History Recap / TheLegendOfKorraS4E9BeyondTheWilds

** Izumi and the Fire Nation's refusal to take part in a preemptive attack on Kuvira. Zuko spent decades rehabilitating his homeland's reputation to ensure the kind of imperialism that Sozin unleashed (and which Azulon and Ozai perpetuated) could never take root again. Getting involved in another global conflict (''especially'' this one given the Fire Nation's annexation of Earth Kingdom territory was one of the catalysts for the Hundred Year War) would render all that moot. That said, Izumi ''does'' recognize the danger and ''will'' reluctantly commit her forces if they're left with no other choice.

* TailorMadePrison: Zaheer's new prison is deep inside a mountain, all the checkpoints need metalbending to open, and he's bound to a giant metal plate by heavy chains which restrict his movement. As usual, he has minimal contact with people. The size of the room he's kept in makes it unlikely that any bending he can perform with his breath or his bound limbs could fling any captors against the walls. As he notes, he learnt how to fly, but is bound to the ground in chains. The prison can't keep him from going into the Spirit World, but that's about it.

* NeverMyFault: Zaheer doesn't show any regret for his BreakTheBadass role in poisoning Korra with mercury, paralyzing her for two years, and traumatizing her. He only claims that she's using him as a crutch to avoid facing her problems, which is technically still true.

** Korra points out to Zaheer that killing Hou-Ting ultimately led to Kuvira taking control of the Earth Kingdom. The anarchists indirectly created a dictatorship.

* WantsAPrizeForBasicDecency: Bolin seems to think that using menial gestures like setting up a picnic for himself and Opal will make up for his working for Kuvira and not listening to her warnings about her, which inadvertently led to her family's kidnapping. Opal is rightfully pissed and corrects him ''very'' quickly.
-->'''Opal''': [[DeadpanSnarker Oh. Steam buns. My favorite.]] This will totally make me forget that you worked for Kuvira, the person who captured my family and is probably torturing them right now. So yeah, let's just sit down and have a great picnic because we're so in love!

* Troll: Zaheer's response to Korra's "I'm Not Afraid Of You" declaration is pure black comedy and trolling.

* PyrrhicVillainy: Korra points this out to Zaheer by explaining that everything he did ultimately only helped undermine the very freedom he sought to obtain by allowing Kuvira to come to power. Judging from the look on his face, Zaheer is indeed hurt by this.

* AbsenteeActor:
** Kuvira and Baatar Jr. are absent from this episode.
** Tonraq, Desna and Eska are all missing from the meeting of the world leaders, though admittedly they have to travel much further than Izumi does.

* RealityEnsues:
** Though Mako and Korra are glad to see him again, and because they're like family, they will always forgive him. Opal is still (quite understandably) pissed at Bolin, and they haven't made up by the end of the episode, though she says helping her rescue her family is a good start.
** Zaheer's ideals of freedom are ultimately nothing more than that: ideals. Sure, it may have stuck for a while, but his actions led to a true tyrant taking the helm.
** Korra's fear is nothing more than just a fear. Zaheer helps her break free of it and get back into the spirit world.

* LiteraryAllusionTitle: The title is possibly a reference to the "Yadang" (Pond in the Wild) poem by Yi Hwang (Toigye), written when he began his philosophical scholarship at 18. The writers being aware of this is more likely given the [[LampshadeTheObscureReference discussion of]] his "Accidie" poem in previous episodes.

* NotSoDifferent: As it turns out, the past three years have taken a toll on both Korra and Zaheer. Korra is so jaded and broken from her failure to save the Earth Kingdom from chaos, not being the Avatar for three years, and because Zaheer traumatized her, and feels so worthless. Zaheer meanwhile, has been so depressed over how everything he had hoped to accomplish for freedom amounted to an even more ruthless tyrant to rise, and he's no longer the ambitious zealot he used to be, just a sad husk of his former self.

* PetTheDog: Zaheer helps Korra to overcome her fear of him and break her spiritual block, allowing her to reconnect with Raava.

* VillainHasAPoint: Zaheer is completely right in everything he says to Korra here:

* ForgivenButNotForgotten: For both Bolin and Varrick. Opal is still pretty mad about Bolin's complicity in Kuvira's actions, however well-meaning, while Varrick is only accepted back because his knowledge of the spirit vine weapon is necessary.

* NeverMyFault: Zaheer doesn't show any regret for his BreakTheBadass role in poisoning Korra with mercury, paralyzing her for two years, and traumatizing her. He only claims that she's using him as a crutch to avoid facing her problems.

* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: Seeing Raiko, the man who was staunchly isolationist two seasons ago, advocating military intervention indicates just how seriously he takes Kuvira.

** Though Mako and Korra are glad to see him again, Opal is still (quite understandably) pissed at Bolin, and they haven't made up by the end of the episode, though she says helping her rescue her family is a good start.

** Though Mako and Korra are glad to see him again, Opal is still (quite understandably) a mad at Bolin, and they haven't made up by the end of the episode, though she says helping her rescue her family is a good start.

* YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre: From Zaheer, of all people. Rather than agree with Korra's sentiment that she's lost a step, he believes her power is far greater than she realizes and her only barrier is her self-doubt.