It’s easy to forget how weird TV was in the late nineties. This was the era of Xena and Hercules, where syndicated action shows lived or died by their ability to deliver weekly fights and cheesy practical effects. Then came the Mortal Kombat Conquest TV show. It hit the airwaves in 1998, sandwiched between the massive success of the first movie and the absolute train wreck that was Mortal Kombat: Annihilation.
Honestly? It’s better than you remember.
While the CGI hasn’t aged gracefully—those early Reptile-looking raptors are rough—the show actually understood the lore better than almost any other adaptation. It didn't try to cram 50 characters into a two-hour window. Instead, it focused on the Great Kung Lao, the ancestor of the hat-throwing hero we know today. He’s a guy who just won the tournament but realizes that winning doesn’t mean the fighting stops.
The Story Most Fans Get Wrong
A lot of people think Mortal Kombat: Conquest was just a low-budget cash-in. That’s not quite fair. The show follows Kung Lao, played by Paolo Montalban, after he defeats Shang Tsung. He’s joined by Siro, a former bodyguard, and Taja, a thief. It’s a trio that feels very much like the Liu Kang/Johnny Cage/Sonya Blade dynamic, but with more room to breathe.
They’re basically stationed at a trading post in Zhuzin, waiting for the next threat from Outworld. Shao Kahn is there, played by Jeffrey Meek with an intensity that honestly puts the movie versions to shame. Meek also played Raiden in the same show. Think about that for a second. The same actor played the ultimate god of good and the ultimate emperor of evil in the same episodes. It worked. He gave Raiden a sarcastic, almost annoyed vibe that felt more grounded than the typical "wise mentor" trope.
The stakes felt real because the show wasn't afraid to be mean. If you grew up watching this on TNT, you probably remember the ending. Most shows of that era ended with a "to be continued" or a happy victory. Not this one.
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Why the Fight Choreography Set a Standard
You can't talk about the Mortal Kombat Conquest TV show without mentioning the stunt work. This wasn't just actors flailing their arms. The production brought in real martial artists.
We saw Daniel Bernhardt as Siro. If that name sounds familiar, it's because he’s a legend in the B-movie action world and was the lead in the Bloodsport sequels. He brought a legitimacy to the brawls that kept the show alive even when the script was leaning into 90s camp. The fights were frequent. Sometimes you’d get two or three distinct set pieces in a single forty-four-minute episode.
They used a lot of wirework, sure. But there was a grit to it. Unlike the PG-rated cartoons or the heavily edited broadcast movies, Conquest felt like it wanted to be violent. It was limited by 1998 TV standards, but the intent was there. You could feel the impact of the kicks.
The Recurring Faces of Outworld
One of the coolest things for fans was seeing how they handled the icons. Sub-Zero and Scorpion showed up, but they weren't the stars. They were treated like legendary, dangerous forces. Their rivalry was teased out rather than dumped all at once.
Then you had the female leads. Kristanna Loken played Taja before she went on to become the T-X in Terminator 3. We also saw appearances from characters like Mileena, Kitana, and Quan Chi. Adoni Maropis played Quan Chi and he was terrifying. He nailed the "manipulative sorcerer" vibe perfectly, making the character feel like a legitimate threat to both Earthrealm and Shao Kahn’s own ego.
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The Brutal Finale That Nobody Saw Coming
Let’s talk about "Vengeance." That was the series finale. It is arguably the most depressing, shocking ending in the history of martial arts television.
Usually, the heroes win. That’s the rule. But Mortal Kombat: Conquest got canceled after one season due to high production costs. Instead of leaving it on a cliffhanger where everyone lives, the creators went scorched earth. Shao Kahn decides he’s done playing by the rules of the Elder Gods. He sends his Shadow Priests to systematically murder every single protagonist.
Taja? Dead.
Siro? Dead.
Kung Lao? Executed.
It was a total wipeout. Raiden is left in chains, mocking Shao Kahn, but the reality is that the bad guys won. It was a bold move that left a permanent mark on the kids watching at the time. It made the Mortal Kombat universe feel dangerous. In this world, there are no plot armors.
The Legacy of a One-Season Wonder
Why do we still talk about this show? For one, it’s the bridge between the different eras of the franchise. It expanded the mythology of the Elder Gods and the realms in a way the games hadn't fully committed to yet.
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It also proved that long-form storytelling worked for MK. You could have political maneuvering in Outworld while Earthrealm warriors trained. It wasn't just "fight, fight, fight." There were alliances, betrayals, and actual character arcs. Siro’s struggle with his past and Taja’s desire for redemption added layers that the 1997 sequel movie completely lacked.
The production was filming in Orlando at Disney-MGM Studios. This gave it a specific look—lots of outdoor sets, limestone caves, and jungle environments that felt cohesive. It didn't look like a soundstage in Vancouver, which was where every other sci-fi show was filming at the time.
Where to Watch and What to Look For
Finding the show today can be a bit of a scavenger hunt. It’s been on various streaming platforms like Max (formerly HBO Max) or Tubi depending on the month and the licensing deals.
If you’re going back to watch it, don’t expect The Last of Us levels of prestige drama. It’s a 90s action show. Embrace the leather outfits. Enjoy the techno-inspired soundtrack. Watch it for Jeffrey Meek’s dual performance and the surprisingly high-quality stunt work.
Actionable Steps for Mortal Kombat Fans
If you want to dive deeper into the lore established by the Mortal Kombat Conquest TV show, there are a few things you should do to get the full experience:
- Watch the "Vengeance" finale first: If you don't mind spoilers, seeing the end helps you appreciate the stakes of the earlier episodes. It changes how you view the characters' journeys.
- Track the Quan Chi episodes: His arc in the show is one of the best portrayals of the character in any medium. Look for the episodes "Kuan Chi" and "Shadow Priests."
- Compare the Raiden portrayal: Watch an episode of Conquest and then watch the 1995 movie. Notice how Jeffrey Meek plays Raiden with a much sharper, more cynical edge than Christopher Lambert’s "mystical guide" version.
- Check out the stunt credits: Research the work of J.J. Perry and the stunt team on the show. Many of these individuals went on to coordinate fights for massive Hollywood blockbusters.
The show remains a cult classic because it dared to be different. It was a dark, weird, and surprisingly faithful adaptation that understood the core of the franchise: the struggle against inevitable doom. Even if the heroes didn't survive, the show’s impact on the fandom certainly did.
To fully appreciate the scope of the Mortal Kombat universe, one should look at how Conquest influenced the later games, particularly the focus on the "Great Kung Lao" era in titles like Mortal Kombat 1 (2023). The DNA of this show is everywhere. Don't let the dated effects scare you off; the heart of the tournament is very much alive in these episodes.