The Mortal Kombat franchise has come a long way since its launch in 1992, improving on in-game fighting, Fatalities and just about everything else needed to make the game bloodier and better. It's also evolved in terms of story-mode with a sprawling narrative involving many characters across various periods of time, which has allowed Ed Boon and Co to incorporate more inclusive messages.
This includes Mortal Kombat X's Kung Jin, the ex-Shaolin Monk who joined Cassie Cage's Special Forces team. As the series' first gay character, though, admittedly, fans would have liked more than a nod to him being in the closet in a flashback. Well, Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate makes up a bit for this by confirming Mileena's in a lesbian relationship with her Edenian ally, Tanya.
Mileena was introduced in Mortal Kombat II while Tanya debuted in Mortal Kombat 4, but it wasn't until her MK X showing that their relationship felt more suggestive. Their history is similar to how Jade wanted to protect Kitana as princess of their realm, with Tanya believing Mileena was the true leader. Interestingly Mileena, a half-Tarkatan herself after being part of Shao Kahn's cloning experiments, was considered Baraka's consort for some time, but MKX seemed to hint at a subtle sexual tension between them. Some interpreted the comments as just being playful, but it seemed like there was more to their banter.
Now, Mileena's new ending brings everything full-circle as she's plucked from the past by Kronika. She was killed in the last game by D'Vorah, but a revived Mileena beats Kronika to become the Kahnum of Time. This Mileena has grown, however. While her Mortal Kombat X ending saw her free an army of clones to take the realm, this more mature Mileena knows how she died and missed out on certain things, love being atop the list.
After taking control of the Hourglass and Sands of Time, a rejected Mileena wants to make a better life. She kills Kitana, who rejected her as a monstrosity despite Mileena coming from Kitana's flesh. Rather than seizing power for herself and ruling the realms, Mileena takes Kitana's place as the perfect 'daughter' to Emperor Shao Kahn and Queen Sindel. However, true happiness comes with Mileena wanting an heir, a successor, a future queen -- and we see her holding a baby, with Tanya affectionately coddling the killer.
Mileena's feeding the baby human flesh, and as she talks about being accepted and not feeling like an abomination, the smile on Tanya's face shows they are in love. Given Boon brought Mileena back as the rabid fanbase clamored for it, this definitely reaches out to a huge portion of the audience. Seeing as this world's built on mysticism and science, no one's even questioning how the kid was created -- we'd just love to see how Mileena and Tanya raise the girl as a future queen and someone who may even be deadlier than both mothers, not to mention the child's warped grandmother, Sindel.
Developed by NetherRealm Studios and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, Mortal Kombat 11 is available now for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PC and Google Stadia. The Kombat Pack 2 expansion and Ultimate bundle are both now available.