Trust is a dangerous thing for a guy like him Spoilers

The plan for the initial heist is fucked from the get-go. I believe it has something to do with the personal connection between Mr. Orange (Tim Roth) and Mr. White (Harvey Keitel). I'll consider myself a professional this time, as I've watched Reservoir Dogs enough times to notice the small, inconspicuous details of Mr. White and Mr. Orange's relationship.

When they meet, it’s love at first sight. Whether it's true love or a father-son relationship, who cares! This is what makes everything fall apart, as Mr. White's trust makes him immediately compassionate toward this attractive young buck, as this is his first real heist job.

The job? Rob a jewelry store with five other strangers. Mr. White has dealt with jobs like these for years, so trust shouldn't be this easy for him to give up, right?

I ask myself why he did so much for Mr. Orange, who is a complete outsider. In my own professional opinion, I see it as a defensive desire, the want to protect the new flesh. Mr. White was clearly enamoured by Mr. Orange during their first meeting; it was as if he lost all his senses right there and then. The inclination to share his world of crime with someone new.

The thing is, Mr. Orange is a Cop; his assignment is to invade the group. Upon the first meeting with Joe, Nice Guy Eddie and Mr. White, it seems his charm and, let's just say, beautiful doe eyes are enough to captivate Mr. White instantly. This excitement for a rookie to join the team, as he’s intertwined in his phony story, lured in by his lies.

So, is it his good looks?

How can their relationship be defined? Are they victims of gay subtext? Perhaps, but most likely not. It's clear, Mr. Orange and Mr. White express a certain level of physical intimacy, as they hold each other on the brink of death, or when Mr. Orange puts his arm around Mr. White at the diner.

Could it be that Mr. White finds Mr. Orange extremely attractive? Or maybe I just do, and I'm projecting. Regardless, the reason I see it as gay subtext initially is because men don't tend to care for each other by caressing each other when harmed. The care provided by Mr. White can be similar to what a lover may do.

But unfortunately, it can be whittled down to Mr. White wanting to protect him above anything else. That's what makes their connection so intimate. Mr. White is taken away by his instantaneous charisma. As Mr. Orange talks to these “big dogs’ like they're regular people. This cocky young kid is up for anything. The confidence that Mr. White sees is prematurely instilled in him as he watches him take that bullet, showing him to be serious about this job.

It's not just that, but it’s also his empathic nature for Mr. Orange, as this is his first real heist; he’s a rookie on the job.

Mr. White jumps to Mr. Orange's defence anytime someone accuses him of being the rat. EVERY SINGLE TIME, he’ll yell to defend the kid. He feels it's his fault that he wasn't careful and let Mr. Orange get shot.

When Mr. Pink (Steve Buscemi) first accuses him, Mr. White goes ballistic, almost killing Mr. Pink because he won't stop pointing fingers at Orange. Mr. Pink wants him to bleed out because he doesn't trust him; he makes it clear that he needs to see trust to believe it.

Mr. White feels that he has to look out for him; his initial desire has dwindled down to security. Once that bullet pierces Mr. Orange's gut, he transforms into a pseudo-father figure.

Relationships.

While everyone who was hired is somewhat friendly to each other, none of them share the companionship that Mr. White and Mr. Orange have. What's worse is that, against all odds, Mr. White reveals that his name is Larry. This is only because Mr. Orange was in obvious pain after being shot.

After the first team meeting to discuss the heist, Mr. White takes Mr. Orange out on the town to further discuss the plan. I see this as a way for him to bring further protection to Orange, making sure he doesn’t screw up the plan and get hurt. This also gets Mr. White to build trust towards Orange, so he doesn't snitch, allowing for a more detrimental punishment if he lets the team down. (which he does)

During the heist, once they attempt a getaway, and Mr. Orange is shot, Mr. White is distressed that he couldn't save him from getting injured. He is holding his hand as he bleeds out on the car's white interior. Arriving at the warehouse, he carries him in, lays him down, combs his hair and loosens his belt as he consoles him in his arms. Now his job is to care for Orange in an almost romantic way. But ultimately, he tried to be a strong father figure in that moment to not freak him out.

What does this mean for trust?

To me, it makes no sense that Mr. White worked with Joe Cabot for years but betrays him for his lack of faith in Mr. Orange. He even criticizes his choice to hire Mr. Blonde for the job because his crazy killing spree could have gotten them caught. Maybe it's because Joe lacks the allure and innocence Orange has, Joe is old, and the years of doing this type of work have done a number on his appearance. Unlike Mr. Orange, whose fresh face shines with purity. Joe had every right to be so demanding of the rookie, as he barely knew the guy.

So I ask myself, why all this loyalty to Mr. Orange? There's nothing that Mr. Orange did that should have made Mr. White trust him like this. Everything Mr. Orange told Mr. White was a trail of lies that he believed his trust allowed him to get backstabbed.

Now White has been betrayed by everyone else, and they hold onto each other, embracing in each other's blood. It's now his duty to protect the kid until the cops arrive. He confesses that they'll both have to do a little time in jail. But the realization washes over his face as Mr. Orange stutters, “I am a cop, Larry.” The cop was already in his arms. With no hesitation, Mr. White begins wailing. Immediately, all his trust was broken; the rookie he swore to protect just let him down. All the protection and care he provided for Orange made him defend a cop, everything his lifestyle vows against. Mr. White is unable to process this, as he has no choice but to end Orange's life.

This could have been a true enemy-to-lovers flick; he's a cop, and he's a criminal, watching them fall in love. But the unfortunate reality is, it was just protection. Mr. White went out of his way to keep Mr. Orange safe, but failed to keep him alive as their supposed love story ended in betrayal.

This movie carries a lot of soul for me; it's my favourite movie of all time. With the profanity-filled dialogue, the dreary camera quality and the sound everyone makes when they land a punch, keeps me coming back to this film. I think it shows a lot about how trust is earned, not just given up. It proves you can end up in a dire situation because of it.