Warning: Spoilers forMufasa: The Lion King.
From the momentMufasa: The Lion Kingbegins, it immediately tugs at audiences’ heartstrings. Thanks to itssmall remembrance of the late James Earl Jones, who famously voiced Mufasa in the original beloved classic,The Lion King, as well as its live-action remake in 2019, viewers were primed for waterworks.The prequel unfolds in a series of flashbacksas Timon (Billy Eichner), Pumbaa (Seth Rogen), and Simba’s (Donald Glover) daughter, Kiara (Blue Ivy Carter), gather around Rafiki (Kagiso Lediga) to hear the story of how Mufasa (Aaron Pierre/Braelyn and Brielle Rankins) came to be king. A lion cub who lost his mother and father in a flash flood, Mufasa ends up far away from his home and encounters a young cub named Taka (Kelvin Harrison Jr./ Theo Somolu), who was destined for his own throne as the son of a king.
Adopted by Taka’s mother, Eshe (Thandiwe Newton), the lion cubs excitedly deem themselves to be brothers. However, given what viewers already know, the revelry doesn’t last forever, seeing as Taka is, in fact, Scar’s actual name. He only received the nickname after betraying Mufasa the first time when they were no longer cubs. While it should have come as no surprise, watching Taka ultimately become the vengeful and murderous Scar was sad to see. Furthermore, watching the loving relationship between Mufasa and Taka develop as the pair grow up together onlymakes Mufasa’s deathinThe Lion Kingall the more heartbreaking.
How Taka Saves Mufasa Only Reminds Viewers How Scar Kills Mufasa
Mufasa: The Lion King
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Taka might have saved Mufasa from dying when they were young cubs, but that doesn’t mean Taka was ever as brave as Mufasa. Because of this,Taka allowed his insecurities to ultimately get the better of him as the movie progressed, which was ominous to watch, given what viewers know about both of the lions’ futures. While there was real brotherly love between the two,Mufasa’svarious callbacks to the moment Scar throws Mufasa off the cliff inThe Lion Kingonly serve to remind audiences thattheir joy would never last. Just when audiences seemingly forget about what’s to come,Mufasareminds them that Taka will never become the kind of brother he initially claimed to be.
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The manner in which Taka saves Mufasa various times throughout the film mimics how Scar eventually allowed Mufasa to die inThe Lion King. By digging his claws into Mufasa’s paws, Taka was able to pull him up from the grips of death more than once, which should have been seen as a happy and celebratory moment.However, for those in the audience, every time Taka saved Mufasa’s life, they were reminded about how Scar took Mufasa’s life. As a result, no momentbetween the brotherswas ever truly a happy one because the looming knowledge of Mufasa’s inevitable death at the hands of his own brother was always present. The brothers’ gleeful existence in the film is continuously tainted by what the audience already knows about the pair.
Mufasa’s Mercy For Scar Was Like a Knife to the Heart
Where Scar only showed vengeance and disdain, Mufasa showed mercy. Even thoughTaka saved Mufasafrom the claws of Kiros (Mads Mikkelsen), he still betrayed his brother in a way Taka knew might kill Mufasa. However, even when faced with the truth of what Taka had done, Mufasa’s only punishment was to never speak his name again, hence the name Scar. Such a choice was like a knife to the heart for viewers, who were once again reminded that no amount of mercy would change what Scar ultimately does to Mufasa.Given how the relationship between Taka and Mufasa develops inMufasa, Taka’s transformation into Scar and his drive to murder his own brother and nephew only garners more tears.
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Taka and Mufasa grew up together and celebrated their status as adoptive brothers, but Taka was never as brave as Mufasa, which ultimately led him down a path of deceit and betrayal. So much about the film reminds viewers of Mufasa’s fate. His death inThe Lion Kingwas arguably one of the most traumatic childhood events for every Millennial, so a film that showcases the love he once shared with the brother who killed him only highlights how tragic his death really was. Because ofwhat viewers learn throughoutMufasa,Mufasa’s death inThe Lion Kingbecomes more heartbreaking than it already was, which was seemingly an impossible feat.Mufasa: The Lion Kingis currently playing in theaters, andThe Lion Kingis streaming onDisney+.
