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The Legend of Korra Books 2-4

Archive: 217 posts

The first trailer of the long-awaited season 2 has arrived. Check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ftLm52V1y0

2013-07-19 23:25:00

Author:
JustinArt

Posts: 1314

We already had a thread for this, but oh well.

HOLY WOW THE OWL IS BACK. New season looks fantastic, I'm glad the return is soon-ish. ^^

2013-07-20 00:09:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity

Posts: 5208

Cool. Just, nothing else to say about this...

2013-07-20 20:55:00

Author:
FreeAim

Posts: 2462

Looks nice and the music in the video was pretty.

But unlike last season I hope the new 1's story won't be rushed as much. Last season was way to super rushed towards the end... I also hope this new season will have less focus on over-dramatic teen romance and sports... Those things I feel really dragged down the first season. *mew

2013-07-20 21:19:00

Author:
Lord-Dreamerz

Posts: 4261

Glad I'm not the only one who noticed Wang Shi Tong. I'm wondering if Koh the Facestealer will show up as well...

And yeah, seconded on toning down the teen romance and sports stuff, and maybe actually giving Bolin something interesting to do...

2013-07-21 03:36:00

Author:
Dapiek Absaroka

Posts: 512

Oh yeah, I totally forgot about Koh, that'd be great.

I do have to wonder though, where the heck is Lin Beifong? Along with Korra, Tenzin, and Amon, she was one of my favorite TLOK characters.

2013-07-21 14:16:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity

Posts: 5208

2013-07-21 18:52:00

Author:
Smudge228

Posts: 533

looks awesome, I also saw a flashback to the library with what looked like aang in it during the trailer.
aparantly the guy with the scruffy hair is the first avatar by the way, whos being voiced by some walking dead actor.
any news on a uk release? I presume given the fact that book 1 only just started here that the september date won't be true for us? pretty frustrating that is...

Actually, I believe that's Jinora, or one of Tenzin's daughters at least, who can be seen going into some sort of "state" with Korra, and is probably transported somewhere. It looks like she's also the one swimming with Korra before being gobbled up by the giant green-mouthed reptilian. Also, the first avatar is named Wan, who will be voiced by Steven Yeun. (Glenn in TWD) As for relase date, I'm not sure when TLOK premiered in the U.K., but I know us americans have been waiting for a year, so September sounds about right.

2013-07-21 19:48:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity

Posts: 5208

Actually, I believe that's Jinora, or one of Tenzin's daughters at least, who can be seen going into some sort of "state" with Korra, and is probably transported somewhere. It looks like she's also the one swimming with Korra before being gobbled up by the giant green-mouthed reptilian. Also, the first avatar is named Wan, who will be voiced by Steven Yeun. (Glenn in TWD) As for relase date, I'm not sure when TLOK premiered in the U.K., but I know us americans have been waiting for a year, so September sounds about right.

My guess is she's traveling to the Spirit World; it wouldn't be too surprising given the name of the book for the season and that there are no real rules established for traveling there.

Koh aside, given how heavily spirits are featured in the trailer I'd be willing to bet at least a few of them would be antagonists of the season, and because quite frankly given that Korra already knows Energybending and presumably has control of the avatar state (if the glowing eyes at the end of the first season and this trailer are any indication) she'd be far too powerful for nearly any "mortal" opponent to match up.

2013-07-22 02:52:00

Author:
Dapiek Absaroka

Posts: 512

I do have to wonder though, where the heck is Lin Beifong? Along with Korra, Tenzin, and Amon, she was one of my favorite TLOK characters.

She has to watch over Republic City. Spirit world? Ain't nobody got time fo' that.

My guess is that Tenzin's sister will take her place.

Oh, and here's a 3 minute sneak peek into the first episode of book two. (http://www.nick.com/videos/clip/comic-con-2013-legend-of-korra-rebel-spirit-clip-sn3.html?xid=LOKFB&&&) You americans enjoy it. Apparently it's too good for the likes of me, since it's region-blocked.

2013-07-22 09:57:00

Author:
SnipySev

Posts: 2452

As for relase date, I'm not sure when TLOK premiered in the U.K., but I know us americans have been waiting for a year, so September sounds about right.
well in the UK series 1 only just started airing within the last few weeks (for the first time, it was seriously an extra year over the original american airing) so I was just wondering if they would do the nice thing to avoid spoilers and play both seasons back to back in uk (scince they're half length compared to most american shows i don't see why not) or if they'll just make the stupid decision to delay a full year for whatever reason.

2013-07-22 12:09:00

Author:
Smudge228

Posts: 533

So... I was quite a great fan of The leyend of Aang and just recently discovered this series' existance... Of course I watched all season 1 in half a day

And I totally loved it! Amon is probably one of the best villians ever, but I'd prefer in my opinion to make a single villian who shall last all 3 remaining books that TLOK seems to have, that would probably allow the oportunity to create a more intriguing story... From what I've seen from book 2, the baddie this time seems to be a spirit, and I am not too excited about it just yet.

PS. Hehe I loved all the characters but I think that guy Mako is kind of a jerk

Me-not-like-him :kz: Also, poor Bolin he was... Friendzoned :hero:

2013-07-25 02:42:00

Author:
yugnar

Posts: 1478

I just read certain sites that Book 2 will premiere September 13 at 7pm. That's much better than Saturday mornings, cause I can get to watch it in high definition at 4pm

2013-08-20 04:57:00

Author:
JustinArt

Posts: 1314

It's going to air on the so-called "Friday night death slot (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friday_night_death_slot)". That isn't very reassuring.

2013-08-20 17:31:00

Author:
SnipySev

Posts: 2452

It's going to air on the so-called "Friday night death slot (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friday_night_death_slot)". That isn't very reassuring.

Well, Nickelodeon moved the new 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' from Saturday mornings to Friday nights, and it's still doing well. I think 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' was on Friday nights back then. It seems that Nick is treating action cartoons well, compared to Cartoon Network and Disney XD. If you think Friday night is the death slot, wait until you see what Disney XD did to both 'Motorcity' and 'Tron: Uprising' as they both moved to Sunday midnights.

2013-08-20 20:20:00

Author:
JustinArt

Posts: 1314

Is it me or is Korra being a total Mako this season?

I hope they seriously tone down the angst in the next episodes. If I wanted to watch teenagers whine about everything, I'd watch anime.

2013-09-15 19:10:00

Author:
SnipySev

Posts: 2452

Yay, it's back!

Is it me or is Korra being a total Mako this season?

I hope they seriously tone down the angst in the next episodes. If I wanted to watch teenagers whine about everything, I'd watch anime.

Yeah, I'm kinda confused why people still hate Mako this season though when he hasn't actually done anything wrong, but I guess it's because of the bad reputation he got for being a jerk last season. Korra has been a bit all over the place these first two episodes but I'm sure she'll return to form based off some of the other trailers I've seen showing her asking for forgiveness from Tenzin and doing some avatar meditating with him. I think the romance was handled a lot better in the premiere than in the last season now that the love triangle is gone, and I'm glad certain aspects of Bolin and Meelo have been toned down.

I like how Jinora's getting an expanded role (as shown by the Book 2 trailer and the hinting from her walking around the Southern Air Temple) since she always seemed like the coolest of the three siblings. Aside from that, the art and animation was great, and Korra's uncle is an interesting character. I just hope he doesn't just turn into this big bad enemy like he's being hinted as now and actually has some interesting layering of motives regarding the imbalance in the spirit realm, and hopefully the "Avatar State" doesn't get too overused that its magic completely wears off.

2013-09-15 19:36:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity

Posts: 5208

S2 started! How'd I miss this! Haven't read anything here other than realising this. I'll be back when I've seen it.

2013-09-15 19:40:00

Author:
Jedi_1993

Posts: 1518

My guess is that Jinora will invent the airbending subtype.

2013-09-15 21:28:00

Author:
SnipySev

Posts: 2452

So my two cents:
I like that they aren't wasting any time getting the whole "trouble with the spirit" plot off the ground and that the spirits themselves are a legitimate threat, though I just hope they aren't trivialized as the season moves along. And I'll second the hopes for Korra's uncle for not being a villain; given everything that happened in the first two episodes it seems too obvious a route, that combined with the fact that we already had two evil water tribesmen from the first season and how I personally find the whole "religious militant"-type character overplayed in fiction and I can only hope he's ultimately well-meaning and redeemable in the end despite the lengths he'll be willing to go given how ominous the end of the second episode was. If nothing else, he's a lot more helpful and likable than Korra's father, who I couldn't stand throughout the two episodes and quite frankly lost any sort of legitimacy once the skeletons in his closet were let out.

As for the rest, Korra and Mako being an official couple is...tolerable; nothing more, nothing less. Bolin still feels like an utterly superfluous character though I'm beginning to wonder if that's intentional; he certainly doesn't feel like an adequate replacement for Toph or Sokka (both of whom pulled their weight in their own way and were more funny) and the whole angle of being Asami's assistant seems like it would have potential. Speaking of which, I'm a bit disappointed Asami got so little screentime; she was admittedly my favorite character in the first season and filled out the role of non-bender Team Avatar member but in a way distinctive from Sokka, though on the other hand I guess it would make sense if she didn't want to see either Korra or Mako...

2013-09-16 02:21:00

Author:
Dapiek Absaroka

Posts: 512

Right now it looks like a certain character is going to be the season's villain (you know who I'm talking about if you watched the two first episodes), but I'm going to assume it's not really that person. It's just too obvious.

Also I'm not really sure if I dig the new art style. The colors are more vibrant, but it seems to have lost that awesome shading that made the first season's visual style so atmospheric. And the characters seem more anime-esque.

2013-09-16 22:00:00

Author:
SnipySev

Posts: 2452

I really like the various spirits' designs. They look like monsters without looking demonic.
The obvious bad guy was obvious. Too well defined cheek bones.
Korra's dad was ok, but how'd he become chief? Surely someone knew of his ... secrets. Is it just because he is Korra's father? Or did I just misunderstand his position in the tribe?
The rich guy was brilliantly eccentric. I'm hoping for some good back and forth with him and Bolin.
Mako didn't do much but it's nice to see what he's planning on doing.

The thing I'm most interested in though is what is going on at the air temple...

2013-09-16 22:36:00

Author:
Jedi_1993

Posts: 1518

I saw it on Friday evening. The "spirits" arch worked well, and the introduction of such new characters as Korra's uncle and the waterbending twins (forgot their names) are excellent. The more colorful animation is well-drawn, too. 'The Legend of Korra' had a great start in Book 2. Looking forward to chapter 3.

2013-09-18 02:40:00

Author:
JustinArt

Posts: 1314

What if those twins always have the same neutral facial expression because Unalaq trained them to fight Koh the face-stealer?

I'm really not liking Bolin being paired with Eska. He deserves better, no? I mean, he liked Korra in season 1 because she was awesome and fun-loving, and now he gets together with a robot? The hell. I hope it is temporary and played for laughs.

2013-09-18 03:49:00

Author:
SnipySev

Posts: 2452

What if those twins always have the same neutral facial expression because Unalaq trained them to fight Koh the face-stealer?

That's actually a really cool theory. Any way to get more of ATLA's creatures in along with Wan Shi Tong would be great. ^^

2013-09-18 04:14:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity

Posts: 5208

"Thanks Mako, I'm lucky you're so good at breaking girl's hearts. Ha, Korra better watch out!" - Bolin

Favorite line from last night's episode.

2013-09-21 21:39:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity

Posts: 5208

I find it interesting that my least favorite character in this season of Legend of Korra is Korra herself. I feel like she has an even worse attitude than the end of last season. I know they thought they were'nt getting another season, but I think someone needed a longer timeout from bending than she got. Hopefully she'll improve now that Tarrlok, er I mean, what's his face is doing his thing.

But Bolin definitely gets most improved character award. I didn't hate him last season but he definitely wasn't as entertaining as the first couple of episodes here. Not by a long shot. Mako hasn't done anything wrong but it doesn't really feel like he's done much of anything at all. But yes, that line from Bolin to him is great.

Interesting but not entirely surprising news on Aang.

Of course Tenzin would say they were all treated equally. What can you expect of the favorite.

By the way, did I miss something? Wasn't the oldest daughter seeing something important in the temple but then this episode we have some subplot of the next one running away?

2013-09-22 15:54:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

Bolin, most improved character? I beg to disagree. He's been reduced to comic relief.

I like that they gave Aang a relevant character fault by showing his family as slightly dysfunctional. No one is perfect, not even the avatar.

Anyone else baffled by how oblivious Korra is about stuff that'd freak anyone out?

"The northen tribe is invading us and locking down our harbor? I guess I'll just accept my uncle's vague excuses and do nothing about it!"

"This throne room my uncle is using is kind of dark and ominous. Eh, it's probably just a lighting malfunction."

2013-09-23 06:49:00

Author:
SnipySev

Posts: 2452

Reduced? Now I consider him passable to good comic relief at times. Before, he was little more than bad comic relief.

But yes, stuff about Aang was good to have. You wouldn't expect it of the Aang of the first series, but then he was only 12 at the time.

2013-09-23 13:49:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

Looking back at the original Book 2 trailer, it's worth noting that Jinora appears alone in the shot of going down into Wan Shi Tong's Library, as well as being approached by the owl himself. So clearly it looks like she's gonna get involved in some weird mojo either through Aang's attempt to connect with the other airbenders (due to the current avatar's mid-life family drama crisis) or simply Wan Shi Tong/the spirit world. I'm also pretty sure Varrick's the guy who gets thrown off the boat Asami swerves with Mako inside, not that there's much to take from that.

2013-09-26 04:03:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity

Posts: 5208

I just watched last night's episode and I know I missed some stuff because I didnt see the first few.. but i loved the first season. Can someone fill me in please?

2013-09-26 22:52:00

Author:
Jorel41533625

Posts: 66

I just watched last night's episode and I know I missed some stuff because I didnt see the first few.. but i loved the first season. Can someone fill me in please?

Long post ahead with spoilers:

Some time has passed since the end of the Equalist uprising: Korra has been training with Tenzin, who also has to put up with Bumi who has retired from military service. Mako has become a police officer in Republic CIty and he and Korra are still a couple, Bolin is the only one of the trio who still plays on the Fire Ferrets (who have sunk really low since the team is now manned by second rate benders), Asami has assumed control of Future Industries but the company is in financial straits due the stigma of her father being a known insurrectionist criminal, Lin Bei Fong is apparently still working as police chief but she has yet to appear in the season and during all of this the people of the South have been falling under attack by spirits.

Ignorant of that, most of the cast take a trip to the South to attend a festival but have their own reasons for going; Korra is visiting her family, Tenzin is doing the same with Katara and we are introduced to his older sister Kya, Mako is tagging along with Korra, Asami has come to meet with investors and Bolin is tagging along as her "assistant" simply because he's incredibly bored. It becomes apparent really fast that Korra does not exactly get along well with her overprotective father, Tonraq and is similarly feeling smothered by Tenzin who feels she needs to learn more about Air Nomad traditions to further her airbending education. Asami's business dealings go over well thanks to Bolin, who manages to unwittingly charm the eccentric businessman Varrick. As the festival gets underway Tonraq's brother, Unalaq, chief of the Northern Tribe arrives along with his creepy twin children, Desna and Eska. Unalaq wastes no time criticizing the South for falling into shallow, materialistic decadence while neglecting the spiritual aspects of their culture, which is causing spirits to become corrupted and attacking people, but most people, especially Varrick ignore him. Bolin tries to hit on the twins (initially thinking both are girls) but ends up indentured to them for his trouble.

As the festival (which has since degenerated from being a spiritual ceremony to a glorified carnival) winds down a Dark Spirit attacks. Nearly everyone is ineffective in trying to fight it, but Unalaq conducts a exorcism dance that purifies and pacifies the spirit. Afterwhich, he tells Korra of her responsibilities as the avatar, the bridge between the human and spirit world, to address the problem of the Dark Spirits but neither Tenzin or Tonraq want her getting involved. However, Korra has become fed up with both of them and wants to both deal with the problem as well as explore the more spiritual aspects of what being an avatar is. With that, Tenzin decides to take his family on a trip to the Air Temples, though both Bumi and Kya insist on going as well. Unalaq takes the rest of the team on a trek to a spirit portal in the barren wastes of the South but they are shadowed along the way by Dark Spirits and Unalaq and Tonraq keep butting heads along the way.

Unalaq reveals that Tonraq is the reason the Dark Spirits are hounding them, as years ago Tonraq was a war chief in the Northern Tribe but in trying to crush a group of raiders ended up destroying a forest that was home to spirits, which resulted in them attacking the tribe and Tonraq himself being exiled from the North, which is the reason he moved to the South where he would eventually father Korra. As Team Avatar arrives at the frozen forest where the spirit portal resides, Tenzin and his family arrive in the Southern Air Temple, which has since been refurbished and re-inhabited. The former is quickly beset by Dark Spirits and Korra is forced to go into the forest alone to find the portal and try and reactivate it. Fighting her way through, she manages to do so by using the avatar state, at the same time Tenzin's daughter Jinora runs across the room of the avatar statues and notices something strange happening with one statue that is uniquely made of wood. With the portal reactivated and the spirits placated for the moment, Korra and company return to the Southern Tribe, only to find the Northern Armada docking as Unalaq proclaims he will do whatever is needed to restore balance...

2013-09-27 04:23:00

Author:
Dapiek Absaroka

Posts: 512

Woah, thanks!

2013-09-27 12:29:00

Author:
Jorel41533625

Posts: 66

Deftly summarized.

By the way, anyone else think the design for the spirits is pretty cool. The traditional animal forms are great and all but this really opens up some cool combat forms.

Also, Howard Hughes!!

2013-09-27 14:55:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

I have not watched Legend of Korra yet because I am not over the end of the original Avatar, haha.

-hyper

2013-09-27 17:24:00

Author:
hyperdude95

Posts: 1793

I have not watched Legend of Korra yet because I am not over the end of the original Avatar, haha.

-hyper
Really?? You are missing out on a cool new series!

2013-09-28 04:58:00

Author:
Jorel41533625

Posts: 66

Last night's episode was amazing. Finally this season's kicking into high gear!

Now that is interesting, Unalaq is in fact a villain. He was so obviously ominous and villain-y I thought he was secretly a good guy.

I wonder if the current president of the United Republic of Nations is good ol' Zuko. That should be quite a surprise.

2013-09-28 12:39:00

Author:
SnipySev

Posts: 2452

2013-09-28 16:43:00

Author:
Jorel41533625

Posts: 66

Ru - fi - ohhhhhhhhhh! Hey!
(hopefully Basco returns)

Glad this episode officially got this show on the road too (ocean rather).

I liked the actions scenes, but am I the only one who thought that at some points, it seemed like they were spending a lot of time just talking and standing in static shots?

Also, Howard Hughes is still awesome.

Glad we're in for a new location next time too. Looking foward to it.

2013-09-28 20:29:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

Oh lord that ending, both brilliant and scary.

I definitely have liked Bolin more than before, I don't know what it is exactly, but some of his actions and dialogue from last season just didn't feel as natural or funny as they have now. The scene with Naga was not only great to show Korra's rashness put to good use, but it also gave her pet some welcomed screentime. It's also good to see Korra respected what her father said for her to do instead of automatically go against it. Hopefully her support of her father and trying to hold back with focusing on her way of handling things means she's developed and will keep herself developed as a character, and it'd be cool if Snipy was right about Zuko being the president of the United Republic.

It is a bit underwhelming for Unalaq to just be some other suspicious-waterbender-dude-who's-actually-evil like with Tarlock from S1. Then again, Tarlock actually had some understandable motives, so I guess it would be too similar to do the exact same with Unalaq by making him secretly sorta reasonable? Unless they spin it another way, because for someone so twisted and plotting as Unalaq is, surely he had some reasoning, good or bad, for letting Korra slip away as well as giving her the details on where her father was located so she could then free him.

Also, where did Korra get that fire from down in the tunnels to shoot at Unalaq? It would have been one thing to harness the electricity from the lights, but maybe I just don't understand the logic of creating fire out of thin air...?

2013-09-28 21:13:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity

Posts: 5208

2013-09-28 21:39:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

Scratch what I said, the president is some non-bender guy who's briefly shown in the first episode of the season. Apparently Zuko has retired and is chilling somewhere. Or rather, flaming somewhere.

2013-09-28 23:46:00

Author:
SnipySev

Posts: 2452

Haha yeah

2013-09-29 00:10:00

Author:
Jorel41533625

Posts: 66

Isn't the fire within them, that sort of thing. I always kinda assumed firebenders were the only ones that could create their element just from their will + energy of some such nonsense. The breath and all that.

Correct, firebenders in the avatar franchise (outside the horrid live action adaptation) have never required a source of fire to actually bend their element unlike water and earthbenders and can generate fire freely assuming they have the drive and capacity to breathe (and presumably, oxygen to burn).

And while I am glad this season seems to have much better pacing than the last, count me among those who are a bit disappointed (though not exactly surprised) that you-know-who is evil.

2013-09-29 04:20:00

Author:
Dapiek Absaroka

Posts: 512

Correct, firebenders in the avatar franchise (outside the horrid live action adaptation) have never required a source of fire to actually bend their element unlike water and earthbenders and can generate fire freely assuming they have the drive and capacity to breathe (and presumably, oxygen to burn).

And while I am glad this season seems to have much better pacing than the last, count me among those who are a bit disappointed (though not exactly surprised) that you-know-who is evil.
That is true. The last season was super fast and shouldn't have been. Maybe they have a plan behind the speed of it

2013-09-29 04:26:00

Author:
Jorel41533625

Posts: 66

Even after giving this season a chance too. I think I can honestly come to the conclusion that I still find the whole Legend of Korra series to be a fairly big disappointment for me.

The writing feels very Immature and very rushed. It feels like it's made only for unwise angsty teens between the ages of 13 to 16. And lacks a lot of focus in general. At this point it feels like I'm only still watching it out of nostalgia sake of the first series. I still like the first original series a lot. It was just so much better done in it's story telling imo. Korra as much as I wanted it to, It's just not even half as good as I wish it was. Ohwell. At least the show still has great animation & style I suppose. *mew

2013-10-01 01:22:00

Author:
Lord-Dreamerz

Posts: 4261

2013-10-01 03:21:00

Author:
Jorel41533625

Posts: 66

Just wanted to give all of the viewers a heads up that the new episodes are still on Fridays, but the timeslot has changed to 8: 30pm (5: 30 pacific), not 7pm.

2013-10-04 03:46:00

Author:
JustinArt

Posts: 1314

I've been rewatching the whole series, both TLA and LOK, and noticed something interesting. It seems that once an avatar attains full mastery of the avatar state, his/her eyes (and tattoos, if they have any) only glow for a while when the ability is activated. Then the glow fades, but said avatar still has the power boost that comes with the ability.

I think this means they activate the avatar state, take only the amount of power and knowledge they need, and then deactivate it. It means they have the control and restraint to not go fully berserk with it.

At the very end of the original series Aang is about to kill Ozai when he suddenly gains control over the avatar state and opts for the non-violent solution. Afterwards when he puts out the fires by waterbending the whole ocean, he only enters the avatar state for a few seconds to take the amount of power he needs. He finally mastered the avatar state and therefore became a fully-realized avatar.

It also serves another important purpose. If the avatar were to be killed while in the avatar state, the whole cycle would be broken. That's why they only go into the state only for the time they need to, and no more.

Even though she unlocked all four elements, Korra isn't a fully realized avatar because she hasn't yet learned to control the state. When she goes into it, her eyes just glow continuously. She doesn't snap out of it immediately like her predecessors. It demonstrates her lack of restraint.

2013-10-04 15:08:00

Author:
SnipySev

Posts: 2452

What I got out of this latest episode..

1. Lots of focus on Asami just being greedy and only focused on her company it feels like.

2. Korra is not phased whatsoever when seeing Bolin shirtless.
3. General Iroh still sounds too dang young.
4. All of the character development for Lin from S1 feels like it's been thrown straight out the window, and now it's like she's just some blinded jerk police chief criticizing the very people she helped to defeat Amon. The meh dialogue doesn't help.
5. Tenzin's stuck doing nothing but teaching life lessons to each of his children while his siblings stand idly by until they can hopefully get in on some kind of action.

2013-10-05 13:45:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity

Posts: 5208

Responses (spoilers of course)

1. While how Asami is handling the situation looks bad, I don't think it's her intention to be a greedy arms dealer profiting on the war. But it certainly comes off that way. If she starts double dealing then we have real problems.
2. Good point, not even a quick mention. For all the comedy the show is trying to get in, that was a missed attempt.
3. I feel rather that his design is too old. Result is the same.
4. Definitely felt like Lin was just thrown in for appeasement, which could have been handled better. If the show survives (changing timeslots no bueno) then maybe when she has real stuff to do with the plot, it'll improve.
5. Don't take what happens with Tenzin and the kids at face value. Yes, they've dedicated one episode to each so far, plus one for the siblings (is the wife next?), but they're usually for parallels or in this case, give a bit of Tenzin's continuing reaction to Korra abandoning his tutelage. It's slow but not pointess.

In addition

A. Yes snipy, I that's a good idea concerning the avatar state. Also, her overuse makes it feel even weaker than it already is for her. Honestly, there was a time when Avatar State meant stuff was gonna go down. Now it's just, well nothing in the overall. On that note however...

B. Maybe a Pirates of the Caribbean 2 trip to the spirit world will help Korra on that side of things. And speaking of people imprving themselves...

C. Wow am I glad Mako at least has a chance now to develop even a bit of character. Get him on his own for a bit so that he'll have more to do.

2013-10-05 16:53:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

Varrick's rapidly becoming my favorite character.

I also liked that the theme of social unrest returned, even though if was only for a few brief minutes. It reminded me of that tension and seriousness from season 1. I liked it. It made it seem like the Avatar universe had matured. More of that, please.

I don't think Lin was genuinely antagonizing Mako. It looked like she berated him because she has to keep the image of hard*ss police comissioner with the President of the URN present. She even made a casual joke a few minutes later, suggesting they're on friendly terms. She just treats him like any other rookie officer for the sake of appearances.

2013-10-05 19:43:00

Author:
SnipySev

Posts: 2452

What I got out of this latest episode..

1. Asami's greedy and only focused on her company.
2. Korra is not phased whatsoever when seeing Bolin shirtless.
3. General Iroh still sounds too dang young.
4. All of the character development for Lin from S1 was thrown straight out the window, and now she's just some blinded d-bag police chief criticizing the very people she helped to defeat Amon, and now she gets to be the one who was given the worst lines in the entire episode. "What the Flameo?" Seriously? Is that what she's been reduced to?
5. Tenzin's stuck doing nothing but teach life lessons to each of his children while his siblings stand idly by until they can hopefully get in on some kind of action.

*sigh*

Responses (spoilers of course)

1. While how Asami is handling the situation looks bad, I don't think it's her intention to be a greedy arms dealer profiting on the war. But it certainly comes off that way. If she starts double dealing then we have real problems.
2. Good point, not even a quick mention. For all the comedy the show is trying to get in, that was a missed attempt.
3. I feel rather that his design is too old. Result is the same.
4. Definitely felt like Lin was just thrown in for appeasement, which could have been handled better. If the show survives (changing timeslots no bueno) then maybe when she has real stuff to do with the plot, it'll improve.
5. Don't take what happens with Tenzin and the kids at face value. Yes, they've dedicated one episode to each so far, plus one for the siblings (is the wife next?), but they're usually for parallels or in this case, give a bit of Tenzin's continuing reaction to Korra abandoning his tutelage. It's slow but not pointess.

In addition

A. Yes snipy, I that's a good idea concerning the avatar state. Also, her overuse makes it feel even weaker than it already is for her. Honestly, there was a time when Avatar State meant stuff was gonna go down. Now it's just, well nothing in the overall. On that note however...

B. Maybe a Pirates of the Caribbean 2 trip to the spirit world will help Korra on that side of things. And speaking of people imprving themselves...

C. Wow am I glad Mako at least has a chance now to develop even a bit of character. Get him on his own for a bit so that he'll have more to do.

Yeah, I kinda agree. The newest episode wasn't as strong as the rest of Book 2 episodes. On the plus side, the interview with Bolin bit was funny, especially the silent treatment and a cough that's recognizable in ATLA. And Tenzin's family lessons is still enjoyable when he teaches Milo how to train a lemur. Mako has improved even better, too. I say this episode is a 7.5 out of 10. Judging by the end of the episode's cliffhanger, the next episode will probably be better. So far, here's my review grades of season 2 episodes:
One hour premiere: (tied) 9/10
Civil Wars Part 1: 8/10
Civil Wars Part 2: 8.9/10
Peacekeepers: 7.5 /10

2013-10-05 19:51:00

Author:
JustinArt

Posts: 1314

I hope the trouble with that sea spirit doesn't stop Korra from visiting Zuko's daughter.

2013-10-05 20:20:00

Author:
SnipySev

Posts: 2452

Yeah, I did enjoy the ending, was hoping for more psycho chase from Eska though. The reason I mentioned Asami being greedy was simply because she's barely done anything this season aside from helping infiltrate last episode, but it'd be nice if she at least mentioned her concerns over all the things going on between the water tribes and whatnot. I liked the whole Agni Kai plotline, and I'm actually fine with Mako having totally ratted them out, it makes things more interesting. ^^

I'm also excited about Korra meeting you-know-who, especially since he's the one main character from you-know-where that we haven't actually gotten to see... well, old. And I don't really have a problem with Tenzin's plotline, I was just hoping it would ramp up some by now with Jinora's interesting connection and the inevitable appearance of Wan Shi Tong, as well as Tenzin's siblings being there with him. I don't know what it was, but there was just something I didn't like about Lin, but maybe cause we haven't seen her enough. I think I've also been spoiled with the character drawings/animation from last season and it's getting to me this time around with some of the "returning characters."

2013-10-05 21:32:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity

Posts: 5208

Do you guys remember when Roku and Kyoshi "possessed" Aangs body, even changing it to their appearance?

I've been wondering, maybe Aang will do the same to Korra. It could be a very poignant scene especially if Aang's family is present.

2013-10-05 22:02:00

Author:
SnipySev

Posts: 2452

Yeah, I did enjoy the ending, was hoping for more psycho chase from Eska though. The reason I mentioned Asami being greedy was simply because she's barely done anything this season aside from helping infiltrate last episode, but it'd be nice if she at least mentioned her concerns over all the things going on between the water tribes and whatnot. I liked the whole Agni Kai plotline, and I'm actually fine with Mako having totally ratted them out, it makes things more interesting. ^^

I'm probably being a bit bias as I've mentioned before that she was my favorite character from the previous season but I don't really mind Asami's behavior so far, though I would agree that she could do a bit more. She's concerned about monetary issues for sure, but I'd like to think it is less out of greed and more due to the fact that she's trying to salvage a company as well as the livelihoods of who knows how many employees that work for it. If nothing else, she seems less greedy then Varrick at worse.

I also like to imagine the Agni Kais really aren't tied to present tensions between the Water Tribes but are using them as a smokescreen for something else, though that does raise some questions as who they really answer to since there don't seem to be any real hints yet.

2013-10-06 01:56:00

Author:
Dapiek Absaroka

Posts: 512

I'm probably being a bit bias as I've mentioned before that she was my favorite character from the previous season but I don't really mind Asami's behavior so far, though I would agree that she could do a bit more. She's concerned about monetary issues for sure, but I'd like to think it is less out of greed and more due to the fact that she's trying to salvage a company as well as the livelihoods of who knows how many employees that work for it. If nothing else, she seems less greedy then Varrick at worse.

I also like to imagine the Agni Kais really aren't tied to present tensions between the Water Tribes but are using them as a smokescreen for something else, though that does raise some questions as who they really answer to since there don't seem to be any real hints yet.

Good points, and her focus on the company is totally understandable given that it was suddenly given to her with her father being hauled off to prison for conspiring with the Equalists. I don't really have any problems with Asami actually, it was just a little odd that she wasn't contributing much, but that sounds more like the writer's not involving her enough. I'm just hoping she can help out some more, although it does kind of serve in the whole of Team Avatar sort of... you know, splitting up? I mean, Mako ratted out Korra and is busy tracking these firebenders with them now broken up, Korra just got swallowed by some beast and is now possibly being transported to the spirit realm or.. somewhere, Bolin's off doing crazy plans with Varrick, and Asami's doing what she can to keep her father's industry from totally collapsing.

2013-10-06 02:07:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity

Posts: 5208

And Mako is basically creating CSI: Republic City.

2013-10-06 16:57:00

Author:
SnipySev

Posts: 2452

2013-10-12 17:28:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

Very interesting episode indeed. About the relationship struggles, yeah, I'm not sure at this point. I liked that the writers just decided Mako x Korra and leave it like that, but I guess the love triangle was too strong with this show. I did like how there was some focus towards Asami this episode and her rash move, I guess could be justified, and after all the fighting with the avatar, it would be interesting to get the main protagonist away from romance issues and just let it be Masami.

Korra's series of emotional discoveries/events (her parents keeping her past a secret, her uncle's betrayal, harshly leaving Tenzin and then hugely regretting it, her determination to go after her uncle only to focus far less on her friends and boyfriend, Mako ratting her out, Desna/Eska trying to wipe her out and finally, getting swallowed up by a spirit monster and the case of amnesia) could lead her to a point of isolation, even when she does get her memory back. (or at least some of it, depends on how the writers will handle it) It would show serious growth for the character after her overuse of the Avatar State and unwillingness to master the fourth element to see herself more as needing to master her gift while accepting the choices of those around her, moving her rashness aside.

It's very cool seeing Varrick's evil, he's one of my favorite characters on the show and it was a nice path for him to go. I'd also say his assistant Julee would be one of my favorite characters in the show, oddly enough. Hopefully she can still be a part of the show, helping her evil boss unknowingly. Also, yeah, I realize Lin was kind of a jerk in Season 1 at first too, but that's because she cast doubt on the Avatar and her friends. After helping save Republic city, you'd think she'd be more willing to help. Then again, Mako is a rookie and when you think about it, his theories are big stretches so it would be unrealistic to just go along with everything, but it still isn't natural to just flat out being the obstacle to getting to the badguy. I agree with MATEOS, it felt a little cliche for Eska to just assume the Avatar's dead. At the very least they could try showing a repressed side of her where her anger has turned into a mixture of sadness and denial, trying to block out Korra's image by "assuming" she's dead, or, I don't know, something other than an unneeded statement to hype the supposedly cliche-deficient users. Still excited for what's to come nevertheless. ^^

2013-10-12 18:58:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity

Posts: 5208

Oh.

This episode.

So I just finished watching this thing.

First off, Varrik...Varrick...Varick...Howard Hughes. I'm glad he's a villain. I'm glad there is someone here who is both interesting and relevant to the plot. Will his humor drop? Probably. But still, it gives us something and I'm happy for that.

Mako.

At first, I was perfectly happy with how the episode was going. Mako finally had something interesting to do this season. He was finally out from under the relationship shadow. He even has a cool fight sequence. Enter Asami, a character who has been pretty stable in terms of being a good character for me. Well, forget that nonsense, we need another relationship conflict drama poop. How much do the writers want to make it clear that the breakup with Asami and his relationship with Korra had zero meaning. The fact that the characters are expecting to be right back to their normal shenanigans is just...

...

Anyway, I'm now distracted by Lin. What the heck is wrong with Lin this season. Wasn't she the one who, when she wasn't able to take care of business under the law, decided to work outside it to save he fellow officers and fight Amon. Now she's relegated to be person Mako has to work around. She was the resident awesome character of the series, but now she's just...

And Korra.

Korra, Korra, Korra, Korra...

At first, when they played the amnesia card, I wanted to groan. But since thinking about it, this is actually a good thing. Actually, I should say it can be a good thing. Frankly, Korra has been terrible this season. She seems to have not only stagnated since the end of last season, but even fallen back in some ways. The longer this goes on, the worse it becomes. But this...amnesia...plot could be a way to sort of reboot her. Let her learn new things about herself, the world, anything. She's made it clear thus far that she hasn't changed, so maybe this is a way to force her to do so. The problem is pulling it off. I trust the writers of A:TLA and first season of Korra to do decent job of pleasantly surprising me with this. The season's not over yet, anything can happen that could change my opinion on this whole story.

Also, that scene with Unalaq?...Una...anyway, with him stepping outside the portal, the son saying that the spirits were out of control (combined with daddy stepping out of the portal seeming to imply that una thinks he can control them), was anything said that the audience couldn't figure out for themselves. Also, the daughter saying the avatar is dead, I can understand the characters thinking that, but there is very little chance that the audience (who as far as I know are not supposed to be toddlers who have never experienced a simple plot twist before), would be taken in by the oh so dramatic moment. And without anything expanded, this really felt like a waste of time.

Finally, the movie, er mover.

I still think Bolin is at least somewhat funny. Not a good character mind you, just funny. But we're not talking about Bolin [then why did I bring him up (shrug)], we're talking about references to older material in the avatar universe. The movie is of course, the ember island players, (makes sense seeing as their both propoganda), Lin saying flameo (this really makes little sense since even in TLA time, that saying was outdated. even if Aang led to its revival leading to its current form, it felt out of place coming from Lin), Iroh returning for his cameo, etc. They really seem to want us to remember, hey, this is all stuff you liked right. Here you go.

The problem is that for me at least is that it reminds me constantly how much better the previous seasons were compared to this. When they made those allusions and references in season 1, the statues, casting Dante Basco as Iroh, etc, it felt appropriate since we were visiting the universe again after a long absense. Likewise in TLA, when they latched onto a running joke, it rarely felt intrusive.

Now, it feels forced and therefore that much less funny or meaningful. Not only that, the comparison between the two series does not play out favorably. Now let me make it clear, I don't think a sequel series should not be judged solely based on whether or not its as good as the original. If that were the only criteria, season one of Korra would have been declared terrible, which it certainly is not. Not even close. Likewise, the original series should not be ingored because it shows the quality that these creators are capable of. Now, if a show isn't as good as the old one, but still has things about it that are good, then it can still be easily seen as a good show. But season two so far has less (not zero) things going for it right now, so adding the comparison on top of it is just adding to the strain.

Yes, there are things about the series I like beyond the (still great) animation. Like I said, from this episode, the earlier Mako parts were nice, and I am intrigued to see Mr. Billionaire Insano be an entertaining villain (hopefully). Asami, despite a major setback or two, can still be a good character for the team, and there's hope for Korra yet. Not to menton we still have stuff with Tenzin and Co. to look foward to.

Wow this came out longer than I thought. But I shouldn't just keep writing. I'm supposed to be working on math. I really should do that.

Bye.

Very interesting episode indeed. About the relationship struggles, yeah, I'm not sure at this point. I liked that the writers just decided Mako x Korra and leave it like that, but I guess the love triangle was too strong with this show. I did like how there was some focus towards Asami this episode and her rash move, I guess could be justified, and after all the fighting with the avatar, it would be interesting to get the main protagonist away from romance issues and just let it be Masami.

Korra's series of emotional discoveries/events (her parents keeping her past a secret, her uncle's betrayal, harshly leaving Tenzin and then hugely regretting it, her determination to go after her uncle only to focus far less on her friends and boyfriend, Mako ratting her out, Desna/Eska trying to wipe her out and finally, getting swallowed up by a spirit monster and the case of amnesia) could lead her to a point of isolation, even when she does get her memory back. (or at least some of it, depends on how the writers will handle it) It would show serious growth for the character after her overuse of the Avatar State and unwillingness to master the fourth element to see herself more as needing to master her gift while accepting the choices of those around her, moving her rashness aside.

It's very cool seeing Varrick's evil, he's one of my favorite characters on the show and it was a nice path for him to go. I'd also say his assistant Julee would be one of my favorite characters in the show, oddly enough. Hopefully she can still be a part of the show, helping her evil boss unknowingly. Also, yeah, I realize Lin was kind of a jerk in Season 1 at first too, but that's because she cast doubt on the Avatar and her friends. After helping save Republic city, you'd think she'd be more willing to help. Then again, Mako is a rookie and when you think about it, his theories are big stretches so it would be unrealistic to just go along with everything, but it still isn't natural to just flat out being the obstacle to getting to the badguy. I agree with MATEOS, it felt a little cliche for Eska to just assume the Avatar's dead. At the very least they could try showing a repressed side of her where her anger has turned into a mixture of sadness and denial, trying to block out Korra's image by "assuming" she's dead, or, I don't know, something other than an unneeded statement to hype the supposedly cliche-deficient users. Still excited for what's to come nevertheless. ^^

Like what you both said, an interesting episode.

Mako and Asami plotline seems to handle better than season 1. Also, Verrick as a villian just got a lot more interesting. Bolin in a movie is cheesy yet funny. It reminds me of an episode of ATLA when Aang and the gang went to the Fire Nation Theater to see the poorly written drama of Aang's journey. The boat chase scene is pretty good, too. The end of the episode is even more 'cliffhanging' than last episode, so can't wait to see if Korra can get her memories back in the next episode (or the episode after that).

Overall: an 8.8 out of 10.

2013-10-12 19:42:00

Author:
JustinArt

Posts: 1314

Korra clearly ended up in a Fire Nation island. Judging by those guys' robes, it's probably a reconstruction of that temple Aang visited during the very first season to meet up with Roku.

That leads me to believe the spirit that attacked Korra in episode 5 was actually saving her from the twins and helping her reach her destination: the Fire Nation.

2013-10-12 21:22:00

Author:
SnipySev

Posts: 2452

Well that was beyond fantastic.

2013-10-19 17:15:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity

Posts: 5208

I agree.

You think Verrick knows the truth about the spirit portals and the dark spirit?(which I already forget his name)

Also, how Wan became the first avatar almost confused me. My sister was like, "What just happened?"

If Rava is bonded forever with the avatar, why can't/doesn't Rava speak? She's inside all of them, and she was able to speak to Wan.

2013-10-19 17:54:00

Author:
ConverseFox

Posts: 2333

I just have to say that the latest episodes were beautiful. Love that art style! And the fight at the end was brilliant. I feel like i just watched a whole season of a show.
As for Korra, I'm looking forward to whatever happens next.

2013-10-19 18:33:00

Author:
Jedi_1993

Posts: 1518

Much Better.

First off, animation was wonderful. The exception I take is only with some of the spirit designs and possibly the lion turtles. First seeing the lion turtles took me out of the moment but then I got used to it, except perhaps the eyes. Otherwise, the change in style is a plus.

Was it really necessary for Korra to have lost her memory? Was it really? All it did was give something you could end the last episode with.

Aladdin is a cool character, so is Wan.

Going back to the lion turtles, it makes perfect sense that they would provide the ability to bend, but I always thought people at least believed it was from various sources, badger moles, sky bison, moon, dragons. Suddenly the story of Oma and Shu has less meaning because whoever spread that is full of...no, I suppose either A: people had the ability but mastered it by learning from the sources, or B: it became lost somehow and relearned. Maybe? Or something else, after all, plenty of history can be forgotten or misinterpreted.

Annihilation! I just had to smile when Kava started yelling at Wan. Also, when all else fails, throw in a time limit for your story, instant free conflict escalation. I wholely approve as I really wasn't interested in the main conoflict before, now I am, at least for now, we'll see what happens.

Another minimally Korracentric episode is a plus until further notice. Again, she learned ploty things, but I didn;t see any reason to assume she had grown from it as of yet. Until further notice.

As for how this concerns Howard Hughes, I really hope the increase in the main plot makes his evil subplot less evil by comparison so that he can stay on the cast. I don't want a case of Avatar the last airbender where I was more interested in the Zuko vs Azula sub-fight than the main one, I want Varrick to be the Spike of this series.

Of course the spirits that like Wan have child voices. Why not?

I'm starting a fund for Naga, I hear thousands of polar bear dogs are abandoned every year when their owners get a sky bison.

Overall, yes, it was like watching a summarized version of a different Avatar series alltogether, and I quite liked it.

2013-10-19 19:07:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

I completely agree. Fantastic episodes.

The whole story of how Wan became the first avatar was amazing, especially on how did he learn all four elements and how he must stop the war. The spirits on some mystical lake are a crack up, too. The different artwork of the episodes looked great, and the final battle was epic. There's nothing else to say about this episode right now.

Overall, both got a 9.5 out of 10. Best episodes of the season so far.

2013-10-19 19:51:00

Author:
JustinArt

Posts: 1314

The episodes telling Wan's story were animated by Studio Mir, the guys who did Season 1. That's why they look so great.

About the lion turtles being the ones who gave powers to humans, and not the other sources specified in TLA... To me it seems that the lion turtles only gave humans the elemental powers, not bending itself.

Notice how simple Wan's fire attacks are when he first acquired the ability. He only uses basic firebolts. But later on that dragon spirit teaches him how to bend fire properly (the dragon's dance), and from then on Wan becomes an actual firebender. That captain guy even said it's like fire had become an extension of himself.

So my conclusion is that lion turtles gave people the ability in its rawest form, and these people became like the protobenders. But the sky bisons, the moon, the badger moles and the dragons taught them how to bend the elements properly.

EDIT: Oh, and did you guys notice how the tree where Wan trapped Vaatu looks like the tree above Koh the Face Stealer's lair? Maybe that's why Unalaq trained Desna and Eska to look emotionless. Maybe he wants to release Vaatu, and doesn't want his kids to lose their faces to Koh when they get near his tree.

Why would Unalaq want to unleash Vaatu? I see two possibilities:

1- Vaatu promised to give him power. Maybe he promised he'd bond with Unalaq (like Raava bonded with Wan) to turn him into some kind of anti-avatar as a reward for freeing him.

2- Unalaq's actually a well intentioned guy and is simply being tricked into unleashing Vaatu, like Wan was.

Either way, I believe is was Vaatu who taught Unalaq how to pacify (and maybe even control) the dark spirits.

2013-10-20 02:11:00

Author:
SnipySev

Posts: 2452

I do like how so much from the episodes expanded upon elements from the first series that were largely left unexplored or just sort of thrown in. What was once something we just had to accept as part of the setting, and if we didn't ended up feeling like a writer cop-out actually makes sense now. Also, fairly sure we know who's going to be the big bad of the season.

If I had any complaint, it's about how the writers seem to treat the idea of...

These episodes seem to indicate that the state of the world is contingent on the relationship between two primal spirits of light and darkness (Raava and Vaatu). My personal problem is that what we are told is that true balance in the world is only possible when light is dominant over darkness and how it just feels like either a very unambiguous, unnuanced presentation of morality in (quite literally) black and white terms, or a very poor analogy to Taoism. Taoist philosophy has played a heavy role in the Avatar franchise even from the beginning (remember the Moon and Ocean spirits as black and white koi fish?) and the latest episodes even more so. We have two opposite forces, great significance placed on words such as harmony and balance and if you look carefully at the site of the harmonic convergence the two craters formed by the spirit portals even form a Yin-Yang shape. The thing is, in Taoism neither Yin or Yang (which both Raava and Vaatu seem to symbolize) is inherently good or evil; they may be opposites but they are also interdependent and both sides together in harmony are necessary for a true balance rather than one side having dominance over the other. Yet here, Vaatu seems more like a Satan-figure than anything else while Raava is unambiguously a force of good.

The parallels to Taoism that are there seem too deliberate for me to personally ignore, yet I also can't ignore how...inappropriately they seem to be implemented. This in itself ties back into similar problems I had earlier in this season in regards the conflict between the Northern and Southern Water tribes; at first, Unalaq seems to have a good point about how the South had become spiritually negligent in spite of the fact that he is willing to use force to address the problem. Yet this is all undone when he is properly revealed as a Machiavellian schemer and the Southern Tribe's issues are swept under the rug while Tonraq is vindicated of all wrongdoing.

I do hope that the writers, whom I will genuinely laud if they do so, choose to have the plot itself shake up the dynamic of it's treatment of the notion of "balance" to reflect that true balance does not come from one side dominating, or being presented as solidly morally superior/inferior to the other. I.e. have Unalaq genuinely have good intentions behind both his past and present immoral actions, or have Raava and Vaatu realize they are one whole that, when together allows the world to truly be at balance, which is something Raava could not achieve even with Vaatu out of the picture. I realize I'm probably expecting too much, but it's certainly not out of the realm of possibility and I also feel like if the writers did pull this sort of rabbit out of the hat that it would put Legend of Korra on par with, if not potentially surpass the Last Airbender in storytelling.

Whew, do I feel like a nit-picker...

2013-10-20 03:38:00

Author:
Dapiek Absaroka

Posts: 512

More Korra and Tenzin, less Mako and blinded Lin please.

2013-11-02 17:07:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity

Posts: 5208

Last night's episode was pretty good, but it had issues involving Mako, Asami, and Lin.

Korra has finally becoming a much more 'avatar' character than being too stubborn in this season's first half. She apologized to Tenzin and goes back to needing his help after what went wrong at the end of Book 2's episode 1. Also, Tenzin has once again being a proper character, even though he worries too much about not entering the spirit world. But the biggest issue of the episode is the Mako, Asami, and Lin bit. Mako being framed and got arrested by Lin seems too random, and Asami hasn't done anything to defend him, or will she in the next episode. I guess that what the police has to do after 'The Sting' operation. Other than that, Korra and Tenzin have both improved a lot, and the episode has an interesting ending as Korra and Jinnora are about to enter spirit world and put an end to Uralaq's evil plan.

Overall, this episode is an 8.2 out of 10. The Mako, Asami, and Lin bit could have done better, but the biggest improvement of the episode is Korra and Tenzin.

2013-11-02 18:46:00

Author:
JustinArt

Posts: 1314

-Aang: didn't know his father;
-Sokka and Katara: grew up without their mother, their father left them to fight in the war;
-Toph: her parents are overprotective and don't allow her to do anything on her own;
-Zuko: his father disfigured and banished him for speaking out of turn;
-Azula: Ozai raised her to be a psychopath;
-Korra: her father kept his past from her;
-Asami: disowned when she refuses to join the equalists;
-Tenzin: since he was the last hope for the revival of the airbenders, Aang put too much pressure on him, which made him constantly fearful of not living up to his legacy;
-Kya and Bumi: extremely insecure because Aang paid much more attention to Tenzin than them;
-Noatak and Tarrlok: their father made them torture animals and each other via bloodbending;
-Desna and Eska: Unalaq doesn't give a crap about them.

I'm starting to see a pattern here. This series has so many characters with daddy issues, it almost rivals Game of Thrones.

2013-11-04 09:28:00

Author:
SnipySev

Posts: 2452

I'm starting to see a pattern here. This series has so many characters with daddy issues, it almost rivals Game of Thrones.

Don't forget Firelord Azulon, who expected Ozai to kill Zuko as "punishment" for speaking out of turn; it's likely that his parental favoritism towards Iroh contributed to Ozai's eventual villainy and he comes off as even less pleasant when you learn about his machinations regarding the reasons for Ozai and Ursa's marriage in the comics.

Monk Gyatso and General Iroh were decent parental figures at least, though even they messed up at times. Gyatso tried to postpone Aang's destiny, which might have been done with the best intentions and worked out for the best in the end but then again the world really did need the avatar at the time. Likewise, Iroh was probably the best thing in Zuko's life but then again he lost his actual biological son as a result of the Fire Nation's attempts to take Ba Sing Se, which he himself actually lead. I'm actually wondering how good a father Zuko turned out to be...

Additionally, what mothers were given any characterization weren't much better. Katara and Sokka's mom was nice, so of course she had to be killed off before the series even began. Toph's mom was basically complicit in her father's smothering of her. Finally, and very recently in the ATLA post-season three comics we get insight into two other mothers who basically screwed up hard:

Remember Zuko's mother, Ursa? Turns out she went to ground for reasons other than saving Zuko's life. Namely she was in love with someone other than Ozai which is understandable but to be with the man she willingly rewrites her very identity with the help of the Mother of Faces and effectively disregards all memory of them and abandoning them to Ozai. Ursa herself openly expresses self-loathing just before her "reformatting." And the Mother of Faces? She's also Koh's mother who abandoned him, which is the origin of his face-stealing habits.

2013-11-06 03:51:00

Author:
Dapiek Absaroka

Posts: 512

Just saw "A New Spiritual Age" episode. Amazing episode with well-executed animation, much better plot, and two familiar faces from ATLA.

The episode's plot was well-told, as Korra and Jinnora were traveling to the spirit world to find Vaatu's portal and stop Uralaq's plan of releasing the dark spirit. The episode's animation was well-drawn with more amazing spirits and clever effects. Also, it's great to see General Iroh and Wang Shi Tong again. It's weird to see Korra turning into her much younger self, which was seen at the very beginning of the series, but that's not the gripe of the episode. The only gripe of the episode is a few dialogues, but Iroh's messages and Jinnora talking about the legends are the best dialogues of the episode. The episode has a lot great visual animation, and the ending is well-climated.

Overall, a 9.5 out of 10.

2013-11-09 02:35:00

Author:
JustinArt

Posts: 1314

So I just finished watching the newest one, pretty good stuff to go on.

When Mr. Owl shows up, the tootsie roll pop disappears. The candy in this case first being Aapa, and now Jinorra.

2013-11-11 02:20:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

So.. has Tenzin and everyone else not yet found the giant flying bison Korra rode to the Southern Air Temple on?

2013-11-11 02:43:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity

Posts: 5208

She's been upgrading transports really fast lately so it's probably already gone.

Just a matter of time before she catches a comet to fly around on.

2013-11-11 04:32:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

If anyone is wondering why the animation looks better, it's because studio Mir, the animators of season 1, are back for the remainder of the series.

Studio Pierrot was great at animating fight scenes, but everything else left a lot to be desired. Their conversation scenes are especially awful; the caracters just stay perfectly still and never change their facial expressions. Notice, for example, how no one never blinks in Pierrot episodes.

Studio Mir's animation quality is more balanced overall. I'm happy they're back.

2013-11-11 19:51:00

Author:
SnipySev

Posts: 2452

Whoa, wait a minute.

Apparently, we're not only getting the next two episodes of Korra tonight, but the two-part season finale will also be available to watch online at midnight, a week before it was scheduled.. (although it'll still air on TV next week)

2013-11-15 22:56:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity

Posts: 5208

That be a lot o' Korra.

On the one hand, good that we get to see them sooner.

On the other, well, how have the ratings been again? I don't know the exact numbers, and I'm sure there are plenty of people like me who mainly catch it online, (thank you nick.com), but as far as I know, it has not been the best.

2013-11-15 23:29:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

. I just heard about that on ign.com. I'll check the finale out at some point tomorrow or Sunday, then I'll watch it again on HD TV on Nick next week.

That be a lot o' Korra.

On the one hand, good that we get to see them sooner.

On the other, well, how have the ratings been again? I don't know the exact numbers, and I'm sure there are plenty of people like me who mainly catch it online, (thank you nick.com), but as far as I know, it has not been the best.

The ratings weren't as strong as Book 1 due to wrong time slot and a more than a year long hiatus gap between Book 1 and 2. However, the amount of viewers have been improving since "The Guide" episode. The series is already renewed for three seasons after a huge success of book 1, so Nick will still be airing Book 3 and 4 in the future regardless of the TV ratings. Hopefully, Nickelodeon will learn from what went wrong with Book 2 when they premiere the last two seasons.

EDIT: Alright, I just watched the two episodes before the big Book 2 finale and things got a lot more interesting.

In "Night of a Thousand Stars", Bolin saving the president from Verrick's army is a lot more entertaining than I thought. Also, I like how there's a waiting look of the company when Mako was trying to answer Korra's question about the fight they had in "The peacekeepers" episode. Another funny moment is that while Verrick is in a luxurious prison room, his assistant is with him. The only flaw of the episode is that when Korra and Mako are back in relationship, Asami is starting to get jealous. Let's hope Asami doesn't get too jealousy. Other than a possible second love triangle, the action scenes are well done, and the subplot involving Mako is at its best this season.

In "Harmonic Convengence", this episode has some of the best battle scenes I have ever seen in Book 2. In addition, Bumi is at his best as he attempts to rescue his company all by himself after they were captured by Uralaq's army, and of course he did. Korra's new hair style looks really awesome, too. At the end, it leads up to the ultimate battle as Vaatu has been released. Will Korra defeat her uncle along with the dark spirit? We'll find out on midnight or next week.

OVERALL: Great episodes. "Night of a Thousand Stars" is a 9 out of 10, while "Harmonic Convergence" is a 9.8 out of 10. Looking forward to the Book 2 finale, which will be online at midnight and on TV next week.

2013-11-16 00:49:00

Author:
JustinArt

Posts: 1314

That was epic.

Spirits loose in the world? No more guidance from past lives? This is a game changer, guys.

So... are we ever going to see Aang again, or are all the past avatars gone for good? We know for certain that Korra isn't a hotline to her past lives anymore, but maybe she is able to consult Aang or Wan through the tree of time?

2013-11-16 17:45:00

Author:
SnipySev

Posts: 2452

So much better.

-Bolin fights again! Yes.
-Varrik not so evil. Also yes.
-Love Triangle. No. No. No. Holy poop am I glad that was short, but dang did it just cut momentum for me.
-Bumi is awesome. Well, old Bumi was already awesome but new Bumi just proved it for himself. That being said, I'm glad his flute plan didn't work.
-Love the silence just before the dark spirit escapes. Just a nice bit of sound design in my opinion.
-Hey guys, it's me again. Oh wait, cameo over. Ok, byeee.
-Blue giant Korra looks stupid. I'm sorry, someone had to say it.
-Ka-meh-ha-meh-haaaaaaa!!
-Speaking of which, I think a deus ex machina should just be a rite of passage for any future renditions of anything related to this. It's nice to see a younger non-main character getting involved in the tradition early.

Ok, but in all seriousness, the ending I've been expecting for a while was for Korra to fuse with both spirits and be some sort of Super Avatar. Or Would She!? Because then in the next season she has to deal with the inner turmoil of having the dark spirit inside her and yada yada yada.

But this was good too.

Really. Like the ending of the original show, the ending was very much a matter of convinience, but I think it makes sense within the universe. It's something that could happen, so it's not a terrible deus ex machina. That's my opinion though.

I was wondering what setup they could have for the future. After all, when you save the world from that which is pure evil, anything else kinda pales in comparison. But having the no ties to past lives and spirits going back and forth thing could turn into a nice setup.

Also, what do people think of her decision to leave the portal open. My initial thinking was, yeah, good move. But then I thought about it in the process of writing that last bit and now I'm thinking, well no. Maybe not so much. Again, setup for next season.

Finally, the villain was ok in the end. You know, basic take over the world, endless darkness, grr I is the evil sort of thing. Mark Ozai didn't have much more of a motivation to be sure, but one thing I want to point out is that seeing the dark spirit fusion thingy fight off stuff was a lot less intimidating than seeing the fire nation burn down admittedly already relatively sparse land with giant waves of fire. I know the whole end of the world for 10,000 years outdoes 1 day of "what the hell" followed by some years/decades/generations of being under the control of a nation that probably wouldn't be able to maintain it in the long run anyway, but the imagery for the latter was a lot stronger.

Awesome ending, lot of fun to watch.

My overall thoughts of the season. Well, yes, it got better. Way better. But I don't really want to just ignore the first half because of it. There had to have been better ways (yes multiple, I refuse to believe it would be hard to miss) to reach this point, so I'm gonna give the season a "decent to good, with great parts attached" as my arbitrarily arbitrary rating.

2013-11-16 20:26:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

Yes, the second half was much better and, oh lord, that finale.

+ Great final moments between Tenzin and Korra
+ I wasn't expecting to see Varrick and his assistant again after handing over that battleship, so that was just awesome.
+ Closure between Eska and Bolin
+ Cameo for General Zhou
+ They finally gave Lin some importance this season, saving Raiko and firing the mustachios
+ The creators are aware of the lack of Naga and Pabuu by showing them upset when Yugi gets all of the attention
+ Not deus-ex machinaing Korra's loss of connection with the other avatars. That would have just been silly after season 1's ending.
+ Fantastic battle sequences through and through.

+ And finally, the final moment between Korra and Mako. Great closure on their messed up relationship. I'm glad to see them knowing that they weren't right for each other, with Bolin popping in to comfort his brother.

It was a little funny to see fire being shot out of Korra's feet while not penetrating her boots, and what was up with the Dark Avatar grass-bending? Oh well, all tiny points, the ending was great. I will admit though, the sinister anti-bending practices of Amon were definitely more suspenseful than Unalaq's world takeover plans.

2013-11-16 21:40:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity

Posts: 5208

I just saw it online. What a great way to end Book 2.

In "Darkness Falls", the battle between Korra and Uralaq is amazingly epic. Also, Tenzin and his siblings subplot is pretty good and they're on a quest to find Jinora. It's also great to see General Zhou, which he got sucked by a water spirit back in ATLA book 1 finale. In addition, Bolin did a great job on tricking Eska into falling in love him again, so he and his brother can be free from the twins. At the end, Uralaq and Vaatu combined into one giant evil dude, which looks really awesome.

In "Light in the dark", after Korra failed to stop her uncle from fusing with the dark spirit, there's still hope for her as she become a giant blue spirit. The drawing of Korra's giant blue spirit could have done better, but she still looks epic. The epic battle between Korra and Uralaq/Vaatu is brilliant, and I like how Jinora came out of nowhere to help Korra releasing Rava from the inside of the Dark spirit. At the end, Korra decided to leave the portals open, which is a pretty good choice for her.

OVERALL: A perfect 10 out of 10 on both finale episodes.

And now...here's a recap of Book 2 scores:
Rebel Spirits: 9
The Southern Lights: 9
Civil Wars Part 1: 8
Civil Wars Part 2: 8.9
Peacekeepers: 7.5
The Sting: 8.8
The Beginnings Part 1: 9.5
The Beginnings Part 2: 9.5
The Guide: 8.2
A New Spiritual Age: 9.5
Night of a Thousand Stars: 9
Harmonic Convergence: 9.8
Darkness Falls: 10
Light in the Dark: 10

Overall score of season 2: 9.05/10 (wow, it's .05 higher than Book 1

). The plot is much better than book 1, despite a decent subplot involving Mako, Bolin, Asami, and Lin, plus Korra acting like a jerk in the season's first half. The animation is still brilliantly drawn, and the spirits looked awesome. And such new characters as Uralaq, Varrick, Desna, Eska, and Wan are a great addition to book 2. Another great season of the series. Looking forward to Book 3.

2013-11-16 21:46:00

Author:
JustinArt

Posts: 1314

+ Not deus-ex machinaing Korra's loss of connection with the other avatars. That would have just been silly after season 1's ending.

Jinora doing that thing was kind of Deus Ex Machina-esque. They didn't even explain how she had the power to do it.

I agree that Amon was a much better villain though. He wasn't one-dimensionally evil like Ozai and this season's baddies. He actually had a few valid points about the inequality between benders and non-benders. And during the first few episodes the series actually illustrated that, by showing us how the triads and Tarrlok abused their powers and how all members of the ruling council were benders. The problem was that Amon's solution for equality was incredibly misguided, and that's the thing that made him a villain.

And then when the first season was nearing its end, the writers decided to sweep the whole thing about non-benders being oppressed under the rug and started portraying the fight between benders and Equalists as unambiguously good vs bad. I'm still bitter about that. They had an excellent, surprisingly mature theme of social unrest going on and they screwed it up.

2013-11-17 17:08:00

Author:
SnipySev

Posts: 2452

Jinora doing that thing was kind of Deus Ex Machina-esque. They didn't even explain how she had the power to do it.

Oh right, there was that... :F

2013-11-17 22:43:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity

Posts: 5208

It was really a missed opportunity in season one to have some great discussion on it come up. As I recall from episode one, the protester gave the speech of bender oppression against nonbenders, classism stuff, etc, and Korra's response was something along the lines of, "But Bending is the greatest thing in the world." End of discussion. Bending is awesome, I'm right, you're wrong, let's fight about it. It never evolves beyond that.

Amon was still the best villain though. Mostly. Between this guy and Ozai, sure their motivations were both basic, but at least Mark Hamill pulled it off with style.

2013-11-17 23:04:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

Co-creator of the series Michael Dante DiMartino has revealed that the title of Book 3 will be called...

Change

That's pretty good title for Book 3, because of the ending of Book 2 when Korra decided leave the portal to spirit world open after a battle with Uralaq/Vaatu.

2013-11-21 04:07:00

Author:
JustinArt

Posts: 1314

And not a single Fire Lord was visited that season.

2013-11-23 03:06:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity

Posts: 5208

To be fair, there wouldn't have been much point to it in terms of plot. Yeah, they aalmosst had her there, but whatever.
For the characters that seemed to be there to please fans, I don't think they needed another one quite yet. Save it for next season when she travels to deal with making a decision without input from any of the people, much less said leaders.

2013-11-23 03:28:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

2013-11-23 03:49:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity

Posts: 5208

General Iroh was teasing people just with his presence.

"Hey guys, I'm awesome right? Well I'm gonna be back in this season. Or not really. Bye."

It was nice to see the return for a little bit though. yes, seeing "Iroh" again sure was nice.

2013-11-23 03:53:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

So, this. Glad to know it's coming along.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrJiCf03UWQ

2014-02-19 17:23:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

Book 3 trailer has arrived a few days ago. Here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0UBbzeFc74

Yeah, awesome trailer! And the premiere date will be announced pretty soon (mostly during this year's San Diego Comic Con).

2014-06-14 20:25:00

Author:
JustinArt

Posts: 1314

So IGN just revealed that...

Yes, The Legend of Korra Book Three: Change will debut on Friday, June 27th at 7pm on Nickelodeon. You?ll get a ton of Korra that night, as the first two episodes of Book Three air from 7pm-8pm ET/PT, followed by a special bonus presentation of the third episode of Book Three, ?The Earth Queen", at 8pm.*

Pretty exciting stuff

2014-06-20 22:41:00

Author:
yugnar

Posts: 1478

I think Nickelodeon should have either announced the air date a lot earlier or maybe air it on July, but I'm fine with the show starting this Friday.

I changed the title of this thread just to get ready for tomorrow.

2014-06-27 03:02:00

Author:
JustinArt

Posts: 1314

Well, three episode premier was last night. Not a bad start all in all.

Korra's struggling with self-doubt over her decision at the end of the last season has given her a much-needed dose of humility to balance out her usual boisterousness though time will tell if she grows from it more then she did the last two seasons. I do like that she and Asami seem to genuinely be growing as friends, but then again Asami has been my favorite character in the series for a while now. Though the fact that she can pony up the cash to provide the team with a giant airship and tag along for their Airbender recruitment drive does make me question what state of Future Industries; weren't they in financial straits the last season? And Verrick, who was providing patronage, seems to have disappeared.

In regards to the other characters, I do wish Tenzin was given a greater degree of dignity that you would expect from an older master (a trait that all the older white lotus masters from ATLA had in spades). Granted, I don't expect him to be a master of the air nomad sales pitch but its sad that he has to resort to cheap showmanship to earn just one disciple after his sorta epiphany about himself at the end of season two (even sadder still when you consider the true motives of that disciple). Surprisingly, I find Mako's behavior the most realistic; he and Korra just called it quits but he's being dragged along with her and his other ex for her recruitment drive and its all supremely awkward for him. I do hope that their relationship isn't rekindled as I don't really think they gain much from it and it would come off as very rehashed and telegraphed. I've also grown to utterly loathe Bolin; he's just become increasingly and completely grating to me throughout the course of two seasons and three episodes. He started out as mostly comic relief in the first season, then became a smug celebrity/propaganda prop in the second and I'm not sure how he really contributed anything substantive to the plot; here, he's just a na?ve, gullible fool. And I'm supposed to believe that this manchild grew up in harsh conditions on the streets? Was Mako doing all the heavy lifting during those years? Granted, it would explain a lot about both of them.

Ranting aside, I do appreciate the callouts to the past series. Even though he technically didn't do a lot it was good to see Zuko again; even though it would be rather gratuitous, I really hope he gets a lot more screentime and interaction with the other characters this season. It is a bit sad that Ba Sing Se and its secret police haven't really come very far at all; I guess in addition to being a completely clueless puppet of a ruler, the Earth King didn't know how to raise a daughter or worthy successor.

One thing I do think is promising is the antagonists for the season; not because of their abilities, but because they come off as straight-up malevolent compared to the first two seasons. Granted, this does seem like they will have less complexity conceptually then previous season antagonists but the problem with their predecessors was how botched their execution was. Amon brought to discussion how equity could exist in a world were a portion of it's inhabitants had superpowers that placed them above the muggles but turned out to be the worst example of what he rallied against. Unalaq exposed the need for balance and harmony in the world but turned out to be behind many examples of the problems he claimed needed to be addressed while being in league with the setting's equivalent of the devil. I guess it is a bit too early so say exactly what they are, but if the irregular benders are indeed what they appear to be, a group of superpowerful supervillain benders I'd frankly find them to be an improvement. I'm of the opinion that the best antagonist in the entire franchise was Azula, not only because she was dangerous and cunning, but because she was a complex character that didn't need some well-intentioned motivation to give her that depth. Her motives (a lust for power and approval) were ultimately selfish, but ultimately very human and in that sense very relatable even if they didn't justify her actions at all. If this season's antagonists are more like her than their immediate predecessors then I'm all for it.

2014-06-28 17:41:00

Author:
Dapiek Absaroka

Posts: 512

What a start of Book 3! The first three episodes have impressive improvements over the first two season premieres. There's finally some avatar teamwork which was lacking the most of Book 2, including Korra and Asami battling the bike gangs. Speaking of Korra and Asami, the scene where Asami teaches Korra to drive finally shows a good friendship between them. Such new villains as the criminal in Air Nomad prison who can airbend after the harmonic convergence, the magma bender, the armless waterbender, and the "sparky boom boom" lady looks like those crooks will be more interesting to watch than Amon and Unalaq (so far). And it's great to see Zuko in the series as he's on a mission to stop those freed crooks. There's even clever jokes, like a scene where Zuko, Desna and Eska were in a elevator. Lots of great stuff on the premiere of book 3. Hope all these improvements stay that way in the rest of the series.
A Breath of Fresh Air: 9.5/10
Rebirth: 9.6/10
The Earth Queen: 9.8/10

2014-06-28 19:41:00

Author:
JustinArt

Posts: 1314

AGHHHHH I couldn't see it! I'm not reading anything here until I get to watch the episodes. Was it a good start though?

2014-06-28 20:20:00

Author:
yugnar

Posts: 1478

2014-06-29 00:47:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity

Posts: 5208

Any idea where one could watch the episodes online? Nick was pretty good at posting episodes on their site for books 1 and 2, but I can't seem to find any full episodes of book 3 yet there.

I do know that there's some random websites across the internet that show that kind of stuff, but the ones I found seemed to be stuffed with obnoxious ads and couldn't even load the videos properly.

As in Mexico I just can't find that show yet anywhere, I used this nice page to see the whole season 1-2. I believe they started uploading season 3 as well: http://avatar-site.blogspot.mx

The only downhill is that the episodes are subtitled in Spanish, if you don't mind that could be an option. There must be tons of other sites though.

Edit: Sorry just double checked and the site hasn't uploaded Season 3 yet. And the whole page is in Spanish

2014-06-29 01:05:00

Author:
yugnar

Posts: 1478

Nevermind, I found a place to watch them online. Thanks, though. ^^

http://anilinkz.com/the-legend-of-korra-book-3-change-episode-1

2014-06-29 07:01:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity

Posts: 5208

I use this site (http://www.watchcartoononline.com/the-legend-of-korra-season-3-episode-1-2-a-breath-of-fresh-air-rebirth-of-a-nation) for my animated shows.

Just watched eps 1-3, pleasantly surprised.

Glad they addressed the story issues (love triangle/ramifications/etc) and the new villlan(s!(evil team avatar!)) will be a welcome change from the standard S1/2 big bad guy.
The only thing I didn't care for was the voice acting/choices for the new villans.
9/10 average rating from me.

2014-06-29 14:20:00

Author:
midnight_heist

Posts: 2513

I find that the best way to start the third season of the show that is a sequel to one of my favorite all time series is to forget that it exists entirely. Finally got around to watching those first three episodes and I liked what I saw.

The look is still impressive, though I hope they scale back on the cgi just a little bit. It was nice back in the day when it was used to contrast the technological aspects from the naturalistic, but it doesn’t seem to serve that purpose much anymore. Other shows have handled it much worse though.

The characters are more or less the same as they were before, though with some of them bothering me about 120% less. Seriously, I no longer dislike Korra with great intensity. Now her personality bothers me less than her actions. Ok, her personality still bothers me but not to the same degree.

I disagreed with her decision to keep the portal open at the end of season 2 seeing as, well, other people live in the world too. I did think it would make for a good story driver in the future and what do you know? It doesn’t work out. But her solution of “just deal with it” bothered me a bit. I find it interesting how back in Iroh days, I would give his wisdom and approval more weight than I give Tenzin. Iroh says Aang was wise to choose happiness over world saving power, I’m ok with that. Tenzin says Korra was right to let the spirits comingle with humans once again, and I find myself in doubt, needing a big ol’ why. It actually reminded me of a disappointment with season one.

Valid Point: Benders can and have used their powers to take advantage of non-benders.

Accepted Argument: “You’re wrong because bending is awesome and I’m the protagonist therefore I’m right now give me a hypocritical bad guy who invalidates your side by taking it too far so that I could beat him up.”

I’m just saying, don’t squander every opportunity for something good. My disagreement doesn’t make it bad for me, them ignoring it will though.

The other characters get some more (varying degrees of) development. I agree with Justin that the Asami and Korra driving scene was a good addition. Bolin is of course back to comic relief, not much else to say. Mako meets the standard quo veering on the ok side. As for Zuko, while it was nice to finally see the character return, there really wasn’t anything special about it. I’m waiting to pass judement on him and new kid until we see them more.

Same with the villains, all we really know is that they are powerful, and they are evil. They don’t have the development time like Zuko did, or the immediately sinister presence of Azula, or even the buildup and subtle payoff that Ozai got (I cannot stress how brilliant it was to make him look so ordinary, also Mark Hamill). Certainly they don’t strike me as anything close to another Amon. But they’re just getting started and I’m excited to see (not be told) what a team of master bad guys can do.
Now to the major driving force of these episodes.

New airbenders, good concept. Every air nomad was an airbender because of their attachment to the spirit world, the spirit world is now mixed with the human one, therefore air benders return. Ok, I’ll buy that.

I am so glad that they addressed the air bender versus air nomad issue though. When Tenzin started getting excited about being able to rebuild the culture and all that other stuff, the question immediately popped into my head of, well what if they don’t want to be monks? Thank you writers!

Though it did lead to possibly the most uncomfortable scene I’ve ever…seen…in this show. That whole thing with Korra trying to recruit the obvious millennial was just, bleah. On the one hand, we are obviously supposed to dislike the guy. On the other hand, I just wanted to tell Korra to shut up. There was no way to win that situation.

Really the entire military recruitment subtext lowered my mood a bit. This especially when they did the “razzle dazzle” plan. That is an actual thing, right down to very quickly summing up the negatives at the very end like super fine print. To be honest, I do have a bias. I was in my high school’s ROTC program my first two years and as a result experienced a lot of recruitment stuff, even when I switch to basketball for my last two years. Most of it was benign if a bit annoying but some of it was, frankly, downright maddening. I had a rant I just deleted, but basically, while I am by no means anti military, I am anti a lot of recruitment practices used. Seeing the failed attempts, then the failed use of force, and then the whole trickery thing play out really hit the mark in my opinion, at least as well as I have grown to expect from this show.

Of course the subtext dives into the main plot when people are, I think conscripted is the nicest word I’ll use, into the earth kingdom military.

By the way, who’s brilliant idea was it to keep the Dai Li intact?

Also, Varrick needs to return. He was too fun a character and his payoff was too underwhelming for him not to come back.

2014-06-29 19:01:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

The Dai li are evil again

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfVG14t1N6E

2014-06-30 00:51:00

Author:
Bremnen

Posts: 1800

Korra Writing Team: "Let's see how many cheesy ways we can fit the word 'change' into the first two episodes."

Sorry, I just had to get that off my back.

It was just so silly to me. Other than that though, nice start to the season. Removal of love triangle is nice despite now with Mako filling the post-breakup awkward cliche, but it doesn't seem like they're going to try stretching that out. I did end up rolling my eyes some when Kai said that he was an orphan. I mean, I know it's a tough world, but wasn't it enough that Mako/Bolin's parents are gone, as is Asami's mother, plus Aang being not that great of a father to Tenzin's siblings? Oh, and Korra's dad being caught up in things, but at least Korra has some normalcy. (That is, when you ignore the extended family, yikes.)

Seeing them travel all over the place to recruit airbenders was nice just for the fact that we got to see Korra and friends actually explore the world, and not just caught between Republic City and icy villages. The big group of baddies certainly look conniving, although I really don't have much attachment to them. One girl has water arms which is cool, although the airbending villain's voice sounded pretty weird. The buildup to the fourth member of Anti-Team Avatar was pretty cool, and it was nice to see Eska and Desna return (although them appearing just reminded how many characters this new season is saddled with).

One thing I did find silly had to deal with what I believe was a conversation between Zuko and Tonraq. They were overlooking the prison crate holding Phui or whatever her name is. I think Tonraq or a guard said there's no way that she could be broken out, and Zuko says that "that's what we/they thought about the others." What I find silly about that being the case is that the cage for one of these super baddies was made of WOOD, out on some island, nothing around it, and just a few measley guards. The same could be said about the airbenders' fortress with the rinky dinky jail bars, although admittedly there wasn't a boat that could be stolen by there. :/

Suspension of disbelief, I know, but c'mon White Lotus crew, you guys need to step up your security.

2014-06-30 04:02:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity

Posts: 5208

2014-07-03 10:35:00

Author:
SnipySev

Posts: 2452

Yesterday's two new episodes are interesting.

"In Harm's Way" has quite a strong opening when Zuko, Desna, Eska, and Korra's father tried to prevent Zaheer and his crew from freeing the last of them, but they failed. The rescuing the held-captive new airbenders has some interesting action as well. The Earth Queen's attitude is the only problem in this episode, while the romance between Rai and Jinora seemed too quick. Other than that, the episode has strong opening and ending, and has some good action scenes.

"The Metal Clan" has really awesome visuals of the metal city, and so as such creative new characters as Lin's sister and Opel. Korra teaching Opel airbending is a nice scene, and Zaheer in disquise is quite a mystery of what's he doing in Air Temple (obviously looking for Korra). Also, great to see Varrick for the first time since the end of book 2. I wonder what he comes up with next, other than a plan he mentioned. The only issue is, like I mentioned about Rai and Jinora in previous episode, is that Bolin and Opel romance scene seems too rushed, but that will hopefully improve throughout the season. Still, an interesting story-driven episode with neat new characters, awesome concepts, and a cliff-hanging subplot involving Zaheer.

Overall: both episodes are interesting, despite some issues I mentioned.

In Harm's Way: 8.8/10
The Metal Clan: 9/10

2014-07-12 19:56:00

Author:
JustinArt

Posts: 1314

Duuuude. There really are no characters in Avatar that don't have any daddy/mommy issues.

2014-07-14 16:05:00

Author:
SnipySev

Posts: 2452

Duuuude. There really are no characters in Avatar that don't have any daddy/mommy issues.

Ozai?
..and the airbender children..so far at least

They all but confirmed Toph is still alive. I vote her for new Iroh.

2014-07-14 17:47:00

Author:
Bremnen

Posts: 1800

Ozai?
..and the airbender children..so far at least

Didn't Azulon order Ozai to get rid of Zuko? He doesn't exactly sound like a caring father and grandfather.

2014-07-14 18:19:00

Author:
SnipySev

Posts: 2452

Duuuude. There really are no characters in Avatar that don't have any daddy/mommy issues.

Well, there was that one person, who.. umm...

Cabbage man?

2014-07-14 18:52:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity

Posts: 5208

Didn't Azulon order Ozai to get rid of Zuko? He doesn't exactly sound like a caring father and grandfather.

Ozai had Ursa poison Azulon, so he did have problems..

Well, there was that one person, who.. umm...

Cabbage man?

Cabbage man.
The best man.

2014-07-15 08:53:00

Author:
Bremnen

Posts: 1800

Who would have thought that children who grew up in a warn torn world that were eventually forced to not just take part in, but lead the battle against the evil tyrant ruler hoping to kill everyone would grow up to be anything other than well adjusted parents to children in a time of peace?

The fight with the bads of this series was pretty cool.
Oh Zuko, you were never the strongest of fighters among the elite, but you were good, and had style. But age has not been kind to your fighting abilities.

Speaking of the bads, now that they're all together, let's set up bets for which ones really aren't that bad.

Also, I know suspension of disbelief and all that, and the guy was a good fighter before I'm sure, but my is he really good at airbending for someone who has only known it for some weeks and was locked in prison. Also, good thing he gained that power otherwise his studies of airbending culture would have been less meaningful.

The Order of the White Lotus sucks now.

Don't worry Jinora, the only reason you're here is to establish the love interest with Aladdin, of course he'll be safe
Also you're Astral Projection mumbo jumbo is too convenient.

Speaking of Aladdin, looks like military school works wonders on behavioral problems after all.

Yay Lin Bei Fong.

These enemies are greater than any threat she's faced so far? I think defeating the embodiment of all evil and saving the universe trumps four inexplicably really good benders. Sure, they're different and we saw that the entire original Team Avatar could barely handle Sparky Sparky Boom Man, much less adding three others, but hell, even Amon is comparable at this point.

Going back to Jinora when Aladdin gets the rats revenge on Mr. Dai Li bully man, did they really play the "grab my arm and I'm useless" trope on a highly skilled airbender?

And finally, same as last time, Why the heck do these people have to be nomads. If someone doesn't bring up that they can be their own society of airbenders during their training, I will be very annoyed with this already barely changing society of everyone.

Howard Hughes! Nothing else in this episode matters. Bolin doesn't have to fail at carrying the comedy anymore. Yay!

Nice to see bending used as an art form.

Obviously a set-up episode so, yeah.

So basically yeah, I liked them.

2014-07-15 19:28:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

The floating wooden prison makes sense. The guy they were holding is a skilled earthbender, so he can probably metalbend. So it wouldn't be very wise to lock him behind iron bars. Or in a place close to the earth, for that matter. Hence the boat in the middle of the ocean.

All those prisons were designed to cut off the convicts from their respective element, kind of like Magneto's plastic cell in X-Men 2. But if someone sneaks in the smallest amount of rocks or water (or, as in Zaheer's case, unexpectedly gains access to airbending) then everything unravels.

Maybe that's why there were so few guards - unless someone screws up royally, having a lot of guard is redundant. And the smaller your staff, the easier it is to manage. Imagine if someone made the little mistake of bringing some water or a metal object into the facility. Besides, maybe there just aren't that many White Lotus guys.

Very fair points, I did actually like the concept of the White Lotus taking each prisoner somewhere away from their respective element, and I'm sure dealing with someone who can control just one of the four elements can make things very difficult. I suppose my disappointment was more in the White Lotus. Trying to avoid bringing any sort of element that matches with the imprisoned bender would be tricky for sure, but it still seemed poorly managed as a whole, I don't know.

Korra finding out that her friends and family have kept yet another major secret from her is funny, mainly because of all the secret-keeping from Book 2. Then again, she is hot-headed about some of these things, although her calm reaction was interesting, and something that I see more as character development than the writers forgetting to supply her a response that fits with the character, as the whole Tonraq-being-set-up story unraveling in Book 2 must have allowed her to trust those she love more about these sort of things.

Seeing Varrick return was great, although I hope Zhu Li is back as well, since she is his assistant, after all. Other than that, nice new episodes, I especially liked the Metal Clan. Seeing the characters explore the world is great, especially when they landed at Zaofu, which just looks amazing. The artistic metalbending practice scene was wonderful, and even just the little things like seeing Su Jins' siblings practice a sport they had made up themselves, it was very cool. What was also cool about it was that it was a private safe haven between the mountains, away from all these other jam-packed cities like Republic City and Ba Sing Se, which are filled to the brim with corruption.

Su Jin's a cool character, and while Lin was acting like a jerk to her, I'm really interested in them explaining her feelings about it all more, as things have always been a bit more complicated for her.. well, in season 1 that is. Going into the whole family debate, Su Jin seems to have a very stable family, and as far as the complaints go for Opal being a bland character, I think she's fine. Generically sweet and not exposed to much cruelty? Sure. But she seems to serve a purpose in further bringing our both Korra and Lin's character, as well as the dynamic between one another. She also allows for Korra to try gaining some more responsibility with her teaching sessions and whatnot. Although Bolin trying to be the flirt felt pretty stupid and unnecessary (Reminds me of Sokka, which reminds me of how I like Sokka way more than Bolin, which reminds me that we'll never see him again probably because he's dead.), and by this point, it just didn't seem like something that needed to be gone through. Ah well, I suppose it wasn't really addressed much given how clown-ish he can be, so at least it's dealt with.

Also, Ghazan can lavabend, right? Isn't that a combination of earthbending and firebending, so couldn't that sort of power be excluded to the avatar? Also, Jinorra's spirit ability is still pretty sketchy, but at least it makes airbending a bit more useful, but what with everything waterbenders and earthbenders can end up doing. Other than that, the next episodes show Korra metalbending, which, unless they do some sort of timejump, seems awfully quick. But I suppose the plot demands it. Final point, I agree with Mateos about the four villains and their power levels. Boy, if their powers were that extremely powerful, I bet making a rare exception to the anti-bloodbending rule could have been made once they figured out that Amon could remove people of their bending through the use of bloodbending. (Although it is mentioned how bloodbending is very difficult to learn, so there's the alternative of Korra possibly removing the evil benders' powers herself.. but I guess that might be too traumatic? That, and she might have to get up close to them.. while they still have their bending.. hmm)

2014-07-15 20:53:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity

Posts: 5208

Zuko was a victim of the Worf Effect (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheWorfEffect). That trope strikes me as shoddy writing most of the times it's put into use. There are ways of proving that the new villain is strong without making a powerful hero seem completely useless.

As for the White Lotus... keep in mind that all the White Lotus guys we saw during the first series were grand-masters of the order. They were the best fighters in their respective elements. We never got to know how good the regular agents were back then. So maybe you guys had the wrong expectations about the order?

2014-07-15 23:30:00

Author:
SnipySev

Posts: 2452

It's also important to note that they have been prisoners for over a decade, so its to be expected that the White Lotus would grow complacent and to be fair, the only reason these breakouts were possible at all was the occurrence of something completely unprecedented; namely a non-bender suddenly becoming one and having command over an element that people are largely unfamiliar with.

Personally, I'm not too miffed that they slipped through both the White Lotus and Zuko's fingers so rapidly. I mean, half the crux of this season's plot would meander if they didn't and it's not like they scored a completely overwhelming victory in the North Pole; they merely fought until they gained enough of an advantage and used that opportunity to slip away rather than risk the tide turning against them. This is also reflected in the more recent episodes; when Zaheer realizes the avatar is not in the Air Temple and his cover is blown he only fights enough to create a window to escape and when all four are taking their leave of Republic City all their actions are meant to expedite their getaway rather then escalate a conflict and for the show to boast their power. The only thing that really bothers me is how good a shape each criminal is after such a long period of confinement; I know prisons tend to be characterized as gymnasiums but other then Zaheer I got the sense that they were under such heavy lock and key that any sort of serious exercise would be impossible and that their bodies would have atrophied as a result.

Anyway, I gotta say even though it's only 7 episodes in this season seems like a huge improvement over the first two. No intrusive love triangles or ancillary subplots about sports and more exploration of a world that has advanced since its time when it was already engrossing in the predecessor series. It was ultimately a good thing that Korra was kicked out of Republic City given we've already become familiar with it since season one and I loved the design of Zaofu (though I found the chrome on green fashion sense rather ugly). My only concern is that all this time spent on world building hasn't actually left much time for developing the villains and that it may result in the final confrontation with them feeling rushed.

2014-07-19 17:03:00

Author:
Dapiek Absaroka

Posts: 512

Another two interesting episodes. One revolves around Lin's flashbacks, the other is about Tenzin training the new airbenders.

In "The Old Wounds", Lin's story is pretty strong. The way the episode shows her past is effective, and it's great to see Toph during it. And, man, Lin thought she can get rid of all those wounded past by battling Su, so they both had a crazy sibling rivalry battle going on. At the end, Lin felt better after Opel stopped both her and Su from fighting each other, and all what Lin needed is a sixteen hour sleep

. Also, Korra learning to metalbend is fun to watch. And the Zaheer bit of the episode is quite interesting, and I wasn't expecting the armless waterbender to drive, lol. Funniest moment: Varrick in a magnetic suit

.

In "Original Airbenders", the plot revolving around Tenzin teaching the new airbenders the way of the air nomads is pretty strong, despite some issues about Tenzin dealing with his students. Also, Kai and Jinora relationship seemed to be better in this episode than "In Harm's Way", but still feels rushed. The ending of the episode really shows some growth and maturity around the characters, though.

Overall: A couple of good story-driven episodes with some good surprises.

The Old Wounds: 9.2/10
Original Airbenders: 8.5/10

2014-07-19 19:14:00

Author:
JustinArt

Posts: 1314

That ***** ate Bosco?! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

And notice how that poacher's air bison fur has the complete brown patterns on it. Not digging the implication of that.

2014-07-21 17:23:00

Author:
SnipySev

Posts: 2452

Am I the only one who thinks last week should have been a single episode so that this week could have had "the Metal Clan" and "Old Wounds" as the two parter? Episode 7 would just be pushed back to next week instead. Oh well.

I can't help but compare Bolin unfavorably to Sokka. I know this whole metal-bending thing is going to lead to some character development of some kind, but right now it feels out of place and unnatural. Remember that part where he suddenly had a huge family? Where's that?

Lin's story was ok. Nothing particularly special but they used what they had well. Also, visual indication that her sister's defiance against her was a literal slap to the face made up for the fact that I was waiting for the scene where the face scars were somehow her sister's fault ever since they mentioned she has issues with her.

It's appropriate that grown up Toph is less sure of herself now that she actually has responsibility directly on her shoulders instead of being the support for the three characters (Aang,. Zuko, and a good portion on Sokka) who were carrying it all in the first series.

Lin throws a temper tantrum after combining Aang's chakra stuff with Zuko's internal equilibrium disruption dream stuff. Neat.

Seriously, I don't know which side has the most conveniently wide and useful array of abilities, Team Anti-tar with their guy who happened to master airbending, which is a good thing since he apparently spent a good amount of time learning air nomad culture, and can track people via meditation (these make sense, the whole everything is connected bit from The Swamp allows for this), or Jinnorra with her spirit powers that, even when she limits herself because of reasons, she still is able to use to call spirits at any given moment.

Thank you...um...Pema? Bema? You're the only one talking any sense around here.

Also, haha, Otaku has all the answers. Ha. Ha. Ha.

"One step, ahead of the bison. One step, ahead of his doom. Poachers, bring'n disaster. They're quick, but Kai's much faster. Here goes, staff in his hand and airbend all he can and all he's got to do is fly!"

Not Bosco! Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

2014-07-21 18:10:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

So, the last 5 episodes of season 3 have been pulled from airing on tv and will instead be online only. The last episode of the season to air on tv will be todays episode.
Apparently because of declining ratings. :l

I can't help but compare Bolin unfavorably to Sokka. I know this whole metal-bending thing is going to lead to some character development of some kind, but right now it feels out of place and unnatural. Remember that part where he suddenly had a huge family? Where's that?

Lin's story was ok. Nothing particularly special but they used what they had well. Also, visual indication that her sister's defiance against her was a literal slap to the face made up for the fact that I was waiting for the scene where the face scars were somehow her sister's fault ever since they mentioned she has issues with her.

It's appropriate that grown up Toph is less sure of herself now that she actually has responsibility directly on her shoulders instead of being the support for the three characters (Aang,. Zuko, and a good portion on Sokka) who were carrying it all in the first series.

Lin throws a temper tantrum after combining Aang's chakra stuff with Zuko's internal equilibrium disruption dream stuff. Neat.

Seriously, I don't know which side has the most conveniently wide and useful array of abilities, Team Anti-tar with their guy who happened to master airbending, which is a good thing since he apparently spent a good amount of time learning air nomad culture, and can track people via meditation (these make sense, the whole everything is connected bit from The Swamp allows for this), or Jinnorra with her spirit powers that, even when she limits herself because of reasons, she still is able to use to call spirits at any given moment.

It does seem like they were trying to throw in a lot in a few episodes, hopefully they revisit all of it/tie it in and not have it only have shown up once to never be mentioned again.

I just noticed that at least in season 3, THERE ARE NO CONSEQUENCES FOR ANYTHING
Korras line of "Conflict resolution is my thing" is overly fitting..

2014-07-26 00:36:00

Author:
Bremnen

Posts: 1800

. I think the biggest mistake Nick did to this show was airing it on Friday nights (death slot) for two seasons in a row, giving it no reruns, and airing Book 3 a lot sooner due to...sigh... the first four episode leaks. Yes, the mexican leaks are to blame for Nick pulling this show from its channel, just like the 2007 "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" Boston bomb scare is to blame from having Jim Staples resigning Cartoon Network and having CN's worst president ever, Stu Snyder, taking his place. The Book 3 trailer would have been seen in this year's San Diego Comic Con, and Nick would have take its time to air book 3, but no... they rushed it far too soon and look what they did to this awesome show. On the bright side, the show didn't get cancelled because it's already signed in for a total of four seasons.

And I even agree with what Forbes was saying about Nick's schedule of Korra:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillbarr/2014/06/23/the-legend-of-korra-should-not-be-premiering-on-nickelodeon-this-friday/

Sorry, I'm too upset to write a review of "The Terror Within", but I got to say it's an awesome episode. A 9.4 out of 10. And remember, the next episode can only be seen online on August 1st.

2014-07-26 04:03:00

Author:
JustinArt

Posts: 1314

Any guesses as to why Aang never bothered to learn metalbending, especially when Korra managed to pick it up so absurdly quickly?

Also, great great great new episode. Definitely my favorite one from this season. It looks like things are really starting to amp up.

2014-07-26 05:17:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity

Posts: 5208

giving it no reruns,

They didn't rerun it? Thar be the problem

Any guesses as to why Aang never bothered to learn metalbending, especially when Korra managed to pick it up so absurdly quickly?

Also, great great great new episode. Definitely my favorite one from this season. It looks like things are really starting to amp up.

Aang's element was air, earth was his weak element. He had trouble learning earthbending, learning metalbending probably would have been impossible or taken a really long time.
I don't remember how the good at/bad at thing is supposed to go, I thought it was the opposite element but Korra was a water bender and the element she was bad at was airbending instead of firebending

2014-07-26 15:46:00

Author:
Bremnen

Posts: 1800

Well, needless to say it sucks how the rest of the episodes are going to be online only. Frankly, it sucks in general how Nickolodeon has handled the show for the most part. I remember the first season being announced with huge fanfare and a ton of promotion but both seemed to decrease with the next two seasons, with the third barely being promoted at all.

Aang's element was air, earth was his weak element. He had trouble learning earthbending, learning metalbending probably would have been impossible or taken a really long time.
I don't remember how the good at/bad at thing is supposed to go, I thought it was the opposite element but Korra was a water bender and the element she was bad at was airbending instead of firebending

I think it might be a case of personality and temperament as well as the avatar's ethnic origin. In addition to earth being air's polar opposite, Aang's mentality and Air Nomad upbringing that emphasized spirituality, freedom and detachment was at odds with the mentality that an Earthbender required that required one to be grounded, stubborn and unyielding (according to Toph).

This also explains why Korra was a natural at bending fire, water, and earth but had trouble with air; in addition to being born to the Water Tribe (hence the natural waterbending), she has a very combative, physically oriented personality and so fire and earth would be natural as well but she isn't especially into spirituality which is why airbending wasn't.

In regards to metalbending, it could also be that Aang never learned it because at the time Toph had just recently invented the art and so hadn't refined it to a degree to the point where it could easily be taught to others and Aang himself was preoccupied; the only reasons she herself discovered the art was because she was an Earthbending prodigy whose blindness gave her unique insight into doing it at all. I know in the comics that take place after Book Three she had begun teaching people, but as far as I know her efforts haven't met with much success.

2014-07-26 16:33:00

Author:
Dapiek Absaroka

Posts: 512

I don't think it's so much that he couldn't master it, he did get over his Earth bending block after all, as it is that he just didn't. After the war he had a civilization to help rebuild, other stuff to do I'm sure, a family to have, etc. That doesn't leave a huge amount of time for learning extra bending disciplines.

As for the show leaving the air. Yeah it sucks but it's probably best for it to be online. Nick's been messing things up since it was created anyway.

Now, on to Korra in one of the better if not the best episodes of the season.

One pan over the table, see Howard Hughes, episode is automatically better. This is how the world works now.

Considering metalbending calls for them to be able to sense earth impurities in the metal, all metal benders should be able to use earthsense stuff, yet they are terrible at it. Yeah, we see Lin have to actively use it but guards should know to do that anyway. Team Antitar should not have gotten in without detection by walking.

Naga is useless.

Korra finally has a chance to do something, aannd knock-out.

Combustion Lady can curve her bending. Neat.

How nice would it be if Bolin learns Lava instead of Metal.

Speaking of Bolin, did they turn him into Checkhov's gun in this episode?

Lyme disease is serious.

Good job Mako remembering you're technically a detective. Way to not drag this story out a couple of episodes.

"I can smell a conspiracy when I see one."

"I'm still a little new at this." Oh stop it Korra. Being new at some kind of bending has stopped anyone in this show.

2014-07-26 18:25:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

Good job Mako remembering you're technically a detective. Way to not drag this story out a couple of episodes.

Yes, I'm glad that they didn't wait too long for him to put two and two together, that would've just been silly. Also, does Zaofu only have one truthseer in its entire city, because that itself would be pretty dumb in my opinion. I mean yeah, it's probably very difficult to master, but still... Unless Su Jin is secretly working with Aiwei and Team Anti-Avatar, which would work with her getting into trouble with the law when she was young, and being willing to "tell Lin what she wants to hear." It would be a pretty cool twist probably and not too mind-numbingly obvious either, although I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

P.S. Apparently, Team Anti-Avatar's super-official name is "The Red Lotus," I think. At least, that's what a lot of people keep calling them, even though it was never actually mentioned on the show.

2014-07-26 20:48:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity

Posts: 5208

I tolerated and now usually use gaang. I think the internet can handle Team Antitar...Anti-tar...I'm still figuring this out.

I'm sure they hate tar.

2014-07-26 21:02:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

Yay, they didn't forget the presence of the spirits in this world.

Yay, they gave Naga something to do, and more importantly, slapping Korra in the face.

I don't blame Lin about wanting to control Korra, especially when Korra keeps dishing out the jerkiness. Although I'm pretty sure Lin has different reasoning..

How did Aiwei not spot Mako peeking through the window straight across from him, especially when he apparently peeked out at least a couple times?

They spend hours stalking Ai Wei's window, but don't consider that there could have been a back entrance for him to exit through? I know that Asami brought up the possibility of him slipping out, but it seemed like expert cop Mako interpreted that as "walked out the front."

Yay, Asami got some use and dialogue from this episode.

The Pai Sho scene and the twist with the supposed bounty hunters were both fun, see that's what I want more of from Bolin. Not childish fantasies of going undercover and other things that make a mockery of their plans which also result in me questioning how they haven't been captured yet and diced up into little Team Avatar chunks. Leave the zany humor to Varrick.

Korra conveniently pops up in the spirit world right before Aiwei and Zaheer's important conversation.

Zaheer can remain subconscious inside and outside of the spirit world simultaneously? Huh.

Mako, you're not supposed to yell that the water arm lady and lavabender guy are there when they're right across the street and your "window" to peek through is just a hole in the wall for them to easily pick up on your voice, because, well, your voice would pass through the hole in the wall. Yes yes, he's concerned and surprised about the baddies tracking them, minor panic perhaps resulting in accidental rising of tone and volume.. ah well.

The guy at the beginning of the episode who said he knew about the "bald guy with weird piercings" looked quite a bit like the lavabending guy, I think. Same hairdo, skin tone, and tattoos from what I recall. Huh.

Still not sure how lavabending would make sense for someone who isn't the avatar.

Dang it, I wanted to actually see Mako/Bolin trade enemies like Bolin had suggested. Ah well, maybe they'll get their chance later in Ba Sing Se.

Psst, Korra. Don't just randomly trust the validity of the bad guy's quoting someone, he could be lying, especially if you know nothing about Guru Lahima. Especially when he's doing everything in his power to convince you to join their forces. Then again, Korra is an angsty ignorant teenager blah blah blah so I guess it fits with her character apparently, especially with how gullible she was in trusting Unalaq last season. I guess it just seemed like there was some actual character development at the end of last season though with her not trusting really evil looking guys/creatures.

It's amazing how good everyone is at dodging flinging lava. (Of course, not dodging said lava would be kinda sorta terrible)

Pyramid earth trap, that's actually pretty cool.

Korra fell for the old "sit and talk to bad guy in the spirit world for an hour while unknowingly being captured in the real world" cliche.

"Zaheer, you tricked me, let me go!" Well I'm convinced.

Oh thank god I thought Asami had been struck with amnesia for a second with that last bit. Pheew, glad the writers didn't take that route (again).

Great ending, the clash between two villainous groups to take hold of the Avatar made for a sweet cliffhanger.

P.S. Sorry if it looks like I was trying too hard to copy Mateos' clever note-by-note style on sharing his thoughts for the episode. I promise that wasn't my intention. :x

2014-08-02 04:38:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity

Posts: 5208

Another interesting episode of the season.

Korra and the gang searching for Aiwei has some interesting plot ideas, especially the funny scene where the gang thought they are about to be attacked by bounty hunters, but they turned out to be Bolin's fans. The scene where Korra and Mako patiently waiting for Aiwei to have a chat with Zaheer while Bolin and Asami playing Pai Sho is funny, too. And finally, we know why Korra was being chased by Zaheer and the gang, as they turned out to be the Red Lotus. What a plot twist during the scene where both Korra and Zaheer talk to eachother. The ending is also quite a cliffhanger.

Overall: an interesting episode filled with plot twists and funny moments. An 8.8 out of 10

2014-08-02 19:46:00

Author:
JustinArt

Posts: 1314

They finally answered a few questions about anti-tar o/

2014-08-04 03:03:00

Author:
Bremnen

Posts: 1800

So you'd think with the show being online it would be more convenient to watch it. Except nick runs terribly on my phone and then it just died halfway through anyway. I wasn't able to completely watch the episode until today. Also, upon visiting the site, I noticed it is possible to never even know the show exists.

Great job Nick!

Alright, episode time.

-So they do realize the guy they are trailing can earthsense right? That's how he was able to be a truthseer isn't it? And since he should obviously be on the lookout for being followed, he should be using that ablity pretty frequently right?
-Right?
-Show makes sure to suddenly put in plenty of references to spirits to remind viewers that they are a thing before bad guy brings up the topic
-Nuktuk!
-How about using energy bending on the badguys? that would stop them good. Now is not the time to not be spamming the poop out of avatar state (as if this has been an issue before), kick some butt, remove some bending, and then standardize pai sho
-Brillaint work, master cop
-Just thought I'd throw in now, there is a distinct lack of Howard Hughes
-"Allow me to explain my plan"
"Why?"
"It's totally not to stall for time while my cronies go find you."
"Also ignore the fact that there are only a handful of episodes left to resolve this and other subplots, so we really need to get all of this out now"
-**** it, it is Red Lotus
-It's not so much that the White Lotus-wait no! Red Lotus? Really? Don't come crying to me when they attack La Brea
-It's not so much that the white lotus became weak so much as their best members were all old as hell and couldn't last as the powerful force
-I don't care what you say about Unalaq now, he was still a lame villain
-Remember Amon? Yeah...Sorry Zaheer, not quite there yet
-Mako, leave the naming of badguys to the professionals, where's Sokka when you need him?
-By the way Mako, this isn't that hard! She has water for arms and you can shoot lightning. Freakin' science her to death! Sigh, where's Sokka when you need him?
-Korra, smart? Please Zaheer, don't flatter her.
-Philosophical mumbo jumbo
-"What's the Red Lotus?" See! Even Asami wants it to be Team Anti-tar!

So all in all, entertaining episode. Can't wait for the resolution.

2014-08-05 21:33:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

I saw yet another new episode last night, and things are about to get more intense on each episode of this season.

Despite being captured by the earth queen's troops at the end of the previous episode, Korra and Asami got along with them as they teamed up to try to escape the sand ruins the giant sand fish dwells, which is a pretty good teamwork. As for Mako and Bolin in underground prison, they had a funny next door prisoner. But things got much more intense as the Red Lotus unleashed the plot to take out the queen and bring freedom to Ba Sing Se. And, gee wiz, Zaheer took her life by stealing her breath, that's by far the darkest scene in the series. Now that Korra, her father, Asami, Lin and Zuko ran into each other after escaping the sands, it's time to team up to save Ba Sing Se from the Red Lotus. And what does Zaheer want Mako and Bolin to send a message to Korra? We'll find out on next week's new episode.

Overall: An intense episode with fun action scenes and powerful plot. A 9.2 out of 10.

2014-08-09 18:49:00

Author:
JustinArt

Posts: 1314

They finally did some chokebending or whatever the official name is yess

2014-08-09 19:21:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity

Posts: 5208

((So I never got around to posting my thoughts on last week's episode, but by this point I've seen this one, so double feature time.))

((But first, you ever notice that in the opening sequence, the phrase is along the lines of "only the avatar can... bring balance to the world?" What a load of nonsense. Show some initiative everyone else.))

Ahem

-I know I've criticized it's overuse before, and it was nice for Asami to get to use her smarts and stuff, but the avatar state really could have saved a bit of time on this expedition
-Bolin, stop making friends with the bad guys

-What is it with Earth Kingdom rulers working with the bad guys?
-Yes Korra! Any spirits that may or may not be in the desert are your fault! You opened the portal, stop acting like it's not your doing! Sheesh!
-Come on Bolin, Nuktuk could do it
-Why would you airbend the sand out of the engine room? Why not, I don't know, earthbend it? And don't give me that "la di la sandbanding is different, la di la"
-You have no idea how long I have been waiting for that airbending attack
-I was expecting that gag with the doors opening, but it was still fun to see it play out (still holding out for lava bender Bolin)
-good thing this radio was here
-Zuko is unnecessary

-Airships are uncomplicated enough that two pilots with no knowledge of their workings can fly them and are also durable enough that full on crashing into the ground causes no critical damage
-Actually, didn't these particular airships suck last episode?
-Darwin says the grandma must die
-Hey, we have news of threat to a second attempt at genocide, but let's have some quick comedy first
-Iroh has gotten lazy with his advice as of late, "Want some help, ask my nephew, he's just as good"
-Zuko is not just as good, but the show will pretend he is because, moving along
-So does this show honestly expect me to believe that Iroh meeting and Zuko talk affected anything in any way?
-Tenzin fight saves entire episode
-Seriously, it's about time someone could take out this guy. It made sense when Amon was defeating master benders since he was subtly bloodbending and they didn't know, but this Zaheer guy is just that, some guy who can airbend particularly well. I'm good with him being good, but seriously, he was really good (not good as in not bad but good as in skilled)
-"As long as I still draw breath" cue breathbending 2: Electric Boogaloo
-You call yourself a potential master airbender daughter character whose name escapes me?
-No Aladdin, you're dead. Stop talking to that Bison, you're too busy being splattered at the base of that mountain with the fallen branches you crashed through scattered around you. Don't you dare fly off into the credits! Hey get back here! Come on, you at least have a shattered ankle. Maybe a dislocation? Hello?

2014-08-15 23:56:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

I don't think Korra even has access to the avatar state anymore after the end of last season. Originally, it was how the first avatar could use all four elements at once rather than interchangeably but only became a "super mode" after multiple avatar incarnations where it became a means by which a single avatar could manifest the abilities of all past avatars but those are essentially out of the picture now.

It was nice to see Tenzin actually show his stuff for the first time it probably all three seasons. He basically held the advantage the entire fight until it stopped being a one-on-one fight. And I do like how they aren't making Zaheer overpowered even though he's the main antagonist; breathbending aside (that's what I'm calling it personally, [TM]) he's actually never struck me as a particularly powerful bender, which makes sense as he hasn't even been a bender for long. I think Kya also held a slight advantage over him when they fought earlier in the season and in that respect I'd argue he's actually the least powerful of the Red Lotus in terms of pure combat ability.

Breathbending (TM) might be a fatal move, but it seems to require both the bender and the target to be stationary while the former goes through the motions and the latter gradually suffocates. In comparison, lavabending and explosionbending would basically neutralize if not straight out kill anyone they connect with and both forms can be used rapidly; meanwhile, even though Ming-Hua technically doesn't do anything out of the ordinary with her waterbending, she gets great milage out of her handy-capable style.

I'm also guessing we've seen the last of Zuko for the season. Would be great if he had a reunion with Katara, even better if Toph suddenly re-emerged for it as well.

Also, I'm guessing we can prettymuch call this the best season of Legend of Korra so far? I was worried a bit about the pacing since it seemed like not much had happened by halfway through but overall things seem to be wrapping together nicely. It'd definitely take the cake if they can wrap up the season without some overly convenient copout like the last seasons (or the last season of the Last Airbender for that matter).

2014-08-16 17:59:00

Author:
Dapiek Absaroka

Posts: 512

The new episode is by far the best this season.

Man, Ba Sing Se is in total chaos after the Earth Queen's death, and now we know what the world is going to be like without the government. The more you know.

Luckily, Mako and Bolin rescued their relatives, and their grandma hilarious brought in the portrait of the earth queen with her, and she has some funny moments in that episode. And the plot twist gets more interesting as Mako and Bolin sent a message to Korra that the Red Lotus began to invade the northern air temple. Also, great to see Iroh in his cameo appearance when Korra is sent to the spirit world to seek Zaheer. And the last half of the episode gets more epic as Tenzin, Kya and Bumi take on the red lotus, and the red lotus seemed too overpowered for the siblings. Now let's how Korra is going to defeat the red lotus in the last two episodes of the season.

Overall: An excellent episode with epic action and story. A 9.6 out of 10.

2014-08-16 20:02:00

Author:
JustinArt

Posts: 1314

2014-08-18 03:55:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

So then, what are you guys' crazy, probably unlikely predictions for the final episode on Friday? I'll throw in a few:

- Suyin is evil and is tied with the Red Lotus/Team Antitar.
- Mako and Bolin's dad is teased.
- Asami isn't shoved to the side.
- Pema is useful.

2014-08-19 03:15:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity

Posts: 5208

Wait, Korra used the Avatar state earlier this season on those spirit vines, which by the way, are still a thing show.

-It turns out everything that happens from here on out is a last minute hallucination by a dying Kai
-Pema was an Earthbender the entire time, and the baby is a fire bender (complete the set)
-Eska is pregnant and Bolin is the father
-Su's daughter is the real big bad
-Mako and Bolin's grandmother is the Earth Queen in disguise
-Desna is pregnant and Bolin is the father
-The spirit vines are actually an aged Hugh just messing with people
-Iroh, Mako, Zuko, and General Iroh all step into a bar and the universe ends
-Bosco defeats Team Antitar as revenge for the Earth Queen, whom he actually loved
-Korra is pregnant and Varrick is the father

2014-08-19 03:40:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

Oh, I guess Granny was in Zhao Fu, my mistake.

Granny doesn't give a **** about Mako's father's scarf he gave to her.

Nice of them to address how Korra couldn't easily metalbend her way out of her chains and restraints.

A shame that the Red Lotus guards are dumb minions without special bending powers.

Honestly, there's a freaking waterbender lying right over there, as you're handing water to them.

Well, admittedly, Pema does pull off the worried mother attitude well.

Loved the way that Suyin killed P'li, and Lin's jumping in the way.

Glad Asami at least got a moment in all the madness.

Tonraq x Guvira (Kuvira?)

Also glad they went with the Bolin can lavabend route instead of suddenly metalbending.

Okay Mako, you're down in that pool of water with Ming Hua. Now do the lighting bending! DO IT! CMON CMON CMON YEEES!!

Yes, they put all of those airbenders to use instead of just watching Korra try to survive.

How did Jinorra know that the poison was metallic? Red Lotus member, I bet.

Nice that Suyin got another moment, but I was kind of hoping Varrick's magnet would drop by and suck the poison out of Korra.

The close-up and reveal of Guvira/Kuvira was kind of weird.

No Deus Ex Machina endings, yay!

Hopefully they made sure to remove Zaheer's bending at some point.

That fight scene had an uncanny resemblence to the final showdown in ATLA.

Speaking of which, pretty much no forced ATLA references!

Lin defies lack of wheelchair access.

And not a single scratch on Korra.

Why is the Avatar needed more than ever? She opened the spirit portals so that she would no longer be the bridge between both worlds, and she's lost her connection with the past avatars. Her unique abilities are now limited to bending multiple elements and going into the Avatar State, which, as we saw, can be rivaled by a group of supreme benders.

So if it's super cool bending matchups Raiku's in need of to save the world, why not hook up with the White Lotus to create your own elite task force of benders? Maybe give the Avatar a break due to the political unrest sadly caused by her mere presence?

Fantastic finale, I definitely agree with Justin that this'd be my favorite season. I can't wait to see what's next.

2014-08-22 16:32:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity

Posts: 5208

Talk about an ending. Between this and season one, I think I'd still say Amon is my favorite Korra villain (sinister presence, Blum, etc), but this one might have just pulled off being my overall favorite.

What about Season 2?

No.

Now, on to the episodes proper and...dang it DV, leave some for the rest of us.

-Stuff happening...stuff happening...Oh hey! P'li, remember how we totally love each other?

-Hinted at tragic backstory? Ok show, I'll play along. I'll totally feel bad for her when she is inevitably beaten

-Speaking of P'li, why would she have to wait for Zaheer? At the time he wasn't a bender, she had a better chance at escape than he did.

-Remember Korra, nothing else you have done will ever be remembered for generations
(Miles away, a now free Ko steals the face of an entire city)

-Metalbending up a cliff
Tonraq: Hey guys, wait for me!

-Must have been some fight?"
Done patting yourself on the back there show?

-What? You mean the bad guys were *****? No way!

-What's this mountain called again? Oh yeah, Mt. CGI

-Cowardly Bison! Appa would be ashamed!
Unless you were in a tunnel, then he would totally get it

-Commercial cutoff at wrong time ruins flying scene

-Speaking of the flying scene...nah, let's uh, let's let this one go

-Alright fine, "That wasn't flying, It was falling with style!"

-"More or less!?" Kid, you're lucky to be a member of the being alive club

-So you're asking how the guy with the power to control air can...fly.

-Wow, did Grey DeLisle unlock her inner Azula with the line, "Why didn't you tell us you could fly?"

-"Everything I do from here is not at all because of my Earthly ties that I still have"

-You may think you're the best Avatar Korra, but not even you can bend platinum!

-What? You mean the good guys were *****? No way!

-See Mako, Asami knew to use lightning on the guy covered in metal (who is dead by the way, Asami killed a guy)

-Scene of airbenders saving themselves made pointless by arrival of TeamAvatar

-Oh shut up Kai

-About time Mako!

-Aaand, blood vessels ruptured while removing the poison

-resist...wheelchair based...insensitivity

-If in season 4, Korra doesn't metalbend her wheelchair into mech legs...I don't want to imagain that future

-If this Airbending master gig doesn't pan out, Jinnorah could join the ember island players as Aang

-Jinnorah was the big bad the entire time

"Take that Korra, who's the main character now?"

2014-08-22 19:39:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

Welp, guess I was wrong about the viability of the Avatar state, though all things considered I'm left wondering just how it was supposed to be working. That said, yeah, the best season of Legend of Korra so far and looking forward to the fourth season (which I actually imagine is going to be the last given Nickolodeon's rather blas? treatment of the series).

For obvious reasons, I'm guessing we may have seen the last of the Red Lotus or at least the members we have already seen with the exception of Zaheer, maybe. Though I wouldn't be surprised if some more members popped up to antagonize in the next season. I'm actually surprised they would make P'Li go out it such a gruesome fashion even if it was offscreen, though it is also a bit disappointing because we actually get some hint to a backstory beforehand. It all makes me wonder about the origins and details behind all of them. How did they all get to be such powerful benders in the first place? How did Ming Hua lose her arms? What caused them to adopt such anarchist views and how did they end up joining up in the first place? It would have been nice if the season had devoted one episode into exploring their backstories, even if in just broad strokes like the "Zuko Alone" or beach episode from ATLA.

In regards to how the season wrapped up, it is a definite improvement over seasons one and two despite the somewhat downer tone. The neo-air nomads banding together to create a giant tornado is a more acceptable resolution than Korra suddenly learning to airbend, or Korra nd Jinora suddenly tapping into cosmic powers, or Aang suddenly stumbling upon how to do Energybending for that matter. Though it does feel unnecessary as they could have just as easily had Korra make one last push before her body gave out. The whole fight actually did feel like something of a callback to Aang's final battle with Ozai; from the setting to the more wrathful invocation of the avatar state. And I'm just thinking how appropriate and ironic it would have been if Korra had taken Zaheer's bending away.

As for the ending, I'm pleasantly surprised how much they made Jinora look like Aang upon her "promotion." Though this does make me wonder how Kai will react, not to mention the strange feelings this may stir up among fans if the two are going to be a couple, ha. And I'm guessing no one expects Korra to remain permanently wheelchair-bound and for her to regain her mobility in, say two to three episodes of the next season?

2014-08-24 16:55:00

Author:
Dapiek Absaroka

Posts: 512

What a way to end Book 3!

The final battle against the red lotus is beyond epic, from the team's battle against Zaheer and P'li all the way to the showdown between the out of control Korra and the levitating Zaheer. This 2 part finale even has great surprises like Bolin learning to lava bend on his own while he and his team tried to escape the lava all around the northern air temple. The end of Book 3 has pretty good final moments of the season like Jinora earning the tatoos (she looks a bit like Aang now) and Korra's tears. Nothing much to say about this epic finale, but... WOW!

Overall: The best season finale of the series. A perfect 10 out of 10. And Book 3 is a 9.5 out of 10 (no need to calculate the overall episodes of the season

) which is the best season of the series thanks to improvements over both books 1 and 2. I wonder what the creators have in store for us in Book 4.

2014-08-24 23:09:00

Author:
JustinArt

Posts: 1314

YOU WANT AVATAR STATE? I'LL GIVE YOU AVATAR STATE

.....aaaaand, now she's depressed

They finally give an airbender the power to fly on their own, here's hoping they come up with more powers from the old masters or have them invent their own like the tornado. A single airbender creating that massive tornado anyone? Hurricane bending?
and have some airbenders try to learn how to fly...and eventually succeed, rather than "Oh the bad guy can fly! Lets never use this ever again."

Airbending Master Jinora! o/

2014-08-29 21:24:00

Author:
Bremnen

Posts: 1800

The fourth and final season of Legend of Korra is going to premiere on October 3rd. (http://www.nick.com/videos/clip/digital-short-legend-of-korra-uploader-special-announcement.html) It's going to be called Balance.

Way sooner than I expected; there'll be barely a month of difference between the Season 3 finale and the Season 4 premiere. I hope they've come up with a really epic storyline to cap off the series.

2014-09-11 03:41:00

Author:
SnipySev

Posts: 2452

Korra's new look for the fourth season has been revealed!

http://38.media.tumblr.com/e3c26b8de282d1a2b97da551ef4bbc12/tumblr_nbsk5lcCmy1rogcuio1_1280.jpg

2014-09-13 02:58:00

Author:
SnipySev

Posts: 2452

Even with such a short break (yay), Korra still gets more time for her trials to actually have meaning than in season 1.

2014-09-13 07:17:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

Well, well look who's back on her feet (surprise).

And of course that one seemingly minor Zaofu soldier that was given a name and lingering mug shot near the end of the season turns out to be significant (and evil!)

2014-09-13 17:59:00

Author:
Dapiek Absaroka

Posts: 512

Here it is. The trailer for Book 4: (spoiler warning if you haven't seen the previous seasons yet)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCEFMY4TWGw

2014-09-26 21:31:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity

Posts: 5208

Now that trailer looks like the creators have saved the best for last on the series

2014-09-27 00:10:00

Author:
JustinArt

Posts: 1314

So darn excited for this I can't even so much

I love the fact that this happens three years after Book 3. I always like it when series have significant timeskips like that, it creates a sense of progression. We can see how much the characters have grown, especially the ones that used to be children or teenagers. Korra and her friends will be around 21. Jinora will be a teenager, and Ikki will be the same age Aang had been in the original series.

With the protagonist being an adult and each season getting increasingly darker (hell, they showed a straight up murder by suffocation in S3) It's clear that little kids aren't this show primary intended audience anymore. It's a pity that it's being limited by a kids' channel.

2014-09-27 00:27:00

Author:
SnipySev

Posts: 2452

Okay, I haven't read nor replied to recent posts of this thread because I've failed in seeing one single episode of Season 3... I wanted to finish Breaking Bad first but now that I've done so I'l do my best to finish Season 3 before Season 4 is aired... AGHGHGHAGHAGHAG the stress of not looking to the trailer of the fourth season is too stressfully stressing stressy

2014-09-27 00:35:00

Author:
yugnar

Posts: 1478

Yess, new season is looking really, really good. And only a week away!

I'd say stuff and make theories, but I'm not sure if I should even bother guessing. Can't wait!

2014-09-27 03:52:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity

Posts: 5208

Looks like they're bringing back nearly everyone still breathing for the grand finale, not that I'm complaining. Glad that Zuko's appearance last season wasn't just a one and done deal and with him, Katara and seemingly Toph alive and kicking, I wonder if we're going to have a old Team Avatar reunion. And while this is just a guess, I'm wondering if that woman sitting next to him in Fire Nation attire is his daughter/the current Fire Lord.

I'm wondering what the crux of this season will be though; "air" and "spirits" were indicative about what was going down in their respective seasons, but I don't think "change" involved changes that most had in mind and "balance" is just as broad a term. Personally, I do hope they at least address the broader ramifications of relinking the physical and spirit worlds as the last season, as good as it was, didn't really dwell on it much at all. Though if I had to guess and it's hardly a stretch, given the number of Earth Kingdom motifs present this season will be dealing with the fallout of the Red Lotus toppling the Earth Queen's regime (not to mention, you know, the Queen herself) and the ensuing chaos and power struggles.

Also, I can't help but notice Korra seems to be wearing a greater variety of outfits this time around.

2014-09-27 21:08:00

Author:
Dapiek Absaroka

Posts: 512

The avatar is meant to bring balance to the world, but each season's villain has threatened the avatar's very existence. Amon trying to eliminate power from benders, Unalaq trying to replace the avatar, and Red Lotus trying to end the line completely. They already cut off the spiritual connection to past lives, maybe it's time the avatar went away, at least in its current form.

Possible title meanings.

2014-09-29 00:35:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

Rushing through the third season... I'm just missing three more episodes now

This season was quite awesome! And I'll be ready just in time for the last one. Kinda amzing how the series ended so fast... Well it seems like that to me.

Does anyone know how long does it take Nickelodeon to update the episodes after they are aired?

2014-10-02 13:20:00

Author:
yugnar

Posts: 1478

http://33.media.tumblr.com/99c8f2c613dc7e7550e64e03f0658e0f/tumblr_ncsz5e19D31qkwdtzo1_1280.jpg

2014-10-02 15:29:00

Author:
SnipySev

Posts: 2452

Stupid sexy Tenzin..

2014-10-02 21:37:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity

Posts: 5208

Three Years? More like three months.

-Haha, Korra's statue is puny compared to Aang's
-It's cute how Asami thinks their version of the "old" Team Avatar reunion is the one everyone wants to see.
-How to Train Your Airbender 2.
-Screw air nation pacifism, we're hired muscle now
-Howard Hughes!!
-OK, so let me get this straight. The train, full of earthbenders, was blocked by...rocks. Rocks that they know were placed by bandits intending to ambush them. Rocks that could have been pushed aside as the train went through by simply bending them from inside. Barely slowing down if at all. Rocks.
-Above argument somewhat invalidated by pretty nifty scene by leader of the earthbending mafia.
-Sorry Prince You, but a second Howard Hughes you are not.
-Worst pie assassins ever
-That being said, Mako is a terrible bodyguard. He couldn't even keep the prince from getting hit by a thrown pie. What if it was a real weapon. What if guns were invented. Prince You should be worried about being assassinated.
-I wonder who sent that plane?
-Don't worry about your glider Aladdin, just use carpet.
-Nuttuk would be disappointed.
-Looks like someone could use a blind bandit to teach her how to win a one on one earth rumble.

2014-10-03 20:02:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

So... I just went through the rest of season 3 and saw the premiere of season 4...

About Season 3... Oh my god that was the best ending so far. I believe I'd never been so anxious and worried for Korra in the whole season. Can't believe I missed it earlier. You know, after this season I truly believe the Legend of Korra in general has been a very worthy successor to Aang's series. In some parts, I've even liked this series more. The last episode got me kinda (really, really) worried. I know it sounds silly but looking at Korra like that.. I mean, Aang experienced a similar condition but being Korra so tough and strong throughout the series, looking at her like that was... particularly shocking...

And the so expected Season 4 premiere. Wow this series has flown by. It seems like yesterday when the series was just announced. So far I've loved every season premiere, from season 1-3. But after watching Season's 4 premiere and trailer, I felt this premiere to be somewhat underwhelming. The only part I was ever excited in the trailer was in Toph's mention, but this time around seeing the whole Avatar team dismembered with every member doing roles they don't really fit in; and a much less cooler villain (at first sight at the least) than the rest of the Red Lotus' members, I just felt something was wrong this time around (please don't get me started on that stupid Earth prince).
We get to see a pretty weak Korra (even after three years!) in that Earth bending competition, and the whole season seems headed towards a somewhat used plot around a powerful nation overcoming the rest of the nations. The whole robot thing was OK in Season 1, but it was never missed in Season 3 for example, and they seem to be making a strong return in he final Season.
Don't get me wrong, I expect a great Season, and a magnificent ending. But for me, personally I didn't love the Season's premiere. Anyway, all of you who had read me previous commentaries about this show know I'm crazy for it and in general pretty optimistic about everything. I know the writers will prove my fears wrong.

Episode 1: 'After All These Years' score: 7/10

Also, it is extremely frustrating being able to see Seasons 1 through 3 whenever I felt like it, and now I have to wait one whole week to see the next 20 minutes episode

*cries*

2014-10-04 05:57:00

Author:
yugnar

Posts: 1478

Finally, I saw the premiere of Book 4 last night. The premiere episode is great, but not quite as great as I expected.

The beginning of book 4 has some great plots revolving around the possibly main villain of the season and her guards (including Bolin and Varrick) on a mission to conquer one city after another, and Kai and Opal teaming up to stop the bandits and save people. The action sequences are impressive, too. The only drawback is that Prince Wu is so far an unlikable character, but the strawberry part made me laugh. And I wish they show more of how did Korra ended up in an earthbending competition and what really happened to her, but I'm sure we'll easily find out on the next episode.

Overall: A semi-great start of the series. The starting of Book 4 may not be as big as I hope, but I'm sure it's only the beginning. An 8.6 out of 10.

2014-10-07 02:39:00

Author:
JustinArt

Posts: 1314

The season premiere was The Legend of Everyone Except Korra. But the brief appearance she made did leave a lasting impact.

2014-10-08 15:51:00

Author:
SnipySev

Posts: 2452

-Fractured Mirror Symbolism is symbolic
-We have everything under control, feel free to interpret that as you being useless
-"Wiggle your big toe (http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1397938/thumbs/o-KILL-BILL-570.jpg?1)"
-Of course there's a magic dog thing that turns out to be the least interestingly designed spirit
-But I'm supposed to be the main character, not stupid Kuvira
-"You're not the avatar. You're just a wannabe who looks like her. Sorry. Break out. You shouldn't even be here. Begone. Wanabee. Begone!"
-Symbolic Hair Cutting is also symbolic (also, it was better when Iroh and Zuko did it)
-And Korra will walk 500 miles and blah blah blah 500 more
-Why are you in the swamp? Because everyone knows desert visions are lame. Swamp gas visions are where it's at. Next time grab some cactus juice for your hallucinations.
-Toph could be one of the Stygian Witches

2014-10-10 14:52:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

Finally got to see Episode 2 of this season!

Now that's what I was talking about

Following a (personally) slightly dissapointing season premiere, TLOK has quickly dispersed any doubts about the quality of the last season with this very episode. Creators of the show had already stated that this was a very special episode and it is indeed. Even if we had a tremendous lack of Korra in episode 1, "Korra Alone" is a 100%-Korra episode.

The episode follows Korra from the events of the ending for Season 3, and I believe it is one of the most entertaining ones from the whole series. The plot is well written (even though I don't completely buy that no one found out about Korra not being in Republic City for half a year, and even less to get permission to go on the trip all alone in such conditions) and you will be at the edge of your seat specially as the episode gets to a breath taking ending. Quite brave to finish the episode like that, if they can make such revelations so early on the season then I can't wait to see how does the plot develops.

I am also very interested to see how Toph helps Korra to potentially recover, seeing that not even Katara with various years of healing processes could completely heal.

Also, what about Korra not being able to contact Rava!?

That is quite a serious matter. Regarding serious and not so serious matters, I loved that reference to Aang in the fisher's house, it was really hilarious

Overall, this episode, combined with the previous one, make a much more intersting season premiere. The plot is getting much more intriguing and I can't wait to see what's in store for us next Friday.

TLOK Episode 2, Season 4 "Korra Alone" score: 9.8/10

2014-10-12 00:21:00

Author:
yugnar

Posts: 1478

Everything Yugnar said about "Korra Alone" is exactly what I was going to say in the review

. Best episode of the season so far. A 9.8 out of 10.

2014-10-12 19:38:00

Author:
JustinArt

Posts: 1314

So, did you guys know a PSN/Xbox Live video game based on the show was about to come out...in 4 days?

2014-10-17 21:34:00

Author:
Oddmania

Posts: 1305

So, did you guys know a PSN/Xbox Live video game based on the show was about to come out...in 4 days?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-3-2GUzvYE

I had no idea they were making a game of it! The fights look pretty great. It's not a massive open-world game, but it's being developped by PlatinumGames (Bayonetta, Metal Gear Rising, MadWorld), which is pretty decent.

Yes actually I have been waiting for both this gem and Bayonetta 2. Quite a month for Platinum games huh?

Anyway, back to business! Here's my review of Episode 3:

Nice to see you again Twinkle-Toes

Episode 3, "The Coronation" mixes what episode 1 did wrong and what episode 2 did right.

First of all, I was shocked at the lack of response from the world leaders after Kuvira practically declared war in front of all of them. Also, again, I'm starting to fear that Kuvira might not be in the height of the very last Korra villian. I was expecting an epic season but this villian doesn't seem epic enough. Also, please, please, please stop with the young Earth price's apparitions. They are far from funny and mostly irrelevant. Those are the negative points. Taking into consideration that Korra's plot usually doesn't have much forced situations I was kinda disappointed by some of the dialogues and scenes here due to that very reason.

Now, we all know what shined from the episode. Yoda-Toph getting Korra back into shape proved to be just as entertaining as I expected. Toph continues to be as hilarious as always, and even in her (80s?) older shape she is still pretty amazing. I liked how did they explain the non-total recovery of Korra mentioning that some metal poison still runs through her veins. Also, that Toph can see everything now is quite amazing. I hope we get to see much more interventions of her character later in the season, because Toph is the perfect example of just how amazing, funny and well-written this show can be.

Even though it is still pretty early on the season, I really want the authors to consolidate the villian's paper. Once we get to believe Kuvira can be a worthy final "boss", then everyone will get to fully enjoy this last season.

Episode 3: "The Coronation" score: 8.8/10

Buuuut.... Toph = +2.2 points so:

Final score: 11/10

2014-10-18 02:26:00

Author:
yugnar

Posts: 1478

-"Meanwhile, after wandering the world trying to heal herself...and being interrupted by people who really need to pee."
-Ok, I don't like You, which is the point. Except they're trying to replace likeability with humor, but You isn't funny. So where does that leave us?
-I'm sure the leader of the Nazi Mafia will be completely willing to peacefully give up power
-"We're here to work...bitterly"
-Return of Eska = yes
Elbow Leech reference, you know, in case Toph wasn't enough
-What!!? You mean the leader of the nazi mafia wasn't at all willing to peacefully give up power?
-Oh God, she even changed the name to Earth Empire
-Howard - oh forget it, it's just not the same anymore
-"We don't need you're dictator in our Empire. We already have our own."
-Technically, if you eliminate the nazi mafiaism, Kuvira has been in the right the entire time
-"Do you think Wu would make a better leader?" "Well no, but still."

-It's kinda like what's going on with Naruto right now, only better and with less Dragonball Z
-Dang it, Wu got character development. He's in this for the long haul. Darn You!
-Mixing technology and spirits...this can only end is good
-Wait, Howard Hughes is going to make the Spruce Goose, only instead of regular wood, it's made out of spirit vines
-I am now convinced of that and all else will be disappointing
-Oh and concerning Korra, all I can say is, take advantage of having metal in you, Extremis Armor anyone?

2014-10-18 05:56:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

So, was it just me that noticed the swamp Korra is hanging out in with you-know-who is similar to a certain other swamp where Aang first had the prophetic vision of the same said person? I wouldn't even be surprised if it was the same swamp considering how it's referred to as being so interconnected to the world over such an extended distance and this actually makes me suspicious of whether or not we're seeing her "in the flesh" so to speak or if it's something similar to Iroh (and speaking of Iroh, can you imagine how similar of an impact the second episode ending would have had to Iroh's reappearance if the trailers hadn't spoiled it?).

I'm also a bit uneasy about Kuvira the totalitarian dictator, and yeah I don't think I'm spoiling anything for anyone by making that judgment. On one hand, she has been bringing order to a nation beset by chaos and she does have a point in that the monarchical government of the former Earth Kingdom has been nothing but disastrous for generations. On the other hand, Kuvira comes off as the most obviously evil Legend of Korra villain since Vaatu; I'm guessing she isn't plotting to destroy humanity at least, but she does seem to be taking ideas out of Emperor Palpatine's handbook.

And why is it that Bolin never fails to find a reason for me to dislike him every season? It was bad enough when he became a propaganda piece for Verrick in book 2 but he sure was quick to buy into Kuvira's demagoguery along with the rest of her jackbooted enforcers. I was wondering if this season would be building up to a schism between the entirety of the cast that would result in direct conflict between the divided camps but as it is it would just be Kuvira, Bolin, Verrick and Zhu Li versus practically everyone else. It would seem a bit too one-sided to say the least unless Kuvira and Verrick (because as if Bolin would be in on it) really do have a serious ace in the hole.

2014-10-19 04:11:00

Author:
Dapiek Absaroka

Posts: 512

Now that's quite a story-driven episode.

Toph training Korra in a swamp is very interesting, and now we know why Korra hasn't reach her full avatar status as it turns out she still has a bit of metal poison inside her. The Prince Wu moments...well, that character is a little less unlikable than he first appeared, but I like the part where he is behind a picture of him with an ink. Kuniva, on the other hand, made quite a speech as she could be the Emperor Palpatine of LOK and/or the Fire Lord Osai of LOK.

Overall: An interesting character-driven episode with a return of an ATLA character (well, we saw her at the end of the previous episode) and some funny moments, despite that there's only a little bit of action. A 9 out of 10.

2014-10-20 02:17:00

Author:
JustinArt

Posts: 1314

ZOMG GUYYSYSYSYSYSYS!1!11!

https://geekcsm.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/korra2.jpg

So I just bought Platinum Games' The Leyend of Korra yesteday. And it has been one of my best purchases in a long time!

I think that our main fears when buying a "childish" game is that it could be too easy, undeveloped, or painfully simple. But these guys really know how to make a great third person action game. If you want to know what you can get with the game...

Where to start? A combat system that is really similar's to Bayonetta's for example, just as polished and just as fun! The combos are amazing! You just don't go there smashing the same button until it says Game Over, but you do you have the experience of Platinum Games' years of developing. You can bend the four elements and each one of them has complex combos that are developed as you level-up. Did I mentioned counter-attacks, amazing God of War-like button pressing sequences, finishing moves?! And that's just combat!

There is also a cool new story between the events of Book 2 and Book 3, with cutscenes that look just like the show, and the same voice actors! And it ain't easy! Even in normal difficulties I've found myself dying over and over again in some hard battles, having to use items (this game really really reminds me to Bayonetta but more family-friendly

) to get strength or stamina back, and when you fight benders you really feel how much more powerful they are from nonbenders.

There are also plenty of enemy types and different gameplay sequences, sometimes you fight over Naga, or just yourself, or ther are also these funny Temple Run sequences with Naga as well. The campaign seems to be around 6 hours long, but has a lot of replayablity to get all the secrets and get perfect medals in battle sequences (cough... Bayonetta, anyone?). There is also a Pro-Bending addictive mode once you finish the main story, and there also seems to be an Expert mode. Knowing Platinum Games it will be hard as hell. Also it has a Platinum Trophy!

So, I hope you have at least thought in looking out this gem. It is only $15 in the PS Store, and it isn't a particularly heavy download. Definitely worth checking out, specially if you are a fan of the series

EDIT: Wow so I'm reading some of the game's reviews and it is being scored pretty badly. It is kinda unfair if you ask me. Even though the story is nowhere to the height of the show's scripts, or that combat can get a little bit repetitive when you haven't unlocked all the moves, it is one of the best $15 games I've bought. I wasn't disappointed, and I'm glad that I bought it before reading the reviews. Each person has its opinions I guess

2014-10-23 03:11:00

Author:
yugnar

Posts: 1478

-Jinora, from airbending master to bloodhound
-love the background art in that one shot of them flying on not Aapa
-What? I do like this show and it has nice art
-"Remember when he used to be so nice and sweet?" "No!"

-Toph's storytelling
-"Marcia! Marcia! Marcia!"
-My god, they really are making her Jan Brady
-Show feels the need to explain it's villains in case viewers did not understand them in the first place
-Swamp says, "No! We are not going with that kind of plot path. You kids are resolving this now and that's final"
-Ok show, it was funny when he fart bended in season one, but less so here
-Show realizes the episode is running out of time so dang it, get that resolution out there tree

And now, a letter from the creators

Dear Viewers,
We know most of you were disappointed with the end of season 1. We understand that the way we tied up those loose ends left much to be desired in terms of anyone actually learning anything. We hope that what we brought you now, all these years later, makes up for the fact that we did not do this exact thing way back when. In our defense, we did think that we only had that one season at the time and were a bit hard pressed to pace it properly.Regardless, consider the opening of this season as our overdue version of resolving those events properly.

-Yours Truly, Us

P.S. While we're at it, sorry for running a pointless amnesia cliffhanger in season 2. We let our pet monkey Bobo write that one. Never again.

2014-10-24 23:54:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

Moving forward

Regardless of how awesome it was to see Top again, it was already time to move on from that substory. It was nice to see so much of Tenzin's kids in one episode, and it was fairly entertaining, even though I felt the resolution of their search was a bit rushed.

The episode in general terms was quite good, we finally get to see some integration of the consequences of everything Korra has had to deal with ever since the first season and thanks to Toph's guidance (and not necesarilly her storytelling abilities) she finally gets to remove the last bits of poison she had in her body. Nice to see the Avatar is back in shape!

Even though we didn't see massive plot changers of particularly intresting reveals in this week's episode it was nice to FINALLY see Korra reunite with the Airbenders again, we can finally get to develop the show's final story and epic showdown. I guess what comes next is to consolidate Kuvira as a villian and justify even more why does Korra needs to stop her. Also, Kuvira is probably marching on the metal clan's city, that will be a rather interesting episode and battle.

Episode 4: "The Calling" Score: 9/10

2014-10-26 06:29:00

Author:
yugnar

Posts: 1478

Just caught up with my backlog of episodes for this season.

1. The Aang picture callback was glorious.
2. Mr. Macaroon and his mustachio'd friend need more screen time.
3. Meelo needs way less screen time. I liked how ep 4 tried making us care about Tenzin's children more, but it simply made me realize once again how Meelo really is the worst character in the Avatar universe. It doesn't help matters that he's now around the same age as Aang was when he was off doing cool things.
4. Oh dear, I thought they had learned from their mistakes with the fartbending.
5. What's worse is the moment right after was completely touching, seeing the three children flying over to Korra as she began to tear up.
6. Speaking of which, I like how they didn't hold back on showing Korra fail. Her frustrations with Toph and Katara just feel more enjoyable and real than her ramblings in Book 2. Great step up for the character again.
7. Wiggle your big toe.
8. I hope sinister music plays every time Eska shows up. That was just great, and I'm guessing the showrunners agree having ditched Opal completely for three episodes straight.
9. Honestly though, yay for Bolin, not a single moment where I had to sigh at any humor attached alongside him. Meelo's still a waste of runtime, but what can you do.
10. So is Kuvira just female Unalaq in terms of obvious evilness?
11. Ikki: +1. Jinora: Gets things wrong with Korra's direction yet she still compliments Ikki and you know what she's trying to help out and be responsible and follow in her father's footsteps and she saved the freaking Avatar twice so yeah +1 for her.
12. I want to see Toph wreck everything at some point. Please.

Also:

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--yI1d8pxP--/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_636/z8pvdfanum8h4oxzjhzk.jpg

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--HClecJdp--/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/e2mccyt9vh89aevdl2jj.png

2014-10-26 08:07:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity

Posts: 5208

At this point I'm totally okay if Korra and Asami ended up together. Would love to see Mako's reaction to that.

2014-10-28 00:40:00

Author:
SnipySev

Posts: 2452

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--yI1d8pxP--/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_636/z8pvdfanum8h4oxzjhzk.jpg

Ah, so that's what that Ikki scene reminds me of. Like grandfather, like granddaughter

. Anyways, that was a fun episode. "The Calling" is an 8.8 out of 10.

2014-10-28 02:01:00

Author:
JustinArt

Posts: 1314

-More evil blimps
-Why would anyone trust Bolin? I mean, one can like the guy, but trust him?
-Will someone shut that kid up? He had a whole episode, stop it now!
-Spirit Vine used Solar Beam. The attacked missed. Though it would have been super effective.
-"What do voices know?"
-You know what would have been nice (actual not just snark criticism in 3, 2, 1...) actually seeing the results of Kuvira's rule instead of being told it. Yes, most of us have been very much aware of it since this thing first began but if you're going to go on pretending we don't, you can at least not suck at your reveals
-"Where did that hatch come from?"

Ah, Varrick, you were slipping for a bit, but sometimes it's the simple things in life
-Well Korra, you asked nicely, time to fight. Oh, still no? Ok, still no.
-"Alright, listen up, people. Our fugitives have been on the run for ninety minutes. Average foot speed over uneven ground barring injuries is 4 miles-per-hour. That gives us a radius of six miles. What I want from each and every one of you is a hard-target search of every gas station, residence, warehouse, farmhouse, henhouse, outhouse and doghouse in that area. Checkpoints go up at fifteen miles. Your fugitive's names are Bolin, Zhu Li, and Howard F-in Hughes. Go get them."
-And then they died from lava burns
-"Thanks a lot Zhu Li!"

-What!? Zhu Li is joining the bad guys? This is totally a thing that actually happened and is definitely not a sneaky plan of sneakiness and stealth. Truly, I am shocked and left on the edge of my seat by this turn of events.
-Oh, also something with Asami. It didn't seem important.

Next time. Avatar State Korra kicks some butt, then get's her butt kicked by nuclear weapon metaphors, and then prevails through the power of friendship. Then the cold war happens.

Balance.

2014-11-01 00:11:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

Congratulations, Bolin! I must admit you surprised me by getting a clue before halfway through the season, and all it took was being informed of the existence of the gulags to do it! Granted, your boss tying people to traintracks and establishing the EARTH EMPIRE should have been red flags, but hey.

I know I've compared Kuvira to Emperor Palpatine not long ago, but is anyone else getting some serious Stalin-esque vibes from her? Though trying to provoke the other side to fire the first shot is quite a bit more subtle than I expected. On the other hand, plotting to make your own Deathstar/nuke is quite the opposite. And got to hand it to Zhu Li knowing the best way to get into an egomaniac's good graces is stroking her ego...

Also, I'm pleasantly surprised with how they are making use of Korra this season. Some part of me feels like she should be given more exciting things (r.e. fighting) to do by this point but I have to hand it to the writers in how they handled her continued characterization in regards to not only the fallout of the last season but the series as a whole. They made what many viewers justifiably saw as negative traits in earlier seasons serve as contrasts to how Korra has grown and matured as a person. It's actually not entirely unlike Zuko's growth, and as far as I'm concerned she's already surpassed Aang in terms of character development. Of course, it's inevitable that Korra will take up the sword again (got break in that new Water Tribe outfit from the promo footage eventually), not that I'm complaining.

2014-11-02 18:38:00

Author:
Dapiek Absaroka

Posts: 512

Saw the new episode yesterday. And things just get more interesting...

I agree with Dapiek, Korra has grown more mature throughout the series. And she did the best she can to have Kuniva and Su get along. And, seriously, how exactly long did Varrick realize there's a hatch above the train, lol. Speaking of Varrick, he, Bolin and Zhu Li escaping after finally realizing Kuniva's plan has quite a short yet fun to watch battle against Kuniva's husband and the guards for redemption. And Zhu Li, man that was quite a shock that she is leaving Varrick's side (or is she?).

Overall: A great episode with quite a story and a shocking ending. A 9.2 out of 10.

2014-11-04 01:55:00

Author:
JustinArt

Posts: 1314

2014-11-04 16:12:00

Author:
SnipySev

Posts: 2452

I forgot how great it was to have Varrick and Bolin play off of each other. Or rather, how great it is to have Varrick play off of Bolin.

-Here's the problem with your plan to "take out" Kuvira. Either it's too early or too late to make the attempt. Either she's still too well liked for killing her to have a positive effect, or she has too much of a power base stored and can easily, oh I don't know, set a trap!
-Also, if you're not willing to "assassinate" instead of "taking out," you're not killing anyone tonight. I don't care what network's website you're on
-Toph was right, her daughters do suck at this, I mean how can you not tell that there's a trap going on when you just used your stupid earthsense ability
-Kuvira kind of has a point
-Seriously, this is why it bothered me last week that they told, not showed us the negative effects of her rule, because based on "most" of what we've seen, she's kind of in the right. At first this was a positive for the show, but now that it expects us to fully see her as the villain, I'm really expecting more from it
-I think the pacifism aspect of airbending went out the window a long time ago
-Besides, nonagression pacts never work Jinorra, just ask Stalin
-Oh yay Howard Hughes
-"Do the thing"
-"Wolf bats don't build nests"
-Korra is a terrible airbender. Seriously, dodge dang it, that's the only thing that fighting style entails
-I'm surprised the show has gone this long without Kuvira bending platinum. I honestly thought this is where it was gonna happen but nope, still no. Seriously, I've been waiting for that ever since they established that "Hey, look this thing that can't be bent." Not that I necessarily want it to happen, I mean it's the equivalent of saying "Our show has power levels" just so that you can eventually have someone with a lower power level defeat a higher one and act like your a genius for coming up with it but hey, it worked for metalbending in The Last Airbender. There's still time of course, especially since they showed that a non PTSD Avatar State Korra can best Kuvira with relative ease
-"He Varricked himself because some guy Zhu Li'd him."

-Why is it that I can clearly see the invisible boatmobile?
-"You're insane!" "You knew that when you hired me."

-"Look to your elder people. Let him be an example."

2014-11-08 03:19:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

I forgot how great it was to have Varrick and Bolin play off of each other. Or rather, how great it is to have Varrick play off of Bolin.

Took the words right out of my mouth. Bolin's been at the top of his game this season I think, and it's nice to see Varrick getting a healthy dose of screen time himself.

1. Meelo, you really don't deserve this many lines given how many other, cooler characters there are to contend with. Also, you're totally old enough now for people to shut you up because serious things are happening, instead of there being silent responses following whatever you say as we prepare to shift toward the next scene.
2. What Matt said regarding earthsense.
3. Gang of people who want to take out a particular important female character get surrounded in Zhao Fu, with headlights down on them. Parallels..
4. Also, there are more than enough cliches being squeezed in I think. (Kuvira being the big bad tyrrant, Zhu Li being the obvious double agent, Su Jin and her sons falling into the age-old decoy trap, with the random lady thought to be Kuvira even shown to the audience with her face obscured, yet again playing with the idea that we'd actually be surprised by this sort of stuff.)
5. So the artistic son of Su returns, which is neat since forgetting about him completely would be odd (Not too odd though, as I sort of lost count anyway. I don't even remember this B'tarr guy from last season). Although his "shtick" against art felt more in-your-face and juvenile than from his brief inclusions in the last season. Nitpicking maybe, but still.
6. Nice to see a bit more emotion from Kuvira as she gladly knocks down Korra in that fight sequence.
7. Where the heck is Kai? Would be nice to have some sort of explanation after Opal's bantering that noone would help her.
8. Korra going into the Avatar state allows her to blow slightly bigger gusts of wind at Kuvira. Meanwhile, all it takes is Jinora and Opal to whip up a holy-giganto tornado shield. In fact, Opal even manages to keep it going while Jinora has to do spirit-y stuff.
9. Well, at least the writers aren't forgetting Jinora's inexplicable spirit-y powers. Although if she was able to visit Korra in this form at the end of Season 2 and then Kai around the start of Season 3 due to some sort of spiritual bonds, how did she pull it off this time? Does it just go without saying that she's spiritually connected with her family as well?
10. I honestly can't wait for the misadventures of Varrick and Bolin (assuming they don't get pushed to the side to compensate other characters' neglect). Not sure why it took this long to realize how much I actually wanted it to occur. ^^
11. Were the cages keeping Su Jin and her kids restrained made out of platinum, or what? I assume they were, but I didn't catch anything saying it. If they weren't, I have to imagine they could do a quick synchronized bust-out over onto Pepper or whatever the random sky bison's name is.
12. If busting out would get them insta-cuffed by Kuvira or her goons too quickly though, they could also do some underground tricks. In fact, why didn't any of Kuvira's troops try doing some sort of underground trick to pass beneath the tornado? Ah well, yeah yeah, convenience for Korra to escape and don some water tribe outfit later.
13. Okay, I'll be honest. The korra head illusion popping up was pretty slick.

2014-11-08 04:44:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity

Posts: 5208

Another epic episode.

At the beginning, Su and her twin sons felt for Kuvira's trap, but how did Zhu Li get involved in Su's earth waves as a decoy of Kuvira? That's quite a magic trick the antagonist of book 4 pulled off. Korra's showdown against Kuvira is fun to watch, and I'm surprised that her visions hasn't been disappearing after all that training with Toph. Both Varrick and Bolin made quite a great and funny team in this episode, and yes, Bolin "did the thing" by having him and Varrick escape the detonating experiment.

Overall: A fun and exciting episode. A 9 out of 10.

2014-11-10 02:09:00

Author:
JustinArt

Posts: 1314

2014-11-10 22:56:00

Author:
SnipySev

Posts: 2452

-Thnk you for eliminating that kid for a while show. Phew, now, what's in for the future.
-What's that? Wu is back?
-...
-Why?
"We need to deal with Kuvira together" What were you doing after her crazy coronation shenanigans?
-Why not use earthbending to travel Bolin? You have free access to your own custom made earth vehicles
-a way with words. Mover star. Ha. Oh you show.

-You!

-Mako, you didn't get a letter because you suck at letter writing
-Way to kill father feelings Korra, great friend you are
-Mako, you really suck at this bodyguard business
-Lowly? We were part of Kuvira's inner circle!

-Good job with the spirit sensing Korra
-Also, Korra able to do that means Jinorra is now unecessary meaning no more kids, specifically fart butt
-Also, I like how "using it once" equates to, I can now do it whenever
-Good job with the lava bending Bolin
-I wouldn't say Toph was miserable...no I certainly wouldn't say that
-So that's what it would look like if Tony Stark had to fight his Iron Man armors
-Also, I've had issues with the animation for these mechs all season, but those shutdown animations looked particularly off, or was that just me
-"Where am I?"
-"You're on a train. A train that will take you far away. You know where you hope this train will take you, but you don't know for sure. But it doesn't matter. Because I'm about to airbend you out of the top of this thing."
-Did I just start watching Fern Gully all of a sudden?

Ok show, serious talk now. You're in a very delicate situation at the moment. Obviously Toph is going to have issues with her home kind of being torn to pieces. Obviously, she is going to retaliate but can't be allowed to win because she's not the main character. This is going to go horribly if you turn this into a confrontation she loses in the wrong way.

She can sense everything going on in the world so she had to have known they were coming. She's not an idiot either. You've been here before with Bumi. Make it work.

I'm also becoming more and more sure that someone is going to platinum bend something. The simplest way would be...

Toph: You think you can take me? I was metalbending before your parents were born.
Kuvira: That may be. But I achieved true mastery. Not even you could bend platinum.
Toph: Noooo! And now I am the defeated.

That or Toph platinum bends to take out grunts while Korra takes on the big bad. Who knows.

Please don't screw this up show.

2014-11-15 05:40:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

1. Meelo's eyebrows need to calm down.
2. Well, at least Korra and the polar bear dog got a memorable reunion scene.
3. Just like the good old days when Mako was the central jerk of the show.
4. I would probably be more nitpick-y about the sudden twist that Korra could see all across the city if it weren't for the fact that it was tied with the Banyan Grove Tree which has appeared in this show and the one before it, plus the vines spreading across the city happened ages ago, allowing for some very reasonable buildup to this moment.
5. Still docking brownie points though for her vine vision leading straight to Wu. Unleeeess of course this ties in with the whole spiritual connection mumbo jumbo Jinora brought up way back when, but of course, nothing has suggested this between Korra and Wu despite the potential comedic moments that could spring from this.. aand it seems like the writers decided to drop that plot device and say to hell with it and go for convenience's sake anyway, not to say that it wouldn't be very convenient that Korra shares a spiritual connection with the prince she's trying to track down.
7. And now I'm just complaining a lot.
8. Points added back for the confused bystanders' looks when Korra decided to see through what must have been vines under the giant metal flooring of the train station.
9. Okay, the fight scene atop the train was pretty great.
10. "On that hunk o' junk? No thanks, I'm allergic to drowning." Never change, Varrick.

11. Nice resolution for Wu with crazy lady who loved the Queen.
12. Can Lin get a memorable reunion with Korra just for irony's sake? (I'm sure I'm misusing irony here somehow) Also she needs more screen time, Opal and Meelo are hogging too much of the FINAL SEASON's spotlight.
13. Meanwhile, Bolin and Varrick can hog all the screen time they'd like.
14. Toph wrecking everything confirmed.
15. No, but seriously, for her reputation, I do sort of hope the creators go all out in a way. Just one character be granted continued god-tier status after all the overpowered characters and their moments in The Last Airbender would be nice.

EDIT: Daaang it Matt.

2014-11-15 05:44:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity

Posts: 5208

EDIT: Daaang it Matt.

Nobody can stop the referential puns. Nobody!

2014-11-15 06:42:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

Bolin in Book 1: trusts the shady gangster guy who's totally not going to get him into trouble
Bolin in Book 2: trusts the shady industrialist guy who's totally not using him for his propaganda movies
Bolin in Book 3: trusts the shady drifter kid who's totally not steal his money and ditch him
Bolin in Book 4: trusts the shady military leader lady who's totally not going to become a dictator

He's probably the most na?ve judge of character ever. You'd think he'd have learned by now.

It's almost as if he's lacking in intelligence or something...

Anyway, at least now he and Varrick can get into all sorts of hijinks instead of being tools now. I'm wondering if the ship they hitched a ride on with the convicts is heading to the north pole when they mentioned it was "heading north." Seems like too long of a ride for something that rickety looking, but if you want to escape the Earth Empire's reach it wouldn't be the worst place to go and we haven't seen Katara or Korra's family for a while.

And it is nice to see something go right for Korra after all this time; I just hope Wu starts getting around to shaping up like earlier episodes hinted at. Loved that she finally got a reunion with Asami (which, of course was dripping with subtext). Also, is Kuvira now going to add "Captain Planet villain" to her villainous resume?

2014-11-15 16:30:00

Author:
Dapiek Absaroka

Posts: 512

Shh. If we talk about the subtext too much, the show might get startled and run off.

Also, Kuvira wished she could be a Captain Planet villain. She couldn't handle heart.

2014-11-15 19:22:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

Korra has finally been reunited with Mako, Asami, and her pet, but their mild argument seems random. The rescuing Prince Wu action scenes, on the other hand, are pretty cool. Speaking of Prince Wu, love the scene where Korra blocked him from joining the group hug. Nice Group Hug Block Bending, Korra

. And once again, Bolin and Varrick made a great team in this episode as they helped the refugees infiltrate the prison camp. In the next episode, expect Toph kick Kuvira's and her army's butt for trying to destroy the great spirit tree.

Overall: A funny and exciting episode. A 9.2 out of 10.

2014-11-15 19:55:00

Author:
JustinArt

Posts: 1314

It seems that this one requires some...prefacing before I dive into it. I was almost just going to skip my usual referential snarkfest summary comment show because, frankly, going into this episode, it didn't feel like it earned it. There were some attempts at making the best of the clip show at first, but frankly, they weren't enough.

Then the third act happened, and I actually found myself slightly enjoying it. Was it enough? Not completely, but it did make this one of of the less ridiculous uses of a clip show I've seen. Basically, in the vast pile of poop, this one at least didn't come from someone suffering massive diarrhea and constipation at the same time for two months. I mean, come on! These are the same guys who made Ember Island Players, turning a series recap into one of my favorite episodes of that series. Now you expect me to give them the same support for something where less than a third of the episode comes anywhere near resembling that same kind of quality, never reaching it regardless? So I thought maybe I'd only talk about Varrick's parts some.

Then something else came up.
http://bryankonietzko.tumblr.com/post/103173899927/a-few-preemptive-words-about-episode-408

Something I might have mentioned before is that this series is terrible for Nickelodeon. This has been true ever since The Last Airbender days. Well, Nick decided to slash the budget for this last season. Really there's nothing special about that decision, I'd imagine it happens all the time. This time it necessitated either creating this episode, or firing people. In a world where we're used to people being fired for budget stuff, I'm willing to accept the decision they made to create this episode. Definitely the lesser of two evils.

Does this knowledge make the episode better? No, no it does not. Context provided outside a work can only go so far in shaping whether or not the creation works on it's own terms (See also, Authorial Intent is ********!). The episode is still exactly what Varrick is able to hold up on his comedic shoulders, regardless of explanations given. But I am certainly willing to give it a pass, and the full episode treatment.

I am sure the creators are giving a sigh of relief at this news.

Granted I usually make comments based on what I was thinking during the actual viewing, kind of a MST3K style thing without the cleverness. But I don't think writing

-Really? This is what they went with?
-Sigh
-This is stupid
-No
-No
-I wonder what Toph is doing?

is going to cut it.

-As if i needed any more reasons to dislike Wu
-Yep, that certainly is the light version of what some viewers were saying
-You're not making a strong case defending yourself when this is the episode you do it in people
-Didn't Toph already do a simplified recap of Korras villains and how she feels about them?
-In fact, I think a Toph style summary of the episodes would work much better
-So did Korra just relearn the lesson she just learned an episode or two ago?
-I can't do this, skipping to Howard Hughes
-I was tuning out your boring stories and coming up with a great one

-Bolin as Nuktuk as Bloin, Hero of the World!
-Now see, this is a series I can get behind
-The only thing more menacing than Amon, zombie Amon!
-Yes yes, Unalaq was lame, this is a thing I agree with and therefore I like this episode better...presumably...I guess
-Still, gotta love that whole phone call thing
-Glad I caught you at home

-Never let truth get in the way of a good story

I see what you're trying to do ending with that whole final conversation show.

The following isn't necessarily for this series, which mostly does a fine job of storytelling. But for anything that takes this stance in how it wants it's audience to view it. Yes, we are aware that you are just a movie, a tv show, a game, a song, a book, whatever. Yes, sometimes it is a good idea to just sit back and enjoy what is presented for what it is.

But claiming escapism is the final goal is no excuse to create crap.

Shame on you Nickelodeon for forcing creators in the middle of some of the best work they've done for this series to stop dead in their tracks. Kudos show for making the best of it you could.

2014-11-22 05:34:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

So yeah, a clip show. I imagine this will be regarded as the weakest episode of the entire season if not one of the worst in the whole series' run. It isn't utterly horrible and I know this isn't something other shows don't do but honestly it feels something more out of an overly long Gundam series then Avatar (those chibi-fied talking heads didn't really do anything for me either).
It's even more conspicuous when you consider ATLA did a recap episode with more style and without resorting to existing footage. Granted, it would be cheap if the cast went to some other theater performance but there are other ways to retell a story as it has been so for. Maybe a bedtime story told to baby Rohan by Tenzin depicted with a stylized art style like the Wan flashbacks or something...

2014-11-22 16:59:00

Author:
Dapiek Absaroka

Posts: 512

Oops, I meant to reply here regarding the whole reasoning behind the clip show. But yes, very bad of Nick and once I realized it right after having watched 'Remembrances' and posted some brief thoughts, I did appreciate the episode some more. I mean, the Mako bit still took up too much time imo while it was nice to see some more from his other relatives (although really wasn't up for seeing Wu grabbing even more screen time) while the bit with Korra and Asami didn't feel as necessary.

Also seemed like Tenzin just jumped in yet again to deliver the show's messages, when he's also good for so much more. But still, the bit with Bolin and Varrick was awesome, and seeing everyone be able to chill was nice, albeit it didn't feel the most appropriate given how high the stakes were (although it worked fine I thought for Bolin and Varrick, just sailing along in the prisoners' boat having just escaped the camps/train).

1. So, I was expecting some big reunions ever since the season began, knowing Korra would have to eventually meet up with all her pals in Republic City. We had a very touching moment with Tenzin's children and a great bit with her flying down on one of the Bison to greet Naga. However, and while it would likely be obnoxious to have dramatic music and everything for each character she would run into, I was still hoping for something more. The greeting with Su was nice, and while I was expecting more from Mako and Asami, they did of course move on and there were some tense feelings.. but still. But then.. Bolin?! There was no acknowledgement from him about Korra. Same goes for Lin. Eh. Maybe I'm getting too caught up in the specifics but the dynamics between Korra and both those characters can be real interesting.
2. Team Avatar still remains disjointed this close to the end, with Asami away during Korra/Mako/Bolin's pseudo-reunion and I say pseudo because they don't even address it as one and mention hugging again more like Bolin's being psychic about all the reunion hugging Korra's done with others because they haven't seen each other for three years and so when Bolin psychically foretells Korra's reunion hugs he doesn't mention anything regarding their not seeing each other despite his greatly detailed letters to her gahh.
3. The Fire Lord spoke, yay.
4. No representatives for the Water tribe is a bit odd, especially with no craziness mentioned going on in either the North or South pole.
5. Also Bolin and Varrick popping back was a bit sudden. I mean, nice, but sudden, although the sudden-ness was likely due to the fact that there was no reunion love going on in that hall. I miss Baraz and the others
6. Varrick and Asami back in action, yay.
7. Why the sudden change of heart Ryu? I mean, I know his parents did what they could to get him out of the house, but it kind of goes against the whole point driven in well from Book 3, like when Pema was saying not all airbenders have to be air nomads. And if they did, well, times have clearly changed.
8. I know it seems like I'm nitpicking a lot, and that's mainly due to the details. Seeing so many characters get some loving screentime-wise was great.
9. The situation Bolin and Opal are in is... interesting. I mean, seeing Bolin getting all teary-eyed about Opal during Varrick's story on the prison boat plus Kuvira lying to Opal about Bolin joining her side and Opal not able to believe it all seemed to be building up to them reuniting in a great and lovely way, but instead it's still bitter. I mean, it makes sense, Bolin joined the wrong side yet again despite what Opal said and now her family's in danger, but I guess I wasn't expecting this detail of all details to be dragged out this close to the end, plus it sort of dampens them potentially getting together at the end, and it seemed like this relationship was really locked if not after Bolin's stumblings dating Korra who cared more about kissing Mako and then dating Eska a.k.a. Ms. psycho ice princess. Basically, with Bolin the goofball and Opal the treehugging under-developed character (back in Season 3, that is), both of which running away all dramatically, I just expected a lighthearted reunion, perhaps with Varrick acting as his rightwing man and the prisoners helping prove the great things Bolin had tried doing, although that would need a bit more buildup with Bolin actually doing great things...... but that's just my take on all this. Plus excuse to keep the prisoners' storyline going as I'm sure they could have some involvement in all of this.
10. With all that said, seeing Opal be all bitter does add to her character which is nice.
11. Downside being that just as Team Avatar is somewhat reunited, Bolin's off to disband, so I guess we'll have to wait for the finale. Still, top secret mission!
12. I wonder how people felt expecting a Toph showdown THIS TIME.
13. Korra's meeting with Zaheer was very interesting, with some thoughts back to Zuko visiting imprisoned Ozai. Anyway, nice to see Korra back feeling better albeit with 4 episodes left. Toph's buildup with getting the poison out was already great, but at the same time, seeing Korra all messed up in the Kuvira fight was also great. Hmm.. with Korra facing the menacing flashbacks, Toph responded "That fight is over" while Zaheer said "Let it play out." I suppose both characters and their points allow Korra to see from both angles, understanding that she must move on but she won't entirely change, which is also why I like Zaheer made a point about them changing and not trying to shove in more of "You're the avatar" business since, well, that wouldn't fit his character plus we got enough of that from Toph and we didn't need more of it from Tenzin in the last episode.
14. "I'm gonna go poke it with a stick." Okay, that part was funny.

2014-11-29 04:45:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity

Posts: 5208

Pretty much what Drago said and...

-Why do they run tours into the spirit wilds?
-"Like a regular weapon, only super!"

-Show says "Here's your darn Fire Lord, now leave us alone"
-Fire Lord Izumi acts with good reason. Tenzin is oddly dumber than usual. The president is oddly smarter-ish than usual
-I wonder if the avatar universe has a Poland...
-Korra easily cheered up by patronization. We want you around indeed
-Why would they STILL be running tours into the spirit wilds to cancel!?
-The Pods
-I actually forgot Zaheer was still alive
-I'll be ok, just like I said last time, and the time before that, and the time before that, and the time before...
-"Alledgedly"

-"A man has the right to blow up his own property!"

2014-11-29 05:47:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

Okay, forgot my notes about reunion hugging nonsense. I must've not been paying attention to note how they hugged once and then Bolin asked to hug again right after. Also..

..I actually like pretty much everything about the scenes with Korra and Zaheer, having gone back. It seemed to complete what Korra needed to recover, and I was being too nitpicky on the Bolin/Opal nonsense.

2014-11-29 23:24:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity

Posts: 5208

2014-12-06 03:40:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

-Opal is a **** to her bison. It's established that they understand speech and yet she blatantly discusses how she doesn't actually want Leaky and even tried to get a new friend at one point, all right in front of them. Not cool Opal, not cool.
-Way to state the obvious Toph. We get it, she's been lying the whole time. You'd think they write this show for seven year olds or something.

...

-What?

-Really? None of you can earthbend the walls? They're right there! You know what, no. None of you deserve to be rescued.
-Bunch of lazy bums is what they are.
-The unamed bird thing speaks truth.
-On that note, I look forward to the spirits "surprise" show up toward the end when they help after all because that's not how these things work at all.
-Su vs Kuvira fight was pretty cool
-Speaking of Kuvira, way to completely drop the ambiguity in Kuvira's moral reasoning show. Wouldn't want to have an interesting villain stay so for the entirety of her run after all. Now she get's to join the Amon and Zaheer club of squandered greatness in villain motivations.
-Boss, they're escaping!
-Well then, let's just stand around and do nothing!
-Yeah! Earth Empire!
-It feels like we needed more time for this Lin/Toph stuff than we got. Maybe an extra episode they could have used part of in order to better flesh out some stuff they wanted to put in. Hmm, what do you think, Nick?

-I know I voiced some concerns about how they need to be careful with Toph fighting Kuvira, but their solution seems to be less be careful and more, let's just not do it at all. What's that Toph? You're old? That wasn't a problem before now was it. And don't try to cover your *** with that Katara comment either. This was a load of nonsense and you know it show. You know who wasn't useless, Bumi. Guy was over a hundred years old and he wasn't messing around. Heck, you once had an entire organization of old people being badasses without ruining things for the new generation. Remember your well thought out reason Iroh couldn't just beat Ozai himself? But no, that's fine. Poor old Toph's back is hurting.

-That does however mean we've officially answered the age old question of who is better, Toph or Bumi. I know there was a comic strip showing them being equal, but I've always kind of gone with that, at the end of Last Airbender, Bumi was still stronger, but given just a couple of years, Toph would surpass him. Now we see that, in the long term, Bumi was clearly superior. You air balled the clutch shot as the buzzer went off Toph. Bumi takes the game.

-Toph is still awesome though, which makes her in this episode all the more disappointing.

I always saw Toph and Bumi as having different strengths with Toph being the innovator and Bumi having, above all else, more raw power than any other Earthbender around (he basically states as much the first time we see him throw down) which I guess sort of explains how he was in such good shape for his age. On that note, I also tend to assume that compared to the other elements, earthbending also produces more pronounced enhancements to the bender's physical abilities.

And does this mean we're not going to get a old Team Avatar get-together? I mean, I get that they would ultimately would want to leave the heavy lifting to the next generation and not steal the thunder but I (and I'm guessing a lot of others) was looking forward to an Masters of the White Lotus-esque showcase of old people. If nothing else, it would be nice to have even a small reunion to close out the arcs of the characters of the Last Airbender just as Legend of Korra is wrapping up.

And yeah, I think the show has always had trouble with creating morally ambiguous and complex antagonists. It's still better than most western animation but not nearly on the level of say, Xanatos and Demona from Gargoyles (admittedly, those are big shoes to fill). Zaheer was probably the best of the lot; even if we didn't know the details of his backstory we could get a general sense of where he was coming from in regards to his motives as a response to the world he lived in and those small moments with P'Li went a long way in humanizing him. I can't really say the same thing about Kuvira at all; we only get the briefest of backgrounds from Su and I don't see how someone raised in what seemed to be a largely free, politically-neutral environment fully embraces a militant totalitarian mindset without something else going on in-between. She also doesn't appear to really care about Junior as a person at all (though this may be deliberate) which makes me wonder why he seems so devoted to her; in contrast, him being motivated by wanting validation from the rest of his family is totally believable. Though I guess these do make it seem like something more sinister was going on with how Su Yin was running Zaofu and her family...but I'm not counting on that being the case.

Also, Prince Wu went from being better to worse than ever in record time.

2014-12-07 02:46:00

Author:
Dapiek Absaroka

Posts: 512

It's still better than most western animation

Agreement. I just want to make it clear that any criticism I throw at this show, it all has this attached to it. With the word "current" attached actually.

but not nearly on the level of say, Xanatos and Demona from Gargoyles (admittedly, those are big shoes to fill).

Indeed, it's rare for any show, much less children's animation, to reach Gargoyle quality at its peak.

Zaheer was probably the best of the lot; even if we didn't know the details of his backstory we could get a general sense of where he was coming from in regards to his motives as a response to the world he lived in and those small moments with P'Li went a long way in humanizing him.

I have some issues with Zaheer as a character, but the main problems I had with Season 3 villains involved the fact that they established them as a team, but once you get past their individual gimmicks, none of the others were very substantial. Heck, the show even forgot that P'li and Zaheer were supposed to be in love with each other for a while.

That is until it was time for her to go kaboom. Then the show made sure to dedicate time reminding us that, yes, this is why she's on this team. Don't forget to feel emotions viewers.

Also, Prince Wu went from being better to worse than ever in record time.

I've been waiting for the Wu transformation since they first established him as being so unlikeable. But it seems they're playing the subtle game of keeping him unlikeable for as long as possible instead.

So when he came in with his initial comment, it actually peaked my interest in a "Wow, they're really jumping right into this thing aren't they?" Of course then he kept going and I realized, "Oh right, false alarm."

2014-12-07 06:50:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

Sorry for a few week delay of this thread, but I just saw three new episodes and here are my brief thoughts on each one:

This episode is more of a recap of the series, but Varrick's own story is really funny, and Wu's talk with Mako and others did make me laugh. Vaatu as an "evil kite", classic

.

An 8 out of 10

The return of Zaheer worked out great. Surprisingly, he helped Korra conquer her vision fears, and she's finally back to herself. A truly remarkable moment. Let's not forget Jon Heder's voice cameo at the beginning of the episode (he's also on episode two of Book 3).

A 9.5 out of 10

Toph returns, and this time she helped her daughter Lin rescue Su. And I knew all along that Zhu Li isn't really betraying Varrick. The action scenes are great, too.

A 9.4 out of 10

2014-12-08 03:25:00

Author:
JustinArt

Posts: 1314

I can see why they don't give Toph or Katara or Zuko a bigger role in fighting the baddies. They are mentors now, not fighters. They have had their own adventures in their own time- this is not their show anymore. They'll guide the new generation, but won't coddle them and hold their hand with every problem that comes along until they're in their deathbeds. There comes a time when the new kids have to learn to stand on their feet and face their trials on their own, because the old guard won't be around forever to do it for them.

Also, Bumi was mothereffing Bumi. He could earthbend with just his face and still looked ripped like a bodyduilder at the age of 112. It's pretty safe to say that Toph and her friends haven't aged as well, even if they're "only" in their 70's.

2014-12-08 09:58:00

Author:
SnipySev

Posts: 2452

2014-12-13 04:15:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

-Anyone else have trouble just getting to the episode? It wasn't on the front page and once I just manually went to it, it skipped the last third of the episode. I must say, Nick got a lot ad revenue from me today from my attempts to watch this thing

-Technically the Fire Nation had conquered that Earth Kingdom territory, it was theirs. Sure, the White Lotus took the capital and the leader had fallen, but if surrender terms did not allocate that land back, it was still a Fire Nation colony
-Hey Bataar Jr. remember how we love each other?
-Yeah Kuvira, you're the-wait...hold on, isn't this exactly what they did with Zaheer and that Combustion Lady person?
-That's not important right now.
-The hell it's not! I want to live!
-I love you so much. (hug)
-In honor of Zhu Li standing up to Howard Hughes, there will be no Varrick quotes today
-Also, he wasn't all that quoteworthy
-You are not a gun, you are what you choose to be
-Also, how does nobody know they had that giant mech?
-Apparently someone read Kojimas book on completely impractical mass destruction machines
-Further signs of apparent animation budget loss (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MF5JjLfZp6s) makes it pretty clear that this battle isn't going to happen
-It's a good thing the giant death laser proved to only be capable of mildly cutting through our ships, allowing us to get past censors by showing the crew is alive and also proving that this weapon is actually slightly less effective than anything else we've used in this show
-So uh, ok, he was unguarded, that's fine I guess. But how did you not know he was gone right up to the point where you line up for the terms settlement meeting thing?
-Guards are incompetent
-No Korra, you're not killing anyone Maybe threaten to remove his bending or something.
-Oh no! Not the hummingbirds! And this episode was just saying how they were important too. Such a loss.
-Oh and also, No! Not the people! And the show has been saying for a while now that we should consider them important too.
-So, where was the gambit here?

I've been having problems with watching episodes on Nick's website for a while now; finally threw up my hands and found it was just easier to watch them on animejoy. Much smoother.

Also, I'm not sure Bataar Jr. is a bender at all; I don't ever recall him doing any bending of the sort in this season or the last. Come to think of it, that might have been an interesting angle to explore in regards to his apparent need to prove himself considering his brothers, sister, mother and grandmother are all formidable benders which could make a guy feel inadequate, just ask Sokka. Then again, Jr. is also apparently an insanely talented engineer who seems to be more talented then Sokka and Bataar Senior put together considering he went from a botched (albeit sabotaged) weapon test to a completely improved and perfected design and had enough spare time to design and build another completely functional marvel of engineering to strap it onto within what had to be a few days. Of course, this might tie into both not being quite as well-constructed as we are being led to believe.

And I'm guessing "Kuvira's Gambit" was just showing up earlier than expected? The "Gambit" part would make sense if the aforementioned machines aren't actually at 100%.

2014-12-13 17:44:00

Author:
Dapiek Absaroka

Posts: 512

I've been having problems with watching episodes on Nick's website for a while now
So have I. Nick needs to get their stuff together..

And I'm guessing "Kuvira's Gambit" was just showing up earlier than expected? The "Gambit" part would make sense if the aforementioned machines aren't actually at 100%.
Google says(le copy pasta):

gam?bitˈɡambət/
noun
(in chess) an opening in which a player makes a sacrifice, typically of a pawn, for the sake of some compensating advantage.
a device, action, or opening remark, typically one entailing a degree of risk, that is calculated to gain an advantage.
So, I'd say "Kuvira's Gambit" was shooting at Bataar Jr. to take out Korra.

2014-12-14 09:34:00

Author:
ConverseFox

Posts: 2333

So, I'd say "Kuvira's Gambit" was shooting at Bataar Jr. to take out Korra.

By definition it makes sense. Except for the risk part I suppose.

Unless the risk came from the chance that he would survive long enough to realize what she did and betray her as a result. But what are the odds of that?

2014-12-14 12:14:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

1. Varrick/Zhu Li marriage resolution felt a bit rushed but it was lovely so I can't complain.
2. Wu showed development, wasn't made king, he brought back badger moles, and I actually thought the bit was fine.
3. Pema was still doing something! The conductor was cool too.
4. Hiroshi's sacrifice worked.. well. Trying to cut into the titan with the plasma saw, I thought it was intense, and yeah, I guess his sacrifice was predictable, but whatever. I liked it, and seeing Kuvira lose control as much of the gang sneaked inside the titan was awesome.
5. Lin got her moment of badassery (with blade and a capable henchman enemy included).
6. Only a few henchmen within the titan which could be seen as odd but again they were all capable so I can't complain.
7. Mako's pseudo-sacrifice was cool. I really don't have a problem with it like some. I mean, there waas the whole scar bit which might draw up Zuko connections and how Zuko was cooler and how the whole sacrifice thing was sudden but I thought the scene was great, with beautiful music, Mako being useful, and yeah. The two brothers got an emotional moment together and I'm glad Mako survived. Personal preferences and whatnot.
8. I actually really like thinking back how they conveniently split the key characters so the spirit vine explosion wouldn't kill them. I mean yes, it was all convenient, but I'm serious, I just find it cool how it worked out. Lin and Su were caught in the arm which Kuvira ripped off, Korra and Kuvira were up in the head, and Mako and Bolin were able to be pushed down by the blast to the legs or wherever (as Bolin was already on his way down). I don't know, just little details like that are kind of neat.
9. Would have liked to have seen Tenzin be more useful, especially since it felt like he was beat around enough in the show. At least we got to see Meelo not do his signature move.
10. Not sure exactly how the weapon would still be functioning after what Su and Lin did to it but who cares, it's the finale and the foreshadowing of it thrown into the spirit wilds combined with Kuvira ready to fire it at Korra was awesome.
11. Speaking of awesome, the moment where Korra deflected the spirit beam. Seeing it pan out with the weapon blasting the spirit energy at her and seeing it just bounce off.. I just remember going back to that particular scene. Very powerful, especially with that specific music blasting.
12. Sudden change of heart though, Kuvira. Needed more of that in the season, even though spirit world looked awesome, the music was nice, and at least the conversation shed more light about Kuvira's side of the story. Still though, waiting for the finale to have us sympathize with the villain is eh. But again, not a big deal.
13. It is kind of weird how B'tarr Jr. and Kuvira were together.
14. Clap at the beautiful wedding scene why don't you, Lin.
15. I'm not one for the whole shipping business and I did enjoy the Korrasami ending, but at the same time I really liked Korra and Mako's final talk. Even though Mako said he has her back and always will, I guess I wasn't expecting them to try pushing any more romance from them, especially right at the finale with all the Korrasami hints and making Mako look like a jerk earlier on. They had a nice discussion together as the show was about to wrap up, and that was nice.
16. Also Tenzin and Korra got a discussion in. That was also good.
17. The Korra/Kuvira fight in the titan's head was great, by the way. Why did everyone think they were bending poison though? Seemed more like space rock to me.
18. No spirit interaction with fight was just fine, even if they do kinda look like jerks for teleporting back with no response.

What?

2015-02-15 21:38:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity

Posts: 5208

Oh I had wanted to do a review of the ending so badly but the site went down for so long I almost forgot about it lol

2015-02-15 23:13:00

Author:
yugnar

Posts: 1478

Oh I had wanted to do a review of the ending so badly but the site went down for so long I almost forgot about it lol

Never too late. The Korra reviews must go on! :arg:

2015-02-15 23:55:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity

Posts: 5208

Let me see if I can find the paper where I wrote my comments. I suppose I could rewatch it but it just wouldn't be the same.

2015-02-16 09:22:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

Found it.

Bit of a note. Normally, when I watched I would jot down a quick comment and then expand on it here after finishing the episode. The only thing I have to work on is my memory and a pseudo-shorthand thing. So apologies if I get a factoid wrong, I may be misinterpreting what I wrote for myself.

Now then.

-Of course there are prototypes. It's always the prototypes.
-Dang it Milo's Mom. Don't you know that freakin' kid follows the rules of Beetlejuice. You said his name three times!
-Who thought lying straight toward the stupid giant mechanical robot was a good idea?
-By the way, have I mentioned how stupid the giant robot is?
-"We let huge ferocious beasts lead our way."
-Come on. Toph held up an entire sinking temple. I think you can handle knocking a building over.
-By the way, was anyone surprised by the arrival and result of Asami's father aka not Ford?
-Seriously, she even proclaims her love for him. We've already established that that's a death sentence in this show.

-Bolin joined Tron Academy
-so uh...those volatile energy canisters just kind of...dropped
-Dang it Bolin! Don't say the L word!
-Eh, who am I kidding, epic last stands aside, Mako isn't interesting enough to die
-So...um...this fight...it's awesome
-It's amazing how much better the action gets when you go back to your martial arts roots and DITCH THE GIANT ROBOT!
-Stupidity that is giant robot vindicated by image of Kuvira wielding the cannon using only herself
-"You may now do the thing," because of course Howard Hughes was the real finale draw
-In conclusion, democracies > monarchies > dictatorships
-Thank's Wu
-And the finale
-I suppose I should legitimately talk about that

Concerning The Korra-Asami ending. I'm not one for shipping, but this is a relationship that makes sense to me. While they didn't set it up perfectly throughout the series, it is handled well enough that I believe it could happen. And then there's the progressiveness and such of having the balls to let them be officially together. It's a move that I think works in every possible way, except narratively, you know, the most important one for telling a story. My problem is that it really shouldn't have been the final image of the series. A nice moment, yes. A part of the ending, of course. The primary moment the series has been culminating toward thematically? Not at all.

But I do understand that, had they put it anywhere before the ending, it would have completely overshadowed anything else they put in that spot anyway. So I suppose I'm disappointed that that is the case.

I'm also disappointing that the creators felt the need to come out and confirm that no, they are not just friends, they are legitimately in love and dating and all that jazz. True, there is a part of me that's like, "Yeah, take that part of society being incredibly closed minded about this!" But again, on a narrative level, you know, THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE, this worked so much better when it was subtext. You know, a little ambiguity and subtlety actually made it that much nicer. The image alone already makes it clear that a statement is being made. Actually going out of the way to then restate that statement in words doesn't make it any better.

Also, I really dislike when writers feel the need to make their statements on canon rather than letting their work speak for itself.

Commentary on why they chose something, what they hoped to achieve, etc, fine. Statements that are meant to be taken as fact that shouldn't have needed to be made because unless your work backs it up it's just a load of crap and I don't care if you're the author because I'm the reader and therefore I outrank you, a load of nonsense.

2015-02-19 21:10:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

Toph held up an entire sinking temple.

I think you mean library.

2015-02-19 21:47:00

Author:
ConverseFox

Posts: 2333

Well, this was a long time coming wasn't it?'

For the most part, I found the finale to consist mostly of not too unsurprising action scenes though I do think they were all well done. I don't think it quite hits the highs of "Sozin's Comet" but at the same time it avoids what I found to be weak about ATLA's finale as well. I still question the logistics that were at work (just how many shots could that cannon realistically fire?) but still no mincing around some arbitrary moral quandary and no overly convenient and/or inexplicable solution to such an issue or the central conflict. In that sense, this finale is actually superior to most of the other seasons in terms of pacing and resolution. That said, the unexpected "side effect" of the end of the battle does seem to sort of take some leaps on logic for what it does, but seeing as it mostly just sets up the very final scene rather than serve as a resolution to the battle which had all but been decided by that point I don't feel it to be so contrived within the context of the plot.

On a minor note, the animation quality (other than the somewhat shoddy CGI mecha) seemed to have been kicked up for these last two episodes but is it just me or did the character's chins seem pointier than usual?

I do have to wonder if I'm a bad person for feeling Kuvira deserved a more explicitly harsher fate. I still don't sympathize with her even after Korra deconstructs her motives; I honestly don't feel the parallels are all that strong though they could have made a better case if Korra's "Dark Avatar" hallucination (was that ever truly resolved?) had appeared again instead of just a reflection when Korra woke up in the spi. I was also sort of expecting the spirits to return and deal out a punishment similar to Admiral Zhao when Kuvira wandered off for the first time. Speaking of which, the spirits are just a bunch of fair weather freeloaders aren't they?

"Oh, nice city you have here. Mind if we just move it and tear down a few neighborhoods in the process?"

"Oh, the city will be under attack? Well, good luck with all that because we don't want to help you people because some of you did bad things to us before (even though they could only pull that off with the help of other spirits or our own inaction)."

"Oh, the dust has settled and the city is looking like an even better locale for us to live in? Well, good job saving it without us and if you don't mind we'll be moving back in!"

Man, those last few minutes; I was expecting the show to end with Korra and Tenzin's last talk but then it kept going to what so many wanted but never expected. I've got to hand it to the writers because I can't recall the last time I was thinking "No! No! No!" (during the talk with Mako and where I thought it would be going) and then going "Yes! Yes! Yes!" within a matter of minutes. I couldn't believe they actually went that far but I do feel it is the best possible way to put a capstone on Korra's relationships (for what they could probably get away with) just as her show comes to a close.

I know how a lot of people criticize Korra and Asami becoming a couple as being rushed or forced, but frankly as far as I'm concerned, their relationship that culminated in those last few shots was probably the best of the romantic subplots not only in LoK but ATLA as well. Ignoring any controversy over them being a same sex couple, it's a pairing that grew organically out of not only the writers' intentions in the last two seasons but also from the unintended chemistry between the two in earlier seasons and thus, while not originally intentional, was something that developed over the course of the whole show.

This is especially true when you compare them to every other romance in the entire franchise, which have little-to-no build up; Sokka and Suki? The romance kicks off in one episode and despite a long separation they pick up momentum instantaneously when reunited. Bolin and Opal are only marginally better in that it takes two episodes and despite how their relationship suffers from Bolin hitching his wagon to Kuvira's sleigh they kiss and make up far too quick for me to buy it. Zuko and Mai become a couple based around them being childhood acquaintances but they literally don't interact at all during the second season except in flashbacks when they were kids, but come the third season and they're firmly established as in a relationship. I won't even bother critiquing the Korra and Mako pairing. The only other romance that has any decent build-up is the one between Aang and Katara, but let's be honest; it was so telegraphed and so one-sided on Aang's part until the third season that it really felt like it was there for the sake of the common belief that a romantic subplot for the main protagonist is necessary for a story (they aren't).

So, Korra and Asami, built up over the course of four seasons borne out of subtext (unintentional at first and then decidedly not so), a realization by both the fans and the writers somewhere in the middle of the show's run that "hey, these two characters really go well together" rather than a predetermined intent like practically all the other pairings were and the culmination of how far the relationship between both characters has come (from romantic rivals to being in a romance with one another). And that's why the pairing works, and why its the best within the entire franchise.

2015-02-20 04:04:00

Author:
Dapiek Absaroka

Posts: 512

At this point I'm totally okay if Korra and Asami ended up together. Would love to see Mako's reaction to that.

Called it! Kinda...

2015-02-20 05:28:00

Author:
SnipySev

Posts: 2452

I think you mean library.

Yep. That thing. The one with the ghost falcon.

2015-02-20 12:10:00

Author:
xxMATEOSxx

Posts: 1787

Man, I seriously wanted to write an epic review of the final three episodes around the weekend the series finale premiered, but...stupid hackers

. Anyways...

Kuvira's colossus looks really awesome, and it is definitely the final boss of the series

. And Team Korra are at their best when they took down the colossus with everything they got. Sad that Asami's father sacrificed his life to open the hole to the giant mecha's interior, but he died as a hero despite what he had done in Book 1. Varrick's proposal to Zhu-li is hilarious, and it's about time they become a true couple. And Wu did a great job tricking Kuvira's soldiers by singing terribly to summon the badger moles. The final battle between Korra and Kuvira is excellent, and their battle ended with a bang by opening another spirit portal. And Korra taught her toughest enemy a lesson by explaining each other's struggles. The "Korrasami" ending is beautifully done, too.

Overall: It is indeed the grand finale of the series filled with epic action scenes and well-developed story. Sad to see the series ended, but I hope the creators can make an epic story about the avatar after Korra in the future.

2015-02-21 02:17:00

Author:
JustinArt

Posts: 1314

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