I can see why this episode is called Waterworks. Oof, you guys.
The penultimate episode of Better Call Saul reveals where Kim Wexler ends up… and it’s a mundane desk job at a water sprinkler company. Kim is punishing herself for what she feels are her crimes: her role in Howard’s death and the cover-up, aiding and abetting Jimmy in his scams. This is her penance: a life in Florida with a faceless partner and social gatherings with the blandest coworkers I’ve ever seen. This isn’t Kim. She does not belong here. Kim has changed her entire look to avoid being recognized, with her hair dyed brown and her wardrobe of upmarket lawyer clothes exchanged for things from a JC Penney catalogue. In a way, it parallels Gene’s life at Cinnabon. Show up, do the job, go home to an empty life.
The little things such as a coworker’s birthday, ice cream flavor discussions and whether Miracle Whip or Mayonnaise is better are now the highlights of Kim’s day. This is honestly such a sad end, Kim deserves to be using her talents for good and not wasting away her days writing website copy about sprinklers.
As with each Better Call Saul episode, the cinematography is outstanding. I will truly miss this aspect of the show. It stands out during a phone call from Jimmy/Gene clearly rattles Kim. Last week we saw Jimmy’s side of the call, and in this episode, we find out Kim encouraged Jimmy to turn himself in. He becomes agitated and tells her to do the same. He doesn’t mean it, of course. He’d never want the love of his life to go down for something he orchestrated. Unfortunately, it brings Kim’s guilt to the surface and the phone call is the catalyst for Kim to do exactly that.
Watching her return to the same courthouse she used to work in is tough. She clearly missed this atmosphere as she watches a young lawyer get a client ready for court, just the way she used to do. Being back in Albuquerque stirs up a lot of emotions for Kim, and no doubt viewers too. Her guilt brings her to Howard’s wife, with a written confession. It’s wild that what started with some pranks led to a man getting shot in the head and buried under a meth lab. I’m proud of her for visiting Cheryl, even though it could lead to criminal charges and potentially jail. If the series ends with Kim behind bars I will be so, so sad for her.
Rhea Seehorn secures her Emmy with the bus scene – when Kim Wexler cries, I cry. The pressure finally gets too much for Kim as she breaks down, sobbing as others around her pay her no mind. This physical manifestation of Kim’s guilt pouring out of her is so raw. I wanted to give her a hug. I think we all did.
As if she didn’t have enough to deal with in this episode, we also see her come face to face with “Saul” to sign their divorce papers. Jimmy/Saul pretends it’s no big deal, telling her to have a nice life. This is clearly a front for a very broken, struggling man. Bob Odenkirk’s way of showing yet masking Jimmy’s pain without verbalizing it is masterful.
A bright spot for fans in this episode is Kim sharing a cigarette outside Jimmy’s offices with none other than Jesse Pinkman. I like that the writers found a way for these two to cross paths, given all that’s happened in their respective lives at this point in time.
As we return to the Gene timeline, we find him narrowly escaping getting caught while his friend Jess ends up in the slammer. While Gene works his Jimmy magic to free Jeff, we learn that Marion has discovered his true identity and is going to be a very big problem. Jimmy’s past has finally caught up with him, and so will the law.
As for Gene, we pick up where we left off, with him nearly getting caught in the middle of a scam. Jeff does find himself locked up, and as Gene works to try to get him out of it, he learns that Marion has figured him out. He runs, and we have a setup for the next weeks finale that will reveal the final fates of Jimmy and Kim. Will they live? Will they end up in prison for their crimes? Will they reunite and flee the country? We’ll all find out together next week.
Photo Courtesy: AMC
