Jimmy and Kim's relationship has become one of the central themes of Better Call Saul. These two amazing characters met at HHM when Kim was an aspiring attorney and Jimmy worked in the mailroom. It seems as if they had an on-and-off kind of relationship for years, while some fans wonder if they are simply just friends with benefits. This is not a typical TV show romance: the scenes of them kissing are few and far between throughout the seasons. They are both late bloomers. Kim went to law school well into her twenties and Jimmy has a long history of being a petty criminal.
As is typical for both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, fans have to decipher meanings from subtleties and context rather than what is said out loud. Since Kim and Jimmy have been living together for a while now, it's safe to assume they are in a committed, serious relationship. That doesn't mean that things aren't complicated, though. While they share several endearing moments, they are also very toxic for each other. Since Kim is nowhere to be seen in Breaking Bad, fans are impatient to find out what happens with the two of them in the final season.
Perfect: They Believe In Each Other
Before coming to Albuquerque, Jimmy was a hustler with no goals or purpose. He decided to turn things around and become an attorney. He is smart, witty, and charismatic, yet he barely gets any recognition in this world. It's especially his brother Chuck that has zero confidence in him and hates to see his little brother succeed.
Kim sees Jimmy's talent and genuinely believes in him. Jimmy also has nothing but respect and admiration for Kim. He thinks she is one of the best attorneys and can't stand it when HHM mistreats her.
Toxic: They Bond Best When Conning
Kim and Jimmy are rarely seen kissing or showing affection towards one another. However, after conning people, they always end up spending a passionate night together. After conning Ken Wins in "Switch", their disagreements are soon forgotten. Nothing thrills these two like an elaborate con. When they go out of their way to get Huell out of serving time, they seem to get along the best.
Conning people was Jimmy's hobby and it ultimately became Kim's as well. By the end of season 5, Jimmy genuinely seems afraid of Kim when she proposes they ruin Howard's career.
Perfect: They Are Comfortable Around Each Other
Instead of giving us big public displays of affection, Jimmy and Kim are just seen sharing everyday rituals together, the most notable being brushing their teeth. In those scenes, they look completely comfortable with one another and it's obvious that they are actually more intimate than it seems at first glance.
Seeing them doing something so mundane makes them more relatable as a couple. Those scenes say a lot about the state of their relationship. Kim also often wears Jimmy's shirts, which also implies they are completely used to one another and share high levels of intimacy.
Toxic: The Dangers Of Resentment
There is no way that there is no resentment between these two characters. Kim confronted Howard about Jimmy and put her own reputation on the line for him several times. Unfortunately, it didn't end well for her as she ended up in doc review and left HHM in the end. If it wasn't for Jimmy, her career development would have been much easier. Even though she is obviously forgiving and doesn't hold grudges, it's hard to believe that these experiences didn't cause deep-rooted trust issues and resentment.
On the other hand, if Jimmy decided to stay at Davis & Main and give up his shenanigans for Kim, he would probably harbor some resentment towards her.
Perfect: They Unwind In Similar Ways
Kim and Jimmy are a good fit when it comes to taking the edge off and relaxing. In their first scene together, they share a cigarette and continue to do so throughout all seasons. After a long hard day, Kim throws beer bottles off her balcony. Instead of trying to stop her, Jimmy simply joins in. It shows that they have a quiet understanding of one another, even though they don't always spell everything out.
They also do what most couples do: they watch movies together and enjoy comfort food while at it.
Toxic: Jimmy Lies To Kim
Jimmy can't help himself but lie to Kim. In all fairness, it's not hard when two partners give each other so much freedom. She puts up with all kinds of his antics as if she is detached from all of it. Before they get married, Kim demands that he is completely transparent with her and that he stops lying to her.
Jimmy held up to his promise. He told Kim all about Lalo and him becoming a friend of the cartel. He lied about what happened in the desert, but probably because of PTSD rather than a conscious attempt to hide the truth from her.
Perfect: They Respect Each Other's Wishes
Even though Jimmy and Kim definitely have toxic moments, they are not codependent. They don't try to control one another and respect each other's wishes. Kim urged Jimmy to go see a therapist but didn't push him further when he decided against it. Similarly, Jimmy wasn't too excited about Kim joining forces with Schweikart & Cokely, but he managed to be happy for her nonetheless.
It seems as if they would be able to let each other go if things didn't work out. However, their story hasn't ended just yet. The final season will definitely put their relationship to the test. There are several reasons why Kim should stay with Jimmy, but also many that suggest that she should leave him.
Toxic: Both Have Inner Conflicts About The Other
Jimmy is charming and could probably win over a lot of women if he set his mind to it. However, he probably feels that Kim is out of his reach. Why does this intelligent, successful woman bother spending time with him? It's an inner conflict he has, yet he never brings it up.
Meanwhile, Kim has an inner conflict of her own to sort out. She genuinely believes in Jimmy and cares about him, but she struggles to accept his morally dubious behavior - at least in the first few seasons. By the end of season 5, the tables start to turn and it's Kim who is increasingly drawn to the lifestyle of Slippin' Jimmy.
Perfect: They Make For Great Business Partners
In a parallel universe where Jimmy isn't constantly drawn to morally dubious behavior and decides to straighten up for good, Kim and Jimmy would make amazing business partners. They are both outstanding attorneys, even though they approach clients and cases in very different manners.
Jimmy wanted to make McGill & Wexler a reality, but he was unfortunately disbarred. If only they shared the same vision about their practice, they would make an unstoppable team. Instead, Kim focuses on banking law and Jimmy insists on specializing in criminal law. Unfortunately, these two competent attorneys never managed to make it work for both professionally.
Toxic: They Rarely Talk About Their Relationship
Jimmy and Kim go from hanging out to living together without ever having an actual conversation on it - at least not on screen. Fans are never sure what exactly is the nature of their relationship: are they friends with benefits or have they been dating for years? The writers don't shove either of those two narratives down our throats.
They don't ask each other any questions. Nothing personal ever comes up in their conversations. They either joke around or they deal with whatever is important in a given moment. It's odd that Kim doesn't share anything about her past.