Okay, so there’s been a ton of chatter lately about Borderlands 4, and I gotta admit, the hype is kinda contagious. I mean, sure, the previews sound amazing and Vex the Siren? Her teaser nailed it with that classic Borderlands humor we all love. Plus, the new Vault Hunters lineup? Super diverse and exciting. But, and it’s a big ‘but’—something’s bugging me about the villain. I can’t quite shake off this gut feeling that they’re gonna fall short.
Now, let’s talk about the Handsome Jack dilemma. This guy? An absolute legend. Maybe too legendary—it’s like he overshadowed everything that came after him. The Calypso Twins tried hard, bless them, with their snarky vibes, but they just didn’t hit the same. Now we’ve got this new dude, the Timekeeper. He’s different, which is great—I guess—but I’m not sure that’s gonna fix things.
Honestly, Handsome Jack is my all-time favorite. Seriously, whenever I think of new villains, my mind automatically sizes them up against ol’ Jack. His story arc, from being a betrayed goofball to a full-on baddie, was just chef’s kiss. You felt for him, even when he was being the worst. I fear that trying to deviate too much, like making the next villain all serious and ominous, might strip away the madness that’s sorta like Borderlands’ signature move.
Pause. Let me backtrack. So, back in the day, you had Handsome Jack tossing out insults one minute and terrifying you the next. Borderlands 3 tried to capture that lightning again with the Calypsos. Didn’t quite hit the mark, but props for aiming big. Anyway, this Timekeeper dude—he sounds all “regal tyrant,” creeping on folks with bolts to monitor them like a Big Brother deal. Which, I get it, is intense. But Borderlands is still trying to keep the laughs, right? With Vex’s playful bit and Claptrap’s gags, comedy isn’t out the window yet.
And what if the Timekeeper turns out to be this humorless brick wall amongst all these jokers? Like, look, I’m flashing back to Commandant Steele who was—honestly—a dud. Overshadowed, never seemed like a threat. If Timekeeper is all stoic and dictator-like with nothing else going on, it might not jive well with the series’ whole vibe.
I mean, Gearbox could surprise us—please do! There’s this Ripper Queen character that’s supposed to spice things up, her chaotic style contrasting with the Timekeeper’s calm. Maybe as a package deal, they’ll work, but it’s got to be well-executed.
So, here’s where I land: cautious optimism, you know? Despite the rough patches, I loved that Borderlands 3 went big on villain vibes (even if they didn’t stick the landing). With Borderlands 4, if the Timekeeper lacks that blend of humor and menace, it’s gonna be a bit of a bummer.
But hey, prove me wrong, Gearbox—fingers crossed there’s more depth we haven’t peeked at yet. ‘Cause right now, vibes are like expecting Handsome Jack’s spark but fearing a flat villain with only half the punch.
