History Recap / TheLegendOfKorraS1E2ALeafInTheWind

* OffscreenTeleportation: Special points to Tenzin for ''somehow'' making it from Air Temple Island to the Pro Bending Ring in the 30 ''seconds'' between the match resuming and Korra getting knocked into the pool below. No time skip there - if you've observed that one round in a Pro Bending match lasts for just 3 minutes and most of that was spent between the two arguing, you'll see that it ''was'' done in real time. This ''might'' be excused by Korra's revelation as the Avatar forcing some debate by the judges offscreen. Tenzin could have flown there on his bison if given 10 minutes or so.

* ContinuityNod: When Korra tells Toza she got lost looking for the bathroom, he scoffs at the old [[Recap/AvatarTheLastAirbenderTheBoyInTheIceberg "I have to pee"]] excuse.

* NotBad: Quotes this when Korra follows Bolin's pro-bending advice successfully. He was sincere, but his lack of [[TheStoic exuberance]] and the neutral sound of the compliment had Korra think she was being DamnedByFaintPraise. He's more charitable later, when she helps his team win.

** DiscontinuityNod: The airbending-training device with the spinning panels doesn't appear in ''AvatarTheLastAirbender'', but it did appear in the (poorly received) film ''TheLastAirbender'', which has an AlternateContinuity.

!!Tropes:

* ChekhovsSkill: The spiral dodging movements and footwork Jinora demonstrates and Korra struggles to master.

* LittleMissSnarker: See the BrattyTeenageDaughter exchange.

* NotSoAboveItAll / 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.

* BigBeautifulMan: Bolin.

* TheCharmer: It seems that Bolin brings fangirls to basically every match.

* ColourCodedForYourConvenience: Pro-bending teams identify which element each team member bends with by their color-coded belts and helmets.

* FanGirl: Apparently, Bolin has a ''tonne'' of them.

* FoolishSiblingResponsibleSibling: Mako and Bolin have shades of this. Mako is a tightly controlled young man focused on winning the pro-bending prize money to keep himself and his little brother from going back on the streets, while Bolin is more of an easygoing type with a sense of humor and [[TheCharmer a way with the ladies.]]

* InstantWinCondition: In pro-bending, regardless of how the rounds end, if the entire team falls off in a single round they lose the whole match.
* LittleMissSnarker: Jinora. See the BrattyTeenageDaughter exchange.

* SiblingYinYang: Mako and Bolin.

* UnstableEquilibrium: The Pro Bending ring is designed intentionally with this, as per Brian's [[http://korranation.tumblr.com/post/19586633139/bryan-konietzko-creator-of-a-tla-and-the-legend explanation of the mechanics of the game.]]

* BrattyTeenageDaughter: Tenzin asks his children not to become this.

* ExactWords: Tenzin tells Korra she cannot watch a pro-bending match. When he catches her enjoying one on the radio, she points out that he never said she cannot ''listen'' to one.

* FourthWallPsych: Tenzin looks directly at the camera when he says "[[AnAesop You must promise me that your teenage years won't be like this!]]" (He's actually talking to his kids.)

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 [[TitleDrop a leaf in the wind]]. Korra uses this moment to, in an aside, note how she decided to join the Fire Ferrets full time. She runs off, leaving Tenzin exasperated.

** Korra escapes Air Temple Island by jumping off a cliff and bending a funnel of water ''up'' to catch her--should that not be even worse than just jumping into the water?

* SoftWater: The pro-bending ring is far enough above the water below that you'd expect injuries, at least from the non-Waterbenders, but this trope is in full effect.

* ChekhovsGuns:
** ChekhovsNews: Korra hears of up-and-coming pro-bending team the Fire Ferrets and star player Mako via a live radio broadcast.
** ChekhovsSkill: The spiral dodging movements and footwork Jinora demonstrates and Korra struggles to master.

* ChekhovsGun: Korra learning how important spiral movements are to the technique of airbending.

* FingerTwiddling: Bolin does this in reaction to Korra's poor performance at the same time his brother {{Facepalm}}s.

* FunnyBackgroundEvent[=/=]MeaningfulBackgroundEvent: Bolin is 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.

And so Tenzin and Korra begin their airbending training. Korra [[{{Understatement}} does horribly]]. Korra accuses Tenzin of being a bad teacher in a fit of anger. Korra then sneaks out to watch the pro-benders.

** Might be a running gag between the brothers. After Korra reveals that she can bend earth, water, ''and'' air, Mako reacts in silent amazement before saying, "You're the Avatar, and I'm an idiot."

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 she decided to join the Fire Ferrets full time. She runs off, leaving Tenzin exasperated.

* CallingYourAttacks: In "A Leaf in the Wind," Korra tries with no success:

* ChekhovsGun: Korra learning how important spiral movements are to the technique of airbending. Also the mention of Mako by the radio announcer.
* ChekhovsNews: In "A Leaf in the Wind," Korra hears of up-and-coming pro-bending team the Fire Ferrets and star player Mako via a live radio broadcast.
* ChekhovsSkill: In "A Leaf in the Wind" the spiral dodging movements and footwork Jinora demonstrates and Korra struggles to master.

* ContinuityNod: When Korra tells Toza she got lost looking for the bathroom, he scoffs at the old [[{{Recap/AvatarTheLastAirbenderTheBoyInTheIceberg}} "I have to pee"]] excuse.

--> '''Tenzin:''' That was a 2000 year old historical treasure! What is wrong with you?