I'm really not smart (that would be a funny way to end the sentence) when it comes to theories and speculations and yeah, I have a degree, not like I put it to good use (I'm trying to get some green).
But the theory surrounding Leon being infected, on a personal level, I don't want it to happen, it happened once in RE:4, he survived, but that's because he did take a temporary relief shot. That was back in 2004, Requiem takes place between 2026-28, I'm throwing it at a ball park here, probably 2028. Let's take that, and put it in a little box for now, we'll bring it back up. (We didn't, don't remind me)
It's an old cliche to have a character put in the same scenario one or two more times, just to prove to the viewers/consumers/fans that the first initial survival was purely by luck, or certain situations being favorable to them. Let's be honest, Leon has been through it, even people who have consumed Resident Evil lore from afar can pick up that much, but by cliches alone, I hope capcom doesn't end his story right then and there just for it to be a "passing the torch" moment. You can disagree, again, this is mostly my personal thoughts, I'm not really the smartest out there, @highball66 (thank you for feeding us daily 🫶) is legit, the best person to go to if you wanna go for the detailed and explained scenarios and theories, I could never.
Leon's story is very dear to people, it is to me, do I relate? Hell no, that would be quite the ordeal, he's a beloved character in a beloved franchise. Like him or hate him, he's well known and well loved, Leon can have a "pass the torch" moment. Oddly enough, that would give him the certain peace he keeps wishing for, the end to all this crap that he has to push through, for a job he sure as hell never signed up for (willingly).
I want that moment to be genuine, to have meaning and not because "He can't" but because "He chose". If Leon is infected, which he likely is, and the possibility of this infection being spread wayyyy quicker than the palga from RE:4, tells me ENOUGH.
Not to mention the parallels? Since RE:9 is gonna take place in Raccoon City, where it all began, there's going to be call backs to RE:2 or maybe even RE:0 (that's a slim chance though for the latter). Grace, is an FBI agent, Leon was a Cop, first day on the job, hell broke loose, she has to fend for herself, he had to find answers, she has to look through rubble to find answers. I'm definitely not explaining it probably, my brain is a little overcooked word soup, but hopefully you get the picture. Place a mentor or someone that is level headed in this scenario to teach the protagonist what to do next, and subsequently have that mentor simply end their story line with a: "I've taught you everything I know." And the protagonist carries on the plot, slowly reminiscing over their mentor.
The parallel is what's eating at me, yeah we can say, "Leon has been here, doing this job forever, let this man die." Sure, but having his story continue being just him going through shit because he was told to do so, and he does it recklessly because people with "experience" and is "old" is the perfect recipe for: "You can't hurt me, I've done this before."-disaster.
I sincerely hope, whatever capcom wants to convey, whatever the devs want to showcase, having Leon's story end in a sudden death where "nothing" could have been done wouldn't be something I want to look forward to. I don't mind shocking turns, but I swear to all the versions of Leon S. Kennedy, if they pull a Last of Us Part 2 on me, I might just draw, whoever it is, sitting in an important chair, pregnant.
This was a very lengthy rant, I doubt any of you would find this interesting, I'm just hoping they don't pull a shit move just because "plot".
