When you play a martial arts demigod in a blockbuster video game adaptation, you don't expect to spend an afternoon rating memes about Subway sandwiches and soul-sucking. But that's exactly what Ludi Lin, the actor who played Liu Kang in the 2021 Mortal Kombat movie and its upcoming sequel, did for a recent IGN video. The transcript, full of Lin's deadpan ratings and genuine confusion, offers a rare glimpse into how an actor processes the internet's chaotic love for a franchise he helped reboot.

Lin's reactions are not just funny — they reveal something about the gap between performer and fanbase, and about how Mortal Kombat memes thrive on absurdity, nostalgia, and inside jokes.

The soul-sucker next door

One of the first memes Lin rates features Shang Tsung draining a woman's soul while another woman looks back, a classic "distracted boyfriend" format. Lin gives it a 6 out of 10. His critique is surprisingly literal: "Does he just want her? Like literally she's going inside him deep." He's clearly trying to apply in-universe logic to a joke that runs on pure visual irony. The meme works because Shang Tsung's soul-sucking is inherently creepy, and the template casts him as the unfaithful partner. Lin's confusion is part of the charm.

Then comes a more explicit reference: Shang Tsung pointing and the caption "I'm going to suck you off." Lin gives it an 8 out of 10, admitting he wishes he understood the gesture better. His rating acknowledges the crude humor while sidestepping the obvious — a diplomatic move from a professional actor.

Tuna, sandwiches, and questionable physics

Things get weirder with a Subway meme. The image shows a Subway employee and a sandwich, with the caption "me watching the Subway employee [] my Subway sandwich." Lin, who moved to Canada at some point, shares a personal story about a friend who worked at Subway and would feed him tuna scoops directly across the counter. "There's something very sexual I feel like both in my experience and this [] my Subway sandwich," he says. He gives it a 6 out of 10, frustrated by the anatomy and physics of how such an act would work. It's a perfect example of a meme that doesn't make sense unless you're already in on the joke.

Simpsons crossover confusion

Multiple memes merge Mortal Kombat with The Simpsons. One shows Liu Kang's face on Ralph Wiggum with the caption "I'm in danger." Lin doesn't get it. "I'm trying to relate. I'm in danger. I don't get it. This is the problem with memes. I don't understand them. Gen Z's." He gives it a 6 out of 10, but his frustration is genuine. He needs his little sister to explain. This moment is relatable for anyone over 30 who has ever stared at a meme and felt completely lost.

Another Simpsons crossover uses Bart's face on Scorpion, with the line "Get over here" and the crowd cheering "Yeah, baby." Lin gives it a 9 out of 10 and wonders if Ed Boon — the co-creator of Mortal Kombat — gets this all the time. It's a thoughtful question that ties the meme directly to franchise history.

Wholesome moments and rare approval

Lin's highest ratings go to memes that evoke genuine emotion or clever wordplay. The "Me ripping a man's leg off and beating him to death with it. My dad watching just happy and having a good time" meme gets an 8 out of 10. He calls it "really sweet" and notes how rare it is for an Asian parent to be anything other than disappointed. That moment of cultural insight is more specific than most meme reactions.

A meme showing God creating mortals and then approving of Mortal Kombat gets a 9 out of 10 — partly because Lin doesn't want to offend God. The joke hits the right note of irreverence mixed with self-awareness.

His 10 out of 10 ratings go to two memes. The first is a pun: a woman asks "Excuse me, sir. Is there anything I can help you with?" and Liu Kang replies "No thanks. I'm just Liu Kang." Lin loves dad jokes and gives it a perfect score. The second is a meme about Jax having arms and Sub-Zero saying "And I took that personally," referencing a famous line from the movie. Lin calls it one of his favorite scenes.

The actor's perspective on fan culture

Lin's reactions are valuable because they're unfiltered. He doesn't pretend to understand every meme. He rates them on a mix of personal humor, franchise logic, and absurdity. He acknowledges that some memes are "deep" and that people have put a lot of time and effort into them. He admits a lot of them "flew right by me" and he needs to get in touch with that side of himself more.

This humility is refreshing. Too often, celebrities try to be cool about internet culture. Lin admits he's out of his depth. That honesty makes the video work. It also highlights how memes are a language of their own — one that even someone inside the franchise can struggle to speak fluently.

What this tells us about Mortal Kombat's longevity

Mortal Kombat has been generating memes for three decades. The 2021 film gave the franchise a new audience, and the memes reflect both old and new references. Lin's reactions show that the humor works even when the actor doesn't fully grasp the joke. The franchise's blend of violence, absurdity, and camp is meme-friendly by design. From soul-sucking to arm-ripping to John Cena's "Are you sure about that?" the raw material is endless.

The upcoming Mortal Kombat 2 — Lin confirmed he's in it — will likely generate a new wave of memes. If the actor is willing to continue rating them, that's a gift to fans.

For now, we have a video that captures one man's honest, confused, and occasionally brilliant takes on the internet's love for the tournament that never ends. Lin's ratings range from 3 to 10, but his willingness to engage with the community is a solid 10.

Disclosure: SysCall News has covered Mortal Kombat lore and movie adaptations in previous features.