Personally, this is kind of ridiculous that a topic about a minor character behavioral flaw has this many replies because of the topic poster's. I've should've known in the beginning that this "betrayal" thing is no more than about the part where Timon decides to temporarily not follow his friends and stay behind in his jungle paradise.
Now, I'll fully admit that this isn't good what Timon does and this is probably one of his lowest points from the films. But the fact of the matter here is that he redeems himself and quite substantially after Rafiki comes back and helps him realize where he messes up, while I can clearly see that Timon already realizes inside that he isn't doing the right thing, when he argues with Pumbaa. But unfortunately, this is where I see that such behavior from Timon is what causes people to easily take him out of context.
With redemption, he risks his
own life to save Pumbaa, Ma and Uncle Max from the hyenas at Pride Rock and is nearly eaten by Shenzi when he determinedly runs and dives into a rock opening to break the last support of the hyena trap.
For a character who is commonly known for laughs, comic relief and wisecracks especially from the previous LK films, this is uniquely and heroically substantial to see and dramatic, which goes back to the scene when Ma tries to keep Timon from leaving his meerkat colony and still believes that he can fit in, in the beginning and a little more drama ensues because Timon knows that it would no longer work and wants to change how a meerkat only survives in this film (instead of a meerkat actually living or wanting to live).
I like the fact that these small dramatic events of Timon in this film of his are there to show the seriousness involved in Timon's own conflicts and that the reality of life is not always bright and sunny for
everyone, whether generally comical, serious or whatever their character may be. Even for this meerkat who is also the lead protagonist of this film. Which also makes him
that much more interesting to me.
All in all and in the end, Timon
does do the right thing in this film and he also brings his family, friends and his own colony (who actually despised and bullied him
according to this film's media like this image, in the first place), to the jungle paradise. And to me, despite his occasional little self-centeredness, it doesn't define his
true character at all from this film.
What it all comes down to here is that Timon is the main and true hero of this film, even though he isn't perfect. None of the lead LK film protagonist are (Simba and Kiara in the other two).
Timon ultimately realizes what he does wrong, quickly corrects his mistakes, then wants to and does do the right thing when all is set and done, and so he does have a true heart.
"I found a place that was beyond my wildest dreams. But..., it still wasn't home." - Timon; Lion King 1 1/2 (3)
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- If you were to die today, where will you spend eternity?