Why Michael De Santa is GTA V's most tragic antihero even in 2025
Even in 2025,
Grand Theft Auto V
's story continues to hit hard, and a big reason for that is Michael De Santa. He's not just your average bank robber with a mansion in Vinewood; he's
GTA's most tragic antihero
.
And no matter how many times we replay the game, his story still feels like a gut punch in slow motion. Let's break down why.
The Criminal Who Wanted a 'Normal Life'
Michael starts the game living what seems like a dream: a luxury home, family, and retired from crime. But dig deeper, and you'll see he's completely miserable.
He's
bored
,
depressed
, and low-key
hated
by his own wife and kids. He's got money, but no peace. Freedom, but no purpose. It's like he escaped the danger of the streets just to rot in a golden cage.
That's tragic. He
thought
retirement would fix him, but it only made him feel even emptier.
GTA 5: Why Michael De Santa Is The Perfect Anti Hero
Therapy, But Make It Useless
Michael's therapy sessions with Dr. Friedlander are supposed to help him 'find himself.' Instead, they turn into sarcastic venting sessions, full of lies and ego.
Deep down, he
wants
to change. You see it in his reflections, his frustration, and how often he talks about movies, meaning, and legacy. But he's stuck in his own cycle of violence and bad choices.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Indian Stewardess Makes Headlines Worldwide
medalmerit
Learn More
Undo
He's self-aware, but powerless. And that's the saddest part.
He's the Most Human Character in GTA
GTA characters are usually cartoonish. But Michael? He's grounded. He's a dad trying to connect with his kids. A husband trying to rebuild a dead marriage. A man trying to make peace with his past.
Michael's family is a mess. Amanda cheats. Jimmy hates him. Tracey wants to be famous for the wrong reasons. And Michael? He swings between caring and toxic real fast.
You
want
to root for him because he does try. He wants to reconnect, to fix things. But the damage runs deep. The more he tries, the worse it gets.
He's not the 'bad dad' trope. He's the
failed dad who knows it
, and that makes it way more painful.
GTA 5: Why Didn't Trevor Kill Michael?
His Best Friend Wants Him Dead
Enter Trevor. Michael's past literally comes back to haunt him in the form of an angry, chaotic, bloodthirsty bestie. Their friendship is complicated. There's betrayal, regret, and resentment boiling under every line they share.
Trevor doesn't just want revenge; he wants
Michael to suffer
. And Michael? He's torn between guilt and survival.
In the End, He's Still Alone
No matter which ending you choose, Michael is
never whole
. He might survive, he might get his family back, but the emotional scars stay. He doesn't get redemption. He gets survival.
And that's why his story hits so hard, even in 2025. Michael De Santa didn't just steal cars, he stole our sympathy. And that's why he remains GTA V's most tragic antihero.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Pink Villa
13 minutes ago
- Pink Villa
Box Office: Brad Pitt's F1 scores an excellent trend at the Indian box office in week one; Shows NO DROP from Monday to Thursday
The Brad Pitt led F1 has shown a fantastic trend at the box office in India, as the film refused to show any drop in collections on the weekdays. After scoring Rs 20.75 crore over the opening weekend, F1 collected Rs 3.25 crore on Monday, followed by Rs 3.50 crore each on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. With this, the 7-day total of the Brad Pitt starrer stands at Rs 34.50 crore, and the film will be aiming to hit a half century at the Indian box office much before the end of second week. F1 is scoring phenomenal occupancies at the IMAX properties, which have contributed 30 percent to the total business, and it is holding on to all the premium screens in the second week too. Interestingly, there is a drop in showcasing outside the IMAX format in India owing to competition from another Hollywood film, Jurassic World: Rebirth and a Hindi film in the form of Metro In Dino. In an ideal world, the film should have held better showcasing in week two, but internal politics of national chains have resulted in a drop in showcasing, but there the film is certain to get back a large chunk of shows over the weekend due to demand from the audiences. The film should be looking to hold itself above the Rs 3 crore mark on Friday, and then show a surge to Rs 5 crore each on Saturday and Sunday. F1 is a Bonafide HIT in India, and will now be aiming to attain the super hit tag, if it shows the same legs in week two and week three as well. These are excellent figures for a non-franchise/non IP film in India, and the trend indicates a vast acceptance from the cinema going audience. The film in all likelihood will show strong legs in the coming few weeks, and attempt to hit the Rs 70 crore mark by the end of its run in India. Here's a look at day wise box office collections of F1 in India Day Amount Friday Rs 5.50 crore Saturday Rs 7.25 crore Sunday Rs 8.00 crore Monday Rs 3.25 crore Tuesday Rs 3.50 crore Wednesday Rs 3.50 crore Thursday Rs 3.50 crore Week One Rs 34.50 crore
Time of India
25 minutes ago
- Time of India
Ranveer Singh calls Deepika Padukone his 'Queen' after her historic Hollywood Walk of fame honour
The ultimate Bollywood couple, Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone , are once again making headlines, this time for a moment of celebration full of warmth. Deepika has become the only Indian actress to be selected for a star on the 'Hollywood Walk of Fame,' and her husband, Ranveer, could not be prouder than ever. A global milestone for Deepika Deepika Padukone has been named among the Hollywood Walk of Fame Class of 2026 in the Motion Pictures category. She joins an elite list of honorees including Emily Blunt, Timothée Chalamet, Rami Malek, Rachel McAdams, Stanley Tucci, and Demi Moore. This recognition of her sets a major landmark not just for Deepika but for Indian cinema on the global level. Ranveer's proud tribute: 'Queen' Ranveer Singh, who is quite known for his never-ending support of Deepika, shared his feelings through social media handle stories to celebrate her achievement. He reposted a news article about the honour and added a sticker of himself with the words saying, 'Damn, so proud of you.' He also wrote 'Queen' and tagged Deepika, making his admiration loud and clear. A moment of national pride Fans across India and the diaspora echoed Ranveer's sentiments. Social media was flooded with congratulatory messages. One fan wrote, 'It's amazing, and I am happy for her and so proud of her, very deserving,' while another declared, 'It's an honour to be a fan of this QUEEN.' Deepika's global rise Deepika's international acclaim has been steadily growing. She made her Hollywood debut in the year 2017 with the movie 'XXX: Return of Xander Cage' and has also become the first Indian to present the 'FIFA World Cup trophy,' a 'TIME100 Impact Award' recipient, and a 'global ambassador' for luxury brands like Louis Vuitton and Cartier. Despite her global success, she remains deeply rooted in Indian cinema. Her upcoming projects include a high-profile film with director Atlee, continuing her streak of headline-worthy roles.
Time of India
31 minutes ago
- Time of India
Aditya Roy Kapur, Fatima, Neena Gupta, Sara Ali Khan make stunning appearance at 'Metro...In Dino' screening
A special screening of Anurag Basu 's directorial ' Dino' was held in Mumbai on Thursday night for B-town. Several stars gathered together under one roof to cheer for the whole team of ' Dino', which stars Anupam Kher, Neena Gupta , Konkona Sen Sharma , Sara Ali Khan , Aditya Roy Kapur , Pankaj Tripathi , Fatima Sana Shaikh , and Ali Fazal in the lead roles. Ali arrived at the venue with his wife, Richa Chadha. The couple happily posed for the shutterbugs. Sara was spotted arriving at the screening with her brother Ibrahim Ali Khan. Sara looked elegant in a white ethnic suit. Kartik Aaryan and Vidya Balan, too, attended the screening. They both were happy to meet each. Look at their reunion after 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3' promotions. Metro…In Dino | Song - Qayde Se The trailer for Dino was released last month. The trailer gave us a sneak peek into the love stories of the couples--Sara Ali Khan and Aditya Roy Kapur, Konkona Sen Sharma and Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal and Fatima Sana Shaikh, Anupam Kher and Neena Gupta. It follows four different love stories of couples--young, old, and middle-aged--living in a metro and serves as the spiritual sequel to Anurag Basu's 2007 film Life in a... Metro. Recently, in an interview with ANI, Konkona opened up about her experience working in the film. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo She said, " Dino is quite different from Life in a Metro, because Life in a Metro was made 17-18 years ago. We were younger back then, so the story was different. And I feel lucky to work with Mr. Pankaj Tripathi." "It was a lot of fun. Actually, I wasn't sure what to expect because, even though both of us have been working for so long, we hadn't worked together before. But he is very popular, and I've seen his work--I like it a lot. So, I was happy to be working with him. On the first day, I think we were both a little shy and formal. Anurag always says this very funnily: 'On the first day, we were both a little shy, a little formal. Mr. Pankaj used to say "Namaste" and all that. I'm also a bit like that--kind of old-fashioned. But we quickly became comfortable with each other," she added. The movie will be released in theatres this Friday.
