Hold on just one second as I pick my jaw up off the floor!! 

Good Girls Season 4 Episode 8 was brilliant from start to finish. 

I’ll admit, I had my doubts this season — especially coming off a much weaker and slow-paced Good Girls Season 3 — but wow, the writers have really stepped up their game to deliver quality twists.

It’s clear that the writers have been listening to fan criticisms and giving us what we truly want — more screentime for Rio.

And that starts with diving into Rio’s backstory.

For nearly four seasons, Rio has remained a mystery. He pops in, he makes a call, he threatens Beth, and he disappears.

All we really know about him is that he’s this big, bad, and stupid hot (even the FBI agents agreed with us on that) gang leader, but we don’t actually know how he got to this point in his life. 

Or if his tough-guy act is all an illusion.

A deeper dive into Rio started on Good Girls Season 4 Episode 6 when we met his family and found out that the business is what we’d call a family affair.

At that point, it was made clear that family is everything, and the latest episode drove that idea home by exploring Rio’s relationship with his cousin/brother, Nick

With flashbacks delving briefly into their childhood and, in more detail, into their teenage years, it became clear that Nick and Rio were polar opposites. 

Rio was the bad boy who would do anything for a quick buck, while Nick was the buttoned-up, by-the-book guy who was working smarter not harder.

The flashbacks didn’t give us a deeper look into Rio’s life, they also connected to Beth’s current predicament as she found herself at a crossroads between Rio and the FBI.

The FBI wanted her to turn on Rio, Rio wanted her to turn on the FBI. 

Both of them needed her, so she decided to play them both. 

Obviously, that was never going to work. 

Beth is clever, but you need more than that to play some of the smartest people in the business. 

She attempted to keep the feds busy by giving them Gene, a “broken toy,” but it was only a temporary distraction that bought her a sliver of time. The moment Phoebe and Dave realized he had absolutely nothing to do with gang friend — he didn’t even know him! — it made the situation worse for Beth because now, they knew they couldn’t trust her.

Even Phoebe was over the whole case as she just told her to “pick a side.”

So, Beth did. 

It was a tough decision If she sided with Rio, she lost her chance at starting over. She lost Nevada. 

But if she sided with the FBI, he threatened to come after her friends and family. 

There was no winning, and eventually, she’d have to betray someone. 

So, she chose to betray Rio considering the FBI promised to keep her safe. 

Though, I think there was more to her decision, which she wouldn’t have made if it wasn’t for a little push from Nick.

When he swung by her house to return her cardigan, he subtly implied that she shouldn’t be involved in Rio’s shady business dealings. 

Nick’s concerns seemed genuine, and as he flattered Beth with his sweet-talking, she believed he was a good guy, unlike Rio. 

But that was her biggest mistake because it seemed to be part of Nick’s master plan. 

GOOD GIRLS — “Broken Toys” Episode 408 — Pictured: (l-r) Carlos Aviles as Mick, Christina Hendricks as Beth Boland — (Photo by: Jordin Althaus/NBC)

In the same way that Beth uses her suburban mom vibe as a cover, Nick seems to be using his Councilman gig as a cover. Turns out, he’s not only very much involved in his brother/cousin’s business, but he’s the actual boss and mastermind who operates from the shadows. 

Truthfully, Beth should’ve stopped to consider how Nick got her address in the first place.

The fact that she fell for his act makes him that much more dangerous than Rio. 

With Rio, what you see is what you get. He’s upfront about who he is and what he does. He’s never shied away from it or tried to be someone he isn’t.

But Nick is hiding behind the Councilman persona and being purposefully deceitful.

Through flashbacks, we also learned that Rio and Nick have been working together since they were teenagers! Nick started the shady schemes and roped Rio into it after he got out of jail. 

He explained that he finagled a promotion at work, which meant that his boss would trust him and never suspect him.

He then applied the same logic to what I call the “Beth problem.”

There was always a chance that Beth was going to run off to the authorities, so Nick wanted to get ahead of it. 

Beth expectedly turned on Rio and thought she was home-free once he was arrested, but Nick pulled some strings and got him out! 

Rio then paid her a visit at home — and creepily sat in a dark room waiting to catch her by surprise — and explained that since she turned on him, the FBI would now believe anything she told them. 

And this meant that they could whatever they want. 

This wasn’t the end, this was just the beginning. Rio wasn’t playing when he told Beth that they’re playing the long game. 

It’s a brilliant plan if you think about it, and it also explains how Rio’s been able to get away with some much —  big brother (or cousin) is always watching and ready to be his “get out of jail free” card. 

This kind of makes Rio invincible, which is pretty crappy news for Beth. 

There’s no shaking Rio — she’s in it for the long run. 

I don’t think Rio was part of Nick’s plan with Beth. Rio genuinely trusted Beth because he was blinded by his feelings for him, but Nick didn’t. 

Rio seemed surprised when she turned him in, and when Nick picked him up, he seemed pissed that he was taken advantage of. 

I think Rio did really value the partnership he built with Beth and was blindsided when she didn’t choose him.

By introducing her to the family, he made it clear that he felt that she was going to stick around and was ready to be brought into the big leagues.

So, yeah, I’m not surprised that the betrayal cut so deep.

Despite his tough exterior, Rio allowed himself to be vulnerable, and that vulnerability was used against him.

You’d think that after all that Beth has done, he would’ve cut her off by now, but he’s also realized just how valuable she is.

Beth is like a chameleon who is able to adapt to any situation on command. She’s whipsmart and has never met a task that she couldn’t complete. 

It’s the only reason she’s still standing with all of her limbs intact.

Rio may have walked, but the FBI dropped the ball by not notifying Beth immediately when it happened. 

How could their first call not be to the woman who put her whole life on the line by turning in a man who could’ve easily retaliated and killed her? 

Was it an oversight? Were they that shocked that he pulled a vanishing act after they tried so hard to get him?

They promised her protection, and it’s clear that it was a load of bullcrap. This is why people never do the right thing! 

A head’s up would’ve been nice.

13 Steamiest Moments Between Rio and Beth on ‘Good Girls’

Try as they might, the Boland family can’t stay away from a scheme… the latest one involves Dean and a classic pyramid scheme. Or, as they like to call them, multi-level marketing ventures. 

Look, I know people genuinely make money off of them and some are actually legitimate, but most of the time, they are a complete joke. 

However, Dean’s hit rock bottom, so why not put his savvy sales skills to use selling some type of Arbonne/Rodan and Fields-like product while he’s stuck in house arrest?

At the very least, it’s a stream of income for the family, which they definitely need. 

The only positive of the episode was that Stanimal was finally free of Gene’s grasp. 

The ladies pumped his club full with fake cash, and when the FBI took him in for questioning, he folded like a lawn chair and gave up every single person he’s ever done business with. 

I hated seeing Stan used and abused, so I’m glad this storyline is over. 

But what happens with all those handbags? I’m still of the mindset that they can be used in a lucrative scheme. Maybe Beth can present the idea to Nick and Rio. You know they love how resourceful she is. 

Other Thoughts

• Ruby comparing Rio to IBS was priceless: “you never know when it’s gunna strike.”
• Stan’s motivational talk to the strippers was solid. He should consider that as a new career avenue. 
• Gene really tried to recruit Annie for his club. I thought that would surely be the way she smuggled the money in, but a night out for the ladies with fine dining, drinks, and strippers was a solid idea. 

What did you think of the episode? Were you shocked by the reveal that Nick is the boss? 

Let us know in the comments!

Nothing gets past Rio. 

Beth made that very clear on Good Girls Season 4 Episode 7, so why did they not cover all their bases when introducing him to Carolyn?

With the FBI closing in on Beth and snooping around her affairs, he was bound to be on high alert. 

And while Carolyn (Phoebe) did a great job of selling her character — I thoroughly enjoyed her “mommy” training and how excited she was to be joining their crew — they were a little too pushy with trying to get Rio to talk at the diner. 

And not only were they pushy, but when he suggested they go to her house, they were all super tense and fidgety. Just give it away why don’t you!?

Rio knows when something feels off. He’s also very much aware that Beth is capable of pulling one over him. 

The FBI should’ve been several steps ahead of him and had a faux house, a pretend family, pictures, the whole shabang ready just in case.

Right now, as it stands, they don’t deserve to catch Rio; he continues to outsmart everyone and proving that he knows the game all too well. 

The season is finally back to filling audiences with the same anxiety as we felt back in season 1. 

Beth and Rio are both unpredictable, and as they’re tip-toeing around each other, it’s definitely raising my blood pressure once again (in a good way, of course). 

But now that everything’s on the table, Beth has to make a choice: does she side with the FBI or do her alliances lie with Rio?

As she explained, she’s damned either way. 

She’s gotten herself into a mess that she won’t be able to clean up so easily. 

The FBI can no longer protect her since Rio knows she was planning to turn on him. And if she sides with Rio and his family’s criminal enterprise, she continues to put herself, her friends, and her family in danger. 

Good Girls Review – Oops… They Did It Again (4×06)

And either way, she seems to lose out on the chance of starting a new life in Nevada. 

I didn’t know how much messier Beth’s life could get, but Good Girls Season 4 is proving that it’s entirely possible to continue digging a deeper hole for yourself. 

Beth also got called out for not disclosing her sexual relationship with Rio to the FBI, but it wasn’t just the FBI who was shocked by her “improvising.”

Both Annie and Ruby couldn’t believe that after everything Rio put them through, Beth went there with him again. 

And no one seemed to care that she only did it as a means of distraction and that’s likely because no one actually believes it either. 

No matter how messed up things get between Beth and Rio, the chemistry and sexual tension are still there. 

You can hate and like someone at the same time, and I think that’s the case for Beth when it comes to Rio. On some level, she has grown fond of him and respects him, and the feeling is mutual, which is what makes this partnership so intriguing and complex. 

What do you think Beth will do? And what would you do in her situation?

As it stands, I think she’s better off sticking with Rio because that’s not an enemy you want to make!

Ruby and Stan are getting into even more hot water with their designer purse business. 

I know Stan wanted to do this on his own and keep Beth out of it, but now that Gene won’t let them out of the “lucrative” business, they’re going to need all the help they can get pushing these fakes. 

If you think about it, this might be the perfect opportunity for everyone to wash the fake cash, but also to make money. And you know they all need it even Gregg and Nancy. 

13 Steamiest Moments Between Rio and Beth on ‘Good Girls’

After Gregg suggested pulling Ben out of private school under the guise that he was worried he’d become a spoiled and privileged asshole, Annie figured out that they were having money problems. 

It’s a fun twist because Gregg, and more specifically Nancy, have always acted as though they were superior to Annie and that her money problems were of her own making. 

And while that may be true to some extent, it’s also a lot harder to dig yourself out of a hole once you’re in it. 

Gregg and Nancy are going to learn that the hard way. And I don’t think they’d be above doing something shady in order to get their finances back in order. 

Personally, I’d love to see this money laundering/ fake handbag business become something that everyone becomes invested in because it proves that no one is above a get quick cash scheme. 

It would just elevate the stakes.

Not to mention Annie, Gregg, and Nancy have the perfect platform to sell these dupes at Ben’s school! Rich parents = sold handbags. 

The storyline is almost writing itself. 

What did you think about the episode? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! 

Did we just meet “the boss?”

And better yet, is she the head of a family business?

Good Girls Season 4 Episode 6 was one of the strongest installments for so many reasons. 

Beth and the ladies manipulated the FBI to give them what they wanted, we got more insight into Rio’s life, and there was even a robbery in knitted face masks. 

And though I’m not Dean’s biggest fan, I quite enjoyed seeing the joy smear across his face as he went cycling around the 3-block radius. It was like a scene out of E.T. 

The episode kicked off in a scene reminiscent of season 1: Beth, Annie, and Ruby were robbing a jewelry store where Baby Tyler currently works as a security guard.

At first, it didn’t make much sense as to why they returned to a life of petty crime when they were in so deep with Rio and with the FBI, but as the bills began to stack up, so did the money woes.

It was time to get creative.

The staged robbery got them some quality face time with Phoebe and Dave, who had no choice but to put them on the payroll while they helped them nail Rio. 

In return, Beth went to meet his “boss” all mic’d up, which is pretty brave of her considering last time he suspected her of being a mole, he made her strip down to absolutely nothing in her kitchen. 

I sure as hell wouldn’t wear such an obvious piece while going to meet someone who outranks Rio but to each their own!

And yet, the meeting wasn’t anything that Beth expected. Instead of meeting some mafia-man in a dark alleyway, Rio took her to a family barbecue where he introduced her to his grandmother and his cousin/brother (still not sure which one he is after that tense moment) among other family members. 

GOOD GIRLS — “Grandma Loves Grisham” Episode 406 — Pictured: (l-r) Christina Hendricks as Beth Boland, Mae Whitman as Annie Marks, Retta as Ruby Hill — (Photo by: Jordin Althaus/NBC)

Rio is the man who mixes business with pleasure, and now, he’s invited Beth into the family, which is a big deal. If that isn’t the biggest extension of trust, I don’t know what it.

Understandably, Beth was caught off-guard and out of her element, but who wouldn’t be? The family was prying into her life and asking her about her relationship with Rio. Though she denied there being anything romantic between them, Rio sure didn’t help by rubbing her back tenderly. 

It was all so deliciously bizarre. 

It’s so hard to get into Rio’s mind and understand what he thinks of Beth. Does he want her to be his equal? Does he have feelings for her? Does he simply enjoy the mind games? Are there more “Beth’s” in his life?

When Beth realized she was a sitting duck with the wire on, she attempted to get rid of it in the bathroom. 

Now, the logical thing would have been to flush it down the toilet, wouldn’t it? But Beth chose to hide it behind a book in grandma’s bedroom. Girl, what are you thinking?

Of course, Rio was suspicious about her bathroom break and found her snooping around. 

When she realized that she was very much in the lion’s den, she “improvised” the way Phoebe told her to and had sex with Rio. 

Hot sex, might I add. This scene was simply the writer’s way of appeasing fans who ship #Brio, but honestly, I’m not complaining. 

13 Steamiest Moments Between Rio and Beth on ‘Good Girls’

The sexual tension between these two never fizzled out, but after all that’s transpired between them, I always wondered how the series would ever put them back in this situation again. 

They found a way that worked and stayed true to the complicated nature of their relationship. 

Rio may be the guy that’s in charge and who takes charge, but Beth definitely wields some power over him. He has a soft spot for her, which is why he’s allowed her to stick around for so long and let this go on as far as it has.

After meeting the fam, I don’t think working with the FBI is in Beth’s best interest unless they plan on taking down the whole unit. 

Think about it — even if she were to get rid of Rio, the rest of the family wouldn’t hesitate to come after her. 

She’s in deeper than she’s ever been before, and unfortunately, I don’t think the FBI has what it takes to protect her. 

Beth’s so impressive that even Phoebe wants so badly to be liked by her. In her eyes, Beth’s the popular girl that she wants to be friends with. But as we saw, she can’t let her guard down because Beth is clever and won’t hesitate to do what has to be done. 

Since Dean struggled to accept his new reality under house arrest, Beth was forced to come clean about the deal she made with the FBI. At least they’re finally on the same page. Let’s just hope Dean doesn’t blab.

Ruby tried to help Stan fix the problem with his boss, but that backfired a bit as Stan was given all the purses to sell to high-end clientele. 

While the extra income can’t hurt, they’re already stretched so thin. 

However, I wouldn’t put it past Beth to somehow merge this purse business with what they’re doing for Rio!

Even Annie’s storyline was entertaining on Good Girls Season 4 Episode 6. 

GOOD GIRLS — “Grandma Loves Grisham” Episode 406 — Pictured: (l-r) Mae Whitman as Annie Marks, Rob Heaps as Josh — (Photo by: Jordin Althaus/NBC)

My biggest complaint this season was that Annie continued to make terrible life choices, which doesn’t do her character any favors, especially when we’re four seasons in. 

But this episode changed everything. 

She decided to retake the GED and passed all on her own! All she needed to do was believe in herself a little bit.

Don’t even get me started on the fact that there’s no way she wouldn’t get arrested or kicked out for trying to pay off the proctor in real life. 

Secondly, she impressed me with how she handled the Josh situation. When he came to her house drunk, Annie did the mature thing and tried to send him away knowing that he was getting married to Lyla in the morning. 

However, when he indicated that he needed to go number 2, Annie had no choice but to let him inside. The scene was probably one of the funniest in the series, as was the subsequent conversation about Lyla never pooping because of her low-waste diet. 

I love that Annie kept her boundaries and didn’t allow for anything more to happen despite really wanting it. It shows that she not only has respect for herself but also Josh.

As for Josh, I feel bad for him for being in a loveless relationship. Hopefully, he calls off the wedding and finds his true happiness whether it be with Annie or someone else that’s more his speed.

I absolutely like him for her, so I hope we see him again! 

What did you think of the episode? Did you love it as much as I did?

What was your favorite moment? Sound off in the comments now!