For many Borderlands fans, the series isn’t the same without characters like Claptrap, Lilith, and Handsome Jack, which leads to problems when one of them dies. In the case of Handsome Jack, his death has led to Borderlands games that follow either utilizing the character in some form, or creating a new villain who is criticized for not living up to the precedent set by Jack. Borderlands 4 really needs to step up its game to create an antagonist without ties to this iconic villain that stands out entirely on their own.
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What Made Handsome Jack work?
Before seeing how Borderlands 4 could move on from the megalomaniac, it’s important to look at what made Handsome Jack work in Borderlands 2. As a villain, Jack succeeded in making players hate him, notably through his constant harassment of the Vault Hunters. A player seemingly couldn’t walk five feet across Pandora without Handsome Jack popping up in the corner of their screen, either insulting them for their choices or telling them about his diamond-encrusted pony.
While Tyreen and Troy Calypso proved to be a similar annoyance, the problem with these twins was how their dialogue felt like a ripoff of Jack’s, rather than an attempt by Gearbox to create something new. One reason Handsome Jack was a strong villain is that he was different compared to the original Borderlands’ Commandant Steele. Handsome Jack offered a breath of fresh air, while the Calypso Twins’ similarities felt like Gearbox trying to capture lightning in a bottle twice. Both Jack and the Calypso Twins killed characters from previous games, but fans argued that the situation in Borderlands 2 was an effective shock while Borderlands 3 left them confused.
Another thing that makes Jack’s quips and connection stand out is that from the start of the game he positions himself as the person who hates the Vault Hunter most. In the opening sequence of Borderlands 2, he sets a trap the player is caught in, leading them to meet Claptrap. From there, the main story is about getting revenge on the man that tried to kill the player, while saving Pandora in the process. Making that personal connection ensures fans really wants to get Jack, and his verbal assault only fuels the fire.
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How Borderlands 4 Can Move on From Jack
If repeating Jack’s nature in another villain doesn’t work, the question becomes how Gearbox can create a meaningful character that moves away from Handsome Jack. While the next Borderlands could see Jack return, it may also be beneficial to see an entirely new villain take center stage and offer a similar challenge to the player.
Certain aspects of Handsome Jack’s persona could be used to piece together a new villain, one that doesn’t feel like a parody. Setting the player up as the new villain’s enemy from the start, for example, helps create a memorable relationship wherein the Vault Hunter wants to defeat their antagonist more than they want to find loot. Plenty of other games have set the player up to face a certain foe from the start. For example, Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood had Ezio begin the game with a confrontation against Cesare Borgia, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice places Genichiro Ashina as the wall players will have to overcome.
Something else that Borderlands 4’s villain will need is a strong backstory. Handsome Jack may have been a comedic, quipping character, but beneath the facade he had a backstory filled with abuse and other dark topics. This helped ground the wackiness of the character and Borderlands 2 as a whole, showing that even in a comedic game, a tonal shift can work wonders.
Finally, to move this character away from being a Jack clone or parody, Gearbox could give them features the Borderlands 2 villain never had. For example, Jack wasn’t physically imposing, so a character that could match the player in terms of combat could add to the threat they exude. Rather than be a rich oligarch, a new villain could also not be the leader of a large group, as working alone would separate them from other antagonists in the mainline games.
While Handsome Jack is a character that is remembered fondly by Borderlands fans, a new villain is needed to help the series move on. With the New Tales from the Borderlands on the way, hopefully fans will get a look at an antagonist that doesn’t wear a false face, which would set the groundwork for Borderlands 4.
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