Legend of Korra Thread, at Frig's request

[Steve]

And I'll start it off with my remarks on today's episode, cross-posted from SDN:

As everyone figured, Korra - trapped in a metal box by Tarrlok - uses the time to meditate and figure out what her visions were over. As it turns out, Yakone was basically Republic City's criminal kingpin who had evaded every charge... until enough witnesses to his full-powered Bloodbending showed up. He tried to escape after his conviction by Bloodbending the entire court-room and was pursued by Aang; when he tried to kill him, Aang went Avatar State and then used his power to take away Yakone's Bending. This leads Korra to realize Tarlokk is Yakone's son. which he confirms to her in their final conversation.

I thought the flashback scenes were pretty fun too. "Twinkle Toes" stuck well past childhood, heh, and Sokka still loves his trusty boomerang. :) Combustion Man gets a name-drop as part of the justification for Yakone's conviction, since his defense was that all of the witnesses had to be lying since said ability was "impossible".

Meanwhile Tarlokk framed the Equalists for the abduction, so Tenzin, Lin, and the rest of "Team Avatar" came together to go after them. During this time Mako's clear concern for Korra, well, Asami sees reason to think that maybe Ikki's revelation about Korra's feelings were pretty true, especially when Bolin lets slip about Korra's kissing Mako. Mako's attitude when they finally do find Korra (will get to that in a minute) probably confirms it for her to an even greater degree. I'm now darkly wondering if Asami will stab them in the back - she betrayed her father and sided with them, just to have her boyfriend pick the Avatar over her? We'll see, given the previews for next week....

Anyway, they rescue the police officers captured by Sato, but the interrogation of the guards reveals Tarlokk's duplicity, which is confirmed by his secretary (what interesting timing; she witnessed the whole thing and just happens to pick the right moment?) Tarlokk bloodbends them to escape and goes back for Korra, to keep her as a hostage, but Amon and his lieutenant are there for them both. Amon overpowers Tarlokk's bloodbending with great effort and takes away his bending. He sends his lieutenant for Korra, instructing him to electrocute her in the box and take no chances. Korra uses her leather armband to hang from the grated top of the box and pretends being electrocuted, then catches them by surprise and escapes (fleeing when Amon goes after her directly). Naga finds her and brings her back to Republic City, where her howls attract the attention of Tenzin and the others.

Now, I personally wonder if the secretary is not in fact an Equalist agent. The timing of the reveal, knowing just the right things... and of course the fact that Amon and his group got to Tarlokk's private cabin through means unknown.

Tarlokk's not out of the game either; he was outright captured, so I wonder if we'll be seeing more of him.

Amon seems to be ready to deal with Korra now. Even if Sato was acting on his own initiative in The Aftermath to capture her, he was outright looking to pick her up in this episode. And given the promos for next week....

Yeah, to mention that; in two weeks we have an hour-long Legend of Korra coming up, touted as the season finale. It looks like Amon's ready to make his move - possibly aided by the fallout from the revelation of Tarlokk as a Bloodbender like Yakone, which will honestly due great damage to the credibility of the city government - and will be embarking on all out war against the bender population of Republic City.

And it looks like some of the gravest speculations might come true; the end of the promo had Amon preparing to take away Korra's bending. I figure either A) last second rescue of some sort, B) he finds he can't do it, or C)... he does it. Korra loses her bending, and the next season will have her find a way to regain it by getting in contact with the spirit world.

It looks like it'll be an awesome story, and I actually expect Amon will win this one for the moment regardless of whether Korra keeps her Bending or not. He'll take over Republic City and institute a totalitarian nightmare state to purge Benders and their sympathizers and rule by a cult of personality. Book 2 is more reasonably about reclaiming Republic City from him (while possibly keeping the rest of the world from destroying it in the effort to crush Amon).

[frigidmagi]

Now, I personally wonder if the secretary is not in fact an Equalist agent. The timing of the reveal, knowing just the right things... and of course the fact that Amon and his group got to Tarlokk's private cabin through means unknown.

He clearly has agents in the government. I mean the richest and most powerful economic agent in the city (Saito) was on his side. Frankly given the sheer scope of the underground bases I have to wonder... How long was Amon working before he appeared on the scene? His organization's power seems to grow by leaps and bounds (Tarlok certainly helped with that, unwittingly it seems). Tarlok becomes the stupidest smart person I know, clearly capable and clever but everything falls apart because he insist on treating everyone around like sheep or worse. You can't led that way, not for long anyways.

Amon does seem to have a healthy respect for the Avatar, who is clearly still terrified of him. Someone is gonna have to do something about that. I mean crap, she could have killed him right there if she had been thinking clearly (note: that's not meant as a criticism of Korra. If I had been locked up in a metal box for hours and just broke free to come face to face with the one thing that terrified me above all others, I wouldn't come out covered in glory either).

Rumor is Zuko is suppose to show soon, leading the armies perhaps? If I had to guess, I would say that the Fire Nation is likely still one of the most military powerful of the 4 (5,6?) nations. Mainly due to it's high industry and the Earth Kingdom's divided status (it really seems more like a Confederation at best). They're could certainly field battleships and tanks if they wanted to. It does seem less and less likely that I'll get the Zuko moment I want but such is life.

Clearly the equalist have been active for a long time (years at least, decade or two at the most) laying the ground work for this. Amon may be as old as Tenzin and Lin if not older. I found myself upgrading the guy as a combat threat when he showed he could shrug off blood bending! It looked like pure strength of will to! Bluntly guys don't get into melee range of Amon.

[Steve]

Clearly the equalist have been active for a long time (years at least, decade or two at the most) laying the ground work for this. Amon may be as old as Tenzin and Lin if not older. I found myself upgrading the guy as a combat threat when he showed he could shrug off blood bending! It looked like pure strength of will to! Bluntly guys don't get into melee range of Amon.

Duly noted.

*slips on power ring*

[Dark Silver]

Indeed.

-grabs a nuclear weapon-

In the land of the benders, the guy with nuke is King.

[Dark Silver]

Anyway, watched the episode, glad to see Korra is getting a bit more spiritual.

Ang in full Avatar mode with his full powers is pretty badass. Also, apparently to defeat Bloodbending - go into Avatar mode.

Amon pretty much shrugs off Tarlok's Bloodbending. What the fuck IS he.

[Batman]

If it wasn't for Korra being around I'd have speculated he might be the Avatar preceeding her (IIRC Aang was long dead when she was born). Can take away bending for keeps (or so we're told anyway), can resist bloodbending...
Except the very existance of Korra means the last Avatar died.

[SirNitram]

Anyway, watched the episode, glad to see Korra is getting a bit more spiritual.

Ang in full Avatar mode with his full powers is pretty badass. Also, apparently to defeat Bloodbending - go into Avatar mode.

Amon pretty much shrugs off Tarlok's Bloodbending. What the fuck IS he.

Emphasis mine.. We've only seen one human overcoming it, and that was via the Avatar State, a state of being more like an angry god then anything someone like Amon should be able to do. I think the mask is to hide the dark reality of Amon that would shatter his coalition: He's not entirely human anymore..

[Dark Silver]

I'm actually leaning toward a fantheory right now...

That despite the fact he apparently has eyes (that we never see move) behind the mask..he's a subject of Ko the Facestealer...

[frigidmagi]

How would that grant a resistance to blood bending? In all honest I think the fandom is to quick to run and lay everything at Koh's feet. He is not the Biblical Satan or unavoidably against the Avatar (he helped Aang didn't he?).

So while it's not impossible there is precious little evidence and none of it good to tie Amon to Koh. Sometimes a mask is just a mask people.

[Steve]

A big episode today to set up next week's 1 hour finale. Amon has begun his war to take over Republic City, starting with a decapitation strike that captures the entire Council save Tenzin, who escapes his attackers. Air Temple Island falls, Lin stays behind to prevent the Equalists' airships from overtaking Tenzin and his fleeing family, and Amon takes her bending when she refuses to disclose where Korra is.

Asami and Mako are officially at odds, and I think it's up in the air whether Asami will turn back to her father. On the one hand, she's upset with Mako, but on the other she doesn't seem as hostile to Korra and I think she still likes Bolin as a friend. I don't think Mako alone would provoke her to treachery, but we might find out next week.

I laughed hard at Lin dealing with Meelo, and just as hard when Meelo took out an Equalist with a fart-to-the-face attack. Jinora's "Stay away from my Dad's ex-girlfriend!" battle cry was also awesome.

And, finally.... Yes, I do believe that was Dante Basco voicing General Iroh, presumably a son or grandson of Zuko, and which is a really nice touch. Too bad his nice fleet is probably going to get stomped by Equalist airpower going by the promos....

All in all, everything is gearing up for a great final clash next week.

[Dark Silver]

Holy god damn Tenzin and kids.....Air Benders can be dangerous if forced to go on offensive, especially a Master Air Bender like Tenzin.

Lein.....you are an amazing woman. She went up against 2 airships, and would have won had she been able to watch her back.

General Iroh approaches, and it looks to me like the Fire Nation ships have deck guns now....this should become more interesting.

Overall, a good episode - the Equalist have made their move. I still wish we would have seen Zuko instead of his grandson....

[frigidmagi]

I was promised Zuko, oh you sneaky bastards. Iroh 2.0 had better be the damn man and a half.

Other then that good episode worth watching, the mix of heartwarming and silly elements keep it from being a relentless march of darkness.

As for Lin...

That lady is my hero.

[LadyTevar]

Mine too, Frig.

The look on Pema's face when she left Mako and Asami for their talk was priceless, but it was a blink-you-miss-it thing as she walked out past the "camera".

Meelo ... was*all* of that fart attacks?! He did more damage than both his sisters. I am hoping that they and baby Rolin (roland?) stay safe with Gramma Katara.


Next week: Yes, that is probably Zuko's grandson, as Iroh looked Korra's age. As (possible) son of the Empress, he could have the rank General at that age. I simply hope he lives up to his name-sake.

Sudden thought: Uncle Iroh probably lived to see Zuko's children in their teens. We have seen very aged characters in this world. Do we know how old Uncle Iroh was? 50? 60? Katara's in her 80s now, so Uncle Iroh would be over 100 either way, but we saw King Bumi was still rolling at that age.....

[frigidmagi]

I'm thinking Iroh 2.0 is a bit older. Korra is only 16 and that's not a good age for a general, royal or not (lets keep in mind that Azula was daddy's little girl and she was never a general... Thank God). I figure him for his 20s. Still damn young for a general but what the hell, plenty of young princes took up the rank in their 20s and did alright.

[LadyTevar]

That does make a lot of sense, Frig. So.. 20ish, and in charge of not just the Fire Nations fleet, but what I believe they called the International Defense?

[frigidmagi]

The United Forces. Which sounds to me like UN forces. Which means everyone is a member of their component armed forces (Fire Nation, Earth Kingdom, Water Tribe) but with a joint command structure most like. I'm pretty sure that was an Fire Nation Fleet after all.

[SirNitram]

I should clarify. While I don't think Amon is entirely human, I see no relation to Koh. I honestly don't get the fantheories always going to Koh. Honestly, my first thought was he has to be partially metal and mechanical. It would mean chunks of his body are just 'Fuck off, no blood here'. High purity metal, obviously, to avoid being simply crushed by metalbenders.

[frigidmagi]

interview with the creators

[Dark Silver]

Book 1 is at a end. . . and all the questions have been answered.

Seriously, this was a good set of episodes - I was not expecting the revelation about Amon being Tarlokk's older brother. And We still never figured out why he was following Yakkone's "directive" if he hated his father. Tarlokk I could kinda get...but Amon?

General Iroh the Second was pretty badassed - he lived up to both his Grandfather and Great Grand Uncle I would think. He was a firebending madman, and even did some lightning bending. The quick "flying lesson" he had to undergo was funny for a second, then using his firebending to fly around between planes was pretty awesome.

Amon getting disgraced and him running away with his brother..handled well. Tarlokk's resolution to this was....bitter...and sad...and ultimately felt right. He knows Yakonne was a monster, his brother has Equalist gear in the boat, things will just start over. So he fights back, in the best way that he can.

The end, after where Korra finally meets Aang and regains her Bending back - and the Avatar State - was well handled - if a bit forced. But if we take what Aang said to her...then we get a idea of why it might have been. She had run off to that cliff, she was depowered in all but Airbending with no foreseeable way of getting it back. . .

I honestly think Korra was contemplating suicide here. Without it being spoken about in the show of course, but think about it: She sees herself as having failed the Avatar status - but a new Avatar cannot be found while she lives. Killing herself means somewhere in the Earth Kingdom, a new Avatar will be born, one who is not hampered by the fact the previous Avatar lost three of her bending abilities. She was literally at her lowest point (the points when people are usually contemplating such a thing). But the entire scene was well handled even it's resolution. I'm assuming Aang taught her to Energy Bend when he gave her back her Bending abilities....


OVerall, a good season finale.

[LadyTevar]

Things I like:

1. Amon was 'merely' a Bender. There was no spirit link to Koh, no energy-bending. It was all a new use for BloodBending, possibly making a 'clot' in the Chakras. This also ties into all of Aang's warning flashbacks about Yakone. Some were confused when Tarrlok's secret came out, wondering why Aang wasn't warning Korra about Amon. Now we know he was warning about both Yakone's sons, as well as explaining how Amon was doing it.

2. Korra Airbends. Some fans had been wondering if Korra's problem might be she was 'blinded' by the other elements. We saw she used Earth, Fire, and Water as a toddler, so they were as familiar as her own skin. She needed training in their use, but they were always with her and she reached for them first. Only once they were gone, and when the man she loves was in danger, could she finally put her Air training into actual Bending.

3. Tarrlok's last action. Amon/Naratok was going to go somewhere else, start anew, just like Yakone had done. The circle of vengence would begin again, and a lot of people harmed in the meantime. Tarrlok simply didn't have the stomach for it, and made his choice. The look on his face as he activates the Equalist glove is a testament to the artists and animators. A powerful scene, imho,

4. Korra on the cliffside. Like DS, I believe she was thinking of suicide, of giving the world a fully functional Avatar. The tear drop down to the sea could have been her body falling. Aang himself said that when one is at their lowest point is where they're most open to change. Thus, Korra finally broke her last blockage.

5. The Naval Battle. I swear the animators copied footage from Pearl Harbor and Midway for this scene. The fight was vicious and intense, and like Pearl Harbor, totally doomed from the start.
However, there were things I noted that made me think. The naval guns were manned by Firebenders, and the barrels seemed to enhance the blasts and give them better range. I didn't see how the guns were moved, but I have to wonder if Earth or Water benders were playing targeteers as the Firebenders were the ammo loaders.

6. Captured Tenzin. Ok, this has several fans over on STNet throwing fits because we all thought they got away. As if we had a right to see them get captured. because that would have spoiled the AIRPLANES.
As said many times, Amon was always a step ahead of everyone. He knew the AirBenders would attempt to flee on the SkyBisons. He knew his blimps would not have the speed to keep up with them. We see in Iroh's flight that the planes have bolo-weapons on board, weapons we've seen used to catch Benders time and time again. Why do they have them? To Catch The AirBisons.
But if we'd seen Tenzin captured, the whole naval battle scene as well as Amon's boast to end Airbending would have lost all the 'oh shit' impact that made the scenes work.

[Batman]

Lame. Korra finally goes Avatar state when the whole thing is already over. What I wanted was her doing so when Amon thinks he took her bending away and show him that guess what, you're up against the Valendamned Avatar.
Since when does bloodbending involve telekinesis? Mind you earthbending has from the word go so it wouldn't be much of a stretch but the use of Bloodbending to make people hover in midair is I think unprecedented.

[frigidmagi]

They can make water rise up in midair. Blood bending is a type of water bending. Ergo, they can do the same when blood bending if strong enough. Keep in mind we saw only 1 example of blood bending before Korra, it's limits are not entirely mapped out.

[Steve]

So, everyone hear the news? 26 more episodes ordered, to be divided into Books 3 and 4.

[LadyTevar]

Book Two will be titled "Spirit/s", and Korra will be spending more time dealing with the Spirit world, starting with a nasty one that attacks her at the Southern Water Tribe.

We will also get to learn more about the Avatar Cycle itself, it seems. :)