I think you shouldn't assume that uncle was born. There is plenty of evidence that shows uncle is an immortal primordial force of nature.

Real fans know that uncle is actually Gavin

I’ve always loved the theory that Revolver is a version of true events that did happen to him, but exaggerated by Uncle to the point of ridiculousness like all his stories. The broad strokes happened, but not the insane shit.

I personally like the idea that revolver is a dramatization of young uncles life before the gang.

Uncle openly criticizes Dutch and calls him a would-be king, and Dutch calls Uncle a court jester - It’s often said that a jester was the only one at court who could point out a king’s flaws and get away with it, since his antics wouldn’t be taken seriously

The scene with him calling out Dutch and being threatened just gives me the vibe that Uncle is sitting there like "Boy, I'm twice your age, seen and done things that'd make you shit yourself.", but he's not dumb and plays it off as a joke.

The funniest conversation about Uncle in II is between John and Jack when Jack asks why everyone calls him Uncle then asks if Uncle was old when Jack was a kid and John goes "He was old when I was a kid son."

Regardless of whether or not Uncle is actually Red Harlow, I most definitely feel like there is more to Uncles past than we realize. It wouldn’t surprise me if it turned out he really was some sort of badass gunslinger who simply grew old and turned into the lazy drunk we know and love.

I've always believed he is Red Harlow: Think about it, Uncle died defending Beecher's Hope and his family, if he is Red Harlow, his story ended like it started...

The one thing that always tells me otherwise is when uncle tells Pearson about his childhood. He lost his parents at 9 and red lost his at 14

Always liked Uncle. Sure he's annoying but he clearly has wit that he masks as a lazy fool but you don't live as long as he has with just luck alone. He's clearly well traveled and has a knack for reading people. He clearly has Dutch figured out because he's probably seen dozens of men like him over time.

My answer is always: Why not, it's fun to think that the Red Harlow stories grew from the seed of Uncle's young escapades. I enjoy watching different takes on it, whether or not the vid agrees with me :)

Say that hypothetically, after the events of Red Dead Revolver, Red Harlow was challenged by several more gunman. He never got any rest because of his name and history. Eventually with his age, physical exhaustion, stress, and rampant alcohol consumption he wore down. He got out of shape and developed a bad back. Because people would come after him if he told the truth about who he was and what he had done in his past, he got into the habit of telling lies all the time to throw people off. He grew a big beard to hide his scars. And joined up with Dutch's gang so he could be in the safety of a group of Outlaws who don't even know he's actually Red Harlow. It would be kind of ironic that he spent all of his youthful days hunting down evildoers, only to take shelter in their numbers in his twilight years. It's got the Rockstar storytelling charm to it.

I could see Uncle being a Civil War Vet. I feel that he is much older than we realize. Could be how he got his nickname, especially if he was an older service member in the unit. Due to the trauma of the war he drops his name because that part of him died on the battlefield and adopted “Uncle” to remind himself of his fallen brothers and he doesn’t want to talk about his past because he just wants to forget (also to avoid the political fallout if a person he is talking to fought for the opposite side of the war). This could also explain his “lazy” attitude in Rdr1, he isn’t lazy but actually much older than we once thought. It would also give him a redemption line at the end of Rdr1 trying to right the wrongs he committed during the war.

I think Uncle being Red would fit in quite nicely with R*'s misanthropic view of westerns. Red's a heavily romanticized and hyperbolic story which, as is presented by that NPC conversation, is seen as aspirational in the R*'s version of America. For that same Red to turn into just another fat, lazy old drunk like the rest of us feels like such a fitting twist on the story. Not to mention Uncle's reticence towards his past, which would make Red's folk heroic stature rather ironic if the man himself is ashamed of it. None of this is evidence that he is Red, of course, but I think from a story-telling perspective it'd be quite fitting if he was.

Bold of people to criticize you for having an opinion when a certain other creator who beats dead horses for a living exists. Great job as always.

We just need an uncle game, that would make it all clear

A more “canon” theory that is still just as absurd is that Uncle is actually Otis Miller who faked his death with a stunt double and fell in with Dutch due to his similar ideals. He knows the danger that being in the spotlight brings, adopting the persona of “Uncle” and the “camp rat” as Arthur calls him. Not to mention they look kinda similar, at least from Otis Miller’s cigarette card.

uncle isn't red harlow, Fizhy actually is and he's just trying to draw attention off of himself

Uncle standing there talking at a clearly audible level about a really messed up childhood/adolescent age of having both his parents die, and having to make it on his own, and Susan just giving a hearty “good morning Arthur” like nothing😂 That might be the most Red Dead camp interaction ever🤣🤣

There are also some other supporting reasons to uncle being red Harlow, 1. Uncle carries a red cloth in his back pocket, like the one red wears. 2. Uncles revolver is exactly the same as Harlows accept uncles is a bit old and rusty due to his aging. 3. In rdr1 you can actually see some markings on uncles hands, some people think it’s just his hand but others think it’s red Harlows burn marks🤨

My theory is that Uncle knew of Red Harlow, he might've befriended and rode with him at some point. Guess nobody in the Van der Linde gang ever bothered to ask or didn't really care what the old man said because he's looked at as the drunk a bum but he knows way more than what he lets on. I love the part where owned he Dutch during the campfire dialog.

He was pretty impressive leading the group during the Cornwall robbery, he was definitely someone familiar with that life.

As someone who is aging myself here (42). I will say that as we grow older we learn a thing or three. The wisdom we gain changes us in ways that you may not anticipate until time teaches us. Not to get all deep here lol. Just saying that to me Uncle was someone who knew a lot more then he let on. I enjoyed his character very much. He may have had a sometimes silly and lazy demeanor, but he was also fiercely loyal and stoic in his own unique way. Always enjoy your videos Fiz. Keep up the great work my friend!

I honestly dont care if Uncle is or isnt Red Harlow, He will always be the One Shot Kid in my eyes.

i think that stuff like being a bounty hunter and being born on a ranch is just a typical western trope. having their parents killed as well actually, orphan seeking vengeance is a very compelling storytelling device. if they were both, idk, marine biologists and born in korea that would be distinct enough to make some parallels, but the way it is shown, it's just ambience.

Recently I was looking up on your videos and couldn’t find one on why Van Horn feels so creepy, strange and hostile. Please do one!

One thing that i’ve seen in my play-through is that out in the RDR1 region of RDR2, you can actually find an abandoned cabin out in the desert that is all but identical to the one red and his family lived in before it was torched, so SOME bits of RD-revolver had to have happened in the redemption timeline

This, like a lot of your works, is wonderfully written and has a lot of curiosity and thoughtful analysis. You're a great media critic.

To me, Uncle is the direct antithesis to Jim "Boy" Calloway in the game - you can tell Calloway's exploits were completely embellished and even outright made up as we progress through his story, riding the notoriety coattails of real gunslingers and killers. I believe Uncle to be the opposite - no hes not Red Harlow but i believe he probably fought in the last year or two of the civil war (a lot of kids joined at 14-15) and may have even known or met Red Harlow at some point. The point is, I believe that at some point in his past, Uncle has a lot of history and experience that actually happened that *should* have been the focus of a book like the one that was written about Calloway and his fake accomplishments.

I think Uncle is Red Harlow. He did all those things in the stories, but it’s HIGHLY romanticized and the actual events are really embarrassing for him so he keeps it a secret. Either way even if he isn’t, I like to think he is hiding a past he’d rather have left behind. He’d rather have his actions be remembered as uncle, and not for the past of who he once was.

I've just found your channel but I can't stop binging these documentary/theory type of videos

Uncle was a badass in rdr1 who went down fighting and is far smarter then we think in rdr2. Itd be nice to have him be a bit of that universes red whos in retirement and relaxes around after everything hes been through. People assume when you say "Uncle is red" they think you're talking about the Revolver Red. When in reality were talking about an alternate red whos stories have been exagerated. But without a doubt weather he is red or not there is something about uncle which reeks of "retired old gunslinger" well that and whiskey.

Its funny, I have seen people be like "he said that the used to be called the one shot kid." Meanwhile, uncle also said to john, "I cant move like i used to, and I never was that fast" (red harlow is known for being a bounty hunter and a quick drawer)

i dont want a 3rd red dead redemption (at least not with the gang we know) but i gotta be honest a spin off following uncle as a young gun slinger/bounty hunter would be interesting

Love your videos ! Thank you for posting red dead content pretty regularly.

What makes me think that uncle might be red harlow is the fact that uncle never says he's red harlow, which is something red harlow would do since he wants to hide his identity so as to not face any legal consequences for his actions in red dead.

Considering that there are fame dependant campfire stories about John Marston literally being impenetrable by bullets, it follows that the stories about Red Harlow similarly exaggerated tales, which are nonetheless true to some extent.

I think what really sold it for me was the camper who talked about red Harlow, and also how twin rocks is in both games. So both have to be around the same area. And I like to picture uncle as the old ultimate badass.

I just love your red dead redemption two videos when I was like 13. I still love watching all of them now that I started playing the game again and watching your videos again you are amazing

I think uncle would be a potential protagonist for rdr3 if it ever happened

The age difference actually corroborates the Penny Dreadful theory. There was this badass gunslinger that was famous when he was around 25ish. His story became legend, and roughly 10 years later someone manages to print a collection of stories about his life, but of course the story will present him as the age he had back when he was so infamous, even though the real man is now older, at the time of printing.

I always assumed that Red Harlow served as an example of how Gunslingers and Bounty Hunters were wrapped in this fantasy via Dime Novels. Just as Dutch wanted to be a King with Knights, Kids grew up wanting to be Gunslingers and Bounty Hunters, something Uncle saw both sides of the gritty coin.

Loved this one your so good at these videos bro ❤ I enjoy the red dead content and how good the lore is.

I don't know if anyone told you this but at the end of RDR1 jack tell John about a book he just read, it was about Red and his adventures, Jack talked about red almost like a role model he wished to grow up and be like one day, I just find it funny if Uncle really was red then Jack got to meet his idol without ever knowing it.

I remember using the Red Harlow skin for the first game’s online mode. Whether or not he’s uncle, he is kind of in the first game. 😋 I also like to think Red’s stories are romanticized tales of Uncles past he wants to run away from like the rest of the gang wants to run away from their problems. I also feel the same way about RDR1&2 being romanticized tales from Jack’s perspective after he becomes a writer. All of it is mostly head-canon, but it’s is just fun to think of it that way.

Always look foward to one of your videos!

I love your RDR2 videos. I hope you keep making videos about this amazing game. There are of course other amazing games to make videos about too. Have you made a video about Otis Miller? If not, maybe that could be something? 🤔

Also, in RDR1 Uncle has the scars and a glove always on his right hand. It was meant as an Easter egg kind of "is it? Could it be?...nah.." type thing and people went apeshit about it. So they removed that stuff in RDR2 to show he isn't Red, but got whatever between RDR2 and 1. Edit: Like Tenkai Nankobo is Samanosuke Akechi in Onimusha: D.o.D. (though they flat out say it there). If your familiar with that series.

I never knew that his parents also died when he was just 9 years old. Interesting… I think rockstar wanted us to question if he is Red Harlow. He actually really did look like him in RDR1

I was literally thinking about this a few days ago. Perfect timing!!!

I like to think the reason uncle has no hand scarring is just due to natural healing, assuming Uncle is around the age of 60-65 in rdr2, and somewhere in his 80s in rdr1, red harlow wouldve had to have been born in the 1830s to 1840s. Since rdr2 takes place in 1899, and in 1911, rdr1's time frame, uncle would be in his 80s if he WAS born in the 1830s. So we can assume Uncle/Red Harlow was born in 1831. And rdr would take place in the 1850s-early 1860s. This would add up for Uncle not having much scarring, since the scars would have to have been caused a bit before 1850. Scar wounds due heal over time, becoming flatter and duller until they're essentially non-visible. So a mininum of 49ish years should def work

In my opinion, Uncle is Red Harlow. He dies helping John’s family survive so Jack doesn't have to grow up the way he did. Sadly, like Arthur, John, and Abigail wanted for Jack, didn't happen. Jack went for revenge, Like John and Red Harlow before him

My theory is that Red Harlow was a fictional character In the latter 2 games. A fictional folk tale written into a book. Sort of a caricature of the many gunslingers of the past. He never existed in RDRedemption and RDR2, however Revolver was a game based off of the fictional books.

Reall it enjoyed watching this; been binging Red Dead content lately 😂

Great video! I love the idea of red dead revolver being a fictionalized version of uncle's early life as red harlow

I imagine they didn’t send the army after John, but they did it instead because Uncle was there

There are 2 important details you didn't talk about, if you look closely, uncle has a burn mark on one of his hands and a red piece of cloth attached to his pants .

I always believed that somehow when playing revolver and the first redemption game that there might have been some connection between Annie Stokes and Bonnie Mcfarline, maybe she was Bonnie's great-grandmother or something maybe a relative of some kind. But that also brings up another question, how far would brimstone be from say Valentine in the Red Dead universe or beecher's hope where John Marston's home is located. And that's going off the basis that in some form or fashion these universes are connected loosely.

I love that conversation/argument between Uncle and Dutch at the fire place. I would love to see Uncle’s past as the One Shot Kid.

Uncle was always the main character but the lumbago was hiding his true strength

Content is content my friend. You give the RDR2 community the opportunity to discuss theories on the subject. Every character will have a background and Uncle is a vague name lol

9:00 Uncle was born in Ohio ** Hold for Laughter**

The combination of the question of what version of Revolver's events are canon mixed with the unreliability of Uncle means you could go round in circles with this but I do love a good Fizhy theory video :D

"I'm not lazy. I just don't like working. There's a difference" ~ Uncle What a wise man he is...

I like the uncle/red harlow theory but i also like the theory that red dead revolver is the over-the-top Hollywood wild west movie based off the book "Red dead" by Jack Marston that was the retelling of Arthur's and John's lives.

You sound so downtrodden in the opening monologue to this video. I loved it. I love the Easter eggs and the connections in this game. Bravo… I thought you video on Jack was masterful and emotive. And a wonderful tribute to such a detailed and well constructed story and game. You open up my eyes to details I missed. Great video…

Everyone's favourite uncle! Excellent Fizhy 👊

One of the biggest questions in RDR2 is why Uncle has been able to stay with the gang for so long? If he's always been useless, then why does he get to spend their money, eat their food and travel with the gang? I think it's possible that he helped set them up initially, to the point where they were relatively comfortable. Once he got older he became a useless drunk, but by that point had established relationships with everyone, particularly Abigail, Hosea, Arthur Morgan and John Marston, that he became like family. It's possible that Hosea and Dutch even know Uncle's real name, but who knows. Perhaps Uncle acts kind of bumbling in RDR2 ad beyond because it keeps him relatively safe; The way he reflects Dutch's threat is a good example of how he's kept himself safe around would-be threats to himself. If he didn't act that way, Dutch would've probably taken steps to get rid of him, similar to John Marston and Arthur Morgan.

Ive said this before and ill say it again, the whole event in red dead revolver was written in the book made by a sheriff, if you play the game the whole menu proves that thats the case. Red harlow is a legend in redemption timeline but his story might be a little fabricated but still true. So red harlow is real,Uncle could be red harlow too that is if rockstar wants him to be red harlow. ( at this point its just a matter of if rockstar wants to deliver a fan service😂)

Imagine being a legendary gunsliger. So legendary people think your existance was a myth. And you succumb to terminal lumbago

love your stuff

I think Red Harlow is in the RDR universe, but isn't Uncle

7:49 underrated statement

Another addition that i can add, is that we dont really know who uncle is. He dosent have a very significant role except for taking on in robbing the rhodes bank. But i think the reason he dont do much with the gang was he was a bounty hunter. And he stays with the gang for the sake of not being alone.

I remember in rdr1 jack talks about his book that is Guns story line and the steamboat the. Morning star was the name of the steamboat in that game too that was robbed massacred kinda crazy how they tied them together

Ima just say the interaction between Dutch and uncle is so wholesome

Its sad to think how the once great Red Harlow is now suffering from lumbago😢

You should do some of these stories on cyberpunk or some other game big fan just found your channel Friday

I've ways thought Uncle was Red Harlow. I think it'd be pretty awesome if Red Dead 3 was a continuation of Revolver and maybe showed Red traveling the country until eventually joining Dutch's gang

It’s a bit of a tenuous connection but often Africans and African Americans refer to older men as Uncle. Maybe he did go to Africa and that’s where he got the nickname?

The only reason this makes so much sense is the fact that the gang doesn’t seem to know his real name. He is simply ‘Uncle’.

The description of Harlow at 3:55 to me sounds like he’s describing Jack’s journey

I like the idea that red dead revolver is a story or one of the movies you can see in game

Rdr3 = Uncle's life 🤑

another point i wanna make is people who regret certain life choices, will still have "wild stories" they will happily tell people about their lives, even if those events where ultimately bad, a specific example i will use, is bonsai pop, a channel on youtube that reviews anime, the main tuber on the channel does an episode of "black lagoon" about crooks, and talks about a time in his life when he hung out with thugs and criminals, he even tells a couple little stories of how much fun he had with them and how wild it was, but re-iterates that it was a dark time in his life and ultimately ended badly for him, so it could be that the over-embellishment uncle tells in his stories is a way of hiding the darker and grittier side of the truth, like what if he WAS in Africa, and DID get caught by the natives, but almost got eaten, or killed, only to barely escape, or be saved, but changes to the story to a happier outcome of being worshipped, because the reality is still chilling and horrible to him, also any moment of current uncle being afraid of a fight, or pathetic, or not being good with a gun, could be a symptom of ptsd or just age coming upon him, maybe he never felt like he had a family before so wasn't scared of dying, but now he has the gang, and their like his family and he's scared of dying and losing it, but see him valiantly give his life to defend john's family, so maybe he's just old and busted

Just gonna point out, randomly, in camp, if you talk to uncle, he has a chance to mention something about having a Native American mother. I don’t remember which chapter, but it was shortly after eagle flies getting captured by the u.s government.

Uncle to have once been Red Dead Harlow is my definition of a fall from grace 😢. For me, Harlow did what he had to do and moved on. Uncle probably kissed ass to join the Van Der Linde gang.

Is Uncle really Red Harlow? The short answer is no. The long answer is nooooooooooooooooooooooo

I need to stay at the camp more, I never seen these conversations before

In greater Rockstar lore, Red Dead Revolver is in the SD universe and Redemption is in the HD universe. They're separate continuities, but events in the SD universe are partially canon. The important thing is that it seems that SD universe protagonists are all dead in the HD universe. Red Harlowe did some neat stuff, but he didn't die on John Marston's porch.

Uncle is actualy Abraham Lincoln.

red harlow never had lumbago!! uncle can't be him!!

I LITERALLY TRIED TO LOOK YESTERDAY IF FIZHY MADE A VIDEO ON THIS

He’s gone by many names… red Harlow, uncle, gavin and the grim reaper in his Sunday best being just a few of those names…

Uncle doesn’t have the same Eye Color nor the same facial scars as Red Harlow. Something that should’ve been included in this video if you ask me. It’s just impossible even if Red Harlow exists in the Redemption univserse, that Uncle is the same person

yes!!!! i know this theory is implausible but it’s canon in my mind because it’s really funny

hot take: the next rdr should be about Uncle's life before his "lumbago"

I remember Red Dead Revolver from when it was an obscure rockstar title nobody ever heard of. I absolutely loved it, so much so, I now own it on my PS4, shamelessly. It's a game that forged my gaming tastes.

He was Red Harlow. Then the Lumbago struck now he can't even do chores around camp