by The_Outlander » January 12th, 2014, 7:08 pm
I want to say that he would have switched sides based only on Nuka's sensitive nature and his need to belong, but I can't see it being long-lasting. I think his mother's death would have left him very bitter and angry, since his whole life was a pattern of trying to please her and getting nothing in return. He lived a life receiving zero validation from the lion he loved most (which would have given him issues to begin with), and then would have had to helplessly watch her fall to a horrific, violent and painful death. In that moment he would have realized that any chance of receiving the love and recognition he'd been chasing was gone, and where that was his main goal in life (very specific to his mother) I think he'd be left feeling quite lost and frustrated without her. I have a feeling that kind of emotional scarring combined with the life-long brainwashing (Simba is the enemy), watching a non-relative (Kovu) being favoured by his role model/hero, and Nuka's fierce loyalty to Zira in general would leave him babying a grudge. He could possibly "switch" sides for a time if for nothing else but practicality/survival/stick with his pride, but I think that grudge would eventually lead him to revolt and attempt to usurp Simba and then Kovu from their respective statuses (assuming Simba is still alive in this scenario when Nuka reaches his breaking point). I'm not entirely sure, but it's fun to theorize!
O/T comment: That would be an interesting storyline to go with for a 3rd TLK film if Nuka had survived, juhouh. I'd love to see how a 3rd film would have played out if it started out much like the first film, except with Kovu and Kiara as king and queen with Nuka as the envious underdog brother plotting revenge.