History Recap / TheLegendOfKorraS4E11KuvirasGambit

* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: This episode definitely settles that yes, Baatar Jr. genuinely loved Kuvira. The idea of being without her is genuinely the worst thing that he can envision. Kuvira's feelings are bit less clear.

* ProperlyParanoid: With Zhu Li's escape and defection last episode, Kuvira correctly concludes the traitorous scientist knew about the impending invasion of the United Republic. Assuming the operational details have now been compromised, Kuvira contemplates by simply moves up the timetable and launching the invasion immediately (something Korra and company didn't anticipate).

* BookEnds: Just like in Season One, the BigBad has managed to take control of Republic City.

* SpannerInTheWorks: Korra and company didn't anticipate that Kuira knew her invasion's timetable would be compromised by Zhu Li and was able to move it up ahead of schedule. That leaves Republic City with mere hours to fortify their defenses rather than the full week they'd counted on.

* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: In the last episode, Kuvira was planning on attacking Republic City in two weeks. That episode was released two weeks before the finale. In this episode, Kuvira and her army arrive at Republic City a week early.

* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever: The Colossus.

* BoundAndGagged: Baatar Jr. after being kidnapped by Korra and the airbenders.

** Asami and Varrick have put their hummingbird mecha first shown in the previous episode into production. Unless they have more than one factory, though, it looks like Kuvira [[ShaggyDogStory took out the entire line]] when she fired on the factory.

* DarkerAndEdgier: Kuvira is almost explicitly shown to be killing people, like at the outpost. See GoryDiscretionShot.
* DarkestHour: Raiko surrenders Republic City to Kuvira. The main characters are seemingly annihilated by Kuvira's laser.

* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: This episode definitely settles that yes, Baatar Jr. genuinely loved Kuvira. The idea of being without her is genuinely the worst thing that he can envision. Kuvira's feelings are bit less clear, however.

* [[IHaveYourWife I Have Your Fiancé]]: The heroes pull this on Kuvira, trying to get her to back off of Republic City. [[ShootTheHostage It doesn't work]].
* ImpossiblyGracefulGiant: The Colossus sort of lumbers along, but when it fires its weapon, it manages to do so with shocking speed, fluidity, and precision. Justified in that functions like walking and reloading the cannon are done automatically, whereas any movements done when firing are controlled by Kuvira's metalbending.
* JerkWithAHeartOfJerk: Varrick, once again, hears Zhu Li's heartfelt speech and after a second of seeming like he's about to open up, continues acting like, well, Varrick.

** When Team Avatar sees the Mecha for the first time.
** When they realize the arm cannon is pointing right at them. It slowly dawns on them what's about to happen... except for Bolin, who has seen this before and is already in full freak-out mode.

* NoEndorHolocaust: Averted. Knowing there is going to be a lot of fighting, Republic City is evacuated, so no one has to worry about innocents getting hurt or killed during that battle.
* NotSoStoic: Kuvira has a rare moment of affection with Baatar Jr. early in the episode. Later on, she can't bear to look when she decides to open fire on Asami's warehouse, knowing it may very well do in her future husband. More generally, she's abandoned any pretense of being benevolent now that she has her superweapon. Her deep breath suggest that she's holding back her reservations about this decision.

* RousingSpeech: Wu gives one to urge the citizens to evacuate.

* ShootTheHostage: Kuvira's titular gambit. After a brief hesitation, she shoots the location where both Korra and her fiancé are, sacrificing him in exchange for taking out the greatest threat in Republic City.
* StoryBreakerPower: The Colossus. Team Avatar simply runs as soon as they see it and barely survive. President Raiko immediately surrenders when it arrives.
* TakeAThirdOption: Kuvira's ShootTheHostage moment. She had a choice between losing Baatar Jr. or keeping him and losing Republic City. Instead she decided to take him out herself and catch the Avatar at the same time.

* WeHaveWaysOfMakingYouTalk: Korra tries pulling this on Baatar Jr. once he's captured, threatening him with use of the Avatar State should he fail to comply. Unfortunately, Baatar Jr. calls her bluff. The second time she does this, she [[FateWorseThanDeath threatens to keep him away from Kuvira for all eternity should Kuvira take Republic City]]. Baatar Jr. is visibly distressed at this, and caves.

* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: Kuvira simply loved ruling the empire more than her fiancé. When he was captured as a bargaining chip, she fired on Team Avatar's location, despite knowing that Baatar Jr. would be caught in the crossfire.

** When they realize the arm cannon is pointing right at them.

* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: Kuvira simply loved ruling the empire more than her fiance when he was captured as a bargaining chip. She fired on Team Avatar's location, despite knowing that Baatar Jr. will be caught in the crossfire.

* StoryBreakerPower: The Colossus. Team Avatar simply runs as soon as they see it and barely survive. President Reiko immediately surrenders when it arrives.

* NoEndorHolocost: Averted. Knowing there is going to be a lot of fighting, Republic City is evacuated, so no one has to worry about innocents getting hurt or killed during that battle.

* TheBusCameBack:
** Kai, last seen [[Recap/TheLegendOfKorraS4E1AfterAllTheseYears ten episodes ago]], finally returns to help with the defense of Republic City.
** General Iroh, last seen [[Recap/TheLegendOfKorraS2E14LightInTheDark in the second season finale]].
** Ditto [[Recap/TheLegendOfKorraS1E7TheAftermath Tahno]], [[Recap/TheLegendOfKorraS4E1AfterAllTheseYears Gommu]], and others: see below.

* MassOhCrap: When Team Avatar sees the Mecha for the first time.
** Again when they realize the arm cannon is pointing right at them.

* ShootTheHostage: Kuvira's titular gambit. After a brief hesitation, she shoots the location where both Korra and her fiancé are, sacrificing him in exchange for taking out the greatest threat: in Republic City.

* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: Kuvira's army arrives at Republic City a week early. A week before the finale.

* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: Kuvira's army arrives at Republic City a week early. A week before the finale.

* UnspokenPlanGuarantee: Actually subverted: the raid on Baatar's airship goes off without a hitch, exactly as planned on-camera. The airship crew don't even know Bataar's missing until he's a no-show at the meeting with Raiko.