Parents

This is my first attempt at a post like this, but I spent the day watching the first two movies and reading what ideas were floating around and came up with these theories.

1. Nala

My theory is that Nala is neither from Mufasa or Scar. I think her father, at one time or another, died. He may have been a royal from another pride (although that seems unlikely since another pride's not mentioned in either movie) or maybe have grown up along with the brothers.

2. Nuka

So obviously a child of Scar and Zira it almost doesn't need discussing. It's obvious in the way she treats him, the only one of the cubs she truly loves. He's not smart enough to be Scar's heir though and he moves on to...

3. Vitani

I read somewhere that the musical had Scar trying to mate with Nala and, to me, this makes sense. Vitani and Nala have a hate/hate relationship, which would make sense if Scar gave her no choice as to be his queen. She was in line to be queen because of Simba anyway, the age difference between Vitani and Nala seems about right, and could be why Nala went alone in search of Simba, who'd always protected her. As far as Vitani calling Zira 'Mother', Nala probably left when she was a cub, Zira would be the only mother she knew.

4. Kovu

Have you noticed that no other lions have the blue/green eyes except for Scar, Sarafina, Nala, Vitani, and Kovu? The coloring of the fur seems to vary, but the eyes do not. If Nala was gone, Scar could have claimed her mother as his queen. If Sarafina was pregnant at time of Scar's death, he could still be handchosen by Scar as there would be no other choices to come besides the female Vitani (can't see Scar allowing a female to replace him), and Nuka (addle-brained at best, when Scar's always prized his own brains). I can still see the exile if he's got Scar's blood in his veins and is a reminder of a time both Sarafina and Nala would just as soon forget. Ziva, however, would take both Vitani and Kovu because they belonged to Scar.