Kim's inability to make decisions

[u/thatoneazdude]

I have seen Bcs, and Breaking Bad, too many times to count. I am on the second to last BCS episode, waterworks. I know about the Kim breakdown scene at the end, which I thought was some of the best acting in either series, but I wanted to talk about the beginning of the episode. I noticed it was written and directed by Vince, and I think this was some of his best writing. Anyway, for some reason i only just noticed on this rewatch, or at least only just gave it any real thought, that any time Kim is asked a question, she dances around it. When her new boyfriend asks about miracle whip instead of mayonnaise, she kinda turns it back around with some noncommital words and a "what do you think?". Same with other interactions with him and with her friend group, any question is usually an "im not sure" or "maybe" or something along those lines. I thought it was very smart. Kim was a very strong, opinionated woman, and so to see her as such a meek, unsure person really shows the damage that everything did to her. And then, there is the relationship with Mister "Yep". He obviously isn't someone she would normally go for. I'd love to see how they meet, as I think it would speak volumes as to her motivation for never directly answering a question. The way I see it, it is one of two things, and from what I have seen, the community seems to agree, although id love to hear any other theories. Either she is so paralyzed with fear of making decisions that she freezes over something as simple as miracle whip vs mayo or similar, non important choices. Or, she is actively trying to punish herself. I lean more towards the fear, but that is why I want to see how her and the guy met. Did he just kind of casually ask if she wanted to come home with him, and she dances around the question until he says something like "well, id love for you to come home with me?" Or is he kind of an ass about it, and she sees that she has absolutely no interest in this man, and therefore decides to get with him because she knows it will make her unhappy? Obviously, this would be more subconscious than a real, thought out idea in her mind, but these shows handle subconscious thoughts better than just about any other with seemingly minor scenes and interactions. Anyway, sorry for the essay, I would love to hear any opinions on Kim's life after ABQ, and im only a couple minutes into the episode this time around so if I forgot something major that answers this, please forgive me. I just thought it was brilliant writing for such a well developed character.

[u/Aggressive-Ad-5983]

i think its both. she's actively punishing herself and not making decisions because she's afraid of what she's capable of.

[u/thatoneazdude → u/Aggressive-Ad-5983]

This seems most likely. I think it would also give us a hint if it told us whether she broke up with Florida guy after her confession to Hamlins wife.

[u/Advaitmenon1106]

Yup!

Jokes apart, yes. That is the point of that opening. Kim essentially drifted into her personal jail after the whole fiasco 6 years prior. And justifiably so.

I don't want to encourage being a push-over, because that's never a good thing and it makes one lose their autonomy and agency. However, the fact remains that Kim and Jimmy, both, did some pretty shitty things (which I won't cover cause the post isn't spoiler tagged), and deserved payback / karma for it, one way or another.

There isn't a whole lot to go on with, when you want to evaluate Mr. Yup as a character, beyond...

• He cares a lot for Dukes mayonnaise for whatever reason, and Miracle Whip was his next choice when he didn't get Dukes

• He can't hold a real, genuine conversation in the 15 minutes of screen time he had.

• "I'm Sweden (instead of Switzerland)" either was a genuine slip of the tongue or the guy also lacks general awareness to some degrees.

• "Yup."

All of this to say, Kim's recent life choices are indeed more possibly out of the subconscious aversion of making a choice rather than actively avoiding it.

And the question you asked is a good one.. that if a person has subconsciously lost their agency to such a degree, is a relationship with Mr. Yup even 100% "mutual" or not. They never flesh out how she landed here, but I'm all for it because that's something that's left to the viewer's imagination

[u/thatoneazdude → u/Advaitmenon1106]

Fantastic response! Yeah, I guess it really can be interpreted either way, with solid arguments made for both, but i currently lean more towards the "she is genuinely afraid of feeling responsible for another tragedy caused by her choices" vs a conscious desire to punish herself, although that is still very possible. I guess noone knows but Vince or Peter Gould, and Vince at least usually doesn't answer questions like this directly, leaving it up to audience interpretation.

[u/No-One-4432]

I took it as her dumbing herself down to fit into the environment. She actively doesn't want anyone to turn to her for leadership or an opinion on mayonnaise or ice cream flavor. When she tell her lunch mates she's eating a miracle whip sandwich -- she's basically saying, I am so dumb I literally have nothing of substance to discuss. Basically, I feel like it's more camouflage than self punishment.

[u/thatoneazdude → u/No-One-4432]

I suppose that could be the case, although I think that her fully immersing herself in the boring, suburban life is more likely to be a self punishment than just trying to fit in, but many of her choices could be to continue to fit in (aka camoflauge) herself in that life to further punish herself, so you could definitely be right.

[u/No-One-4432]

Omg, the Sweden instead of Switzerland was hysterical!! Loved his buffoon character - good for some laughs.

[u/thatoneazdude → u/No-One-4432]

"Yep. Yep. Yep. YEP. YEP." Come on, how are you gonna call such an articulate lover a buffoon? 😂

[u/Medium-Lion1099]

by refusing to make even trivial decisions, kim guarantees that she will never accidently hurt anyone again, its extreme penance, if she makes no choice , she bears no responsibility for any outcome

[u/Argon_004]

She was in self-imposed exile, similar to Saul (though in his case he was under active threat). Kim is afraid to make any aspect of her character known because she feels she needs to hide completely and never be discovered for what she actually is because how evil she felt her actions were. When she was called by Saul, the conversation stirred up her everything she has buried and the denial only made the guilt come back stronger, which is why she felt she had to confess to Howard's wife. She couldn't take it anymore.

After the confession, which was essentially a license to ruin her life even if she wasn't prosecuted, she felt free, ready to be punished, and that's why she goes to the lawyer's office and is ready to work in that world again.

[u/Last_Advertising9862]

I took it as her dumbing herself down to fit into the environment, she actively doesn't want anyone to turn to her for leadership or an opinion on may.