if we had to when the group was traveling to Faiyz cut to Nala in her room. She could get angry saying her mother told her about her latest suitor, Simba with or without a flashback..... or we could get a temporary Nala.
As for the murder subplot..... that's a twist. But I'm betting Scar, Zira, or both hired someone. If they did it before the banquet they'd have risked someone seeing and couldn't have left during the banquet.