Although Will Smith and Martin Lawrence returned for Sony's cast returning to Bad Boys: Ride or Die, the fourth installment in the Jerry Bruckheimer-produced buddy cop action series feels like a reunion of sorts. For fans of the Bad Boys franchise, there is a lot to get out of the fourth installment, including plenty of Bad Boys Easter eggs and references. However, Syd, a character crucial to Bad Boys II, is notably absent from Bad Boys: Ride or Die.

Although it isn't uncommon for long-running franchises such as Bad Boys to feature a revolving door of characters to help tell its story over an extended period of time, it is strange how one of its most important and beloved characters hasn't been seen in the movies since 2003. The Bad Boys franchise's handling of Syd's absence from future movies also brings into further question exactly what happened to her. Furthermore, with considerably less important characters like Reggie appearing in Bad Boys for Life and Bad Boys: Ride or Die, it makes Syd's absence even more confounding.

Gabrielle Union's Bad Boys 4 Absence Has Not Been Explained

Union's Syd Will Not Be Returning Despite Her Character Being Alive And Well

What's even more important about Syd is the fact that she's Marcus' younger sister, and has a complicated romantic relationship with Mike that Marcus isn't entirely aware of.

Although Sydney "Syd" Burnett's absence from the Bad Boys movies since 2003's Bad Boys II is strange, what's even more puzzling is the fact that there hasn't been any official word from Bruckheimer, stars Smith and Lawrence, or even Union herself, regarding Syd's absence from the movies since the franchise's second installment. When one considers that Syd isn't just eye candy, but one of the most competent and respectable of law enforcement in the franchise, the handling of her absence is even more concerning. Furthermore, Union's schedule doesn't seem so full that she's not capable of returning either.

Syd was introduced in Bad Boys II as an attractive yet dedicated and intelligent undercover DEA agent to help take down the Cuban drug kingpin, Hector Juan Carlos "Johnny" Tapia, and his entire drug empire in Miami, Florida. What's even more important about Syd is the fact that she's Marcus' younger sister, and has a complicated romantic relationship with Mike that Marcus isn't entirely aware of. Despite the suspect handling of Syd's absence from the movies, Union starred alongside Jessica Alba in a short-lived TV series that does provide some context regarding her absence.

Syd's Story After Bad Boys II With L.A.'s Finest Spinoff Show

L.A.'s Finest Delves Deeper Into Syd's Personal Life

L.A.'s Finest takes place in modern-day LA, and despite being older, viewers learn that Syd is an established Detective Lieutenant who came to the city of angels to leave her complicated past behind.

The Spectrum Originals TV series, L.A.'s Finest, might have flown under the radar for many, but the spinoff series provides crucial information for Syd's character, while also somewhat explaining why she hasn't been seen in the movies since Bad Boys II. As the title would suggest, L.A.'s Finest takes place in Los Angeles, California instead of the usual Miami setting the Bad Boys franchise is famous for. Furthermore, Syd is now working as a Los Angeles Police Department Officer alongside her partner, Nancy McKenna. As such, it partially explains why Syd hasn't been seen in the Bad Boys movies.

Bad Boys II saw Syd in her first big case, and, despite Marcus' overprotective ways, it became clear to him and audiences that Syd was fully capable of handling herself. However, after the events of the movie and Marcus learning about and accepting Mike and Syd's relationship, audiences never see Syd in the movies again. L.A.'s Finest takes place in modern-day LA, and despite being older, viewers learn that Syd is an established Detective Lieutenant who came to the city of angels to leave her complicated past behind. Although L.A.'s Finest provides additional context, Bad Boys: Ride or Die barely mentions her.

Bad Boys 4's Story Makes Gabrielle Union's Absence Worse

She Seems Like A Bad Sister Based On Marcus' Story

The story of Bad Boys: Ride or Die has a reason that Gabrielle Union's Syd should have returned, and the fact that she didn't makes her character seem even worse. At the beginning of Bad Boys: Ride or Die, Marcus has a heart attack, which defines Marcus' character arc throughout the film. A large chunk of the opening of the film has the audience on the edge of their seats, wondering if Marcus is going to die or not. Viewers see the reactions of Marcus' friends and family after Marcus' heart attack, although there is one notable exception.

Syd not appearing in Bad Boys: Ride or Die means that she wasn't there to check on her brother after he nearly died, which makes her character seem like a bad sibling. While it is possible that Syd couldn't leave Los Angeles to see Marcus in Miami, Bad Boys: Ride or Die could have at least had a cameo where Syd calls Marcus. The fact that Marcus' heart attack didn't seem to phase her in the slightest paints Gabrielle Union's Bad Boys character as a pretty bad person, and if she ever returns, a future sequel needs to fix this.

Bad Boys: Ride Or Die Briefly References Syd

Syd Could Still Be Busy Solving Cases In Los Angeles

One of the Bad Boys franchise's worst trends is its handling of female characters.

Syd's absence from the Bad Boys movies likely stems from her successful career in Los Angeles. In L.A.'s Finest, she worked her way through the ranks and became an established and respected figure in the department. As such, it wouldn't make sense to leave it all behind for Miami. Furthermore, despite being one of the most likable and prolific police officers in the Bad Boys franchise, Mike isn't known to be the most faithful man. Since the first movie, he's depicted as a lady's man and seemingly has a relationship with a different woman in each movie.

Although her absence isn't directly explained, Bad Boys: Ride or Die does briefly give the character a nod. While giving a toast at Mike's wedding, Marcus briefly mentions how they were once in a relationship, with this joke proving that the film re Syd's past in the franchise. While it is impossible to say if Syd will ever return in a potential Bad Boys 5, Bad Boys: Ride or Die's acknowledgment of her role proves that the character's impact on Bad Boys will not be forgotten by the writers, cast, or fans.

One of the Bad Boys franchise's worst trends is its handling of female characters. They come and go with minimal explanation regardless of their impact, and they seem to exist largely to be objectified by many of the male characters. In Bad Boys for Life, it's revealed that Mike fathered a son with another woman sometime in the past, likely while still with Syd. While Mike is shown to romance multiple women, Bad Boys: Ride or Die replaces Gabrielle Union by showing Mike finally settling down with another woman.