| “ | You can't be top dog forever. | „ |
| ~ Buster after his ultimate defeat. |
Buster Scruggs is the titular protagonist of the first story in the 2018 black comedy Western film The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.
He is a charismatic, carefree outlaw residing in a settler town during the establishment of the US.
He is portrayed by Tim Blake Nelson, who also portrayed Harvey Allen in Fant4stic, Dr. Pendanski in Holes, Jonathan Jacobo in Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, Officer LeFlore in Meet the Fockers, The Leader in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Martin Kirby in Angel Has Fallen and Zozo in Lost Ollie.
Personality[]
Buster Scruggs is introduced as the happy-go-lucky, hegemonic and revered outlaw of a small developing town. The individuals he encounters are comparatively much rougher, dirtier and initially more violent than he is. However, Buster's wit and marksmanship reveal him to be an impressively violent killer who has grown complacent with his power and talent.
Despite his lack of rival, he is not shocked nor tries to fight fate when he somebody eventually trounces him in a duel.
Physical appearance[]
Buster dresses in an extravagant, dazzlingly white cowboy's outfit. He is Caucasian, slender and growing older into late middle-age.
Biography[]
Background[]
Buster reveals to the audience that he has asserted dominance in his local town, and has pride over this. He is rarely combatted, but when he is he always come out on top. Over time, Buster grew complacent with his skill.
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs[]
Buster starts the film in the first story of the anthologies. He is seen reclining on his horse and playing the banjo whilst singing. He enters a cantina with local ruffians who threaten him. Showcasing his incredible shooting skills, Buster effortlessly massacres the entirety of its patrons, then leaves the premises.
Buster travels to a saloon and leaves his pistol at the door to comply with its no firearms policy. He joins a poker table, taking over from the previous player who had been dealt the "dead man's hand". The players insist Buster must complete the play having seen the cards. Buster refuses to, but the intimidating "Curly Joe" threatens him and pulls a gun out on Buster. Buster comically kicks a loose plank on the table as Curly Joe fires, causing him to shoot himself in the face repeatedly, rather than landing a single shot on Buster.
To break the tension, Buster breaks into song singing about "Surly Joe", which amuses the patrons. However, Joe's brother discovers Joe's body and furiously challenges Buster to a duel. Confident in his ability, Buster complies and effortlessly defeats Joe's brother with his back turned using a mirror. Amid his apathy to winning the duel, The Kid appears, and politely invites Buster to duel him.
Once again, confident in his abilities, Buster complies. He narrates to the audience his plan, but during this time and to Buster's surprise, he is shot between the eyes through his hat. Buster falls to the ground, acknowledging that he could not have been the hegemonic power in the town forever. The Kid and Buster's angelic spirit sing together "When A Cowboy Trades His Spurs For Wings", a bittersweet melody, whilst Buster expresses hope for a place beyond the living where people are better than they are on Earth.
Victims[]
- Curly Joe - caused to shoot self numerous times by using a loose plank to fire a gun at his face.
- Curly Joe's brother - shot in a pistol duel.
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 villains
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Buster Scruggs | The Kid | Cowboy | The Impresario | Young Man | Clarence and Thigpen | ||