~ Happy Holidays: Roberto's Introduction to Monster (or: the Monster meta no one was asking for) ~
For a while now I've been meaning to write down all my thoughts on the first time we meet Roberto, and following on from that also my (admittedly somewhat out-there) headcanons on Roberto's motivations, mostly so that I have it all in one place for reference later. But maybe someone else might find this interesting. I'll be looking at the anime episode (English dub) and also English, French and Spanish manga versions (because these are the ones I have available). If anyone wants to contribute other languages (especially Japanese) or correct my analysis, I'd be delighted.
Strap in, this is going to be insanely long (and I'd never dare to post a random huge essay like this in any fandom but Monster 😆)! A big thank you to @dark-empath for supporting me with her time, expertise, resources and shared insanity, and contributing to some of the ideas below.
Disclaimer: What follows are just my personal ideas, other interpretations are possible and I'm not claiming my views to be canon.
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Structure:
1. The main differences between the manga and the anime
1.1 Roberto and Müller
1.2 Roberto and Johan
1.3 Roberto and Nina
1.4 Physical menace and manipulation
1.5 Mental dominance
2. Roberto's scheme in Nice
3. Did Roberto really try to kill Nina (and Tenma)?
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1. The main differences between the manga and the anime
I'd like to start with this because knowing how faithful to the manga the anime is in general, I was surprised to find that there are significant differences in Roberto's introduction, and it's not simply a case of necessary omissions. Roberto's relationship with Müller and also with Johan is deliberately presented in a different manner, especially if you consider the English dub.
1.1 Roberto and Müller
In the anime, we aren't explicitly told how long Roberto has worked for Müller, but from the English dub we get the impression that it's a relatively recent arrangement. This is particularly evident in the chess scene.
Roberto asks a general open question ("what's gotten you so pensive?") and after Müller talks about joining and later leaving the syndicate, Roberto says "and that's when you met your wife, or so I'd wager" (implying he doesn't know), then at the end of the scene Müller says "Roberto, I want you to know, I really appreciate your help". The impression is that Roberto was recently hired in this moment of crisis (as strange as it seems that Müller would so openly confess his crimes).
The vibe is different in the manga:
The French version makes it particularly clear that when Müller shares his story with us he isn't giving new information to Roberto - this is pretty much a therapy session ("what's happened in the past is bothering you?" - "would you like to talk about that phone call?") - and a little later Müller calls Roberto his "ami" - a close friend:
So the manga already makes it clear at this point that they've known each other for a while, and when Nina and Müller meet we get two whole pages of Müller explaining the relationship - this scene is completely missing from the anime:
I don't have these two pages in English, but Müller explains that Roberto has been his bodyguard from the time he joined the syndicate - so they've been working closely together for over a year! This underscores Roberto's skill at deceit and manipulation as well has his ruthlessness. In the anime, when Roberto is first introduced, Müller calls him "one clever bodyguard" - this line is not in the manga, but here we are shown rather than told about his intelligence.
(We also find out about Roberto's background as a soldier/assassin from a "country that no longer exists", which in the anime we only learn about at a later stage.)
1.2 Roberto and Johan
The two pages above also give us an interesting hint at when Roberto might have first met Johan - though not in the French version! In French, Müller says that before becoming his bodyguard Roberto had worked for "one of the bosses" - in Spanish it's this:
Before being assigned to Müller, Roberto had been "accompanying" a "big fish" - someone higher up than Müller's boss. I think it's safe to assume it's Johan, meaning that the two might have first met when Johan was setting up the underground bank, which would make a lot of sense. I'll just go ahead and accept this as my headcanon - though I'd love to know what the Japanese says here!
Later, when Roberto talks to Nina, the scene is longer in the manga, and shows that Roberto has clear insight into Johan's schemes:
Funnily, while both the English and Spanish have the "his ideal family" line, the French replaces it with "no one's garden is as beautiful as his" - which combined with the dreamy face makes me think it's some sort of euphemism 😆 (especially since in Munich Johan clearly does not have a garden, and the Liebert2 family lives in Offenbach which is nowhere near Munich, but that's a whole separate topic):
At the end of the manga chapter, Roberto makes a pretty stark statement about Johan, a declaration that is strangely absent from the anime, given that it seems so crucial in clarifying Roberto's intentions:
I'm not buying this, though. But more on that later.
1.3 Roberto and Nina
Another scene that's more detailed in the manga is when Nina and Müller come back to Müller's house (where his wife and son are supposedly held captive by Roberto). Nina makes a good observation here:
On the one hand, this makes it clearer that at this particular moment, Nina is the real target - it was never about getting the briefcase, because if Roberto had truly wanted the briefcase, would he not have taken it straight after shooting the detective rather than strolling downstairs for a glass of water? It's right there!
On the other hand, we are finding out that Müller is aware of the warehouse where Nina would be kept later - and this is crucial! In the French/Spanish version, it's stated that Roberto actually LIVES in that warehouse, which, yes, seems grotesque and should have raised suspicions.. but I'm inclined to believe this is the more accurate text:
More on the warehouse later, but first..
1.4 Physical menace and manipulation
This is more self-indulgent than anything else, but I really dislike this scene in the anime where Müller is manhandling Roberto, appearing taller and more in control, even if Roberto does quickly free himself:
The scene is much more impactful in the manga, Roberto not only towering over Müller and painfully squeezing his wrist, but, most importantly, forcing Müller's hand into a handshake:
He actually does that last part in the anime, too, but there's so little focus on it I didn't notice it until I saw it in the manga, where it got a close-up, and I think it's a crucial bit. Roberto is an expert at using touch - to kill, to seduce, and for manipulation, with men and women alike.
1.5 Mental dominance
This is just a tiny detail, but in the chess scene, Roberto plays black in the manga, but white in the anime. We also see more of the board in the anime, and even though this is in no way a legit set-up, playing white is usually seen as an advantage, and it's clear that Roberto is leading here, even if he makes Müller believe he's not. Not only has Roberto entered Müller's side of the board, but it also looks like he castled kingside, protecting his king. This is one instance where I prefer the anime.
I'm also not going to withhold this cute Spanish-only translation quirk where Roberto tells Müller to be a good boy (not sure why only the Spanish readers are getting the kinky goodness 😆):
But much more pertinent to the topic of mental dominance is the next part.
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2. Roberto's scheme in Nice
In both the anime and the manga, on the surface, it looks like Roberto failed on all counts: Nina escaped, his men got killed, Müller (whom he had wished a "happy life") also bit the dust, and while Roberto did get the briefcase - Nina got to it first, thus he failed to protect all of that secret intel. And what's worse, he even revealed Johan's hidden location to Nina, doing his best 'I'll tell you the plan because I will kill you anyway mwahaha' villain impression. What a disaster, why does Johan even keep him around? Right?
I'd argue this is not at all what happened. And this might actually be a common or obvious analysis, but I've not read it being talked about, so I'm sorry if I'm just preaching to the choir here but I just wanted to lay down my thoughts on the scheme as I see it:
I) Roberto is keeping an eye on Müller and Messner Post-Heidelberg for Johan, ready to kill them when the time is right. Müller's time runs out in Nice. He has been kept alive until then as bait for Nina.
II) Roberto is aware of all of Nina's movements and that she's watching Müller from the house opposite - this is why he is able to capture her easily while Müller is being distracted by the little "briefcase handover" spiel.
III) Roberto wants Nina to take the briefcase (that's why he shoots the detective in plain view of her hiding spot and leaves the briefcase on the floor), and he wants Müller to run away and inevitably be confronted by Nina (that's why Roberto is holding the gun as he walks up the stairs towards Müller, very, veeeery slowly.. clearly with no intention to shoot or pursue him). He is perfectly calm and unbothered as he watches them drive away.
There was the possibility that Nina might have killed Müller at this point, and that would have been a favourable outcome. But since she didn't, and the two bonded instead (also a favourable outcome), the next step of the scheme follows.
IV) After the briefcase handover and Nina's capture, Roberto has seemingly gotten all he needed from Müller. He could have simply left at this point. But no, Roberto follows him to the house opposite, very deliberately taunting him, mocking his "fairytale life" and making it clear that Nina is in danger, while keeping his plans a mystery at the same time.
The whole exchange is an absolute masterclass in manipulation, pushing all the right buttons. Roberto knows exactly what happens in an (ex-)cop's brain when he's told "trust me, leave this alone". This encounter makes 100% sure that Müller would try to save Nina, and how could he not? They have been given the chance to bond, after all, and Roberto takes Nina to that dodgy warehouse that Müller is aware of, as we know from the manga.
V) At the warehouse, Roberto tells "his guys" to kill Nina, since, oh, he just can't do it himself, she has such pretty eyes! Now, this is the crucial question. Do we believe that Roberto, someone who Müller earlier describes as "the best bodyguard there is" and "a trained killer", has such a terribly sentimental streak, which conveniently shows itself at the exact same time that Müller arrives at the location? Nina clearly was held in that warehouse for a while, a few hours at least, because we get the scene with Müller and his family by the pool in-between. So Roberto leaving at just the right moment seems too lucky a coincidence to me.
VI) And just like that, Roberto has killed 3 birds with one stone: a) he got rid of "his guys" (who, based on how Johan operates, must have been some random henchmen next in line to be disposed of); he got rid of Müller (who, let's be honest here, was never going to get to live); AND he put Nina in a situation where she was pushed closer to becoming a monster, which is necessary in order for her to become closer to Johan (and Nina does shoot at one of the guys at the warehouse, albeit too late). On top of this Roberto also let Nina know where to find Johan, which is exactly what Johan wants. Roberto orchestrated all of this without putting himself in danger, barely breaking a sweat, by pitching all other players against each other. Which is exactly how Johan would also operate. And this brings me to the final and most important section.
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3. Did Roberto really try to kill Nina (and Tenma)?
Before I got more interested in Roberto as a character and watched his episodes more closely, this part has always confused and annoyed me: why did Roberto tell Nina that Johan wanted to see her - only to then leave her behind to get shot? How could he, as Johan's right-hand man, want his twin sister to get killed? And Tenma, too? Arguably, the only two people in the whole world that Johan cares about - and Roberto tries to kill them in cold blood? It makes no sense. Yes, he does state that he needs to eliminate those who want to kill Johan. I have seen this interpretation in the Monster Wiki, too, saying that Roberto acts of his own accord, doing what he himself believes is best for Johan. But - I don't buy it.
Roberto is completely, unconditionally devoted to Johan. He is a "true believer". His main goal is not to protect Johan from death - it's to support Johan in all of his endeavours, including his perfect suicide. This is why Roberto is still there at the very end, helping Johan achieve his perfect end in Ruhenheim. Which also involves Tenma and Nina being at Johan's side and being swallowed in the doomsday scenery with him. Nina and Tenma are the main characters in Johan's story, and as such, Roberto can't kill them. Johan is meant to die by Tenma's hand.
But, if that's the case - why does Roberto keep getting Nina and Tenma into situations where it looks like he's trying to kill them?
Well.. this is where I admit my interpretation really becomes a bit of a reach, but hear me out. This is where I'm leaning into the more metaphysical, dark-fairytale side of Monster.
In many respects, the way Roberto operates is very similar to Johan. Just like Johan, he is setting up scenarios and putting all the pawns and pieces into their proper places. And in all these scenarios, Roberto is meant to ultimately fail - therefore he is confident that he will fail -despite doing his best to succeed. Because that's exactly his role in Johan's story. He is Johan's favourite side character; he exists to challenge the main characters, but never to defeat them. He's not the hero nor the villain - he's the plot device made flesh, and he knows it, and relishes it.
Remember when Johan teaches the Munich children the game of walking on the roof? "The winner gets to play again." Roberto knows that Johan is a winner, and Nina and Tenma are too, because they are so closely connected to Johan's fate. So that's why Roberto is completely calm driving away from the warehouse in Nice. It seems like a risky plan, Nina and Müller against four armed guys - but Roberto knows everything will work out just like it's meant to.
I think there is a sort of instinctive understanding between Johan and Roberto on a very deep, almost mythical level. And that's why Roberto is around until the very end.
