#I think making this all about Johnshi is a disservice to Kenshi

[kenshimybeloved]

Part 8.5! Actually talking about my thoughts on Kenshi losing his eyes and how I think it gets a little oversimplified!

I think there’s kind of a big misconception that Kenshi losing his eyes was some big sacrifice he made for Johnny and that’s why that scene is so important in their relationship but I just ,,,, don’t think that’s the case…. Kenshi couldn’t have possibly known that Mileena was going to stab his eyes because everything in that scene happens so quickly- not even Mileena knows she’s gonna do it until she’s literally doing it. Kenshi approaches Mileena to assure her she’s safe since they intervened and didn’t let Shang Tsung use the needle (an antidote, but Kenshi is under the impression it was to infect her) on her, Mileena then is visibly upset and the Tarkat begins to take over her mind and body. Kenshi then calls Johnny over for backup while Kung Lao watches Shang Tsung/Rain/Tanya. In this moment, Kenshi is worried about the mission and Johnny is “worried about us [Johnny/Kenshi/Kung Lao].” The two basically go back and forth between saving each other from Mileena multiple times, just buying time until they can figure out an actual plan or until Mileena tired herself out. When Kenshi grabs Mileena off of Johnny he isn’t thinking to himself ‘alright! Here’s my sacrifice! To save Johnny I’m gonna let Mileena rip my fuckin eyes out!’ He’s more likely thinking something along the lines of ‘im not going to let Mileena hurt Johnny despite my distaste for him- nobody deserves to die by getting eaten alive [as that was what Mileena was attempting.]’ IMO, this is more telling of Kenshis character than it is his specific relationship with Johnny- he’d do this for just about anybody. BUT! This is where I believe it starts becoming more relevant to their relationship than it is just Kenshis character development alone. Johnnys reaction- albeit justified given it’s not every day you see somebody’s eyes stabbed out of their face- is notably more disturbed than Kung Lao’s. Similarly, he’s having a moment of ‘God I may not get along with this person, but what a horrible thing to experience’ as well as ‘that could’ve been ME’ and ‘if it has to be between him and me, it SHOULD’VE been me.’ Johnnys been an asshole to Kenshi quite a bit at this point, even if he makes efforts in between him being a dick to reach a hand out to Kenshi. If anyone deserved this life changing injury it was the guy who used somebody’s horribly traumatic family history against them just to get a rise out of him. The amount of instant guilt he feels is enough of a final push for him towards maturity and selflessness (particularly in regard to Kenshi). It’s at this point that the both of them just tear down every wall that they’ve built in between each other almost instantaneously and simultaneously. And it’s just so much more special than ‘oh no Johnny!! Here Mileena- take my eyes, not his!’