I rented out a theater for the opening weekend of Shang-Chi. It was a special treat for my family and we had a blast. The film exceeded all of my expectations and I still can’t get over that bus scene. There was so much to love about Shang-Chi and the Ten Rings but I couldn’t help wondering…What If?
The movie was fantastic but because the character arc of Shang-Chi (who am I? Will I join my father? Does my father love me?) was largely completed once Wenwu released the 10 rings to him, I found myself not as engaged by the dragon fight (I mean, it’s a demon versus a dragon and it’s still awesome). I realized it was because I cared so much about the characters and their personal dynamics that the battling of great evil had become an afterthought for me. Which is why I couldn’t help but wonder…what if it happened all together?
What if Wenwu, Shaun and Xialing had fought the He Who Dwells in Darkness together?
Picture it. They fight as a family, united against this great evil, and Shaun pitches into the water and connects with the Great Protector. And then, in this heroic battle, Wenwu dies and transfers the Rings as his dying gift AFTER this mega-melee.
What if Xialing could have witnessed her father dying?
The sheer conflict she would be feeling to see that as his dying act, he gives the rings to Shang-Chi. I mean, there are 10 rings…in theory he could have given 5 to each of his kids. But it would have been the ultimate betrayal to do it front of her–snubbing her yet again in death as he did in life.
This is as close I get to fan fic, but I can’t help thinking Xialing didn’t see what happened and now she doesn’t know if Shaun killed their father and took the 10 rings for himself. She didn’t get closure. You know a movie is great when it grabs you and sticks with you after like this, where you ask “What if?”