Guess Who’s Still the Fucking Worst? Rasmus in ‘The Rain’

It’s only May and The Rain has already found this year’s bottom. Again. When the Danish post-apocalyptic drama first premiered in 2018, it introduced us to Rasmus (Lucas Lynggaard Tønnesen), a teenager who could possibly save the world, but instead is too concerned with moping, complaining, and ignoring his smart sister’s advice to do anything helpful. One year and one season later, guess who still sucks?

Rasmus started The Rain‘s first season as a frustrating character, but his many annoying habits were understandable. Jannik Tai Mosholt, Esben Toft Jacobsen, and Christian Potalivo’s Netflix original takes place in a universe where a deadly virus is transmitted through the rain. Over time this plague kills most of Scandinavia save for the few lucky souls who find shelter in specialized underground bunkers. Simone (Alba August) and her younger brother Rasmus were two of these survivors, and though Rasmus escaped this plight with his life, it’s pretty clear that he got one of the shorter ends of this end-of-the-world straw picking contest.

Because Rasmus was essentially raised in a bunker from a very early age, both the series and Simone justify his bad behavior. Sure, he yells at random people and is abrupt. That checks out; he’s never really had friends before. Of course he wanders off on his own. He’s been trapped inside his whole life; exploring the outside world is dangerous but it’s also tempting. Naturally he refuses to acknowledge that he’s not immune to the life-destroying virus but Patient Zero after his mad scientist father infected him. He’s a dumb teen, and that’s a pretty heavy bomb.

But Season 2 takes Rasmus’ impulsive stupidity to a whole new level. Here’s a collection of the supremely infuriating things Rasmus does throughout the season:

• Refuses to believe that he and his virus superpowers killed an entire lab full of scientists even though he was there for that nonsense.
• Escapes his containment chamber multiple times when he knows he’s contagious.
• Lies to his sister and her scientist friends about the extent of his virus superpowers.
• Uses said virus superpowers to wipe out a facility of vengeful soldiers after his new girlfriend is shot.
• Tries to freaking kill his sweet, loyal sister’s boyfriend.

Some of Rasmus’ dumb missteps have been forgivable, much like they were in Season 1. For example, everything he does to protect and later avenge Sarah (Clara Rosager) is justified. Taking on a horde of soldiers is impulsive and risky, but what sci-fi hero hasn’t done something stupid and life-risking for the person they love?

What has transformed Rasmus from a surly teen you want to punch into the absolute worst is his apathy toward containment. Rasmus isn’t a sweet, innocent little boy anymore. He’s a living vessel for the most deadly virus the world has ever seen. And he knows that! Countless people tell him that his infection is unlike anything they’ve ever seen and everyone he meets is clearly scared of him. Given all of these clear “you’re dangerous” signs plus the fact that thousands have died from his virus, and you would think that Rasmus would be all about locking himself away to protect the few people left that A) he cares about and B) who don’t want to experiment on him.

Nope. This idiot couldn’t give less of a shit.

If Simone isn’t keeping a constant eye on him, then he’s manipulating locks so he can aimlessly walk through guarded facilities, infecting the world as he goes. And if Simone is there it’s even worse. That’s when he pouts and complains about being locked up unfairly. The whining even continues after Simone explains to her brother that they’re trying to find a cure for him. Multiple times.

The Rain Season 2 ends with a rare moment of self-sacrifice for Rasmus. After almost killing his sister’s boyfriend and actually killing a whole facility, he hands himself over to Apollon soldiers, a group he knows will kill him. As Simone soon as realizes what he’s done she panics, which is justifiable. Her whole MO is to protect her little brother, and that task just got a lot harder. But if she wanted to take a moment for herself and scream, if she was tempted to let off a curse-filled rant, if she wanted to punch a wall… no one would blame her. After all, Rasmus is the worst; and Simone deserves so, so much better.

Watch The Rain on Netflix