I don't see why people dislike this topic. It seems to me the author was just legitimately asking for answers to questions he/she had thought of. The author does not deserve insults, though I understand frustrations at the never-ending possibilities, like some of the ones Julie detailed (good ideas)

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The only problem with the question I see is that there aren't many possible answers (drawn from official sources; non-official answers could go one forever). There are countless questions one could ask about TLK. They could go on forever. Example: I could ask "What did Zazu eat for breakfast on the day that Simba and Nala went to the Elephant Graveyard? Did this affect his energy?" And ArbyStrider stirred up a whole new can of worms. Yes, everything is not what it seems. It's possible that the producers intended the whole movie to just be about...some undisclosed something that is impossible to decode! Maybe even their views of the movies have changed since they made the movies! Who knows all the officials' intentions were? No person in the world! That's why it's all about individual interpretation/perception (although SOME explanations are more viable than others).
And I think people, including myself, like to "want" the characters to behave in accordance with their own values. Some people feel that Mufasa shouldn't have been mean to Zazu since Zazu did his absolute best to hold up the task he was assigned, and I agree with this 100%, only I don't think Mufasa was mean to Zazu! His tone of voice was stern, but all he did was command Zazu to take Nala home so he could talk to Simba. This was just like any other command from employer to employee, except in the tone of voice, but people (characters) can't be perfect and expected to always keep a monotone tone of voice. I don't think anyone should be blamed for accidents/other events, even of those accidents/other events are "their fault," as long as those accidents/events weren't "their intentional or negligent fault." If Zazu had acted carelessly (had not followed the cubs, had not tried to be constantly aware of their whereabouts, etc.) or even deliberately badly (lead them to the Graveyard on purpose) then appropriate "disciplinary action" by Mufasa would have been fine (Even expected...Of course, quid pro quo, you're expected to keep certain duties on board!).
Whoops. I had a Scar moment.

No, I did that on porpoise!
And about what Mufasa did to the hyenas: no clear boundary is drawn between "relevant to topic" and "irrelevant to topic," but I don't find this totally irrelevant. It's all connected in the Circle of Life! But, even so, I think Mufasa SHOULD have done what he did. He SHOULD have acted with all his power to prevent the hyenas from harming his son, which he did. The hyenas willingly acted as Scar's killers, and Simba had a right to live (these characters have personhood). Murderers should be stopped before they finish their deeds! Mufasa was protecting not just SOMEONE's right to live, but that of his son, and parents have the responsibility of protecting their children.
PrincessKiara: I share your opinion. I can see how you, like me, (probably) like to assign certain values of your own to the characters you think are "good." I'm pretty sure you think Mufasa is a good character, and you probably think use of physical punishment on children is bad (or AT LEAST the kind as severe as the author was referring to--the kind that would cause Zazu to fear for Simba's well-being!). I also agree that the inclusion of the "Zazu comforts Simba" moment was a good one. I like to see the friendships between the animals of different species developed. Friendship is a good thing to me.