Mortal Kombat Minute

Phil and Spanish give credit where credit is due as they celebrate the cast and crew in this (not the last!) episode.

The celebration of Earthrealm's fighters is cut short as the Emperor appears, destroying the Temple of Light in an electrical storm. While the Emperor declares our fighters' souls forfeit, Rayden, Liu Kang, Sonya Blade, Johnny Cage, and Princess Kitana have other plans.

Liu Kang, Princess Kitana, Sonya Blade, and Johnny Cage all go back home to Earthrealm where Rayden awaits their return.

Liu Kang is briefly reunited with his brother, Chan, who offers him words of encouragement before flying away in a pillar of light.

Liu Kang pummels Shang Tsung to finally push him over the edge with a electric Dragon Fire punch. Shang Tsung becomes impaled on the spikes below and a bright pillar of light erupts to temporarily blind Liu.

Liu Kang takes control of the fight, taunting Shang Tsung and trying to convince him to yield. Shang Tsung refuses.

Shang Tsung beats down Liu Kang, mocking him in the process. Liu rebounds to catch both of Shang Tsung's fists and watches as souls begin to leave Shang's body.

Shang Tsung, disguised as Liu's brother Chan, tries to deceive Liu Kang as spikes draw up from the floor below. Liu Kang breaks the spell by realizing Shang Tsung killed Chan, not Liu.

Liu Kang faces himself as Shang Tsung tries to convince Liu of his inevitable failure in this fight. After  Liu easily brushes off the psychological attack, Shang Tsung resorts to a different tactic: becoming Liu's worst fear.

Liu Kang takes on six past Mortal Kombat warriors at one time. Shang Tsung is taunted by Liu Kang after Liu emerges victorious in this test of endurance.

Shang Tsung summons the souls of warriors past to come to his aid in his fight against Liu Kang.

Liu Kang and Shang Tsung begin their fight in the final battle of Mortal Kombat.

Liu Kang issues his formal challenge to Shang Tsung to fight in Mortal Kombat. Shang Tsung accepts and commands his shadow priests to leave the chamber. Both bow with salutes to one another before facing off in the final battle.

Sonya Blade continues to refuse a fight with Shang Tsung, being assured that her friends will come for her. Johnny Cage, Liu Kang, and Princess Kitana reveal themselves as previously disguised shadow priests. Princess Kitana scolds Shang Tsung for his underhanded tactics at trying to win Mortal Kombat.

A chained and bound Sonya Blade insists she will not go along with Shang Tsung's plan. Shang Tsung admires her human traits, but gives her one last chance to face him in Mortal Kombat.

Princess Kitana tells Liu Kang of the final challenge he must face against Shang Tsung. We then are swept across Outworld to the Black Tower where Sonya Blade is held captive. Shadow priests march into the chamber holding Sonya Blade.

Princess Kitana escorts Liu Kang and Johnny Cage through Outworld as she fills them in on the history of her once beautiful home and warns of what Liu must face to win against Shang Tsung.

Reptile looks as if he can't take much more punishment shortly before Liu Kang finishes him off with his signature bicycle kick. A regressed reptile tries to slink away, but Liu Kang has other plans.

Liu Kang starts to turn the tables on Reptile as they continue their fight on the altar of the abandoned monastery. A Mortal Kombat Easter Egg hides on the wall.

Reptile appears to gain the upper hand as he fights Liu Kang in an abandoned monastery in Outworld.

Johnny Cage tries to figure out what Liu Kang is doing as he attacks a wall? A demonic statue absorbs their lizard-like spy, and Reptile enters the fight.

Liu Kang and Johnny Cage walk through the streets of Outworld during their mission to save Sonya Blade.

Liu Kang realizes Sonya Blade needs to accept Shang Tsung's challenge. Rayden wishes our fighters good luck as Johnny Cage and Liu Kang travel through the portal to Outworld.

Shang Tsung drags Sonya Blade kicking and screaming through a portal leading to Outworld, reminding Rayden of the deal struck between Earthrealm fighters.

Johnny Cage chastises Goro for the destruction of his beloved sunglasses and faces off against Goro on the side of a mountain. This is where Goro falls down.

Johnny Cage punches low then climbs high to start his fight against Goro.

Goro and Johnny Cage size each other up on the battlefield as the other kombatants spectate. Goro snatches Johnny Cage's sunglasses from his hand and crushes them.

Rayden fails to break up the agreement struck between Shang Tsung and Johnny Cage. Johnny reminds Rayden who's fighting in Mortal Kombat. Goro makes his entrance.

Shang Tsung and Johnny Cage negotiate over the terms of Johnny's fight with Goro.

Liu Kang snaps out of his meditation. Sonya Blade and Johnny Cage argue over Johnny's decision to challenge Goro.

Liu Kang continues to blame himself for the death of his brother. Rayden consoles Liu, explaining Chan was responsible for his own destiny. Liu meditates on these words.

Rayden plainly tells each fighter what they are afraid of, and how that fear will cause them to lose their fights if they give into it.

Shang Tsung absorbs Art Lean's soul. A discouraged Sonya Blade, Liu Kang, and Johnny Cage ask Rayden how they could possibly win. For Rayden the answer is simple: face your fears.

Shang Tsung commands Goro to finish Art Lean. Goro offers Art's body as tribute.

Goro quickly takes command of his fight with Art Lean. Johnny Cage coaches from the sideline. Art Lean struggles to stay up.

Goro makes his entrance into the Great Hall and steps into the ring to face off against Art Lean. The fight begins.

Sub-Zero freezes over. Shang Tsung gives Goro approval to bring an end to Earthrealm's winning streak. Goro obliges with a growing body count.

Sub-Zero's slowly growing polar blast looks to envelope the room. With Liu Kang facing an icy grave, Princess Kitana steps in to remind Liu to use the element which brings life. Sub-Zero gets the point.

Liu Kang and Sub-Zero engage in Mortal Kombat and fight across the Great Hall. Liu Kang appears to have the upper hand, until Sub-Zero's freezing glare implies otherwise.

Rayden disguised as a shadow priest strategically places buckets of water on the floor of the Great Hall before Liu Kang and Sub-Zero face off to fight.

Princess Kitana keeps giving Liu Kang cryptic message as they continue their duel on the sand, much to Shang Tsung's displeasure.

A fighting ring on the sandy beaches of Shang Tsung's island. Liu Kang faces off against Princess Kitana, who tries to give the fighter some sage advice.

Scorpion tries to roast Johnny Cage with his fiery fatality. Johnny Cage shields himself from the attack and cuts Scorpion down to size in the explosive conclusion of this fight.

Johnny Cage reaches new heights in his fight with Scorpion after delivering a swinging kick to Scorpion's face. Scorpion responds by bringing Johnny down to earth with a kick of his own.

Scorpion and Johnny Cage trade blows as they battle on an elevated burial platform in the Netherrealm. Scorpion gains the advantage in the fight after knocking Johnny Cage to the ground and unleashes a relentless barrage of kicks.

Scorpion teleports Johnny Cage to Scorpion's lair in the Netherrealm where their fight continues.

Scorpion begins his spear attack on Johnny Cage by unleashing the creature in his palm. Johnny is able to successfully dodge the attacks, and starts to counter his own.

Kano, after finding himself in a bind, pleads for Sonya to give him a break. Sonya complies. We then transition to a forest where Johnny Cage faces off with Scorpion.

Kano recalls slitting the throat of Sonya's partner and tries to do the same to her shortly after. Sonya counters, making Kano lose his blade as a hand-to-hand brawl unfolds.

Shang Tsung teases a gift for Sonya Blade as Kano makes his grand entrance to the fighting ring. Kano brandishes a blade while Sonya insults him.

Shang Tsung demonstrates his power by draining the soul from the defeated Fighting Monk. Later in the same fighting ring, Sonya Blade warms up for her upcoming match.

Liu Kang continues to battle for his life in the first official Mortal Kombat fight. After a couple of close calls, Liu Kang defeats the Fighting Monk with a dropkick to the chest.

Mortal Kombat is declared by Shang Tsung, with Liu Kang facing off against the Fighting Monk in the first fight of the tournament.

Lord Rayden warns Liu Kang, Sonya Blade, and Johnny Cage about what they will be facing in the tournament including the possibility of facing Shang Tsung. The next day Liu Kang prepares to face off in his first match of Mortal Kombat.

Raiden wonders what Liu Kang, Sonya Blade, and Johnny Cage plans to do about the dozens of armed masked fighters. After demonstrating his lightning powers as a warning to the fighters, Raiden calmly leads our heroes out of the caves.

Liu Kang, Johnny Cage, and Sonya Blade demonstrate their fighting prowess during the first official fight sequence. Johnny Cage brags about how easy the fight was, while Raiden congratulates our fighters on their victory.

Johnny Cage boasts about his sense of smell and leads our heroes back to Goro’s throne room. As they explore their surroundings, groups of armed masked men run in to fight the intruders.

Liu Kang investigates a suspicious rustling inside a blue cave system and gets acid sprayed into his face by the invisible Reptile. Johnny Cage and Sonya Blade catch up to aide Liu, but Reptile has already escaped. Our Heroes continue their search for Princess Kitana.

Johnny Cage suggests the rest of the group to make their exit, causing a disturbance that alerts Shang Tsung and Goro. Our heroes go down an unfamiliar path and follow Princess Kitana down a hallway.

Shang Tsung comes to warn Goro about Kung Lao's descendant in the tournament. Goro does not appear concerned, so Shang Tsung also warns of the risk if Princess Kitana joins forces with Liu Kang. The Emperor will not tolerate failure.

Kano brags about being an underworld boss of his own while Goro spills his chalice of wine onto Kano. Shang Tsung intervenes to explain that even someone of Kano's qualities can gain great wealth and power in Earthrealm, and how he has plans for Sonya Blade.

Kano contiunues his feasting and mocks Shang Tsung's welcome speech. Goro explains the great dark power Shang Tsung wields and how he uses it enslave anyone who opposes him. Kano tries to understand the word "subterranean."

Johnny Cage tells Sonya to find out what that shadow was. Kano noisily feasts while he recounts Sub-Zero's earlier fight to Goro. Our Kombatants eavesdrop nearby.

Sonya Blade pursues Shang Tsung through the garden of statues. Liu Kang and Johnny Cage catch up with her. Together they walk through narrow cave canyon passageways and spy a four-armed shadow.

Shang Tsung announces Sub-Zero's flawless victory. Johnny Cage starts to rethink his career choices and warns Liu Kang against going after Shang Tsung. Meanwhile, Sonya Blade starts to pursue him in order to find Kano. A three-fingered being spies them from afar.

Our kombatants are cleared out of the way as masked men flip tables to make an impromptu fight arena. A masked ninja warms up to attack Sub-Zero. Sub-Zero demonstrates his chilling ability by freezing and shattering the lonely fighter.

Shang Tsung extends a warm welcome to our kombatants, teases that some fighters will face the reigning champion Goro, and offers a taste of things to come.

A circular stone door opens to reveal a massive banquet hall where a feast is hosted for our Kombatants. Liu Kang spies Princess Kitana across the room, who notices another onlooker outside the banquet doorway: Rayden. Masked ninja fighters file in led by Scorpion and Sub-Zero.

Liu Kang and Princess Katana trade glances at one another in the garden of statues. Shang Tsung orders Reptile to watch her carefully. A stone lizard statue of Reptile comes to life and runs off.

Liu Kang wonders if all the legends were true while Johnny Cage wonders what the legends are in the first place. Our Kombatants take the long trek up the mountain on Shang Tsung's Island while Johnny Cage suffers baggage casualties.

The Kombatants are rowed to shore. Johnny Cage gets water-logged. Sonya Blade continues to have technical difficulties with her equipment.

Shang Tsung summons a gateway to his island in the Lost Sea. Our kombatants are ferried to shore. Sonya Blade has difficulty establishing radio contact with Jax.

Lord Rayden reveals that one of our three Kombatants will decide the outcome of Mortal Kombat. Liu Kang promises to avenge his brother’s death. Something begins.

Rayden reveals that earth is only one of many realms, including Outworld. Only by winning 10 straight victories in a tournament called Mortal Kombat can the Outworld Emperor rightfully conquer Earth.

Liu Kang finally admits Rayden is the God of Thunder. Johnny Cage has trouble processing what he just saw. Lord Rayden explains how the fighters have been chosen for Mortal Kombat.

Rayden intervenes in the fight between our Kombatants and Shang Tsung's fighters. Shang Tsung promises such an incident won't happen again, and that he is delighted Sonya has been chosen for the Tournament.

Shang Tsung offers Sonya Blade a private tour of his boat. Johnny Cage and Liu Kang enter to back up Sonya while Shang Tsung introduces two deadly and otherworldy foes: Scorpion and Sub-Zero.

Sonya Blade and Johnny Cage crash into each other on deck. Sonya rebuffs Johnny's charm and heads below deck in search of Kano. In the hull of the ship Sonya encounters Shang Tsung, who emerges from the shadows.

The boat docks at Pier 40 while Johnny Cage looks on in disbelief. Kano emerges from the shadows to lure Sonya onboard. Liu looks off into the distance on the deck.

Johnny Cage confuses Liu Kang for a dock worker. Liu drops a suitcase off the pier. Sonya and Jaxx stakeout the scene for Kano while an ominous and eerie boat approaches.

Liu storms off the temple grounds. A town car limousine rolls onto Pier 40 in Chai Wan Bay, Hong Kong. Johnny Cage recognizes Art Lean.

Rayden challenges, taunts, and bests Liu. Liu questions Rayden over protecting Chan, while Rayden questions why Liu abandoned his responsibilities. Liu storms off claiming he is participating in the tournament regardless of the Temple of Light's permission.

Lord Rayden makes his entrance in the Temple of Light courtyard. Liu Kang doesn't believe this temple beggar is the God of Thunder and Lightning. Grandfather begs Rayden to spare Liu for his blasphemy.

Liu questions his grandfather's faith. The Chief Priest questions why Liu has returned to the Temple of Light.

Liu arrives at the Temple of Light greeted by monks and his Grandfather. The two talk about Chan's murder at the location of his death.

Master Boyd (?) gives Johnny Cage a cryptic invitation to a secret fighting tournament held once a generation. Master Boyd's true identity revealed. A boat pulls up to the Temple of Light.

A frustrated actor storms off set and meets an old Sensei reading a tabloid magazine.

Los Angeles. A mysterious man in shades confronts four armed goons. A fight ensues, and someone forgets to fall down.

Sonya Blade, after busting through a crowd of metal heads in the Techno club, blasts a gunman through a glass wall while in hot pursuit of Kano. Scene change to a silhouetted man in a suit walking into an airplane hangar.

Kano and Shang Tsung discuss their plans for Sonya Blade.

Liu Kang awakens from his nightmare just to realize he wasn't dreaming: "BROTHER DEAD. RETURN HOME. GRANDFATHER" Liu reads in the green light of his bedroom. We're then transported to a metal rave scene and introduced to Sonya Blade who has a bone to pick with Kano. Podcast album artwork by NayDoesDoodles Nay's IG: @nay_draws Intro/Outro music*: Mortal Kombat Theme [8 Bit Tribute to Mortal Kombat] by 8 Bit Universe *Licensed and used with permission of 8 Bit Universe

We go into blow-by-blow detail of the duel between Chan (Steven Ho) and Shang Tsung (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa) in minute number two of Mortal Kombat. We also recall Shang Tsung's haunting line "Your soul is mine!" - who is he speaking to?

It has begun! In this first minute we let our nostalgia take over while we break down the opening title sequence for Mortal Kombat. We also talk about the Mortal Kombat theme music (Techno Syndrome by The Immortals), speculate where that iconic "MORTAL KOMBAT!" scream came from, and enter the showdown between Chan Kang and Shang Tsung.