Aníbal Cortés (better known as Rio) is the youngest and often most naive character among the robbers in Netflix's Money Heist. He's brought into the group by the Professor who believes his hacking and technological skills are crucial to their operation's success.
Rio quickly becomes romantically involved with another member of the crew, Tokyo. His character development, major mistakes, and contributions to the heists are often influenced by their chaotic relationship. While Rio does start out as a naive and somewhat impulsive person in the show, he eventually learns from his mistakes and is changed by his experiences with the gang.
Season 1
During season 1 of the show, Rio is introduced as one of the smartest characters in Money Heist. His role in ensuring that the police can’t hack into any of the Mint’s technology or the hostages’ phones is crucial to the plan’s success. He’s not too bright when it comes to more practical things, though, as he makes a ton of mistakes that endanger the entire crew.
The first clear error happens early in the season when he gives Tokyo his dog tag that has his real name written on it. Their budding relationship causes problems for everyone, especially when they get into an argument over Rio’s alleged involvement with a hostage. Their fight distracts both of them long enough for the hostage to grab her phone, which the police promptly hack. Rio’s real identity is revealed to the world and his actions soon reach his parents, who disown him on national television. A distraught Rio is almost tempted to cut a deal with law enforcement after watching a video from his parents. Season 1 highlights the young hacker’s naivety and tendency to be swayed easily by outside forces. This is only the beginning of his tumultuous relationship with Tokyo, which is already proving to be a detrimental one for the team.
Season 2
Tensions are high in season 2 as the gang wait for word about the Professor who has been captured by the police. Rio and Tokyo break another rule and steal a television to watch the news, which causes them to feel hopeless about their situation. Rio doesn’t hesitate to help Tokyo overthrow Berlin, which leads to a chain of events that end up with her getting kicked out of the Mint.
Rio is upset about Tokyo’s situation and becomes hysterical enough that Berlin has to sedate him. When he wakes up, he calls a now free Tokyo through an unsecured line, knowing that the police are listening to their conversation. He stays on the call with Tokyo as she stages a dramatic re-entrance into the Mint, driving her motorcycle through a hail of gunfire. Moscow gets shot in the process and Tokyo breaks down in Rio’s arms who assures her that it’s not her fault. Season 2 reinforces the fact that Rio and Tokyo’s relationship is toxic, with the hacker encouraging her destructive behavior. He’s lost the ability to separate his feelings for her from his role in the heist, which endangers everyone and causes others like Moscow to suffer.
Season 3
Rio is enjoying their island paradise more than Tokyo is in season 3. When Rio learns that she’s actually bored of spending all their days on a beautiful beach, he reluctantly hands her a satellite phone and watches her leave for the city. He can’t stand being away from her, though, so he commits a monumental error and calls her. The call is promptly intercepted and the young hacker is captured and then tortured by the CNI.
The gang plan another heist specifically to save Rio, this time targeting the Bank of Spain. It takes a ton of risk and effort to get him back, which eventually happens when they offer to free hostages in exchange for his freedom. Rio’s first act in the bank is to have an uncharacteristically mature conversation with Tokyo where he tells her that he doesn’t want to be on her “rollercoaster” anymore. His bravest act in Money Heist is his breakup with Tokyo in this season, as he’s finally learned enough to understand that they need space from each other. It’s unfortunate that it took a foolish phone call and his terrifying ordeal with the CNI for him to realize it. Rio’s experience in the hands of the authorities has changed him for both better and worse, as while he can now step away from a toxic relationship, he’s also deeply traumatized by his abduction and torture.
Season 4
Things are getting increasingly out of hand in season 4 as the gang frantically tries to save Nairobi’s life after she’s shot by a sniper. Rio is mostly caught up in the chaos as the Professor struggles to maintain control over the situation. His most crucial decision happens after Palermo helps the soldier César Gandía escape. With only Rio standing guard at that time, it’s up to him to stop the hostage to keep everyone safe. He’s able to point his gun but doesn’t shoot, allowing Gandía to escape. This mistake leads to a series of disastrous events for the robbers who are now targeted by the skilled escapee.
Meanwhile, Rio helps stop an assault by the authorities by publicly recounting his horrifying experiences in the hands of the CNI. It’s almost too painful to watch the young hacker talk about the weeks of torture he had to endure on national television. Their successful propaganda campaign is abruptly overshadowed by Rio’s mistake, though, as Gandía eventually shoots Nairobi, instantly killing her. Season 4 portrays Rio as a jaded and troubled character who’s haunted by the brutality he suffered. While it’s easy to fault him for Nairobi’s death, it’s important to note that if anyone should be blamed for the heartbreaking scene, it’s Gandía. This is a somewhat disappointing season for the young hacker whose errors are beginning to outweigh his usefulness.
Season 5
Rio mostly stays on the sidelines in season 5, but he seems to be slowly recovering from his recent traumatic experience. He even manages to rekindle his relationship with Tokyo, as the two are back to their old flirty banter. He’s more cautious this time around, which highlights the young hacker’s newfound maturity when it comes to romance.
Their relationship never gets a chance to restart properly, though, as Tokyo is unfortunately cornered by a team of elite soldiers during an intense standoff in the show. When she decides to sacrifice her life for her crew, one of Tokyo’s best quotes about living many lives is directed towards Rio. He tearfully holds her hand through a hole he desperately drilled into the ceiling between them, helplessly watching the love of his life get shot multiple times. It’s a harrowing end to their chaotic relationship and there’s no telling how the upset Rio will deal with her loss in the upcoming second part of the final season. He’ll hopefully remember all of the lessons he has learned from his difficult ordeal with the CNI and his “rollercoaster”-like relationship with Tokyo. If he’s able to use them to power through the rest of the heist and help his friends, all his pain and grief will hopefully be worth it in the end.