I saw a post on TikTok that said MK fans forgive Bi-Han's bad writing just because he's beautiful. Basically, pretty privilege. What do you think? Personally, I did like his writing. He didn't seem like a villain until the DLC. Although I do like his "evil" version. Some people made me feel less of a fan for saying I like that version of him, since many believe it has nothing to do with his original character. I don't know, Bi-Han always seemed morally gray to me since midway.
Hello fellow Bi-Han enjoyer!!
Reading your ask, I could not help but ponder your position regarding Bi-Han’s writing, not because your opinion is wrong, but because I found myself not knowing how to elaborate further on your point, considering there has been a lot said already about it during the period in which MK1 (2023) was released. There were many Bi-Han dedicated blogs, including mine, that would craft lenghty think pieces defending Bi-Han up and down, from his own character flaws to the blind spots in writing Mortal Kombat had.
And then it is your question, which I like, because it goes beyond Bi-Han’s morality and bad writing, but how Bi-Han has been perceived by a certain demographic of MK fans, not the totality of the fandom.
Is Bi-Han’s writing overlooked just because he is pretty?
Yes
No
It goes further than that, I think. Because, of course, there are certain girls in the fandom whose main is Bi-Han, and they will love him to death regardless because, frankly, male designs in MK1 are very well done. And so, if you do something to contradict their discourse, they will probably react badly. I believe it must be like a few in the fandom, no more than that. It's not the general rule.
I also think being attached to one character design does not, in fact, invalidate anyone's taste or fan status. Everyone has a little character they’re a little bit attached to, and with Bi-Han is like, come on. LOOK AT HIM.
Then, I also recognize that this is Mortal Kombat as a writing baseline, and that does not, in fact, help at all. Why? Because of the genre of the videogame, most character premises are simplified tropes that, with time, became complex character arcs. Bi-Han himself began as a bit of a simple concept, and yet, we do not know much of him directly, but what do others know of him? We have seen him as a thief, as a ninja, as a dead brother, as Harumi’s murderer, a reanimated corpse, a Khaos wraith, you name it.
The thing about Bi-Han is that no one gets him right and he has no say over his own perception. I'm dead serious.
Every time, he dies. Most of the time, it's a misunderstanding. Most of the time, someone has a story to tell about him that is inexact. Hes a constant victim of accusations. He’s sometimes guilty of some. And then, in MK1 when it comes to him taking the lead of his own narrative, the discourse begins. And thats when people begin to fight because for one half of history mode, he’s biting his tongue and the other half he’s declaring what hes probably been thibking about for a while.
Because we are finally seeing him. The ambition, the power, the tiredness, the desire for freedom, and the utter hatred towards Lord Liu Kang. I also don’t necessarily think Bi-Han is evil until the DLC. He has very consistent views: nationalism, state development, and conquest.
But then again I do think the DLC did something wrong with him in the DLC, Which is basically pausing him indifintely and stoping his potential. It was dumb. Also, all the characters were flanderized considerably, so then
As for evil Bi-Han i love OOD Bi-Han, and I love writing him, I think its valid to say you like it. Although I'm sure it can be done better.
As I type this i can feel the seroquel in my body start kicking in and i cannot say i can write anything else but in my masterlist theres a lot of my thougthss of this. i think
smooch
