If you guys enjoyed the video please drop a like. I will have a GTA Video about one hour after this one as well. Do not take my theory as fact either its just my theory on it. I like it when everyone has their own theories it fuels the discussion and creates more explanations. This is my favorite Rockstar easter egg, mystery of all time and its really creepy. I did miss one thing in the shack going back. There is a message that says “ I know you” which is a reference to his mission name in RDR1.

"I learned too much and nothing at all" refers to Dutch. He was the sophisticated guy, but made always error due to his vanity

The blind prophet you can find will eventually say something to john along the lines of two strangers are seeking him one of them from this world one of them not these two strangers would be Edgar Ross and The strange man

I think the writing in the shack saying "I offered you happiness or two generations" is in reference to Herbert Moon either choosing his own personal happiness or 2 more generations of his bloodline( to continue ), with his daughter marrying a Jew and having a baby kinda points out that he chose 2 generations OVER his own happiness. Being immune to cholera maybe a sick game the strange man is playing on Moon too, because what's worse? To die and be free from suffering or to watch others around slowly and painfully pass away while you can do nothing but watch.

This video gave me all kinds of chills.

This video was awesome, can you make a video on Gavin?

My theory is that whenever trelawny dissappers he becomes the strange man

I loved the video. One thing i did connect was that with the nun that Arthur encounters in San Denis, you encounter her later in the story where she is leaving for Mexico. She bears a striking resemblance to the nun from RDR1.

I think you've got it backyards. Herbert was promised happiness FOR 2 generations, not IN EXCHANGE for 2 generations. The cruel irony (well "cruel") is that Herbert is made to hate the next 2 generations. HIs daughter (whom he wished happiness for) married a jewish man (whom Herbert is racist towards). Herbert made a deal and it didn't turn out how he thought.

The strange man is most likely based on Mephistopheles, which in German folklore is the devil's representative and accountant - hence he refers to himself as an accountant. Mephistopheles doesn't directly corrupt the souls of men, but merely comes to collect the souls of those who are already damned - hence why he follows John Marston around. And most importantly, the folklore legend also describes how the character named Faust made a deal with the devil, with Mephistopheles being the devil's representative, to trade his soul in exchange for unlimited knowledge and worldly pleasures. Hence, Herbert Moon is most likely based on Faust.

John shoots at the strange man 3 times and in the Bible it says anyone that try’s to kill Cain (The first murder) will be punished 7 fold and how many times was John shot at the end of the game? 21 times. Also Cain was the name of jacks dog btw

Very good in depth analysis on this interesting yet creepy mystery Pro! I agree, the strange man has to be some sort of supernatural being. Either he's Death, A Demon, The Grim Reaper, or the Devil himself, it's hard decide. All we know that he is indeed not human, knows everything about us, and is watching our every move! Too bad he didn't make a physical appearance in RDR2 like he did in the first one, that would of been interesting! Excellent work on this video Pro! Do you think you can do more myths, mysteries, and easter egg videos on RDR2 in the future? Maybe a video about the ghost lady in the swamp, the "time traveler" stranger, or even the UFO sightings?

"im here for my accounts, im an accountant, of sorts". Clearly references deaths relation with souls, the strange man always visits the scenes of death throughout the games, and to top it off, he wears all black. It would seem his personality traits align him more with death than the devil, but who really knows anyway.

I’m sure several people have already said this, but when it says “The moon will shine in the darkness”, it’s most likely referencing Herbert Moon being the only citizen of Armadillo not affected by the Cholera Outbreak. Basically saying Herbert *Moon* will shine in the darkness of the Cholera Plague in Armadillo.

The wall also has a message saying " I know you " which I don't think you mentioned. It's the name from the mission he gave to you in rdr 1

He didn’t take happiness for himself, he gave it too his two generations, I think you read it wrong.

He is definitely Death, or at least an aspect of it First, look at the way he's dressed, this is a pretty typical attire that undertakers wore in the Wild West. Second, notice how he speaks to him in an almost sad and bitter manner, almost as if he's goading him to use the time he has left wisely. And third, he knows exactly the spot where he will be buried and comments on it being a "fine spot", then bidding him farewell by saying "see you around", as if they'd meet again.

isaac is arthurs son? did you guys think about it too?

When john shoots him 3 times that Represents Abigail's death and John's death and uncles death but when the gun jammed that represents jack being Spared

This theory is real good and makes so much sense! I'm following this explanation now until Rockstar (hopefully) gives us proper answers.

1:20 “Isn’t this a beautiful spot “ that’s where John dies

revenge is a fools game

One of the NPC's says that he's "the reaper in his Sunday finest". So that's the answer he's the grim reaper they are just giving the character their own spin because it's cool. There is existing lore of the grim reaper/the devil wandering the old west dresses in all black & a top hat. In fact Mark Twain's last unfinished story has a character that is thought to be The Strange Man's inspiration.

I love the strange man in rdr 1 and some of the easter eggs in this one i would gladly pay for a dlc where this gets explained ive been interested in it for the last 8 years its so cool and creepy

I like this theory a lot. There are other theories that he is simply death incarnate, but I never bought that. Just being death always seemed too benign to me. He always seemed too nefarious to just be a force of nature

Very good analysis! I never thought about some of this.

Very well put together video man! Great job. I know, for myself this sums up that mystery. Makes perfect sense

Woah I got a shout out THANKS BRO

This videl is amazing good job man very interesting

He isn’t the devil, the strange man is an impartial judge, he never encourages John to do bad nor good. Along with the accountant line, he is definitely just death, with the grim reaper being his boss.

I suspect that you are incorrect on the Moon deal. Since his daughter does not seem to be in Armadillo, and you present no evidence that she has come to any harm, I suspect that Herbert DID choose two generations over happiness, at some point before his daughter met her future Jewish husband, and that is WHY Herbert Moon is unhappy.

I think Herbert actually chose the 2 generations (meaning his daughter and grandchild as seen in the note) and since it's a deal with the devil the trick was presenting him with something he thought would make him happy (like having a longer family line) and making the other choice actual happiness (whilst giving the first consequences he didn't think of), which shows how foolish and selfish Herbert is since he caused the whole town (including himself imo) to live in misery .

The painting behind the portrait looks like the place John is eventually buried. There is also a man you can speak to about Armadillo who speaks about the Strange Man. Fun thing, If you shoot the shopkeeper in the eye, he will later respawn with his head and eye bandaged, Also notice his daughters name. Alberta Solomons . Solomon's Folly ? As for Herbert Moons deal, I believe you have it backwards. "I offered you happiness or two generations, you made your choice" I believe he choose the two generations.Not his own happiness. Meaning his daughter survived, and had a grandchild. But Herbert would not be part of their lives. He is stuck in Armadillo, and can not be part of his daughter or his grandchild's lives. The fact that she married a jew is also something that makes him deeply unhappy. And he can't even die to escape this unhappiness.

This is sooo interesting but creepy I like that your story is really realistic and I don't feel like there's any big mistakes

Nice this was really interesting.

Wow great video dude keep it up👍🏼🎩

Makes so much sense now thank u bro

Mad underrated video as always

Great video

The Pinkertons couldn’t know that it was John that killed him. So it was just about looking back and doing it for revenge as “And yet I learned nothing at all.”

Nice work Man,,, sound theory's.... I will indeed watch the other video..... :o) O,,,

I can't explain how interested i am with the strange man in this game, this is so good i love this video

I think "I gave everything for art, and learned too much and nothing at all" is talking about Dutch when it's saying "I gave everything for art" he's talking about the camp how Dutch tried has hard as he could to protect them and serve their needs and "and learned too much and nothing at all" Dutch became corrupt and insane and when it says "and nothing at all" is when the gang members left the gang for good.

Great video Professional, My bother always thought he is The Devil and i always agreed with him,but after thinking about it i think he could possibly be The Grim Reaper

The strange man might literally be the Grim Reaper. John: Damn you! Man: Many have 🤔

Good shit.✊🏾

man your so convincing

Good video.

9:50 top ten ghost caught on camera

If u walk through Armadillo u can hear npc‘s talkin about how the devil got the village in his hands.

This is true, while traveling i ran into a man who said armadillo is cursed and he said something about a man with a top hat roaming around armadillo

Very good video

Oooh mystery man

Nice video. I like the history series too.

This video is so underrated

Well done. Nicely put together the pieces of the puzzle ... he's the Devil

What about the evil horse in the first game? The one u get when you’re 100% evil honor or whatever. I always thought that burnt down church (in tumbleweed I think, in RDR1) that has the carvings that say “THE DEVIL IS IN THAT BEAST” (I think it says) was a reference to the horse

has anyone found the tree crushed home that has the words "you want something new" on the walls remaining corner in water

Trelawny is indeed the strange man.I have already collected a lot of clues about Trelawny. In the first mission with Trelawny, he tells us about this womankilled on the ferry by Dutch. Just like strange man when he talked about it with john in RDR1. In another mission to rescue Trelawny, Arthur fight two men and one of those men said to Arthur: "go to hell".In the camp this time, if you wake him (Trelawny) up, he says to me all the time: "let me sleep, I'm already half dead."Always in the camp, Uncle asks Trelawny about where he comes from, he start talking about scotland, descibing it as a swamp with flames coming out from the ground and at the end, he said he never went to Scotland. If you venture into the swamp, in the Bayou, find the cabin of the strange man.The main painting just represent a shape for Arthur. But when you go back with John, the painting represents the strange man. For me, the fact that Arthur cannot see the finished painting potentially mean 2 things: either Trelawny didn't completely transform into strange man during Arthur timeline or Trelawny always has been the strange man but Arthur could not see it, he only distinguishes a silhouette, a part of the truth. While John can see his true form because the strange man decided so, john interests the strange man because he needs somethingfrom him.Finally, in a main mission that starts with Trelawny's departure fromthe camp, at the end of the mission, Arthur meets for the last time ablack none who tells him that she is going to Mexico and that none looks like the one that the strange man is asking john to help in Mexico in RDR1! Otherwise, Herbert moon is the only one who is not sick in the town. My theory is that he made a pact with the strange man who asked him to choose between "happiness" (he is not sick and he always come back even if you explode his head) and "two generations", his daughter and grandson who are probably dead. There must be two or three graves in the game with the name of the herbert moon daughter, her husband and her child (maybe not if she died before the birth).By the way, it is clear that john knows trelawny, when you talk to the guy at rhodes train station when you are john, john says he's a friend of arthur and trelawny. John may be unable to make the connection.

Great theory

when he is at beechers hope doing his accounts, I take that as he was there to collect john, uncle, and all the men john killed defending his home.

Definitely the best theory

Good video

nice vid :)

Gnarly vid fam, but “His final toll” is referring to the book of Revelations in the Bible. When the final trumpet tolls there’s a rapture, and then satan is let loose on the earth. Which would be the “my greatest coming” portion. I’m pretty sure anyway. Been a while since I’ve read revelations lul

"Gave everything for art and I learned too much and nothing at all" is a reference to "Duality". What he learned about this "art" of his is that it is based on Duality...too much AND nothing at all. "From the snow (first cold) to the cave (first solution to being cold)" is also kinda like a "Duality" in itself representing something like "from alpha to omega"

It definitely could be the devil although there are some things that don’t add up: He’s talking about his son - what does that have to do with the devil. He cares about morality, he gives you the stranger missions in rdr1 and and the jimmy brooks mission in rdr2, also he’s talking of needing guidance which isn’t very devil-like. I don’t think he is the death, devil or god specifically he’s just an omnipotent tophatted man who judges people, although I think it’s wrong to say that he is one of those 3, since there are several contradictions for each one. Although the devil seems the most coherent of the three, because of the ‘damn you’ thing and the whole making a deal with the devil thing. He also gives you trials much like he did to Jesus - kill or save brooks, help or steal from the nun etc.

I have a painting in my kitchen that is of a guy with a top hat....well SH”T

You know... mirrors are seen as portals between the 2 worlds, in my culture, when someone dies it s a superstition that you have to cover the windows

I need a theory about the blind men or man around rdr2.

As a wise men once said "Revenge is a fool's game"

My theory is that it is a Mix of Mephistopheles, The Grim Reaper and a Dibbuk. On the other hand, the painting of the strange man is a reference to the novel The Portrait of Dorian Gray and the painter Austin Osman Spare. I hope it helps you, greetings.

This makes so much since though

he said if you come back a week later to the shack but he said for him it was 7 days and isn’t 7 days a week

Coming back to this vid i found a picture of the man in bully scholarship edition at the carnival the skinny guy maybe it has something to do with this as u can see his wife and son at the back i used a camera to zoom in

Professional can you do a explain video on Francis Sinclair please

Also the the 3 shots are John, Abigail, and uncle dieing then the fourth jamming is him sparring jack

Someone should go back and play the snow missions and check if the man is ever watching you

I thought the “two generations” part meant that he would simply have an expanded life span, bare of sickness or any other ailment.

Sounds like a perfectly logical and plausible conclusion.

Big brother is watching you 😂😂😂 10:05

Damn this makes sense. I can’t wait for the dlc’s

@TheProfessional Do you use an Xbox? I could use some help grinding for cash

can someone help me with client job and VIP/challenges in between pls I need a terrorbyte

i think he symbolizes time

So in theory you visit his shack before knowing him That s why he seems familiar to John

Deeper. Good stuff tho

Don't forget this word ''The devil is in the beast'' John claims that my face is familiar to him, but years later, my face was unfamiliar to him

Now Ik why the mask doesn’t effect honor bc he is the judge of your morality he is always watching

This is a bit far out there and probably ain’t true but where it says he learned too much but nothing at all actually is about Dutch and Arthur. Arthur “learned too much” about who Dutch was and his actions/personality and “learnt nothing at all” by seeing everything Dutch did and still latched onto hope while almost everyone else had given up

He is the Fate in person

Isaac is arthur son did u remember arthur shares his past with eagle flies . VERY FASCINATING MAN

Videos a year old but it's probably a long reach but what if he's arthur and is watching john as the strange man?

The Strange Man is diffidently a Strange Supernatural Being I will say that much. But I would love to see another Prequel but not necessarily "RDR3", maybe call it Read Dead Tales or Stories, kinda like GTA Stories Games. But have it based during the Civil War Era, Arthur & John as Young Children, & have Dutch & Hosea as Playable Main Protagonists. Maybe We will learn the Origin of the Stange Man... But for "RDR3" have Jack Marston as a Protagonist, & have the Stange Man make another Return to "Haunt" Jack-Jack... Also, what about the other Members of the Vin der Lan Gang.. Maybe even have a "Read Dead Undead Nightmare 2", & have Seth the Main Villain with the Mask & all the Gold He found, which a Newspaper Article Mentions.. Maybe even bring back the Supposed Lone Sasquatch or Big Foot, which BTW You can still find Others like Himself on that Version of the Game, so I'm wondering of Crocodile Tears.. In Red Dead Undead Nightmare, Herbert Moon was a Racist & gets eaten by the Zombies, I don't think it's a Mere Coincidence either. I respect Your Opinion from before calling the Story Non-Canon, but granted it has Inconsistencies, but I think RockStar did it rather Purposely rather We like or not... There's also the Infamous Green Mask in the Store of Saint Denis... I feel so Guilty for the Daughter & Her Family of Herbert. Maybe John Marston was in the Proverbial Version of the After Life or something... But thanks for more Information on the Stange Man, I didn't even venture into some Areas of the Game, I gotta expand My Horizons on that Game sometime... But the Term of "making a Deal with the Devil" gets thrown a lot, used rather loosely like a Metaphor.. So, if the Stange Man isn't the "Devil" Himself, He might like be a Proverbial 1 at that though..

I didn’t know rdr2 was a horror game

He is the devil mistery explaned....

Maybe his name is Gavin??

Strange man is the grim reaper who tests John Marston with moral actions proving if has changed from his criminal past or he’s the same Dutch gang member that he used to be. 😈 🎩

To Be honest in the 1st red redemption 1 Armadillo there's no plague and no one is sick but in red dead redemption 2 there's a sickness of a plague the shriff in armadillo he left to tumble weed

I feel like the painting is the RDR1 first encounter with him by the cliff. Idk maybe it's just me