When Shaun Himmerick said, on his twitter, that THE BIG BAD was obvious, from what he has seen, on the then upcoming trailer, even in the chance of having it cut, everybody was thrilled.
We are 6 weeks from the big day. We have watched the video. But could you really identify if the big bad was that obvious?
Well, unfortunately it wasn't that obvious. And people started speculating.
I came up with two theories. In my opinion, the first is most likely, even if the characters is not the one pulling the strings, he will probably be a major villain.
The second, well, we have to think a little beyond. And that wouldn't exclude a sequel.
THEORY 1:
- If you didn't notice, on the flashback of the Netherrealm War (corresponds to MK4 events on the unchanged timeline), Raiden used The Amulet to trap Shinnok INSIDE of it (imprisionment even mentioned in the comics).
- As seen in the video, it was obvious that The Amulet is the central object in the game.
- So, who possess the Amulet, as on previous versions, is one step closer to rule.
- More than that, who possess The Amulet may be wielding Shinnok's power or even worse: TAKING THE RISK OF UNLEASHING SHINNOK AGAIN.
- On the contrary of what some thought, Mileena isn't the big bad. She will be a foe to beat, I agree. But she is mere tool. She probably doesn't know what she is doing (if YOU were evil and had one of the most powerful objects among all reality, would you use it to CLAIM OUTWORLD'S THRONE?) and her big role is to be the individual whom we will have to take The Amulet from.
- We saw a Red Cloud/Mist exploding the White Lotus Temple's roof. Some people speculated Liu Kang. My friends, remember that (SPOILER ALERT IF SOMEHOW YOU DIDN'T READ THE COMICS) when Forrest Fox killed the Shirai Ryu everything was covered into red, exactly the way the White Lotus Temple is when the revenants attack. So, that was obviously what we know so far as the "Blood Demon". This entity is related to the Kamidogu.
- What's the connection with Shinnok? A possessed Fox mentioned that Quan Chi is related to the demon. Quan Chi is Shinnok's second in command. And if you are antecipating a betrayal, remember that Quan Chi is crazy on The Amulet (which has Shinnok inside).
- More than that, the trailer shows revenant Sindel and Kitana, already mentioned as revenants under Quan Chi's command fighting the protagonists in the White Lotus temple UNDER THE RED CLOUD. Safe to affirm that Quan Chi has some relation with this bloody story.
CONCLUSION: regarding all this info, what comes to my mind, is that Raiden trapped Shinnok inside The Amulet during The Netherrealm War. The Amulet now is not only the key of unimaginable power, but containts the fallen Elder God inside, at the risk of unleashing him again.
For some reason (possibly what the woman many assumed to be Li Mei mentioned, a battle for a talisman with a jewel, remembering that whoever that woman was, she was on a refugee camp, and could be a common outworlder/Li Mei and telling how Kotal Kahn, the Emperor she mentions, got desperate when lost it to Mileena) this Amulet is now on Mileena's possession and she is using it inadvertently taking the risk of unleashing the fallen Elder God once again.
So, the protagonist's goal, with the help of Raiden, Sub-Zero, Kotal Kahn and possibly Scorpion,is to secure The Amulet and avoid another Netherrealm invasion under Shinnok's command. I can't tell how the "blood demon" work on this plot, but if it is under Quan Chi's control, probably he wants the Amulet for himself. WE WILL KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT THE BLOOD DEMON AND THE CURSE OF THE KAMIDOGU ON COMICS #11-#12.
As you notice, that could mean Shinnok is the big bad and it was implied, as Himmerick hinted us, in the trailer. Even if Shinnok is not the "big bad", I think he may play this role with The Amulet, since it is for sure the central object of the game, as seen in the trailer.
But let's think a little beyond?
THEORY 2
When was the LAST and ONLY time you have seen these three things, all themes of MKX, on a single Mortal Kombat story?
- Dispute for Outworld's Throne;
- Kamidogus;
- The Amulet.
On June, 2014, I have written a blog about this very theory.
My friends, the ONLY MK story that has OUTWORLD'S THRONE, KAMIDOGUS and THE AMULET is MORTAL KOMBAT DECEPTION.
What I am trying to say, is ONAGA can be the villain pulling the strings.
Why?
- Specially now that we are focused on Shinnok, he fills the role of a surprise returning character;
- Onaga's scheme involved the Kamidogus;
- Onaga needs The Amulet, alongisde the Kamidogus, to shape the realms as he sees fit;
- As I mentioned on June, 2014, a prophecy is a promise of an end, so it can be postponed, but not stopped. What I'm saying is that Onaga's return trends to happen someday, it can be a day that we won't experience on any game, but it could be this one, or even a MKX's sequel.
- We may know on chapter #11 and #12, so take this as a grain fo salt, but it's possible that Raiden is securing the Kamidogus to avoid "Deception"'s plot;
- Even if you think Raiden could have prevented Shujinko's quest, even if it started long before his changes on the timeline, Onaga can still have other means to return, since his physical body wasn't a result of the Kamidogu's collection.
- Reptile is in the game. As we know, the saurian is the one who receives Onaga's sprit;
- Just some trivia. Usually, people think that Reptile was next to the Dragon's egg by bad luck, being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and that Onaga could possess an human body, meaning that maybe he wasn't as we have seen. This is wrong information. Sindel's ending on MK:D shows that Onaga's remains are reptilian, and also on MK:A he is resurrected on his own. So, he is called Dragon King for a reason. Reptile was the because he was meant to be. Prophecy, remember?
- Speaking on mechanics, NRS, specially Ed Boon, already mentioned that humanoid characters, like Shinnok, are not their favorite type to be final bosses.
What do you think? Agree with me?
Do you have the same line of sight but different conclusion? Different line of sight but same conclusion?
Comment below!
Thanks for your attention.