Better Call Saul’s Real Villain Is Kim Wexler

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Initially, “Better Call Saul” seemed to present a clear contrast between good and bad. Jimmy McGill’s energetic, rule-breaking personality was balanced by the calm, professional demeanor of Kim Wexler. While Jimmy descended into the chaotic world of Saul Goodman, Kim appeared to be a voice of reason and empathy. However, as the series concluded, it became evident that the most dangerous character wasn’t the cartel or even Saul Goodman himself, but Kim Wexler. From their first meeting, Kim projected an image of control, appearing disciplined, effective, and emotionally detached. But this wasn’t a sign of strong morals – it was a carefully constructed facade.

Kim thought she could handle Jimmy’s unpredictable behavior without compromising her own integrity. While she’d point out when he skirted the rules, she’d make excuses when he truly broke them. Her subtle smile after he forged documents related to Mesa Verde revealed everything. She was fully aware of his wrongdoing, understood it was wrong, but allowed it to happen because it served her purposes. This one choice fundamentally changed the show’s moral landscape: she didn’t simply accept Jimmy’s schemes—she began to actively participate in them.

The Better Call Saul Moment That Changed Everything

The Mesa Verde scheme was the first time we truly saw Kim’s true character. At her old law firm, HHM, she felt like just another nameless employee, and Jimmy’s forgery allowed her to break free. She justified her actions as fighting for the underdog against a powerful corporation, but really, it was just her ambition taking over, disguised as righteous indignation. By taking Mesa Verde back, Kim crossed a point of no return, making a moral compromise she could never undo.

She discovered that rules weren’t always fixed – sometimes they could be adjusted to help her get ahead, not just to cope. This is a common way people convince themselves that whatever they do is okay if the result is good. And for her, this thinking led her to use her empathy to manipulate and control others, justifying it to herself along the way.

Kim had completely lost her composure. She and Jimmy devised a plan to embarrass Howard Hamlin, whose biggest weakness was looking down on people. Initially, the scheme to make it appear he was using cocaine seemed like one of Jimmy’s typical jokes. However, things changed when Kim took the lead – she wasn’t just finding it funny, she was genuinely thrilled.

Kim didn’t intend for things to turn out the way they did, but her choices directly caused significant harm. She encouraged Jimmy to participate in a scam that had real consequences, and she reacted with unsettling detachment. While Jimmy wrestled with the guilt and fallout, Kim seemed to shut it all off, confessing nothing and immediately returning to her normal routine.

Kim Wexler Is a Morally Grey Character

Kim’s evil isn’t about grand schemes, but subtle decisions – a shared glance with Jimmy after a deception, or her composed voice when excusing unkind acts. Even when she confesses to Howard’s widow, Cheryl, it doesn’t feel like true regret. Instead, it’s as if she’s taking back control of her story. Ultimately, her downfall is the mistaken belief that simply understanding her own flaws will set things right.

She fully understands her actions, but mistakenly believes simply admitting fault will make things right. That’s a dangerous illusion. Evil doesn’t always look monstrous; it often appears normal, even charming and logical. The show consistently portrays Jimmy’s transformation into Saul Goodman as unavoidable. Surprisingly, when he completely adopts that persona – the flashy clothes, the smooth talking, the lack of regret – there’s a sense of release. He’s finally being true to himself.

Kim, on the other hand, fades into a bleak and withdrawn life, avoiding even her own gaze. It’s ironic, but Jimmy’s obvious wrongdoing feels less damaging than Kim’s subtle sense of being morally superior. He commits crimes for money, while she justifies hers with what she believes is right. She doesn’t simply bend the rules; she changes them to fit her own way of thinking. In a world where choices have significant consequences, Kim’s intelligence actually becomes her downfall. She knows what’s right and wrong, but she uses her understanding of morality to justify her actions anyway.

Kim Wexler Is the Real Villain in Better Call Saul

Kim’s past decisions ultimately led to Jimmy’s fate. After Howard’s death, she left Jimmy, not because she disliked him, but because she was scared and felt responsible. This left him with nothing left to lose. Without Kim to keep him in check, Jimmy fully became the persona of Saul Goodman, and couldn’t go back. Later, when Jimmy finally accepted the consequences of his actions, Kim’s refusal to speak up felt like the biggest betrayal. She allowed him to take full responsibility for everything – the schemes, the dishonesty, and the identity they had built together.

It wasn’t until his public confession that she reappeared, but only as an observer, no longer his partner. This ending completely changes how you view their whole relationship. While Jimmy was a con artist, she enabled and excused his actions. When she left, she wasn’t just abandoning him – she was rejecting the dishonest world they had built together. With her gone, Saul Goodman was finally able to become who he was meant to be. That’s why she’s the true antagonist of Better Call Saul. The show’s final twist is that she still believes everything she did was out of love.

All six seasons of Better Call Saul are streaming on Netflix.

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2025-11-05 18:37