#(outofkombat)

“Which Shaolin are you?”

As much as I have my beef with the Mortal Kombat Legends animated series - less with Scorpion's Revenge, and much more with Battle of the Realms and Snow Blind - I'll absolutely give the films credit where it's due. Whatever my issues with the writing, characterization, or overall direction, the animated movies consistently portray Hanzo Hasashi/Scorpion's physical and emotional torment with an intensity that's difficult to ignore. They never let the audience forget that his existence is built on suffering.

In Scorpion's Revenge, the brutality begins almost immediately. Hanzo witnesses the slaughter of the Shirai Ryu, desperately tries to protect his wife and son, and is murdered himself in one of the most devastating openings in the franchise. His descent into the Netherrealm isn't treated as a triumphant transformation into a cool antihero - it feels like the complete destruction of the man he once was. Every fight afterward reflects that rage and grief, making it clear that Scorpion isn't simply seeking revenge because he's angry; he's consumed by the unbearable loss of everything he loved.

Even once he achieves his vengeance against Quan Chi, the victory feels hollow. The films emphasize that revenge doesn't restore his family, his clan, or the life stolen from him. Hanzo wins the battle, but he never truly escapes the trauma that created Scorpion in the first place.

Battle of the Realms may be one of my least favorite entries for a number of reasons, but I still appreciate that Hanzo's suffering never simply disappears. Even after returning to life, he's constantly caught between the peaceful existence he longs for and the violent identity the Netherrealm forged. His internal struggle - the conflict between Hanzo Hasashi and Scorpion - is one of the more compelling aspects of the film, and moments where he sacrifices himself once again reinforce that tragedy. Peace always seems just out of reach.

Even in Snow Blind, where Hanzo has a much smaller role, the film presents him as someone permanently shaped by pain. He's older, quieter, and more restrained, but the scars are still there. Rather than being driven purely by vengeance, he becomes a reluctant mentor whose experience is defined by hardship and sacrifice. His wisdom carries weight precisely because it was earned through unimaginable loss. The film doesn't erase his suffering - it shows what remains after decades of living with it.

Across all three films, one thing the Legends series consistently gets right is that Hanzo's pain is never treated as a one-time event. It's woven into every stage of his life. The physical punishment he endures is relentless - burned alive, torn apart, beaten down, and repeatedly forced back into battle - but it's the emotional torment that leaves the deepest impression. He loses his family, his clan, his humanity, and, time and again, any chance at lasting peace.

For all my criticisms of the Legends movies, I genuinely respect that they never sanitize Hanzo's tragedy. They portray him not simply as an unstoppable hellspawn, but as a man trapped in an endless cycle of grief, rage, sacrifice, and survival. That relentless portrayal of his suffering is one aspect of the animated films that I think they handle remarkably well.

One of my biggest issues with Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms is that it tries to tell too many stories at once, and as a result, the main narrative loses its focus. Unlike Scorpion's Revenge, which wasn't a perfect film but had a clear central story, Battle of the Realms jumps between multiple plotlines without giving any of them enough time to breathe.

Scorpion's Revenge worked because everything revolved around Hanzo Hasashi's transformation into Scorpion. Even though the pacing was quick, every major event served that core storyline. His quest for vengeance, his relationship with Quan Chi, and the Mortal Kombat tournament all felt connected, making the film cohesive despite its fast pace.

By comparison, Battle of the Realms attempts to adapt several major arcs from the games simultaneously. It covers the conclusion of the Mortal Kombat tournament and Shao Kahn's invasion of Earthrealm, introduces the One Being through Shinnok's amulet, explores Scorpion's search for redemption after learning Quan Chi manipulated him, develops Kuai Liang's rise as the new Sub-Zero, includes Liu Kang's destiny as Earth's champion, and even incorporates elements involving Raiden, Johnny Cage, Sonya Blade, and other supporting characters. With so much happening in just one movie, each storyline feels rushed and underdeveloped.

The biggest missed opportunity, in my opinion, was the relationship between Scorpion and Kuai Liang. After Scorpion realizes he killed Bi-Han under false pretenses, Kuai Liang represents his chance at redemption. Instead of treating each other as enemies, they gradually develop a mutual respect, and Scorpion ultimately helps guide Kuai Liang into becoming the new Sub-Zero. That emotional arc is one of the strongest ideas in the film, yet it receives surprisingly little attention because the movie is constantly moving to the next major event.

I think this story would have benefited greatly from being split into two films. The first could have focused almost entirely on the aftermath of Scorpion's Revenge: Scorpion dealing with the truth about Quan Chi, Kuai Liang stepping into his brother's legacy, and the gradual development of their alliance while the Mortal Kombat tournament reaches its conclusion. A second film could then have fully explored Shao Kahn's invasion of Earthrealm, the conflict surrounding Shinnok's amulet and the One Being, and Liu Kang's final confrontation without feeling so compressed.

Random Inbox Shenanigans || @vulpuslunae || always accepting!

How dare you, Val, for giving me feelings. 😭

Honestly, I feel like making it to the starting line of the Sydney Marathon uninjured and still sane is already more than half the battle.

I'm not going to lie... I've really been struggling with this hot, humid weather. It's either hell's front porch (Hanzo would know this place intimately and wouldn't even blink because he's a human furnace who's built for this kind of heat), or it's absolutely bucketing down with torrential rain... while the sun is somehow still out, obviously.

Some days I'm lucky if I don't storm back into the house, frustrated and cursing at myself. But thank you. Your message genuinely meant a lot.

Right now I'm just trying to get through work and do the best I can. And I'm definitely going to keep writing more Hanzo things because I love him so much.

I hope you have a wonderful day too.

If I decide to come back, I'll let you know. That said, I'm leaning toward not returning. As much as I love writing, I don't feel the same enthusiasm or excitement for it that I once did, and I want to be honest about where I am right now.

I'm in the mood for something emotionally devastating - heavy angst, raw feelings, and scenes that really twist the knife. Canon or a reincarnation AU both sound incredible, so if that's your preference, I'm all for it.

Kuai Liang (Sub-Zero)'s birthday is July 25th (making him a Leo), which means we're officially just one month away!

To celebrate, I'll be accepting any and all Kuai Liang birthday threads throughout the entire month of July, so feel free to write any random starters or headcanons you'd like to share in honor of him.