Before I took up Instagram, I ran a blog. In that blog, I created a series called In The Mind Of, where I did a deep dive into several fictional characters. There were no criteria needed in picking these characters; if I felt they warranted further discussion, they got it. My first post talked about my all-time favorite Disney villain and one of my favorite villains in cinematic history period. That is none other than Scar from The Lion King. In that sense, I figured it fitting to kick off my IG version of In The Mind Of with the devious feline.
At first glance, there is a certain level of sympathy to have for Scar. There is a lot in his character that implies insecurity due to feelings of inadequacy compared to Mufasa. In a way, being king is Scar’s way of combating those insecurities by proving to others and himself that he could be on the same level (if not more so) of prestige as his brother. So when that chance is taken away by the birth of Simba, it’s easy to understand why Scar becomes so bitter. That being said, these sympathies in no way justify Scar’s actions, which prove him to be a cold, ruthless creature with no loyalty or love for anyone but himself.
It’s one thing to be upset over losing a chance at something you believe you’ve earned. It’s another to feel so entitled to it that you’ll murder to gain it, least of all that of your own brother. And not only does Scar do just that, but he goes the extra mile by manipulating his nephew (who at this point is a child and is crying over his father’s body after having just witnessed him be killed) into thinking that it was his fault and uses that knowledge to convince him to run away. The fact that he had his hyena minions go after him with the intent to kill him shows that he did this last part purely for kicks, revealing that not only is Scar immoral enough to kill Mufasa, but he also has a sadistic edge to top it off. Speaking of said minions, he couldn’t care less about them either, as while he promises them endless amounts of food in exchange for their service, he never follows up on that promise by the time he finally gets what he wants, and when the chips are down and he’s backed into a corner, he throws them under the bus as swiftly as he threw Mufasa from the cliff.
Now there have been divisions over Scar by the time he becomes King. Some say he loses his credibility as a villain because of how much he whines, boasts, and complains. For me, I think this fits his character perfectly, as it shows Scar for what he truly is deep down: a petulant, cowardly man-child who takes the responsibility of being King as an opportunity to indulge himself and when he’s faced with the weight of his responsibilities, he breaks down and makes a fit.
In the end, it can be easy to relate to Scar on a surface level because of his insecurities, but in the end, those same insecurities allow his pride and ego to take over and lead him to commit deeply atrocious acts. And any iota of sympathy that may have once been had is thrown completely out the window when he allows his home to turn into a barren wasteland while he sits around treating himself to whatever little trinkets he can muster up. Ultimately, there is nothing good within Scar’s heart, and when he meets his end at the hands of his so-called “friends,” it’s appropriate and fitting.
All that said, I love Scar. He is one of my favorite villains for a reason. He’s got a great design, excellent voice work by Jeremy Irons (and Jim Cummings for a bit,) and “Be Prepared” is a top-tier Disney villain song. What makes him really work though is his ambition. While his actions are evil, the methodical planning and pure drive to achieve his goals are what makes him so compelling, and the fact that he achieves those goals for a time and generations of families were traumatized by Mufasa’s death make it fair to say that he has more than earned his place in the hall of villainy fame. Long Live The King indeed!
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