5 Western Characters Who Take the Redemption Road, Picked by Reddit

There is a widespread Westerns’ trope that lies in the transformation of the badass criminals or simply imperfect characters into the people who realize their sins and try to redeem them by helping their companions, family or even chance passers-by.

Here 5 of the Western antagonists, who demonstrate the will to turn to a bright side, discussed in a recent Reddit discussion.

1. The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976) - Josey Wales

The fans of the good old Westerns can firstly recall the fierce character of the genre’s king, Clint Eastwood, whose nature is depicted right in the movie’s title. Although he doesn't always keep up the decent morals of Wild West heroes, his villainy can be justified by the grief for his killed family, and he eventually proves his strong desire to return to a calm life as he seeks justice for the weak.

2. True Grit (2010) - Rooster Cogburn

The Coen brothers' remake of John Wayne’s iconic 1969 Western showcases Jeff Bridges’ drunken Deputy U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn, who is initially gruff and unwilling to help the main heroine Mattie to find her father’s killer. However, the more the plot progresses, the more his stubborn nature seems to be a protective reaction of the experienced Marshall, as we see him courageously safeguarding Mattie.

3. The Gunfighter (1950) - Jimmy Ringo

The fastest gunslinger in the West, played by Gregory Peck, is haunted by his reputation as a dangerous man, which forces him to participate in the unwanted bloody conflicts. In fact, he just wanted to reconcile with his beloved wife and young son, and that is proved by his final episodes of repentance for the sins he has committed.

4. 3:10 to Yuma (2007) - Ben Wade

Russell Crowe’s Ben initially appears to be the tough and ruthless leader of a gang of outlaws, guilty for a great number of deaths of innocent people. Nevertheless, this typically “bad” guy demonstrates he has some good moral principles by helping Christian Bale ’s protagonist, Dan Evans, and earning his respect for the good he does.

5. The Magnificent Seven (1960) - Lee

The traumatized veteran, portrayed by Robert Vaughn, turns out to be quite a complicated character, who, of course, is responsible for the relentless crimes, but nevertheless manages to be remembered as a brave gunman, saving villagers from bandits’ imprisonment and sacrificing his own life for their well-being.

Source: Reddit