The Legend of Korra

http://neodusk.deviantart.com/art/How-Did-Book-3-CHANGE-Korra-A-Thought-Comic-490945987

They're total bros.

Indeed, to me Tokka is just those two characters that already are the best in the show, becoming even more awesome when with each other, it does not imply shipping (although Sokka could have been Su Yin's father). And Sokka is actually the one that seems to bring some character development in Toph - something the great Zuko did not manage, remember.

And this picture.◊ That is all.

edited 30th Oct '14 9:06:06 AM by Julep

I'm not sure I agree with that comic. Its main point seems to be that Korra unlike Aang is an aggressive character thrust into an aggressive situation and thus has less internal conflict. That's is true to an extent, but Korra gets thrown into situations where the direct, hotheaded approach doesn't work a lot in the first two seasons, forcing her to try something more subtle. In fact, in early season two, which generally has Korra at her most controversial, starts off with her trying to reconcile her tribes to avoid a civil war. A lot of her detractors criticised her for not just punching out Unalaq.

I have no idea why people think bolin is stupid, he can clearly see the future. Or has early◊ access◊ to the script.

A little more seriously this time, after looking up his character and noting the part where he makes jokes to deal with what scares him, is there an actual correlation in terms of timing?

edited 30th Oct '14 9:25:35 AM by lgcruz

To be fair, at that point, no one knew whether or not (by that, I mean those within the narrative; viewers sorta knew he's Tarrlok 2.0) Unalaq's really the bad guy. She WAS on his side until thuggish theatrics caused her to reveal the truth about him; really, the end result that propelled both unveiling such truth and the so-called 'civil war' was obliging her aggressiveness.

I agree, I'm just saying that people still got on Korra's case for her (entirely reasonable) behaviour there, despite it being an example of her at least trying to solve a conflict peacefully. That's quite contrary to what that comic says was people's problem with Korra. Granted, Korra did get on my nerves during that arc, but not because of siding with Unalaq.

On that note, am I the only person who feels that fans exaggerated the extent to which Unalaq is "Tarrlok 2.0"? They look pretty similar, but in terms of personality I never saw Unalaq as that close to Tarrlok — Tarrlok was always suave, confident and a people's person, whereas Unalaq's default mode for most of his introductory episodes was being a prudish, condescending stick-in-the-mud.

Accentuate the Negative.

• Became a mentor figure to Korra.
• Turned against her/used politics against her.
• Mocked her status/growth as the Avatar.
• Waterbender.
• Disagreed with Tenzin.
• Frequently smug.
• Similar facial shape.
• Unique waterbending ability: Bloodbending/spiritbending.
• Imposed some form of militaristic authority over Korra.
• Lied to her.
• Tarrlok was a "people person". Unalaq had the Northern Water Tribe on his side, so evidently he was pretty popular.
• Immediately suspicious upon introduction.
• Had some tragic backstory from childhood, except in Unalaq's case it was more him being a dick.
• Tarrlok/Noataq - Unalaq/Korra's dad.
• Their names are also similar: Una"lock", Tar"lock".

edited 30th Oct '14 11:01:24 AM by FOFD

Yeah. I saw more complaints about them both being waterbenders meaning they were being repetitive. Unalaq, Amon, and Tarrlok were all very different antagonists, whose backgrounds demanded that they be Water Tribe and benders secondarily.

I never got the complaining about that as if ever season villian has to follow the avatar cycle unless they're being "repetitive".

edited 30th Oct '14 11:00:02 AM by LSBK

Assuming that was addressed to me, I was just listing similarities between the two.

edited 30th Oct '14 11:01:38 AM by FOFD

I don't think Tarrlok was ever a mentor to Korra as much as he was just an ally of convenience. I didn't get the impression that he ever got Korra to particularly like or trust him, just that he guilt-tripped her into briefly helping out the only active faction fighting Amon.

Unalaq's title as chief was hereditary, so I don't think that says anything about people liking him. Really, I think that's the crux of why I don't find the two all that similar — Tarrlok was very much a modern corrupt politician type with everything that goes with that, whereas Unalaq's persona was based around being an old-fashioned, regal traditionalist.

I still think Unalaq was a rather poorly written character, but I don't think the problem was being too similar to Tarrlok.

Tarrlok's more like a small-scale Kuvira than Unalaq actually.

Eh. Tarrlok's a slimy underhanded bureaucrat who charms his way through the establishment. Kuvira is pretty much upfront and doesn't care much for the establishment... or charm. Definitely not one for charm.

edited 30th Oct '14 6:24:36 PM by oppyu

actually Kuriva seen more like Zaheer, at least in personality, since Kuvira like Zaheer is always serious and quiet and they are blunt with their tactis,

Also the comic have a point, Korra is agresive and more chaotic but unlike Anag her personality have clash way more often that Anag(she argues with tenzin,li,mako,tarlok,etc)

Kuvira seems like Kuvira to me.

Seriously though, I'd say she feels like her own entity as a whole, though she does share the group dynamic/having a love interest in common with Zaheer. Still, she is her own ideological stance as a whole and the core thing I'd say she has the same with the other villains is that she's an individual with a decent cause that lacks inner balance to deal with her flaws.

At any rate, Kuvira is too straightforward and blunt about what she wants. Tarrlok is the type to manipulate things and work within that exclusively. For Kuvira, it seems to be more just a means to an end since she's smart enough to know she has to be patient & strike at the right moment from the right angles.

Tarrlok could strike at angles, and both detest a lack of order. The take-over of the Earth Kingdom is surprisingly quite close to how Tarrlok ended up taking over the Metalbending Police.

The episode is up on itunes now.

Hmm... good point, though he doesn't seem as forceful or aggressive about things. More he seems way more sly than Kuvira is. Or more in a different way. It really is similar to the different sides they are as benders to me. Tarrlock definitely shows how a corrupt waterbender will be in flexible manipulation while Kuvira hits me as far more blunt when she can be. That said, I am forced to acknowledge her Pragmatic Villainy, so that does throw a massive dent into my argument.

They're both underhanded, but you can still see their various bendings in their approaches. Tarrlok is deceitful and manipulative, Kuvira is blunt and forceful. Compare/Contrast Tarrlok setting Korra up with that journalist ambush to get her to join his taskforce with Kuvira standing on a podium and straight up telling everyone that she's taken control of the Earth Empire and they can either join her or get out of her way.

edited 31st Oct '14 12:51:38 AM by oppyu

That sums it up there pretty much there. The only stumbling point I hit when arguing it is from the preview where it shows that Kuvira is willing to consider other options by utilizing Bolin. That and fact that Tarrlok was willing to use force with regards to the crackdown. That said, he was more responsive than anything else with force while Kuvira is opportunistic.

More it's the key fact that Kuvira, while blunt and forceful, is not a dumb muscle with her force & clearly knows when to apply force and when not to. She's tactical with it.

...Huh. On an aside, I wonder if Kuvira believes Might Makes Right or not.

Just watched the new episode. Thoughts:

- So Varrick actually has a conscience. Huh. I guess they kind of did need to take that route, since no one really wants to see Varrick get killed, or imprisoned, and I guess having a superweapon manufacturer get off scot-free at the end of the series would put a bad taste in viewers' mouth. Also, Ship Tease between Varrick and Zhu Li! Somewhat dampened at the and of the episode, though I have to take a wild guess that Zhu Li is bluffing about betraying Varrick.

- I think the series really needs to Show, Don't Tell the things Kuvira is doing to her occupied territory. I'm already not that fond of her with the things we've seen her do, but every time the characters debate whether what she's doing is good, they always bring up things like forced labour or prison camps, stuff that's happened entirely off-screen. I guess we'll probably see it soon, what with Bolin being sent there and all.

- And we finally see Hiroshi again. I wonder if his role in this season is just going to be contained with his prison scenes, or if he's actually going to have a larger role here.

edited 31st Oct '14 2:28:22 AM by DrDougsh

I noticed that the released spirit vine energy was purple and made the same sound as Vaatu's energy blast. If Kuvira unleashes that on the world... Might it turn spirits dark? With all those spirit already in ther physical world, that might create a MASSIVE problem. And Korra's being smart, taking the diplomatic route. "Smashing often didn't work before, so let's try talking first." I agree Korra, I agree.

And if people argued that Kuvira "can't be the real villain" then I believe this episode should prove them wrong. First she threatened Varrick and would have killed him, and now she's sending Bolin to a prison camp. Really, she's been threatening people the entire episode. And Zhu Li isn't gonna turn her back on Varrick like that. It was probably her trying to deceive Kuvira, and I think she's gonna free him later. I mean, he DID name his warship after her. That's kind of a big "thank you" note.

edited 31st Oct '14 4:12:50 AM by Continent

-quietly discards 'Vote President Kuvira' cards-

-prints 'Vote Olivier Armstrong' cards-

edited 31st Oct '14 2:57:22 AM by oppyu

I wonder if they could set up Hiroshi as helping invent a counter to Varrick's super weapon.

That seems the obvious way to go. And it'd explain why they are starting to have Hiroshi and Asami on better terms now - so they have a Boxed Crook genius inventor who's willing to help at hand when they need it.

Though I appreciate they actually bothered giving Asami some kind of character development since Book 1. It only took, what, 2 more seasons?

As for the rest, I appreciate the Su and Kuvira flashback for providing context, and I like seeing Korra try the peaceful solution before what I am sure will be the showdown next episode. Also go go Zhu Li! She rocked that mech. I think she's probably planning on being a mole against Kuvira - she saw Kuvira pull a Vader on Varrick, and knows she's not really any better than Varrick as a boss (Plus the UST moment with Varrick earlier)- but she's raised enough valid points to sell her stance. Also, "Guards, do the thing!"