Red Dead Redemption 2: 5 Western Tropes Rockstar Must Avoid

Perhaps the most commonly found trope in the entire genre, Native Americans have by-and-large been featured in Westerns as either savage enemies or mute, campfire-dwelling allies. A trope that is, even ignoring the now-obvious racial connotations, as prevalent in the genre as revolvers and Stetsons.

However, one of many supporting characters of Dutch’s gang, Red Dead Redemption 2’s Charles Lee is shaping up to be a Native American character who is thankfully more than just smoke signals and a mohican.

In addition to Charles Lee, Rockstar has also stated that RDR2 will shed a spotlight on the historically prevalent Black, Asian and Native American cowboys and outlaws of the Wild West throughout RDR2.

For a game that seems to be doing some unfortunately-lacking justice for the minorities of the Old West, writing in the typical ‘Savage Injuns’ trope would be firstly reductive, and secondly just plain lazy. Especially so when contrasted with the interesting work apparently being done to put a unique spin on Native American characters in what will undoubtedly become this generation’s essential Western experience.