Asami fails handshakes.
When the spirit vines start kidnapping tourists, Korra must overcome her doubts to enter the spirit world to save them.
Tropes:
- Affably Evil: Zaheer's back to this, despite scaring Korra just to see through her lie about not being afraid of him. He honestly helps her enter the Spirit World again and gives sage advice that helps her finally reconnect with Raava. Being in prison for the last three years must have left him with a lot of time to mellow out, though being reminded of the fact that he aided in Kuvira's rise to power certainly helped.
- Amazingly Embarrassing Parents: Ryu's mom constantly chatters about how proud she is of her son doing "important airbender work" like giving tours and how he used to live in her basement.
- Aw, Look! They Really Do Love Each Other: While it is never in doubt in Bolin's case, the fact that Opal immediately rushes to respond to Bolin's faked broken leg and later implicitly accepts his offers to rekindle their relationship shows that she really does care about him, in spite of her anger about what has transpired.
- Both Sides Have a Point:
- The world leaders are an even split on how to deal with Kuvira. Raiko and Wu want to take military action against her, with Lin pointing out that Kuvira cannot be trusted even if she gives her word to the contrary. Tenzin and Izumi do not want to be part of an unprovoked attack on a foreign power.
- Tenzin and Korra have differing views on her capability in handling trouble. Tenzin is reluctant to send her out to do much of anything, which is rather understandable given the fact that lives are on the line and Korra hasn't had the best showing lately (and that he sees Korra as like a daughter to him and doesn't want to send her into danger again). Korra argues that she is more capable than Tenzin is giving her credit for, which she proves by the end of the episode.
- Korra and Zaheer's conversation is about their previous encounter. Korra is correct in blaming Zaheer for what happened to her since what he did to her would traumatize anyone, and Zaheer is correct that Korra isn't helping herself recover by just blaming Zaheer for her problems.
- Brick Joke: Back in the Book 3 premiere, Raiko complained that a tree is growing through his office. This episode shows that wasn't hyperbole.
- The Bus Came Back:
- Korra visits Zaheer, whose last actual appearance was in "Venom of the Red Lotus".
- Raava, who had her last speaking appearance in "Light in the Dark", finally speaks directly to Korra again.
- Call-Back:
- Korra believes her failed battle with Kuvira back in "The Battle of Zaofu" is the reason why no one will take her seriously.
- Opal mentions how her entire family was captured in "The Battle of Zaofu".
- Kuvira started harvesting the Banyan Grove Tree at the end of "Reunion".
- Zaheer can still meditate into the Spirit World despite being physically imprisoned, and is also still flaunting his true airbender flight powers by levitating while meditating (albeit constrained by chains).
- Korra uses energybending on the big pod in the spirit world.
- Korra points out to Zaheer that Kuvira's rise to power was a result of the Red Lotus killing the Earth Queen.
- Consulting a Convicted Killer: While not looking to get insight into her foe, Korra winds up trying to get insight into herself from Zaheer.
- Continuity Nod:
- Fire Lord Izumi refuses to offer military aid to Republic City except for border defense, citing needless wars of aggression started by the Fire Lords of old. Given she and her father have had to rebuild the Fire Nation's reputation from World Conquerors to World Defenders, can you really blame her?
- Asami and Raiko make several nods to Varrick's 'alleged' evil plots from Book 2.
- Korra and Zaheer wind up in the same spirit forest that Korra and Jinora arrived at in their first journey to the spirit world in "The Guide".
- Crushing Handshake: Asami turns one on Varrick by means of a Pressure Point squeeze, as pictured for the episode image.
- Disproportionate Restitution: 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: 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!
- Does This Remind You of Anything?: Korra confronts her attacker in prison and tells him, "You ruined me!" Given that her ordeal in "Venom of the Red Lotus" resembled symbolic rape, her choice of words is highly appropriate.
- Dude, Where's My Respect?: Korra is annoyed that no one seems to take her seriously as the Avatar anymore after her loss to Kuvira. She's especially annoyed that they would invite Prince Wu over her.
- Enemy Mine:
- Korra reluctantly accepts help from Zaheer to enter the spirit world, as she can't do it herself and needs to if she's to save those the vines kidnapped. This also works to Zaheer's benefit, since Kuvira's rise to power is partially his fault and he wants her removed just as much as Korra does.
- Asami is convinced to work with Varrick on a way to stop the spirit vine weapon, but not before twisting his arm and saying she'll be watching him very closely.
- Epiphany Therapy: Korra reluctantly accepts Zaheer's offer to help her reenter the spirit world and overcome her block. The problem is that he makes her relive her near-death experience in "Venom of the Red Lotus" and tells her to accept it. After this, she finally enters the spirit world. This is accompanied by reconnecting with Raava, which in her special Avatar case, would certainly help her feel more "whole".
- Even Evil Has Standards: Zaheer states that Kuvira needs to be stopped. Though, considering how their ideologies radically differ, it's more of a Blue-and-Orange Morality/Order Versus Chaos instance, yet after everything Zaheer has been through, there isn't much for him left to fight for.
- Flight: Zaheer can still hover off the ground despite being bound in heavy chains.
- Forgiven, but Not Forgotten: 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, but the President never liked him anyways.
- Gaia's Vengeance: The spirit wilds retaliate against the people of Republic City in response to Kuvira harvesting them. They retaliate against Kuvira's forces, too, but the mechs are a lot better equipped to handle themselves.
- Godzilla Threshold:
- Raiko summons Varrick to work for him, which he admits is completely out of necessity given that whole "alleged" attempted kidnapping and terrorist attack thing a few years back.
- Zaheer believes Korra visiting him is this, as he knows she hasn't visited the Spirit World in the past three years and thus deduces she can't do it. She admits that she has nothing to lose after coming "this far" and accepts his help.
- Hannibal Lecture: Inverted; in this case Zaheer's lecture is rebuilding Korra rather than breaking her down. Despite being a prisoner, Zaheer is in charge of the conversation from the get-go, though Korra does get one good shot in when she points out how his actions led to a worse despot than Hou Ting coming to power.
- I'm Not Afraid of You: Korra tries this on Zaheer upon first confronting him. She believes that seeing him in chains would convince her that he's no longer a threat. He charges her just to prove she's only putting on a brave face to cover her insecurities. It also highlights another deeper facet — following the Red Lotus War, she has been feeling like she is useless, her faith in her own abilities shattered and lots of self doubt over whether she can be useful. She fears being useless, and Zaheer pushes her to face this fear.
- Insistent Terminology: As lampshaded by Asami, Varrick only "allegedly" committed all his past crimes. He skipped town before the trial, so he's still not scot-free.
- Irony:
- Back in Book 2, Raiko was the one not wanting to get involved in a war when Korra wanted his help. Now he's trying to argue for war against a council that refuses to act.
- Korra points out to Zaheer that despite his spiel of "freedom through chaos" in Book 3, him killing the tyrannical Hou-Ting ultimately led to someone far worse in the form of Kuvira, taking control of the Earth Kingdom. The anarchists indirectly created a dictatorship.
- For all the militarism and fighting prowess the Fire Nation displayed in the original show, here it's become pacifistic and unwilling to get involved in any brewing conflicts (unless there's no other choice).
- Literary Allusion Title: 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 discussion of his "Accidie" poem in previous episodes.
- Mundane Utility: The seemingly mundane use of military mecha-suits by Kuvira's forces for logging is subverted when it's revealed that the spirit vines are reacting violently towards the logging, as Korra scrys them while an angry vine grabs one suit only to be tied down by another.
- My God, What Have I Done?: Zaheer realizing his actions allowed Kuvira to rise as a major leader in the Earth Kingdom.
- Never My Fault: Zigzagged. Although he doesn't agree with or deny it being his fault, Zaheer doesn't show any regret for his Break the Badass 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.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: While "hero" is stretching it, since he's a Well-Intentioned Extremist at best, Korra is quite right when she tells Zaheer that for all his desire to bring freedom and destroy established orders, the power vacuum he created by assassinating Queen Hou-Ting directly led to an even worse despot coming to power. Zaheer noticeably becomes uncomfortable when she points this out.
- Non-Malicious Monster: The spirit vines are only attacking because Kuvira has caused them to view humans as a threat.
- Not Helping Your Case:
- Bolin apologizes to Opal for everything he did while part of Kuvira's army, then pauses for a moment to appreciate just how bad it sounds when you say it out loud. He certainly doesn't make things better later on by lying about having his leg broken to have a picnic with her.
- The world leaders, Tenzin especially, rebuke the notion that they have lost faith in Korra's ability to be the Avatar while actively excluding her from involvement in any of the current problems. As Korra notes Prince Wu was present at the meeting, but not the Avatar?!
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business: Seeing Raiko, the man who was staunchly isolationist two seasons ago, advocating military intervention indicates just how seriously he takes Kuvira.
- People Jars: The spirit vines trap those they kidnap in pods while their spirits are held in a larger pod in the spirit world.
- Pet the Dog: Zaheer helps Korra to overcome her fear of him and break her spiritual block, allowing her to reconnect with Raava. He didn't have to, he wanted to, and with no strings attached.
- Pressure Point: Asami grabs Varrick's hand by one to drive home the point that he had better not try to screw her over again.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: Fire Lord Izumi won't commit Fire Nation troops and resources to an unprovoked attack on Kuvira because she does not want to repeat the mistakes of the past. She does, however, offer support in defending the borders.
- She's Back: Korra reconnects with Raava in this episode and finally learns to live with what Zaheer did to her.
- Surprisingly Realistic Outcome:
- 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.
- 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, and when the plan changes to tightening security and defending the borders, she agrees to pledge troops to help with that.
- Swiss-Cheese Security: Bolin and Varrick, dressed in full Earth Empire uniforms, are able to enter Republic City and barge into a meeting of several world leaders with no difficulty. Naturally, the President doesn't appreciate this.
- Tailor-Made Prison: 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 only freedom that the prison can't deny him is his ability to go to the Spirit World.
- Teeth-Clenched Teamwork: Asami and Varrick have to work together to counter Kuvira's spirit vine weapon. He couldn't be happier, but Asami's still holding a grudge and lets him know it. This also counts for Raiko, who doesn't like Varrick but needs his expertise.
- This Is as Far as I Go: Once Zaheer guides Korra into the Spirit Realm, he tells her he only knows how help her enter, but finding Jinora is something Korra can do on her own.
- Too Dumb to Live: It takes a special kind of lemming mentality to announce out loud that you're going to poke a large, threatening thing with a stick.
- Troll: Zaheer's response to Korra's "I'm Not Afraid Of You".
- Villain Has a Point: Zaheer is completely right in everything he says to Korra here, and all the more reason he wants to help her:
- No, you are still afraid of me.
- Your power is not limited; you only think it is.
- Blaming me for your problems will not help you overcome them.
- Refusing to accept what happened to you is holding you back.
- What the Hell, Hero?:
- Korra calls out Tenzin for not having faith in her when he refuses to let her see Zaheer.
- Opal was furious at Bolin for faking his injury even though he tries to make amends with a picnic.
- When Trees Attack: The spirit wilds of Republic City and the Banyan Grove Tree go nuts when Kuvira starts harvesting the latter.
- You Are Better Than You Think You Are: 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.
