WARNING: The following contains spoilers for NBC's Good Girls Season 4, Episode 8, "Broken Toys."
In Season 4 of NBC's Good Girls, viewers have seen Rio (Manny Montana) in a more intimidating light, ready to kill Beth's (Christina Hendricks) family if need be. Ruby, Annie and their folks are on the table too, as he's figured out Beth was snitching to the FBI. However, after initially giving the audience a sneak peek into his family background, the latest episode coughs up an origin story for the villain, which further ties into his future criminal endeavors.
This episode is interspersed with flashbacks that show a young Rio boxing and working at a posh private club. He and his cousin, Nick, were running the show, although Rio was constantly ducking out to eke out a boxing career in a Michigan gym. Nick was introduced a few episodes earlier as someone who didn't like Beth and Rio's working relationship. He was shown here as a man of virtue lecturing Rio, which explains why he warned Beth to stay away from Rio and his nasty ways.
This also informs why Nick sold Rio out when he caught Rio stealing from members' lockers. He ratted out his brother (or cousin, the show has yet to confirm), and as Rio fled from the cops, it was clear that this was where his trust issues began. Later on, the episode had Rio coming home after a six month stint in jail, covered in tattoos, with a cake on the table to welcome him back.
He was disgusted as Nick sat down and offered him a drink. Rio was angry, believing there was nothing to celebrate; that is, until Nick started throwing wads of cash out. Nick then confirmed that he got a promotion as a reward for turning Rio in, and this gave him access to steal golf clubs, liquor and a bunch of other items from the rich club members.
He told Rio that he was but a pawn, all to help Nick elevate himself and now, the club trusted him. Nick then proceeded to ask him to go into business with him, making it clear they were still family. As he explained, Michigan was never going to see them coming if they stuck to the plan -- Nick as the brains and Rio as the muscle.
It was a match made in heaven and years later, Nick's a politician who has so much pull, he gets Rio out of prison and away from the FBI when he's caught for counterfeiting. He has to protect his investment in Rio after years of work, which now confirms Rio was indeed a victim. While this makes Rio easy to sympathize with, it also shows that he was always Nick's puppet on a string.
Good Girls stars Christina Hendricks, Mae Whitman, Retta, Matthew Lillard, Reno Wilson and Manny Montana. Season 4 airs Sundays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.
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