Was Marco’s forehead bulletproof?
In the episode where the Cousins buy the bulletproof vests and the arms dealer gives them that special hollow-point round, which later ends up being the bullet Hank uses to kill Marco.
On a basic plot level, I understand the setup/payoff: the bullet is introduced early, Marco drops it, Hank uses it later. Classic Chekhov’s gun/bullet.
But what I’m questioning is why the writing frames that bullet as so important when the actual payoff is a point-blank headshot.
If Hank had picked up any compatible round and shot Marco in the forehead, the result should be basically the same. Marco is not wearing a helmet. The bullet’s special properties don’t seem mechanically necessary in the way they would be if Hank used it to pierce a bulletproof vest, for example.
So the scene seems to create a weird contradiction:
The writing gives the bullet the dramatic treatment of a “special solution,” but the situation does not clearly require a special solution.
At the same time, Marco’s behavior almost supports the opposite reading. He sees Hank trying to reload, slowly approaches with the axe, makes no serious attempt to dodge, and basically lets Hank aim at him from close range like his forehead was ready to tank it as long as the bullet has no special property.