Good Girls: Manny Montana teases Rio and Beth after that shocking premiere

Rio is officially back. Did we really think he wouldn’t return for Good Girls Season 3? Manny Montana talks about what’s next for Rio, especially when it comes to Beth.

The Good Girls Season 2 finale left us with Rio’s fate in Turner’s hands. In a way, it was clear that Rio had to return, although we did have to wonder. The Season 3 premiere has left us with plenty of questions, especially when it comes to Rio’s next moves.

Manny Montana, who is perfect in the role of a criminal we just love to see on our screens, talked exclusively with Hidden Remote about Rio and what’s in store for him. We just had to bring up what’s next with Beth considering she shot him in the Season 2 finale.

Hidden Remote: What was the conversation like with the Good Girls Season 2 finale when you found out how it would end?

Manny Montana: There wasn’t one. I just got the script and was like, “Oh, s**t,” and then I talked to Jenna [name], one of the creators. She said Rio definitely was not going to die, but that it would make a great cliffhanger. Then she told me the ideas for Season 3.

I was all for it. I like that people are still wondering if I’m alive or dead.

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HR: It must have been a bit of a shock to get that script then.

Montana: I’ve been acting long enough that I kind of roll with it. I was just like, “I wish somebody would have told me that I’m dead now.” But it was all fine.

HR: Was it hard to keep it all a secret? I didn’t know until setting up this interview that you were 100% coming back.

Montana: It’s funny. I thought it was pretty obvious that he would stay alive because of the deal Turner made to him. So, I was shocked that people really thought he was dead. People are still coming up to me and asking if I’m coming back for Good Girls Season 3.

It hasn’t been all that hard to keep it a secret. I’m not big on social media and I don’t post a lot, so it’s been easy to kepe it under wraps. I’m glad people have found out now, though.

It makes for a great Season 3. Rio is on the warpath now, and I’m excited to see what the audience thinks.

HR: Yeah, he’s gone from King of the Castle to an informant. At least, you think that at first. Then you realize he’s back to his old tricks again.

Montana: Yeah, I always believe that Rio is going to do whatever he has to do to win. Even if that means helping out the FBI for just one second, just so he can get better in the end, I feel like he’ll do it. I also feel like he’ll do anything to get back to his son and start making money to provide for him.

He feels like everything he’s doing in justified because, in his mind, he doesn’t think he’s a really bad dude. I honestly think he’s just trying to make his money, make as much as he can to get out of the game and provide for his family. The girls kind of keep stepping out of their lane and in his way at times, so there’s this nice cat-and-mouse game of who’s going to be on top. Beth tries to take things into her own hands and crosses Rio, so there’s a lot of good things about this for the show.

HR: Now that Rio is back out there but nobody knows yet, how exciting does that make Good Girls Season 3 for us as the viewer?

Montana: I think it’s going to make it so fun brcause the girls were feeling really good, starting to make their own money. They feel like nobody can cross them and then bam! Here I come back out and mess things up. I love what the audience is going to be able to see.

What I asked Jenna was how they would work together again after [Beth] shot him three times. There’s nothing she can say or do that will make it okay. And you find out really early on—I don’t want to give anything away—is Rio won’t cross this line. But [the writers] have written one thing in that makes Rio have to work with her.

I feel like the audience is going to side with me in a lot of ways. They’re going to be like, “now he can’t kill her because of it.” So, I’m excited to see what the audience feels about it.

HR: I have enjoyed the development of Rio and Beth. Both were on opposite sides but there was all this chemistry and attraction. Is there any chance of seeing that develop further in Good Girls Season 3? Just a tease?

Montana: I don’t know! We’re still filming, still in the middle of everything. There’s always sexual tension, regardless of what’s written on the page. Just because we come from totally different sides of the track, we’re both attracted to each other’s lives.

It’s this weird thing. No matter what the situation is, there’s always going to be the sexual tension there. So it’s not really written, but it’s happening as we go along.

I really hope they don’t go back to having any physical contact. I just feel that would make Rio look weak. This woman shot him three times. No matter what the situation, there’s no coming back from that. We can be cordial and coexist, but I don’t think they should ever do anything again.

Rio trusted Beth and didn’t think she’d actually pull the trigger. Regardless of the situation, she chose to do it.

HR: What’s been your favorite moments over the last two seasons so far?

Montana: There have been so many! Off the top of my head, it has to be the pilot episode. Rio came out of nowhere and you’re wondering who this guy is talking about backsplashes and kitchens. He just asks them to give him his money back. I love the mystery and then everything else that comes along with it.

I don’t think I have any specific favorites. I just love that real mystery. Mystery sells and we want more of it.

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HR: Is there anything in Good Girls Season 3 that you can tease that you can’t wait for fans to see?

Montana: Not really, because it will be such a big reveal. We have a lot of good guest stars that come in and everybody’s kind of intermixing with one another. I’m really liking that because I couldn’t interact with the guest stars all that much in the past because it was just me and Beth for the most part. Now, everybody’s lives are kind of intermingling and everybody’s finding out a little bit about the other characters.

Characters’ backs are against the wall, and they’re doing things they wouldn’t normally do. When someone was on the fence before, they are going to the dark side. I think it’s going to keep people guessing.

To me, it’s our best season so far. I’m excited to see what the audience thinks.

HR: So, as we come to a close, I want to get to know a little more about you as Manny. What are your passions outside of acting?

Montana: My family. Any free time I have in my life, I’m with them. We like to go to the beach a lot.

Another is boxing. I box a lot. My son comes with me to watch. He’s only two, and we hang out a lot there.

Another passion is the community in Long Beach. I speak at high schools a lot and go to different colleges and Boys and Girls clubs. I’m from here and I never had anybody when I was growing up that I could really look up to besides my dad. But in this industry, you don’t see a lot of people that look like me or that come from where I come from, so I always wanted to make sure to go back to the schools and show them that somebody that looks like them is doing it.

I want them to know they can do something bigger with their lives. If you love it, then go for it.

HR: Finally, if you could do any project or work with any director or actor, who would that dream project be?

Montana: That’s a good question. There are so many directors and actors I would love to work with. But a dream project would be something like Creed because I box and I would love to do a movie with boxing.

I’ve boxed and played football my whole life. So, doing something like that or The Wire or Friday Night Lights. Or even Breaking Bad! Something that moves people and becomes a part of your life.

HR: I think Good Girls has that, where it becomes part of your life. It’s just so relatable.

Montana: Yeah, what’s funny is that I was so shocked. I thought people were going to like the show, for sure, but I didn’t realize just how much, and it makes me really happy. I think it’s because it makes you question what you would do in a situation.

Every situation the girls are in, I’m like, “Yeah, if my kid was in trouble, I would do that.” I think that’s what people relate to.

What do you think will keep Rio around in Good Girls Season 3? What do you hope to see for Rio moving forward? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Good Girls Season 3 continues Sundays at 10/9c on NBC.