Red Dead Redemption 2largely centers around the characters of the Van Der Linde gang, and explains their story leading up to the events of the first game. As the missions progress, players will become intimately acquainted with all members of the gang, who share a camp andcan be interacted within a variety of ways. The excellent writing and characterization of each gang member makes them all unique and memorable.
Unfortunately, things don’t work out for everyone, and by the time the story is fully completed across both games, the vast majority of the Van Der Linde gang end up dead. Whether in dramatic, bullet-strewn last stands or peacefully on mountainsides looking at the sunrise, each member meets their end in a different way, further reflecting the violence and cheapness of lifeduring the old west time period.
19Kieran Duffy
A Disproportionately Gruesome Fate For The Harmless Horse Whisperer
From the first minute, Arthur and the gang meet Kieran Duffy, he is already in a pretty unfortunate position. As a low-level hired gun for the O’Driscoll Boys, he is quickly captured by the Van Der Linde gang and tied to a post, interrogated, and threatened with castration.
Over time, Kieran proves himself to be trustworthy, and even teaches players the art of fishing. Sadly for Kieran, his small amount of luck finally runs dry in Chapter Four, when he is beheaded and has his eyes gouged out bythe O’Driscollsbefore being sent back as a message.
18Sean McGuire
An Unceremonious End For A Good Irish Ally
Like most of the Van Der Linde gang, Sean McGuire is a slightly immoral, slightly untrustworthy and entirely mad gunslinger with kleptomaniacal tendencies. In many ways, Sean is almost like a younger brother figure to Arthur, who even says as much at the end of the mission “The Fine Joys of Tobacco”.
What makes Sean’s death so bad is how unexpected and un-heroic it is. Out of nowhere, while walking through Rhodes, Sean is sniped through the head by a rooftop shooter and falls dead, mid-conversation.
An Underwhelming Finish For A Bright And Promising Character
16
Lenny is another character who meets his demise quite unexpectedly, and many players will hold a fondness for him after the drunken escapades of the mission “A Quiet Time”. A bright and curious chap, Lenny spends most of his time reading, and further digging into his backstory will reveal that he had quite a harsh upbringing.
Lenny’s death is certainly underwhelming, and lacks the drama that perhaps he deserved. After robbing the bankin Saint Denis, Lenny is killed while fleeing over the rooftops by pursuing Pinkertons. Unfortunately, there is no way to stop it from happening.
The Old Veteran’s Ambition Leads To His Own Undoing
14
Old Hosea Matthews is something of a father figure to most members in the gang. Often advising and planning big scores, Hosea is known for his wit and charm, as well as his love for the theatrical and the dramatic.
Ultimately, there isan element of poetic justiceto Hosea’s death, since he originally planned the Saint Denis bank robbery to begin with. When it all goes wrong, Hosea is captured and executed by the vile Agent Milton, in plain view of his “family”, the gang.
12
While Bill Williamson is one of the more pitiful members of the Van Der Linde gang. Though he is often workshy around camp and more commonly foundin a drunken stupor, his unwavering loyalty to the gang is certainly admirable.
Bill miraculously manages to survive the events ofRed Dead Redemption 2and escapes to Mexico with Javier. His ultimate fate is sealed in the first game, when John Marston is tasked with tracking him down and finishing him off. So close, yet so far.
10
Uncle is another character who, quite miraculously, survives far longer than he should. The lumbago-ridden lazy bones is best known for his sense of humour, and for contributing as little as possible in the way of work to the gang.
Things change, however, in the events of the originalRed Dead Redemption.Having lived a long and unstrenuous life, Uncle makes an epic stand in an attempt to hold off Pinkertons who are invading Beecher’s Hope. Fighting side by side with Jack and John Marston, Uncle is shot in the heart and finally falls to rest against the wood ofthe ranch he helped to build.
