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| “ | This place, ain't no such thing as civilized. It's man so in love with greed he has forgotten himself and found only appetites. | „ |
| ~ Dutch van der Linde in 1899. |
| “ | We can't always fight nature, John. We can't fight change, we can't fight gravity, we can't fight nothin'. My whole life, all I ever did was fight {...} Our time has passed, John. | „ |
| ~ Dutch to John, moments before committing suicide. |
Dutch van der Linde is the secondary antagonist of the 2010 action-adventure game Red Dead Redemption and one of the two deuteragonists (alongside John Marston) of its 2018 prequel Red Dead Redemption II.
Van der Linde is the last of the three targets that John Marston must capture for the Federal Government in order for them to release his family, the first two being Bill Williamson and Javier Escuella.
Throughout most of the plot in Red Dead Redemption, Dutch is mentioned many times in the New Austin and Nuevo Paraiso chapters. He finally makes an appearance in the West Elizabeth chapter, where he serves as the main antagonist.
In Red Dead Redemption II, however, Dutch served as the deuteragonist of the first five chapters, before becoming one of the two main antagonists (alongside Andrew Milton) in the sixth chapter and the secondary antagonist of the epilogue.
He was voiced by Benjamin Byron Davis.
His Good Ranking[]
What Makes Him Admirable?[]
Background[]
- Saved the 12-year-old John from being lynched by homesteaders and gave him a second chance at life and taught him essential survival skills.
- He and Hosea took the orphaned Arthur under his wing, teaching him how to read, write, hunt, fight, and survive, which eventually helped Arthur develop into a competent and loyal member of the gang.
- When he met Javier, a starving and homeless Mexican exile, he fed him, gave him warm clothing, and welcomed him into the gang.
- Despite Bill’s attempt to rob him, he saw potential in him, encouraged him, and brought him into the gang, and gave Bill a chance to redeem himself and find a new family.
- Instead of punishing Sean for attempting to rob him and Hosea, he chose to spare his life and take him into the gang.
- After the gang’s first major bank robbery, he distributed money to the poor in shanties, hovels, and orphanages.
- Frequently protected vulnerable people like orphans and street children, such as Arthur and John.
- His dislike for Colm O'Driscoll stemmed from Colm's treatment of his men as disposable. he, by contrast, cared deeply about his gang members and sought to protect them from any danger.
- Stood against the exploitation of ordinary people by corporations and governments, which he viewed as corrupt and oppressive.
- Treated Arthur and John like his own sons, mentoring them not just in survival, but also in philosophy and values.
Red Dead Redemption II[]
- After discovering Sadie at the Adler Ranch, he helped her emotionally and physically by comforting her and taking her back to the gang's camp, offering her protection from the O'Driscolls.
- Boosted the gang's morale during difficult times, such as when they were stuck in the snowy mountains at Colter, reminding them of their shared purpose and encouraging them to keep going.
- After the disastrous ferry robbery in Blackwater, he led the gang through treacherous conditions into the mountains to evade capture.
- When the gang was starving and freezing in the mountains, he led a raid on the O'Driscolls to steal resources, including dynamite that later helped the gang rob a train, keeping everyone alive. While this deed is vile, he did it so he can keep his gang safe.
- Planned and led the robbery of a Cornwall train after the dynamite failed, giving the gang money and resources to leave the mountains behind and move to a better area.
- After the gang left Colter, he found and secured a safer and more sustainable camp location at Horseshoe Overlook, allowing the gang to regroup and plan their next moves.
- Although this was mostly Arthur’s effort, he helped in the search for John, which was crucial to saving his life when he was severely injured and stranded in the snow.
- When Arthur suggested moving camp due to the Pinkertons’ proximity, he convinced the gang to stay calm and not act hastily.
- When Cornwall captured Strauss and John, he led the charge to save them from Valentine, even though it escalated into a firefight.
- He, Arthur, and Bill worked with Sheriff Gray to destroy a moonshine operation, which helped the gang gain favor with local law enforcement while weakening the rival Braithwaite family.
- He, along with Arthur and John, negotiated with Angelo Bronte for Jack’s safe return.
- After the Braithwaites kidnapped Jack, he led a raid on Braithwaite Manor, burning down the mansion, even though Jack wasn’t found there.
- When the O'Driscolls launched an assault on the gang’s camp at Shady Belle, he took control and fought alongside his men to rebel the attacks.
- Worked with Arthur to rescue Javier, who had been captured by the Guarma military. Despite being in a foreign land and dealing with local threats, he took a hands-on approach to save his men.
- During their time in Guarma, he aided the local rebels in their fight against Colonel Fussar’s forces, helping them win.
- Supported Eagle Flies and the Wapiti Indians by helping them retrieve stolen horses and later attempting to trap the U.S. Army in a canyon, trying to align his gang’s struggle with their fight.
- To prevent another potential escape, he helped sabotage the rescue attempt of Colm O'Driscoll, making sure the death of his rival and to the gang.
- Although he eventually grew distrustful of John, he protected his family on several occasions, such as when they were threatened by the Braithwaites and later by law enforcement.
- Organized the Saint Denis bank robbery with the intent to fund the gang's escape from the country, even though the plan failed.
- Dealt with Bronte by drowning him and throwing his body to the alligators, avenging the gang’s deception and protecting them from further treachery.
- After the failed bank robbery, he made that some of the gang could sneak out of Saint Denis by arranging their escape through the docks, buying them time to regroup.
- Chose to shoot Micah, ending the man who had betrayed the gang and started its downfall.
Red Dead Redemption[]
- In his final moments, he admits to John that he made mistakes and that his fight against societal change was nothing in vein.
- Rather than allow John to kill him or be captured, he chooses to end his life on his own terms to that John wouldn't have to carry the weight of killing him.
What Makes Him Inconsistent?[]
- Even before becoming a debased hero, he always had corrupting and sadistic factors:
- Attempted a grand robbery in Blackwater, which resulted in chaos, many deaths, and forced the gang to flee.
- Led a raid on the O'Driscolls at Adler Ranch, leading to a shootout where multiple people were killed, including innocent family members.
- Led an assault on Braithwaite Manor, massacring most of the Braithwaite family and burning their mansion down, despite Jack's whereabouts still being unknown.
- Strangled an innocent woman, Gloria, after she demanded more money for her services.
- Planned a heist on Lemoyne National Bank, which resulted in the deaths of Hosea Matthews, Lenny Summers, and multiple civilians and lawmen.
- Used the Wapiti Native Americans to fight the U.S. Army for his own benefit, knowingly leading them into battle and death under false pretenses of helping them reclaim their land.
- He eventually loses his good qualities and becomes more evil than before, to the point where he manages to pass the heinous standard.
- He executes a captured police officer in front of John during the events at Cochinay.
- Leads his gang in a violent robbery of the Blackwater Bank, taking hostages and putting innocent lives at risk for personal gain.
- Shoots a young woman, Muriel Scranton, in the head during the Blackwater Bank heist, throwing her lifeless body into John's arms.
- Repeatedly taunts John about his family and threatens them.
- Mocks John for marrying Abigail, calling her a "whore" and trying to undermine John's personal life.
- Even when confronted by John at the mountain cliff, he continues to justify his actions, showing no remorse for the lives he has destroyed.
External Links[]
- Dutch van der Linde on the Heroes Wiki
- Dutch van der Linde on the Villains Wiki
- Dutch Van der Linde on the Inconsistently Heinous Wiki
- Dutch Van der Linde on the Entertainingly Detestable Wiki
- Dutch van der Linde on the Red Dead Wiki
[]
 Inconsistently Admirable
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