Do we like Scar?
A character from The Lion King (1994)
Our score: 1 out of 10. Great company at a dinner party and a disaster in charge. He's witty and charming, but he's out for himself and treats family and followers as tools. We would not back him.
Scar is the younger brother of King Mufasa and the uncle of the young cub Simba. The Lion King follows Simba as he grows up as heir to the Pride Lands. Scar is the lion left out of the family's glory. He has a scar over one eye, a lean frame and a dark mane. He covers his resentment with dry, theatrical charm.
Scar is clever, patient and manipulative. He flatters, he guilt-trips, and he says exactly what each listener wants to hear. He gets the hyenas on his side with promises of an easy life. He also steers young Simba toward danger by playing on the cub's pride and curiosity. He never fights fair when a trick will do.
He scores a 1 because his charm is real but his cruelty is bigger. Nothing he does is for anyone but himself. He has no loyalty, no sense of duty and no real love for his kin. He is among the best-loved Disney villains because he is such fun to watch, but we would never follow him.
His plan is to get rid of Mufasa and Simba and take the throne. He arranges a stampede that kills Mufasa, then convinces Simba that the cub is to blame and sends him into exile. As king he lets the hyenas overrun the Pride Lands, and the land withers. Simba's return leads to a showdown. In the end his own hyena allies turn on him.