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Description

Obligatory “and I’m NEW IN TOWN” here.

In the movies, the circle of life is always presented as this grandiose, overarching concept that deals with birth and death…but what if it also referred to patterns of behavior demonstrated by relatives?

Despite not being biological siblings (Nuka is the son of Scar and Zira, Kovu is the grandson of Scar, and Vitani is a grand-niece of Zira’s), the three were raised as such by Zira. As her mania did not predispose her to long, nurturing talks with her brood, the only one who grew up knowing the half-truths of their parentage was Nuka, but his mutterings were easily dismissed because his assertations were undermined by their mother. At any rate, Kovu and Vitani recognized that their harsh material realities (starvation, dehydration, heat, and the insanity of their parent) ought to be prioritized over any whispers of their parentage. Instead of shying away from Nuka, they gravitated towards him for protection and love. Nuka pretended to be grumpy, but he was often touched by the gestures of his nephew and cousin, even as he envied his nephew like his father before him. Nuka never knew that he replicated his father’s behaviors, and he could not imagine that his guardianship of the two cubs would subvert the pattern: while Scar attempted murder, Nuka only complained bitterly, and then acted like a parent.

Description

Obligatory “and I’m NEW IN TOWN” here.

In the movies, the circle of life is always presented as this grandiose, overarching concept that deals with birth and death…but what if it also referred to patterns of behavior demonstrated by relatives?

Despite not being biological siblings (Nuka is the son of Scar and Zira, Kovu is the grandson of Scar, and Vitani is a grand-niece of Zira’s), the three were raised as such by Zira. As her mania did not predispose her to long, nurturing talks with her brood, the only one who grew up knowing the half-truths of their parentage was Nuka, but his mutterings were easily dismissed because his assertations were undermined by their mother. At any rate, Kovu and Vitani recognized that their harsh material realities (starvation, dehydration, heat, and the insanity of their parent) ought to be prioritized over any whispers of their parentage. Instead of shying away from Nuka, they gravitated towards him for protection and love. Nuka pretended to be grumpy, but he was often touched by the gestures of his nephew and cousin, even as he envied his nephew like his father before him. Nuka never knew that he replicated his father’s behaviors, and he could not imagine that his guardianship of the two cubs would subvert the pattern: while Scar attempted murder, Nuka only complained bitterly, and then acted like a parent.