Benched(a mini nonsensical rant that no one asked for!)
Y'know, I was thinking about this earlier and I figured this is the best place to say anything.
One of my favorite episodes of LMK is Benched, and here's why:
The creators of the show had a real opportunity for this episode to be a one on one confrontation between Macaque and Wukong. No, their fight in s1 doesn't count--MK was present for that. However, Benched doesn't allow this to happen a second time: they choose to let Tang have a moment.
I think Tang being the one to talk with Macaque inside the lantern was an excellent choice. There's something to be said about how Macaque talks to Tang specifically as opposed to the others. He chooses to compliment him(in his own way), saying how smart he is and then offering up some advice.
"don't take it personally, Tang. Your buddy Wukong values people by how useful they are to him. Take it from me, as an expert on what happens when you get too close to the king...Look out for number one, because if you don't, no one will."
I find this interesting. When Macaque tells the story of the hero and the warrior in "Shadow Play" he mentions over and over the betrayal of being left behind that the warrior felt. The letdown of feeling like the warrior was on equal grounds with the hero, but then everything had to change because of power, and he is projecting this idea right onto Tang.
But Tang IS smart, he IS wise, even if he seems more like a side character, he does HAVE STRENGTH. He sees through what Macaque is trying to tell him.
Macaque is "alone". He, at this point, has no real allies, no one to save him. LBD doesn't count because she ONLY sees him as disposable.
Tang, on the other hand, knows that even if he "[doesn't] bring [anything] to the table" he is not alone. He, especially in the drawing he has from MK, is surrounded by people who love and care about him. People who would save him, and people he has saved himself(see how he shields Mei from the ice when Macaque shows up to begin the ritual). It is a two way street and he knows this.
In that moment inside the lantern, Tang very well could have chosen to believe Macaque and betray MK and Co. But he didn't because he isn't pessimistic like Macaque is. He FINDS that power he needs to get the ring and get out. Powers of friendship, sure, but also it could be how MK needs the confidence to get his powers--Tang needs reassurance(even from himself) in order to find his own strengths. Multiple times throughout the show, he follows his gut and most of the time he's correct(Spider Queen in s1, following the Golden Cicada in s3) so of course he would be confident in himself and his relationships and use that power.
I just find their interaction along with Tang's character interesting.