Highlights
- Red Dead Redemption 3 needs to provide closure for the surviving members of the Van Der Linde gang, as their stories have been a primary focus of the series.
- Jack Marston, Sadie Adler, and Charles Smith are strong candidates to play a prominent role in Red Dead Redemption 3, as their journeys have not been properly concluded.
- Even the less active members of the gang should have their fates confirmed, as it would provide a sense of closure after the many adventures of the Van Der Lindes.
When Red Dead Redemption 3 finally comes out, there is one outstanding question regarding the Van Der Linde gang that should be answered, and that is what happened to the surviving members. Of course, since there is so little information about the prospective sequel, the way that this could be answered is still up in the air. Even so, the Red Dead Redemption series has been so heavily focused on the Van Der Linde gang's history that it would feel odd to leave any loose ends unanswered in the end. For that reason, fans should hope that the any questions surrounding the gang are explained in the end.
Through the eyes of both Arthur and John in Red Dead Redemption, the story of the Van Der Linde gang is the primary driving force behind the series. The first game follows John as he's forced to hunt down their outlaw remnants, while the sequel shows how the gang's downfall took place in the first place. As a result, many of the triumphs and misfortunes that both protagonists experience are inevitably tied to the gang itself. Even though the gang was doomed, it's easy for players in Red Dead Redemption 2 to get invested in them due to how entertaining and affable they were. As such, many would surely like to know how their lives turned out.
Red Dead Redemption 3 Needs Closure For the Van Der Lindes
There is a common tragic thread connecting many of the fates of RDR2's Van Der Linde gang. While some of their deaths were foretold by the first game, many more died over the course of the prequel. By the end, there are only a few gang members who don't end up dead, consisting of:
- Jack Marston
- Sadie Adler
- Charles Smith
- Simon Pearson
- Mary-Beth Gaskill
- Tilly Jackson
- Reverend Orville Swanson
- Josiah Trelawny
- Karen Jones
Of these characters, all but Trelawny and Karen get some follow-up on their actions after the gang's dissolution, but that only confirms their survival up to the ending of Red Dead Redemption 2's epilogue.
Red Dead Redemption 3 can tie up these loose ends regarding the gang. Jack could be Red Dead Redemption 3's protagonist, especially since he was already playable in the first game's epilogue. Sadie and Charles also have strong arguments for the role, as well as good reason to return as prominent NPCs. Sadie's bounty hunting and Charles' search for a home are intriguing plot lines that haven't been given a proper conclusion yet. Their worthiness to return is bolstered by their roles in the epilogue. Players deserve to know how Sadie and Charles' respective journeys turned out in the end.
Through the eyes of both Arthur and John in Red Dead Redemption , the story of the Van Der Linde gang is the primary driving force behind the series.
The other unaccounted-for members of the game may not have been as active, but confirmation on their fates would be nice. Some of the more heartwarming parts of Red Dead Redemption 2's epilogue are finding out what happened to them in the immediate aftermath. Many of them ended up finding legitimate happiness, like Mary-Beth becoming a writer or Pearson running a store as a legit businessman. If Red Dead Redemption 3 follows up on the events of the first game, then revisiting other gang members, whether for missions or just easter eggs, would provide a decent sense of closure after the Van Der Lindes' many adventures.
Red Dead Redemption has been the story of the Van Der Linde gang at the end of the day, and that story needs a proper final chapter. While the time period of Red Dead Redemption 3's story will need to be right, Jack (or whoever RDR3's protagonist happens to be) can help to wrap up all remaining loose ends. Even if none of them end up having a significant role, it would be good to see how their lives turned out. The final legacy of the Van Der Linde gang is the one mystery that Red Dead Redemption 3 should answer.
