What If Simba Had Saved Kovu From Zira? | The Lion King Explained: Discovering Disney

Today I want to explore what might have happened if Simba would have protected Kovu from his mother and Scar’s most dedicated follower: Zira.

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Have a magical day, fun people!

[RyanTheDark]

Really feel like Mufasa would have protected Kovu, Vitani, and probably even Nuka so Simba not doing it was actually surprising for me.

[SpammytheHedgehog]

Nuka was the most brainwashed of Zira's three children.

[meganshaw]

In thinking about the moment where Zira offers up Kovu, there's something else that should be pointed-out. This scene could be seen in two different ways: One way to view it is that Zira was playing head-games and was trying to see that if Simba took Kovu with him then she could've gone back to her pride saying that Simba took Kovu while not mentioning that she urged him to do it and was going to try to play innocent with her fellow lions. In telling them that Simba took Kovu, this would have only angered the outlanders even more and it would also be something to hold over Simba's head for the rest of his life. However, the second way to look at this is from Kovu's perspective. Remember that Kovu at this moment in the film is a terrified little cub and to him at this stage in his life, Simba is gigantic, powerful and fearsome. To Kovu this is Zira sticking that terrifying mental image of Simba in his mind accompanied with all of the horrible stories that she's told of him. And in addition to these facts are the facts that Simba is the King-the ruler-, that both he and his mother are in Simba's land and that the pride-landers are loyal to Simba and have the outlanders greatly out numbered and furthermore unlike Simba who had back-up with him, Zira didn't bring any support which meant that had there been a fight, she could have easily very lost. All of this is subliminally saying to Kovu that this is your opponent (your enemy) and if he wanted to, he could very easily destroy you and your mother. By doing so, this is Zira's way of controlling and manipulating her son in order to help shape him into the killer heir that she wanted. So really from both angles Zira is playing head-games with both Simba and Kovu.

[SpammytheHedgehog]

Simba would've warmed up to Kovu a lot quicker, learning that Kovu is not like Scar.

[stephsoohall]

I honestly as a kid I thought she was saying, “simba u wanna punching bag?”

[theodoro]

Just remember that when Simba banished the Outsiders, including Kovu, because just from looking at young Kovu Simba saw Scar, the one lion who traumatized him for life

[laikeree_]

I believe this outcome would've also been more possible if Kiara intervened and told Simba that Kovu saved her from the crocodiles
This will make a very interesting AU and storyline

[tayloredwards]

I always thought that the penalty was that Simba was supposed to kill Kovu because Simba said pound of Flesh. But Simba did not have the heart to kill a child

[jilldurham]

Fun Fact: Kovu is the chosen heir of Scar, but Kovu's NOT the biological son of Scar. Nuka and Kovu both said that. Nuka said that to Vatani and Kovu said that to Kiara. So it was said twice in the Lion King 2 Simba's Pride. It's my favorite movie and the best sequel to this day Disney has ever created but Frozen 2 and the two sequels to High School Musical are a close second though high school musical 2 is the best out of the two sequels.

[stephsoohall]

That’s not a king that’s a fuzzy maraca!!!

[SpammytheHedgehog]

I see Scar a lot in Nuka, rather than Kovu.

[mira]

Wait, isn't the scene about Zira offering up Kovu about her telling Simba that he can kill Kovu if he has the guts? She knew he didn't, but I think it was a fun psychological mind game for her.

[SpammytheHedgehog]

We need a backstory on how Zira rebelled against Simba.

[garveyneal]

Kiara ad every right to tell Simba that he'll never be like Mufasa because he isn't Mufasa. He's been trying so hard to protect the pride lands like his father did he ends up becoming someone he's not. He shouldn't be like his father he should be himself.

[Mannyindahouse]

Kovu had subtly said in the film that he didn’t want any part of Scar’s affairs. I agree that Simba could’ve given him a chance earlier.

[ChimeraGuy]

I’m pretty sure when Zira offered up Kovu to Simba “if you need your pound of flesh” I think she meant for him to die and Simba isn’t that cruel that’s why he didn’t take him because I don’t think that’s what Zira meant to begin with she was offering him as some sort of sacrifice

[ZiraRisasi]

Simba taking kovu as a cub would have made zira attack pride rock sooner and make the Outland lioness realize that zira was a bad ruler even quicker.

[TheCommenterDragon]

I have often wondered what it would've been like if Simba had taken Kovu into his pride and he would've practically raised Kovu, but if that had happened then Kovu and Kiara would've become more like siblings than lovers.

[ShadowGaming-bkqt]

Simba shouldn't assume nor Judge what Kovu was gonna become.
every time Simba looked at Kovu, all he saw was Scar in his eyes.
Simba is smarter than that. Mufasa would never treat Kovu the way Simba did.

Simba should have not and learned how Kovu was forged and Mauled by
Zira. seeing that Zira was the ONE turning Kovu into his enemy, Zira was
Treating Kovu as if he was some trained soldier but at such a younger cub age.

[sebastianfontanez]

"That's not a king! That's a fuzzy maraca!" Best cinematic line ever, of all time