To Hate Another: A Red Dead Redemption 2 Analysis

I have burned the tobacco that was in your fields
and which you were probably saving for harvest
Forgive me, it burned so brightly, so angry and so cold
Follow me at / yacobg42
Patreon: / jacobgeller
Fun facts about Rockstar at: kotaku.com/ins...
www.eurogamer....
Visual Media used: Red Dead Redemption 2, Bayonetta 2, Bayonetta, Resident Evil 5, Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Undertale, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Music used: Theme of Angelo Bronte (Red Dead Redemption 2), Fly Me To The Moon (Bayonetta), Run (Hotline Miami 2), Camp Approach (Firewatch), Torture (Max Payne 3)
Big shouts to Lambh00t for the crucial resi 5 footage: / lambhoot
----------------------------------------------
Script available upon request for accessibility
Check out Cane & Rinse for podcasts, written articles, and more caneandrinse.com/

[@kaifawn8300]

Shittt.. I get it now, why Arthur hates himself so much and talks down on himself, that last line hit, man.

[@tnty1561]

Like how he does if you make him stare himself down in a mirror, he will throw insults at himself. It could be in a joking fashion, but either way, it just comes to show that he doesn't really have that much self-care.

[@anthonyf616]

That's what happens when you refuse to listen to your conscience

[@squeakyCH]

That mission where you storm the braithwaite mansion is one of the best missions in the game

[@The_SmorgMan]

dick chibbles I actually felt emotions through this game. Most games are just mindless entertainment. I felt anger when jack was taken I felt bewilderment over Arthur’s inner conflict I felt frustration at Dutch for his failures I felt joy when the marstons escaped and sad when Arthur died No game has ever done that before

[@danny8231]

In any game ever....

[@Kaledrone]

@@The_SmorgMan Be careful, there might be dumbasses who haven't played the game yet, but they are searching up videos for it and scrolling down to the comments. They are gonna rile up on you for "spoiling" the game for them, even though those idiots are the one's that clicked on the video, lol.

[@bantest9160]

*laughs in american venom*

[@MrMah-zf6jk]

You spoiled the game for me! Why are you writing a comment like that!? People like you are so annoying!

[@blixer8384]

I wouldn't really say Bill Williamson is a driving force behind the actions of the gang. He's a loyal dog doing as his master Dutch tells him, plus he was responsible for one of the like three robberies in the whole game that actually went as planned. Also I can't really fault the gang for not going out to look for me after the failed parley with the O'Driscols, considering I tend to disappear for days even weeks at a time after missions. Heading north to do some hunting in West Elizabeth or Amberino.

[@yabuki_joe]

Blixer yeah i always felt a little sorry for bill, he was one of the most loyal but that loyalty was misplaced in dutch.

[@christophercolumbus1169]

Blixer I always suspected that Micah set Arthur up to be captured. He really started to step up the shit-talking about Arthur after he returned from being tortured like he was upset his plan didn’t work.

[@Ckoz2829]

Yabuki Joe I too feel a little sorry for Bill, especially if you catch some dialogue with him at the campfire where he talks about his alcoholism, his PTSD, how his father went insane and how he’s scared to death it’ll happen to him too. It’s still kinda hard to feel sorry for him knowing he fought the Native Americans during his time in the army and you can hear him say some racist things from time to time, but I guess that’s the beauty of Rockstar’s writing. They create complex characters that evoke mixed emotions from us.

[@themk4982]

Charlie Koszulinski To be fair when it comes to the American Indians things were pretty terrible. The USA should’ve left the Natives alone and not gone into their lands. Those lands clearly belonged to them. HOWEVER, once settlers were there, the American Indians *brutal* murders of families and communities was unjustified; it was genuinely horrific. If they didn’t die in the initial attack, children roughly around the age of 10 (mainly girls) would be spared and kind of enslaved. Everyone else got killed, men often being horribly tortured to death. It was brutal. The USA’s actions were often horrific but Bill joining in that historical context wasn’t really evil, then what horrors he saw in war (many that would’ve been done by his own side and himself) must’ve messed with him a lot.

[@litjay7073]

The MK true but the US was wrong equating ALL American Indians with the actions of SOME even the ones who was helping the US was killed. Kind of like today how the police would lump all black men in an group and see them as a enemy because of what they see SOME black men do witch in turn leads to the killing of innocent black men by high strung cops

[@Ckoz2829]

Micah and Dutch were some of the best villains I’ve seen in a long time only because they succeed at being horrible, hateful creatures that the player themselves are uncomfortable around. They’re not like Ganon or Bowser who only want to take over the world because they’re “evil”. Dutch and Micah actually are evil and they’ll gladly show you why, repeatedly, over the course of the entire game. What really sells it is their omnipresence. They’re kind of like Handsome Jack from Borderlands 2 in that no matter where you are or what part of the story you’re at, Dutch and Micah are there and you can never get away from them because at the end of the day when you return to camp, there they are ready to fire some snide remark at you, especially if a plan didn’t go right “because of you”. By the end of the game, I couldn’t stand Micah anymore and it was only after I finished the game I realized that was the point.

[@Journey_to_who_knows]

I don't think they are evil as much as just selfish, they sent everyone to hell just to save their own asses

[@StevenBryceWroten]

Journey awaits that’s basically what evil is. Selfishness. Doing something only for yourself, regardless of the consequences for others.

[@Kintaku]

I agree. But I didn't hate Dutch. I felt bad for and perplexed by Dutch. It's hard to know how much of Dutch's behavior was who he always was and who he became. But Micah I hated from the beginning. I tried as much as possible to NOT save him from prison early on. His final moments didn't leave me with mixed feelings, but with satisfaction.

[@Kintaku]

@DChief94 yeah, I agree with this too. But I will say that even though Micah definitely was a strong influence on Dutch, one of the things that makes Dutch a great character is that he's hard to pin down. It's difficult to know why Dutch went along with Micah's ideas. I mean he CHOSE to keep Micah around through all of the bad things he caused. Makes you wonder if some part of Dutch was always like that. And yet at the same time the game makes you still feel like there's hope for Dutch, this he becomes a sympathetic character to many people.

[@samhenderson3573]

Charlie Koszulinski I actually really liked Dutch and I feel like Micah is the one that ruined Dutch and destroyed everything the van der linde gang stood for and I hope Micah rots in hell for what he did

[@GoldenNorway1]

They did this extremely well in this game; you truly feel the desperation and the dark descent of the whole gang. You know it won't end well, you know that you shall die... but you can't do anything about it. It's not just a game... It's a book meant to be read slowly. It's art.

[@theuscivicsnerd7070]

You also feel an emotional connection to Arthur as he sees no way out of Tb and decides to redeem himself in the little time he has.

[@filthyshoggoth]

It is to 1 what The Force Awakens is to A New Hope.

[@TheBlarggle]

@@filthyshoggoth No. The Star Wars movies are bad art. They're poorly written, poorly acted, poorly produced. It's honestly a shock so many people like that trash. But then again Keeping up with the Kardashians is on it's 18th season so... No accounting for the amount of terrible trash people love to consume.

[@jondoe7036]

No, it is just a game. It doesn't need to be anything beyond that to do exactly what you described it to. The idea that games would have to transcend their own gaminess to be considered "real art" is nothing short of a plague of an attitude in the medium imo. Not saying that'd be what you were getting at here, but I heard a faint echo of that line of thought in the way you chose to phrase your comment.

[@theiveyed8677]

Good Praxis™

[@untamedpandasweg8986]

TheFourEyed Communists make nationalist countries into fascist countries by enforcing socialists laws, by definition, then these beta terrorists try to destroy the system because they aren't at the top of the hierarchy, because they're lazy, spiteful, envious Communists that need to steal from others to give to others to claim morality, somehow.

[@coast7135]

@@untamedpandasweg8986 ok boomer

[@trashpanda6885]

​@@untamedpandasweg8986 God you people are hilariously dumb. It's not even worth explaining to someone that unironically thinks something this idiotic. The only response appropriate for a take this ridiculous is mockery.

[@steamexplorer3255]

@@untamedpandasweg8986 your comment gave me a brain tumor

[@salt_factory7566]

The way I see it, there is absolutely no difference between good praxis and bad praxis.

[@TheDudeSmashTrash]

That closing line gave me goosebumps and ties together the whole essay in an incredibly powerful way. Beautiful job.

[@clubbasher32]

This reminds me of falling out of my friend group.

[@razagan1343]

same

[@azketchup345]

That's the point. For you to distance yourself of people you've grown out of. That you need to grow up and being around you will halter that. That's my interpretation because I've already ditched my dead weight friends who blame me for everything, do reckless things and generally are extremely immature. I think that's what he means. That you need to remove the negative people around you before it all escalates and everything is blown out of proportion and you grow up to be a complete criminal psycho.

[@j.r.2674]

Az Ketchup You are correct, but you can still grow up to be a psycho even without friends. It’s more common actually.

[@azketchup345]

@@j.r.2674 I believe that. It's most definetely an undisputed fact that lack of social interaction can hinder social empathy and emotional intelligence

[@christopher0261]

Rachel Marie-Pfeifer god take it to a women to compare an intestine deep well made video to them falling out with fucking friends like who cares and who asked?

[@jackoster7115]

I've never been more uncomfortable replaying a game in my life. I've never felt more helpless and utterly loathful to reality than with this story

[@whowantstoknow64]

Micah Bell's voice actor did a great job with the character. I like the actor for Micah Bell, but I hate Micah Bell. Micah's voice actor did a great job of portraying the antagonist and bringing out our emotions against the character. I hope to see him in more well written games because he is very talented and so are the rest of the cast I hope to see them in more great well written games to showcase their talents. This was a good video by the way. I just felt like adding my two cents.

[@brycealthoff8092]

Even Micah’s voice actor hated Micah. I saw a panel where he said he went back to the top of the mountain after the final showdown and emptied his gun into Micah’s face when he played the game for himself.

[@blackjackhearts9593]

Bad 1 dimension character. Boring

[@brycealthoff8092]

@@blackjackhearts9593 one man’s opinion.

[@smugumin3448]

@@blackjackhearts9593 care to explain?

[@matthewa6027]

The fact that so many twitter users had to harass the guy goes to show how dumb people are.

[@MrFusion]

Dude, once I realized this was more than just a western game, I really started to feel disgusted by my actions. All the innocent people I robbed and shot, all the police I killed doing their job, for what? A couple of bucks for a psychopath? It just made me feel empty by the end.

[@toakovika]

The first time I played through, I actually restarted over my actions. I first robbed every store when going into town once I realized I wanted money to purchase every outfit, horse, and gun. After most of my camp was dead or in bitter moods, I hated my actions - every time I walked into any town or shop, people gave nasty remarks and I saw the wounds left on shopkeepers. Eventually the only place that didn’t hate me was, well, Strawberry, the one place I decided to leave in perfect peace. I ended up spending so much time in the mountains or hunting in Big Valley, every time I would return to camp it would be weeks in game. I finally made a hard-earned fortune, an honest living off hunting and fishing. But every store, every shop outside of the lovely frontier town? They greeted me with disgust and hatred, and rightly so. Eventually I reset, did my second run as a relatively honest man. I didn’t harm shopkeepers more than once, I avoided picking fights that ended in fists or gunshots, I greeted each person I passed by to raise my honor. It felt good to be good, amidst all the bank robberies and shootouts, I tried my best to keep my honor high and be.. well, honorable.

[@NA-AN]

My first playthrough was similar to you, but afterwards, I devolved into a being of pure monstrous spite. And I do not regrett slaughtering lemoyn.

[@Sputterbug]

didnt think about it till the game was close to ending, tbh

[@katiemorison7969]

Tbf the cops would've killed the innocents if you hadn't. Net neutral

[@debbiecaudill8799]

I'm kind of new to games, but I just loved RDR2 for the story and the characters. There is one scene where a little old lady was thrown by her horse and after dragging the horse off of her she asks for a ride back into town. I was still trying to figure out how to help her on my horse when she says, "Never mind, I'll just walk." and she starts limping off in the middle of nowhere. Once I figure out how to do it, I went after her to offer her a ride and she wouldn't go with me. I accidently drew my gun and shot her in the back. I've also accidentally punched my horse a couple of times. Sorry Freckles.

[@imogengotte6847]

When I first finished red dead redemption 2, I cried. When the credits rolled and even after when the last side mission played I cried. I mourned this character, a small part of my life, whose story touched me so much. I mourned for the innocence lost of the characters and the forcefully broken bonds of love-hate relationships and the betrayal that happened. I cried and when the last mission ended, I shut down the game. About two months ago, I restarted the game though, and I was absolutely overwhelmed at how nostalgic the first few chapters were. However, when the kidnapping happened, I felt a sense of dread that I, the player, knew about the horror and death that was about to happen and could do nothing about it. So, with a heavy heart, I played. At first, I tried to distract myself with achievements and side missions, but as those ran out, I knew I had to progress the story. I played, through the death and hurt and emotions that came. I played, and I think, I hope, that I reached a state of peace in regards to this game. I realized that I loved Arthur Morgan. I loved that he was incredibly human, flawed and broken like so many of us. I knew, as soon as I realized that, that I would never love or understand or cherish another character such as Arthur Morgan. To everyone who reads this, please know that this is just a rant that I am writing after watching this video at three in the morning- Imogen, a huge fan

[@joringedamke5597]

"Just a rant", you say, but you sound a lot like Jacob. :)

[@envirovore]

Having just completed this, we have very similar takes on it. It's a heavy game, tackling some heavy topics at that, and it pulls it off far better than expected. It was a hell of a ride, and while I quite enjoyed it, it's one I was quite sad to see conclude at that.

[@TheMaggileinchen]

I feel exactly the same. I'm distracting myself with side missions, hunting and gathering. But the end is inevitable. I'll have to make peace.

[@debbiecaudill8799]

I'm watching Mary beg Arthur to get on the train with her and just run away from their old life, and I'm yelling "DO IT! Just go!" but he doesn't. He watches her leave and my heart breaks because I know that he is just going back to try to save a sinking ship.

[@silvertheelf]

You hate them because they are good villains, it’s perfect writing.

[@diskeyes]

Yes. That’s exactly the point of the video.

[@luismartinbatista705]

I hate them because the writing forces me to stick with them and take their shit. I fundamentally disagree, the characters are not "well written" they are just mean and they force you to do things, things that probably collide with your vision of your Arthur

[@R4Y2k]

Funny enough, the CEO of Rockstar Games is also the leadwriter for their games. I guess that's what make them stand out to the other studios. A guy that can not only lead a multi-billion dollar company but also write like a bestselling author.

[@Mephitinae]

A well written villain is someone you can sympathize with, even if you disagree with his decisions, like Dutch van der Linde. Micah Bell was a bully and a cad with no depth, and any player with a triple digit IQ was asking "This guy will betray us, right?"

[@silvertheelf]

DChief94, I can agree with you quite a lot.

[@KippySmith1231]

Keep it up man. These videos are excellent. I just discovered you from the SotC video, and now I'm binging. This is exactly the kind of content I've always wanted to see, but have been too lazy and full of self-doubt to make. I look forward to a lot more from you.

[@Thuili]

Same here. Finding an awesome hidden channel is as good as discovering a new band. "If you build it, he(they) will come".

[@evandinc]

Right there with you

[@BleachedGhostfiles]

I love and kinda thrive on these kind of super in depth looks into characters and specifically video games, it is what drew me into Dark Souls so easily, the fact that such a huge story is right in front of you, just not spelled out. And even more so s more in depth look at games that have an excellent story, such as this one that videos like these really make you feel have more to them than originally thought. I can guarantee you I'm going to go back and play through this game yet again, and it is all because of this video, and I'm going to have a whole new experience with it too.

[@diegodevars4618]

I love this. I remember playing for the first time, excited to be an outlaw, I was the man who pulled the trigger and left consecuences buried 9 ft under. And then... St. Denis... That place hit me hard. I realized I was not the man I wanted to be, the man I showed Jack, the man I asked John to be for his own family; I looked at Dutch, horrified as he pretended to be a saviour while all he wanted is to save himself. Helping people from that moment took me to looong horseback journeys, rides that made me think upon my past and future. "I will just be good and run away with John" I thought.... Then, TB. Crap was I destroyed. It wasnt Dutch or Micah, it was me, I was the one who almost killed a man with my bare hands. I wasnt just with Dutch. I was becoming Dutch. That was it, I would contradict and doubt them forever. This game, made me doubt the same people you are supposted to kill, rob, and hunt for. And that, while making ME reach my own conclusions, is why this game is a masterpiece for me.

[@whyisyoutubemakingmeuseana7875]

Could have not been better said

[@petrwarthursty2011]

AAAAAH ITS NOT ST LOUIS YOU HAVE TO RELETE YOURE WRONG

[@diegodevars4618]

@@petrwarthursty2011 no.

[@petrwarthursty2011]

@@diegodevars4618 YES YOU ARW YUO ARE WORTHPESS EDIT YOUR DNAM COMMENT

[@diegodevars4618]

@@petrwarthursty2011 no.

[@Gangladeshh]

Something you didn't mention is when you return to camp after escaping the O'Driscolls, nobody seems to have been out looking or trying to do anything about the fact that Arthur went missing. Everybody was just at camp chilling (especially Dutch), meanwhile if Dutch had went missing, nobody would have taken a break to stopped looking for him.

[@kingdomarc9]

Excellent writing, thank you for the video!

[@blackjackhearts9593]

Red dead awful writing

[@Andermander429]

​@@blackjackhearts9593 how?

[@papapiggie6697]

My name is Micah and I’m taking this strangely personally...

[@andrescamacho8326]

Hey men it's not your fault if I'm being honest I would love to have the character of Micah named Arthur or similar enough Arturo because that would make a love -hate relationship even deeper in our subcuntius mind ( and also because I studied psychology ) and with gives us the biter sweet that we control how we are perceived and every good person we see and believe we should astrive for that same one could be just as repulsive and sour felling?? Bad person we could know... Remember just like some one can have your same name and screw your reputation if we can say it like that is in your hands to make sure that when someone gets to know you even if your name has some bad reference you can make sure that they remember you as a good guy Just like the subway guy ( I think was the manager or CEO ) and also don't remember the name . let's name him John if your name is John or something and has some bad reference it's up to you to " clean" it up and make it better Atte. A Anonymous person

[@genaralapple4908]

Damn

[@l.pietrobon3925]

-Name is Micah -Profile picture is a manatee God, it's really you, Lucifer.

[@biglootums5243]

Totally agree. To this day I find it difficult to play through the story of the game(especially the back half) because of how disillusioned and disgusted I became towards the gang.

[@philippereeves9241]

Mate, you broke my heart with the Firewatch opening theme at 2:00. Why would you do that? I love your stuff though, please keep on going. We need more of you.

[@chriseklund6452]

Ok, why did i start crying at the end of this video? You perfectly summed up Arthurs emotions and i am quite frankly even more devastated over how this game ends, it breaks my heart.

[@papabear6431]

This game toped every other game i've ever played in my life. It set the roof so high that now i cant even enjoy other games. This game was done so perfectly for me that whenever i play other games i find myself judging it too much to the point I dislike it. It destroyed my fun in playing other games. This game is as good as it gets for me. I love the story, the slow gameplay, hunting, shooting, fishing, exploring, talking to npc's, looting houses, fighting, or simply laying back and listening to the gang sing and talk to each other. A masterpiece indeed

[@Kaledrone]

@AshTheFlash100 Let's hope Ubisoft can back up their big mouths with Valhalla.

[@sack8439]

@@Kaledrone They wont, they will just portray my culture as some fictional man going berserk killing tons of men and fighting gods just like in Odyssey. I want it to be good but I also wanted Unity to be good and you can perhaps see where that went.

[@venicec3310]

The mass effect trilogy is pretty amazing aswell

[@indigored133]

I just found your channel, but you make excellent videos about my FAVORITE game ever. And quite frankly, I must admit, they're the best RDR2 videos I've seen in the entire year since it's release in 2018. You play the game the way I play the game. I spent SO much time in camp. After every mission there's new dialogue that immerses you further into the game and connects you with every character even more. There are so many things you can miss out on if you don't.

[@GabryyLG]

Bill shouldn't receive any hate. He didn't do anything bad aside from being too dumb to think for himself. He's one of the most complex characters and pretty competent himself, since he gave the gang the best bank robbery (extremely high take and no losses). It seems people just hate him in RDR2 because of the person he transformed into as shown in RDR1, but before he was just a dumb loyal fool; AND he was always looked down and overall unvalued by the gang. TL;DR: Bill has layers and is a tragic and underrated character

[@alexwoods5132]

While I agree his character devolves and he feels undervalued, he ultimately has a choice to not go down the path he did. Loyalty should be understood that to a point, any man should be loyal but a reasonable man understands where a line should be drawn. Blind loyalty for the sake of acceptance makes him a tragic character but ultimately he still made the choice to not think for himself- which is just as frustrating to deal with than someone who is purposely trying to sabotage the gang.

[@pente3194]

I love Bill. Steve J. Palmer analyses Bill pretty well... His character is really complicated and I feel a lot of people don't see it that way...

[@heyyou9472]

....like an onion?

[@pente3194]

@@heyyou9472 Like an onion.

[@sarpcanbay1887]

Hannah Arendt states that when a man gives up his ability to think for himself he is capable of the greatest of evils.

[@oliver5019]

The first time I played rdr2 I fell hook line and sinker for Dutch, I wanted to believe in him so bad. I wanted one of my “fathers” to care for me (which is why Hosea’s death hit So Hard). And that emotional connection, that ability to seamlessly sink into a man who is trying to believe in someone who at this point has abandoned him and the promises he made. That sibling rivalry with Micah and John, that desire to be better than Arthur was. That game is SO good in the way it hurts you so interpersonally.

[@farcried8279]

You literally convinced me that red dead 2’s story is as good as 1’s

[@eliejaharagon730]

No... it’s better

[@farcried8279]

Eliejah Aragon I wouldn’t go that far dude. But that’s my opinion.

[@christophercolumbus1169]

Eliejah Aragon I agree but I kinda see the entire thing as 1 cohesive story about Arthur and John. The epilogue really tied the two games together for me. I fucking loved seeing John build Beechers Hope, it made me love the 1st game even more.

[@Cloak_N_Dagger]

@@christophercolumbus1169 I agree wholeheartedly. I feel like Red Dead Redemption 2 is everything you can ask for in a prequel. It emphasizes and uplifts the first game. It provides a glimpse into the backstory, and the hows and whys, and the almost poetic storytelling, with some lines mirroring each other between games, and visuals contrasting with each other, like honorable Arthur dying at the top of a mountain, bathed in the light of a rising sun, (If you play the game in what I deem as the _correct_ way, anyway.) and Dutch dying at the bottom of a mountain in RDR1's story, in the cold and dark.

[@christophercolumbus1169]

Cloak N Dagger it truly is a beautifully written story with some of the best characters I’ve ever become connected to. There aren’t too many games that change the way I feel about video games as a hobby but Red Dead 1 and 2 are more than games to me. I’ve never missed characters after they’re gone like I did John Marston and Arthur Morgan. I’m glad there are people that love these games as much as me.

[@ilikemusic9599]

Damn dude, I've finished this game 4 times, and you're already giving me new meaning to the whole thing. Nice video!!!

[@TylerSane5]

One big awesome detail someone else found which I don't know who it was actually has an amazing small theory! That is Jack Marston is able to wear Arthurs brown default jacket! Although it looks a little different because it aged and the RDR 2 graphics are cleaner and clearer

[@TheDanseMacabre]

I reeeeeeally want Red Dead Redemption 1 remastered..

[@kristenalexandra2701]

When Micah kicked Cain the camp dog, that’s when I really about lost my mind.

[@kajetanbomba8274]

Ok, "iamthekidyouknowwhatimean-run" suprised me deeply.

[@jondoe7036]

Love the way footage of Arthur just walking and turning around at the end was used to drive the message home. Made for a real powerful visual.

[@OmegaEnvych]

I'd say this. When game makes me say "SCREW YOU TOO!" in response to a character's behavior, this game is doing something really right. Red Dead Redemption 2 and Enderal: Shards of the Order are two stories, where I literally hated characters as people. In one game it was because people were acting as despicable bastards, in other - because I never felt betrayed by a person I trusted before. It's relatively easy to make person not like a character. But it takes a lot more to make person truly feel hatred against an NPC like against another human being!

[@SnafuWarrior]

Found you on subreddit, really enjoying your videos, keep up the good work!

[@republicofsandles]

"Burning down plantations is good praxis." Y'all Queeeen!

[@republicofsandles]

@ThisIsMyRealName Nice!

[@rachelpurity1]

At that point, noone from that family had done anything to the player at all tho and they didn't have slaves, this game takes place in 1898-1899! So, you're literally just burning down someone's shit for no good reason other than someone told you to.

[@eyeballjay]

@@christopher0261 you shut the fuck up

[@ethanmcfarland8240]

Shut up your not funny

[@moredetonation3755]

Great placement of the Hotline Miami soundtrack. That specific track especially.

[@kurunzi8614]

I feel the same, that is why in my second play through I only released Micah “the rat” Bell as late as I possibly could... I did everything outside of the main missions. After that, I left him alone in his camp in the mountains for loooong time. Unlocking everything I could for the camp, the trader, the collectibles, stranger missions, treasure maps, collectibles, drawing in Arthur’s notebook...I did everything to avoid that dreaded moment. Because I knew from that moment on things would be going down hill and there was no turning back. Damn you Micah! Edit: and in all that time before having to actually get Micah out of jail, one of my secret pleasures was to go to Strawberry and carefully go see his sad face by the window of his jail sell.

[@iceio]

This is exactly what I was thinking in the back of my mind as i was playing rd2

[@canorth]

I moved from Alaska to the lower 48 right at the start of COVID and found myself inside a lot. I was an avid hiker in Alaska. I loved just wandering around this world.

[@jeremiahbaugh8195]

This deserves so many more views it's insane. This should have been the video that sky rocketed the channel. This video is beautiful. I can listen to it like I listen to a song. This video is beautiful.

[@unwritten_zephyr]

With your points in mind it makes me respect Arthur and love him even more. He knew that the gang was killing itself, but he couldn’t leave the only people he had. So in this limbo, he did his best to save those who could. Godspeed, Arthur Morgan.

[@Maffo__]

6:47 the only blameless one WHAT!!!!??? Kidding, I had been saving this one since I hadn't played rdr2 yet, glad to see that the quality you provided in every other video of yours is still here.

[@badrufus2917]

Sir, you just embodied everything about this game that makes it absolute gold... and why I keep going back to relive it over and over.

[@wonder_platypus8337]

I know this is 4 years old but damn that last bit was poetry.

[@zanderdevinci8198]

I fucking love the way parts of this essay are kind of from Arthur's perspective, I adore this video-essay-as-narrative thing you do

[@eshafto]

Damn. Not at all what I was expecting. Eye-opening and powerful. Thanks.

[@ericdempsey6097]

The best story mode I have ever played in a video game. The first Red Dead was top, but 2 takes the cream. Fine work in video explaining your feelings. I am there with you.

[@Greendude0101]

It’s great how “fly me to the moon plays from the very beginning.” First thing I noticed

[@Oxtocoatl13]

Playing the game, I almost constantly felt a weird dissonance. Storming the Braithwaite mansion was awesome. Storming the oil fields with the Wapiti was awesome. Even machine gunning soldiers from a train was awesome. But at the same time, I couldn't escape the knowledge that what was actually unfolding was a horrendous tragedy where I'm not not the villain. I murdered Catherine Braithwaite's sons and burned her home. The Wapiti were tricked and used by Dutch. Those soldiers were after me because I literally stole their paychecks and killed their friends. It's no wonder Arthur loathes himself. And it's why the final mission of the epilogue was so cathartic. No moral qualms. Just pure, awesome retribution for some truly horrible people.

[@brandonl6808]

Genuinely love you and the content you share with us. I hope you and your family are well Jacob :)

[@clowngodclowngod6157]

Damn, using Run in the background music. Great choice fam

[@JS-qj1rp]

Powerful analysis. From Herr Strauss loan sharing missions, shootout at Valentine, Strawberry, Rhodes , Saint Danis, and Vanhorn, to the setup of the parlay, and Dutch leaving me for dead…I started to dislike Morgan for going back. Heck, it optional but the Mary Linton makes me sick. Arthur Morgan the coward with a big heart

[@sumerdhaliwal332]

That was great, I never really was able to put my feelings together like that whilst playing the game, I couldn’t quite understand why I felt so tired and frustrated, why I just left camp and did anything else before missions, it’s as you describe, we are with some low life’s acting as family and yet there are real genuine characters in camp I’d gladly take a bullet for, take Charles for example a selfless man just showing gratitude for the gang taking him in, it just makes those bad decisions that much more frustrating, I felt the stress and depression of following the mad man into the abyss. Thank you for this closure

[@Foogi9000]

Man i have so much respect for how Micah's VA managed to do such an amazing performance that i genuinely hate the character he plays.

[@toxiczombiewolf5692]

Fr good actors can maje you hate ir love the character

[@zoidsfan12]

This hits too close to home for me. I used to have pretty bad drug problems. Mainly psychedelics. The reason that I had those problems in the first place was that everyone around me also had those problems, essentially by surrounding myself with these damaged people we were all pulling ourselves down together. I'm glad to be done with that life. Because holy shit it is near impossible to be sober when everyone around you is spurring you on to be the degenerate they know and love. It took distance to realize how stupid we were all acting. How much all of us were gonna end up behind bars or in a shallow grave if we kept pushing boundaries like we were. I don't regret those experiences because there's no sense in regretting what shapes me into the person I am now, but god did that shit permanently rob me of my innocence. You compromise more and more on your character and do shittier and shittier things until eventually you can't even stomach the person you have become. For me when I look back I see a person that I desperately never wanna be again.

[@cowl6867]

Your essays are exceptional

[@JohnSmith-xv2ob]

Dude that transition into the burning field and the song from Hotline Miami got me HYPED

[@trevorp.6044]

Daaamn, man. After a really heart piercing experience of mine this video was right enough to cause a tears in my eye. Instant like.

[@nanaak8617]

Jacob, thank you for creating the work that you do. Thank you.

[@a-10warthog78]

So, yeah, this is my favorite game ever, and you are one of the best youtube channels I've ever seen, so this is the crossover I need but don't deserve.

[@josephmatthews7698]

This is the best game I've ever played and I've never been able to finish it. It just hurts too much especially when you mix the perfect story, the introspective gameplay and the harsh reality of what the developers went through. It was just too much. I can't finish it, and I'm okay with that.

[@josephmullen4553]

This will probably fall on deaf ears but please please make a video on Bayonetta, I think 3 is going to raise a lot of interesting thoughts

[@jdjones7855]

Wonderful video man well done. You put into exact words how me and my buddy feel about Micha; and you added a wonderful discussion on father relations

[@albertocristino]

3:12 TRUE, out of nowhere we where killing like 20 guards for nothing! That escalated too much too quickly

[@sargecad3t]

Watching your videos is good praxis, comrade. Why don't you have more subscribers?

[@JacobGeller]

obviously its because all my potential audience is out demonstrating in the street (is what I tell myself)

[@untamedpandasweg8986]

Shelf Full of fucking nihilism. Mass immigration depresses wages, strains social welfare systems/infrastructure, and increases housing prices.

[@lukedufaur5368]

@@untamedpandasweg8986 Wait when was immigration mentioned? Silly rightists and their stock responses.

[@micromints1735]

PRAXIS COMRADE PRAXIS GOD CAN YOU BREADTUBE FUCKS USE DIFFERENT WORDS GET OFF THE INTERNET

[@sargecad3t]

@@micromints1735 What's making you so angry, pal?

[@nicobones9608]

Beautiful analysis!

[@zach1997ism]

This game is an excellent mediation on disillusionment. At the beginning you believe in what Dutch’s is saying what his plan is what his goals are and what they aspire to be. That the world is wrong and along as you have each other you’ll will make it. But things keep going wrong, something keeps coming up that stop y’all from reaching y’all’s goal and the more it happens the more you see a pattern. Getting to a point where you anticipate something going wrong despite Dutch saying it’s flawless. And you start to question everything By the time you get to beavers hollow it’s has become painfully obvious that the whole thing is over. You lost too many people, you had to run and lay low before Dutch inevitably tries another score that has always ended in failure and flings you right back to where you started and it’s become clear that that goal you were trying to reach just isn’t going to happened despite Dutch insistence. For me the most heartbreaking part of the game is when Dutch leaves Arthur to die which causes eagle flies death saving you. When you go to confront him and denies it and lies to your face. That moment of seeing Arthur face and realizing that’s the moment you lost faith in Dutch the man who was practically a farther to you. And it doesn’t come back

[@noranomics]

I had to stop playing red dead 2 because I could not compel myself to keep playing with Micah in the picture

[@ShakedownDreams]

I actually really love Bill Williamson as a character, he has so many layers and beyond his unabashed, unwavering loyalty to the wrong people I mostly end up pitying him, not only is he tragically underrated hes just. Tragic in general. Hes mocked for being dumb but he has some of the more thought provoking, tear jerking audio I've heard just wandering around camp. He apologizes for forgetting what he was going to say, and then confides in his camp mates that he watched his dad slowly lose all grip of reality, and is scared he's going down the same road I cant hate that sort of thinkin honestly Sure he does bad things and is annoying at some points but hes one of the best characters imo Micah can drown in his own blood as his teeth are pried out with toothpicks though fuck Micah

[@dead_fox]

Agree, excellent video Also the music choices are perfect

[@nikola4962]

Interesting content on your chanel, as I have no idea how to describe it to someone, yet it feels like everything falls into place. I'm subbing

[@TrailsJunkie]

Not to sound hyped or anything, but RDR2 is lowkey one of the best single player game of all time.

[@frankiewhitty7638]

This was absolutely fantastic.

[@nicholaswhitman4620]

Saved for later because in the first 2 mins you already convinced me that this is a game that needs playing.

[@aboonstra2613]

This is a top 5 game of all time.

[@MrZombieZealot]

I'd love to see more videos that are almost from the character's point of view rather than the author of the video, although it's likely one in the same. If another game moves you like this I'd love to see it presented similar to this video tbh.

[@JacobGeller]

That's a great distinction! I think my video on Outer Wilds probably fits this bill.

[@MrZombieZealot]

@@JacobGeller (I love your videos, you're immensely creative and observant)

[@MirunaNero]

so, I just beat the game entirely... I can say without hesitation that this is one of the best stories I've ever experienced in a game. It certainly stands up there with the best stories I've experienced outside of games. It feels real. There's a genuine sense of time, of history between everyone. When I was doing the last mission and everyone was talking about what they were going to do it felt so natural. Like this journey really had taken years to complete. The weight of all of it was genuine. It's strange calling Micah an antagonist, because while there was never a point I explicitly liked him he never came off as the villain. And as time went on, he was progressively worse and worse until every interaction I had with him made me fume with hatred so potent I my knuckles went white from the iron grip I had on my controller, wishing so desperately I could just dump all twelve rounds in my revolvers into his stupid fucking skull. Every time Sadie mentioned him afterwards I stiffened up and hoped desperately that it was my chance to do just that. And at the end, I wasn't boiling just mute. Unresponsive - letting my anger do the talking. And then the sense of growing dread and tragedy. Watching John try to build his life back up with Abigail into something honest. When he takes her into the town, and he's awkward and doesn't know quite how to be natural. And then he proposes to her. I genuinely felt happy for him but also so terribly sad because I *know* what's awaiting him. I know how his story ends and it's so bittersweet. Say what you will about RDRII. Surely, Rockstar's design philosophy isn't perfect, and it's something close to outdated. But it is so, *so* rare that a game makes me actually feel these things, and for that it deserves praise and lots of it.

[@arprevi8147]

Hearing Run by IAMTHEKIDYOUKNOWWHATIMEAN made me think that an essay by you on Hotline Miami 2 would kick so much ass. Nudge nudge

[@Sylvie_without_surname]

I've liked, I've subscribed, and I'm working on the union. Hell yeah! This labor day let's all take another step towards breaking capitol!

[@michaelsanchezcatalan8990]

I got hyped asf for no reason when I heard that hotline Miami song

[@nardoritardeau2291]

Character driven tragedies are tough. Like Othello and Hamlet, you watch the events play out and think, this could all be resolved-- or at least stop getting any worse-- if the main character just did the right thing. Why can't Arthur just leave the gang? Or outright kill Micah? Or take Dutch for a vacation and talk some sense, away from the snake pit? Because Arthur is Arthur. And to ask Arthur to betray the gang that raised him is the most ridiculous, impossible, ludicrous thing you could ever ask of him.

[@FriedStu]

I like how you butted shoulders with john as you left the mansion. Later on you tell john to leave and not look back. The madness made sense when hosea was alive, but after he passed, the gang and arthur started to better show their colors. Arthur realized he wanted no part, and was able to influence the marstons to flee.

[@mati.caetano88]

Dude, fantastic work!!! I wish you had kept on going

[@im19ice3]

i feel enough frustration in the lack of control in real life as it is, i can't imagine the hell it must be to have to follow the set narrative in a medium that makes you pretend your choices matter -.-

[@baggedmilk02]

Loved the video.

[@itcouldbelupus2842]

Excellent writing all round

[@blastbot7339]

I like your take on rdr2 Unlike other games where we end up hating character because their bad combat ally's we end up hating characters like Micah and bill because their bad companions while we like Lenny and Sean who are better people( not much of a high herdal I know) even though their worse in fights than bill and micah. Micah's got accuracy and bill damage, Lenny has low health and Sean poorer accuracy but we still don't mind it Your video made me realise this and honestly I love this

[@l0mad642]

The first and last time jack met Ross fishing was involved.

[@FoulMouthActual]

Awesome music selection. The Max Payne 3 music was a good addition.

[@kalamaroe7137]

How did this man get a Litchfield Repeater in chapter 2?!!

[@foxstar612]

Kalamaroe here to find out too

[@sample_text100]

he’s replaying the missions, which gives you your current load out and stuff. that’s also why he’s always wearing arthur’s default outfit too

[@Jupa]

That quick build up of crisis after the mischievery of burning the manor with Sean, succesfully robbbing the valentine bank, feeling all young and energetic again, and then everything swirls backwards. When things go bad, they go deep. The writing in this game is unmatched. When it rains, it bloody well pours. I'm happy that Rockstar published this masterpiece of story telling before they went to shit, I don't expect a sequel or anything. RDR2 was more than enough.

[@khixar4265]

Shows the mission in Rhodes with Sean micah and bill Me: no no no not this one ( it actually made me shed a tear )

[@Shnarfbird]

0:45 Damn when you first mentioned him I was like "who's that shit" and I only played any Bayonetta 2 and was told his name like, a week ago

[@wabisabi3619]

Incredible game, great analysis

[@hansyolo8277]

Why the hate against Bill? He's annoying, but I never got the feeling of hating him, personally. Everything else said though...yes.

[@mrghillies3901]

He hurts Cain, throws slurs at the minorities in the group, and just gets drunk all day and has the audacity to bully uncle for doing the same. Sure he didn’t “betray the group and tear it down” like Micah but he watched it happen, and shot an unarmed John. He’s an emotional idiot with a gun and was most likely discharged from the military for rape. If you get raped at the cabin as Arthur, Bill will taunt you for it. And when Micah boasts about raping Jenny, Bill thinks it’s cool.

[@hansyolo8277]

@@mrghillies3901 Damn, I never heard/saw any of that in RDR2 when I played through it

[@teukka623]

Mr Ghillies i never heard micah boasting about raping jenny. When did that happen

[@angus9873]

@@teukka623 I'm pretty sure it didn't she willingly cheated on Lenny with Micah

[@elinyancat]

your videos are amazing

[@f.b.i4808]

1:07 just like my kids

[@marcellessharpe4016]

This is one of the games to make me feel emotions while playing without me trying to feel something

[@Yngdady]

"Jus waun moar scoar, Arthr"

[@mrsir3658]

Me watching this video: shit dude you okay?

[@charliekill88]

I hate Micah because he takes away everything you had, your family is destroyed because of him. His greed, and infectious hate spreads to Dutch, Williamson, and the gang, Arthur’s family, falls apart. All for his own skin.

[@grzegorzbrzeczyszczykiewic6673]

Goddamn your videos are good mate. Goddamn.