The Cannes Film Festival has a stacked lineup this year, with new movies from David Cronenberg, James Gray, Claire Denis, Park Chan-wook, Kelly Reichardt, and Hirokazu Kore-eda. One anticipated title that will not premiere at the festival, however, is Blonde, the Ana de Armas-starring Marilyn Monroe biopic from The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford and Killing Them Softly director Andrew Dominik. Netflix won’t debut any of its films at the festival’s 75th edition, including Blonde.
Dominik didn’t directly discuss the Cannes omission during a recent interview with Collider (he hopes it premieres at Venice instead), but he did compare his “NC-17 movie about Marilyn Monroe” to two of the greatest movies ever. “Blonde is a movie for all the unloved children of the world. It’s like Citizen Kane and Raging Bull had a baby daughter,” he said, adding, “It uses all the imagery that you have seen of Marilyn Monroe, the films, photographs of her life. But it changes the meaning of all those things in accordance with her internal drama. So it’s sort of a movie about the unconscious.”
Dominik continued:
“And it’s a tragedy. It’s sort of like an unwanted child who becomes the most wanted woman in the world and has to deal with all of the desire that is directed at her, and how confusing that is. It’s kind of a nightmare. It’s about being in a car with no brakes. It’s just going faster and faster and faster.”
It’s only fair that de Armas stars in a movie that goes “faster and faster and faster” after her last film was about snails.
Blonde is expected to hit Netflix later this year.
Keeping up with new music can be exhausting, even impossible. From the weekly album releases to standalone singles dropping on a daily basis, the amount of music is so vast it’s easy for something to slip through the cracks. Even following along with the Uproxx recommendations on a daily basis can be a lot to ask, so every Monday we’re offering up this rundown of the best new music this week.
This week saw Lizzo introduce a “song of the summer” contender and Cardi B make her return with a new feature. Yeah, it was a great week for new music. Check out the highlights below.
Lizzo is coming off a huge weekend that saw her serve as host and musical guest on Saturday Night Live. Ahead of that, she made sure she had a new song to perform by dropping “About Damn Time,” a snippet of which she played on The Late Late Show last month. The song is an absolute banger that sees Lizzo riding the wave of the recent disco revival on one of her catchiest and funkiest singles yet.
Phoebe Bridgers — “Sidelines”
Phoebe Bridgers is officially at the level of fame and acclaim that news of a new single crashes her website. That happened last week with “Sidelines,” which she dropped on Friday. The song is an introspective tune in which she addresses her fears and how her nature has changed over the years.
Kay Flock — “Shake It” Feat. Cardi B, Dougie B, and Bory3000
Cardi B’s corner of the internet has been a quiet place recently after deactivating her social media pages earlier this month. She made her return to the spotlight in a big way a few days ago, though, by getting back online, revealing her new baby boy’s name, and making a featured appearance on a new song; She hopped on Kay Flock’s “Shake It,” offering a few lines on the raw, two-minute drill track.
Trina — “Clap” Feat. Latto
Trina, long an ally to rising female rappers, showed an example of that spirit last week by linking up with Latto on “Clap.” Uproxx’s Aaron Williams notes of the track, “Trina reunites with Latto for a frenzied strip club anthem that finds the two rappers playing femme fatale, stressing both their beauty and their danger.”
Kurt Vile — “Flyin (Like A Fast Train)”
Vile recently told Uproxx of his new album Watch My Moves, “Basically, I just want it to be as honest as possible. I want the songs to creep up to me. In the older days, I used to think too much. ‘Oh, why am I not writing? Am I going to write a good song?’ None of that matters, because now I like when I’m not writing. I like to be present in whatever I’m doing and then the music comes through inspiration. If you just go about your day, inspiration’s going to strike. I’m not too worried about anything really. I feel like I’ve proved a lot on this album, to be honest. But at the same time, I have nothing to prove.”
Lil Durk — “What Happened To Virgil” Feat. Gunna
Virgil Abloh, an iconic designer whose influence was felt in the hip-hop world (among many other realms), died in late 2021. That was almost half a year ago and the tributes are still pouring in. The latest was last week’s Lil Durk and Gunna collaboration “What Happened To Virgil.” Uproxx’s Aaron Williams notes the song’s Lyrical Lemonade video (which was made in the production company’s “colorful, surreal, and whimsical” aesthetic) is “a far cry from Durk and Gunna’s grittier visuals. That “turns out to actually be a perfect tribute to Abloh’s high-low aesthetic, which saw him bringing streetwear virtues to high-fashion venues such as Louis Vuitton, where he was the artistic director until his recent passing.”
Jamie xx — “Let’s Do It Again”
While it’s been a minute since a new album from The xx, the group’s members have kept busy with their own solo endeavors. That includes Jamie xx, who has dropped a single here and there. He returned with another last week: “Let’s Do It Again,” a fun, summery, club-ready dance tune.
Interpol — “Something Changed”
Interpol went ahead and announced a new album, The Other Side Of Make-Believe, earlier this month and have so far shared a couple of singles. Last week brought “Something Changed,” a dramatic, mid-tempo tune that slots nicely into the band’s oeuvre.
Gucci Mane — “Serial Killers”
Gucci Mane dropped a whopping three projects last year — Ice Daddy, So Icy Boyz, and So Icy Christmas — and he hasn’t really slowed down here in 2022. Just last week, he delivered “Serial Killers,” in which he uses haunting production to share a message for posers claiming to live the lifestyle he actually has.
Edgar Winter, Taylor Hawkins, and Doug Rappoport — “Guess I’ll Go Away”
Aside from the outpouring of kind words about Taylor Hawkins following the late Foo Fighters drummer’s recent death, another sign of how beloved he was is the many collaborations he was involved in outside of his main band. One of those, which ended up being his first posthumous song, was released last week: Edgar Winter shared For Johnny, a tribute album for his late brother Johnny Winter, and on it, Hawkins sings “Guess I’ll Go Away,” showing that while Dave Grohl is the Foo Fighters’ captain, the band had more than one capable leading man.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Amber Heard’s traumatizing trial against Johnny Depp has been going on for some time, and it just hit another bump in the road after Heard’s close friend and journalist Eve Barlow (who is known for her controversial “Eve Fartlow” tweets) was allegedly tweeting and texting in the front row of the courtroom which is historically a very controversial move…and also just a generally bad idea.
According to Page Six, Barlow was sitting with Heard’s legal team and attempted to bring up social media posts regarding the case, and was even tweeting and texting while inside the courtroom. While the laws surrounding tweeting and texting in court are iffy (they vary from state to state) it was allegedly against a court order, according to Judge Penney S. Azcarate.
A source from inside the court told Page Six that Barlow was sitting with Heard’s legal team, “live-tweeting, texting and posting information” before Depp’s lawyers had her barred from the court.
“She was tweeting live from my courtroom … and I know the deputies took her out because she was texting. That’s against the court order. Ms. Barlow is not coming back into the courtroom during this trial,” Azcaratate said.
Heard and Depp have been in an ugly legal battle for several years, though this specific trail was regarding Heard’s op-ed about domestic abuse for The Washington Post. The Pirates Of The Caribbean actor sued for defamation of character. The two were in a relationship from 2015 to 2017, and Depp claims Heard made up allegations against him, while Heard countersued for 100 million.
Depp was famously fired from his role in the Harry Potter prequels after outrage among fans. Surprisingly enough that’s only one of the numerous scandals and drama that has been surrounding the franchise. Maybe it’s time to take a quick break from the Wizarding World, and the real world for that matter!
Rosalía has been taking over the world ever since releasing her groundbreaking album Motomami last month. With salacious videos, fiery collaborations, and praise from fellow stars like Lorde and Cardi B, the album was one of the biggest releases of the year so far. Now, she’s going to be heading out on a world tour this summer and fall.
The “Chicken Teriyaki” singer will be starting the run in Almería, Spain on July 6 and will end in Paris, France at the Accor Arena. Check out the dates below.
07/06 – Almería, Spain @ Recinto Ferial de Almeria
07/09 – Sevilla, Spain @ Estadio La Cartuja
07/12 – Granada, Spain @ Plaza de Toros
07/14 – Malaga, Spain @ Marenostrum
07/16 – Valencia, Spain @ Auditorio Marina Sur
07/19 – Madrid, Spain @ WiZink Center
07/20 – Madrid, Spain @ WiZink Center
07/23 – Barcelona, Spain @ Palau Sant Jordi
07/24 – Barcelona, Spain @ Palau Sant Jordi
07/27 – Bilbao, Spain @ Bilbao Exhibition Centre BEC
07/29 – La Coruña, Spain @ The Coliseo
08/01 – Palma, Spain @ Son Fusteret
08/14 – Mexico City, Mexico @ Auditorio Nacional
08/17 – Guadalajara, Mexico @ Auditorio Telemex
08/19 – Monterrey, Mexico @ Auditorio CitiBanamex
08/22 – Sao Paulo, Brazil @ Tom Brasil
08/25 – Buenos Aires, Argentina @ Arena Movistar
08/28 – Santiago, Chile @ Movistar Arena
08/31 – Bogota, Colombia @ Movistar Arena
09/03 – La Romana, Dominican Republic @ Altos De Chavon Amphitheater
09/09 – San Juan, Puerto Rico @ The Coliseo
09/15 – Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall at Fenway
09/18 – New York, New York @ Radio City Music Hall
09/19 – New York, New York @ Radio City Music Hall
09/23 – Toronto, Canada @ Budweiser Stage
09/26 – Washington, D.C. @ The Anthem
09/28 – Chicago, Illinois @ Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom
10/02 – San Diego, California @ Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre
10/04 – San Francisco, California @ Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
10/07 – Inglewood, California @ YouTube Theater
10/08 – Inglewood, California @ YouTube Theater
10/12 – Houston, Texas @ 713 Music Hall
10/14 – Irving, Texas @ The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
10/17 – Atlanta, Georgia @ Coca-Cola Roxy
10/22 – Miami, FL @ iii Points Festival
11/25 – Porto, Portugal @ Pavilhão Rosa Mota
11/26 – Lisbon, Portugal @ Campo Pequeno
12/01 – Milan, Italy @ Mediolanum Forum
12/04 – Berlin, Germany @ Velodrom
12/07 – Dusseldorf, Germany @ Mitsubishi Electric Hall
12/10 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ AFAS Live
12/12 – Brussels, Belgium @ Forest National
12/15 – London, United Kingdom @ The O2
12/18 – Paris, France @ Accor Arena
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
DJ Kay Slay, a beloved DJ and record executive whose real name was Keith Grayson, is dead at 55 years old following a months-long battle with COVID-19. Hot 97 confirmed the news this morning by sharing a statement from Grayson’s family.
The statement reads, “Our hearts are broken by the passing of Keith Grayson, professionally known as DJ Kay Slay. A dominant figure in hip hop culture with millions of fans worldwide, DJ Kay Slay will be remembered for his passion and excellence with a legacy that will transcend generations. In memory of DJ Kay Slay, our family wishes to thank all of his friends, fans, and supporters for their prayers and well wishes during this difficult time. We ask that you respect our privacy as we grieve this tragic loss.”
An official statement from The Grayson Family on the passing of Keith Grayson aka DJ Kay Slay: pic.twitter.com/nUZn55k3yh
Grayson, who was also known as the “Drama King,” hosted “The Drama Hour” on Hot 97 for over two decades. They shared their own statement about his passing:
In January 2020, Grayson’s brother Kwame Grayson revealed the DJ had been battling COVID-19 since December 27 and noted of his condition, “He’s definitely not going to die. […] He was slowly fading away, but God didn’t let that happen. Everything in time and when they found out who he was, they got him powered up again. So he’s up and going. He’s like in a recovery state, but he’s definitely not going to die. You can trust me on that.”
Grayson’s biggest commercial success was his debut album, 2003’s The Streetsweeper, Vol. 1. On that project alone, he worked with Eminem, 50 Cent, Fat Joe, Funkmaster Flex, Joe Budden, Remy Ma, and Wyclef Jean. The album’s biggest single (and Grayson’s biggest overall in terms of chart success) is “Too Much for Me,” which features Nas, Baby, Foxy Brown, and Amerie. It peaked at No. 53 on Billboard‘s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
After amounting an almost legendary amount of debt from years of lavish spending on dinosaur skulls and castles, Nicolas Cage got to work knocking out a non-stop parade of video-on-demand movies. While the common conception is that these type of films were merely “paycheck roles,” Cage has been adamant in recent interviews that he’s proud of the work he did and “never phoned it in.” In fact, the iconic actor is now saying that he’d easily pit his VOD work against the early years of his career when he became a blockbuster star.
It’s a pretty bold claim, but it all comes down to Cage wanting it known that, despite what people think, he cared about every role. Via Rolling Stone:
I think that I did some of the best work of my life in that so-called “direct to video” period. Massive Talent was in that group. Mandy was in that group. Pig, Bad Lieutenant: Port of New Orleans, Joe, Mom and Dad, Color Out of Space — they were all in that group. The Runner I thought was terrific. I’ll put any of those movies up [against] the first 30 years. If there is a misconception, it’s perhaps overlooking that there was a genuine commitment to performance.
Cage took things a step further by saying that the constant work made him a better actor. “It was the best workshop, the best acting class I could have,” he said. “I think it really was practice. I felt it made it so much easier for me to access my emotional content or my imagination. It was at my fingertips because of the training and the constant work.”
That said, Cage understands if people have different opinions about his VOD output. “All art is subjective. People are open to their opinions and their interpretations. Whatever they want to take from it, they’re not wrong.”
Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies were one of the best stories of the regular season, making the leap from the play-in last year to the No. 2 seed in the West. Now that it’s playoff time they hope to show they are more than just a good story, facing another young team on the rise, the Minnesota Timberwolves, in their first round series.
After dropping Game 1, Morant and the Grizzlies will look to even things up in Game 2 on Tuesday night, as they try to settle down and settle in to what looks to be a highly competitive and entertaining series. Adapting to new challenges is something Morant and the Grizzlies have done as well as anyone this season. For Morant, he made the leap into being an All-Star this season and has a case for All-NBA, despite missing some time with injuries, and maybe more importantly for the Grizzlies, he continues to grow into a leadership role on a young team that as a whole has adopted his cool confidence on and off the court.
Last week, prior to the Grizzlies’ matchup with the Timberwolves being set, we got a chance to talk with Morant over Zoom on behalf of BODYARMOR about his season, leadership, and his teammates, who he always ensures share the spotlight with him.
What are the lessons that you think you guys can take from from last year’s experience in the postseason and carry with you into this year?
Just how playoff basketball works, pretty much. That’s, you know, the main thing we can take from last year’s playoffs.
For you personally, you’re partnered with BODYARMOR on the Edge vs. Everybody campaign. How cool was it to be part of this ad campaign that’s going to start during the playoffs while you’re playing?
It’s definitely big time. Something to definitely be proud about. Definitely blessed and thrilled to be able to partner with BodyArmor in order to do this campaign and launch it during playoffs where I’m preparing to make a deep run.
How would you describe the vibe of the Grizzlies locker room to somebody like me who’s on the outside?
Pretty much just some fun, exciting guys who all have that similar mindset of going and proving ourselves each and every night. But also having fun while doing it.
And within that, what’s the level of competition like internally, because it seems you guys push each other to be better. We can all see the improvement that you guys as a collective have but also individually, it’s kind of remarkable the development each of you guys has shown. What is it like day to day that helps push you guys internally on the practice court?
Like no matter what’s going on, pretty much anytime we step on that floor we’re competing at a very high level. And as far as making each other better I feel like that’s what it is. If we play-in against each other or doing anything, you know, we’re competing and want to beat whoever’s on the other side. And that’s just pushing everybody to be better and helping us out in the long run.
Where do you think you personally have grown the most as a leader now that you’re in your third year?
Pretty much just leading by example. Showing guys how hard I play when I’m out there but as well as, you know, how much time I put into my game to also make me a better player.
You’ve had some time, most recently with with a knee injury, being out. Do you learn stuff about your teammates when you watch from the bench and watch them play without you that can help you when you get back out with them? To know some spots where maybe they have to take on a different role without you and you can see how they can they can thrive in different situations?
Of course, you know, just watching it and also being the point guard, you always have to know that where my teammates spots are at. And while I was out, I got to see a lot of guys take on bigger roles and go excel in whatever that was for them. And obviously that gives me confidence, but I know it gives them confidence as well and know when I came back to play you know, my mindset was just to keep those guys playing at that level that they were playing at.
Also, I think the question that people had coming into the draft was your size. Does it bring you some joy to show that is far from a weak point in your game and continue to show that you’re going to be able to get downhill and play with the trees and finish down there?
I’m glad they send me down there thinkin’ I couldn’t. So I don’t pay it too much mind, but I know exactly what people were saying when I was coming in. And, you know, for a guy with a small frame who they thought wouldn’t finish over bigs to lead the league in paint points tells you something.
To finish I want you to give me one word to describe some of your teammates, and we’ll start with Jaren Jackson Jr.
One word I’ll just say, Special. For him, just at his size, 7’1, to be able to you know, handle the basketball pretty much like a guard, he can shoot the three, can play in the post and then just how he anchors our defense, you know, on the other end of the floor is just big time.
Desmond Bane.
Professional Bucket. If you need one word, a bucket. He can score with the best of ’em. He can score from all over the floor, three-level scorer. So, bucket is my one word for him.
Dillon Brooks.
Menace. Like, no matter what he’s doing, he’s going hard. He’s engaged, playing very aggressive. So my one word for him would be menace.
De’Anthony Melton.
Ooh. Important. For him, not just talking like we have to talk but, you know, Melt is an important piece for us. Coming off the bench, being able to knock down the three-ball also, being able to handle the ball to release pressure off the point guard, and then him guarding the best players, being all over the court you know, in passing lanes, blocking shots. Just, he’s a very important piece for us.
Lastly, Steven Adams.
A bruiser. Steve-O does all the dirty work for us. With holding down the paint, you know, whether it’s getting the rebound, blocked shots or on the other end finishing drop offs, put backs and just giving us extra possessions to allow us to score the ball.
SNL is approaching 1,000 episodes, and while there’s no consensus on the best episode among the 927 (as of this weekend), there is a universal agreement for the worst.
On April 20, 1991, Steven Seagal hosted (with musical guest Michael Bolton!) with a performance so “listless and riddled with mistakes,” as Rolling Stonedescribed it, that some wondered “if he might just quit, mid-episode.” Then-SNL writer Bob Odenkirk called it a “nightmare” working with the Putin-loving actor, who cast member David Space said “didn’t want to go along with what the plan was that week… I think that was the first week that I heard talk about replacing the host and just doing a cast show.”
Seagal, whose flat delivery and inability to make himself the butt of the joke polarized everyone from Norm MacDonald (“Just not a nice guy,” Norm said about Seagal) to Tim Meadows (“He just wasn’t funny, and he was very critical of the cast and writing staff”), is now banned from returning. He’ll never wear his kimono in Studio 8H again.
Seagal’s episode quickly became infamous. SNL producer Lorne Michaels quickly removed it from rerun rotation and banned the actor from returning. But, by the start of season 18 in the fall of 1992) Michaels was at least willing to make fun of it.
Nicolas Cage was the host for SNL’s Sept. 26, 1992, episode. In one sketch, the actor lamented to Michaels that fans will probably think he’s “the biggest jerk who’s ever been on the show.” The producer’s response? “No, no. That would be Steven Seagal.”
If you’ve never seen Seagal’s episode, Podcast the Ride (one of the best podcasts around) co-host Scott Gairdner compiled the worst moments into a 60-second video. Future generations will study his pronunciation of “Michael Bolton.”
After weeks of online murmurs that a drop was coming any day now, Marvel finally released the first Thor: Love and Thunder trailer the Monday after Easter and fans are already freaking out about a long-awaited hero revival. In the final moments of the trailer, a completely gobsmacked Thor lays eyes on a powerful woman somehow wielding his mythical hammer Mjolnir. While all of this is very confusing to the God of Thunder, especially considering his sister Hela (Cate Blanchett) shattered Mjolnir in Thor: Ragnarok, Marvel fans know that this wicked buff hero is none other than Natalie Portman‘s Jane Foster as the Mighty Thor.
Introduced in 2014 by Thor comics writer Jason Aaron, the Mighty Thor instantly became a fan-favorite and a force to be reckoned with across the Nine Realms. Much like the film, Mighty Thor was mysteriously able to wield Mjolnir and her identity was a secret to Thor, who was no longer worthy of the magical weapon and simply calling himself Odinson now. Obviously, Thor: Love and Thunder will take some creative liberties with the character, as Marvel movies do because comics are confusing. However, that hasn’t stopped fans from going absolutely wild on social media after getting their first look at Portman as the returning Jane Foster.
Now’s a really good time to read The Mighty Thor comics if you haven’t already! I love Jane Thor so freaking much and can’t wait to see what Natalie Portman does with the role pic.twitter.com/uBAR05ReaN
The film finds Thor (Chris Hemsworth) on a journey unlike anything he’s ever faced – a quest for inner peace. But his retirement is interrupted by a galactic killer known as Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale), who seeks the extinction of the gods. To combat the threat, Thor enlists the help of King Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), Korg (Taika Waititi) and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), who – to Thor’s surprise – inexplicably wields his magical hammer, Mjolnir, as the Mighty Thor. Together, they embark upon a harrowing cosmic adventure to uncover the mystery of the God Butcher’s vengeance and stop him before it’s too late.
Thor: Love and Thunder rocks into theaters on July 8, 2022.
Like many (or even most) of you, I have spent an inordinate amount of time feeling anxiety about Kim Wexler ahead of Better Call Saul‘s final season. She’s the moral center of the spinoff, obviously, but I also (strangely) take note of how she’s voluntarily a “Kim” (and as the show emphasized when she took her rather restrained wedding vows, she’s legally a Kimberly). That makes her a no-nonsense kind of gal in my mind already. Even if she actually prefers Kimberly, she’s fine with the Kim, although all Kims know that everyone will shorten your name (unlike with, say, a Patrick) no matter what. Kims get on with it. They don’t wish to quibble over unimportant details, and such is the case with Kim Wexler. Names aside, she’s one of the best damn TV characters in recent memory. She’s a complex character and impossible to 100% pin down, but she’s a reliable and steady presence. Also, there’s every likelihood that she’ll be ripped away from followers of the Breaking Bad universe.
Yes, it’s going to hurt if that happens, but the timelines are going to collide soon, and you know the drill. There’s no mention of Kim in Breaking Bad. If she’s not dead, then, where would she be — working as a silent partner or becoming the Cinnabon in-house counsel? Ehhh probably not. Alright, so there’s plenty of cause to worry, but I’m letting it go. (And I’ll save that worry for Ozark‘s Ruth.) Let’s talk this out.
“This is why this works. I go too far, and you pull me back.” – Jimmy McGill
Throughout the show, Kim’s been the perfect complement (and vice versa, although notably, they do not “complete” each other in some codependent way) to Jimmy, both professionally and personally, but they also (quite importantly) stand as separate entities, doing their own thing but also really coming together in their kinship. No matter what, though, Kim has always been underestimated, not only by those in her professional sphere, but also her mother, and eventually, by the Saul audience. Hell, even Jimmy thought that he really knew her, and then she whipped out those finger guns, which only appeared to come out of nowhere, but the Saul Goodmanification of Kim Wexler is definitely in the works. There’s still plenty to question about how her darker side will further darken, but one thing that I do feel in my bones is this: Kim Wexler would not want any of us to worry about her. She’d most likely even find the idea to be ridiculous. Remember this little gem of dialogue, back from Season 2?
AMCAMC
This utterance arrived when Kim was working off some professional punishment (being banished to document review) that, for all practical purposes, was Jimmy’s fault. Still, she didn’t want help from him. That’s a firm line in the sand, and Kim’s never deviated. She doesn’t want anyone to save her. No one who walks three miles in the icy dark with a cello wants you to worry about her. And no one who worked herself into a car wreck and simply responds, “I know,” when Jimmy shows concern, well, you catch the drift.
What we could do (instead of worrying) is savor the last drops of this magnificent character before she disappears on us, alive or dead. After all, there’s also little debate about how — given that we already knew what Jimmy’s capable of doing before Better Call Saul began to air — Kim is essentially the Heisenberg of this prequel series. She is breaking bad, and it would be astounding to see her stay alive. The only way that I can envision Kim not dying is if she went into hiding, never to be heard of again except to make some annual phone-booth call (*cough*) from an undisclosed location.
Yes, I’m being silly with speculation as a coping method. I’m trying to get into Kim’s head to see how she, like Walt, is pouncing upon the possibility of being a friend (by marriage here) of the cartel, in order to serve what she sees as a greater good. Kim sure did quit the law-firm life in a flash after Jimmy got paid by Lalo. And Jimmy wasn’t thrilled, either, to see Kim decide to practice pro bono from here on out. It’s hard to fathom her speedy decision, and it’s easy to theorize how she has some master plan to win the whole game. It’s difficult to imagine that she didn’t have some kind of income back-up plan (because Kim is meticulous regarding every detail in life), and I’m tempted to scrutinize how (in the Season 5 finale) she begged the public defender’s office for twenty felony cases and emphasized how “I’m looking for something specific.”
Was “something specific” code for “a secret weapon for the future?” I probably sound conspiratorial at this point (go back and watch it — it is an unusually phrased request), but Kim is such an atypically wily character who plays so many cards close to her sleeve. She is almost always in control (witness that impeccably curled ponytail 95% of the time) of situations, long after what she went through with such a sh*tty, alcoholic mother who uprooted her at the drop of a hat. Even back then, choosing to walk home in freezing temperatures was rooted in a need to exert control over her environment. Oddly enough, though, she is somewhat vulnerable with Jimmy. They’re much more alike than anyone could’ve imagined, and when their foreplay turns to business talk, this actually isn’t too surprising.
That’s why I feel like Kim Wexler, even if she’s gunned down by Lalo’s goons, will never be a victim. Hell, she’s begun to (if this is the right term) get off on the idea of cons. She quite nearly fetishized the idea of taking Howard Hamlin down. And any other bride would have headed straight to annulment city if her husband had begun confessing cartel business as they’re about to do the thing. It’s amazing, the bullsh*t that she’s put up with from Jimmy, but in the end, she was more like him than he ever realized. And boy, she was angry as hell that he wasn’t thrilled about her pro-bono life after all she stood through all of his shenanigans. She had even pretended to believe that his trauma in the desert was simply down to “I had to drink my pee.”
Kim knows better. Get it together, Jimmy.
Kim is in the game now, for better or worse. Maybe it’s all “bad choice road,” as Jimmy phrased things, but she went into all of this with eyes wide open. True, Kim shouldn’t have decided to go visit a drug dealer in prison and identify herself as Saul Goodman’s wife. Arguably, she also shouldn’t have told Lalo to go pound sand. These are acts that could seal her fate. She may very well die, but she’ll go out having essentially controlled her own fate. To her, that’s winning. Don’t worry about Kim Wexler.
Again, the timelines are about to collide. Kim apparently doesn’t exist in the flagship series, and we’ve seen that Jimmy is (also apparently) later on his own as Cinnabon Gene. He’s miserable in that life, and no clues on that end have been forthcoming. Wouldn’t it be quite something, though, if Kim turned up in that timeline, and everything turned to color? Below, the season’s poster suggests something, although what exactly that something is, well, that’s anyone’s guess. We’ll soon find out.
‘Better Call Saul’s final season begins (the first half, anyway) on April 18. The second half will arrive on July 11.
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This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
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