Wouldn't Rodney be valuable to Harlan? Please share your thoughts

In Harlan's line of work, wether it be facilitating and/or fixing bare knuckle boxing matches or drug dealing, wouldn't you rather have someone like Rodney on your team as opposed to dead?

I would imagine Harlan took part in more than the few criminal activities listed above. Possibly murder for hire, racketeering, gambling books, etc. all of which could use Rodney.

But even for the two that we know for sure, boxing and drugs. Rodney is a half crazy, war hardened, tough minded fighter that has experience with hand to hand combat, weapons of all sorts and killing. He has little conscience and at the end of the day seems to only have the same incentive as Harlan: make more money.

Yes he is a loose cannon but most violent criminals are and that can be controlled. Did you just kill a "friend" of his? Probably more like a dirtbag acquaintance with whom he wouldn't have enough loyalty to hold a grudge or seek revenge for.

Killing him just doesn't make sense to me. In these criminal enterprises he is essentially a jack of all trades and could easily fit into so many different valuable roles.

So why does Harlan kill him? To set an example? Because Rodney admits he almost lost control during the fight and that concerned Harlan with if he could fully train/trust him? Prior to shooting him Harlan tells him he should have kept better company, essentially confirming he is guilty by association and hadn't done anything to warrant the murder. Harlan even goes as far as to compliment Rodney to Russell at the end saying he was a tough kid so we know Harlan was at least slightly fond of Rodney.

Not to mention if he lets him live Rodney is probably somewhat indebted to Harlan based on their criminal code?

Either way the ending may turn out the same as I doubt Russell would be ok with Rodney working for Harlan thus leading to a similar murderous confrontation but Harlan doesn't know that at the time he shoots Rodney.

Thoughts?




The end.