When Good Girls season 1 premiered in 2018, a relationship between Beth and Rio wasn’t even on our radar.
However, over time, the chemistry between Christina Hendricks and Manny Montana was too hard to ignore.
Rio could make your heart skip a beat simply by the way he looked at Beth. Their connection and bond strengthened until it culminated in one of the hottest hook-up scenes on prime-time television.
Since then, the writers have struggled to keep that passion alive even as fans clamor for more #Brio moments – anything to prove that the spark is still alive between them.
We’re taking a walk down memory lane ahead of the new season to remember just how steamy and sensual things between these two used to be!
1.When They Became Equal Partners
That was one intense scene, especially as Rio tried to throw Beth off of her game by saying “you look good behind that desk, but you’d look so much better on top of it.” Did anyone else fully expect her to throw herself at him?
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2. When Rio believed in her
During a 10 a.m. bar meetup, Rio informed Beth that he was giving her the keys to the kingdom. When she questioned his motives, he informed her: “I think you could be something.” Rio may have had ulterior motives, but it was one of the first times that someone actually saw and acknowledged Beth’s potential as a woman, something Dean hadn’t done in years.
Every time Beth questioned her abilities, he promised to “teach her” how to be like him and supported her every step of the way.
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3. When He Called Beth Beautiful
Rio has a way with words, but when he subtly complimented Beth, we were swooning!
4. When They Hooked Up in the Bathroom
Beth was always intrigued by Rio and she gave into temptation; she allowed herself to give into her deepest desires and embrace a wild side. Rio gave her the freedom that Dean never did. We see how fed up she is with Dean as he assumes everything about her and doesn’t actually value her. Not to mention he cheated on her so she wanted revenge.
However, what makes this scene so hot is that Rio takes her lead and lets her control the narrative and what happens. They both wanted it, but Beth had the power.
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5. When He Told Beth to Tell the FBI They Were Making Love
We were all just as flustered as Beth when Rio suggested she tell the FBI the reason they were hanging out is cause they were making love. “Make me sound good, yeah?” Rio added as Beth couldn’t help but blush at the thought.
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6. When Their Hands Touched While Exchanging the Money
Rio and Beth embraced any chance to tease each other. He hand gently caressed her hand under the table as Annie echoed what we were all thinking: “oh my god.”
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7. When Rio Gave Her Some Solid Advice
To calm Beth’s nerves, Rio suggested that she “picture everybody naked.” And we all know what he meant by that. In the scene, they also talked about not labeling their relationship, and while they were talking about their professional relationship on the surface, we all know the subtext was about something a bit more intimate.
8. When Beth Got Jealous
While we never got an explanation as to who this woman was, Beth was green with envy seeing Rio feeling up on some other woman.
9. When They Made Love
A quickie hookup in the bathroom is one thing, but when she invited hin over to have sex in her bedroom, it became a lot more intimate.
Beth needed to get it out of her system as a way of saying “goodbye” as she planned to get out of the drug dealing business. She knew the optics weren’t in their favor — he’s a drug dealer, she’s a suburban housewife who needs to prioritize her family — but she couldn’t shake the attraction. The scene didn’t show much aside from their kiss, but that was enough to give audiences chills.
These two aren’t always in-sync when it comes to the business, but they are so in-sync non-verbally.
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10. Anytime He Pushed the Hair Out of Her Face
He may be a dangerous criminal, but brushing her hair out of her face and stroking her cheek is such a gentl and personal act. And he usually does it when she’s at her most vulnerable with him.
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11. Whenever He Calls Her Elizabeth
No one else calls her by her full name, but when he does it, it just flows off the tongue. He demands her attention and shows her that no one else sees her in the way that he does.
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12. Whenever Beth Challenges Him
It takes a lot of bravado to challenge a drug dealer who is all too comfortable with putting a gun to your head, but Beth does it several times to keep Rio in check. By allowing it, he’s clearly telling her that he respects and values her opinion. Not everyone would be able to get away with it. And while their relationship is toxic and dysfunctional on many levels, they’ve both taught each other some pretty valuable lessons.
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13. When Rio Listens to Beth
This goes hand-in-hand with #12, but in Good Girls Season 3, Beth has the ability to stop Rio in his tracks. As she hands over Boomer, she says “stop,” and you can hear Rio’s screech as he comes to a halt. Rio may have the upperhand, but Beth has her fair share of power over him.
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The cat-and-mouse game between these two continues into Good Girls Season 4, but as Beth hires a hitman to kill Rio, they’re not exactly on the same page anymore. Will they find their way back?
Will the respect and tension once again resurface? A bond this intense doesn’t just fizzle out no matter how many times they’ve betrayed each other!
All the Thirsty Tweets and Memes About Rio on ‘Good Girls’
