History Recap / TheLegendOfKorraS1E2ALeafInTheWind

* DieOrFly: When Korra is on the verge of [[spoiler:losing the pro-bending match for the Ferrets]], she suddenly ''gets'' how to move like a leaf in the wind.

* NotSoStoic: After complaining about how disgraceful and frivilous Pro-Bending is for the entire episode, Tenzin can't help but cheer when Korra wins a match. He quickly tries to pretend it never happened.

* VerbalBackpedaling: When Korra tells Bolin that she's actually an Earthbender, he does this, saying that he didn't want to assume she was a water-bender based purely on her clothes.

The second episode of the series WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra.

* TitleDrop: "The key is to be like a leaf in the wind."

The next day, Tenzin tells Korra that, surprising as it is, the modern style of pro-bending, as Korra suggested, helped her to learn the airbender philosophy of being a leaf in the wind. Korra uses this moment to, in an aside, note how shedecidedtojointheFireFerretsfulltime. She runs off, leaving Tenzin rolling his eyes in exasperation.

That night, Mako looks from his temporary home, the attic of the arena, to Air Temple Island, possibly to contemplate his muddled emotions about Korra (such as his cold demeanor around her and even more brooding) and his possible affection for her. Korra looks back at the arena, thinking of how cool pro-bending is.

--> '''Jinora''': [[DeadpanSnarker I will make no such promises]].

* ChekhovsGun: Korra learning how important spiral movements are to the technique of airbending. Also the mention of Mako by the radio announcer.

Now officially situated on Air Temple Island, Korra is engrossed in the reports of the newspaper reading about the Pro-Bending matches going on in Republic City. Excited about it, she tries to convince [[TheMentor Tenzin]] that it would be fun to go see one, only for Tenzin to tell her that the sport of a mockery of the noble tradition of bending in all its forms to which Korra attempts to persuade him to let her go see one because she has dreamed of seeing a Pro-Bending match for years. Tenzin refuses, and insists that she must only remain on the Island.

And so Tenzin and Korra begin their airbending training. Korra does horribly (apparently, the freedom and grace of airbending does not meld well with a hot-headed teenager), and accuses Tenzin of being a bad teacher in a fit of anger. Korra then decides to sneak out of the island to watch the pro-benders.

Arriving at the Pro-Bending Arena, Korra is quickly caught sneaking around by Toza, the arena's caretaker and ex-pro-bender. An argument begins, only for a young man in pro-bending attire comes and bails Korra out. He introduces himself as Bolin, earthbending member of the Fire Ferrets, and invites her to watch the upcoming match at their private lockers. Bolin then shows Korra to the other members of his team: his older brother, the brooding firebender Mako, and their waterbender Hasook. Korra watches with amazement as all three, Mako in particular, win the match.

Meanwhile, at Air Temple Island, Korra is still doing poorly in airbending. Most of her attention is still at the pro-benders, such as when Mako and Bolin show her the basics of pro-bending during their practice session. Once again, Korra sneaks out of Air Temple Island to see the Fire Ferret's next match. Tenzin, eating dinner with his family, curses Korra's sudden impulsive disappearance.

The Fire Ferrets find out that Hasook is a no-show for their match; without a waterbender, the Fire Ferrets automatically forfeit and the winnings Mako dreamed of are gone. Korra suggests entering the match herself, promising to only use waterbending to hide her identity. Tenzin continues to look for Korra around the island, eventually coming to several White Lotus soldiers listening to the pro-bending games via radio. Korra, initially making several fouls, accidentally uses an earthbending disc to block an attack. This ousts herself out as the Avatar to the entire audience, Tenzin included.

Tenzin, now furious, goes to the arena to bring Korra back. With the Fire Ferrets losing, Korra protests that she needs to help Mako and Bolin. She impulsively enters the ring, leaving Tenzin in disgust. Tenzin is about to leave when he sees Korra using an airbending move he had tried to teach her before to win the match.

The next day, Tenzin tells Korra that, surprising as it is, the hectic style of pro-bending helped her to learn the airbender philosophy of being a leaf in the wind. Korra uses this moment to, in an aside, note how shedecidedtojointheFireFerretsfulltime. She runs off, leaving Tenzin to roll his eyes in exasperation.

** FunnyBackgroundEvent[=/=]MeaningfulBackgroundEvent: He's first shown in-series in the background of an argument between Korra and Toza; at first he's [[UnusuallyUninterestingSight just passing through]], [[CrowningMomentOfFunny then]] [[HotAmazon double-takes at Korra]], [[TheCharmer slicks back his hair]], and [[DulcineaEffect struts forward to help her out.]] May be one of the best [[EstablishingCharacterMoment character introductions]] ever.

* ShipTease: Bolin is obviously smitten with Korra and tries to impress her when he meets her, and there's the HeldGaze that Korra and Mako share after the match and they are (finally) are somewhat more friendly terms with each other than they were previously.

Tenzin, now furious, goes to the arena to bring Korra back.

* VerbalBackpedaling: When Korra tells Bolin that she's actually an Earthbender, he does this, saying that he didn't want to assume she was a water-bender based purely on her clothes.

Korra then asks if he has brought the White Lotus sentries on the Island are there to keep her in line, to which he admits that yes, they are, before going on to explain that he thinks airbending in best learnt in a quiet, peaceful environment, free from any distractions. Korra submits to his authority, but she turns away, gazing longingly across the water towards the arena that houses the Pro-Bending matches.

Later, Korra and Tenzin are walking together when Tenzin brings up the fact that he learnt from his mother, Katara, that Korra has never been able to airbend. Korra sighs and then confesses that she doesn't know why, since the other elements came so easily to her.

Tenzin then explains that this is not unusual; Every Avatar struggles with the element that is the least like their personality, like Aang's difficulty with Earthbending. He then strides off, telling Korra that her airbending training will commence.

He leads her up the stairs where his children, Jinora, Ikki and Meelo are waiting for them. "Korra's gonna airbend, Korra's gonna airbend!" [[GenkiGirl Ikki]] shouts as Korra asks Tenzin what the contraption is. He explains that it is a tool to teach the most fundamental aspect of airbending: [[ChekhovsGun to be a leaf in the wind.]]

Jinora explains the point of the exercise is to make one's way through the gates without touching them - but there's a catch. One has to navigate smoothly through the gates of the tool whilst ''they are spinning''. Jinora them ably demonstrates how to use spiral movements that are at the heart of the airbending technique.

Once she completes her circuit of the spinning gate maze, she propels air into the device again so that it's ready for Korra. Korra narrows her eyes in determination, saying "Let's do this" before rushing into the maze and failing utterly, bashing into a gate with every rash movement she makes until the force of the air plumps her back onto the ground near Tenzin. Refusing to be deterred, Korra tries again. Jinora and Meelo call encouragement, but the gates hit Korra hard and she falls again out of the gate. Tenzin rolls his eyes and sighs.

That evening, Korra stands in the courtyard of the Temple, vainly trying to airbend. A newspaper with Chief Lin Bei Fong hangs on the clothesline beside her. Finally, getting nowhere with her attempt to airbend, in fury she firebends and destroys the newspaper.

Discouraged, she tells Naga that maybe she's not cut out to be an airbender when the words of a radio talking about a Pro-Bending match catch her attention about the upcoming Championship Tournament.

Korra climbs onto the roof to hear better. She looks out over at the shining Pro-Bender Arena as the announcer mentions the name of one of the benders in the match [[{{Foreshadowing}} "Mako" and "That Moka's got moxie!"]] Korra and the White Lotus members clench their hands in anticipation, rooting for Mako as the announcer mentions that the Fire Ferrets are lining up to strike... Cue the radio going dead.

Tenzin has come into the room, and he is ''not'' happy. The White Lotus members turn around in surprise as he calls for Korra to come down off the roof. Korra jumps down and confronts Tenzin that he never [[ExactWords said she couldn't ''listen'' to a match]]. Stumped, Tenzin turns around, the air from his movements and bending making Korra's hair flutter.

The next morning, Tenzin and Korra and the children are meditating, but Korra is having a hard go of it. Since she is a restless, energetic person, it's hard for her to do "nothing" for so long. Tenzin explains to her that airbending springs from freedom, to which Korra disagrees since he speaks about the freedom of airbending but won't even let her listen to the radio or leave the island.

That evening, Korra sneaks away from the Temple Compound and swims across the channel to the Pro-Bending Arena. She flings herself out of the water and in through the window of the Arena, shaking the water off herself before going to investigate.

She comes across an empty practice room and stares at it in amazement. Going inside, she looks around wonderingly only to be interrupted by Toza, who immediately gets angry at her for coming into his room. A man at the back of the room is passing by and sees the commotion with Korra and Toza so he comes over to intervene and get Korra out of her mess by saying that she's with him and that they're together, but not really together. He takes her up onto the platform, saying that here is the best seats in the house. Korra is in awe of the majesty of the place so she barely notices when the man - Bolin - introduces himself to her, just as his other team members enter the room.

His brother, Mako, frowns at him and tells him to "stop bringing in crazy fangirls."

After the match, Korra says she wants to learn some of the moves from Bolin. He says he's not sure how his earthbending will translate to her waterbending. Korra says she can earthbend. Then she says she can firebend. Bolin is flummoxed. Mako's reaction.

--> '''Mako:''' You're the Avatar. And I'm an idiot.

Despite this, he still doesn't seem particularly enthused by the Avatar's presence, though he allows her to come backstage to train. Korra and Bolin practise; the Water Tribe girl is good, but her fighting style isn't adapted to the game. Its not about power, but staying light on your feet and dodging hits, until its your time to strike. It clicks in Korra, and she automatically improves.

....you can't really say that about her air-bending.

At yet another training session comprised of her getting hit twenty times by spinning planks of wood, Korra screams in frustration, and burns down the offending contraption in a furious flurry of firbending. Tenzin is horrified; that was an ancient artifact. He tells her to stop forcing it, that it just comes- but Korra responds that maybe the reason she's not learning air-bending is that ''he's'' a horrible teacher.

Meelo, being the impressionable little kid he is, agrees. Jinora and Ikki hug their father.

Korra, meanwhile, heads back to the pro-bending ring, but the mood doesn't seem much better there. The Fire Ferrets are out of the game; their water-bending partner never showed. If they don't fish out a new player in two minutes, they're dead.

...good thing she's a water-bender, eh?

Mako is ''not'' pleased by the idea, but Bolin and Korra don't care. Within minutes she's dressed and out in the field. Mako tries to give her some tips. Do ''nothing''. Just try not to get hit. Let them handle it.

--> '''Korra''': Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, ''Captain''.

The bell rings. In one swift move, Korra gathers a wave of water, hits one of her opponents, and tosses them over the side. YEAH!

--> '''Announcer''': Foul! Move back one space!

Yes- it turns out that throwing your player off the side is an illegal move. You can only through them off the back.

It quickly becomes clear that for all her bending prowess, Pro-Bending requires a different set of skills. With only the most basic grasp of the rules, used to a different style, and so reliant on using all three elements, she panics. She gets pushed farther and farther back, eventually panicking and bending away every element thrown at her, much to the crowd's uproar.

Thankfully, it's decreed (after some confusion), that the Avatar will be able to continue playing, as long as she sticks soley to water-bending. Not that it'll be much help. She's a green player, their opponents know it, and they're throwing ''everything'' they can at her.

Not to mention, back on the island, [[OhCrap an annoyed and now severely angry Tenzin overheard a radio broadcast of the latest match.]]

They lose the first match. In the second match, Korra is pushing off the back and falls into the water. When she comes to the side, she finds herself sheepishly staring up at Tenzin.

They come to loggerheads once again. The Airbender, having decided she responds only to force, orders her to return to the temple, but she refuses. Korra has come to the conclusion; she doesn't need Airbending, she needs modern fighting styles. Tenzin tries to remind her that being the Avatar isn't all about fighting, but she won't listen, and returns for her final match.

Things go...less than well. The brothers become pinned in a corner, too tight to fight back. Korra is pushed to the final zone. In the stands, Tenzin listens in pained embarrassment.

And then...something clicks.

Korra starts to move in circular patterns, dodging the enemy throws at her. Its like she's a whole different player. Their opponents soon grow exhausted from the continuous fighting, but the brothers are still fresh, and are able to pound back with all their force. Together the three of them are able to rally, and knock all three of the players off the back. Knockout! Instant win!

Even Tenzin can't help but cheer!

The team celebrates, and Mako apologizes for the way he treated her. Back at Air Temple Island, mentor and student also share a heart-to-heart. Korra says she's sorry that she let out her frustration on him, and Tenzin says that he's proud that she finally made her first steps in Air-Bending. They both agree that their are no hard feelings.

Oh, by the way, Korra'sofficiallybeenmadepartoftheFireFerretsandshe'llbecompetetinginthetournamentinacoupleofweeks, okay? See you tomorrow!

At yet another training session comprised of her getting hit twenty times by spinning planks of wood, Korra screams in frustration, releasing a fire-ball and burning it to the ground. Tenzin is horrified; that was an ancient artifact. He tells her to stop forcing it, that it just comes- but Korra responds that maybe the reason she's not learning air-bending is that ''he's'' a horrible teacher.

Thankfully, its decreed (after some confusion), that the Avatar will be able to continue playing, as long as she sticks soley to water-bending. Not that it'll be much help. She's a green player, their opponents know it, and they're throwing ''everything'' they can at her.

They loose the first match. In the second match, Korra is pushing off the back and falls into the water. When she comes to the side, she finds herself sheepishly staring up at Tenzin.

* SleevesAreForWimps: Korra can be seen pulling up the sleeves on her ''robe''; Tenzin quickly pulls them back down.

--> '''Jinora''': [[DeadpanSnarker I can make no such promises]].

--> '''Jinora''': [[DeadpanSnarker I shall promise no such thing]].

Tenzin then explains that this is not unusual. His father, Aang, struggled with earthbending, the opposite of his element, air. He then strides off, telling Korra that her airbending training will commence.

Korra climbs onto the roof to hear better. She looks out over at the shining Pro-Bender Arena as the announcer mentions the name of one of the benders in the match [[{{Foreshadowing}} "Mako" and "He's got moxie."]] Korra and the White Lotus members clench their hands in anticipation, rooting for Mako as the announcer mentions that the Fire Ferrets are lining up to strike... Cue the radio going dead.

The next morning, Tenzin and Korra and the children are meditating, but Korra is having a hard go of it. Since she is a restless, energetic person, it's hard for her to do "nothing" for so long.

The second episode of the series LegendOfKorra.

Now officially situated on Air Temple Island, Korra is engrossed in the reports of the newspaper reading about the Pro-Bending matches going on in Republic City. Excited about it, she tries to convince [[TheMentor Tenzin]] that it would be fun to go see one, only for Tenzin to tell her that is not conductive to her airbending training.

The Second episode of the new series: TheLegendOfKorra