The thing about the van scene that gets me isā¦I really donāt think Joe goes off like that on a regular basis. Like, Iāve seen so many posts about how Joe gives that speech every time someone says something homophobic, or Iāve seen posts about how Joe just waxes poetic all day long to Nicky about his love for him and likeā¦believe me I Dig That Too. Itās both funny and very sweet to think about.Ā
But my personal impression was that the van scene was actually a special occasion. For starters, because of the most obvious: Theyāve been captured. Regardless of how dangerous their job is on a regular basis, regardless of how often theyāre injured or killed, I donāt think itās every day or even every once in a while that members of the Guard get captured. Itās my guess that this is the first time anyoneās captured them, only hours after Nicky explained to Nile that being captured is pretty much their worst fear because it could potentially mean centuries of imprisonment or torture.Ā
One theory someone else had on this site (unfortunately I canāt find the post just now) was that Joe allowed himself to be captured because Nicky had already been killed and captured, so even though Joe had the opportunity to kill a few of the guards or try to escape, he didnāt because he wouldnāt permit himself to be separated from Nicky, nor permit himself to die, therefore leaving Nicky to wake up alone in the van or next to Joeās captured dead body. It would be horrifying. Traumatic. The scariest moment of Nickyās life undoubtedly.Ā
And so, theyāre in the van, Joe is alive and trying to make sure Nicky comes back to life. Nicky comes to, realizing theyāre captured and surrounded by armed guards. Theyāre speaking Italian so as to not be understood by the guards. Itās apparent, that in this moment, regardless of how scared they are, theyāve got it under control. Theyāre pros, after all. But nonetheless, this had to be the scariest God damn moment of both of their lives.Ā
And then, the guard makes that fucking comment.Ā āWhat is he, your boyfriend?āĀ
And Nicky makes that exasperated face.Ā
I see a lot of people theorizing that that face is NickyāsĀ āOh here we go againā face, the face he wears the moment he realizes Joe is about to go off, reciting poetry in the name of his love for Nicky on the spot. I like that theory. Itās funny. But I really donāt think thatās whatās happening.Ā
I think thatās the exasperated face of someone who has been the victim of othersā ignorance for centuries now, taking different forms based on time and place, but nonetheless, the discrimination these two must have witnessed over the yearsā¦All after Nicky himself, personally overcame his own bigotry to be with Joe. Nicky was literally ONE of these men back in the crusades. Sure, it wasnāt over sexuality but it was nonetheless rooted in ignorance as he himself describes Joe as one of the people heād been taught to hate. And imagine how fucking infuriating it would be, to witness people mindlessly HATE just because theyād been taught to, for centuries. It would be fucking soul-crushing. It would be the kind of thing that makes you lose faith in humanity. For fuckās sake, sometimes I lose faith in humanity because of this and Iām 26! Let alone 900 some years old. Plus we all know from watching Andy how critical it is to what they do and to enduring being immortal (and especially to Nicky who states more than once that he does what he does because it is the right thing to do), to believe in humanity.Ā
And I think in that moment Joe saw Nickyās face, and he saw how hopeless Nicky felt, and knew how scared he was, and realized that Nicky, who is the type of man to look Merrick in the eyes and tell him his time is coming and look the doctor in the eyes and tell her sheās immoral, essentially, Nicky, who is the type to tell someone exactly what he thinks of them, Nicky, who is usually the one to give the speeches to the latest homophobe or bigot or just fucking asshole in their presence - not even have the energy or motivation to acknowledge this guard let alone look into his soul and say something that will echo in his ears until he dies. That look on Nickyās face breaks Joeās heart.Ā
So what does Joe do? He does it for Nicky because Nicky canāt. He goes off tenfold. He tells them not only that theyāre ignorant but goes way above and beyond to show those men how little the implication that A) theyāre dating and B) that that is worth mocking in their opinion, matters to him. He makes it a point that heās only offended by the guard, not because he implied that Joe is gay, but that he would reduce their love to something as inadequate as boyfriend.Ā
And you can see how this effects Nicky right on his face. How touched he is. How inspired he is. Heās reminded of all that really matters - Joe.Ā
Not only that, but following this Nickyās attitude pretty much does a 180. They kill the guards (I imagine they would have anyway. I really donāt think they killed the guards FOR being homophobic, even if that was the icing on top. I think theyād have killed any men who are in the business of kidnapping people for the profit of a corrupt CEO, particularly ones putting their own safety in immediate harmās way) and as soon as the armored van doors are open Joe and Nicky are both, as a team, mocking Copley and the rest of his team of guards. Nicky nonchalantly asks about removing their restraints - as if he doesnāt know that isnāt going to happen. Nickyās once again able to look someone in the face and tell them exactly what he thinks of them - this time itās Copley he tells that theyāre usually a better judge of character.Ā
Joe joins in, complimenting the plane, and the two trade back and forth. Nicky mentioning the TV and Joe asking about Champagne.Ā
This behavior, while first and foremost is just fucking hilarious, I think serves a greater purpose in the characterization of Joe and Nicky and their relationship. By the time theyāre on the plane theyāre back to their old selves. Theyāve gotten their bearings enough to externally appear calm and unworried in the faces of their capturers, for one. But also, I think just about everything they say to each other, almost everything they do throughout the movie, but especially from the van scene on, is a purposeful attempt to always be comforting each other. To always be strong for the other. Mocking their capturers on the plane. Bumping heads after Joe has been stabbed. Talking about Joeās bedhead. Bringing up Malta. Everything they do until theyāre free, is a purposeful attempt to be strong for the other.
Itās reallyā¦so fucking well written, you guys. The portrayal of Nicky and Joe in this movie, and especially the van scene, is one of the most realized fictional relationships Iāve ever seen.Ā
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