Rhea Seehorn Uncovers the Toughest Scenes in Better Call Saul: Can She Really Nail It?

Summary

Rhea Seehorn discusses the difficulty of emotionally portraying the final scenes of Better Call Saul, including the prison scene and the final smoking scene.

Seehorn acknowledges the difficulty of portraying Kim Wexler in the Florida episode due to the stark contrast in her character's behavior. She appreciates the chance to tackle demanding scenes and collaborate with exceptional individuals who motivate her to explore uncharted territories.

Rhea Seehorn, star of Better Call Saul, recently discussed the most difficult scenes to film during the show's final episodes. Initially, audiences had concerns about Kim Wexler's character as she became more involved in the dark world of Jimmy McGill/Saul Goodman. However, as the series progressed, it was revealed that she was not a victim but an accomplice, adding complexity to her character. This led to a surge of support for Seehorn to receive an Emmy for her portrayal.

A year after the series finale, Seehorn has been nominated for the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress for the second consecutive time. In an interview conducted before the current SAG-AFTRA strike, Seehorn discussed the challenges of playing Kim Wexler after she went into hiding and assumed a new identity. Below, you can read what the Emmy nominee had to say about her experience (via THR):

Emotionally engaging in those final scenes—the prison scene, walking through the prison yard, and the final smoking scene—proved to be quite challenging. Understanding and portraying Kim's emotional journey in those moments was particularly difficult. However, the episode "Waterworks" (episode 12) added another layer of challenge. In this black-and-white Florida episode, Kim transforms into an entirely different person after receiving a phone call from Jimmy. It was a tremendous task, but one that I embraced with an almost blissful attitude. Many actors can relate to this feeling of uncertainty and the exhilaration of being encouraged to take on the seemingly impossible. Navigating Kim's character in that moment was a fascinating experience, especially when working closely with Peter. It was like a puzzle to unravel: who is Kim in this specific situation? Additionally, filming many scenes without my usual scene partners made me feel like a fish out of water, but in the best possible way.

“Waterworks” Was Seehorn’s Emmy Reel

Initially seen as just a supporting character in Jimmy/Saul's plans, Kim Wexler evolved into a key player in Better Call Saul season 6. In the penultimate episode, "Waterworks," Kim's character takes center stage. After leaving her life as a lawyer in Albuquerque behind, Kim transforms her appearance and relocates to Florida, where she leads an unassuming life as a worker in a sprinkler company. However, everything changes when she unexpectedly receives a call from her ex-husband Jimmy. This prompts her to return to Albuquerque, where she finally confesses to Howard Hamlin's widow her involvement in Howard's demise.

Seehorn's standout moment occurs when Kim confesses to Cheryl Hamlin, prompting a powerful display of emotions as she experiences a complete breakdown on a bus. This raw outpouring of long-suppressed guilt demonstrates why Seehorn is deserving of the Emmy recognition she has been eagerly awaiting for her role in Better Call Saul. Surprisingly, the true test of Seehorn's acting prowess lies not in portraying Kim's return and breakdown in Albuquerque, but in the challenging scenes set in a desolate Florida where Kim is disconnected from her former self, trapped in a numbing existence, and evading the consequences of her actions.