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Okay so we know that mkx has a lot to do with interventionism, imperialism, and outworld politics. We have freedom fighters and cultural shifts and power vacuums and all that good stuff. So I want to talk about Kotal& #39;s role in x and the comics, and why he represents false hope.
Mileena was an "inbetween" kahn with a lot of relevance to the plot, but narratively it is fair to say that Kotal Kahn is Shao Kahn& #39;s replacement in the franchise. So let& #39;s compare them, and see why Kotal seems like a much better option at first, and why people followed him.
Shao Kahn is your typical jerkbag that seized power unlawfully, has a lot of toxic masculine bs going on, conquers/oppresses people, and rules his subjects through fear. Most his servants hate him, but cannot make a move against him, so they obey because they feel like they must
Most of Kotal& #39;s inner circle comes from people who were treated poorly under Shao Kahn. Shokan (originally), Reptile, D& #39;vorah, Ferra/Torr, all monsters and outcasts who were mistreated by the previous establishment. He uplifts them and gives them meaningful tasks.
Instead of toxic masculinity and ruling through fear, he tries to lead by inspiring respect and love. He listens to people around him and has a healthy connection with them where their approval of him matters as much as his does to them. He is open and sincere, and needs them too
And of course, instead of pursuing war with Earthrealm, he seeks peace - a huge shift in Outworld politics, and in the themes of Mortal Kombat. So we can see how he is a direct contrast to basically everything Shao Kahn stood for, and why he was seen as the new hope for Outworld
The story makes him likeable. A good guy. Hell, so much so that mk11 forgot all his other qualities and turned him into a flanderised honour-man. I WANT to like him, and I wish he was like this. But Kotal Kahn represents false hope, this is where it gets interesting to me.
After building up his image, he one by one goes against each positive quality and proves that it was a facade. It& #39;s like the narrative gets you hooked on him, so you see why all these people wanted him in charge, and then punishes you for it so you feel the disappointment too.
He built an image of someone who uplifts those who were oppressed by Shao Kahn, but refuses to aid or free Edenia. As Mileena& #39;s rebellion puts a strain on him, he becomes harsh and paranoid, with cruel laws that oppress his people.
He built an image of someone who listens to his advisers and treats them well, but it is his constant failure to do so that ends up alienating members of his court, and it directly leads to D& #39;vorah& #39;s disillusionment and betrayal. It is his actions that enable Shinnok& #39;s return.
He established himself as a ruler who seeks peace with Earthrealm, but after we help him crush a justified revolution, he quickly turns on the Special Forces, takes the amulet, and kidnaps your team. When Shinnok appears, he is willing to sacrifice Earthrealm to appease him.
We are lead to believe that he will take Outworld in a new direction, but he goes back on every promise. He is wrong to keep Edenia oppressed, and we are wrong to help him. But even though the freedom fighters are justified, we have to help him.
We help him because this oppressive, violent ruler has US friendly politics and Mileena wouldn& #39;t so to the SF, it doesn& #39;t matter who is right. We are just soldiers in the narrative, we don& #39;t get to call it out or go against orders. But the narrative does not endorse it.
In the end, the SF was wrong to back him, because he turns on Earthrealm the moment it becomes inconvenient to pursue peace. The same way he goes back on being a more level headed leader or a kind populist liberator. Everyone who trusted him is punished for it.
Whether intentional or not, I think it& #39;s cool that the narrative really makes you want to like him first, and then slowly deconstructs everything he stands for. You can really feel why some characters fought so hard for him, only to turn against him later.
It& #39;s disappointing how one note and boring mk11 made him, and how it ignored the consequences his actions should have. The real conclusion of his arc is that he is a bad leader, and he is not fit to rule. Much of the game& #39;s conflict is because of him.
Anyway D& #39;vorah did nothing wrong and neither did Tanya.
