Throughout theBorderlandsseries' seven entries, includingTiny Tina’s Wonderlandsand theTales of the Borderlandstitles, the series has revealed much about its world and characters through side quests and supplemental world-building. One of the best examples of this is Lady Aurelia Hammerlock, sister toSir Alistair Hammerlock. Through Aurelia, fans gain a deeper understanding of Alistair, one of the series' most important NPCs, as well as the transfer of power between major weapons corporations. In an effort to deepen the known lore and tie up some of the series' many dangling threads,Borderlands 4should pull another Aurelia Hammerlock by exploring a recurring character’s backstory through their relationship with a featured villain or side boss.
Borderlands 4has yet to be officially announced, but many fans expect it to be the next entry in the long-running series, following October 2022’sNew Tales of the Borderlands. While Borderlands 4’s narrative and setting are unconfirmed,New Talesleft off with a foreboding image, the silhouette of Handsome Jack’s face. The fan-favorite villain may be the focal point ofBorderlands 4.However, exploring new and unusual characters is whatBorderlandsdoes best, and the next entry should be careful about how much of the spotlight Jack takes, as his backstory has already been thoroughly explored inBorderlands: The Pre-Sequel.
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Aurelia Hammerlock is Supplemental World-Building at Its Finest
Aurelia Hammerlock made her debut as a playable vault hunterinBorderlands: The Pre-Sequel. The title primarily focused on Handsome Jack’s metamorphosis from hero to villain but was able to focus on expanding other areas of the narrative through various DLC packs. One such DLC saw Aurelia added to the game. Aurelia is the older sister toBorderlands 2’s Sir Alistair Hammerlock, one of the title’s most prominent NPCs, and her debut would set the stage for some of the series' best world-building to date.
Aurelia Hammerlock returned inBorderlands 3as a secondary antagonist, as the former vault-hunter teamed up with the Calypso Twins and took overthe Jakobs Corporation. Through her presence within the plot, and dialogue from Sir Hammerlock, fans are presented with a much deeper look at Alistair himself. As the oldest heir to the Hammerlock fortune, Aurelia often bullied her brother, a fact that Alistair discusses at length with the player. However, the most effective storytelling comes in the form of aBorderlands 3echo log, titled “The Lizard”.
In"The Lizard" echo log, Alistair recounted a story of Aurelia’s cruelty toward a treasured childhood pet. The two had found a rare lizard together, but Aurelia took sole ownership. However, she refused to care for it, leading to Alistair nurturing it in secret. One day he found the lizard dead, submerged in water, and blamed himself. He later learned that Aurelia had placed a block of ice in the lizard’s tank, so that it would slowly fill with water. This forced the lizard to claw madly for air. Rather than kill it immediately, Aurelia made it slowly suffer, leading Alistair to wonder aloud “…how long the waters have been rising.” on his own life.
Borderlands 4 Needs its Own Lady Hammerlock
Borderlandshas been host to many goofy and unique side characters. The series' next entry should leverage one of these figures in a way that emulates Aurelia Hammerlock’s relationship with Alistair. Characters like Tiny Tina have already received plenty of supplemental expansion. However, others, like Janey Springs, have been quietly expanded upon while never being prominently featured.
Borderlands 4should thrust a character likeJaney Springsinto the spotlight, as she shares deep relationships with multiple prominent characters. Her relationship with Athena could certainly open the door for the title to utilize a villain or side narrative to expand upon her backstory and motivations. Janey is just one example of howBorderlands 4could expand its lore. Until the title is officially announced, fans continue to speculate how the series' loose threads may come together.
