Bono work, with no way to support herself among a few other hints. And just like Walt used the excuse of supporting his family to continue his crimes, Kim uses the excuse of helping the poor to destroy Howard, someone in her zealous mind to be sacrificed for her cause.
Actually it takes nobility and balls to abandon a better paying job for one that gives you satisfaction and a feeling of meaning. Many people don't have the balls to do it and come to regret it quickly.
@@SaturnineXTS , true it takes nobility to leave a better paying job and do what you love. But that is not the full case with Kim. Yes she left a high paying job not once but twice. But its not nobility, its more along the lines of being a zealot, she proves this by going after Howard, enjoying destroying his life for her cause. Zealots always have a worthwhile cause masking their destructive narcissism.
@@ndogg20 What's the other high paying job she quit? She was on retainer(or planned to be) with Mesa Verde when she left HHM, then she joined the opposition(i don't remember how to spell their names), and then she left them. You're not talking about her quitting the law right? Cause that's a completely different scenario surrounding her guilt for the damage the scam did.
@@uriel7395 Schweikart and Coakley, and she quit that too.
Yeah the Walt one was easy. They gave that away in the 1st episode. Becoming a meth dealer with only a few months left to live and a DEA brother in law? It’s like he didn’t give two sh’ts about what potential consequences his family might face for his actions.
I love this show. My take is that they are very self destructive and Kim is actually the worst of the two by far. She pulls jimmy into things that even he knows are not the best choice.
I'm so happy when I find amazing channels with so few subs. I get to say that I'm one of the first when they pop off
Awesome analysis. Hope your station continues to thrive.
One of the best Kim evaluations that I've heard! Great job.
Really glad to see you’ve expanded vid ideas and content to other stuff, than just DBD. Really enjoying these Breaking Bad verse vids. Is there a chance you might, do something similar on Stranger Things? Since it’s what people, are into now.
possibly, it just depends if I can think of anything I want to say about it
bruh I love ur dbd vids cant believe this channel got randomly recommended to me.
I have been scouring CZcams for BCS content for years now and can't believe I didn't discover this channei. Now I have so much to look forward to! I'm an admin for a large Facebook and BCS fan group and will be sharing this with them.
Glad you enjoy - thanks for watching :)
Kims Father was a "Jimmy"
so was her mom, i guess
@@ashleighrebollar811I have an elaborate theory mostly due to the randomness of BCS. Her mother being the bad influence is what I thought too - at first. Then I rewatched the shoplifting scene with Kim and Her mother. I get the sense that her mother shoplifted for Kims acceptance. In the Scene where Kim refuses to ride home with her mother, Kim is apparently being smart, when its likely she is lording her emotions over her mother as a form of resentment. In the Scene where Jimmy and Kim are watching Ice Station Zebra, Kim is very happy about sharing her fathers favorite show with Jimmy. I believe the writers message is that she favors her father , but resents her mother. So my theory is that Kims mom dumped Kims Father because he was a "Jimmy". Kim doesn't want to be like her mother who may have told on her father. ( Want to be a friend of the cartel or be a Rat?)
@@francesray6465 makes sense in theory. doesn’t make sense why kim’s mom would want to impress kim with her bad habits like drunk driving and shoplifting though. if she wanted to impress her, she’d do the opposite. i am curious where her father is in all of this as she only ever mentions her dad to jimmy with ice station zebra, even making comments about her scumbag cousins stealing from her other family members for drug money, but not her mom not even once.
Kim's Mother was a "Jimmy". Her father is probably a very serious guy. Doesn't look good for my theory that Kim is Paige Jennings from the Americans, but her Dad may be some kind of cold warrior. Maybe he's been disabled due to his service so Kim's Mom just dumped him, thus he has time to watch "Ice Station Zebra", a movie about the Cold War, over and over.
It has been my experience that a woman will often marry a man like her father. If you are serious about a woman & wish to plan a life with her, take a good close look at here daddy because that is very likely the man she expects you to be.
Really interesting analysis! Also, thanks for captioning your videos!
No problem : )
damn great vid 🙏
This is the exact moment when this video became a Better Call Saul video.
What’s worth mentioning is that Mike never uses the phrase “Bad Choice Road.” Jimmy says that when relaying Mikes advice to Kim. Mike only references choices and “A road.”
Maybe the parallel of bad choice road with the split screen can also indicate her future role in the breaking bad era. Still active but out of view while jimmy is the front man
I remember reading somewhere how Gilligan asked himself "what problem does Saul Goodman solve?" I always thought this meant, what problem does this solve for JImmy? Your video made it so much louder how Saul Goodman is really solving a problem for Kim. And damn it, I loved her so much. Makes me think why I'm attracted so much to someone so clearly "missing a piece"
Would've been a hell of twist if Wendy turned out to be Kind mom
Though the analogy of choices leading you down one road or another is very useful, it is ultimately an illusion, as we were always, are always and forever will be on the only road we can be on.
Are you the same dude that does dbd videos? Your video essays are awesome as as well as the dbd videos if it's you
The scene where she does a U-turn isn't her switching to a new road. It is the same road. She is simply changing directions. Every road has two sides, even the bad choice road.
Sure, except that she is literally heading in one direction to do something positive, then flips and heads in the complete opposite direction to do something negative.
5:00 - "(Jim and Kim have) a genuine understanding of each other" yes, aka trauma bond.
interesting video, why is there a generic trap beat in the background
Kim ends up running a legal office in Florida and Jimmy goes to jail after getting immunity for kim
the leopard bit my face off incarnate
they underplayed kims bad choice road so they could give that amazing line at the end of season 5 when they were discussing about going further and jimmy said she wouldnt be fine with it and she responded "Wouldn't I?"
Quick question, I know your voice but I don't know where from lol...
What other channels do you voice?
Dbd channel
@@simon-jv4qb It's Azhymovs right?
I figured it out after a while XD
Here's my expanded scenario:
Lalo's been gone, so, Kim could simply tell Lalo (and Saul) that Suzanne told her Lalo/'Guzman' was burnt to death as reported on TV also, and that Saul is in danger of indictment for the 'Guzman' fraud.
Then, Lalo makes Saul call Mike to lure him to the apartment (for protection from Lalo, or to clean the scene), and away from Gus. Maybe Mike is suspicious and prepared. Feeling safe from police pursuit, Lalo leaves to go for Gus. Gus is ready. Kim has to atone for her betrayal of Saul, and rectify the wrong, by accepting Suzanne's escape clause for Saul. She calls, but has difficulty convincing Suzanne Lalo is alive. Lalo gets caught, arrested, locked safely away, Saul is exonerated and gets his percentage of the bail. As a witness to Howard's murder, Kim goes into witness protection, relocated under new identity, safe from Salamancas in ABQ. And Kim can't be made to testify against her husband Saul.
Saul again represents Lalo, and loses, but saves Lalo from the death penalty.
Just before the BB desert scene Saul is informed of Lalo's extradition to Mexico.
As for Gene, in the aftermath of El Camino, DA Ericson (and Detective Getz), in possession of Hank's files & Jesse's confession disk from the gang's HQ & Caldera's black book, will interrogate EVERYONE (Pete, Badger, Joe, Skylar, Francesca, Lydia still alive in the hospital), Mike's daughter, and the ex-con that was NOT 'Heisenberg', and Huell & Kuby (Ed's trip with Kuby to Mexico foiled? Ed is killed?Jesse's letter to Brock found?) if they can.
As for Gene, Jimmy will 'revert to type' and exploit Jeff's larcenous greed to lure Jeff (and the guy that was with him) to his demise in some way.
Kim and Saul meet in a foreign country intent to live happily ever after, she plays cello in an orchestra, Jimmy, under a pseudonym, writes a bestselling memoir.
Ericson is seen reading it, as Detective Getz comes in to inform her that residue from Ed's vehicle and Jesse's letter point to Alaska. And fade.
Underrated take
U also have a dead by daylight channel right?
The Bad choice Road is what Saul says, not Mike, and Saul is reffering only to having a better paid job.
I took it as her showing her true motivations. ... Also believe that her overall plan is getting the settlement money & leaving Jimmy. Thought as much since she married him. ... Just a guess. Right or wrong, can't wait to find on out. Great show
I agree either that or she gets killed
Nah Jimmy completes her. She could’ve had all the money and fulfilled her “dreams” by taking the Cliff Main gig but she actively blows that off to ruin Howard when the snag comes in that plan
I thought that theory was very likely until the ending of that sixth episode. Kim is full blown psychopath but she still deeply cares for Jimmy imo
@@Quinntheeskimo33 The show's purpose is to show why Jimmy is Jimmy in Breaking bad. ... Makes me think of that old Hank Williams Sr song, The Lost Highway.
Anyhow, shall be finding out exactly what happens soon enough 🎉
@@Quinntheeskimo33 In case you don't already know it ... czcams.com/video/74zZoSdW2pE/video.html
Is this that one Dbd CZcamsr!?
Jimmy and Kim were the perfect storm of destruction... Kim suppressed her bad behavior but became weaker the more she was with Jimmy and takes fill action when Jimmy becomes Saul.
Calling it the bad choice road completely butchers Mike's point. Jimmy obviously misinterprets this, but I see video essayists do this as well.
hey doesnt this guy make dbd videos
I think Kim kills Lalo then changes her identity. thats why she is not in Breaking Bad.
i actually dont even know this show but im comenting anything in order to help the algorithm 💕
Sad to say, but its pretty clear Kim isn't going to make it . . .
Remember when Jimmy says to her to suggest they call of their scam against Howard: "We will live to fight another day"
And Kim says: "WHAT OTHER DAY? Today is the day!" just before she makes a choice to turn her car around and proceed with the scam
This comment foreshadows that Kim has chosen the bad road that will ultimately lead to her dying, apparently on that same day
Doubtful
Kim will pay a steep price for her actions, but I don't think she's gonna die.
Dbd youtuber?
First
What nobody can compensate for with Kim, is how stunningly void of purpose she has become.
She's turned her back on *two* once-in-a-lifetime positions for the average lawyer. The Mesa Verde job was great, but PARTNER at Schweikart and Coakley?! Who tf turns that away?! Also, the writers continue to have zero respect for reality: they present leaving such a large (contractual) responsibility as being as easy as quitting Starbucks.
She's turned her back on Everett Acker as quickly as she went out of her way to attempt to help him.
Her sudden desire to work overflow cases from the public defender's office vanished, her need to provide top level representation to the poor through her pro bono start up, dashed in a moment.
All she has left is Jimmy's settlement money?! Which, by the way, is absolute bullshit: she should be swimming in dough from all those Mesa Verde clients and the S&C work.
Kim is over written, given too much to handle, just like Jimmy. Neither character arc makes any sense anymore.
I think that's kind of the point though, she's just doing all of this for fun, until she finds something that actually completes her, just like jimmy could have just stayed with Davis & main but chose to be fired because while he lived a life of luxury, it was not the life he wanted.
I don't think the writers are in "zero
reality". It makes perfect sense that Kim leaves one great opportunity for another and then another.
Kim thought that being a Lawyer would meet some of her unmet needs. It doesn't of course; each of her "good jobs" just feels stifling and so she HAS to leave. Only scamming with Jimmy provides any measure of relief or comes close to meeting those needs.
@@dumfriesspearhead7398 good perspective, it reminds me of another users' take: Kim has a type of imposter syndrome that prevents her from fully engaging in most things over time.
She's complicated. Cannot freakin' wait until showtime, we get the Kim end of things.