See, I liked Emilio, but I think he's a more complicated character: and a lot more damaged than Renzo. Or at least in less familiar ways, whereas Renzo is a type-(anti)hero recognizable from miles away. As you describe him—with a bum knee, a drinking problem, and some unexplained angst. Pass the film noir. And I love Humphrey Bogart as much as the next person, but my favorite character in Casablanca was always Captain Renault.

Which is an example, if you needed one, of someone who loves her character too much, and damages the story for it.

Seriously. At least when Sayers decided to marry Peter Wimsey off, we got good literature out of it . . .

I do care, and thanks for the link!