Just Curious As To Why...

[PrincessKiara]

...some people dislike Kiara? I`ve seen some people (in different areas of the Internet, different sites, etc) state negative things about Kiara, saying they hate her, she`s stupid, a flat character, etc.

I know I might be sticking my hand into a nest of wasps here, but I`m really just curious, I would just like to know why Kiara seems to be so strongly disliked by SP fans? For example, why is she perceived as stupid?

Being such a big fan of her myself, I don`t get it... So I`m asking you instead.

[Pixie]

Good on you for being open and asking it so directly!
You know that I love Kiara, but I think you might be opening a can of worms on this one! Just remember there are people like me out here, who like her as much as you do.
She's beautiful, couragous and smart. I'll admit that she can be abit annoying, but only sometimes. So can Simba!

[Azdgari]

I'll start this out by saying I'm playing devil's advocate--I like Kiara as much as the next guy. =P

I guess all I can think of is she's really pretty one-dimensional. She's the 'innocent teen' that runs off from her parents and then comes back and saves the day. There was nothing Kiara did I that I couldn't predict a mile and half away.

I dunno, really. I like her, she's a fun character. :3

[SnowyCheetah]

I think she's a wonderful character - but as Azdgari pointed out she's kinda the run-away-from-home teen. I'm no fan of such behavior in movies or real life, but she knew what was right and she saw to it that she did what was right.

Another reason people hate her, which I've seen people gripe about first hand, is the notion that she is retarded - as in, literally metally challenged. They say that she can't even hunt like a normal lioness, and that she's an inbred disaster whose only virtue is her (stunning) looks.

Perhaps they also hate her for trying to save Zira, but that was only compassion and strong compassion at that.

I won't even go into the Kovu-haters...

[Flowertall]

I think she`s a little annoying as a cub, she laughs at almost anything. Mostly I think that`s a result of poor scriptwriting.

[Kina]

Well, Snowy did a good job of listing possibilities for that, PK. But, like most things in TLK fandom, not everything is solidly based in knowledge. So, some of the character-hate is all hypothetical in literal sense. Kiara may have been somewhat one-dimensional in terms of character tropes, but she does have her redeeming qualities.

[SophieCub]

I'm not a huge fan of her but here are somethings that can get on some peoples nerves

1. She runs away from home just because Simba did something

2. As a cub she goes to the outlands when she was told not to

3. As a cub she laughs at everything

[PrincessKiara]

Thanks for the replies.

*shakes head at Snowy`s post* That`s just sad. I cannot understand how people could say that about her.

[Akril]

(Long rant below. Read at your own risk.)

I think most of the people who dislike Kiara are the "first-generation" fans who watched TLK as kids. For them, SP came out in their early teens, and a number of them were disappointed by it for various reasons. (And yes, I am one of those people.)

As for Kiara herself, one rather famous oldbie from Lilymud named Snowy called Kiara "a Disney-sanctioned Mary Sue", and I've got to say that I can't really disagree with that description. For those of you who aren't familiar with the term, a Mary Sue is a female character (often an inserted character in fan fiction) who is unnaturally perfect/attractive/cute, is always the center of attention, is right about pretty much everything, ends up saving the day, and often distorts the personalities of other characters to make her look better. Kiara seems to fit every one of these characteristics.

Even from the start of the film, Kiara is the absolute center of attention. Compare her presentation to Simba's: Simba is a tiny infant only dimly aware of what's going on around him and barely even moves, while Kiara seems to be consciously trying to look as cute and endearing as possible in every way, smiling at everything, giggling and squirming wildly and playfully swatting at leaves that blow by. Then later as an adult, Rafiki praises how beautiful she is becoming (since when was beauty an essential part of being a good Lion Queen?), and everyone is praising her as she goes on her hunt. Even the way she looks at the lionesses as she walks by seems to say, "Yep, that's right. I'm the best."

As for Kiara being a ditz, this wouldn't be such a problem if it wasn't so overblown and inconsistent. For example, when Kiara is on her hunt, she sees a small rock, carefully steps over it, seems fully aware of it, then bumps the same rock with her hind leg. How could something like this not be described as...well..."un-smart"? It's a similar story during "Love Will Find a Way" when she gets excited when she sees a tiny clump of grass rustling, then gets all sad when a frog (and not Kovu) jumps out. But then, just a short time after running around giggling with Kovu, when Kovu looks at their reflections and says three words from a song Simba sung to Kiara as a cub (where did he hear that phrase anyway?), suddenly she becomes all wise and rational and wants to return to the pride she wanted nothing to do with a few hours ago.

Then there's the "distorting other characters' personalities" issue. Simba, who was so carefree and inspiring in TLK, has suddenly become an anxious, overprotective father with an extreme hatred towards the Outsiders that is never fully explained. Nala, the fiery, sharp-tongued huntress from TLK, has become a mellow, passive secondary character who barely says or does anything during SP. As for Kovu, as an adult we're led to believe that he is a hardened killer dead-set on carrying out his mother's wishes, yet after just a few hours with Kiara, he becomes a complete softie -- and it's never really clear exactly why he falls in love with Kiara either. Not only that, but the only way Kovu gets his toughness back is when Kiara is with him during the final battle. Then there's Vitani, who was all gung-ho with her mother's plan to kill Simba up until Kiara and Kovu stop the fight, then just a few words from Kiara are enough to make her change sides in the blink of an eye.

And of course, Kiara is always right about pretty much everything. The Outsiders are good, Kovu is good, Kovu loves her, the prides have to get back together again. Then, towards the end of the film, she once again becomes the complete center of attention while the other characters just stand around and react to her. She tells Simba that the fighting has to stop, Simba agrees with her, then everyone but Zira agrees with her. Then when Zira attacks Simba, here comes Kiara to save her Daddy's life, putting her own life in danger as well! Then everyone (including Kovu) just stands on top of the gorge yelling "Kiara!" until Simba jumps in to try to save her while Kiara is performing yet another heroic act by trying to save the lioness who was trying to kill her father moments before. Even though Simba's attempt to save Kiara this doesn't serve any purpose, it just goes to reaffirm that she (not Simba) is the center of attention.

I'm not saying that I completely hate Kiara, it's more like I was disappointed by her. You'd think Simba and Nala's genes would have produced a more impressive and consistent character than Kiara.

[Kianga]

Hearty applause to you Akril. I love how you have the role that Snowy used to in giving very in-depth and informative analysis of various things having to do with TLK.

I didn't like Kiara because she's an annoying giggly ditz to me. Also I thought it was rather bratty of her to not want to be queen just because "it's no fun".