Thoughts and theories on RDR1 Javier
DISCLAIMER: A lot of this is a big mix of my own theories and actual things you see in the games and my own interpretation of things, if you have anything to add or points to raise PLS do so I love talking about Javier, he's my favourite, and I love talking about him and John's dynamic.
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I've noticed that a lot of people seem to think Javier didn't give a damn about John or anyone else but himself/was genuinely a piece of shit guy/etcetcetc because he 'lied' about Dutch's location when confronted, saying Dutch was in Colombia when we learn later on that he's in Cochinay in Tall Trees, dangerously close to John, Abigail and Jack in Beecher's Hope.
We do know that Javier helped Bill flee into Mexico after John confronts Bill for the first time and he gets placed in the protection of the Mexican army along with Javier. Javier and Bill, although their relationship rocky, were good enough friends in the events of rdr2(there's a random mission where Bill gets caught by bounty hunters and it's Javier who tracks Arthur down to save him), so of course it'd make sense for rdr1 Javier to do a solid for a friend.
Also, Bill obviously has a disdain for Dutch by rdr1, saying, 'Now I'm in charge! No more Dutch, and no more you.' and It'd make sense that Javier and Bill perhaps share the same thoughts on Dutch after his mental break and the downfall of the Van Der Linde gang and they further bond over that.
But then John finds him, and he panics. He says, 'I can give you Bill, and Dutch is in Colombia.'
I have a theory that Javier thought that maybe John wouldn't find him, but he did, and in that moment he had to choose. Bill, or his former best friend, John? Of course he'd pick John, so he throws Bill under the bus. He knew there was no way he could attempt to reconcile with both Bill and John all together, John had already been shot and left for dead by Bill's men at one point earlier in the game.
And regarding Dutch, I have two theories;
1. He genuinely didn't know where Dutch was and just threw out the first random distant location he could think of so John would go far away and be safe from him and the Mexican army(both the Pinkertons and Mexican army wanted John at this point, dead or alive).
2. He DID know where Dutch was and wanted to get John as far away from him as possible to keep him safe because he knows what Dutch is capable of after all that's happened, and wanted to get him as far away from Beecher's Hope as possible.
(Javier doesn't know the Pinkertons have Abigail and Jack, so this would have all been in vain anyway)
Also. when John accuses him of leaving him for dead and Javier says 'We thought you was dead, brother. I promise. I'm telling the truth.' Honestly? I believe him. When John gets shot and falls off the train in Chapter 6, Dutch, Micah, Javier and one of Micah's goons go to get him. I have a theory(although far-fetched but LET ME HAVE THIS), that Dutch and Micah got to John's unconscious body first and pronounced him dead, and they convinced Javier that it was so and wouldn't let him near the body for his own 'mental health', and because the army patrol was quickly approaching. Perhaps Javier went into a state of shock, given that he had saved John's life before, but this time, he couldn't save him? Perhaps Dutch promises Javier that they'll go back for his body and bury him properly once the army disperses because the army is now also on their tail after the robbing of the train and they have to leave the area quickly. It is only Dutch and Micah who confidently announce that John is dead, and that the army patrol killed him.
The next time we see John is when he returns to Beaver Hollow, and Javier sees this after the confrontation has started when he runs over to alert the gang that Pinkertons are coming. He's in shock, he doesn't have time to act or think hard about the situation. After the stand-off in which he points his gun in the air, he flees with Bill. Both aren't seen pursuing Arthur and John with Dutch and the remaining members of the gang.
Back to rdr1. At the end of their 'conversation', Javier pushes crates on John and jumps out the window, yelling at him to go back to his farm. If he really wanted to kill John, he could have shot him when he pushed the crates onto him. But he didn't. Javier only starts shooting when John pursues him on horseback.
If you take him alive, that's when Javier gets angry and starts cursing and swearing at him and honestly? Fair enough. If I was in a gang with my best friend and did illegal, bad things with him and then that guy comes to find me years later to take me in for the bad guy things we did together? I'd be fucking pissed too. And heartbroken. (credit to @pinkysberg for this thought, this came from their Javier analysis on TikTok I believe? A v good point and I love it)
I will always lie awake at night wondering how the heck he ended up working for the army when he fought against them so hard he ended up having to flee to the US for his family's safety.
I have a thought, maybe they took the remaining members of his family and forced him to work for them to take down the rebels he used to work with before fleeing to the US. Like a Pinkertons and John situation, but in Mexico. Idk.
It just sucks. John is fueled by the rage, heartbreak and betrayal of being left for dead by Javier and the gang, but then Javier is also fueled by similar rage, heartbreak and betrayal because he still has love for him, but John won't believe him.
Long story short, hurting John is the last thing Javier EVER wanted to do and although he's a bit of a shithead who ended up in the army, he is not a bad guy at heart. He was taken advantage of by Dutch and possibly the Mexican army, and probably had multiple mental breakdowns between the events of rdr2 and rdr1. He cut off his hair. He doesn't seem to have as much pride in his appearance as he used to. I can't imagine him playing much music at all. He's a shell of his former self.
ANYWAY I'm done rambling for realsies now sdjghff;ldghsdlf;
