Mortal Kombat: Legacy (Rebirth) Web Series

I haven't really given a rat's ass about any of this series, so yeah . Looks like I'm not missing anything.

Commence the giving the ass of a rat in 3.... 2.... 1

I'm afraid that you alone are holding a rat because special effects and pretty pictures aren't everything. At least that was what I gathered was our popular consensus.

@LaughingMan
Sorry, but no. Kevin Tancharoen already told us before that the special effects are the main reason why it's taking them so long to release the final episode, but for Christ's sake, I never thought that would be all there will be.

Wee-hee! Oh, look: two cyborg ninjas are fighting! Who cares if the fans have been reiterating that they'd much rather see some actual story in these episodes rather than just mindless violence and fan-service a-la Mortal Kombat 2! Bam-bam-bam!

Care-O-Meter Status: After seeing this picture? 0%

So did everyone forget about Episodes 3, 6 and 7? (Johnny Cage, Raiden, and the first half of SubZero/Scorpion)

Mortal Kombat Legacy is batting at about 40% being GOOD. Sure, the vast majority of the episodes are lacking in story telling, but Johnny Cage's story, as well as Raiden's and the first half of Scorpion vs SubZero, were unexpectedly interesting short stories, complete with compelling characters and the 'edge' that we're currently lambasting The Amazing Spiderman for trying to mimic.

If one out of three flips of a coin says "Episode 9 will be good" then those aren't terrible odds. Unlikely, but not definitive. Don't get me wrong, I'm prepared to be let down as all fuck, but there's still the hope for promise.

Err, of course not (although I wouldn't be surprised if someone did, considering how long it takes them to finish this goddamn series).

It's just, seeing how all we've been hearing about the last episode all this time is that it's going to feature a fight scene between Cyrax and Sektor; plus, considering how short these things are, it's easy to understand why I'm more than 75% positive there isn't going to be a satisfying denouement, and that the best we're going to see at the end is some kind of an incongruous 'Or did they?' cliffhanger to set up the second season or feature-length movie, which, by they, even if it is actually being made, have absolutely no interest in watching...

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand, Mortal Kombat Legacy Episode 9 is out. Well, it's been out for a day, but whatever. Take a look:

My thoughts:

@LaughingMan
In the immortal words of J. Jonah Jameson, "Crap, crap, megacrap..."

First of all, let's get the praise out of the way first: Was this one of the better episodes? Yes. Were the special effects impressive? Aye, especially for a twelve-minute Internet clip! Was the choreography one of the best we've seen throughout the entire series? No doubt. Was this a satisfying conclusion on the first season or, in fact, any kind of denouement to the ongoing story? Fuck no! For that matter, while this episode was certainly better than, say, the first two or Kitana & Mileena's story, it was still severely lacking in pacing, characterization, back-story, and everything else that LaughingMan has already listed.

See, Mr. Tancharoen, while I applaud your directorial skills when it comes to action and fight scenes, you must understand that if you ever want to make it to, say, Hollywood or some major TV Network with one of your future projects, hire yourself a professional team; don't do everything on your own! You're good at directing? Good. Now hire someone who actually knows something about story structure and pacing. What, you're constantly getting screwed-over by the studios? Then hire yourself a big-name competent producer who'd ensure that that shit won't ever happen.

Finally, — and this is the most important part — don't rush it! Remember how 'Rebirth' originally was supposed to be your personal, unique vision of the Mortal Kombat franchise as something other than simply mindless violence? Yet, as the series progressed, you became more obsessed of what I call 'mimicking the big boys'. See, while, just like LaughingMan said, you could've focused on exploring the psychology of Cyrax and Sektor, their reasons of submitting themselves to this 'Grandmaster', their fears; instead you just thought: "Well, it seems like everyone's into Iron Man and Transformers these days, so let's just make them beat the ever-loving crap out of each other!"

Sorry, but no. While I'm pretty sure some would be more than pleased with just that, unrelenting, cantankerous film geeks with a good eye for talent like me or LaughingMan would only shake their heads with chagrin as you try to cater to the most unsophisticated, tasteless demographic, instead of properly using your potential. Sad...

P.S. Did anyone else notice how one of the annotations at the start of the episode said, "Tell us if you'd like a Season 2 or not"? Wait, didn't Kevin T. assure everyone in one of the interviews that there definitely will be a Season 2 or some other follow-up; hence why they're not concluding the story with Episode 9? Or are the studios once again pissed at him for wasting all their sweet money on the special effects for the latest instatement so they're thinking of firing his ass, and so now he's begging the fans for help this way?

@Cine

Maybe he wants the audience to feel like they are participating or being heard. Or if the majority of votes goes to yes its proof to the studios that the fans are watching and liking it, etc?!

Well I'm torn about this. The stuff LM and Cine pointed out, as the norm, I agree with. But what I'm annoyed about is this is what we waited weeks for?! I felt so disappointed. This story set up definitely shouldve been a 2 parter, easy!

Some things yes, i dont think a backstory is necessary but this plot I wouldve liked some background. I feel like I just jumped into the middle of a conversation and felt a little lost. I was able to keep up but kept wanted to raise my hand going "Why ... ?"

And the continuity was off for me. Kano was there but apparently it was before his accident, why not have placed this earlier on? Although thinkin about it thats not fair to say because that sorta was the same case compared to the other stories.

Even though i feel a bit torn about the series as a whole I must admit I am, if nothing else, curious as to what would/could happen in Season 2.

That would be kind of... dickish, I suppose, from his side, considering how so far he's ignored most of the fans suggestions and complaints (i.e. less mindless fights, more story; first introduce and develop the characters, only then make them mime each other; etc.)


By the way, yeah! Does this happen before the original two episodes or after? If after, then why does Kano have both of his eyes still intact? I mean, sure, they could've covered his cybernetic eye with artificial skin a-la The Terminator, but then what was the point of the final shot of Episode 2, other than simply fanwankery?