I was watching Simba's Pride the other day, and started thinking about the nuances of Vitani and her feelings about Kovu -- what did she really think of him, anyway? So I thought I'd come over to Lea and post up my thoughts, in hopes of getting some of your thoughts as well...
OK, then, let's examine the evidence on a scene-by-scene basis:
SCENE 1
In his interaction with Kiara, Kovu shows little interest in "friendly" conversation; good grief, he doesn't even know how to play. This tells me that he (and, by extrapolation, his sister) don't really mesh well enough to play. Of course, this is mostly due to their mother's influence, hardening them beyond their months in preperation for the coming war with the Pridelands.
Any interaction Kovu would have with his sister would be in the form of training (more on that later) or the hostile sarcasm/tough talk he used on Kiara at first. He only began to soften when Kiara tried to be amiable, which I can't imagine Vitani doing.
SCENE 2
In Vitani's conversation with Nuka, she brings up Kovu and his abscence right from the get-go. Some of you may say, "See there, she really cares about him," but to me it doesn't suggest concern so much as anger at Nuka for disregarding his mother's instruction. The fact that she says "again" in reference to Kovu being lost suggests to me that she took no serious steps to prevent it. If her talk with Nuka is any guide, she's not the most pleasant little lioness to speak with.
SCENE 3
Zira arrives carrying Kovu. Vitani immediatly challenges him to a fight, and I can't help but think it was (at least partially) to get some attention from Zira. They don't appear particularly friendly as they crouch and snarl, but then the only other examples we have of such behaviour in the films are the amiable Simba, Nala, and Kiara. (Oh yeah, even Kovu looked fairly nice when he was getting ready to pounce Kiara.) They seem to take their "play" fights seriously.
SCENE 4
In "My Lullaby", Vitani sings along with her mother in praising Kovu as saviour, but does she really feel that in her hear or is it just another "attention ruse". I tend to lean towards the former; that is, Vitani may not care all that much for Kovu now, but in the future she believes he will make a great King. And she does clobbers Nuka for talking bad about him.
SCENE 5
Vitani and Nuka in the Elephant Graveyard. Here, Nuka is questioning Kovu's status as "Chosen One" again, but instead of responding directly, Vitani merely tells him to follow orders. Still, her actions are all for the purpose of aiding Kovu's rise to power.
SCENE 6
Vitani expectantly waits for Kovu to ambush Simba, to no avail. Her faith in him is eroding quickly, and she races back to tell Zira -- subject of her foremost loyalty -- the bad news. She has embraced Zira's military doctrine whole-heartedly ("Affirmitive!") and is willing to see even Kovu put out of the way for the end goal.
SCENE 7
Zira's ambush. Vitani attacks Simba with the rest of the Outsiders ("as a unit"), and knocks Kovu out of the fight to boot. By her expression, she clearly disdains him as weak and indecisive in his attempt to help. She is the first to follow Simba down the hill as well.
SCENE 8
Nuka's death. Vitani seems a bit stunned by the death of her older brother, but when her mother turns on Kovu, she does the same from the background. When Kovu runs off to Pride Rock, Zira must restrain her daughter from pursuing him. She then gives the propaganda speech, which Vitani accepts fully -- Kovu is now one of the enemy.
SCENE 9
Vitani follows right behind her mother as they enter the Pridelands. I'm reading into this a lot, understand -- but it could be that she hopes to find Kovu still there -- they don't know about the exile -- perhaps she hopes to avenge Nuka personally?
SCENE 10
The final conflict between the two prides. As Vitani runs up to face Nala, her expression looks slightly confused or distracted, almost cub-like -- maybe she is turned off by the carnage of a real battle? When she finds Nala, she changes to an evil smile and attacks her after a brief interchange, which indirectly mocks Kovu for taking up with the "pretty" princess. All her life she's been taught to hate Simba, and I suppose that Nala is the next best thing, which is why it always looked to me like she was seeking Nala personally.
SCENE 11
Kovu's "betrayal" plays itself out fully, as he and Kiara break up the struggle. Vitani's face again conveys distate and even hate for Kovu, the Pridelanders and everything they represent, but she suddenly seems to understand as Kiara speaks. It is then that she turns her back on her mother's philosophy of bitterness -- perhaps Kovu is the saviour after all? Kovu for his part seems pleasantly surprised at his sister's turn to the light...not what he was expecting from her?
This lengthy ramble has led me to no final conclusions as of yet, and maybe it never will, but I hope it will at least stir up some discussion on the boards.
Katari out...