Couldn't Scar have just killed Simba?

[Ninaroja]

I saw some people on youtube discussing this recently, and it made me think. Couldn't Scar have just killed Simba, left his body in the gorge and told the lionesses he got trampled, too? It would have saved him a lot of trouble later, anyway! Plus, the hyenas let him down before, what made him think they wouldn't do it again?

Obviously, though, this is Disney we're talking about, and there would be no movie had this happened.
I just wanted to know what others thought.

[Carl]

He could have, but Scar probably didn't want to get his paws dirty, and foolishly assumed that three hyenas could dispose of one cub.

[Kitva Hyperlink]

he avoided the fact that Mufasa really cares about Simba.

[DGFone]

he avoided the fact that Mufasa really cares about Simba.

Mufasa was already dead by then. What Ninaroja asked is why Scar didn't simply kill Simba when he found Simba alone next to the dead Mufasa. I personally think that it's two reasons:

One, is that Scar is the mastermind of the plan, and what masterminds tend to hate to do is the actual work. Sure, Scar dropped Mufasa off the cliff, but that was a bit of personal revenge. This is why Scar had the hyenas start the stampede even after a few previous failed attempts at removing Simba. But as has as Simba goes, Scar didn't kill him because he didn't feel like being the one to do so.

The other reason I think is that Scar didn't know if he will be able to kill Simba in a way that would be convincing. To say "Oh, Simba died in the stampede, how tragic" when Simba would clearly have claw scratches on him, it would be easier for Scar at least to blame the hyenas if they succeeded in killing Simba: "Simba survived the stampede, but then the hyenas got him!"

[Meskhenet]

It's probably best that Scar didn't kill Simba because sooner or later the skeletons would come out of the closet. And if that were to happen most likely the lionesses would be attempting to murder Scar for being held responsible for the deaths of the former king and prince.

[SNAZ]

It's probably best that Scar didn't kill Simba because sooner or later the skeletons would come out of the closet. And if that were to happen most likely the lionesses would be attempting to murder Scar for being held responsible for the deaths of the former king and prince.

I agree!

One, is that Scar is the mastermind of the plan, and what masterminds tend to hate to do is the actual work. Sure, Scar dropped Mufasa off the cliff, but that was a bit of personal revenge. This is why Scar had the hyenas start the stampede even after a few previous failed attempts at removing Simba. But as has as Simba goes, Scar didn't kill him because he didn't feel like being the one to do so.

The other reason I think is that Scar didn't know if he will be able to kill Simba in a way that would be convincing. To say "Oh, Simba died in the stampede, how tragic" when Simba would clearly have claw scratches on him, it would be easier for Scar at least to blame the hyenas if they succeeded in killing Simba: "Simba survived the stampede, but then the hyenas got him!"

And this! I think they both contribute...

[Akril]

One, is that Scar is the mastermind of the plan, and what masterminds tend to hate to do is the actual work. Sure, Scar dropped Mufasa off the cliff, but that was a bit of personal revenge. This is why Scar had the hyenas start the stampede even after a few previous failed attempts at removing Simba. But as has as Simba goes, Scar didn't kill him because he didn't feel like being the one to do so.

I agree wholeheartedly with this. I actually wrote a short story exploring this very idea, and it touched on many of these points (e.g., Scar only killed Mufasa because the hyenas failed to get the job done).

I've also noticed that he tends to prefer mental "attacks" over physical ones (look how many times he leads Simba along or breaks him down using nothing more than mere words). It seems like for Scar, psychologically manipulating an already anguished Simba into thinking that Simba caused Mufasa's death and that his pride would see him as a murderer if he returned to them would be a far more satisfying experience than simply killing him right then and there.

[InsaneSeagull]

Sure he could. But he was wise enough not even to think about it.

He knew that killing Simba in those conditions would only harden his life and maybe even destroy his "I'll be king" plans. He could too easily get caught. With hyenas, even if that happened, he could simply say: "But it's them! I have nothing to do with this!"

And, even if he didn't get caught, there's still chance that Simba would survive the attack and tell the rest of the pride what happened what would result Scar to (at least) exile. He could stop dreaming about being king anyway.

[SNAZ]

I agree wholeheartedly with this. I actually wrote a short story exploring this very idea, and it touched on many of these points (e.g., Scar only killed Mufasa because the hyenas failed to get the job done).

Very good story!

[Regulus]

"Oh, Simba died in the stampede, how tragic" when Simba would clearly have claw scratches on him, it would be easier for Scar at least to blame the hyenas if they succeeded in killing Simba: "Simba survived the stampede, but then the hyenas got him!"

Are you sure about that?

"The hyenas killed Simba after the stampede, so let's let them live with us at Priderock!"