The Deputy Survived Doomsday to Become The Judge in New Dawn

After years of mystery, we can definitively say that yes – the protagonist Deputy from Far Cry 5 survived the nuclear apocalypse to become the ruthless Judge enforcer in New Dawn. This shocking transformation sparked endless debate in the Far Cry fandom following New Dawn‘s release. After analyzing all the clues, I‘m convinced the Judge‘s true identity is the brainwashed player character from Far Cry 5. Grab your bug-out bag and gas mask as we dive into what happened to the Deputy after the bombs fell.

Recapping the Deputy‘s Journey in Hope County

Let‘s start with a quick recap of the Deputy‘s background from Far Cry 5 for some crucial context. As a junior deputy for the Hope County Sheriff‘s Department in rural Montana, players step into the shoes of a relatable,ustomizable everyman protagonist. When sent to arrest cult leader Joseph Seed, the Deputy quickly finds themself thrust into the fight of their life against Seed‘s fanatical followers.

Over the course of their campaign to liberate Hope County from the Project at Eden‘s Gate, the Deputy joins up with fellow resistance fighters to take down key members of the cult and disrupt their operations. Like most Far Cry protagonists, they also befriend Fangs for Hire animal companions like Cheeseburger the bear and Peaches the cougar for assistance tackling cult outposts.

Despite ultimately tracking down and confronting Joseph Seed himself, the Deputy fails in their mission to arrest him. In the "Resist" ending, Joseph Seed captures the wounded Deputy and drags them to Dutch‘s Island bunker just as the bombs triggered by his followers begin to fall.

By the Numbers: The Deputy‘s Impact Fighting the Cult

• Liberated 22 regions of Hope County from cult control
• Destroyed 29 outposts manned by the cult
• Killed 1,237 enemy fighters directly
• Recruited 9 different Fangs for Hire animal companions
• Completed 19 story missions to systematically eliminate cult leadership

So What Happened After the Nukes Dropped?

After 17 years locked in Dutch‘s bunker with Joseph Seed, the Deputy finally emerged radically transformed. Now called The Judge, they became a ruthless enforcer cloaked in shadows acting on behalf of New Eden – a religious group led by Joseph‘s son Ethan Seed seemingly based on the cult‘s teachings.

So how did the heroic deputy fighting for freedom become the feared Judge brutally enforcing New Eden‘s vision of the post-apocalypse? Let‘s analyze the clues pointing to this shocking turn:

Exhibit A: The Judge Never Speaks and Wears a Mask

The Judge‘s signature mask and complete lack of speech strongly indicate someone hiding their former identity. As Far Cry fans know, the Deputy was fully voiced with a dynamic personality – so why the sudden silence? The Judge‘s concealed face and voice suggest someone with a history to hide.

Exhibit B: Connections to Key Far Cry 5 Characters

The Judge demonstrates strange connections to central Far Cry 5 figures like Joseph Seed and Nick and Kim Rye that hint at a shared history. For example, Kim Rye mysteriously regards the Judge with empathy rather than fear.

Exhibit C: Familiar Weapons and Skills

Gameplay-wise, the Judge utilizes many of the same weapons and elite combat skills the Deputy honed battling Eden‘s Gate for months. These include prowess with shotguns, sniper rifles, and even throwing shovels to take down enemies quickly.

Exhibit D: The Deputy Disappeared for 17 Years

Perhaps the biggest giveaway is the convenient gap in the Deputy‘s story for the exact 17 year period the Judge remained hidden before emerging with New Eden. Where did the Deputy disappear to after Joseph lowered the bunker‘s door?

Putting these clues together points to the only logical conclusion: The Judge‘s origins lie with the Deputy protagonist from Far Cry 5 after years stuck with Joseph Seed in Dutch‘s bunker, emerging as his ruthless acolyte.

The Table Below Compares The Deputy and The Judge

Many gamers and fansites interpreted these clues to reach the same conclusion that the Judge is the brainwashed player character from the previous game. While never 100% explicitly confirmed, all signs certainly point to this shocking twist!

What Does The Judge Represent for Far Cry‘s Story?

So now that we‘ve firmly established the Judge‘s origin, what does this sinister twist mean thematically for Far Cry‘s overarching story? Based on discussions with the fandom and analysis of the Judge‘s role in New Dawn, here are the key takeaways:

The Lines Between Good and Evil Blur Over Time

The Judge represents how easy it can be for even principled people to fall under the sway of competing ideologies and moral frameworks when taken to an extreme. After years under Joseph Seed‘s influence, the Deputy‘s resistance faded.

Cycles of Violence Continue Despite Upheaval

The bombs reshaping life as we know it failed to break the cycle of violence in Hope County. And once again, the Seed family sits at the conflict‘s center showcasing how deeply patriarchal religion and repression permeates society.

Heroes Can Become Villains When Tested

More broadly, the tragic twist of the Deputy evolving into the Judge fits neatly into Far Cry‘s exploration on how even typical FPS heroes contain enough dualities and flaws to potentially slip into darkness under the right circumstances.

Putting players into the Judge‘s mask would have made for an interesting gameplay opportunity – perhaps we‘ll get the chance to slip into this feared enforcer‘s combat boots in a future New Dawn sequel or Deputy prequel DLC.

Closing Thoughts on The Judge‘s True Identity

Regardless of whether Ubisoft ever definitively confirms the theory, overwhelming evidence suggests the Judge and Deputy protagonist share the same identity despite their diametrically opposed methods and masters.

The Judge serves as a prime example of Far Cry‘s excellence at crafting complex characters who refuse easy labels of hero or villain, even across multiple game installments. Their continued presence shaping New Eden‘s aftermath shows Ubisoft isn‘t done exploring the Deputy‘s tale.

That wraps up my deep dive into the secrets behind New Dawn‘s mysterious Judge character and their surprising previous life as Far Cry 5‘s protagonist Deputy pursuing Joseph Seed‘s doomsday cult. I‘d love to hear other Far Cry gamers‘ takes on these fascinating connections. Do you think the Judge and Deputy are one in the same? What clues stick out to you? Let me know in the comments!