Rika

Because Danny Glover stated in an interview that the producers and directors wanted Riggs to be with Lorna instead of Rika so they had to kill off Rika so Riggs could meet Lorna in the 3rd movie which I think is stupid because I think Rika was a better 2nd Mrs. Martin Riggs instead of Lorna but that's just my opinion. Now ya get the picture?

Because that would have been boring.

Cult Leader my mind's frightening, I drink blood from a human skull like a Viking

It is a HUGE HUGE HUGE plot hole in the film. The first time I saw the film (back in '89), I wasn't really paying attention. I just watched it again for the first time in years tonight and I came on IMDb to ask about the very same thing.

Riggs KNEW the armed assassins in the helicopters who were trying to kill him in his trailer on the beach were the South Africans!!! Yet he took Rika and dropped her off at her apartment, KNOWING THEY KNEW WHERE SHE LIVED!!! What the hell was he thinking (or not thinking)???

That's what you call lazy scriptwriting. I don't buy - for an instant - that it's because they wanted Rene Russo for part 3. Hell, part 3 was still three years away (!). Is there even any evidence that when they were making this film, Richard Donner knew he wanted Rene Russo for part 3? If he did, why not put her in this film and have her be the love interest instead of Rika? It doesn't make sense.

It's just lousy scriptwriting. Pure and simple. Riggs should've NEVER dropped Rika off at her apartment. A seasoned cop should've known better.

Otherwise, it's still a fun shoot-'em up action film.


"You can dish it out, but you got so you can't take it no more." - Caesar Enrico Bandello

LOL! I always wondered the same thing...

Prostitute: What the *beep* are you doing?
Johnny: I'm gonna kill a bunch of people.

I always thought that was pretty ignorant of him...
I don't mean to impose, but I am the Ocean.

Good question. Many action films have plot holes but this is larger than most.

None of the shooters see Rika, so it makes sense within the film that he'd think they wouldn't have any way of knowing she was there.

just re-watched it again, and here is my opinion.

during the shootfight on the beach, i guess the bad guys didn't know he was not alone, and if you pay attention, when Rika escaped to the car, lights are not on her, so they didn't see her leave. they possibly followed then from far that's why they discovered the relationship between the two.

Riggs thought the best way to secure her was to make like nothing happened ... she would go back to work on the next morning giving a resignation to Rudd ...

just my two cents ... looks plausible

anyway, love makes people take dumb decisions at a time !!

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