Board Thread:Character Discussion/@comment-24018644-20150228155751/@comment-1894786-20161129043527

DatNuttyKid wrote: Just btw, if you reverse Li Shang's name to be Shang Li, it becomes a feminine name. That would be a good way to give Mulan her "original" love. I would definitely be ok with this. But I'd also be ok with her being bisexual. Remember, nothing in the show has confirmed Mulan is lesbian, only that she loved Aurora, thus making her non-straight. The writers could easily have her fall in love with Shang in a backstory, but then she loses him. Hell, his death could be what drives Mulan away from The Dragon, if he is in fact her dad. He could've killed Shang accidentally.

After all, in the sequel to the Disney movie, Shang does fall off a bridge to almost-certain death, prompting Mulan to almost marry a prince. (In true Disney fashion, he barely survives and barely stops the wedding.) And also in the sequel, Mushu successfully splits Mulan and Shang up through lies and manipulation. The Dragon killing Shang would also be a neat reference to this.

The point is, Mulan could be softly retconned as bisexual (which is what we all thought she was in the first place until the actress confirmed otherwise), and have had a relationship with Shang in the past or future, or Shang could be gender-swapped. Which is nothing new to Once (Jack and the Beanstalk, anyone?)