In Red Dead Redemption 2, Dutch’s feud with the O’Driscolls could have been the focus of its own game, but it wound up being an afterthought in the final product. The feud does get a decent introduction, and there is potential in the idea of two outlaw gangs fighting against each other. It just so happens that the conflict gets pushed to the side as soon as another set of antagonists comes along.
Colm O’Driscoll is the leader of the O’Driscolls, and Dutch’s greatest enemy. The two have a long enmity, starting when Dutch killed Colm’s brother and Colm killed Dutch’s lover. Since then, the two have hated each other, and ended up running their own gangs that share their rivalry. While the reason why RDR2‘s Dutch and Colm hate each other is established, that enmity isn’t properly built upon in the narrative. It’s a shame, because a battle between the gangs could have led to something more impressive.
RDR2’s O’Driscolls Could Have Been A Perfect Foil
Although the Van Der Lindes and the O’Driscolls stand in opposition to each other, the way they act as foils to each other does not receive much attention. Even a mild glance shows that Dutch and Colm have almost completely opposite ideas of how a gang should be operated, as can be seen with their respective gangs’ makeup and activities. Emphasizing this could have made for a better contrast between the two, while also showcasing where Dutch triumphs over Colm.
The O’Driscoll gang vastly outstrips the Van der Lindes in terms of numbers, which is their main strength. However, the only requirements to join seem to be a lack of scruples, as even with RDR2’s Van der Lindes having some unhelpful members, the O’Driscolls frequently lose members by the boatload when they cross paths. They also seem to lack discipline and planning, with their main activities seeming to consist of robbing and terrorizing whoever they can find, much like raiders from a Fallout game. In comparison, the Van der Lindes are far fewer in number, but each member is highly skilled, be it at fighting or con artistry, and they make most of their scores through coordinated heists and other big plans.
Of course, another big difference between the two is that the Van der Lindes – at least before Micah’s influence poisoned the gang – were somewhat principled, while the O’Driscolls are indiscriminate in their criminal actions. The juxtaposition between the more noble outlaws of the Van der Lindes and the O’Driscolls’ hordes of cruel bandits would have been an interesting one. Regardless of who Dutch was before RDR2, it’s clear that he was a much better leader than Colm, and It’s disappointing that these differences weren’t emphasized as part of a proper feud.
Colm And Kieran Could Have Been More Important In RDR2
Colm is not the only character who was left in the background after the game started ignoring the O’Driscolls. Kieran, a former O’Driscoll who became a prisoner-turned-member of the Van der Lindes was also a victim of the rival gang falling out of relevance. This led to both characters’ storylines being rushed when they could have been more satisfying with a little more attention.
Kieran was basically forced to join the O’Driscolls, only to be quickly captured by the Van der Lindes and kept captive in their camp. It isn’t until he saves Arthur’s life that they stop threatening him, and even then he’s the least respected person there after Dutch decides to keep Kieran around in RDR2. Even though he does eventually start to be liked by the gang, there isn’t much time before he ends up kidnapped and killed by Colm. He’s essentially a background character, only popping up a couple of times in the story before his death. Given that his death is one of the events that spurs the gang to take out Colm once and for all, it would have been more effective if the game spent more time developing his relationship with the gang. As it stands, most of the praise he gets comes after his death.
Kieran was set up to be an interesting character, but spends most of his time shoved into the background while the plot essentially happens around him. In addition, Colm’s death scene is portrayed as a big climax, but he was only a minor factor in the story of Red Dead Redemption 2 overall. While Colm’s end is still a satisfying moment, it would have been much more so had the game given the player more time to hate him and his villainy.
A Gang War Could Have Been Phenomenal In RDR2
The Van der Lindes and O’Driscolls clash a few times over the course of Red Dead Redemption 2, but their fights rarely have any real weight behind them aside from the final push before Colm’s death. For the most part, the O’Driscolls just feel like generic goons that could have been any assorted outlaws that the gang happened to be fighting. When compared to the other gangs, especially RDR2‘s scarier foes like the Skinner Brothers, there’s really nothing special about them.
In order for the O’Driscolls to feel like a real threat or rival, there needed to be more moments where they went head-to-head with the Van der Lindes. There needed to be shootouts where they attempted to attack each other’s camps, or perhaps attempts for them to disrupt each other’s heists to take the score for themselves. If the O’Driscolls were true rivals to the Van der Lindes, then they should have been a continual thorn in their sides. Instead, they’re an occasional distraction while the gang deals with actual threats.
The O’Driscolls failed to live up to their potential as the Van der Linde gang’s archenemies. They’re quickly shown to be inferior to Dutch and his crew, and they’re reduced to the level of minor threat the instant Cornwall and Ross enter the story. Even other minor antagonists like RDR2‘s Blackwater serial killer carry more clout than Colm and his gang, showing how little they mean in the long run.
Colm and the O’Driscolls could have been a great rival for the Van der Linde gang, and their role in the beginning seemed to imply that would be the case. However, their relevance diminished almost immediately, and they were little more than a footnote in the grand scheme of things. It’s disappointing, because Red Dead Redemption 2 could have turned this rivalry into a grand story.
