Well, the reason for this is because the real Tigress (the one in their universe) had already died, which means the other versions of her in different universes will undoubtedly meet the same fate as hers, only in different situations. Basically, it's a race between Po and time as he searches for Tigress and prevents her from facing impending doom. However, no matter how much effort and energy he puts into saving her, fate always has something up its sleeve.
The story takes place in the universe where Tigress faces Kai alone in the mountains near the Panda Village, and during their battle, Kai triggers an avalanche, consuming Tigress in the process. It is the fourth universe Po has transversed to, which explains the amount of grief he has already gone through.
After mastering chi, Po had been learning and discovering different ways and techniques on how to use it and what it does. Eventually, he learned to manifest or harness his chi to travel to different universes. He used this to go through different universes to find Tigress and bring her back to theirs. There’s only one problem, though: Her fate was inevitable.
"Tigress?"
No response. He trudged through the thick snow, his heart pounding with worry and fear. Every step felt heavier than the last as Po's mind raced with thoughts of what could have happened to Tigress. The chilling wind whipped against Po's fur as he continued to search, his eyes scanning the vast expanse of white in hopes of catching a glimpse of the striped feline. After numerous times traveling to different universes, his attempt to bring Tigress back to their universe seemed to be in vain, as her fate remained inevitable. Po didn't want to give up, holding onto a flicker of hope that maybe, just maybe, there was a chance to change her fate.
Po called out desperately, his voice echoing through the snowy mountains. "Tigress, where are you?"
Suddenly, a strong gust of wind blew, causing Po to stumble and nearly lose his footing in the deep snow. Because of this, he lost grip on the coat he had been holding onto, the coat that belonged to Tigress. As it slipped from his grasp, he tried to reach out desperately, his fingers brushing against the fabric for a fleeting moment when his foot slipped on a patch of ice and he stumbled forward, crashing painfully on the frozen ground. Po groaned in pain, clutching his wounded leg, and watched helplessly as the coat disappeared into an abyss of snow. A deep sigh escaped from his mouth as he slowly stood up, brushing the snow off his fur and regaining his composure. He decided to follow the path where the coat had vanished as he called out Tigress' name once more, hoping beyond hope that she would answer.
The wind howled in response to Po's desperate plea, carrying his voice further into the mountains. The snow grew heavier with each passing moment, making it even more difficult for Po to navigate through the treacherous terrain. He began to feel the biting cold seep into his bones, his body shivering uncontrollably. He could feel his energy depleting, his spirits waning. It was at this time that his knees gave out, and he sank to the ground, exhaustion overwhelming him. He let out a deep sigh, feeling hopeless and defeated. As Po sat there, his breath turning into visible puffs of frosty air, he closed his eyes and let his mind drift. Memories of Tigress flooded his thoughts, bringing both comfort and a tinge of sadness to his heart.
"No, I can't give up now," Po whispered to himself, his voice barely audible over the roaring wind. "I've come so far, I can't stop now."
Summoning every ounce of strength he had left, Po pushed himself up from the ground. His body was aching and weary, but his spirit was aflame with resolve. With renewed determination, he trudged forward through the thick snow, each step a struggle but filled with hope. Just then, he caught a glimpse of something in the distance. He couldn't make out what it was amidst the snowstorm, but he felt a surge of anticipation coursing through his veins. He quickened his pace, his heart pounding in his chest. The moment he got closer, his heart sank. There he saw Tigress, lying motionless and buried under a massive pile of snow. "No, no, no!" Po cried out, running towards Tigress as fast as he could.
He frantically dug through the snow and pulled her out, cradling her in his arms. Her body was cold and lifeless, her eyes closed and unresponsive.
"Tigress, please wake up," Po pleaded, his voice choking with emotion as he shook her gently. He could feel the weight of her lifeless body, a stark contrast to the fierce warrior he knew her to be. "I can't lose you again. Please, don't leave me."
But there was no response. Po held her close in his arms, sobbing uncontrollably as he realized that he had lost Tigress once again. He let out a heart-wrenching scream, a cry of grief and anguish that echoed through the mountains. He looked up at the sky, a surge of anger and frustration coursing through him. "Why?!" He shouted. "Why can't I save her? Why can't I change her fate? Tell me, what am I doing wrong?"
As if the heavens were mourning with him, dark clouds gathered overhead and the snowfall intensified. But Po didn't care, he was lost in his grief. He stayed there, cradling the striped feline in his arms and staring blankly at the endless expanse of white around him. Time seemed to stand still as Po sat there, his body trembling from the cold and the weight of his sorrow. The wind howled, carrying his anguished cries into the desolate landscape. The once vibrant and lively Dragon Warrior felt his spirit crushed, his hopes shattered, and an overwhelming sense of hopelessness engulfed him.
So, I’ve been working on the fifth part of the AU I did a few months ago (?). I figured that since it’s been a while since I updated it, I’ve decided to make a fanfic update on it. Now, regarding the said fanfic, I am close to finishing it bit-by-bit (I’m saying this because of writer’s block smh). It’s going to be divided into two parts, by the way, since it’s kind of long :D
Here is the synopsis for Part 1:
After mastering chi, Po had been learning and discovering different ways and techniques on how to use it and what it does. Eventually, he learned to manifest or harness his chi to travel to different universes. He used this to go through different universes to find Tigress and bring her back to theirs. There’s only one problem, though: Her fate was inevitable.
I’ll probably be posting the full version tonight, so look out for it ;)
Edit: Also, I forgot to mention that this fanfic was inspired by one of 7oy7iger's works. Here is the link for it.
This was based on a scene @wild-productions had mentioned almost a month ago (iykyk)
Although it was nowhere near the said scene because I got carried away with writing and was already half-way through finishing it before I even noticed 🙃
I’ve decided to post it here so that you guys can read it, too.
This was the supposed ending plot we discussed/created for the fourth movie.
Sypnosis: Po had returned to the Valley of Peace after his journey, where he was greeted and welcomed by the citizens, his dads (obviously), and his friends. Everyone was delighted, even him, until he noticed a certain feline missing from the crowd.
The moment Po took a step into the valley, he was immediately greeted and welcomed by the citizens. Their cheers and warm smiles made Po's heart swell with happiness as he looked around the familiar surroundings he'd missed so much. It has only been a few days, or maybe a week, since he has been gone, and yet it feels like forever. As he made his way further into the valley, he saw both of his fathers waiting for him at the arch of Mr. Ping's restaurant. "Dads!" Po exclaimed as he ran towards them, engulfing both of them in a tight hug. "I missed you guys!"
"We missed you, too, son."
"We thought you weren't going to come back!" Mr. Ping added. "I almost closed the restaurant to go look for you."
Po eyed his father with a teasing grin. "Seriously?"
"Well, almost. I couldn’t let my customers starve, and besides, I can’t leave the restaurant with Li after what happened last time."
"Oh, come on," Li said with a chuckle, "it wasn't that bad."
"You burned one of my best pans," Mr. Ping retorted.
Po laughed at his fathers' bickering, feeling more at home than ever. Not long after, he saw Master Shifu and the others, who had come to welcome him back as well. "Hi, guys!" Po greeted them excitedly while making his way toward them.
"Welcome back, bud," Monkey said with a broad smile, patting him on the back. "Mantis said he's ready for a rematch for that spicy noodle challenge you two had last time."
"Really? I kind of doubted that he wanted to go through that again."
"Well, I have a reputation to maintain, you know?" Mantis chimed in with a smirk.
Po laughed. "It's on then!"
"Welcome back, Po," Master Shifu said as he walked up to him with a small smile on his face. Po returned the smile and bowed to his master when he realized that someone was missing. He scanned around, and his heart sank, realizing that Tigress was not there to greet him. Shifu noticed this and asked, "Po, is something wrong?"
Po sighed and shook his head. "No, everything's fine." He said softly, trying to hide the disappointment in his voice. "It's just that I was hoping to see Tigress, but I guess she's not here."
Everyone fell silent, not knowing how to tell Po about what happened. After a while, Shifu spoke up, "There's a reason why Tigress wasn't able to be here to welcome you back, Po."
"What do you mean by that, master?" Po asked, his brow furrowed with concern.
"She was badly injured during a bandit attack a few days ago. The cut was deep, so the doctor advised her to rest until she fully recovers."
"Is she okay now? Where is she? Can I see her?"
"Of course you can," Master Shifu said, placing a reassuring hand on Po's arm. "She's resting in her room, and she'll be happy to see you."
Po let out a sigh of relief as he began his journey up the Jade Palace to see Tigress. The sun had begun its descent on the horizon, casting a warm glow over the valley. Po made his way towards the palace barracks and into Tigress' room, feeling his heart race with anticipation. Standing in front of her door, Po suddenly froze, feeling nervous about seeing Tigress again after so long. Come on, Po, he thought to himself. You can do this. I mean, it's just Tigress, your best friend. Po unconsciously winced at the word, knowing deep down that he feels something more for Tigress than just being friends. After composing himself, he took a deep breath before softly knocking on her door.
"Come in," Tigress' voice called out from the other side of the door. Po smiled at the sound of hearing her voice after such a long time. He opened the door slowly, revealing Tigress lying down in her bed with her torso wrapped in bandages. "Hey," Po said softly, approaching her bed with a gentle smile on his face.
Tigress' eyes widened with surprise, but it didn't take long for a warm smile to form on her face. "Hey. Since when did you come back?"
"Just a while ago," Po replied. "Shifu told me about your condition—how are you feeling?"
"Better than the past few days. Although it's hard to move around with all this bandage wrapped around me."
Po chuckled. "It seems like it."
"I'm sorry if I wasn't able to welcome you back when you arrived. If it weren't for my injury, I—"
"Hey, it's okay," Po interrupted, taking Tigress' hand and gently squeezing it. "The important thing is that you get better and that I'm here now, which also means that I'll be taking care of you."
Tigress raised an eyebrow. "Oh really?" She asked, a hint of amusement in her voice. "Well, I'm not sure I need much taking care of, but if you insist, then who am I to refuse such an offer?"
"Yes!" Po exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear as he did his happy dance. Tigress laughed, realizing how much she had missed his goofy antics. He never changed one bit; he's still the Po she knew before he left on his journey. She sat up from her bed, wincing a bit at her sore body. Po noticed this and panicked, "Tigress, what are you doing? You're still recovering; you should be resting!"
"Nonsense," Tigress replied, rolling her eyes playfully. "Now, your first task as my caretaker is to help me get up."
Po blinked, momentarily caught off guard, before gently offering his arms to support Tigress as she stood up. She requested that they take a walk outside, and Po happily obliged. They talked about how Po's journey went and everything that had happened when he was away while enjoying each other's company and the beautiful scenery outside as the moon lit up the night sky. As they walked, Po's gaze kept drifting towards Tigress. He missed being close to her and cherished every moment they spent together as if they were the only people in this world. They made their stop by the peach tree, a place that held a special meaning for both of them. Tigress leaned against the tree, offering Po a seat beside her, which he gladly accepted.
"I missed this," Po said, looking out at the serene view of the valley below.
"Me too," Tigress replied, a soft smile gracing her lips as she glanced at Po. "It's been a while since we've done this."
"Yeah."
There was silence for a moment as they both took in their surroundings and the peacefulness of the night. Po couldn't help but let his gaze linger on Tigress, realizing how much he had missed her while he was away. He felt a strong pull toward her and couldn't deny the fact that he had developed feelings for her over time.
"You can stop staring at me now, Po," Tigress said sarcastically, breaking the silence and causing Po to snap out of his thoughts.
"Wha—huh?"
"Stop staring at me so intensely or I'll start to melt all over the place."
Po laughed sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck out of embarrassment. "Sorry about that, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."
"I was just joking, Po," Tigress replied, nudging him playfully. "I wasn't uncomfortable at all. Besides, it's nice to be looked at that way sometimes."
Tigress smiled warmly at Po, causing his heart to skip a beat. And just like that, he knew for himself that he was deeply in love with her. It all makes sense now: the way he feels with her, the desire to be close to her and keep her safe, and the way his heart beats faster whenever she's near. It was all because he loved her.
"Well, I guess it's getting late," Tigress said, breaking Po out of his thoughts once again. "We should probably head back now."
"Wait!"
Po exclaimed, grabbing Tigress's hand before she could stand up. "Before we do that, there's something I want to tell you."
Tigress looked at him curiously and said, "I'm listening."
Po took a deep breath, trying to gather his thoughts and steady his nerves. He opened his mouth, but it seems like the words got stuck in his throat. He tried to speak, but nothing came out. Tigress was starting to get impatient by then but remained silent as she sensed that Po had something important to say. After a couple of failed attempts, Po groaned as he covered his face with his hands in frustration. This is pointless, Po thought to himself.
"Po, are you okay?" Tigress asked, her concern evident in her voice. "You can tell me anything; you know that."
"I'm sorry, Tigress, but I can't."
"Can't what?"
Po sighed, feeling ashamed of himself. "I..."
He felt Tigress take his hand in hers, giving it a gentle squeeze. Looking up at her, he knew he couldn't keep his feelings bottled up any longer. But how can he tell her how he truly feels if he can't express himself in words? Suddenly, his mind trailed back to his master's words, "Your actions will always speak volumes louder than your words ever will." An idea began to form in Po's mind as he braced himself for what he was about to do. With a newfound determination, he looked straight into Tigress' eyes, his heart beating wildly as if it might burst out of his chest.
"Please don't kill me for this," Po said as he slowly leaned forward and gently pressed his lips against hers. Tigress froze, her eyes widened in surprise. Po felt her tense up as he started second-guessing his actions, but before he could pull away, he felt her arms wrap around his neck, pulling him closer and finally reciprocating the kiss. Po smiled into the kiss, feeling his heart flutter with joy and relief. As they pulled away to catch their breath, Po spoke up, his voice barely above a whisper, "That... was amazing."
Tigress chuckled, a blush creeping up her cheeks. "So, is that what you wanted to tell me?" Po nodded, grinning from ear to ear. A soft laugh escaped Tigress' lips, cupping Po's cheek with her hands and saying, "You goofball."
"I love you, Tigress."
Po finally said the words he had been struggling to say this whole time, and he felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders as he pulled her into a warm embrace.
"I love you, too," Tigress replied, resting her head on his shoulder.
~~~~~~~~
After a moment of silence, Crane finally spoke up, "Well, that was... unexpected," he remarked, turning to the others who were all processing what had just happened.
"Not really," Viper said, smiling knowingly. "I've seen the way those two look at each other. I'm just happy they finally figured it out for themselves."
"It's not fair," Mantis grumbled. "Why couldn't they have just done it tomorrow morning?"
"Because they didn't," Monkey said, a smirk crept on his face. "Now, pay up."
Mantis groaned as he handed a sack of money to Monkey, who was snickering at him.
"Wait, you two had a bet again?" Crane asked.
"Yep, and I won it!"
Mantis rolled his eyes and said, "Whatever, it was only a matter of luck on your part." He hopped off the fence and made his way back to the barracks, with Crane and Viper following his pursuit while Monkey did his happy dance.
Remember that hug scene at the harbor where Po hugged Tigress and literally almost carried her?
Just IMAGINE a scene where, let’s say, they’re reunited after being apart for so long that Po carried Tigress and ✨twirled✨ her around with no hesitation before putting her down and then embracing her.
And, of course, Tigress was surprised by this, but she didn’t mind because she did miss him, too. And she’s probably been hugged by Po many times after the third movie (plus she also ran on all fours at the end just to hug him), so she’s used to it by now.
This took four hours!! I still feel like the proportions are a bit off, but I have been told they aren’t. But I love Tigress so much, I’m for sure going to keep trying.
tigress don’t put pressure on po, you know the boy has stubby legs
I agree with a lot of people that for the most part tigress carries po like 99% of the time
however that 1% is when po must be the logical and mature one whenever tigress disregards an injury
‘come on po I’ve had way worse than this I can still fight”
“that really doesn’t reassure me ya know and you literally have poisoned arrow in you!”
“tis a flesh wound”
for this one here tigress was like ‘I can totally fight with a broken leg’ to which po decided that a tactical retreat was need and was like ‘nope we outty now’
basically emergency piggy back rides folks
also from now on I refuse to search out the correct stitching for po’s shorts, they have given me too much pain
It’s been a hot minute since I’ve expressed an explicit opinion on anything, hasn’t it? Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever done a hot-take post. I guess now is as good a time as any to write my first one, given our current situation…
So, the elephant (panda?) in the room: CinemaCon.
While we’ve hardly even had twenty-four hours to process this new information, I know that there are already a lot of strong opinions out there (mine being one of them), and many of which are displeased. I don’t think I’ve seen anyone who’s necessarily happy (for lack of a better phrase) about the news we received yesterday, and while everyone has differing reasons as to why they’re not thrilled, I think there are a lot of common factors among the skeptics. IMO, all of the concerns I’ve heard since the announcements have been completely valid and understandable (if I don’t already agree with them fully). Here’s a list of the most significant issues:
Chen/Fox Warrior
A replacement for the Dragon Warrior
A villain whose “power” is (potentially) resurrecting past villains from the dead
The Furious Five and their relevancy
Director Mike Mitchell
Many fans (myself included) are finding themselves confused with this alleged plot, mainly because (to put things bluntly) it doesn’t make any sense. I have a plethora of questions in regards to the second bullet alone, imagine how many I have in total!
You won’t have to imagine, actually, because I’m doing you all the favor of writing down my every thought. Strap in, folks!
First of all, who is Chen (?) and why is she relevant? While these are things that will, without question, need to be answered in the upcoming film, I’m still feeling apprehensive. Why would Po choose her as the next Dragon Warrior, a title that for three consecutive movies has been regarded as (arguably) the highest possible title that any living being in this universe can achieve? What makes Chen the next Dragon Warrior, what makes her eligible? The Dragon Warrior is essentially OP at their full potential, and if we’re assuming that this title can in fact be passed on, why would Po give this power and influence to someone he meets in the same movie in which he makes the life-altering decision to seek out an heir? Why wouldn’t he at least choose someone he knows closely, rather than someone he initially doesn’t get along with and likely doesn’t trust (as stated in the alleged plot description)? The movie could only justify that choice with some sort of “message from the universe” making itself known to Po and telling him to choose Chen as his successor, but if that’s the cheap road the writers end up going down, then I’d have to reiterate: why?
Backtracking for a second: we have never had any reason to believe (for even a second) that “another” Dragon Warrior existing is even a possibility, forget the concept of them co-existing with the current and original Dragon Warrior. Didn’t the initial significance and nuance of the title come from the fact that there is only one person who can be the Dragon Warrior, because the concept of the “Dragon Warrior” isn’t so much a title as it is Po himself? The universe (Oogway) must choose the Dragon Warrior because they are a singular being of legend; it is one person, and that person is Po.
Let’s set all of that aside for a moment, because I have a follow-up question: why in the world would Po be finding a replacement so soon? Yes, the alleged plot states that he’s been given a “promotion” (though I find it hard to believe there’s a better title to be had than Dragon Warrior) and therefore wants someone else to fill in for him as the Dragon Warrior, but that doesn’t make any sense (which seems to be becoming a theme). Why would Po’s new status (as something along the lines of the “spiritual master” of the Valley of Peace) hold him back from being the Dragon Warrior? If there’s something else behind him wanting to leave the role behind, then fine, I’m listening, but right now it feels very unbelievable. Why is he doing this so early in his life? He’s been the Dragon Warrior for four or five years at most, why is he throwing in the towel so soon? He’s young and has so much ahead of him, especially after all that he’s done. He’s built prestige and respect over the years and he’s so proud of his role as the Dragon Warrior. It just doesn’t make sense.
One could make the argument that Po wants to settle down, which I’ve seen a few times on different social sites as a suggestion. However, he has shown no interest in such things in the past. He’s always excited to travel and see new things, so to see such a sudden change in attitude and priorities would likely have to be the result of a drastic occurrence. Po is not giving up his title as the Dragon Warrior, at least not with the way things are now. I’m not necessarily adverse to bold decisions being made in sequels, but this is too sharp of a turn for me to be okay with it.
Is it even possible for Po to no longer hold the title? If we reference what I stated earlier, about the title being not so much a title but rather just Po himself, could we even consider that Po can just spontaneously decide to not be the Dragon Warrior anymore? He was chosen by the universe; can he UNO reverse card the universe?
So many paragraphs, and I haven’t even gotten around to discussing the villain or the Furious Five. Let’s see how long I can write before my passion-induced rant starts to fizzle out!
In regards to the villain, I’m conflicted.
On the bright side, I’ve been rooting for a female villain for as long as I’ve been in the fanbase. A female villain could add something really new and fresh to the series, giving fans a new perspective and experience altogether. The only canonical female villains in the KFP universe as of right now are the Wu Sisters, who are some of my personal favorite villains to ever come out of the franchise.
Additionally, rumors suggest that the chameleon can shape-shift. The idea of a shapeshifting villain (who potentially possesses dark magic, or something similar) is admittedly really cool. In an unreleased (unfinished) discussion post, I go into detail regarding the advantages of a manipulative villain. If the chameleon is as manipulative as her shape-shifting powers suggest, she could actually be pretty interesting to watch. Of course, being me, I’d prefer emotional manipulation over anything else, but that’s still a possibility!
In the plot description, it’s stated that the chameleon has the ability to “summon” villains from Po’s past. While it’s been assumed that this is in reference to full on resurrection, there’s still some wiggle room for speculative variation. There are disagreements and conflicting information on whether or not the chameleon can actually revive Po’s former adversaries, as some claim that she has the ability to resurrect the dead (perhaps via dark magic), while others state that she simply takes on their form to mess with Po.
Let’s assume that the chameleon is legitimately able to bring back villains that Po has done away with in previous movies. Isn’t that an incredibly easy way to make it seem like Po is going to experience difficulty in defeating this movie’s opposing force? While I’ll admit that coming up with someone/something that will make Po falter and struggle was never going to be an easy task, especially at this stage, I can’t help but feel as though there’s a bit lacking in the creative department. It’s also a bit insulting, to be honest, because if this new villain has to rely on the reputations and powers of previous villains to put up a fight, then is this a villain worth paying any real mind to? Does she pose any kind of true threat?
Personally, I hope that the whole resurrection theory is false. I don’t think it would be in the best interest of anyone if the past villains were to come back in any way that’s not a flashback (even then, I’m not sure I’d see the point). In all honesty, I thought that the whole point of the villains was that they died and stayed dead. They were defeated by Po once and for all as a testament to the idea of establishing Po’s character growth and journey as a person through the bad things he’s able to overcome. It’d be highly contradictory to the messages of the other films if these villains were to suddenly come back.
For a while, there were theories floating around that suggested that Kung Fu Panda 4′s villain would have some significance to Tigress. The thought process behind this follows a “villain formula” of sorts; each movie villain so far has been connected to a main character through that respective character’s past. Tai Lung was Shifu’s failed prodigy; a fallen angel archetype. Shen killed Po’s mother and led a genocide on his people in a feeble and desperate attempt to save himself from his own fate. Kai was Oogway’s former fellow warlord and brother-in-arms, seeking revenge for the betrayal he felt had been enacted upon him.
I am a full-fledged supporter of the next villain having a connection to Tigress. Unfortunately, though, it doesn’t seem likely given the information we currently have. This chameleon, from what we know at this point in time, has absolutely no connection to Po or anyone in the main cast. I’d even go as far as to say that there’s more of a reason to believe the chameleon will have a connection to Chen; mainly because I think that if Chen needs to be integrated into the main cast, that’s the way the writers are going to go. The problem with this, however, is that it doesn’t make that much sense given how significant of a character Tigress has become in the franchise.
Take everything I say with a grain of salt, though, because in truth, we really don’t know that much about our new villain. This chameleon could very well have a connection to Tigress! We won’t know until the time is right, I suppose.
I’ll use Tigress as a segue to talk about the Furious Five, because unlike in the third film and god-forsaken TV shows, they’re actually relevant here! Personally, I think that the Furious Five still have a bit to offer as characters, for found family feels and to act as nostalgic plot devices if for nothing else. I love the five, and while I can understand if the upcoming film’s story doesn’t call for their involvement as frequently as in KFP 1 and 2, I would still very much appreciate their presence throughout the movie instead of being totally cast aside like in the third movie.
That said, though, I have a different opinion regarding Tigress. She has always stood out as the most significant member of the Furious Five (to both the audience and Po) and has been very impactful to Po and his journey; she was especially important in Kung Fu Panda 2, during which she was shown coming out of her shell and showing something akin to affection towards Po. Their interactions were later described by Guillermo del Toro (who I believe worked on the movie as a creative consultant) as possessing “the hint of a romance.” Whether or not the fourth movie will decide to capitalize on this idea is fully up in the air. It’s been stated by former directors that the theme of romance in KFP would only ever be applied in a comical fashion, but those directors may no longer be involved at all. I’m a Po and Tigress enjoyer, but I’d much rather KFP 4 be a good, solid movie than it being weak and trying to hold itself up with a shallow romantic subplot with Po and Tigress. I would also hate (with the fury of a thousand suns) to see Tigress’s character reduced to that of a love interest; she’s strong, capable, independent, and totally awesome. If she has a larger role in the fourth movie, I’d watch her being a cold-hearted badass a thousand times over before I sit through two hours of her being overtly out-of-character for the sake of a “classic romance” with Po. A relationship between them could work, and I’ll be supportive of it if it’s done well, but it doesn’t and shouldn’t have to happen for the movie to be emotional and impactful and mean something. It should be a sweetener, of sorts; the cherry on top, the little oomph, you know? You don’t need it, the movie would’ve been (pretty much) just as great without it, but you’re glad it’s there.
I have an unfortunate yet strong suspicion that the Furious Five will be tossed to the curb in this movie, and I really hope I’m wrong, because they’re fun characters that help encapsulate the original feel of the franchise. They’re a key part of what gave Po his beginnings in the world of martial arts, and they’re also the people he desperately wanted to be like throughout his childhood (and young adult years). They’re his best friends, and while I want Po to have adventures of his own, I don’t want his origins to be forgotten in favor of new characters. I want the nostalgia, alright? Is that wrong? No, and if it were, I wouldn’t want to be right. Speaking of long-time characters, what about Shifu? I can’t help but wonder what he’ll be up to during this whole debacle. Meditating, perhaps? I hope nobody in the writers’ room decides it’s Shifu’s time to go, which has been a growing concern of mine since learning of Po’s ambiguous “promotion.”
The movie’s director, Mike Mitchell, has (to my knowledge) not been involved with KFP in any capacity. He has no history with the franchise, from what I can see, and this genuinely concerns me. I know little information about him and I don’t want to make assumptions, but I fear that he will not have an appropriate enough understanding of the characters to successfully direct this movie. Again, I could be wrong, but I’m very apprehensive towards the idea of him directing KFP 4 (mainly as a result of the chaos left in the wake of the fourth Shrek movie). I want to give him the benefit of the doubt, but I feel as though my concerns are valid enough to be voiced.
Final thoughts, summarized:
The plot is off and contradicts both Po’s character arc and the other movies
A female chameleon is the villain, which is maybe the only aspect of the movie I can get behind
The Furious Five and Shifu may be completely ignored (again)
The whole “passing of the torch” storyline does not work given Po’s situation
Chen’s character doesn’t make sense
The director choice scares me (I may or may not go into more detail about him and his other movies, but feel free to stalk his IMDB if you’re curious)
If you took the time to read this post, kudos to you. I hope I was able to help you arrange your thoughts regarding this news, because I’m still a bit scatter-brained myself (which is a feeling that I think we can all relate to at the moment). I’ll likely add more to this post over time, whether it be via re-blogs or simple edits. I think of something new to add to this post every few minutes, which I’ve been doing for a few hours now…
Let’s end on a positive note, because I know I was a bit of a downer here:
The title looks pretty cool, I’m not gonna lie. I like the scale texture!
@seven-rats-in-a-trenchcoat @hyperdragonthings @infinite-survivor-choco @nintendoneko64 @dib-thing-wannabe @ducky-died-inside @theninjabozo @averygaypersonthing @kidswithautism @rosiroleplays @hate-not-wanting-a-name @wouldvecouldveshouldvesaidno @trashbins-stuff @koala2055 @lordfreg @thegremlinunderyourbedhehe @possibly-a-table-or-just-gay @skeezpyuff @alilweirddragon @genderlessjacky @fr0gsinurwalls i know im probably not considered a friend to most/all of you, sorry bothering you all, etc but GET BINGUSED-
Po’s entire family is in this shot and I love it. His dads, his babies, and his wife. I even consider Mei Mei and Viper to be his sisters so we have that too.
romaincrisis
titsay
germansingergirl
snowghoul
dededos
blakekathryn
annaxmalina
areudirty
pixelskylines
