Resident Evil is a landmark franchise with many memorable characters, together with some really iconic protagonists. Nevertheless, none of them really feel fairly as constantly relatable as Leon S. Kennedy.
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Over time, we’ve got witnessed him go from being an out-of-his-depth rookie cop to a hardened powerhouse of a playable character. Regardless of this, Leon has managed to retain a lot of the emotional depth and relatability that made followers fall in love with him within the first place, all these years in the past. In a world that often feels over-the-top and absurd, Leon stays one of the human parts of the saga. A number of moments from Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil 6, and Resident Evil Requiem stand out as proof why Leon is such a brilliantly human hero.
Watch out for spoilers for the above talked about video games, together with potential variations with their remakes!
10
A Wet Evening In Raccoon Metropolis
Resident Evil 2
Wanting on the modern-day model of Leon Kennedy, it may be simple to neglect that after we first met him, he was a rookie cop who discovered himself in means over his head on his first day on the job. The horrors that Leon witnessed that night time have been terrifying — on an existential degree in addition to a bodily one — and the chances have been stacked closely in opposition to him.
Certain, he managed to outlive, however he was ceaselessly modified by the occasions he went by in September 1998. And earlier than that change happened, he was a scared younger man; a far cry from the battle-hardened warrior he would turn out to be in later years.
That is particularly clear in the course of the iconic gasoline station scene which opens Resident Evil 2. It may be simple to neglect the character moments proven throughout that sequence, on condition that it primarily serves as the sport’s tutorial, however the concern seen on Leon’s face throughout these opening cutscenes is vastly related in shaping the hero that he’d later turn out to be. I not too long ago went again to replay RE2 and seeing this scene after not too long ago enjoying by Requiem attracts a pointy distinction.
9
Refusing To Depart Marvin Behind
Resident Evil 2
Marvin Brannagh is among the first victims we seeremodel right into a zombie in Resident Evil 2, after assembly him and attending to know him. His scenario is tragic; he hesitated to place down his contaminated former buddy and colleague, and paid the last word value for it, sustaining the an infection. It’s a very human response, however his humanity in the end value him his life, educating Leon a worthwhile lesson within the course of.
Regardless that Leon is nicely conscious of the scenario, that Marvin is a lifeless man strolling, he nonetheless refuses to depart him behind. He insists that he can get Marvin to a hospital and save him. Marvin helped Leon, giving him a fight knife, and now Leon feels an obligation to assist Marvin.
Regardless that Leon is aware of that bringing Marvin alongside can be an enormous burden to his survival probabilities, he nonetheless desires to take action. He insists to the purpose that Marvin finally wants to tug a gun on Leon so as to pressure him to depart him behind. It could be considerably naive of him in hindsight, however Leon’s empathy and compassion for human life on this scene is simple, and it’s a huge cause I’ve at all times been such a giant fan of his character.
8
Returning to Raccoon Metropolis
Resident Evil Requiem
One of the memorable moments in RE9 was attending to return to the RPD station in Racoon Metropolis as Leon all these years later. Capcom may have so simply let this sequence rely solely on nostalgic fan service, however as a substitute it’s reframed as a private reckoning for Leon.
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The ruined city atmosphere serves as a metaphor for Leon’s unresolved trauma and the components of himself he misplaced in the course of the outbreak, forcing him to bodily stroll by the anguish that has haunted him for many years.
Regardless of how tough it should have been to pressure himself to return to Racoon Metropolis, Leon nonetheless chooses to do it. Not for any self-serving cause however as a result of there are nonetheless individuals who want saving and Leon is a person keen to do no matter it takes for the better good.
7
The Means He Treats Helena
Resident Evil 6
RE6 is commonly derided. It’s excessive to the extent it veers nearer to that of a Quick and Livid film directed by Michael Bay, versus a rigorously crafted horror expertise worthy of John Carpenter. Regardless of all of this, although, Leon’s marketing campaign nonetheless carries that trademark humanity.
That is most evidently seen in the way in which he treats Helena. As a substitute of viewing her as a burden or an inconvenience, he treats her like a companion, not a ineffective passenger. I not too long ago went again and performed RE6 for the primary time and the perfect a part of the sport was seeing the way in which that Leon treats Helena.
It’s comprehensible that Helena is struggling all through Resident Evil 6’s plot, on condition that she loses her sister in a violent, disturbing style and in addition blames herself for the Tall Oaks outbreak that led to the dying of hundreds of harmless folks. Leon continues to have her again and push her by all of it, refusing to maneuver ahead with out her.
6
“It’s Okay To Be Afraid”
Resident Evil 4 Remake
The cutscene begins with Ashley feeling sorry for herself. She speaks about how the Las Plagas an infection has affected her and the way scared she is. Ashley then sees that Leon can be contaminated by Las Plagas, and a reasonably revealing dialog follows between our hero and his scared younger companion.
Leon does not play down the gravity of the scenario they’ve discovered themselves in, nor does he invalidate Ashley’s concern. Throughout a second the place he may have dismissed Ashley’s terror and decreased it to her simply being younger and weak, he as a substitute places himself on her degree.
He tells Ashley: “It’s okay to be afraid, however you may’t run. You gotta preserve transferring ahead. We are going to beat this, collectively.” Leon is letting her know that he acknowledges the concern she goes by. He’s additionally giving her a palpable resolution to battle that concern by motivating her to maintain pushing ahead, reassuring her that she is not doing it alone, as a result of they may face it collectively.
5
The Loss of life of Luis Serra
Resident Evil 4 Remake
Luis does not die in a blaze of glory, nor does he exit saving anybody. As a substitute, he’s fairly actually stabbed within the again by Main Krauser and he bleeds out. In his remaining moments, Leon lights his cigarette in order that Luis can have one final smoke, earlier than putting his lighter again into his hand after he passes away.
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It’s a quiet, sobering second that stands out in distinction to among the extra bombastic character deaths in Resident Evil, however due to its extra subdued nature, we really get to see extra of Leon’s humanity on show. This second has at all times caught with me ever since enjoying the unique model of RE4 (wherein, as a substitute, Saddler himself unexpectedly stabs Luis within the again from a fortress doorway).
Luis and Leon are like two sides of the identical coin. Each expert survivors across the identical age, Leon is aware of deep down that he may have turned out similar to Luis in one other life. That is what makes this character’s dying hit Leon so onerous and in addition what makes it stand out to a protagonist like Leon, who has already seen a lot dying up thus far.
4
Finishing the Mission Whereas Struggling From RCS
Resident Evil Requiem
When RE9 opens, Leon is already affected by the results of Raccoon Metropolis Syndrome. This an infection is notable as a result of, in contrast to the T-virus, its results are gradual and never instantly apparent. The key signs that we see Leon show all through the sport are bodily pressure and fatigue, which means that his physique is not cooperating with him in the way in which that it used to.
Throughout the sequence that takes place inside a former Umbrella facility hidden beneath Racoon Metropolis often known as ARK, Leon rescues Grace Ashcroft from Zeno, however the accidents he sustains trigger him to briefly go out.
When he regains consciousness, he acknowledges that he’s displaying stage three signs of the T-virus. Grace asks him why he would come to her rescue if he’s so sick. Leon’s response reveals the depth of his humanity, telling her: “Raccoon Metropolis was the place all of it started for me. When all of it occurred, I could not make a distinction, so I’m right here now.”
3
Confronting Main Krauser
Resident Evil 4 Remake
Battling Main Jack Krauser is not tough for Leon simply because he’s a extremely succesful antagonist with a threatening bodily presence. On a extra emotional degree, combating Krauser is about Leon wrestling together with his previous. It is a man who he as soon as revered and appeared as much as, and now he should kill him for the better good.
Krauser killed Luis Serra and, like Luis, Jack Krauser is one other man who Leon is aware of he may have been in one other life. This battle is greater than only a cool boss battle, it’s Leon combating in opposition to the darkest components of his personal character.
If Leon may have saved his former comrade, he would have. Nevertheless, Krauser tragically refuses to present Leon that choice, forcing a brutal battle to the dying between the 2. Regardless of Krauser dropping his humanity, Leon does not take any pleasure in placing him down, seeing it as a necessity, laced with private grief. The tip consequence is identical within the authentic sport.
2
Trusting Ada Wong
Resident Evil 2 & 4
Over the course of their interactions, Ada Wong has manipulated Leon, used him for her personal achieve, shot at him, and left him for lifeless. He has each cause to not belief her, and he or she could not precisely blame him for it. And but he does as a result of he is aware of that she is an individual who had her causes for making the choices she did.
She could also be a spy, she could also be enjoying each side your complete time and triple crossing Leon, however he is aware of that regardless of the menace she poses, there may be way more occurring behind her icy demeanor.
Regardless of understanding that she’ll seemingly betray him but once more sooner or later, he saves her life in the course of the Saddler boss battle in Resident Evil 4, as a result of that’s simply the sort of man that Leon S Kennedy is. I’m additionally glad that Leon continues to save lots of Ada, as a result of I imagine she is among the most attention-grabbing characters within the franchise.
1
“By no means once more”
Resident Evil Requiem
One of many darkest moments within the Resident Evil saga is the destiny of the Kendo household. In RE9, upon returning to the Kendo Gun Store in Raccoon Metropolis, Leon finds the skeletal stays of Emma Kendo. Emma was an harmless baby who was contaminated by the T-virus in September 1998.
After he comes throughout Emma’s cranium, Leon laments the mindless human value of the zombie outbreak and, after experiencing a harrowing flashback, solemnly says: “I’m so sorry. By no means once more.” This echoes one other second from RE4’s remake when Leon carries Ashley into Luis’ lab whereas saying: “This time, it needs to be totally different.”
The way in which wherein Leon repeatedly beats himself up for not having the ability to save everybody speaks to his outlook and the extent of humanity that he retains in a world of horror and brutality.
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