#brio discourse

[icanthearyoufromhereplease]

Why does Manny hate Brio more than we do? Like babe it’s literally you 😭

Sighs. Anon, I am also tired but I'd try and see things from his perspective.

Ok, so I don't particularly think Manny hates brio, I think he hates the reception that brio receives both from the casts and the creators and maybe in extension the fandom. He has never been this active in his anti-brio campaign, this all started after season 2 and I know a lot of fans would agree on that point. He was quite active when talking about brio at the end of the first season, he was even surprised fans were able to pick up the chemistry between the two characters and even went as far as to admit he played Rio that way because he figured Rio has a thing for Beth. He also admitted both character's feelings for each other during his promo interviews for season 3. Not explicitly, but the knowledge was implied. So, I think he's always showed his support in a way.

But I think he started backtracking due to reasons only he can address, we can only speculate. So I'll speculate........

I'd like to think he's just tired of brio taking focus away from Rio and just maybe the fact that the other half of the ship (Christina) is not a fan of the ship. She's always managed to divert attention from any Rio or brio question to her character's relationship with her husband and clearly doesn't know how to separate Dean from Matthew and I get why that can be frustrating for Manny. Christina has only managed to talk about brio once in one of her interviews but ignores the relationship altogether in the rest. So yeah, if it were me too, I would embark on such a campaign.

Secondly, just like there are some people in this fandom that tolerates Beth because she's the other half of a ship they like, there are also people that tolerate Rio because of that. Sexualizes Rio to the point of I don't care. They don't care if the character spends 1.30 seconds in an episode, as long as those seconds are spent with Beth and they are both touching. That mentality doesn't make Rio his own character, more like a device to service Beth's plot. Both fandom and the creators are guilty of this. Jenna Bans never fails to remind us how hot Rio is. So, yeah I am not surprised he's pissed or embarking on such a campaign.

But after all is said and done, I wouldn't take these actors seriously, except maybe Mae who clearly knows her character and understand fan's interpretation of her character more than the rest of them. They clearly don't know what they themselves are acting.

I don't know if I address this right or I messed things up for you. If its the latter, blame it on anyone but me😂😂😂.

[crimezaddyrio]

Not to be a stick in the mud, but like how do u see brio working out long term? Itd be different if they were both these carefree young single ppl but they have kids and families. Its not like rio can just be a goddamn stepdad like the chemistry is OBVIOUSLY there and they do genuinely care about and support each other but do u think they could have a long term relationships, cohabitation, (marriage???!!! Kids??!!!!!!!!) Like what would that even look like 1/2

“Like i cant see beth living a straight up gangsta life especially with her kids and i cant see rio living a surburban pinterest life ya feel? (Plus all the drama like beth is rlly gonna introduce rio to her kids like hey babes this guy shot ur dad, threatened to kill me, put me and all yall in danger, is a straight up criminal but we’re in love???) Like what is the scenario where this will work cuz they better have one theres no way i can see either of them with anyone else 2/2″

ANON! I am so sorry for this late reply. I am finally getting to asks! 

(LONG POST!)

To start off: I mean… did any one of us in the damn fandom prophesied or even think that fuckin RIO… gangster, gangbanger, gangfriend, RIO, would be part of or be in the environment of a…

COUNTRY CLUB TENNIS COURT BOUJEE ASS PLACE?! 

HERES THE THING: 

WE. STILL. HAVE. NO. FUCKIN. IDEA WHAT RIO’S LIFE IS LIKE! NOR HIS TRUE FEELINGS FOR BETH! ITS INSINUATED AND HINTED BUT OUR ASSES TRULY DON’T KNOW!!! We just know his business or his crime life! Which is why I am very critical of all these theories and headcanons of the characters because we want them to be one way or another based off of: our fantasies, what we wish to happen, or what we gather from our own personal/empirical view of life which is like what makes fandoms fun of course, ya know? And then we get into these discourses and theories which we all (myself included) get convoluted blah blah blah. But to answer your question (I KNOW I NEED TO GET TO THE POINT LOL) is that we cannot strike the possibility off that they may be able to be endgame. 

Rio’s Case:

I mean Rio is shown to navigate between these environments which he would be perceived by society at large  as dangerous based off his looks, race, and demeanor, AND HIS ASS HANDLES IT JUST FINE LOL I am not saying that Rio doesn’t notice that pressure or stigma that surrounds him (people of color know this shit), he is hyperaware of where and who he deals with.

SOOOOO in that regard I think Rio is fine. I would theorize he lives in a safe neighborhood where Marcus can grow up, and sure he might get the snarky look, but he is paid and he has his kid. BETH HOWEVER IS ANOTHER STORY.

Beth’s Case:

So as this season thus far, and based off future synopses, Beth (as well as Annie and Ruby) are still navigating the crime world. There is goin’ to be a point in which Beth will attempt to leave (I say attempt because we getting season 3 and episode 11 synopsis DEFINiTELY is telling) which becomes the biggest lesson by Rio and kinda the point of this season: you can’t leave, figure it out, you’re in the great game now. (See what I did there GoT Fans out there?). SO Beth has to grapple and navigate this world, situate herself in it, and the relationships she cultivates in it (aka RIO)  So at the end of the day I think its gonna be up to how Beth develops as a character and if she can finally accept and adjust herself to this new environment. She has potential in it to be great, as Rio says, but she is held back by the easy, the mainstream, and morals of society.

In Conclusion: