Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm
Series, 1996, The '90s, Set in After the tournament
Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm is #3 of 12 in release order and #4 of 12 in chronological order in the Mortal Kombat.
The story
A group of warriors come together to defend Earthrealm from invaders who entered through portals from various other dimensions.
Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm recap
This 13-episode animated series picks up after the tournament as an alternative sequel to the 1995 film. Portals from other realms keep tearing open on Earth, and Raiden leads a team from a base in a temple: Liu Kang, Sonya Blade, Jax, Kitana, the police officer Kurtis Stryker, Sub-Zero, and Nightwolf, who handles the technology. Each episode deals with a new invader. The team fights the cyborgs Sektor and Cyrax, sends Scorpion and his undead army back where they came from, and rescues Kitana from her treacherous former fiance, Rain. Sub-Zero helps his old friend Smoke recover his humanity. Kano and his Black Dragon gang open portals for profit, Quan Chi uses a crystal to turn the team against each other, and Shao Kahn brings Shang Tsung back to life. Sonya, suspended after a reckless mistake wounds Stryker, learns to work as part of the team, and Kabal helps her against the Black Dragon. Jax quits and is captured before returning.
Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm ending explained
In the last episode, Kitana leads a rebellion against Shao Kahn in Outworld, but Shang Tsung, disguised as one of her allies, betrays it. Raiden arrives with help, and the defenders escape through a portal, but the rebellion has failed. The show was not renewed, so the story ends there, with Shao Kahn still on his throne and Kitana's homeworld still under his rule.
Ratings
IMDb 5.8/10
Where it fits
- Release order: after Mortal Kombat, before Mortal Kombat: Annihilation.
- Chronological order: after Mortal Kombat, before Mortal Kombat: Annihilation.
What to watch before Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm
In release order, the essentials before Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm (1996) are Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins (1995) and Mortal Kombat (1995). Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm itself is optional in the Mortal Kombat order.
Cast
- Clancy Brown as Rayden (voice)
- Olivia D'Abo as Sonya Blade (voice)
- Dorian Harewood as Jax (voice)
- Ron Perlman as Kurtis Striker (voice)
- Luke Perry as Sub-Zero (voice)
- Cree Summer as Princess Kitana (voice)
- Tod Thawley as Nightwolf (voice)
- Brian Tochi as Liu Kang (voice)
- John Vernon as Shao Kahn (voice)
- Dawnn Lewis as Sheeva (voice)
- Neil Ross as Shang Tsung / Motaro (voice)
- Michael Des Barres as Kano / Captain (voice)