#idc who he shot

[michelleelizabethtanner]

Do you think Rio killed Mick after he shot Beth in the series finale? Nick says to Rio "He's on my payroll" and Rio replies "Not anymore". On my first watch, I definitely took it to mean he's now on Rio's payroll for good and won't be pulled in different directions anymore based on Manny's nonchalant delivery of the line. However, this is my third rewatch and it's only just occurring to me, could it be interpreted to mean he killed him?

Up until he shot Beth, I always believed Mick was very loyal to Rio. I'm looking back now and besides shooting Beth because Nick paid him, he also did jobs for Beth without - to my knowledge, at least - running them past Rio (hot tub stuff, buying the girls time etc.) Doesn't that show he's only loyal to whoever pays him?

On that note, we all know Rio has it bad for Beth, so he had to have been extremely pissed off that Mick - who I think he considers not only a loyal associate, but also a loyal friend - shot Beth and on Nick's dime, no less. Not only is he coming after his girl under his brother/cousin's (who he hates) orders, but he is also betraying Rio. How can he trust Mick after that?

I love all the post season 4 fics that include Mick (including Rough Night!) because I love his character so much. My headcanon says no, Rio did not kill him, because I do believe he and Rio have a long history and are actually friends. I don't believe Rio would kill him over this, especially since the intention was only to hurt Beth so that the cops would have to bag the gun that was used to kill Lucy as evidence, thus essentially handing it over to the Secret Service. If the intention was to kill her, I think Rio wouldn't think twice.

Curious as to your thoughts on this theory. Mind you, this is the ramblings of an extremely caffeinated fan finishing their third rewatch at 2am in the morning. This may not make sense to me tomorrow 😂

I wish the writers would have given Rio and Mick's relationship more depth so I didn't have to hunt for crumbs and cling to them for dear life. We needed a backstory of their history! I put the blame on them for this long and rambly ramble of mine.

Anon, I love the 2am rewatch for you! That is the best time to spiral and overthink. I’m a chronic insomniac and focusing on Brio instead of stressing about my actual life’s stressors has been instrumental to my mental health. So I’m projecting this rewatch onto you as a positive.

I absolutely do not think Rio would kill Mick over Beth. Especially not for the gentlest of ways he barely even wounded her. You hit on all the right points. Mick was not always loyal to Rio and he did take on jobs that directly conflicted with Rio’s best interests. Would a good friend do that? Would even a passive friend do that? What would have been the motivator? Would you ruin an important professional relationship for a hot tub? Much less a good friendship?

So here’s what I think. And please don’t come for me with pitchforks because I KNOW! But I think Mick was miscast. (*ducks for flying stones*) Hear me out!!! The intent of the show’s creators was to make Mick an opportunist with no loyalties. A ruthless killer. Someone who doesn’t get emotionally tangled in his work and performs for a paycheck. A man like that would behave the way Mick behaved – took on opposing jobs, easily flipped loyalties to the highest bidder, had no qualms about hurting those he spent time with.

From your observations and from countless fics (including mine) that cast Mick as a friend and confidant to Rio, the performance that was delivered was a far cry from this aloof character that the show intended Mick to be. Mick came off as a lovable, gentle giant of a man who came when Annie called, who mourned giving up fatherhood, who shared his Oreos when he felt gratitude, who had significant emotional intelligence, and who was mindful of Beth’s children before he shot her. This whole idea of “Mick will show up if you offer him a plate of ribs or an order of bao buns” just didn’t hit in the mocking way the script probably intended it. Mick wasn’t insatiable and easily bought. He was sweet and indulgent of the women, giving them an out. Almost protecting them and empathizing with them.

I think it’s because Mick was more Carlos than he was Mick. I think the charm of Carlos Aviles as a lovely human spirit came through, and Mick began to change as he was given more screen time. I think his and Manny’s irl camaraderie and genuine like for each other showed in their few scenes together, giving us a feel of friendship and loyalty between the characters that probably wasn’t in the script. I think the softness and fun he had with Mae came through in Mick and Annie’s Big Kidnapping Road Trip. I think THAT is why we all assumed he and Rio are friends. And why we were all so surprised when he turned on Brio and shot Beth.

So no, I don’t think Rio killed Mick, because Mick was never Rio’s. I also don’t think Rio would take out a reliable assassin because his girlfriend got a little bullet graze. I think Rio always understood the nature and limitations of his relationship with Mick and I think he corrected those limitations by putting Mick on his own payroll permanently after Nick’s downfall. My headcanon is that everyone was happier for that decision and Mick served the Brio Kingdom loyally and was rewarded handsomely. Maybe even went to see his daughter in Cincinnati. 🥹

But you are not alone in your read on the Mick/Rio relationship. It was completely incongruous and inconsistent from script to performance. I wish the writing would have capitalized on the nuances of this character and allowed Carlos to really shine. He did a fantastic job bringing to life a barely-written character and making us fall in love with his nature.

Also, can we talk about the Nick/Rio relationship? Does Rio hate Nick? Idk. He’s certainly resentful. That’s probably been a lifelong thing for them. But hate is really strong. They have a history there that doesn’t appear to all be rooted in exploitation and competition. What do you think?

[hayaku14]

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im thinkign about him

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english prof just left LOADS of feedback on my essay omg this is so exciting

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every day i am haunted by my embarrassing and alarmingly strong brendon urie obsession from 2020, the least i can do now is make fun of him on the internet

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if you are a swiftie (or anyone really) who has criticised matty and you are now applauding azeali a bnks for her clout posting really

the hypocrisy really does drip through and it spreads like wildfire

[here-kittykitty]

porty mk REEEEALLY didnt prepare me well for handling Adam as a character, I catch myself hair twirling over him way too much. why is my Straight Girl Taste In Men(tm) no good ass douchebag music men with shitty outfits and patchy facial hair whos 100% on ecstasy the entire length of their screentime and who do that "~mehmehmehmeh~ thats what you sound like" mocking thing with their voice.

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[heatobrienswife]

.

[ghostdice]

no because i suddenly need to rewatch suzume

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i think i would have gone loco if jo and aoki got to meet up just once after ichi breaks through to him like. the damage to my psyche id have wouldve been immeasurable, irreparable even

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can i say something

[midgardianqueenreturns]

#will never not be mad that OPLA sidelined Sanji in his own introductory arc

There’s something really distinctly American about OPLA Sanji arguing with Zeff over what food he wants to make because ignoring the fact that he never did this in the manga… Since when was his character about rebelling and growing out of Zeff’s shadow? Wasn’t he holding himself back because he thought he owed his life to Zeff? Why would he disrupt the Baratie’s operations with his supposedly very innovative dish, resulting in it getting thrown away and WASTED?? Why did they frame Zeff as an old and unskilled chef that had to be surpassed by his “better” protege??? Animanga Sanji was a little shit but he was also the sous chef for a reason, he’s not some wannabe new talent who wants to perform?? Did they do all this just so they can skip over all the Gin/Don Krieg stuff? Just to clog up the runtime with Nami “bonding” with Zoro and reading him a bedtime story?