Resident Evil has been on a roll these past years. Sequels like Resident Evil 7: Biohazard and Resident Evil Village have brought the franchise back to its survival horror roots. Likewise, the remakes of Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3, and Resident Evil 4 have allowed fans to experience earlier entries in a modern light. With these titles, the future of Resident Evil is looking brighter (and scarier) than ever.
Speaking of the future, many fans wonder where Capcom's survival horror franchise will head next. A Resident Evil 5 remake is a possibility, but to move forward, the next proper Resident Evil sequel has to embrace what its latest canonical entries have introduced and build upon them. This includes specific events, gameplay mechanics, and most importantly, the new characters like Mia Winters.
Mia Winters' Story Could Be Far From Over
First introduced in Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, Mia Winters is the wife of Ethan Winters and plays a key role in the game. She is the main reason Ethan travels to the Baker Ranch in Dulvey, Louisiana, and is one of the people who knows what happened between the Bakers, the mysterious Mold, and the bioweapon Eveline. Despite having been under the control of Eveline, Mia was saved by Ethan and started a family with him.
Mia's role in Resident Evil Village is minor but important nonetheless. As the mother of Rosemary Winters, Mia spends most of the game locked up in a lab and impersonated by her former colleague Miranda. Overwhelmed with grief, Miranda wants to use Rose to resurrect her dead daughter Eva. As Ethan and Chris Redfield try to save Rose and stop Miranda, Chris stumbles upon Miranda's lab and saves Mia. Mia then raises Rose into a fine young woman who, because of her unique abilities, is rarely allowed to see her mother.
The end of Resident Evil Village confirms that Mia is alive. She is currently in the protective custody of Chris Redfield and his Hound Wolf Squad on account of her connection with Resident Evil's Mold. This relationship is the reason why she is a potential danger like her daughter Rose and might be hunted by others looking to use her. While her latest appearance might have painted her as somewhat of a stay-at-home mom, Mia is far from helpless.
Mia Has The Potential To Be A Stronger Protagonist Than Ethan
A lot of Mia's guile comes from her previous occupation as a researcher for The Connections - a crime syndicate that specializes in producing and selling bioweapons. Mia had to study and handle dangerous substances as well as some of the bioweapons - the most famous of which were The Mold and Eveline. Even though her work was illegal, Mia was able to hide her career from her husband until her mysterious disappearance aboard the S.S. Annabelle.
Even after being rescued by Ethan, Mia shows her capabilities as a survivor. She actively tries to escape the Bakers and fights Eveline's mind control. But her shining moment has to be when she is momentarily freed from Eveline and has to save her captured husband. Not only does she brave the nightmares of the S.S. Annabelle, but she allows herself to be controlled by Eveline again so that Ethan can eliminate the bioweapon permanently.
Her strength of character is shown even after Ethan's death in Resident Evil Village. She raised Rose as a single mother and allowed her daughter to be taken and trained by Chris Redfield. It isn't easy being a single mother but the fact that Mia was able to do so given her situation is a feat unto itself.
It wouldn't be surprising if Mia Winters were to make a return in a future Resident Evil title. She is still alive, for one thing, and is very much capable of handling herself in tense situations. She may not be the main protagonist but she should at least be allowed to guide players in whatever new nightmare Capcom has planned for the franchise.
Resident Evil Village is available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.