Flow of Madness

One of the main changes to Rich after losing Grace is his involvement in his friends’ problems and issues. He is more involved and in many ways he has become a meddler. Grace was the meddler and the fix it person of the group. She knew what to say and what to do to bring the group together despite tragedies and hardships. It was a major part of her character. Rich on the other hand is more the type to insult his friends intelligence while helping his friends with a false sense of complaining. Though that has changed—Rich has become the fix it guy.

What is the source of this change? It could be that he wants to make Grace happy so he is doing everything in his power to take her place in the group in order to make her proud. I think that is part of it. Though I think the biggest part of it has to do with the loss of Grace. He was not present during the accident and never got the opportunity to see Grace…to support her…to hold her hand. I feel like there is a part of Rich that needs to protect people, because he never got the chance to support Grace.

These are the things that Rich has done for his friends:

• Bailed Alo out of jail.
• Told Alo he can’t run from his problems and showed him a solution to save himself from jail.
• Talked with Alo about Grace in order to get him to call Mini.
• Picked up Mini and took her to Alo.
• He didn’t help Nick with Matty, but he did give Nick the option to without judgment.
• He wanted to make Liv happy at the end of her episode. Enjoyed seeing Liv happy and content with Grace.

Now Rich is a great guy and I believe he would have done most of this stuff pre-Grace, but he would have done it differently. Bitching, moaning, and even belittling the characters as he goes. Because that is Rich and is snark cannot be contained. Recently he has had this aura of control and happiness as he helps out his friends. On top of this he is now in possession of Grace’s phone so he is privy to many of the issues and feelings of all his friends regarding Grace. He left a voicemail to Grace asking Grace to tell him what to do when it comes to his friends. He is compelled to help. Something is driving him to get involved. It could be that a complex is developing through his lack of control that he had during Grace’s accident and the lack of access he had when she was in hospital. It could be that Grace is speaking to him in his mind and it is suggesting that he does all these things. It could be a combination of the two. One thing is certain…Rich feels a drive to act and help his friends. In a beautiful way not a snarky way.

Future:

I feel like the scene between Matty and Rich is going to be a civil conversation. We might see a teary Rich and a moment of beauty towards Grace. However I think ultimately he is going to explain to Matty that it was not his fault and that he forgives him. He left a heartbreaking message to Grace. A message that Rich heard.

I feel like and I hope that Franky calls Grace in the last episode as well and this allows Rich to have a conversation with her. Frankybluerichards and I had a brief conversation about this topic and we both believe that Rich would be one of the best people to help her out. Especially from the guilt. Rich was the biggest victim of the accident and he could give her perspective. I think he would want to give her perspective.

The Problem:
I don’t think that Rich is going to harm himself. The problem though is that Rich is in pain. Massive amounts of pain. He lost the woman he loved and the woman he was making plans with. He has for the most part been focused on his studies and now he is focused on his friends. Though his friends have not returned the same curiosity and concern toward him…no one has checked in on him. They are preoccupied with all the dramas they have that he’s been ignored. Not on purpose, but he has. When someone is ignored and focusing on everyone else…even when in pain…sometimes bad things happen. Like a breakdown. I do think we are going to have a beautiful moment with Rich where he does breakdown. He has not gotten closure and he is hiding behind many things to mask his pain. In episode 9 we got a little glimpse into his psyche.

One thing is for sure…Rich wants to help and he feels he needs to. This is a new side of Rich that has developed this series. There’s no snark in his advice. Just genuine concern…that is driven by loss. 

I have mentioned this before in the audios I have recorded and in several my posts. Including my piece on Rich’s Psychology, my piece on Rich in Liv’s episode, and Rich in Mini and Franky’s Episode. That Rich is suffering; however, he is holding onto his love for Grace to pull through. He is focusing all his energy studying, getting into University, and helping out his friends. All things that Grace would do, but doesn’t have the opportunity to do. 

I have talked about how Rich is basically the same Rich only he has lost that fire. He has lost his fight. He is a lower energy Rich. Because he is simply lost without Grace…and he’s trying his best to navigate through everything to plan a life without her. He hurts everyday. He smiles. Yet the tears are evident in his eyes. He is not okay, but he is strong. 

Rich is not the type of person to go up to someone and say “I need help.” He is not the type of person to just talk about his feelings willingly especially if they are feelings that don’t involve snark or anger. He has been silently dealing with his grief on his own. 

His friends all have other worries. Matt and Nick have the Franky question and their strained relationship. Alo has a pregnant Mini and before that the mission to impress Mini. Liv has been distracted by Alex. Franky has has so many issues to contend with. No one has really sat down with Rich to ask him how he is doing…really. Liv accused him of being okay. I think many of the characters think that he is okay. However he has all these emotions inside of him that has yet to properly be shown to the audience. 

I do not believe that Rich will commit suicide and if the writers go in that direction…well to simply put: they would have fucked up. Rich and Grace are not about being tragic lovers not strong enough to stand on their own feet. The writers will be seen in my opinion as people who have fundamentally misunderstood the relationship that Jamie Brittain has built. 

I do believe though that Rich will have a moment of weakness. Silent sufferers can only hold in so much and carry so much before they inevitably break. Or this idea of him needing to breakdown is again entangled in my own grief and need to see him break down. I admit that is a possibility. However I think with seeing Matty again that may cause Rich to get upset and then later work it out. Or Rich may seek out a solitary moment to talk with Grace or where he sees Grace. 

Rich is a fighter by nature. Grace’s love for Rich was about living. As evident by his statements he made to Alo as he was announcing he was no longer a virgin. “Fucking Living.” It’s about beauty. It’s about growing. Despite the destruction I still feel hope. I just hope the writers have their acts together. Rich will have an important scene next episode and I think he’ll make it through. 

Because apparently this is what I do…this is my in-depth analysis of what we saw of Rich in Episode 9. 

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Below is a list of awesome quotes from the Hardbeck himself from Series 5 Episode 1 all the way through where we are currently. 

Put on your band t-shirt. Block out the light. Get ready for passion, love, action, and well fucking wit. 

I have to say to those who don’t think Rich is Metal anymore or for those throwing the “pussy” word about Rich. Read these quotes. It paints a picture of a really intelligent, stubborn, passionate, kind, and strong individual. Who fought like hell for the person he loved. Just sayin’. 

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This is my take on what happens with Rich in this episode. 

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Rich has been kept from us for some time now. I mean he was gone for two episodes. Then in Mini and Nick’s episodes he has only a few lines. Alo’s episode is the only episode where we had some quality time with him. Even with the screen time he got in Alo’s episode he still seems so far away. So this post is dedicated to diving into the mysterious psychology of Richard Hardbeck. 

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I feel like I have a different view of Rich than other people sometimes. It might be my insane emotional attachment to him. It could be I see some of my friends and myself even sometimes in him. However I feel like I can understand him. As much as one can understand a fictional character they didn’t create. He just feels real to me. 

Some people have said that Rich isn’t metal anymore. Whenever I see that I honestly get upset. Because as we get older we start to realize that who we are is rarely defined by our clothing. Sometimes our fashion changes without us really thinking about it based on maturity or just a change in taste. What made Rich metal was not what he wore…it was who he was. It is how he sees the world, how he carries himself, and his personality that made Rich a metalhead. His close was just one layer to him. I do admit I miss that leather jacket of his. However I think he is still Grace’s metal man he just needs someone to light the flame or just pay attention. 

I honestly see this beauty in Rich. He is a great person and ultimately he would do anything for his friends and for Grace. Part of Rich’s mentality and how he is feeling stems from his feeling that he failed Grace. Especially his feelings in Episode 2. He feels he failed her. Failed to keep her safe. Failed to see her in hospital. I imagine he still feels that way and I hope he talks about it a little bit in Monday’s episode. It feels so strange to be so far away from a character’s emotional life especially when that person was so close to the victim of tragedy. I know that Rich is hurting and he is trying so hard to find the beauty in life. Just like Grace told him. However he has lost that fight. He looks tired. I hope that Liv obnoxiously wakes him up and in return I hope that Rich knocks sense into Liv.  Then together I hope they move to find closure and to deal with the emotions they feel. 

Rich is honestly the type of guy I have always pictured myself with. Which is why Skins has ruined my life by creating him. Rich is a bit of a life ruiner. I have always pictured myself with a realistic, sarcastic, loyal, old soul, intelligent, passionate, snarky, teasing, awesome, and part of a bromance. All those qualities Rich has I admire. Rich cares about things. He doesn’t run. He meets challenges either with brute anger or with his intellect. He is a survivor and he is a fighter. Right now he’s quiet…but I know he’s still metal. You can’t change something you innately are. Clothes are phases that one goes through. Who you are at the core…well that’s not a phase. From day one Rich has been who he is only he has matured and widened his circle. However he is still Rich. 

Long hair or short hair. Leather jacket or jean jacket. He’s still Rich. He just needs to find something to fight for again.