This is a massive turning point in the film. While the first two chapters feel like a drama, Chapter 3: Goodbye Ricky Baker is where the “adventure” really kicks off—and we see how hilariously unprepared Ricky actually is.
Chapter 3 Summary: “Goodbye Ricky Baker”
The chapter begins with Ricky alone in the vast New Zealand bush with his dog, Tupac. Despite his “gangsta” talk, we see he is completely out of his depth; he gets lost almost immediately, struggles to find water, and ends up seeing mirages of food. In a symbolic moment, he burns his hot water bottle, trying to heat it on the fire, showing his complete lack of survival skills.
Hec, who is an expert hunter, tracks Ricky down easily. He finds Ricky exhausted and rambling. The tension between them boils over when Hec reveals a secret: he cannot read. Ricky, being a cheeky city kid, mocks Hec’s illiteracy, which enrages Hec. Hec charges at Ricky, but in the chaos, he trips and suffers a nasty leg fracture. The scene is a perfect example of Taika Waititi’s style: the crunching sound effects of the bone breaking are exaggerated to make the moment “cringe-funny” rather than just horrifying. Hec calls Ricky a “little bastard,” cementing their grumpy, hostile relationship.
While they are stuck together, Ricky reveals his “dream” for the future: to go back to the city, become a famous drug dealer, and die in a blaze of glory in a gang shooting. It is a dark moment that shows just how little hope Ricky has for a normal life.
Study Tip: The “Odd Couple” Trope
In English literature and film, Ricky and Hec are a classic “Odd Couple.” They are opposites in every way (age, race, skills, personality). Usually, when two characters like this are forced together by a “disaster” (like a broken leg), they are forced to eventually learn from each other.
Questions:
- Is Ricky suited to life in the bush? Explain.
- Describe the relationship between Ricky and Hec at this point.
- What are Ricky’s hopes for the future back in the city? What does this tell us about his life?
- What do we learn about Hec during this chapter? How does Ricky react?
- How does Hec break his leg?
- What does the choice of music do to the atmosphere in the film?