Why did Taka and Mufasa fight?

Disney’s new live-action, “Mufasa: The Lion King”, brings a new aspect of the universe of the well-known animation ‘The Lion King’, however, now under the eyes of Simba’s father, allowing fans to better understand the past of the king of Milele.

In the plot, we can see how the brotherly love between Mufasa and Taka, the future Scar, which began harmoniously, turns into an intense conflict that would shape the destinies of the two brothers, forever changing the nature of the rivalry that, in the future, would become the basis for the animation tragedy.

Mufasa and Taka’s relationship

At first, the relationship between Mufasa and Taka seemed almost ideal. Growing up together, after Obasi’s heir saved the fearful orphaned cub from a crocodile attack, with a bond that resembled that of biological brothers, they shared dreams and hopes, as evidenced in the song “I Always Wanted A Brother”, where they both express her desire to have a brother. For Taka, there was no distinction in his bond with Mufasa. They were friends and partners, sharing not only the space of the savannah, but also the clan, without knowing what the future would bring.

However, the family dynamic was marked by a tension that Taka, although he noticed, did not fully understand. His father, Obasi, showed clear contempt for Mufasa, something that confused the young heir. However, everything changes when the king recognizes Mufasa’s bravery and courage after he saves Eshe, his adoptive mother, in a confrontation against the white lions of Kiros, and, subsequently, kills the villain’s heir, causing the beginning of the central conflict of the plot.

This action becomes crucial to the audience when we discover that Taka was observing the conflict from afar and runs away scared, without helping his brother and mother, being charged by his own father after not having the courage to intervene and face the other lions. Taka then begins to realize the difference between him and Mufasa, having his ego hurt by the feeling of inferiority and jealousy, beginning the character’s turning point by highlighting a trait of his personality that, little by little, began to establish itself: cowardice.

He was the heir to Obasi’s power, but his fear of confronting challenges and his insecurity prevented him from acting as a true leader. Mufasa, on the other hand, not only stood out for his courage, but also for a natural leadership instinct, which made him the standout figure.

As the tension of an attack loomed, the two brothers were forced to flee their father’s kingdom due to the threat of Kiros and his white lions, causing the differences between them to deepen. Mufasa, with his keen sense of smell and superior hunting skills, always took the lead and, even without wanting to, led the group made up of Taka, Sarabi, Zazu and Rafiki. His natural and unquestionable leadership position only increased Taka’s frustration, who still saw himself in his brother’s shadow.

Conflicts

The conflict reached a critical point when Taka began to fall in love with Sarabi. At a time when Sarabi falls from a tree and is almost trampled by elephants, Mufasa saves her, but, to protect Taka, he lies saying that he was the one who rescued her. Sarabi, attentive to details, begins to realize that Taka’s actions do not match the instincts of a true leader and, little by little, his affection for Mufasa grows, creating even more tension between the two brothers.

It was this jealousy that led Taka to make drastic decisions. Feeling betrayed by his brother, he forged an alliance with Kiros and the outsiders, allowing them to attack Mufasa on Milele. During the confrontation, Taka had a chance for revenge: Kiros, with his sharp claws, managed to knock Mufasa down. But, in an unexpected moment, Taka jumped between them, putting his life at risk to save his brother and, thus, gaining the scar that would remain marked on his face forever.

This scene, so symbolic, foreshadowed Taka’s dark future. Although he saved Mufasa, he could no longer hide his anger and frustration. Shortly afterwards, after the cave-in that killed Kiros, Taka again saved Mufasa’s life by pulling him out of the turbulent waters. This gesture, which reflected an early childhood moment in which Taka had saved Mufasa from crocodiles, was an attempt to mend the remaining brotherly bonds. But deep down, the lion knew that what was lost could no longer be recovered.

This tragic journey would culminate in the event we all know in “The Lion King.” In the end, Taka (already known as Scar) would make a decision that would forever mark his downfall: by letting Mufasa die, he would seal his fate as the villain he would become.

The relationship between Mufasa and Taka is one of the most complex in “The Lion King”, a story of love and hate, of betrayal and redemption, which reveals how jealousy can corrupt even the strongest bonds. What begins as a simple sibling rivalry evolves into an irreversible tragedy, which forever marks the destinies of both characters.

Also read: ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ is set how long before the first film?