Summary
Warning: Spoilers for the Borderlands seriesBorderlandsisGearbox Software’s flagship looter-shooter franchise, and is largely responsible for having kicked off the genre boom starting in the late 2000s. The series sees players taking on the role of a mercenary Vault Hunter in an often zany sci-fi future.Borderlandspopularized many genre mechanics and also introduced fans to a colorful cast of characters ranging from hilarious to detestable and all areas between.
One ofBorderlands' most well-known characters, rivalinglovable robot tramp Claptrap, is Lilith. A Siren gifted with tremendous cosmic powers, Lilith was integral in everyBLentry. She served as the grounded center of the core group of heroes, usually as an important guide and quest-giver. However, the end of the latest title saw Lilith seemingly sacrificing herself to prevent a catastrophe, although later content suggested she wasn’t entirely gone.Borderlands 4, then, could bring Lilith back, but if it does, the manner of her return would need to be carefully considered.
Borderlands 4 Could See Lilith Return, But Maybe It Shouldn’t
Lilith’s Place in Borderlands' Story
In the original title, Lilith was one ofBorderlands' playable Vault Hunter protagonists. AfterBL1, she took on a second-in-command advisory role for Roland, who led its heroic band of misfits, the Crimson Raiders. Lilith and Roland guide players inBL2, before Roland’s heartbreaking death by villain Handsome Jack’s hand in its climatic clash. Following that, Lilith became the Raiders' de facto leader. She was then the NPC point of contact, before using her Siren abilities to stop a world-ending event in the final moments ofBL3, apparently perishing in the process.
In somewhat of a retcon,Borderlands 3’s Director’s Cut DLCcontained additional story content that heavily suggested Lilith had not in fact gone out in a blaze of glory, but was alive, albeit lost somewhere in the universe. Lilith’s (and Maya’s) young protege, Ava, discovers this through the DLC’s murder mystery missions, thus providing the path for Lilith’s possible return inBL4.
Lilith’s Absence Might Give Other Characters a Spotlight
While her loss was intensely felt both in-universe and by many fans, the void left by Lilith’s exit might have a silver lining. Although she was an integral part ofBorderlands' story, she sometimes overshadowed other characters who might have been given more screen time to shine; particularly Ava, the adolescent Siren successor to Lilith and Maya. Though many fans didn’t initially warm to her,Ava is set up to be a major character in theBorderlandsnarrativeand is likely to have a prominent role in the future. With Lilith gone, it might provide a chance for Ava to win more fans over. It could also mean spending more time with other longtime companions like Tannis, Moxxi, or Ellie.
How Lilith Could Make a Comeback in Borderlands 4
Given how beloved Lilith is, it’s surely tempting for Gearbox to have her make a triumphant return. This would undoubtedly please many fans, although a bit of an obviously easy win for the studio. One directionBorderlands 4could take that may satisfy both sides is having the plot focus on Ava’s search for her missing mentor. While Lilith may not be present in person, the story could center around finding or rescuing her, with the group eventually reuniting.
The Destroyer inBorderlandsalso still poses a threat, and perhaps bringing it back as the next potential threat to Pandora could be the path to link both threads. If it emerges to fulfill the prophecy, then the Raiders would likely need all the help they can muster to contain it again. Lilith would be the perfect choice to assist, andBL4could see players tracking her down so that the crew is at full strength against The Destroyer. In any case, if Gearbox is planning to bring Lilith back, it would have to be done in a way that feels natural and earned.
