We know there are a lot of problems with the Borderlands plot. It’s a cliché-infested Frankenscript, and it would probably take years—or maybe even millennia—for a team of dedicated writers to get it under control. Unfortunately, we just don’t have that kind of time. Nor are we getting paid for it. So, we’ll just quickly address the beginning and the end, which could serve as good starting points for someone else to fill in the middle.
Beginning
First of all, lose the “Daughter of Eridia” prophecy. It’s vague and provides no real motivation.
Then in the initial, cliché-ridden bar scene with Lilith, she should still take down the three middlemen in the same way—but they should have nothing to do with Deukalian Atlas. Also, wasn’t it satisfying to finally see someone take down the slow-clapping guy? And yet in this case, it didn’t even matter!
Mr. Atlas would therefore need to be present in his human form. And because he’s staring down the barrel of a gun, he would have to be terribly sincere with his proposal.
How much can you really trust a bad guy who offers above-average pay? I’d say not at all. Sincerity is the perfect way to shine a light through the early monotony and give the plot its initial momentum.
Of course, Atlas could still shapeshift into a more fitting villain later on. And when he finally shows up on Pandora with his entourage at the end, give him a damn good reason why he couldn’t get there himself in the first place. Right now, he just comes off like Ashton Kutcher punking Lilith.
Ending
There was far too much nonsense crammed into the climax before the entrance to Pandora’s Vault. Let’s just say it outright: the key should have been based on pure heart, not pure blood.
Once inside, the Atlas villain should meet his end by trying to absorb more knowledge than he can handle—more than he is capable of containing. Knowledge is light, and darkness simply cannot carry it. It’s the most obvious opportunity for an ending, served on a silver platter.
Instead, they went with a stomach-turning conclusion. In the middle of this high-tech, holographic Pandora’s Vault, there’s conveniently a giant hole in the ground. Out of it, some squid-like tentacles emerge and drag Atlas down—because Lilith says “Bye bye.” Because… what? She has also become that thing? Another “chosen one” cliché, wrapped in nonsense.
I’m sorry but I couldn’t handle more. I’m done.
Ira