Summary
- Aging Ava in Borderlands 4 could make her more self-aware and mature, improving her character.
- Ava needs to acknowledge her past actions and work to make things right to have a compelling character arc.
- Borderlands 4 must avoid repeating the mistakes of Borderlands 3 with Ava to reach its potential.
Borderlands 3 isn’t the most beloved entry in the franchise, and there are plenty of reasons why. One of the installment’s biggest pitfalls was its antagonists, the Calypso Twins, who were seen by many to be characters trying too hard to be Handsome Jack in their charisma, humor, and needless violence, with cringey dialogue and shallow character arcs to boot. They weren’t the only thing that ultimately sank Borderlands 3, however, with another character, in particular, taking home the prize as one of its most controversial characters: Ava. Now, assuming Ava returns in Borderlands 4 (and she is expected to), the upcoming sequel will need to go to the ends of the earth to redeem her character arc.
As one of Borderlands 3‘s most controversial characters, simply allowing Ava to return in Borderlands 4 without first addressing and correcting her shortcomings might prove to be just as controversial, if not more so. In light of that, Borderlands 4 can redeem Ava by making her older, wiser, and more self-aware, all while showing her maturity through a recognition of her past mistakes and a willingness to make things right.
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How Borderlands 4 Could Redeem Ava
An Older Ava Could Be Wiser and More Self-Aware
While it’s not the sole reason behind why she was so controversial, Ava’s personality has proven to be a big turn-off for many players. In Borderlands 3, Ava is portrayed as having a very brash, sarcastic, and angsty tone, which isn’t inherently bad because it fits in with the Borderlands universe. However, many found her grating or annoying, especially compared to other fan-favorite Borderlands characters who had more depth and charm. Some of her dialogue comes off as immature, especially during serious moments, inducing eye rolls and provoking grumbles in those who tried to stay emotionally invested in Borderlands 3‘s story.
To improve that aspect of Ava in Borderlands 4, the game may only need to age and mature her. In Borderlands 3, she is presumably someone in her late teenage years, possibly 18. If Borderlands 4 takes place years after its predecessor, Ava could be older, wiser, and more self-aware than she was in Borderlands 3. This alone might make her character more palatable, as it would mean she not only has a softer personality about her but that every decision she makes in the game would be expected to flow out of her newfound maturity.
Borderlands 3 takes place seven years after the events of Borderlands 2, so it’s possible Borderlands 4 could observe a similar time jump.
Ava Could Be Haunted by Her Past Actions and Bent on Making Things Right
Even more than her abrasive and seemingly careless personality, Ava was so controversial in Borderlands 3 because she is depicted as being responsible for Maya’s death — one of the game’s more emotional moments — and yet the narrative never acknowledges that. Ava is never held accountable for the role she played in Maya’s death, and she even inherits the mantle of the Crimson Raiders from Lilith later in the story, making the whole thing feel a bit forced and unearned.
Borderlands 4 undoubtedly needs to fix this issue if Ava returns, potentially portraying her as someone who is haunted by her past actions and bent on making things right. Ava needs to, at the very least, acknowledge her contribution to Maya’s death, perhaps to the point that it makes her question her leadership status. While she was basically handed her position in Borderlands 3, Borderlands 4 doesn’t really have a choice but to depict her as someone who knows she has had to earn that position. This would not only increase the complexity of her character for Borderlands 4‘s story, but it would also give players a new set of spectacles to view her through.
If Borderlands 4 takes place years after its predecessor, Ava could be older, wiser, and more self-aware than she was in Borderlands 3.
Ava’s return in Borderlands 4 could be one of the game’s most rewarding character arcs if it’s handled with care. By aging her up, deepening her sense of responsibility, and allowing her to wrestle with the weight of her past, Borderlands 4 can turn one of its predecessor’s most divisive characters into one of its most compelling. But if it simply picks up where things left off without that growth, it risks repeating the very mistakes that held Borderlands 3 back.
Looter Shooter
Action
Adventure
RPG
- Released
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September 23, 2025
- ESRB
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Rating Pending