Everyone thinks they know the story. You’ve got the retired heist master, the young guy trying to make it out of the hood, and the absolute lunatic living in a trailer. It’s the classic Grand Theft Auto V setup. But honestly? The dynamic between Michael, Trevor, and Franklin is way messier than most players realize when they’re just blowing things up in Los Santos.
It isn’t just a game about stealing cars.
The Toxic Mentorship of Michael and Franklin
Franklin Clinton was supposed to be the protagonist we all related to. He’s the guy looking for a way out. When he meets Michael De Santa, he thinks he’s found a mentor. Someone who can show him how to make "real" money instead of boosting cars for a shady dealership.
But Michael is a disaster.
He’s a man living a lie, hiding under a fake name (De Santa instead of Townley), and basically using Franklin to relive his glory days. You’ve probably noticed how Michael talks down to him. It’s paternal, sure, but it’s also incredibly selfish. Michael doesn't want Franklin to succeed as much as he wants a sidekick who won't judge him for his past.
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Ned Luke, the actor behind Michael, played him with this jaded cynicism that makes you feel bad for him, even when he’s being a total snake. Michael’s family life is a wreck—Amanda, Jimmy, and Tracey all kind of hate him—so he clings to Franklin. It’s a classic case of a "mentor" who needs the student more than the student needs the teacher.
Why Franklin is the Real Glue
If you think about it, the whole trio falls apart without Franklin. He’s the only one who can actually talk to both Michael and Trevor without someone ending up in a body bag.
Trevor Phillips is a force of nature. He’s unpredictable. One minute he’s crying about his mom, the next he’s stomping a biker to death. Steven Ogg’s performance as Trevor is legendary because it’s so raw. Trevor is the only one who is actually honest about who he is—a killer. Michael pretends he’s a "good guy" who made mistakes. Trevor knows he’s a monster.
Franklin has to navigate between Michael’s ego and Trevor’s insanity. It’s exhausting.
The North Yankton Lie That Ruined Everything
The biggest misconception is that Trevor is the "bad" one in the relationship.
Look at the facts. In 2004, Michael made a deal with FIB agent Dave Norton. He set up his friends. He let Brad Snider die and let Trevor think he was dead too. Michael got the mansion in Rockford Hills while Trevor spent a decade mourning his "dead" best friend in a trailer park.
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When Trevor finds out Michael is alive, he doesn't just want revenge. He wants an explanation.
- Michael’s betrayal was calculated.
- Trevor’s loyalty was genuine, even if expressed through violence.
- Franklin’s involvement was purely accidental, a kid caught in a decade-old feud.
There is a moment in the game where you can have all three hang out. It’s awkward. They insult each other. They argue about the past. But they also work together with terrifying efficiency. That’s the core of Michael, Trevor, and Franklin—they are three people who should never be in the same room, yet they are the only ones who truly understand each other.
The Canon Ending (Option C)
Let's be real. If you chose Option A (Kill Trevor) or Option B (Kill Michael), you probably felt like a jerk.
Rockstar has pretty much confirmed that "The Third Way" (Option C) is the canon ending. In GTA Online updates, specifically "The Contract," we see Franklin as a successful businessman. He mentions his "friend" who works at the movie studio—that’s Michael. Trevor is also confirmed to be alive, moving on to other chaotic ventures.
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Choosing to save everyone is the only ending that makes sense for Franklin’s character. He starts the game wanting a family, and by the end, he has this weird, dysfunctional, criminal family. It’s not perfect, but it’s his.
What This Means for Your Next Playthrough
If you’re going back to Los Santos, stop skipping the cutscenes. Pay attention to how Michael reacts when Trevor shows up. Watch Franklin’s face when he realizes Michael is full of it.
The depth of Michael, Trevor, and Franklin comes from the fact that they are all "bad" people who are trying, in their own warped ways, to be better. Or at least to be less miserable.
Next Steps for Players:
- Check the Emails: Read the in-game emails between the characters after major missions. They reveal way more about their inner thoughts than the dialogue does.
- Trigger the Hangouts: Call the other two characters as Franklin to "Hang Out." The dialogue during these car rides changes depending on where you are in the story.
- Watch the Background: During the "Big Score" heist, pay attention to the banter. It shows exactly how much (or how little) they've learned to trust each other.
They aren't heroes. They aren't even really friends. They're just three guys stuck in a cycle of violence, trying to survive a city that wants to eat them alive.