Resident Evilis aseries that changes protagonistsregularly, a trend that has been consistent since the first game. So, there is no main series protagonist. The likes of Jill Valentine, Chris Redfield, Leon Kennedy, Claire Redfield, Ethan Winters, and several others have all shared the role.
Everyone has their favorites, and you could make an argument for any of them being the best. Jill arguably has the most substantial claim to the throne, though. Here is a collection of reasons why she deserves to be considered the series’ greatest protagonist.
8One Of The Originals
Set The Tone
There have beennumerous Resident Evil characters that have made a bunch of appearances in the series. However, only two characters can say they were protagonists in the original game. That is Jill and Chris.
So, Valentine helped set the tone and establish what a Resident Evil protagonist should be. Of course, she did so alongside Chris, so this doesn’t put her above him, but it is something she has over Leon, Claire, Ethan, and anyone else who has starred in an RE game.
7Takes On The Nemesis
An Impressive Feat
Nemesis is one of the most destructive monsters in the entire series. Not only is it huge, but the beast is also swift and has the ability to use weapons. Therefore, it should take an entire army to take it down. Yet, over the course of RE3, Jill manages to do it alone.
This just shows the impressive durability, resourcefulness, and combat skills of Valentine. Could any of the other RE protagonists also survive against the beast? It’s unclear, but we know Jill can.
6Involved In Both The Mansion Incident And The Raccoon City Incident
The Most Significant Events In RE History Involve Jill
A lot of memorable things have happened in the Resident Evil series. The two most famous incidents were the outbreaks in the Spencer Mansion and Raccoon City. These two events are continually referenced and acknowledged in later instalments.
Jill, however, is one of the few characters who can claim to have been part of both. She was creeping around the Mansion in the original game, and in RE3, she was fighting her way through the City. So, she was an important part of two of the most significant events in the series.
5Can Be An Action Heroine And Final Girl
A Versatile Character
Resident Evil is a series that has delved into both action and horror. One issue with this is that not every character works for both types of games. RE director Koshi Nakanishi explained this whenrevealing why Leon couldn’t be the protagonist in Resident Evil Requiem.
It makes sense, as in an action game, you need an action hero, while in a horror game, you need a survivor. In the case of Jill, she has played both of those roles perfectly in the past. She is a final girl in the original game, while she is more of an action hero in RE3. This shows her range.
4The Master Of Unlocking
Can Unlock Anything
One of themost memorable Resident Evil quotescomes in the first game when Barry calls Jill “The Master of Unlocking.” It’s a strange line, but it’s accurate, as Jill has impressive lockpicking skills.
She uses this to her benefit in a few of the games, as there are a lot of locked doors in the Resident Evil series. In the first game, Chris needs to find a bunch of old keys to open doors, while Jill just needs her lock pick. So, it’s a useful skill for the protagonist to have.
3Maintains Her Popularity While Inactive
She’s Been Missing For A While
Unfortunately, Jill hasn’t been utilized much by Capcom in recent times, except in remakes. The last main instalment in which she featured was Resident Evil 5, and she wasn’t a main protagonist in that one. She hasn’t been the protagonist in a main instalment since RE3.
That is still more recent than Claire, but she still hasn’t been a very active protagonist in the main series for some time. That said, her popularity has never dipped. She remains one of the series' most beloved characters despite rarely being around. That is the power that Jill holds.
2First Sole Protagonist In The Series
Doesn’t Need To Share The Spotlight
The first two Resident Evil games have you choose your protagonist. In the first, you can be Jill or Chris, while in the second, you select between Leon and Claire.
The first game in the series to have a sole protagonist was Resident Evil 3, and Jill was the lead in that title. Her getting this spot demonstrates her popularity and Capcom’s confidence in her. They were right to be confident, too, because she excels as the lone protagonist in this title. Yes, Carlos is also there at times, but he’s a secondary character.
1Overcomes A Lot Of Adversity
Every Resident Evil protagonist has to overcome adversity a lot. After all, they have all spent time in the middle of a monster outbreak. However, Jill, in particular, has had it bad.
She was infected in Resident Evil 3 and almost became a monster. Then, before RE5, everyone thought she was dead, but she was actually transformed into a villain due to a form of mind control. In the process, she was forced to fight her closest friend. So, the woman has been through some tough times. She has managed to survive it all, though.
