Red Dead Redemption 2 is, to say the least, a long game. Brimming with heartfelt stories, endearing characters, and a world so beautiful and alive that you'll never want to leave. Every moment is crafted with care, from the beginning to the end.
Taking a look back after finishing the story is bittersweet, as is experiencing it all over again. However, we're going to take a look at some of the main characters from the game, and what their first and last lines were in this arduous-yet-cherished adventure.
As you might expect, this will contain heavy spoilers for Red Dead Redemption 2, so proceed at your own discretion.
Updated on March 30, 2023: Red Dead Redemption 2 remains one of the best narrative experiences out there, and taking a look at how each of the characters develops over the course of the game continues to represent the depth of the game. We've cleaned up this article to make it an even better experience - maybe even better than RDR2... no, no definitely not.
10 Dutch van der Linde
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First |
"Okay. Arthur’s Out Looking, I Sent Him Up Ahead." |
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Last |
"I Ain’t Got Too Much To Say No More…" |
The head of the Van der Linde gang is a man every player will know well. From spending so much time by his side in Red Dead Redemption 2 to hunting him down as a man you once trusted in the original, the performance and character of Dutch never fail to grasp you and captivate.
His first line in the game holds confidence, trust in Arthur. He cares for his people, and knows Arthur will do everything he can to look out for them too. In the end, though, Dutch has lost it all - his loyalty, his friends, and his own sense of honor. He comes to realize that, and just walks away.
9 Hosea Matthews
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First |
"If We Don’t Stop Soon, We’ll All Be Dying." |
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Last |
"Any Problems, We’ll See You In Camp." |
Hosea was one of the wisest of the bunch - an old and experienced con artist who had seen it all before and done it all before. He was there from the beginning, alongside Dutch and Arthur, and his loyalty would never falter - even at his own expense.
His first line is proof of his wisdom. Spoken in the first few minutes of the game, regarding their trek through the snowy mountains, this line would come to mean so much more than he could have ever imagined. Or perhaps he already knew. His final line feels doubtful - he knows their luck is running out, and he probably knew he would not make it back to camp.
8 Charles Smith
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First |
"Hey! You Need Horses?" |
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Last |
"I Will Be Fine… I’ll Follow You Up, I Just… I Just Can’t Move Fast…" |
A hardened man who knows how to survive, and is fueled by hatred for the world of civilization - for what it has done to freedom, but also to those native to this land. Charles is a good soul in the midst of chaos, and this shows, as he is amongst the first to help people out of the bad situations they so often fall into.
His first line has him offering horses to Dutch and Arthur, about to head out into the blizzard in search of Micah. Dutch demands Charles rests, as he likely wouldn’t otherwise. His final line is said helping John hunt down Micah at the end of it all. Luckily, he survives, but he was prepared for the alternative.
7 Micah Bell
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First |
"Gentlemen." |
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Last |
"You Shot Me. You Shot Me Pretty Good." |
Nobody likes Micah. You might like Micah as a villain, but that just means you hate him correctly. He is the spanner in the works that slowly brings Dutch to his descent, turning on everyone else he has ever known and trusted. You feel the perfect level of disdain towards him, and that is rarely accomplished in games.
His first line is a simple greeting, but it’s enough. Meeting with Dutch and Arthur out in the blizzard, it’s immediately clear that Micah is someone you should keep an eye on, and that feeling only expands. His final line is a moment of relief for most - he’s done, it’s over. He walks away, only to make it a few steps before collapsing into the snow. There’s nothing better.
6 Sadie Adler
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First |
"Get Away From Me!" |
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Last |
"Hurry Up. I Got A Wedding I Wanna Go To." |
Sadie Adler has incredible character development over the course of the game, and becomes one of the toughest, scariest characters you wouldn’t want to be on the wrong side of. She spends a little time settling into the group, but then starts bullying Pearson and demanding she gets to do more - rightly so.
Her first line is screamed in terror, after hiding in her home from gang members who killed her husband, and now face to face with Micah who certainly isn’t helping the situation. However, her final line in reference to John Marston’s wedding is a show of confidence, competence, and being equal to her unlikely friends.
5 Lenny Summers
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First |
"Hey, Somebody’s Coming! Looks Like It’s Dutch." |
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Last |
"We Can Get Across Here!" |
A young man who has already gone through more than he should, Lenny fell in with the Van der Lindes and quickly impressed them. He was still a kid, but a skilled one at that. Sure, he gets pushed around a bit by the other members, but they treat him like a little brother.
His first line is in celebration, seeing Dutch and company return while on lookout duty at Colter. He didn’t get to do much too often, but when he did, he gave it his all. His final line is in the midst of the Saint Denis bank heist, as he rushes across the rooftops to lead everyone to safety. Unfortunately, he never made it out of this one.
4 Sean MacGuire
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First |
"You Know… You’re A Lot Less Ugly From That Other Angle, Arthur." |
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Last |
"Now It Don’t Feel Right? I Could’a Told You That-" |
The lovable Irish rogue of the group, Sean is a chaotic and charismatic character. His words don’t always get him into the most ideal situations, but he certainly has yet more to say at all times. Similar to Lenny, Sean fits the role of the little brother, but a much peskier one at that.
After being rescued from bounty hunters, he’s quick with the jokes and even quicker to annoy Arthur. Still, Arthur likes having Sean around well enough, and you can hear it in his voice after Sean’s death. His final line is cut short, as they walked straight into a trap.
3 Andrew Milton
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First |
"What A Fine Young Man… And In Such Complex Circumstances." |
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Last |
"You’re Losing Your Strength, Mr. Morgan." |
Milton is what you could call the antagonist of this game, if you’re not including Micah, or thinking about the fact that they’re all pretty bad people. He’s a government agent hunting down Dutch and his group, and becomes more dangerous over time.
His introduction catches Arthur off guard, who’s out fishing with young Jack at the time. A seemingly harmless greeting, but a threat nonetheless. His final line is in battle with Arthur, struggling over a gun. Arthur is sick and losing this fight, but Abigail shoots Milton and puts an end to it.
2 John Marston
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First |
"Never Thought I’d Say This, But… It’s Good To See You, Arthur Morgan." |
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Last |
"It’s Over, Abigail. It’s All Over." |
The character most of us of more familiar with, we get to see John as a member of the Van der Lindes before the events of the original game. He’s a character many fans are fond of, and while he’s not the brightest, his bond with Arthur and the betrayals they face together are unforgettable.
After being rescued in the mountains from wolves and fresh with his infamous scars, John has quite the entrance to Red Dead Redemption 2. He takes a little while to get back on his feet, but becomes just as lovable later on. After dealing with Micah in his final stand, John exclaims that it’s all over. Of course, it wasn’t.
1 Arthur Morgan
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First |
"I Found A Place Where We Can Get Some Shelter. Let Davey Rest While He… You Know." |
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Last |
"John Made It. He’s The Only One. Rest Of Us… No. But I Tried. In The End, I Did." |
Throughout the course of the game, Arthur Morgan goes through plenty of change. This life is all he’s known, and Dutch had always been like a father to him. However, as the gang's time slowly runs out and Dutch seemingly degrades as he shows his true colors, Arthur shifts his focus to helping those around him, and making sure the members who are able to get out safe can do that.
His first line is said in a somber tone, bringing softly the haste of finding safety and the time to mourn Davey, who had died in the events leading up to the start of the game. His final line is said as he lies on the floor, gasping for breath, telling Dutch and Micah that John was the only one to get away - and he reflects on his redemption, and his attempts to do right by those he cared for.