Red Dead Redemption: Every Villain Ranked From Worst To Best

Chapter 3 finds the Van Der Linde Gang playing two warring families against one another and pocketing the profits. If you were to lay out the actions of the gang in the chapter, it would almost be comical how they rob one family to pay another - but if Chapter 3 also tells us anything, it's that there isn't anything quite like a vicious matriarch with her own private army.

Catherine Braithwaite is the cantankerous head of an estate that once thrived off slavery; but now provides moonshine to Civil War confederates and supposedly dabbles heavily in incest. While Braithwaite and her sons are no match for Dutch's wrath; her actions of kidnapping little Jack Marston propel the gang toward more dangerous enemies - thus setting the gang up for their inevitable downfall.

The malice and vitriol of Catherine Braithwaite is so ripe with anger, we almost want her to keep around longer. But, when you kidnap a child and send them away to an Italian crime boss just to taunt your enemies, you shouldn't expect to stick around forever. And the assault on Braithwaite manor still ranks as one of RDR2 fans' biggest and best missions, culminating in blood, gore, violence and disturbing imagery.

We should feel sorry for Matriarch Braithwaite as her legacy burns, but as Hosea Mathews strictly puts it.

Why'd you take the boy, Mrs. Braithwaite? Boys are off limits

She should have known better. And while there's not loyalty among thieves, there are rules to stick to.