Rewatching MK12 storymode before getting into Khaos Reigns and the beginning always gets me. It is kind’ve hilarious but also sweet that Liu Kang went all out for his former mentor and best friend.
When recruiting Johnny and Kenshi, LK basically planned to just knock on the door and say let’s go. The only reason there’s a fuss is because Johnny and Bi Han are in the same room.
But to recruit Kung Lao and Raiden, Liu Kang had several Lin Kuei members participate in an ELABORATE SKIT with Madam Bo, and instructed them to pull their punches and PLAY DEAD, all to “test” KL and R’s abilities and character before recruiting them.
But it’s Kung Lao and Raiden. There’s not much need to “test” their character. If he was really worried about that, then it would’ve made more sense for Kenshi, who is part of the yakuza, and Johnny, who’s an arrogant hollywood star, to have their moralities tested. Not the two doe eyed farm boys.
Liu Kang wanted to make sure his former mentor and best friend were 100% prepared to participate in the tournament. A mix of favoritism + overprotection given he does not “test” Johnny & Kenshi at all. He wanted to see KL and R’s progress first hand, and wanted to ensure they’d have a chance at survival in the tournament.
In MK9, Kung Lao gets killed by Shang Tsung and Quan Chi, and in MK11 Raiden sacrifices himself and gives his divinity & life force to Liu Kang. Both essentially died, for Earthrealm or for Liu Kang himself.
So Fire God Liu Kang wanted to make double, triple sure that there was as little chance of that as possible in his new timeline, so he went above and beyond when recruiting Kung Lao and Raiden.
And when they succeed he is SO PROUD AND EXCITED, expression literally nothing but smiles, as now he can finally reunite with them. Introduce himself and the concepts of “Earthrealm”, “Gods”, and the Wu Shi Academy to the ones who introduced it all to him so long ago.
Like the way Liu Kang introduces himself to Kung Lao & Raiden vs Johnny & Kenshi is both hilarious because of how different he treats the two interactions but also sweet in how much he still cares about his former mentor and best friend across timelines.