Tarkatans: inherently evil?
Mortal Kombat Series General
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Tarkatans: inherently evil?
Given their demonic heritage, do you think Tarkatans are destined to be evil, or could they be good, or at least somewhat redeemable?
I personally do not like the idea that they can only be evil. It's predictable, and lazy, to have an whole race that people can always blame of doing evil deeds, particularly a race of scary-looking beings like them.
They are half-demons, so perhaps the Outworld half of their genetics allows them to be good. Or maybe the demonic heritage doesn't influence their behavior all that much. Sareena and Ashrah are both demons, and we've yet to find out whether either used to be something else, or if they were born demons, but either way, they've both tried to be good. Why couldn't Tarkatans do the same?
I like to think that they're not so much destined to be evil, so much as they're more prone to it than the other species (that we know of), including humans.
Although, if they ever "redeem" Baraka, or introduce a new good Tarkatan (a female one preferably, imo), then I hope that being good wouldn't mean being a pacifist, who hates what they are and who would want to rid their DNA of the demonic heritage, and to look human. The last one (to look human) would especially be annoying.
I personally do not like the idea that they can only be evil. It's predictable, and lazy, to have an whole race that people can always blame of doing evil deeds, particularly a race of scary-looking beings like them.
They are half-demons, so perhaps the Outworld half of their genetics allows them to be good. Or maybe the demonic heritage doesn't influence their behavior all that much. Sareena and Ashrah are both demons, and we've yet to find out whether either used to be something else, or if they were born demons, but either way, they've both tried to be good. Why couldn't Tarkatans do the same?
I like to think that they're not so much destined to be evil, so much as they're more prone to it than the other species (that we know of), including humans.
Although, if they ever "redeem" Baraka, or introduce a new good Tarkatan (a female one preferably, imo), then I hope that being good wouldn't mean being a pacifist, who hates what they are and who would want to rid their DNA of the demonic heritage, and to look human. The last one (to look human) would especially be annoying.


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The way I see it, they just follow the strongest leader of Outworld. I don't see that as really evil, just really loyal. Like Stormtroopers/Clone Troopers
Would be cool if a good tarkatan made an appearance.
Would be cool if a good tarkatan made an appearance.
I don't think we'll see them being good. The only one I can possibly think of is Mileena, but I don't want her to become good. They'll obviously become loyal to Shinnok, serve the side of evil once again and not see that much of a difference with them. To be honest, they're my least favorite race in the series. I just find them boring.
You know, I was thinking. Since most Tarkatans believe in serving the strongest, would they then serve one of the heroes, like Kitana, if said hero decided to take over as Outworld's Emperor? Given how many times the heroes prevailed, maybe some Tarkatans would start considering them stronger than all the masters they've served.
Though there's the possibility that they side with the likes of Shao Kahn and Shinnok not just because of their power, but because they grant the Tarkatans privileges the heroes wouldn't. If that's the case, allying with some of Earth's governments or corporations could do them wonders, because there's no way there isn't a single human who wouldn't want such killing machines on their side. Some Tarkatans could then become neutral, serving a human government/corporation with questionable motives, who however see certain otherworldly beings like Quan Chi as a threat, and who'd grant them (the Tarkatans) something in return, like an entire city on our world.
Imagine that. Baraka going corporate.
Though there's the possibility that they side with the likes of Shao Kahn and Shinnok not just because of their power, but because they grant the Tarkatans privileges the heroes wouldn't. If that's the case, allying with some of Earth's governments or corporations could do them wonders, because there's no way there isn't a single human who wouldn't want such killing machines on their side. Some Tarkatans could then become neutral, serving a human government/corporation with questionable motives, who however see certain otherworldly beings like Quan Chi as a threat, and who'd grant them (the Tarkatans) something in return, like an entire city on our world.
Imagine that. Baraka going corporate.


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Li Mei IS evil in Deception though.
At least partly. She's resisting. Success not actually confirmed or guaranteed....
Anyway, as far as the Tarkatans go, I believe my statement in another thread yesterday was "they're not intelligent enough to choose their own morals". That's a bit of an exaggeration, Baraka has shown the capacity for cleverness or rational thought on occasion as opposed to following instinct alone...but they are ruled by their animal-instincts much more than a normal human being, and those instincts are inherently "do selfish, harmful things" because they're part-demon.
Also, behavior isn't just created by nature, it's nurture too. All of Tarkatan culture is "live in tents, raid villages, and eat people." For a Tarkatan to be good, they'd have to be an outcast from their tribe from a very young age so they don't have that example they're being encouraged to conform to growing up, or they'd need to be given a reason as an adult to reject everything they've ever known...AND they'd have to be willing and able to resist their natural urge to behave sociopathically.
At least partly. She's resisting. Success not actually confirmed or guaranteed....
Anyway, as far as the Tarkatans go, I believe my statement in another thread yesterday was "they're not intelligent enough to choose their own morals". That's a bit of an exaggeration, Baraka has shown the capacity for cleverness or rational thought on occasion as opposed to following instinct alone...but they are ruled by their animal-instincts much more than a normal human being, and those instincts are inherently "do selfish, harmful things" because they're part-demon.
Also, behavior isn't just created by nature, it's nurture too. All of Tarkatan culture is "live in tents, raid villages, and eat people." For a Tarkatan to be good, they'd have to be an outcast from their tribe from a very young age so they don't have that example they're being encouraged to conform to growing up, or they'd need to be given a reason as an adult to reject everything they've ever known...AND they'd have to be willing and able to resist their natural urge to behave sociopathically.


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*little girls voice* They're not evil. They're just misunderstood
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Chimera Wrote:
*little girls voice* They're not evil. They're just misunderstood
*little girls voice* They're not evil. They're just misunderstood
Hmm, where have I heard that before?
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I don't like the idea of any of the characters being naturally evil. It's their motivations that make them interesting. Evil for the sake of evil is boring. I'd like to believe that tarkatans are the way they are because of the blood soaked culture they are raised in.
I'd go as far as saying that Tarkatans are inherently violent but I'm not %100 convinced they are inherently evil. Like many of the Shao Kahn conquered races we never get much insight how Tarkatan's would be outside of subjugation and Kahn's intervention. Tarkatans are portrayed as a blood thirsty, nomadic species with little vested interest in cultural development beyond self-preservation. However, they seem to posses enough intelligence to advance culturally.
They sort of remind me of Klingons, Krogans, or Yakuja (Predator) in this respect in that the Tarkatans could possibly develop deep culturally specific morals based around honor. It's a sci-fi twist to the whole"proud warrior" trope.
They sort of remind me of Klingons, Krogans, or Yakuja (Predator) in this respect in that the Tarkatans could possibly develop deep culturally specific morals based around honor. It's a sci-fi twist to the whole"proud warrior" trope.


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Eh, the Shokan are already clearly the proud warrior/Klingon analogue in MK, they care about honor, Goro and Sheeva are even kinda goodguys sometimes.


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-Courtesy of TheCypher-
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Evil? Nah. Actually a character I've always created in my head was a tarkatan that lead an extremely small group against Kahn and the Mortal Kombat tournament, but dies after several attempts to kill him and overthrow his Empire.
So I haven't thought of them as inherently evil like they seem to be.
So I haven't thought of them as inherently evil like they seem to be.


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Evil? No.
Brain-dead and easily manipulated? Yes.
Brain-dead and easily manipulated? Yes.
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A full breed female Tarkatan would be sweet!
Mileena does not count because she is a mixed breed, Human/Tarkatan.
Mileena does not count because she is a mixed breed, Human/Tarkatan.
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