Beshte

Beshte is the pentagonist of the Disney Jr. show The Lion Guard. He is a hippo and one of Kion's friends and a former member of the Lion Guard. His position on the team was the Strongest in the Pride Lands.
==Background==
===Personality===
Beshte has been described as a happy-go-lucky hippo. He is the most genial character in the group and is very friendly and encouraging. He speaks with a surprisingly soft demeanor despite his size and is also very compassionate. Beshte has an appropriately large heart and never fails to treat his friends with kindness. He is also the first of his friends to recognize that Kion needs some space, even pointing out to Bunga, Kion's best friend, what the cub needs.
===Physical appearance===
Beshte has a stout body with thick legs, dark gray-purple toenails, and three dark spots on his back. His body color is that of a neutral gray, which becomes much paler across his chest and jawline. His inner ears are pale pink, and the area around his eyes is a lighter shade of his body color. He has a disproportionately large snout, with small ears and eyes, as well as thick eyebrows. His teeth are rather large, with two protruding over his upper jaw, and a patch of black hair sticks up from his otherwise bald head. His eyes are bright blue.
In "Battle for the Pride Lands", as a teenager, Beshte has grown taller, the tuft of hair has gotten bigger and he has also starts to display small whiskers, similar in appearance to his father, Basi.
===Abilities===
*Expert Combatant: As a member of the Lion Guard (and later the Night Pride), Beshte is a capable fighter. His sheer size and strength alone make him a tough and formidable opponent to beat. He mostly uses his size, strength, stamina and endurance to fend off vicious predators. With his brute strength, he can headbutt his opponents several feet away by charging at them. As demonstrated on Mackucha in "The Imaginary Okapi", like all hippos, Beshte can open his mouth really wide to scare away attacking predators. Due to being a hippopotamus, Beshte can use his size and strength to easily defeat opponents with no difficulty. He can send an entire group of animals flying several feet at one time, like Janja's clan, for example. Even when he was a little hippo, as shown in the flashback scene from "The Lake of Reflection", he was powerful and strong enough to easily defeat young Janja, Cheezi, and Chungu.
*Expert Swimmer: As a hippopotamus, Beshte is an excellent swimmer. He is considered the fastest member of the Lion Guard when it comes to swimming. He's also the best swimmer of the entire Lion Guard, and among the best in the whole Pride Lands.
*Stealth: As stated in "Follow That Hippo", Beshte says that he is not very stealthy at all, unless he is in water. This is demonstrated when he and Mtoto attempt to escape from crocodiles and hyenas, undetected.
*Singing: As demonstrated throughout the series; Beshte is an excellent singer. As shown in several episodes, like "The Imaginary Okapi", "Beshte and the Hippo Lanes" and "Swept Away", he's an excellent rapper.
*Animal Strength: Being a hippopotamus, Beshte is the strongest member of the entire Lion Guard. On several occasions, he was able push large trees over to make bridges for other animals, or push boulders around with very little struggle. His brute strength gives him an advantage in combat, as he is able to headbutt opponent away and toss them into the air without any difficulty. He can use his size and strength to stop his opponents dead in their tracks, as well also his friends, as shown in "Cave of Secrets" and "The Accidental Avalanche", respectively. He can clear away large boulders with ease, as well as other fallen debris. As shown in "The Wisdom of Kongwe", he was strong enough to hold up a large boulder, with a herd of eland walking across it, with little struggle. Among other things. In Season 3, as a teenager, Beshte is stronger than ever. In the series finale, "Return to the Pride Lands", Beshte was so strong that he was able to push a large boulder with an elephant on top of it, along the ground, with little difficulty. As a baby hippo, as seen in "The Lake of Reflection", Beshte possessed great feats of strength from such a young age and was able to easily beat Cheezi with a single headbutt.
*Animal Speed: Like Bunga, Beshte is the fourth fastest member of the entire Lion Guard when charging. Like all hippos, he can run very fast when charging towards opponents (30km/h or 19mph). However, he's faster when in water than on land. He's not as fast as Kion or Fuli, at running.
*Animal Agility: Beshte is the third most agile member of the entire Lion Guard, overall, only surpassed by Kion and Fuli, respectively. However, he is the most agile member in water, and is less so on dry land.
*Aquatic: As a hippopotamus, Beshte is an expert swimmer and can swim underwater for a brief period of time. Like real hippos, Beshte would've most of life in water and can hold his breath underwater for a short space of time. As a teenager, Beshte can be underwater for even longer periods of time.
==Role in the series==
===The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar===
left|thumb|229x229px|Beshte's first appearance in The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar
Beshte makes his debut in the series premiere. Beshte is first seen in the Floodplains with the other hippos. During Kion and Bunga's game of Baobab Ball they leap over the hippos. Beshte doesn't mind and says hello to them. Later when Kion assembles his team. Beshte asks the hippos if they want a water slide. He pushes rocks and creates a waterslide.
Beshte soon joins his friends as Kion asks if they could all become part of the new Lion Guard. Beshte gets excited and is ready to see the Roar of the Elders. However Kion is only able to do a little squeak. Suddenly, Simba arrives and sees that his son has not chosen a group of lions for the Guard. He scolds Kion in front of Beshte and the others, and Kion leaves to do some soul-searching. Bunga begins to follow, but Beshte tells him that Kion wants to be alone.
Later when the hyenas are chasing the gazelles Beshte watches with Fuli and Ono. He is confused as to why the hyenas are continuing the attack, seeing as they have already taken down enough gazelles to feed them all. Kion and Bunga arrive, and Kion explains it is up to Lion Guard is going to stop the hyenas. Beshte is doubtful, remembering what Simba said, but Kion reminds him of their talents, and Beshte agrees. Kion comes up with a plan to take down the hyenas, and Beshte and the others prove willing to join the Guard. Kion places his paw on each of their shoulders, marking them with the Mark of the Guard. Beshte then proceeds to use his strength to knock over the hyenas, whilst Ono takes down Mzingo and the others help tackle the hyenas with Beshte. In the end, Janja taunts Kion, which causes him to use the Roar of the Elders to blow him and the other hyenas away as Beshte, Bunga, Fuli, and Ono watch in awe. When the group makes their way back to Simba, he sees that his son made the right decisions, and welcomes the new Lion Guard.
===The Lion Guard===
Beshte has appeared in every single episode after the events of the pilot episode. Like all the other animal members Kion recruited to be part of his Lion Guard, Beshte continues being the strongest member of the Guard until the series finale.
====Season One====
In "The Kupatana Celebration", Beshte helped rescue a little jackal pup named Dogo. At first, Beshte and Bunga thought he was so cute. In the end, it turns out that they were wrong about Dogo after his family ruined the celebration.
In "Follow That Hippo!", Beshte meets a little elephant named Mtoto. Mtoto says that Beshte is his hero/idol and he's the biggest reason why Mtoto likes the Lion Guard. Mtoto joins the Lion guard and Beshte in a day of training until he messed up. Beshte walks Mtoto home and says that he has to find his "Hero Inside." While playing pretend Lion Guard with his friends he gets chased by Janja's Clan. Beshte and the rest of the Lion Guard comes to Mtoto's rescue.
In "Paintings and Predictions", after looking at Rafiki's paintings, Beshte thinks that the paintings predict the future. Bunga and Beshte think that Kion is going to fall from a tree branch. They try their best to stop Kion but find out that the paintings are about the past.
In "The Imaginary Okapi" Beshte meets an Okapi named Ajabu who was being chased by a leopard named Makucha. However, Beshte friends didn't believe that Ajabu wasn't real. After saving Ajabu from Makucha Kion's parents Simba and Nala welcome Ajabu into the Pride Lands.
In "Beware the Zimwi", Beshte practices his bellows so he can join a group of hippos called "The Bellow Fellows."
In "Lions of the Outlands", Beshte learns about Zira and the Outsiders.
In "Beshte and the Hippo Lanes" Beshte tries to make the hippo lanes after his dad Basi gets hurt.
====Season Two====
In "The Rise of Scar", Beshte meets Rafiki's apprentice Makini. Later Beshte and the guard goes to rescue Kiara from Janja's clan.
In "Swept Away", Beshte gets washed away into the Outlands after the guard helped the zebra herd. However, Scar's Army tries to get rid of Beshte.
In "The Ukumbusho Tradition", Beshte and the rest of the guard are in a performance with the elephants called "Ukumbusho."
In "Timon and Pumbaa's Christmas", Beshte helps Bunga give Timon and Pumbaa a Christmas that they wouldn't forget.
In "The Little Guy", Beshte befriends a gecko named Hodari who wants to be a crocodile.
In "The Scorpion's Sting", Beshte meets Scar and Scar's army while trying to help Simba.
In "Cave of Secrets", Beshte and the rest of the Lion Guard go deep under the Lion Guard Lair to do different tests so they can find a way to defeat Scar.
In "Beshte and the Beast", Beshte befriends a gorilla named Shujaa who helps the Lion Guard fight Scar's Army.
In "Pride Landers Unite!", Beshte and the rest of the Lion Guard gathers Pride Animals to help fight Scar's Army.
====Season Three====
Beshte and the Lion Guard are now teenagers as seen in "Battle for the Pride Lands". After their final battle against Scar's Army was successful, Kion and Ono receive injuries, forcing the Guard to travel to the Tree of Life since the events of "The Harmattan". During their journey, new enemies known as Makucha's Army starts to follow the guard to the Tree of Life.
In "Dragon Island", Beshte meets a dolphin named Lumba-Lumba. When Lumba-Lumba becomes stranded, Beshte and the rest of the Lion Guard help her get back to the water while fending off Ora and his Komodo dragons. With Ora and his minions defeated and having found a moja kwa moja stone, Beshte then bids a farewell to Lumba-Lumba who is happy for the Guard's teamwork in helping her get back to the water and saving her from the Komodo dragons just the group continues their journey to the Tree of Life.
In "Friend to the End", Beshte befriends a clouded leopard named Yun Mibu, much to Kion feeling enraged at Beshte for delaying and befriending other animals. Due to the venom inflicting him, Kion tells Beshte to stop delaying by befriending other animals, much to Beshte being unsure on how to do that. Bunga and Fuli try to calm Kion down but, Kion leaves in fear. After a while, Kion's friends sing "Friends to the End" the nice moments and relationships they had with Kion before he became enraged. Furthermore, the group soon sees Kion hanging from a tree branch and gets Yun Mibu to help him. The plan, however, was successful.
In "The Tree of Life", the Lion Guard meets a group of lions called the Night Pride which is led by a lioness named Rani. The two groups were at odds until Rani informs her grandmother and the Queen of the Tree of Life, Janna, about Kion's Roar of the Elders. Janna insists that the Lion Guard to be allowed into the Tree of Life, allowing Kion to clear up the misunderstanding. After a while, Ono is able to regain his sight, but Kion needs more time to recover from Ushari's venom.
In "Poa the Destroyer", Beshte tries to see different animals throughout the Tree of Life. Despite his kindness, the tundra animals take the blame on the hippo for being a menace to which the animals are afraid of Beshte in fear. Later, Beshte talks with a butterfly to know if it is afraid of him to which the butterfly flaps its wings calmly, indicating that it is not afraid of the hippo, despite the other animals Beshte has met still claiming him to be a bad guy. After Beshte rescues Pinguino and his bad reputation is dealt with, the animals then forgive him as a misunderstanding and they no longer treat the Beshte as a villain but a hero.
In "Journey to the Pride Lands", Beshte and the rest of Kion's Guard travel back home to the Pride Lands, only to find out in "Return to the Pride Lands" that they have been replaced by a new group led by Vitani. The two groups have a battle to see which team is better. During competition, Beshte competes with a contender lioness named "Imara" during the first position as the Strongest during the Battle of the Lion Guards. After Kion masters the Roar, he and his friends decide to become protectors of the Tree of Life and join the Night Pride. Back at the Tree of Life, Kion marries Rani and Beshte cheers for his friend as he becomes King.
==Relationships==
==Gallery==
==Trivia==
*"Beshte" means "buddy" in Swahili.
*Beshte's catchphrase: "Twende kiboko!" translates to "Let's go, hippopotamus!" in Swahili.
**"Kiboko" is also the subspecies name for the east African hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius kiboko) and is also the Swahili word for "hippopotamus".
*Beshte is not Dusan Brown's debut Lion King role; previously, as a younger boy, Brown had played Young Simba in a tour version of the stage musical.
*Although it's known that Basi is his father, it's unknown who is his mother who is never seen nor mentioned.
Category:Disney characters
Category:Characters
Category:Animated characters
Category:TV Animation characters
Category:Hippopotamuses
Category:The Lion Guard characters
Category:Disney Jr. characters
Category:African characters
Category:Males
Category:Pre-teens
Category:Anthropomorphic characters
Category:Heroes
Category:Characters in Disney parks
Category:Teenagers
Category:Kids