The next characters, some with only one RE game appearacne, that it’s easy for some to get left behind. While the recent games have seen the Winters family as the primary protagonists, it’s possible that their saga may be coming to a close in the next game. There is a lot of story potential on the table regarding how the franchise’s forgotten characters could play a part at the end of this chapter in the series.
Resident Evil has a cast of frequently recurring characters. The most notable examples are Chris Redfield, Leon Kennedy, and Jill Valentine. Not only are they fan favorites, but they often impact the story in the most significant ways, so it makes sense that they’ve appeared so frequently. However, the ing characters contributed just as much to the game's stories as the main protagonists. Many of which left behind unanswered questions, of which Resident Evil Village had many.
Characters like Sheva Alomar and Helena Harper have only appeared once across the franchise or were only briefly mentioned in subsequent titles. Barry Burton and Rebecca Chambers are notable characters who have been in the series since its inception yet have appeared infrequently. ittedly, these two have been featured as playable characters in their games, but their involvement in Resident Evil’s overarching story likely isn’t over. There is something to be said about creating new characters in an expansive world rather than relying on old ones repeatedly, however, the story potential these characters can offer is too interesting to neglect, and they deserve to have their stories continued somehow.
Sheva Alomar Should Return In Resident Evil 9
Sheva Alomar was first introduced in Resident Evil 5, which had great co-op multiplayer, as the second playable character. Alongside Chris Redfield, the duo, working for BSAA at the time, were investigating a town in West Africa called Kijuju when an outbreak of the Uroboros virus broke out. Together, they discovered that the corporation known as Tricell was behind the incident and operating with Albert Wesker's assistance. Sheva and Chris also managed to rescue Jill Valentine, whom Wesker had brainwashed. Ultimately, the team defeats Wesker for the final time and prevents the spread of the Uroboros virus.
Since then, she has only been referenced in an email in Resident Evil 6, which indicates she was still working with the BSAA at the time. Her story is a mystery after that. After the events of Resident Evil Village, one of the best games in the series, the BSAA seems to have taken a turn for the worse, as Chris no longer trusts the organization. This detail opens up the possibility of Sheva’s return. It’ll be interesting to see if she had something to do with the BSAA’s fall from grace or if she is working against them like Chris.
Fan Favorite Barry Burton Could Come Back To Resident Evil
Barry Burton was a member of S.T.A.R.S. and was part of the team involved in the mansion incident in the Arklay Mountains that happened in the first Resident Evil. Afterward, he, Chris, and Jill vowed to bring Umbrella down, which eventually came to fruition. For a time, he worked with Chris in the BSAA. He also appeared as a playable character in the spin-off game Revelations 2, which had great Resident Evil main characters. The events of this game put him in with Claire Redfield, but nothing is known of his status afterward.
Barry hasn’t appeared in the mainline games since Resident Evil 3: Nemesis. Barry didn’t show up in the remake, however; the remakes have been making subtle changes to the main storyline, which makes it unclear whether the events of spin-off games like Revelations 2 are still canon. This could have exciting implications for his role in the future. Perhaps Barry could have had a hand training Chris’s Hound Wolf Squad that appeared in Resident Evil Village.
Rebecca Chambers Deserves To Come Back In The Next RE
Rebecca Chambers is another member of S.T.A.R.S. that appeared in the first Resident Evil and survived the mansion incident, which can be explored in a Resident Evil card game. She is the main character of Resident Evil: Zero, a prequel that takes place just before the first game's events. The game finds Rebecca on board a private Umbrella train infested with zombies. She allies with Billy Coen, a marine lieutenant sentenced to death, to escape the situation. The pair survive, and Rebecca promises to allow Coen to go free and help fake his death. Afterward, she finds her way to Spencer Mansion.
The games cover very little about Rebecca after these events. Her story is elaborated on in other mediums, such as comics and animated movies, but these aren’t exactly canon. These stories suggest that she went on to earn a doctorate and serve in the BSAA. The Resident Evil Village DLC's plot could resolve this thread, as it is a logical point that can tie her into Chris’s story and the events at the end of RE8.
Helena Harper Only Appeared Once In Resident Evil
Helena Harper was introduced as Leon Kennedy’s partner in Resident Evil 6. The pair work together to investigate Neo-Umbrella, which is responsible for a bio-terror attack that led to the death of the President of the United States. Helena was implicated in this attack as her boss, who was secretly an agent for Neo-Umbrella, blackmailed her by threatening the safety of her younger sister.
By the end of the game, Helena and Leon are proven innocent with the help of evidence provided by Ada Wong, who’s working for an unknown organization. They are allowed to continue their work in the Secret Service, but this is the last time both characters are seen in Resident Evil’s story. Helena had an expansive backstory and was one of the standout characters in Resident Evil 6’s sprawling cast. She deserves to have another shot in the spotlight in future games.
It’s uncertain when Resident Evil 9 will make its debut, but the Shadows of Rose DLC for Village may give some hints at the franchise’s future. Wherever the story goes next, these characters should be involved in some capacity. If not for their potential alone, then at least for a clearer sense of the current Resident Evil continuity.
