Hey everyone how's it going, sorry I ask that a lot force of habit.
Anyway I've been thinking of the Lion King II a bit lately and have decided to do a full on Thesis and breakdown of the film regarding the characters themes and plot of the movie explaining just why I find it good I gave an example before but this one will be much bigger and detailed and long quite long this will likely take me a bit to actually be done but will also give the full view I have of this movie and how I feel each scene impacts the progressing character arcs, this isn't a review per say my opinion is clear, this is more a look into the movie itself if you have a different view to sections they're welcomed just be polite which people here seem to be. Well let's get to Thesis.
The LK II is a more divisive film than its predecessor considered great by some mediocre by others, bad, good many opinions all around. I for one really love Simba's Pride I feel it is an incredible followup that in a lot of ways surpasses the original, I regard as one of Diney's crowning achievements mostly due to the mature themes, and parallels to the characters and story.
I see the film as an exploration of revenge and forgiveness, and how the past can control ultimately what path we end up on, I feel the movie really explores this through the character arcs of Simba, Kovu, Zira, and Nuka with Kiara being caught in it and looking only to the present.
The catalyst that ties everything together is Simba as his journey is in many ways paralleled by the main cast, his main struggle in a way being the driving force of the whole film, essentially making Simba the real protagonist. Kiara, Kovu, Nuka and Zira all share similarities with Simba.
Starting with Kovu, Kovu is in a way the anti Simba. He was the heir to a former king who was murdered which sent him into exile. Unlike Simba who lived a carefree life Kovu lived a harsh life he was raised to be a killer and follow in Scar's paw prints which we are told. Both are overwhelmed by the idea of this however Simba strives to live up to his father while Kovu deep down wants nothing to do with Scar.
Both Simba and Kovu are confronted with guilt through the death of a loved one which they are blamed for. Simba breaks and goes into self imposed exile while Kovu refuses to bend to Zira's accusation further showing how he is the anti Simba. This parallel continues through the nature of their relationships when like Simba Kovu is wrongly accused of a crime he didn't commit and sent into exile, Nala ultimately led Simba to the path of embracing the destiny his father gave him, while Kiara leads to Kovu rejecting the destiny his family gave him. Finally at first Simba refuses to listen to his lover while Kovu does.
In the end both were dominated by the past and chose to turn away from it their journeys were similar but Kovu usually reacted in the opposite way making him the anti side of Simba. Kovu's arc not only paralleled Simba's from the first but also the second as Kovu's struggle with Scar's legacy is the same Simba is facing with Mufasa yet once again with opposite results. Ultimately in the end despite hating him Kovu was who Simba needed to be he needed to let go of the past and forge his own rather than struggling to be his father.
This could apply to Nuka as well but of course in the worst way, while he has many similarities to Scar who is likely his father, his desire to get his mother's approval is certainly not too different from Simba's own need to make his father proud, which ultimately leads to his death showing that Simba's need to be his father could destroy him in the end.
Kiara is many ways her father's opposite as such her journey while still having some parallels is a little different.
Kiara like Simba is a cheerful and energetic cub like her father, however her relationship with her father is more strained. Simba worshiped his father wanting to follow him everywhere, Kiara wants to be away from him because he didn't give her the freedom she desired. Simba was commanded by his father, Kiara seemed more obedient to her mother. Finally Simba was arrogant and longed to be king, while Kiara was more humble and had no desire to be queen.
The opposite nature of their bound becomes more clear in We are one which is the opposite of look at stars. While Simba is giving Kiara wisdom unlike Simba Kiara isn't certain about it also Simba's wisdom while useful doesn't relate to what Kiara is actually confused about and actually deepens it. The opposites continue and almost reach their peek near the end. Simba in the first is convinced by his father of his mistake however it is the child who convinces the parent of their mistake in the sequel. Despite this Kiara does have similarities to her father from the first movie she doesn't want to embrace her responsibility and she's confused about who she truly is. However Kiara once again contrasts Simba by choosing to go back and embrace her destiny willing another thing being that Simba is motivated by a sense of responsibility and guilt Kiara is motivated by simple compassion.
While Kiara does seem a little to perfect there is a bit of fridge brilliance to it. Kiara is the only character doing what Mufasa would do. She didn't know him but she is she is the only one doing what he would do because despite not wanting to be queen Kiara has one of the most important qualities to be queen, her compassion. Mufasa was responsible but he didn't let a sense of a guilt drive him, Mufasa did not strive to be someone else he simply did the right thing. He did what was best for others what was the morally right thing. Kiara has a similar mentality.
Kiara is the light that inspires Simba and Kovu naturally doesn't leave a lot of room for a heavily flawed character, however Kiara is just the character whose eyes we see the story through ultimately it is Simba and Kovu's story they are the heroes of the story well kind of.
Part 2 coming soon.