Should I Cure Mia or Zoe in Resident Evil 7? A Definitive Guide

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The choice is yours, but the canon ending and generally considered “good” ending dictates that you should cure Mia. This leads to a chain of events where Mia rescues Ethan, both are rescued by Chris Redfield, and Zoe survives (though we don’t see her rescue directly). Choosing to cure Zoe, while providing closure for her character in that moment, ultimately leads to her death and a far grimmer outcome for Ethan.

The Weight of Choice: Mia vs. Zoe

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard presents players with a harrowing decision: administer the cure to Mia Winters, Ethan’s wife, or Zoe Baker, the Baker family daughter who has been helping you escape their clutches. This choice impacts the narrative significantly, shaping the ending and the fates of the characters involved. Let’s dissect the implications of each decision.

Curing Mia: The “Good” Ending Path

• Narrative Outcome: Choosing Mia allows Ethan to experience a more hopeful (albeit still terrifying) conclusion. Mia temporarily regains control, rescues Ethan from Eveline, and later, both are rescued by Chris Redfield and Blue Umbrella. This pathway is the one most closely aligned with the sequel, Resident Evil Village, where Mia is alive and well (initially).
• Character Fates: Mia lives, eventually giving birth to Rosemary. While there are complexities to her character and her relationship with Eveline, saving her sets the stage for her pivotal role in later events. Zoe’s fate, while not explicitly shown, is implied to be a rescue sometime after the main events.
• Gameplay Implications: After administering the serum, players experience a section on a wrecked tanker, providing a different environment and a confrontation with a more lucid (though still infected) Mia.

Curing Zoe: The “Bad” Ending Path

• Narrative Outcome: This choice leads to a tragic outcome. Ethan escapes the Baker Estate, but alone.
• Character Fates: Zoe dies en route to the wrecked ship, killed by Eveline. Mia, still under Eveline’s influence, is eventually encountered and tragically killed by Ethan. There’s no rescue by Chris Redfield in this scenario, leaving Ethan isolated with the horrors he’s endured.
• Gameplay Implications: Ethan is left to fend for himself against Eveline after the encounter with Mia on the ship.

Why Mia is the Canon Choice

Several factors point to curing Mia as the canon choice:

• Sequel Connection: Resident Evil Village assumes Mia’s survival. Her absence would drastically alter the sequel’s storyline.
• Narrative Cohesion: The storyline that includes Mia’s rescue and Chris Redfield’s intervention provides a smoother transition into the broader Resident Evil lore.
• Moral Weight: While both women deserve salvation, Mia is Ethan’s wife, making the choice to save her a more emotionally resonant and logical decision within the context of Ethan’s personal motivations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions to delve deeper into the ramifications of the choice and related aspects of Resident Evil 7 and its surrounding lore.

1. What specifically happens if I give the serum to Zoe?

   If you choose Zoe, Ethan and Zoe escape on a boat, but Eveline kills Zoe before they reach safety. Ethan is captured and later has to kill Mia.

2. Is the End of Zoe DLC any good?

   Yes! End of Zoe is well-regarded for its fast pacing and its unique gameplay mechanics, focusing on hand-to-hand combat. It also provides closure for Zoe’s story, revealing her eventual rescue and integration into Blue Umbrella.

3. Can you save Zoe without dying?

   Within the main game, no. Choosing to cure Zoe results in her death. However, the End of Zoe DLC offers a separate storyline where you play as Joe Baker, Zoe’s uncle, and can ultimately save her.

4. How do you get the “true” ending in Resident Evil 7?

   The closest thing to a “true” ending is saving Mia. This leads to the events that set up Resident Evil Village. To achieve it, you simply select Mia when prompted to administer the serum.

5. Is Mia alive in Resident Evil Village?

   Yes, Mia is alive at the beginning of Resident Evil Village, though her character and her relationship with Ethan are central to the plot’s mysteries.

6. How did Zoe survive for three years while infected?

   The exact details of Zoe’s survival are never explicitly explained. It’s theorized she may have received limited assistance from Lucas Baker.

7. Is it faster to save Mia or Zoe?

   Saving Mia is generally faster because it avoids the second Mia boss fight required if you choose Zoe.

8. Is Zoe related to the Bakers by blood?

   Yes, Zoe is the daughter of Jack and Marguerite Baker, making her Lucas’s sister.

9. Do you have to inject Jack with the serum?

   Yes, during the boss fight with Jack in the boathouse, you must eventually inject him with the serum to defeat him.

10. Are there guns in End of Zoe?

    Yes, players can unlock the M21 Shotgun by completing End of Zoe on Easy Mode.

11. How long does it take to complete End of Zoe?

    On average, End of Zoe takes around 1.5 hours to complete the main story.

12. If Mia was also injected with the cure, why was Eveline still able to affect her?

    The serum wasn’t a complete cure. It weakened Eveline’s influence but didn’t sever the connection entirely, explaining Mia’s lingering transformations and Eveline’s ability to manipulate her.

13. Which ending is considered canon in the Resident Evil universe in general?

    Canon storylines in the Resident Evil universe are usually established through supplementary materials like books and developer statements. In the case of Resident Evil 7, the events that lead to Resident Evil Village are implicitly canon. For example, the plot line about Chris was the one who faced the Yawn and Lisa Trevor, Barry didn’t abandon Jill in the underground lair and Jill was the one who faced and killed the Tyrant.

14. What kind of educational value can be derived from games like Resident Evil 7?

    Games like Resident Evil 7 can offer valuable insights into problem-solving, decision-making under pressure, and emotional resilience. They also provide opportunities to explore narrative structures and character development. The Games Learning Society, found at GamesLearningSociety.org, is a great resource for learning more about the educational benefits of video games.

15. Does the choice between Mia and Zoe reflect real-life moral dilemmas?

    While the context is fantastical, the choice between Mia and Zoe reflects the real-life difficulty of making decisions with limited information and significant consequences. It forces players to grapple with issues of loyalty, sacrifice, and the complexities of human relationships. The decision making provides a good opportunity to learn about the power that comes with difficult decisions.

Final Thoughts

Choosing between Mia and Zoe is a defining moment in Resident Evil 7: Biohazard. While both options present compelling reasons, saving Mia aligns with the overarching narrative and sets the stage for the future of the Resident Evil franchise. Ultimately, the decision is yours, and the weight of that choice is part of what makes Resident Evil 7 such a compelling and memorable experience.