#I'M HERE FOR BI HAN RECLAIMING HIS HUMANITY AND PERSONHOOD

[cienie-isengardu]

Is it just me or since MK9 somehow everyone knows Sub-Zero's name is Bi-Han??? In MK11 he is never called by his alias Noob Saibot. Instead, they call him by his real name WHICH WE ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO KNOW AS HE IS AN ASSASSIN OF A HIDDEN LEGENDARY CLAN

Oh, definitely it is true and I can’t blame the authors for using it so much, as MK9 (2011) to my knowledge is the first source establishing Bi-Han’s name. Ironic, as Hanzo Hasashi has been part of lore at least since Mythologies: Sub-Zero (1997), so it was about time for Sub-Zero brothers to get their own identity outside the iconic mantle.

And you know what? I ABSOLUTELY LOVE when characters refer to Noob Saibot as Bi-Han because this little detail humanizes him way more than story mode ever paid attention to his personhood and adds complex layers and nuances to the relationship between characters. Above everything else, I adore the implication Noob Saibot is reclaiming his own humanity that was stolen from him, both by Lin Kuei and Netherrealm, as he literally introduces himself in MK11 by referring to his past both to Kuai Liang by acknowledging their brotherhood (and he does that pretty often in the latest source material) and by giving his name to Jacqui and young!Jax

Sure, it would not work well within the MK9’s story mode for everyone calling Sub-Zero by name and it not always makes sense in MK11 for people like Kotal Kahn, Mileena, Sheeva, Kano or Skarlet to know the name or care to use it (although Kano, Mileena and Sheeva at least had contact with Noob since MK9 and could learn his name at some point in the past) but for Lin Kuei, Earthrealm’s original cast, Revenants, Sareena and even supernatural beings (Raiden & Fujin) there is a logical reason for that familiarity or for characters like Cetrion & Geras to know the name and it deepen the interpersonal connections that games not always properly focus on screen. And it may change the interpretation of events and characters’ reasoning a lot! 

For example, during Tournament (MK9) Raiden’s talk with Scorpion about sparing Sub-Zero’s life

can easily be seen as the god’s manipulations to get the desired result (a similar talk happened with Cyrax to spare Johnny’s life), as everyone involved were pawns in the ruthless game between Raiden and Shao Kahn/Shang Tsung for Earthrealm’s final fate.

But Raiden in MK11, accusing past!Scorpion for breaking his promise and using Sub-Zero’s name?

It changes the tone of their interaction and I dare to say, it presents Raiden as more caring for the person under the mantle, not just trying to prevent a bad outcome that would work against his plans.

Or Kuai Liang’s relationship with Frost and Jacqui. Since MKX, the source material imply that Kuai Liang and Briggs family are not only on good terms, but also that Sub-Zero has most likely a soft spot for Jacqui. She can come to him to test her new gear (“I've got new gear to test”, MK11 intro) and Sub-Zero will encourage her despite Jax’s objection (“Told you not to encourage Jacqui.”, MKX intro) even though he respects the man and considers a friend with whom he shares a “dark past”. Jacqui, the same as Cassie and Takeda heard a lot about Sub-Zero from their family and she may as well be aware that Kuai Liang’s brother died because of Scorpion, but as MK11’s story mode showed, she did not know enough to recognize Bi-Han’s name

even though her father in fact knew it, as it is the young!Jax provides an explanation.

 

Meanwhile in MK11 intro dialogues, Frost knows Noob Saibot’s name and admits she revered Bi-Han at some point (“In the past, I revered you”). No matter how her current relationship with Lin Kuei Grandmaster is stained, her familiarity with Bi-Han suggests that Kuai Liang trusted her a lot, as he revealed personal details about his family. And mind you, Kuai Liang does not always uses Bi-Han's name in intro dialogues, quite often refers to him simply as his sibling.

Similarly, the use of Bi-Han name gives an interesting contrast between the interaction of Shang Tsung with ice brothers. When sorcerer and Kuai Liang talk, they both refer to Bi-Han just as the "brother"

Sub-Zero: My brother paid a high price serving you. Shang Tsung: He knew the rules of Mortal Kombat. Sub-Zero: But then you rigged the tournament.

or

Shang Tsung: You lack your brother's efficacy. Sub-Zero: Because I maintain my integrity. Shang Tsung: Integrity is no weapon, Kuai Liang.

yet when Shang Tsung interacts directly with Noob Saibot, he calls him by name 

Shang Tsung: It's astounding you survived a Soulnado. Noob Saibot: My darkness is immutable and unkillable. Shang Tsung: But is it transferable, Bi-Han?

and in recent years this is a common thing in their interaction, suggesting that Shang Tsung and Bi-Han were on good terms in the past that their familiarity could go beyond the strictly professional nature of a man hiring an assassin to do the job.

Coming back to Jax, and all original Kombatans, I know the sources don't acknowledge it but I can’t stress enough that for the Scorpion vs Sub-Zero match to happen, Bi-Han needed to change sides during the Tournament. Otherwise this fight MAKES NO SENSE as there is no sane reason for Shang Tsung to allow two representatives of Outworld to fight (and one being eliminated) before his victory was secured and final. And so going with that thought, young Jax knowing Sub-Zero’s name, the same as Kung Lao, Liu Kang, Nightwolf did, may suggest that Sub-Zero revealed to Earthrealm Champions his name, as a sign of good will, the proof that there is a man under the mask and he too has something worth to protect. The knowledge could also come from Raiden, in similar fashion to how he told Cyrax that Bi-Han in fact saved Earthrealm once. Or in case of further events, Kuai Liang or Tomas could explain their quest to avenge fallen brother and comrade. Even in MK9, a game that presented to us only the most important parts of Tournament focused on the main cast, at the sight of unconscious Noob Saibot, Kung Lao noted the enemy seems familiar to him, so he could at some point offscreen interact with Bi-Han.

The fact that past!Jax knows to some degree Bi-Han makes old Jax guarding the Kronika’s Crown together with Noob in MK11: Aftermatch much better. For one, they apparently did not sit in their own corner and ignored each other the whole time as they walked up to Shang Tsung and Fujin from the same direction.

Furthermore, original Kombatants that were killed by Sindel and resurrected as Revenants either already knew elder Sub-Zero’s name or learned it in Netherrealm - between MK9 and MKX twenty years has passed alone with is plenty of time to become familiar with each other, as they all served Quan Chi and Shinnok. Noob Saibot may or may not be already freed from Quan Chi’s dark magic, however at some point Revenant Kitana and demon Sareena both became aware of his name, as was seen in MKX's story mode:   

Sareena: It is possible to escape Quan Chi, Kitana. I can aid you as Bi-Han aided me. Kitana: You became too familiar with Bi-Han. Allowed emotion to corrupt you. Sareena: Emotion freed me!

And interestingly, it is not specified if Sareena talks about Bi-Han from Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero (when he spared her life and she helped him in fight against Quan Chi but he did not reveal his birth name) or does she mean Bi-Han / Noob Saibot. If it is the letter, it could imply Noob Saibot on purpose introduces himself not by Lin Kuei’s code name nor the Netherrealm’s mantle that was forced upon him.

On other hand, characters like Cetrion or Geras may know elder Sub-Zero’s name due to their godly powers or connection to Kronika/Hourglass while Fujin could easily learn that from Raiden, after the stolen amulet was brought back from Netherrealm by the Lin Kuei assassin.

Like I said, it doesn’t makes sense for every character to use Bi-Han’s name but majority of the cast could be familiar with him when he was alive (either by Sub-Zero sharing his name or because of Raiden) or when as a Wraith he started reclaiming his personhood - as his official MK11’s theme RECOGNITION suggested. 

I love how a simple use of name changes the perspective of past events and relationships between characters but above everything else I love the implication that Noob Saibot is reclaiming his identity stolen by Lin Kuei and Netherrealm and in result has connection to other characters outside the Lin Kuei-Shirai Ryu conflict and servitude to Quan Chi.

#mortal kombat #my replies #noob saibot #bi han #sub zero #I'M HERE FOR BI HAN RECLAIMING HIS HUMANITY AND PERSONHOOD #even if it not magically makes noob on the good guys side #i'm glad that he is introducing himself by his name not the lin kuei code name or netherrealm mantle #sure lin kuei is the secret clan and all but the man is past lin kuei rules and quan chi's bullshit #good for him if he wants be refered as bi han and other people call him the way he wants be called