For those of you who have a theory about what the 'new' timeline is, even if its just a segment of the entire story, share it below!
Let's see if we can crack this thing.
Here's mine so far:
Spoiler: show
I think its safe to say that TLG takes place in the middle of SP, beginning after Simba and Zira’s first confrontation when Kiara and Kovu are young cubs. Kovu seems to be to be a few months older than Kiara, mainly based on his appearance (a hair-tuft, something Kion might have but young Simba did not) and his personality. Yeah, he might be raised in a stern regime, but every young child has the instinct to want to play--Kiara even more so, indicating she might be a great deal younger than him. You could also use the fact that Simba is still marking paths for her as an indication. To me that suggests Kiara does not know her way around yet, so she needs the extra help, especially since she’s so curious. Also her reaction to seeing the Outlands suggests it could be her first, meaning she hasn’t yet been to most places in the Pridelands, making her fairly kiddish.
So the adults have their confrontation and Zira returns to take Kovu back to those termite mounts, which I’m assuming is in the heart of the Outlands and quite a distance from the Elephant Graveyard, which to me, judging by the first movie, is in the other direction, way past the watering hole. Considering the fact that the termite mount is located in what looks like a desert, this has to be a large way out from the Pridelands. Simba wouldn’t be at peace knowing they’re literally right at the borders, and in the first shot we get of the Outlands (when Kiara peers over the rock), there’s no sign of the termite mounds, which look incredibly tall since Zira climbs out the top of one in My Lullaby. You would be able to see them from where Kiara is, even if only an outline. My point here is that the Outlander’s home is a long way from the Pridelands, which is why we wouldn’t see it in TLG.
Zira begins to train Kovu, and seeing how he looks when we meet him again in SP, this has probably taken years. Zira wouldn’t want to rush it--she knows she can manipulate things here. If she sends Kovu out to kill Simba when he’s barely a teenager, there’s a good chance Simba could defeat him and kill him, and Kovu is their only chance. She’ll take her time. Kiara would not be seen as a worthy opponent to Zira and in her eyes is an easy kill. Judging by the third movie, which for the first time in history we will consider canon, Simba was out in the jungle with T&P for a long time. He’s a cub for a long while, then a teenager with a partial mane, then an adult. I believe someone once suggested that it would be seven years or so based on actual lions. That’s enough time for the Pridelands to completely waste away, for Nala to grow up, old enough to be a mother and a queen (I know we’re humanizing a bit here, but still), and for Simba to gain a full mane (even just after HM, it looks fully grown.)
Kovu’s mane, to me, is getting there but not yet full. It doesn’t quite run down his chest the way Simba’s does. He’s in his late teens, perhaps. So based on that we can assume that Kovu was being trained for about five or six years.
Kion is born not long after the confrontation. Simba is at peace because Zira, busy training Kovu, has not been seen in the Pridelands for years. With that reassurance, he begins to focus on training Kiara to be Queen. Some of the other lionesses in the Pride, either there from the beginning or recently joined, have brought their own girl cubs who distract Kiara from thinking about her encounter with Kovu. Kion is just a little older when he is awarded the duty of the Guard--maybe the same age Kovu was when he and Kiara first met, judging by the hair tuft.
TLG Kiara, to me, is the same age teenager Simba was in 1 1/2, or at least around that. It’s harder to tell with the lionesses because they have no mane. She’s grown up and is mentally maturing, and beginning to realise that she has no choice in whether she wants to be Queen or not, so she might as well make the most of it. She’s also learning how to hunt, all things teenage lionesses would go through.
And what about those pesky hyenas? I propose that they probably moved into the volcano (?) when the Outlanders appeared to be gone for good. Janja saw the opportunity to take the food that would normally go to them (i.e nothing) and decided he and his other runaway hyenas would take over their role as the OTHER carnivores. Of course, he soon realises there is virtually nothing to eat, so he ventures into the Pridelands to hunt instead.
For years, that’s just how it is. No Outlanders. Not until Kovu reaches Zira’s desired age--a young adult.
Something must’ve happened to cause Kion and the Guard to move out. I know Janja would crap his stripey pants at the thought of Zira returning because he can barely handle a lion cub. Someone made an excellent suggestion that the Guard left to get help when it appeared Zira was returning, but you wonder how they would know they’re coming back. Anyway, Kovu comes back and SP begins again. Kion doesn’t return until post-SP. The reason it would be so easy for Kovu to get away with his plan (as well as Vitani and Nuka causing trouble like a fire) is because the Guard isn’t there.
Rafiki’s first indication that the Outlanders are returning could’ve been through Mufasa’s message to join the prides again. And the reason for Kiara being a lousy hunter could be because Tiifu and Zuri never really took it all that seriously. Tiifu wanted to, but is too excitable. Zuri is a pessimistic pain.
Also, Tiifu and Zuri could’ve easily left with the Guard, or simply found mates from other prides and left.
And all the while, Zira would have no idea about the Guard. It's a Pridelander tradition, it only concerns the royal family. There's a lot of theories you could have here but personally, I don't think Scar would be so keen to talk about how he misused his power. He'd probably lie to her and knowing Zira's obsession with him she would believe it.
So the adults have their confrontation and Zira returns to take Kovu back to those termite mounts, which I’m assuming is in the heart of the Outlands and quite a distance from the Elephant Graveyard, which to me, judging by the first movie, is in the other direction, way past the watering hole. Considering the fact that the termite mount is located in what looks like a desert, this has to be a large way out from the Pridelands. Simba wouldn’t be at peace knowing they’re literally right at the borders, and in the first shot we get of the Outlands (when Kiara peers over the rock), there’s no sign of the termite mounds, which look incredibly tall since Zira climbs out the top of one in My Lullaby. You would be able to see them from where Kiara is, even if only an outline. My point here is that the Outlander’s home is a long way from the Pridelands, which is why we wouldn’t see it in TLG.
Zira begins to train Kovu, and seeing how he looks when we meet him again in SP, this has probably taken years. Zira wouldn’t want to rush it--she knows she can manipulate things here. If she sends Kovu out to kill Simba when he’s barely a teenager, there’s a good chance Simba could defeat him and kill him, and Kovu is their only chance. She’ll take her time. Kiara would not be seen as a worthy opponent to Zira and in her eyes is an easy kill. Judging by the third movie, which for the first time in history we will consider canon, Simba was out in the jungle with T&P for a long time. He’s a cub for a long while, then a teenager with a partial mane, then an adult. I believe someone once suggested that it would be seven years or so based on actual lions. That’s enough time for the Pridelands to completely waste away, for Nala to grow up, old enough to be a mother and a queen (I know we’re humanizing a bit here, but still), and for Simba to gain a full mane (even just after HM, it looks fully grown.)
Kovu’s mane, to me, is getting there but not yet full. It doesn’t quite run down his chest the way Simba’s does. He’s in his late teens, perhaps. So based on that we can assume that Kovu was being trained for about five or six years.
Kion is born not long after the confrontation. Simba is at peace because Zira, busy training Kovu, has not been seen in the Pridelands for years. With that reassurance, he begins to focus on training Kiara to be Queen. Some of the other lionesses in the Pride, either there from the beginning or recently joined, have brought their own girl cubs who distract Kiara from thinking about her encounter with Kovu. Kion is just a little older when he is awarded the duty of the Guard--maybe the same age Kovu was when he and Kiara first met, judging by the hair tuft.
TLG Kiara, to me, is the same age teenager Simba was in 1 1/2, or at least around that. It’s harder to tell with the lionesses because they have no mane. She’s grown up and is mentally maturing, and beginning to realise that she has no choice in whether she wants to be Queen or not, so she might as well make the most of it. She’s also learning how to hunt, all things teenage lionesses would go through.
And what about those pesky hyenas? I propose that they probably moved into the volcano (?) when the Outlanders appeared to be gone for good. Janja saw the opportunity to take the food that would normally go to them (i.e nothing) and decided he and his other runaway hyenas would take over their role as the OTHER carnivores. Of course, he soon realises there is virtually nothing to eat, so he ventures into the Pridelands to hunt instead.
For years, that’s just how it is. No Outlanders. Not until Kovu reaches Zira’s desired age--a young adult.
Something must’ve happened to cause Kion and the Guard to move out. I know Janja would crap his stripey pants at the thought of Zira returning because he can barely handle a lion cub. Someone made an excellent suggestion that the Guard left to get help when it appeared Zira was returning, but you wonder how they would know they’re coming back. Anyway, Kovu comes back and SP begins again. Kion doesn’t return until post-SP. The reason it would be so easy for Kovu to get away with his plan (as well as Vitani and Nuka causing trouble like a fire) is because the Guard isn’t there.
Rafiki’s first indication that the Outlanders are returning could’ve been through Mufasa’s message to join the prides again. And the reason for Kiara being a lousy hunter could be because Tiifu and Zuri never really took it all that seriously. Tiifu wanted to, but is too excitable. Zuri is a pessimistic pain.
Also, Tiifu and Zuri could’ve easily left with the Guard, or simply found mates from other prides and left.
And all the while, Zira would have no idea about the Guard. It's a Pridelander tradition, it only concerns the royal family. There's a lot of theories you could have here but personally, I don't think Scar would be so keen to talk about how he misused his power. He'd probably lie to her and knowing Zira's obsession with him she would believe it.
