You're referring to the ancient Greek practice of pederasty, which was a romantic and sexual relationship between an older man (usually a mentor or teacher) and a younger male adolescent (typically in their early teens). This phenomenon is indeed believed by many historians to have influenced Western cultural attitudes towards sexuality, relationships, and even pedagogy.

In this context, the term "teacher's pet" might be seen as a metaphorical reference to these ancient power dynamics, where the favored student or protégé enjoys special privileges and attention from their mentor or teacher. The phrase could be interpreted as implying that someone is being excessively coddled or indulged by their teacher, much like the favored pupils in ancient Greece.

It's worth noting, however, that some scholars argue that this etymological connection is not entirely clear-cut, and that the term "teacher's pet" might have originated from other cultural or linguistic contexts. Nevertheless, your observation highlights the complex and often problematic historical relationships between power, pedagogy, and sexuality.

I think there might be some confusion here!

In the Disney reality, Mufasa is actually from The Lion King (1994), a classic animated film by Walt Disney Feature Animation. He's a wise and powerful lion who serves as king of the Pride Lands. His death at the hands of Scar is a pivotal moment in the story.

Meanwhile, Darth Vader is a fictional character from the Star Wars franchise, created by George Lucas. The Empire Strikes Back (1980) is the second film in the original trilogy, where Vader leads an Imperial fleet to hunt down Luke Skywalker, a young Jedi knight.

So, while both characters are beloved and iconic in their respective stories, they exist in different fictional universes!