Better Call Saul - How Rhea Seehorn Perfected Kim Wexler
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- Опубликовано: 2 авг 2024
- This video essay analyzes Rhea Seehorn's acting as Kim Wexler in Better Call Saul. Co-starring with Bob Odenkirk, Rhea Seehorn has turned in one of the best television performances to date and this video examines the deeper layers of her character Kim Wexler. Better Call Saul is hosted on Netflix and distributed by Sony Pictures.
PATREON: / justanobservation
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Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
2:13 Observing, Listening and Reacting
7:13 Physical Idiosyncrasies
10:56 Vocal Vulnerability
Music used:
Satin Sugar by Huma-huma
Dorris Day by DJ Williams
Dream Escape by The Tides
Hydra by Huma-huma
Stinson by Reed Mathis
Caballero by Ofshane
Down Time in my Soul by RAGE
#bettercallsaul #kimwexler #rheaseehorn 
Развлечения
I love that she is a totally different version of a strong female character. She makes her own choices and deals with it. She is not the trope, she is real.
Or as someone puts it: A strong character who happens to be female.
@@darnit1944 Kim doesn't just happen to be female, its a key part of her character and how she reacts or acts on situations where she is in male dominated situations. Very unique to see a strong female character who isn't just written like a man with a few changes made to personality.
@@greenbrickbox3392 her being female has nothing to do with her character hence the quote.
If your statement was true the writers would acknowledge that which they never do.
@@AJD_77 uh they do acknowledge her issues as a woman whether subtly through her behavior as a career oriented professional women, with how she interacts with the men in her workplace (especially how her relationship with Howard changes over the show and factors in her breaking bad) vs how she interacts with the women like Page or Francesca, and in very explicit moments like her telling Saul he isn't a knight in shining armor and "you don’t save me, I save me".
While she isn't forced into a typical female trope or cliched role and she is significantly more than just "female lawyer", she isn't like Ellen Ripley where replacing her with a man wouldn't change anything.
@@AJD_77 it has everything to do with her character?? the way characters talk to her is a big one, how many times has kim been implicitly called “a pretty thing”. The way she was touted around as an alumni from the interns and not a major lawyer to the firm of hhm, the way hhm barely even saw her as a threat. her character is one of constantly being undermined in multiple interactions in a specific way that men don’t experience
Jimmy, Chuck, Howard, Mike, Gus, Nacho, and Lalo are all amazingly written characters, but Kim is truly the unexpected gem that came out of BCS.
What a fascinating character.
girlboss
I always thought I knew what she would say or do. I would think I know who she would react and it alway was surprising.
As the show progressed, I’m more and more convinced that Gus ain’t all that. He’s just an emotionless Businessman who has no relationships around him outside of his Clean, reliable ways.
@@hastensavoir7782BCS didn't really build Gus as well as they did in BB
Clearly not true though. There are quite a few scenes that show otherwise. Like his scene at that memorial he made for Max or that weird flirting scene with the bartender. These scenes further highlight the struggles that Gus faces when dealing with things. He's caught in a cycle of violence in hatred; one that he perpetuates and even though he wants to be able to leave it and live a happy life, he's unable to bring himself out of getting his revenge and avenging Max.
Better Call Saul doesn't make him more emotional, but we do see a more inexperienced Gus. We see more of his frustration, his obsession (done more through his obsession with control and possible OCD, and more. With Better Call Saul, it's all about the nuances.
Hell, BCS actually adds entirely new layers that weren't there in Breaking Bad like the whole monologue Gus gives about his childhood and how he always had this more stoic nature as a child, which completely changes his backstory and how we view his character.
@@hastensavoir7782
Hell yeah! Rhea Seehorn deserves all the praise. One of the best acted and written female characters on TV. Thanks for making this video.
Bullshit or I should say DiarRhea
One of the best acted and written characters period. She deserves all the emmys
You really think this character would've stayed with Jimmy for as long as she did?
@@lxldny Yes, it's shown time and time again that she enjoys the scams just as much if not more than Jimmy does. She's the one who pushed him to do the Howard scam and it wasn't until he was literally shot dead in front of her that she realized maybe it wasn't such a good idea.
@@lxldny uh yeah? Because in some ways she was 'worse' than Jimmy. She just had more self control
One of the greatest actors ever. Immediately makes you forget that she is playing a character and makes even the most cynical of the observers believe that Kim Wexler is 100% a real human being.
Every time in the series that she has had some sort of outburst or whatever, it made me super uncomfortable like I was seeing something I wasn't meant to, as if it was really happening. The part earlier in the series after Chuck dies and she confronts Howard on behalf of Jimmy and starts raising her voice and yelling, that shit makes my hair stand on end every time.
@@SkeleTonHammer
The scene where she breaks down emotionally on the bus is one of my favourite scenes in the whole of the two series...
Don't be so hyperbolic. Jeez.
@@TheInsideVideo SHHHHHH let people excited.
Yes. The acting on this show is so good that even now I'm convinced all these characters are real people :-)
Other than Nacho, Kim was one of the most unexpected characters I fell in love with throughout the show. She's almost the opposite of Skylar, encouraging Jimmy and even joining in on his cons. She does it because she's good at it, and likes it, like a certain chemistry teacher we all love. Like Jesse though, Kim realizes that their game has gone too far and has the moral fortitude to stop.
I hope that she has a happy ending by the end of the show
I see her "moral fortitude" as just another in a long line of selfish decisions made only to serve her own personal feelings. She knew EXACTLY what she was doing to Howard, she didnt come to some moral realization about it later. I hope she ends up in a hole.
YUP!
Why do people keep comparing Kim to Skyler? Just bc their women? Two different characters and circumstances.
@@scilines because they were the main female characters written by the same people.
@@tRav285 yeah, this is fs a stupid question, they’re both the partner of the main character and they’re dragged deeper into criminal activity by their respective partners. No way someone can say that they’re not in the same position
It's honestly baffling that it took the Emmy's six seasons before they nominated a woman who is clearly one of the all time greats
the "we're poison together" scene completely broke my heart
absolutely amazing actress, but everybodys acting in this series is amazing so that complement might not matter lol
You're right about the caliber of acting. Think about it, even minor characters like Eryn or Cliff at David & Main, or even a one off character like Kristie 'The Shoplifter' Esposito - you just get used to it. I was watching Stephen Merchent's 'The Outlaws' recently and, while I really liked it overall, the acting from the two young leads was really green and I found myself thinking "Can they put bad acting on television? I didn't know they could do that anymore". Proud moment for this cast to see the whole thing come to a conclusion and go down as their most famous role.
The thing is, Kim Wexler feels AUTHENTIC. Like a real person. Because the things that she does to emote, those are things real people really do in real life - clenching the jaw, squinting, raising eyebrows, pursing the lips, fidgeting, these are all subtle signs of emotions in real life. It's as if Rhea isn't performing, it's as if she really is feeling these emotions genuinely. And that's why many of us are able to relate, compared to with Jimmy who is more "flashy"
man, that last episode... If Rhea doesn't win an emmy just for that bus scene there's no justice in this world
That bus scene made me tear up
just doing her job
For realllll. I couldnt help but cry with her
That scene was kinda cringe ngl
@@perspectiveflip that's the point. For someone like Kim to break down like that in public, can you imagine the pain she must be feeling? It's supposed to be uncomfortable.
Kim wexler is such a fresh take on a career driven woman in tv series. She's self-reliant, smart, educated, ambitious but not condescending, made bad choices and OWNED UP TO IT, look kinda cold from the outside but really caring. And yes, her body language speaks volumes! You explained it perfectly.
Never get tired of BCS character breakdown videos.
Great summary of her character. Couldn’t have said it better
"I was having too much fun" strangely mirrors: "I liked it, I was good at it, and I was alive" Brilliant.
People tend to underestimate the influence of the actor themselves in the crafting of their character. The writers provide only the barebones, the actor decides the nuance in their character's habits, their physicality, their backstory and tics in dialogue. Kim was originally meant to be an incredibly minor role; reduced to a stock female love interest character like Skylar was. But it was through the efforts of Rhea, who SAW Kim's potential, that she was able to break free out of those trope-ish constraints and create one of the best female characters ever on TV, of course with the collaboration of all of the BCS team as well.
I've been reading a bunch of interviews and here's what I've gathered: Rhea was adamant on pushing for Kim to "slip" and fall to the dark side with Jimmy, to create more nuanced character dynamics. I think she improv-ed a few scenes (like smiling after HMM was shown Jimmy's little advertisement stunt) which acted as a catalyst for Gould and Gilligan to change the direction of her character and make her much more important in Jimmy's life.
Kudos to RHEA!!!
Given the extreme opinions about her in the fandom, Skylar was hardly a "stock female love interest." Weird comment.
Her screaming when Lalo killed Howard is maybe the most realistic reaction to a death I’ve ever seen in a piece of media
God I just fucking love Kim's character, quite easily for me the best Female character I've ever seen in media, and one of the best characters full stop. Rhea is an absolute master of her craft, how she hasn't won, or was even nominated until this year for an Emmy is an absolute travesty. I've never seen an actress portray so many emotions and deliver lines so excellently and consistently in my life. Bit of a shame this vid was made before the series finished as there could definitely been another section for what happens after the events in this video, great watch anyways though!
The way she just stomachs bad news and lies with “okay,” like she’s zipping up any internal dialogue about it
Kim’s reaction to Jimmy reading Chuck’s letter is very similar to the way she was fighting back tears on the bus in Waterworks. Such a great actress.
I don't say this lightly, but Rhea is an outrageously good actor. I am always completely sold on her character, never once have I ever thought "ahh that was just acting", I genuinely, truly believe Rhea is Kim in every single scene. And what a fantastic character she is. I'm terrified for the final episode.
The finale was incredible
Her and Jesse have become my favorite characters of the Gilliganverse and seeing them together on screen in the penultimate episode was a sweet moment for me.
Kim was the first BB character I could fully relate to. I could never see myself in Walt's mad dash towards destruction nor Jimmy's inability to change, nor in Skyler and Jesse's reaction to Walt's metamorphosis. But Kim? I could place myself in her shoes, as someone who tries to uphold her own morality while constantly tripped up by her own dark side and its greatest enabler, just as she is to Jimmy.
Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul are shows about drugs as crime and crime as drugs. Kim is the social user, which is a very relatable archetype.
I love that Vince Gillian writes real people that’s what makes her so endearing. I know people like Kim but have never seen their archetype properly portrayed in the media and damn she’s just perfectly written and a breathe of fresh air
Rhea Seehorn does a great job. Particularly in the crying scene aboard the train.
Waterworks! That took me a second, but dang if I don’t appreciate that episode title now.
I remember thinking during the scenes with Kim as a child 'wow this actress has absolutely nailed it!' but couldn't quite put my finger on how she nails it. This video explained it to me. The precise attention to detail within these two shows is what make them so unbelievable.
Great analysis from you as well.
Excellent job - best Kim analysis I've yet seen. It highlights the excellence of this series, the heart and mind behind it's execution.
EXACTLY! Spot on! A very good analysis on Acton in general also.
And: ”It highlights the excellence of this series, the heart and mind behind it’s execution.”
This is just a brilliant way to express what brilliance just is!!
I honestly think she is one of the best characters ever written male or female
When she meets mike again at the restaurant and she asked why he told her about Lalo being back - and he responds “because I think you’re made of sterner stuff”
Combined with her flashbacks of dealing with her mom and how that somewhat reflects Jimmy
She’s just awesome..
Real
Her name is pronounced Ray jsyk.She is a fabulous actor, when she cried on the bus it was the most realistic full body sobbing I've ever seen. Every scene is a masterclass in acting, Kim was a fully realised character from day 1.
Yep. "Ray." Watch just one behind the scenes for BCS and you'll hear it pronounced that way over and over. I guess this guy just didn't observe that.
Thank you for this amazing character study. I can't believe the story comes to a close in less than a week 😭
wait but girls dont really watch better call saul though
Such an intelligent and articulately written character.
Legitimately my favorite character throughout the two shows. Just an unbelievable performance.
Anna Gunn's performance of Skyler was stellar even if she got a lot of negative reaction since she had to act against someone we rooted for...but Rhea's personification of Kim was nothing short of phenomenal, the best performance of the whole show even if Tony Dalton was stellar as well
She is such an amazing actress! I was inspired by her acting and character for an audition I recently did. Every scene where she's in is like an advanced acting course.
I completely agree with all of this, but also wanted to say that in general Kim is written and acted as a very realistic and interesting person. Like, the kind of person you see while out doing errands and you can see that they're processing some thought or emotion, and it reminds you that we all have the same kind of internal dialogue going. Both on a technical and subtextual level, Rhea plays Kim as someone you'd love to just sit down with and listen to their perspective on life. It gives a whole new meaning to breathing life into a character, and I love it
Although I truly did NOT hate Skylar, I have to admit she was probably my least favorite character from Breaking Bad, so I think it's extra awesome that the writers of Better Call Saul created one of the greatest female TV characters of all time.
I personally didn’t like Hank in BB.
Marie: exists
I think Skylar grabbing a knife was out of the blue, and wasnt justified enough in the story.
Then there’s Frank…
@thorthewolf8801 She had just found out Hank was dead, and she assumed Walt did it. It was absolutely justified.
Not only is it a great character, you are absolutely right: Seehorn is amazing as an actress. I've never noticed her in her other parts in her career but I really hope she continues to land some nice roles after this. Seriously she's a master in a show with pitch perfect casting.
What I love about this cast is its made by actors who played supporting characters. They took the time to progress and are masters of their craft
That lunch table example you gave with Rich is so well chosen. Totally dull dialogue on paper, that's completely engaging on screen. She elevated it!
Incredible video! Thank you for making these, such great insight.
What a brilliant analysis of her work. Lots of things I hadn't realized, but once they're pointed out, you see it so clearly.
She’s really does an amazing job as Kim, can’t wait to see what she does next
Rhea Seehorn became my favorite actress after BCS. She's incredible!
What a fantastic video. A genuinely insightful and brilliant breakdown of her performance. She's so god damn good.
She's definitely up there with Bryan Cranston acting skill just the top notch
the scene when Howard is shot?
@@tRav285 The most impressive scene for me is when she goes off on Howard in S4EP2 'Breathe' after Chuck dies and they're settling the will. Absolute chills, what a performance. Also immense in 'Point and Shoot' and the newest episode too she is also phenomonal.
@@rockstarrzz7171 I was referencing that as a scene of BAD acting.
@@tRav285 That one’s amazing dude I know! But I personally like more the one when she cries after Jimmy calls her in BagMan and she finds out he’s alive.
Hell no. Bob Odenkirk is the real star of this show, I hate how some people give more credit to Rhea than him. Bob and Bryan are a different level of acting all together, plus have more complexity to work with
The heartbeat of the series!
This Queen Deserves all the awards.
One of my favorite characters in anything, watching her story unfold kept you guessing but ALWAYS made sense in the end
Kim Wexler is probably my favorite female character in any tv show
you articulate things so well
She gave an awardwinning performance in episode 12, pure masterclass
she makes it look so effortless but it takes a great amount of skill and practice to become this good, she's a genius (I rarely say this about actors but she really is)
i love how you bring actors to life with your exposition and reading into their art. thank you for your help
Amazing analysis! So many subtleties I wouldn't have noticed if it weren't for this video. Thank you!
She doesn’t have a single word in a episode and yet be the best part of the whole episode. Absolutely stunning. Best female character and actor ever.
I wish I could show this series to my 2011 teenage girl self who was blonde, a huge Saul Goodman fan, and imagined becoming a lawyer who would slay these outfits. I wanted to be a Kim clone before the character was even written lmao. So it didn't take long to love her, but they just went so much further with making her into one of the greatest characters ever to grace TV.
That was an excellent, insightful video. You were able to summarize the reasons I loved Kim by citing specific examples that I noticed but couldn't express.
Thank you so much for doing the video (the wait was definitely worth it, considering Waterworks!)
You've earned a subscriber. I think your analysis of this brilliant show is genuinely fantastic, and I can't wait to see more
One of my favorite Better Call Saul videos ever! Thank you so much! ❤
14:45 That's a great point. There's really no higher praise for a performance than being memorable without memorable lines.
great video, i really found rhea's performance in bcs so captivating and i'm glad someone's singing her praises
Her acting alone is more of a love story than twilight.
omg the amount of observing u have done to Kim Wexler's character here got tears in my eyes in awe of great of a actor she is. Please make more of these videos. If you need any support from the community. We got your back.
Fantastic breakdown of Seehorn’s acting skill. So many truly great performances, such as her’s as Wexler go unnoticed by the average viewer. Partly due to ignorance about what goes into such performances, and partly due to the overwhelming amount of great shows out there, that include more strong performers. Well done.
Excellent analysis of her performance. One minor note, her name is pronounced "Rey" with one syllable, not "Rey-ah," despite how it's spelled. Just so you know!
This channel is becoming one of my favorites with videos like this
I really enjoy these analysis on the acting, It is amazing how much detail It takes. I think Kim is memorable in this masterpiece, how she wasnt even nominated for the EMI is beyond comprehensive.
Thank you for the amazing video!
Such a believable character man, I was rooting for her the whole series and scared shitless for what could happen to her, with what actually happens at the end being so Kim like and expressing the themes of her character so well which includes what you talked about throughout the video: After what happens with Howard She sees her opening up herself and letting her uncalculated, more in the moment self as the devil and the thing that sent her down such an awful path, that same fun is what she is running away from, just to have the most calculated boring life she can think of so nothing bad happens from her being herself. While we as viewers adore Kim and want to see her succeed, she learns to hate herself, something that started from her childhood with problems with her mother that are later opened up again with Jimmy.
This is one of the best videos on the Internet.
Really good one and timely.
Brilliant channel. I love your analysis!!!!
amazing video, thank you so much!
Amazing analysis my dude
A character has never made me feel so much emotion, so much connection, while watching a show. Rhea's portrayal of Kim and the relationship between her and Bob / Jimmy / Saul connected with me so deeply. This show was a masterpiece!
Outstanding work by the actor and analysis.
Amazing video. This made me want to watch the show again from the start!
You captured my attention as Rhea did in her performance. It is intellectually joyful to watch and listen.
The crying scene on the public transit was absolutely powerful and emotional! She's the best of the bests!
Fantastic analysis!
Marvellous analysis.
Excellent Video! Makes me think of acting differently. I appreciate it!
Please talk about Michael Mando, he and Rhea are the best of the best at reacting
She is beautifully written and perfectly acted. She has strength and wit but makes mistakes and isn't insufferable. Also who could dislike Kim. We all wish we had such a woman
You observations and level of detail are brilliant. You'd make a great acting teacher. Rhea has taken all the character traits, conflicts, contradictions and character arcs Vince Gilligan and Company could throw at her and succeeded beyond anyone's wildest dreams. If she doesn't win an Emmy for her 90 second one-take breakdown scene on the bus ALONE, there is no justice in the world.
I love when people heap praise on subtle acting, just as you did here. I was just thinking that with years of excellent work playing this character she could finally win a well deserved EMMY this year. She truly is a talented actor.
I hope this channel gets more views.
you analyze characters in a very unique professional way.
Amazing video. Notifications on and back catalog will be enjoyed.
Brilliant work...on brilliant work.
Excellent essay on Rhea's embodiment of Kim Wexler. I would argue that you missed a pair of the most amazing scenes that Rhea took the whole character to another level... First the story that she tells Rachel at the memorial service, there are so many layers to that scene it's astonishing. Then the kiss in the parking garage - you know at that moment the relationship is over, and you can tell the is a lot more that is going to happen. Kim had made a decision, it's only up to the audience to find out what she has decided.
💯
The best part about BCS is that you could honestly make this type of video about anyone from the main cast.
Great analysis, as always. I just want to add that they also let Kim show she is nervous by tapping her foot frantically - although it only happened a few times in the show. When the fidgeting was mentioned, I connected it with this as well.
The body language of characters can tell you so much more about them than words could ever say and Rhea is a master class at it.
I was not expecting you to notice so many hidden details. Excellent video! Makes me even more sad as this series is finally coming to an end.
Great reading of a truly great performance.
Thanks for good work sir.
The scene where Lalo makes Kim go on a hit was so intense and felt so real, I had to pause the show
Truly beautiful stuff
Love Kim Wexler! Genius work!! The scene where she confronts Howard and yells at him after Chucks death is golden.
This channel portrays itself like it has a million subs, surprised you only have 130k. You deserve a lot more.
well done, such a good video.
What I love about her performance and the show in general is how it's rare that characters will openly state how they feel, its such a realist performance
I was looking forward to seeing which aspects of her acting and her character portrayal you had identified and I completely agree with the points you identified (the restraint, the breathing also I would say and the gestures, like with the post its or how neat looking and precise her smoking is). I also really appreciated you mentioned the Skyler White issue (although, to be fair, their morals differ so much, I believe it was more about finessing the nuances than writing an Anti-Skyler) I really hope you will continue breaking down iconic female performances (I'm thinking Meryl Streep's Miranda Priestly for example, or Frances McDormand in Fargo). To me, Seehorn's portrayal of a restraint "less is more" female character is absolutely groundbreaking on television, so far from current depictions of female lead in drama tv shows. (oh, I almost forgot, I would an analysis on Julia Louis Dreyfus comic skills on Veep...those are unique, they even go beyond gender..)
Congrats on the awesome work, as always!
The "less is more" female character isn't exactly groundbreaking. In the UK, there was "Prime Suspect" with Helen Mirren. In Scandinavia, there were the female leads of "The Killing" and "The Bridge". The former was influenced by Prime Suspect.