Would love to know your thoughts on the similarities & differences between the master/student relationship of Subodhi/Wukong compared to Wukong/MK
The main similarities we see are the ones Subodhi list out himself in 4x06:
Scroll Subodhi: "Do you even believe that? The students I train spend lifetimes to posses a fraction of your power! Am I to believe Sun Wukong is the greatest master in history?" MK: "I mean...maybe he's pretty great-" Scroll Subodhi: "I am the greatest master in all of history! However, even I admit my mentorship is not the sole reason for Sun Wukong's absurdly fast learning, just as his is not reason for yours."
Both Subodhi and Wukong had students who were uniquely capable. Though, to be quite honest, MK taught himself the majority of his abilities (presumably with a foundation laid by Wukong in eps like 1x07 and 1x09). Gold Vision? That ability was triggered by the mural in AHIB. Monkey Mech? That's an ability MK creates himself to defeat DBK. Duplication? MK learns that through Tang. Shrinking? MK teaches himself. 72 Transformations? MK teaches himself. Cloud Walking? MK TEACHES HIMSELF ("Every time I learned a new ability, it was because there was something I needed to do, when there was no other way.")
So, an interesting difference between the Subodhi/Wukong and Wukong/MK dynamics is that Subodhi teaches far more than Wukong does, even being a master to Mei, Tang, Pigsy, and Sandy. In s3, despite being the most knowledgeable, Wukong hardly informs the gang on anything. I also think "Just believe in yourself! Even a smidge can make all the difference" is a similar philosophy to "By breaking these shackles you have imposed upon yourselves, you will become truly unstoppable warriors—which is what the universe is going to need sooner than we might hope", due to MK's "shackle" often being his low self-worth. Subodhi in 4x09 does a great job at being the mentor the gang needs to improve, in ways Wukong often isn't (4x01 being the large exception ("Mistakes happen, but so long as you leave the world better than you found it, then it's all good.")).
Subodhi and Wukong also draw parallels between Mei, Tang, Pigsy, Sandy, and their path lives: "We can't change who we were yesterday, or in a past life, or a hundred lifetimes ago!" versus Subodhi comparing everyone to their past lives and the ways they're worse and better, insisting that they can improve.
In JTTW, Subodhi gives the Monkey King his name, and he trains him in immortality, 72 transformations, and cloud walking. I find Subodhi naming Wukong particularly interesting when paired with this interaction, where Subodhi connects the title of "Monkie Kid" to MK's name:
MK: "I- I can't be! I'm just- I'm just MK!" Scroll Subodhi: "The Monkie Kid?"
He essentially "named" MK Monkie Kid, claiming that his destiny/role > than "just MK".
Other than that, we know so little about lmk Subodhi that it's difficult for me to draw more connections!
