The Loogaroo

In fact, Hosea was not a dad at all. Neither was Dutch.

I don’t tend to wade into these kinds of things with my own opinion, I like to post my links and my screenshots and go, but recently it’s been getting me down.

The way Hosea is painted as a saviour, the greatest dad in the world, with Dutch as an evil manipulator with no other characteristics at all is not only wholly inaccurate, but also kind of an insult to the incredible writing of this whole game. No one in this game is entirely good or entirely evil. This game is about grey areas. I have never played something (or seen a tv show actually, this is book worthy) where the decline of a persons mental state into complete and utter betrayal is so well done (and acted).

But this one...this one annoys me. The “Hosea is the one that raised Arthur”, “Hosea was the greatest dad who ever lived” and “Hosea never did anything wrong.”

No. He did. Because he was a human. He didn’t “raise” Arthur because Arthur was a 15 year old man (and yes he was a man because this is set in a different era and does not conform to modern standards). Dutch wasn’t his father either, because Arthur already had had and then lost a (deadbeat) father. The three of them were men who found each other and formed a bond.

Hosea left the gang. It is clearly stated in the game where he tells Arthur that he tried to get out of the life once and Arthur says that he remembers “you weren’t around for a while”. Is this the Hosea that single handedly raised Arthur then? The one that wasn’t around? Okay.

Hosea was a conman. He was a killer. Just like Dutch. Just like Arthur. And please, remember, Arthur was a killer before he met Dutch. So was John. Dutch did not make a killer out of him. Dutch (and Hosea) gave them both the means to survive in a world that was rough and violent.

Hosea calls Arthur stupid, he agrees with Dutch on everything, he also does just about as much as Dutch around camp.

He follows Dutch’s lead because he believes him to be right. I just feel that you can’t think Hosea is the greatest man to ever live and not recognise that he did this, and trusted Dutch. With reason.

I have seen Hosea walk up to Sean and physically kick him for being lazy. Twice. Great dad. Say what you will about Dutch but never once have I seen him physically hurt someone.

I’m not a Dutch apologist. Just a person who knows that I can like someone and not agree with everything they do. He did some reprehensible things. But what I will never agree with is the notion that everything he did was evil and that the sun shone out of Hosea’s arse. I don’t have hatred for Hosea, in fact, I don’t particularly think one way or another about him. I’m not here to bash Hosea. Only to offer my own opinion on this subject that frustrates me.

But while I’m on one, the notion that everything Dutch did was manipulative is very black and white. Spend some time in camp, listen to Javiers story, or Bills, or pay attention to Sadies. Dutch-and it is Dutch mentioned in these, not Hosea- saved all of these people. And not for gain.

The use of “son” is not constant. Nor is it the only one used. Nor is he the only one who uses it. Sean actually calls Arthur son! Son (and boy, my dear boy etc) is used as a term of endearment, not a fact.

The “manipulation” thing is crazy to me. To say that he sends Arthur out to do all these things and instantly see that as manipulative and not “best man for the job” is...I don’t even know what it is. Arthur is good at what he does. Dutch sees that. That’s it.

Well. I’ve had my rant. I expect many people will disagree but I had to get it out there. I think discussions on this are valid, but I also get upset when things are painted as fact when they clearly are opinion only.