Sadie Adler is an important and beloved character inRed Dead Redemption 2, so much so that many want her to be the main character of the next game. Given how far away that likely is, fans have no choice but to wait and see ifSadie Adler is the lead ofRed Dead Redemption 3, but it would likely be welcomed by many.
InRed Dead Redemption 2, at least, Sadie grows from a vengeful widow to a leader of the Dutch Van Der Linde Gang to a bounty hunter. In all of this, she proves herself loyal to the gang time and again but particularly to John, Abigail, and Arthur. This truly comes to define her character, andRed Dead 2brings special attention to that with her horse, Hera.
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Horses are important in any western, and that holds true forRed Dead 2as well. While some players may choose horses based on stats or rarity, there’s no denying that Arthur Morgan feels a special connection with his horse. Near theend of Arthur’s story inRed Dead 2, just before players make a choice to go back for the money or to ensure John gets to his family, his horse is killed. Despite the constant threat, Arthur sits with his horse, eases it into death, and thanks it for everything it has done.
The symbolism is clear, as well as the foreshadowing, but it’s evident in other ways too.Micah Bell’s villainy, the crooked snake and traitor inRed Dead Redemption 2, is seen in his horse, Baylock, too. If players examine the gang’s horse, Baylock is the only one to have low stamina and health out of the group, because Micah doesn’t properly care for him. It doesn’t help that the horse looks incredibly similar to the Dark Horse from the first game, which spawns when players have low honor (as Micah does).
To top it all off, Baylock may referenceThe Omen, a film where a nanny named Baylock is a disciple of hell watching over the antichrist. That may be going too far in villainizing Micah Bell inRed Dead Redemption, but the game does all it can to make his villainy abundant.
With all of this in mind too, it’s easy to see how Sadie’s character is also reflected in her horse, Hera. The name is a reference to the Greek Goddess of women, marriage, family, childbirth, in all of which Hera took on a “protector” moniker. Sadie, seeking vengeance because of the loss of her husband, symbolizes many of these elements from day one.
But, it’s in how Sadie supportJohn and Abigail’s marriageand family that really drives the symbolism home. She helps break John Marston out of prison, protects their son Jack, attends their wedding, and ultimately helps them settle into a stable family life. Of course, as fans know,the events ofRed Dead Redemptionend up taking that from John Marston, but in the lead-up to a few years of the family home life and peace, it’s clear that Sadie was their protector.
Red Dead Redemption 2is available on PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One.
