Another thing to note on Flynnigan Rider, and I've pointed this out before:
Eugene calls him a 'swashbuckling rogue.'
Yet then says he's not a thief when asked.
This is really interesting because even when romanticized, rogue by its very definition is a dishonest or unprincipled person who lives outside the law. It's not just a synonym for adventurer or explorer or ranger.
So while Flynnigan wasn't a thief, stealing to survive or be greedy. He was still by the definition a type of criminal or at least a character on the fringes of society.
I know people use Indiana Jones as the reference point but even Indiana Jones, or Rick O'Connell were still loosely 'criminals,' one being a grave robber and the other a smuggler.
So having Flynnigan being a swashbuckling rogue but not thief (which is quickly pointed out) as a role model, serves two conflicting purposes.
1. Shows the romanticized fringe life (Jones, O'Connell, other rogue literature) of freedom and adventure while still being a type of criminal, yet going with the movie's 'not all criminals are bad inside.' The 'better option' of living the role of an adventurer.
2. While immediatly showing the true reality by differentiating between the rogue who is a character of lawless freedom and a thief 'the hated criminal' who needs to survive, 'the better option.'
