This ‘Good Girls’ Villain Makes Being Bad Look So Good

From Loki‘s Loki to The Simpsons‘s Mr. Burns, there are villains you can’t help but root for. It’s not just the universal fact that bad guys are cooler; they have layers of personality and complexity that a traditional protagonist lacks. Based on that last point alone, Good Girls villain Rio played by Manny Montana is as delectable as they come. You may not love him as a person, but you’ve got to love what he brings to the show – passion, a commanding presence, and smoldering good looks.

Beyond that, he’s got some pretty standout qualities that don’t stereotype him as a mainstream villain per se. No one can claim that Rio is a good person, but he certainly gave audiences more than they could ever get from Stan (Reno Wilson) or Dean (Matthew Lillard). Rio’s villainy certainly has different shades.

‘Good Girls’ Villain Rio is Easy on the Eyes But More Than Just A Pretty Face

Who doesn’t love an attractive villain? In that vein, this Good Girls villain has all the boxes ticked with his good looks and intense demeanor. In fact, he’s got a whole Reddit thread dedicated to nothing more than his physical attributes and presence. But, that’s not all there is to him, he becomes sort of a driving force for the main character Beth’s (Christina Hendricks) story in a way that makes him vital to the plot. Once he steps onto the scene, Beth’s mundane life turns upside down. It’s not all about his charm, but with his razor-sharp intellect, he transformed her from an unsatisfied housewife to a crime queen pin.

So, you see, he’s not just a pretty face but the spark that basically flung Beth into moral chaos and a full-blown existential crisis. Let’s face it, without his menacing presence, the show loses everything from its edge to its sense of danger. Also, there should be a special award for the way he says “Elizabeth”.

‘Good Girls’ Rio Sees Beth in a Way That Everyone Wants to be Seen

Image Credit: NBC

If there’s one thing all human beings want, it’s to be seen, especially by the people closest to them. Now, let’s take Beth who’s had a rocky union with Dean. Not only is he cheating on her at the start of the series, but he also disregards her opinions and views. This can do a lot of damage to a person’s sense of self. Then there’s the menacing Rio, with his not-so-subtle flirting and clear support of all things Beth.

While their relationship is downright confusing at times, the beautiful thing is that it’s not just physical between them. He genuinely recognizes her potential and challenges her in ways that spark a fire within. At the end of the day, it’s clear that Beth’s ascension to Kingpin can be directly traced to her relationship with Rio. Did she step on his toes to get there? Most definitely. However, honor must be given to whom honor is due. Rio was able to transform a housewife with a lackluster life into a crime boss. It’s clear that he genuinely respects her intelligence and grit.

Rio Never Pretends to be Something He’s Not In ‘Good Girls’

Image Credit: NBC

The devil you know is better than the angel you don’t… or so they say. One way of looking at that is that genuineness is always appreciated. If there’s one thing Rio brings to the table, it’s his clear intentions. He’s never gone out of his way to pretend to be something he’s not. He’s a drug lord, not your friendly neighborhood prince charming. He did a lot of questionable things, ranging from killing Lucy (Charlyne Yi) to stealing everything from Beth’s home when he came back from the dead. (It can be argued that Beth had it coming).

But, that’s just Rio for you, he was who he was unapologetically. He’s not a good man, he’s a hardened criminal and he’s not looking to be anything more. From the moment he first runs into the ‘girls’ with his looming threats and even more intimidating presence, it’s clear who he is. Imagine all the bad boy fantasies you’ve had and are probably still nursing, that’s Rio in a nutshell and he doesn’t promise to be anything more. Though his character does prove to be layered with his love for his son and apparent affection for Beth, he’s a bad guy with a few good sentiments.

If you’re captivated by Manny Montana’s character, Rio, you can binge all four seasons of Good Girls on NBC.