Rather than go the traditional route and have just the one protagonist, the Resident Evil series instead relies on a list of characters to take the lead role. Two of the top names are doubtlessly Jill Valentine and Leon Scott Kennedy.
Incredibly, in the long run of the franchise, these two haven’t ever interacted on-screen, and there’s not much evidence to prove they’ve ever met at all. This has brought upon comparisons between them, with fans wondering who could be considered the better protagonist. Since there are valid arguments in favor of both Leon and Jill, here are five reasons why either character deserves this title.
10 Jill: Her Status As The First Lead Character
It’s hard to argue against a character who is responsible for essentially spearheading a series that thrives to this day. Jill Valentine deserves all the credit she can get for this reason, as it was due to her that the Resident Evil series took off.
Going forward, Jill’s storyline has been the format used for further protagonists, albeit with distinct personality traits. Had it not been for Jill’s success with audiences, then there likely wouldn’t have been room for further characters to enter the franchise at all.
9 Leon: Better Chemistry With Supporting Protagonists
Having a good dynamic with the rest of the cast is vital in the Resident Evil series due to its overlapping nature. While Jill does have great chemistry with Chris Redfield, she doesn’t have as many associations as Leon.
To his credit, his exchanges with the likes of Chris, Claire, Rebecca Chambers, and others have been top-notch, and the viewer is tempted to see more. In fact, throwing in Leon with any character has reaped memorable scenes, and this has made him the series’ most reliable hero.
8 Jill: She’s A Breakthrough Female Protagonist
Female empowerment has practically swept most forms of media recently, but Jill was on the bus a long time ago. In a generally male-dominated industry, Jill was clearly a standout female protagonist.
The great thing about her was that she wasn’t portrayed as eye candy, and was instead placed on the same level of strength as her male counterpart. More than two decades later, it’s because of Jill Valentine’s impact that not only has the Resident Evil series seen more female heroes but arguably the entire gaming industry as a whole.
7 Leon: He Brings A Romantic Aspect To The Series
Leon is definitely a ladies’ man, and that just makes his character more engrossing. He’s had this kind of tension with almost every female character so far, and it has been justified with the story.
This has mostly been seen in his dynamic with Ada Wong, something that was more striking in Resident Evil 2 Remake. Jill’s generally so-so dynamic with others has led to her arcs being rather predictable, while Leon’s part as a romantic lead has allowed him to remain interesting in this regard.
6 Jill: Her Costume Designs Are Iconic
Whenever Jill has made an appearance in a game, the talk of the town usually comes down to Jill’s appearance. This is due to Jill’s costume design reflecting her characterization for that particular game.
Her original costume conveyed she was a young by-the-book agent, while her Resident Evil 3 costume - by far the most popular - reflected her newfound independence. Resident Evil 5 then completed her mind control arc, and all of these outfits have proven popular for fans. Leon has that cool look to him too, but it’s not nearly as creative as Jill’s, nor does it have mainstream appeal.
5 Leon: He Has A Richer Story Arc
Although Jill appeared frequently in the first decade and a half she was around, her role has been reduced to more of a supporting player in recent times. In the series chronology, she was last seen in Resident Evil 5’s events.
Meanwhile, Leon has been positioned as the lead in the games he’s been seen in, with him being singled out as the “main” character in Resident Evil 6, which had featured a wide variety of protagonists. His story has seen him transition from the naive and innocent cop to a cool and cocky agent, and eventually to a mature and hardened survivor. This has made him a more fleshed out protagonist, story-wise.
4 Jill: Her Link With The Series’ Horror
The series started out with the focus firmly being on horror, and while this has since shifted toward action and survival, Jill’s appearances have still been closer to the original tone. Due to this, Jill is fondly remembered as a horror icon.
Usually, when fans think of a protagonist that embodies the series’ theme of horror-survival, it is Jill Valentine who springs to mind, especially due to her fights with the monstrous Nemesis. Those nostalgic for how Resident Evil started out love Jill for what she represents.
3 Leon: Perfect Mix Of Charm And Action
As far as character traits go, it is Leon who offers the most to the audience. While others generally remain stoic, Leon has the charming factor in that he brings in a light sense of humor to cut the tension. However, Leon also springs into action when the time comes for it, and feels like a legit badass.
This keeps the hype surrounding him high, as Leon’s scenes bring a level of entertainment usually found in blockbuster films. A fine blend of wit, comedy, and action is what makes for a memorable protagonist, and Leon has this down pat.
2 Jill: Her Redemption Arc In Taking Down Wesker
An interesting arc that Jill went through in Resident Evil 5 had to do with her being mind-controlled by Albert Wesker. There’s no doubt that Wesker happens to be the main villain in the series as a whole, which means that Jill is one of the heroes responsible for taking him down once and for all.
In this angle, Jill’s role as the reluctant tool at Wesker’s side presented one of the more shocking twists in the series, along with the satisfying conclusion to see her overcome her condition and finish the villain. Leon hasn’t had this kind of redemption tale as of yet.
1 Leon: The Series Was Revitalized Through Him
The irrefutable fact is that the Resident Evil series was almost out of steam until Resident Evil 4 arrived to reinvigorate the franchise. With a drastically different gameplay style and an even more unique narrative featuring Leon, the game set the stage for further titles to be made in its image.
It was this new life that Leon injected in the series that catapulted him into superstar status for Resident Evil, and it’s hard to argue against him since his personality and fighting style has been used as the basis for the following games in the series.
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