Wesker's Report - Canonicity Debate (or the Official "WTF Hiroki Kato!?" Thread)

[Vogue_Dirge]

Nothing is canon, everything is permitted.

Now suppose for a moment that ORC offered an explanation as to what really happened to Sherry.

I wonder, would it be considered canon?

Everyone labels it non-canon because of a mistranslation from a French interview (the quote actually said that the game is completely integrated into the chronology – which could mean several things), but the actual comments are contradictory (1, 2, 3). Seems like they don't want to say flat-out if it's canon or not. Could be anything from Gaiden (non-canon), to the Chronicles series (partly or rewritten canon), to a completely original entry (fully canon) at this point. The most likely scenario, however, is that Capcom doesn't care at all and wants to make money (being a company and all, duh!).

Didn't mean it like that, just meant that "in his grasp" is the case now.

Usual stuff, guide book, unreliable unless confirmed.

[News Bot]

The line was literally "Sherry is now in our hands", no grasp, no spies, it means they have her – clearer cut than anything else. I mean, they even locked her up for dramatic emphasis. It's either or. Captured and imprisoned, or the one with the spies. Wesker's Report sucks less and opens more possibilities, so I'll take that one.

Didn't mean it like that, just meant that "in his grasp" is the case now. Wasn't going against what WR actually says.

[Archelon]

Now suppose for a moment that ORC offered an explanation as to what really happened to Sherry.

I wonder, would it be considered canon?

I for one am looking forward to several more years of "OMG IT'S SHERRY!!!" whenever a blond woman is introduced to the franchise.

[Archelon]

It's not like it matters at this point, anyway.

The chances of us actually seeing Sherry again, outside of a possible appearance in ORC, are slim to none.

Though it would certainly add another interesting wrinkle to Leon's recruitment by the US government. He agreed to work for them in exchange for Sherry's safety, and what happens? Wesker gets his grubby mitts on her anyway. But as I said, it's unlikely we'll ever hear from her again.

[Smiley]

Not to mention it's narrated by Richard Waugh which adds a +10 to the cool factor.

There's nothing wrong with the line about Sherry and for all we know the exclusion of that line from the 10th Anniversary edition was probably a simple mistake. It's more "in his grasp" than "in his hands".

The line was literally "Sherry is now in our hands", no grasp, no spies, it means they have her – clearer cut than anything else. I mean, they even locked her up for dramatic emphasis. It's either or. Captured and imprisoned, or the one with the spies. Wesker's Report sucks less and opens more possibilities, so I'll take that one.

[News Bot]

Of all the plots to flip-flop on...>< Why one of the most potentially interesting? Ugh. They've really dug their own grave with this, huh?

No they haven't.

Sherry is now under the custody of the U.S. government, but among the personnel in the department, many of them are spies working for Albert Wesker. So in fact Sherry is now in a terrible position of double jeopardy.

There's nothing wrong with the line about Sherry and for all we know the exclusion of that line from the 10th Anniversary edition was probably a simple mistake. It's more "in his grasp" than "in his hands".

[Vito]

Did Capcom ever confirm whether UC & DC were canon or not?

Only the new stuff is canon, the chapters form the other main games are not.

[Inferno04]

I believe there are now three different version of Wesker's Report kicking around. The major thing being the first had a line about Sherry being in Wesker's possession, the second cut it, and the third has brought it back. Essentially making it look like Capcom can't make there mind up if they're ever going to do a Sherry plot.

Of all the plots to flip-flop on...>< Why one of the most potentially interesting? Ugh. They've really dug their own grave with this, huh?

[Fruit Salad]

Did Capcom ever confirm whether UC & DC were canon or not?

[Mr. Spencer]

From the sound of things Capcom's canon only sticks as long as it's convenient to their next product.

This is truth right here.

[Darkmoon]

Im lost.. what exactly is wrong here?

I believe there are now three different version of Wesker's Report kicking around. The major thing being the first had a line about Sherry being in Wesker's possession, the second cut it, and the third has brought it back. Essentially making it look like Capcom can't make there mind up if they're ever going to do a Sherry plot.

[Smiley]

To be honest I stopped caring about the canon storyline around the time Umbrella Chronicles came out. And no matter how hard you try you will still find flaws and inconsistencies in trying to piece things together. Like that argument a while back we had over Jill's age.

From the sound of things Capcom's canon only sticks as long as it's convenient to their next product.

Wasn't Leon part of an anti-umbrella group in Gaiden? If not what was his and Barry's affiliation?

By the time RE4 rolled around it was clear that the series was branching off and disconnecting itself from the previous ties. It seemed that RE4's long haul came to that conclusion since I remember during the days of 'Capcom 5' that Leon originally was going to go to the infamous Umbrella Europe HQ. Now that's scrapped in favor of a ludicrous plot involving Leon on a solo mission to save the President's daughter from a parasite infested cult. Sure they make nods to Wesker and Umbrella, but the whole focus of Leon shifted right then and there. And Capcom has cleverly weaved their new shlock into the previous canon. Darkside Chronicles takes that passage from RE3's epilogue and treats Leon as though he was immediately recruited by the US Government. Sherry is in their hands now and we can forget about Wesker having her. Or not. Who cares? Until Sherry comes back in another game I sure won't.

The easy solution would have been for Capcom to conclude their missing elements before closing off on Wesker's Last Stand. You would think Sherry, Steve and Ada might be priorities since they tie directly with Wesker in some way, but no.. Capcom's interest was in the Chris vs. Wesker bits.

And despite what some would say I don't think this series needs to tie in all these characters together. Gaiden doesn't need Leon and Barry of all people to meet. I doubt HUNK is such a strong character that he needed a place in Revelations alongside Chris and Jill. And I was never on the bandwagon for Sherry being in RE5 instead of Jill because Chris was the main character.