According to BoundingIntoComics:
Kotaku derided Resident Evil and Silent Hill protagonists Ethan Winters and James Sunderland as “the same, boring protagonist;” only for the author to later claim the editorial was a “s—tpost.” YouTuber Melonie Mac took them to task, regardless.
Kotaku writer Ashley Bardhan proposes “Resident Evil‘s Ethan Winters And Silent Hill‘s James Sunderland Are The Same, Boring Protagonist” in a piece that at first appeared to be inspired by the Silent Hill 2 remake announcement, coupled with new trailers for DLC and ports of Resident Evil Village.
“Watching the trailer for Konami’s Silent Hill 2 remake, I’m reminded that not only do I hate protagonist James Sunderland and want him to die, but I would also encourage Resident Evil franchise’s Ethan Winters to stick his blond head in the oven as soon as possible, like Sylvia Plath if she were an untalented man in a video game.” Bardhan’s contempt continues throughout the piece.
She proceeds to explain her “fear of ineffectual blond men,” comparing it to a fear of snakes, and even being “disturbed by Christopher Columbus.” Bardhan elaborates, “Like Columbus, who was famously too stupid for spatial awareness, I believe Ethan and James are both capable of accidentally inflicting death and venereal disease upon an entire continent.”
The writer states this distrust and projected ineptitude comes from the characters’ designs and demeanors. She describes both Ethan and James as “sniveling” and “swoopy-haired” characters, noting that both wear similar-looking jackets. Bardhan also takes issue with both men’s relationships with their wives, both characters’ temperament — dismissive of their respective circumstances — and nonchalant and strange reactions to finding horrifying or mundane objects.
She dismisses James’ trauma over his dead wife and the symbolism it manifests in Silent Hill as him suffering “terminal horniness,” noting he acts recklessly (failing to turn off his flashlight when trying to hide from Pyramid Head). Ethan’s surprisingly undercut reaction to crippling and dismembering injuries were also a sticking point for Bardhan.
