#this is not an attack on liu kang/sonya shippers

[killingdoll]

Can’t help digging how Liu Kang and Sonya parallel each other in Mortal Kombat (2021)

Both started with being the “unchosen” one, bearing no dragon mark despite having a strong will to fight. Both had to “earn” their mark in a lethal fight which ended with them taking their opponent’s life. Sonya nearly lost her own life in her fight with Kano while I imagine Liu Kang’s battle with the unnamed champion couldn’t be very easy despite Liu Kang’s training.

Their kills to get the mark were both “righteous vengeance”, as Liu Kang offed a child trafficker/abuser who targeted orphans like him and Sonya got rid of a traitor who tried to have her and the rest of the team killed.

Liu Kang’s and Sonya’s arcanas are highly offensive and destructive in nature and they both manifested right after their acquisition of the mark.

Liu Kang regarded himself as a “worthless stray” and I’m convinced he still sees himself as such from time to time (especially after Kung Lao’s death). Sonya was outright dismissed by Raiden and Kung Lao for not having the mark and I don’t doubt she felt sidelined and helpless while watching Cole and Kano practice and later, when Shang Tsung attacked. To top it off, Mileena said her life wasn’t even worth taking.

Liu Kang’s remark about an individual without the mark being a liability seemed heartless and jerkass at first but it’s likely he was merely echoing what had been directed at him since he started training for Mortal Kombat (and he believes it to be true, without malice).

In short, Liu Kang and Sonya share a lot of similarities, which should make them best friends (they’re already friendly toward each other). Also, it’s refreshing to see a healthy male-female friendship onscreen, without the fear that they may become an item in later installments.