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The One Good Thing NetherRealm Ever Wrote In Mortal Kombat

Tactical Bacon Productions

129,214 views

So I've been on a bit of a Mortal Kombat kick recently as you could probably tell by the fact that this is the third video on the topic in as many weeks. Basically I played the new Mortal Kombat 1, that inspired me to go through the previous trilogy, and as it turns out I had a lot to say when I did that. A lot of negative to say as it turns out, because I've come to realize that these days Mortal Kombat is one of those franchises that's seemingly better in concept than execution, as the writers seemingly can't bring the most out of it these days in spite of the lore with infinite possibility. But you know what? There is one thing, one redeeming quality that I can absolutely point to and respect when it comes to 9 through 11, and that's the Justice they did to Johnny Cage.

20 Comments

@classicrockkid345 11 months ago

"I'm taking you out, I'm taking you out, I'm taking you out, and I'm taking you, out to dinner." Smooth as a koalas brain.

@mcl4549 11 months ago

NRS let Johnny drop the HARDEST one liner before fighting Kano in MK9
"Fans think my moves are all wire work and special effects. Truth is, I AM the special effects"
Literal chills

@dionysisnance4204 11 months ago

Johnny got the respect beat into him. Hell years later in mk11 he had to beat some respect into his younger self.

@windego999 11 months ago

One of my favorite parts of Johnny's growth is Liu Kang's own perception of Johnny. When Liu Kang first sees him in MK9, Johnny is being a total showboater and Liu Kang is thoroughly irritated by him. He tells Raiden "What do you see in him?" and Raiden says "He is a hero, Liu Kang. Though he may not yet know it...". In MK1, the same scene is played but the roles are swapped. Raiden tells Liu Kang the same thing "What do you see in him?" and Liu Kang says "He is a hero. Though he may not yet know it..." showing Liu eventually came to respect the hero Johnny does become in time and proving how much he truly does change across the story.

@MagmaMKII 11 months ago (edited)

It helped that Johnny Cage was the only original character who had some semblance of an actual personality and wasn't just some varying levels of sociopathic killing machine like everyone else. To wit, every other character is either a monk or soldier or assassin, basically people who dedicate their lives to fighting and killing, while Johnny Cage has a life and career outside of fighting.

@dillydraws 11 months ago

It's his voice actor. Other Johnny cages show how good of a voice actor can turn him from annoying to endearing. Hell there's a reason why since mk10, Andrew Bowen
has been cage while most of the other cast kept getting recast

@felipedisouza4988 11 months ago

To be frank, Cage's character arc works simply because it's the simplest thing except it's done right - the immature celebrity whom grows up. Much of a no-brainer for Netherrealm writers really.

@Mediabroe405 11 months ago (edited)

Johnny Cage's arc across 9-11 is a simple one but they did do it well and I'm glad you're giving them that credit.

EDIT: This was NOT intentional ppl. Love the replies though, wish I could respond to all.

@cavalierliberty6838 11 months ago

10:45 "from the fact that Sonya rubbed off on him (not like that!)" my brother in Christ, they have a kid together.

@OpaOpaWithDrip 11 months ago

It's funny because Cage was one of my favorite characters growing up, even though he was treated as a joke character in the older timeline.
They gave him a serious glow up in the reboot.

@HenryXLII 11 months ago

I think a lot of what makes Johnny consistently great is the work of his voice actor, Andrew Bowen. There's just something so likable and charamstic about his delivery.

@TLtheDude 11 months ago

11s tower ending should also get some props too, being told from the younger Johnny's perspective realizing the growth his future self has gone through and choosing not to change his future outside of Sonya's fate (technically iffy canon wise, but feels like a nice full circle moment for his character)

@TheodoricFriede 11 months ago

I was a fan of Johnny BEFORE they turned him into the best character in the series. Seeing him reach his full potential as a hero and a person in X was extremely satisfying.

@topcat59 11 months ago (edited)

It’s still surprises me that out of every characters they somehow didn’t fumble the writing on Johnny Cage.🐱

@TrueUnderDawgGaming 11 months ago

Me getting ready to watch another BANGER bacon production!!

@SythoirC 11 months ago

I think MK1's was also an example of a rushed character arc, with Liu Kang getting Johnny wrong by changing him from a peak-career douchebag into a late-career douchebag

@IAMTHESTARMAN 11 months ago

I had a fan theory that Johnny Cage was the reincarnation of Kochal, the god of Chaos. His powers (which Cassie also inherits) are green, which is the Chaos power signature. And the only other character from the Chaosrealm is Havik— who was obsessed with Cassie’s powers in the MK comic. Also, the NPCs mention that people from the Chaosrealm like to tattoo their names on themselves— which Johnny does. There’s more to the theory, but thats the gist of it.

@inadvertanly86 10 months ago

4:00 My headcanon for his is since he’s among Gods, so he must be like one himself. Mixed with “this is like a movie I did” and “this would make a great movie”

@adventurianist2580 11 months ago

He grew up and genuinely became a better man. That's simple yet a real thing all men need help with sometimes. Whether it's cocky pride or a fear of responsibility, this is something we gotta overcome to be better not just for ourselves but others. It's what makes guys that are willing to throw their lives for something better, bigger than themselves be it family, friends, loved ones, or their home.

I know it's NOT that deep but in a sea of modern stories where men are either incompetent cowards, or selfish abusers of power... we could use some good role models. Ones that are flawed but show growth.

@secondaryfront 11 months ago

Dark Raiden didn't "sent Sonya to pointless death". Her death was only a single, random loss in wider war against the Netherrealm and moreover - her sacrifice would made Earth Realm to win it all if only Kronika never intervene.