A post from a Borderlands fan on an iconic character’s name has shed light on a clever pun that many players are now realizing. Rhys Strongfork, who made his debut in Tales from the Borderlands and would go on to feature in Borderlands 3, has a name that parodies iconic Hollywood actress Reese Witherspoon.
Fans of the Borderlands series will be used to puns and parodies, as developers Gearbox Software keep a humorous tone throughout the titles. Despite this, many fans and long-time players have been left amused and even bewildered that they didn’t pick up on Rhys’ name, missing a joke hiding in plain sight. Since making his first appearance in the Telltale Games spinoff Tales from the Borderlands in 2014, Rhys has become a fan favorite thanks to his charming and witty personality, before moving onto a corporate squabble with Katagawa Jr as the CEO of Atlas in 2019’s Borderlands 3.
Borderlands Players Now Get The Joke Behind “Rhys Strongfork”
A Bizarre Reference To A Hollywood Actress
The awareness behind Rhys’ parody name came from a Reddit post on r/borderlands3, where user OneSimplyIs shared a post entitled “Ashamed to say, I’m just now realizing this,” featuring the Legally Blonde and Wild actress Reese Witherspoon besides Rhys Strongfork, with no further context provided by the poster. Rhys and Reese are similar-sounding names, with Strongfork acting as a direct contrast to Witherspoon. While this explanation may sound simple, thousands of upvotes on the post suggest that many other fans were clueless about this small reference.
Rhys has featured in three Borderlands games in this chronological order: Tales from the Borderlands, Borderlands 3, and New Tales from the Borderlands. He was voiced by Troy Baker in his first appearance, before switching to Ray Chase in the latter two.
A discussion in the comments of the Reddit post expressed this sentiment of bewilderment, as user TerriblePabz stated “I swear the Borderlands series always finds new ways to hit you like a truck load of bricks despite all the years that pass,” with JazzVacuum agreeing with the OP by quipping “You are not the only one lol I never paid attention to his last name.” While there remains no concrete reason for Rhys’ parody name, many fans in the comments believe that there is no deeper purpose to it; acting as a simple joke realized a decade later.
Our Take: Will Rhys Make a Cameo Comeback in Borderlands 4?
Former Borderlands Protagonists Often Return
With Borderlands 4 being confirmed for a 2025 release, with a well-received gameplay trailer at the Game Awards, fans have been speculating on which characters could make their return. The series typically features the previous title’s protagonists as essential characters to the narrative, so Rhys will likely return in Borderlands 4. In his role as the CEO of the Atlas Corporation, one of the major weapon producers, it would be fitting to see his character become involved in additional corporate mayhem, as well as assisting the Vault Hunters.
Whether Rhys Strongfork makes another appearance in Borderlands 4 or not, fans can still expect the witty and irreverent action that the series is known for. After the concerning flop of the Borderlands movie, the series needs a return to its high-quality formula. Until Borderlands 4‘s 2025 release, fans will be sure to dig through previous titles in the series, as there may be more hidden gems like the Reese Witherspoon reference to locate for patient Vault Hunters.
