srhunt

[srhunt]

You ever stop and think about how, if Jackie kept the biochip in him for just a little bit longer, he would’ve been in the same position that V was in?

You think he and Johnny would’ve gotten along?

[srhunt]

[srhunt]

My Theory on the Strange Man

The Strange Man is one of Red Dead Redemption’s greatest mysteries, and there’s a multitude of theories about his identity.

After playing both RDR and RDR2, I have my own idea about who he might be.

(SPOILERS FOR RED DEAD REDEMPTION AND RED DEAD REDEMPTION 2 UNDER CUT)

PLEASE NOTE: This is just a theory that I’ve concocted, I don’t claim it to be fact, so if you disagree, that’s fine by me. I just want to offer this idea. And if this idea has already been offered, my apologies. That being said:

I think the Strange Man was a victim in the Blackwater Massacre.

This idea came to me during my first interaction with him in Red Dead 1.

When John meets him, he knows John’s name. John asks if he knows him, to which the Strange Man answers, “I hope so. I seem to know you,” implying that they’ve met before.

John says he doesn’t recognize him. The Strange Man then brings up Heide McCort, the girl Dutch shot on the ferry. John pauses before stating he doesn’t remember her either.

In RDR2, you can hear John talk about the ferry and Heide (though not by name), stating, “Sometimes I start thinking about that girl,” and how he’s, “still trying to forget.” Maybe John succeeded in forgetting, or he’s lying about not remembering, hence his pause.

After John states he doesn’t remember Heide to the man, he asks “then, why would you remember me, friend?” I feel like the Strange Man is drawing a comparison here. If John could forget the horrific image of a girl’s mutilated head, something that surely would’ve been burned into a normal person’s mind until their dying days, then why would he remember him, a nameless corpse amongst a pile of other nameless corpses?

The Strange Man continues, “You’ve forgotten far more important people than me.” Part of me wants to believe he’s referring to Arthur, as Arthur is never mentioned in RDR1. Jack brings up Arthur in the epilogue of RDR2, Abigail states that John, “don’t like to talk about him,” to which John responds, “The past is gone. We left that behind.” When John agrees to join Sadie and Charles to hunt down Micah, John does state that the life he has with his family “wouldn’t exist without Arthur.” Thus making Arthur an “important person” that John has intentionally forgotten.*

Though, he could also be referring to Heide, as her death was so horrific, it caused several people in the gang, including John, to begin questioning Dutch’s judgement/mental state. Whenever Blackwater is brought up in RDR2, it’s almost always followed up with the mention of Heide, and how horrible her death was, especially since she was an innocent bystander. Anytime Arthur asks about what happened on the boat, nobody wants to give him an answer. So maybe Heide is the important person John forgot.

Continuing with John conversation with the Strange Man, he states, “Sometimes, I just wish I’d known more about life. Wish I’d had better guidance.” He says this in the past tense, “I wish I’d known more,” “Wish I’d had better guidance.” Almost like someone who’s reflecting on their life in death.

Skipping ahead to the last encounter, John tries to shoot him, but the bullets have no effect. We know John is a good shot, and at such a short range, there’s no way he could’ve missed. It’s almost like he’s a ghost.

In RDR2, you find a shack that appears to be the Strange Man’s house. There are writings on the walls and furniture alluding to Blackwater and the New Austin area, including “The Water is Black with Venom”, “The Moon will Shine on in the Darkness” (possibly connecting to the fact that Herbert Moon, the general store owner in Armadillo, is unaffected by the cholera outbreak and just so happens to have a painting of the Strange Man in his store), and “I Know You” (a nod to his stranger missions in RDR1).

There is also a poem carved on a table about Jimmy Brooks, the man who recognized Arthur in Valentine. The poem changes depending on how you dealt with Jimmy. Why would the Strange Man write about Jimmy? Well, remember where Jimmy recognized Arthur from? Blackwater. Jimmy was in Blackwater when the robbery took place. Who Jimmy Brooks is is a topic for another day, but it is worth mentioning the connection to Blackwater and the Strange Man.

Inside the cabin is also a painting that slowly becomes more complete with each visit. However, only John can see the completed portrait of the Strange Man, who then appears behind him when looking in a nearby mirror. When the player turns around, the man is gone.

If we roll with my theory, the Strange Man was just another body in Blackwater, a nameless man who was in the way. However, given the evidence of him manifesting only for John makes me believe that not only was the Strange Man a victim in the Blackwater Massacre, but that John Marston was the one who killed him.

Whether it be unfinished business, or being chosen by some otherworldly power, the Strange Man begins haunting Marston, giving him opportunities to redeem himself, or to see the man he truly is. But in the end, he knows that John will soon receive justice, as he stands on the hill at Beecher’s Hope and remarks, “this is a fine spot…”

This theory does have a few holes/loose pieces, but I think it’s one that holds enough water to be worth considering. Personally, I feel like this is a more interesting theory than the Strange Man being the Devil or Death (maybe its cause that idea has been done to death, no pun intended. Feels like every spooky character who foreshadows a character’s demise is Death or the Devil or some godlike figure).

If I’m forgetting something or you have evidence that disproves my theory, let me know, I’d love to discuss this topic further.

*I admit, this doesn’t completely fit into my theory and it’s just me projecting. I played RDR2 before RDR1.

[srhunt]

When work is slow and you got RDR2 on the brain

[srhunt]

Anyone else like to color coordinate with their horses?

(Blucifer: Blue Roan Nokota)

(Phar Fignewton: White Arabian)

(Caballo Diablo: Black American Standardbred)

(Shadow: Raven Black Shire)

Just me?

[srhunt]

More RDR2 Photography

I don’t have a joke for this, he just looks badass

The second hand smoke is gonna stretch for miles

Arthur just stumbled onto the Friday the 13th set

When you got two perfect wolf carcasses but only one horse

Oh, is this your campsite?

Into the woods—it's time, and so, I must begin my journey

Ha ha haaaa I’m not supposed to be here ha ha haa

Real men pick flowers

Man, the last Ice Age movie was depressing

(It’s just dark enough that you can’t see Swanson on my horse)

[srhunt]

I believe Arthur wasn’t too thrilled with John after he got revenge on Micah.

Especially when you realize that if John hadn’t gone to kill Micah, Ross would’ve never learned where his location was, he wouldn’t have been gunned down, and Jack wouldn’t have fallen into the same path his father and Arthur walked.

[srhunt]

You ever realize the reason Arthur will only “decline” or “reject” the offers from the saloon girls is because he already had a one night stand with a girl, got her pregnant with his son, did everything he could to do right by them, and lost them both

He doesn’t want to risk that happening again.

[srhunt]

I may be hyperfixated on the cowboy game but I’m still a spooky bitch

As soon as I found a pig mask in Butcher’s Creek, I knew what had to be done. Wasn’t a huge fan of this mask at first but after I put Arthur in the red coat and jeans I fell in love. It’s still a little weird when he looks up and you can see his mouth/chin, but that doesn’t happen often so it’s fine.

Course, if I did Piggy, I had to do Ash. Simple enough; blue shirt, brown pants, brown suspenders and bandolier for the boomstick holster, red gloves to represent the chainsaw hand

Would you believe me if I told you I made this one on accident? I was just like, “this coat, these gloves, ah fuck I made leon!!”

[srhunt]

Red Dead Redemption 2 Chapter 6 In a Nutshell

(Spoilers Under Cut)

Seriously, everyone sees Arthur hacking up a lung, pale as a ghost, barely keeping food down, occasionally passing out and they’re all like, “Arthur, come help me with this physically demanding task” like wtf guys??

I don’t even know how many characters know Arthur is sick.

Only one who’s expressed consistant concern in my playthrough in Reverend Swanson. Micah’s only mocked Arthur (add that to the “List of Reasons I Wanna Shoot That Bastard”), and for everyone else when I’ve talked to em, Arthur is more concerned for their wellbeing, checking on them. Occasionally I get a “are you okay? You don’t look good.” to which Arthur responds “I’m fiiiiiiine”

(Only added Sadie because she’s part of that group who’s making Arthur do things without asking ONCE if Arthur is okay)

[srhunt]

*playing RDR2 Ch5*

Charolette: My husband, Cal, was such an optimist, I found that to be very contagious.

Me: IM VERY CONTAGIOUS RN

Arthur: *coughs*

[srhunt]

I finally found out how to do Photo Mode

I kept whipping out Arthur’s camera cause I figured THAT was photo mode

[srhunt]

My horse, Rouge, got spooked by a bear, and as Arthur was calming her, he did this

[srhunt]

You can’t put me in a western setting with a customizable character and expect me NOT to make Back to the Future inspired outfits

(Again, not perfect, but it’s the closest the game will let me get and once again, given my options, I think I nailed it)

You can’t put me into a futuristic setting with a customizable character and expect me NOT to make Back to the Future inspired outfits

(Obviously they aren’t perfect, but they are the closest I could get)

[srhunt]

Random moments from Red Dead Redemption 2 (Chapter 3) that I found funny

This is just from my session yesterday xD

[srhunt]

Is the only reason I started playing Cyberpunk was to farm Keanu lines to doodle Shadow over?

…maybe…

[srhunt]

You can’t put me into a futuristic setting with a customizable character and expect me NOT to make Back to the Future inspired outfits

(Obviously they aren’t perfect, but they are the closest I could get)