The Legend of Korra

Suyin don't fuck around, you attack she's gonna end you, no questions asked. She might be more dangerous than Lin.

And yea, Zhu Li was the highlight of the episode and she may or may not be playing Kuvira, I mean she's not technically not wrong about Varrick.

Speaking, and so Varrick's heart grew three sizes that day.

EDIT: This is only the fifth episode too, we're less than half way through the season.

edited 31st Oct '14 8:42:37 AM by BlackYakuzu94

I'm becoming more convinced that Kuvira is a Disc-One Final Boss and whatever Varrick is doing will create the final threat Korra has to stop.

Why?

I really hope Hiroshi is being sincere. Also the theme of forgiveness this season, will be only Hiroshi and Asami or will be others? I was thinking about Toph and her daughters and/or Batar Jr and his family and Bolin and Mako but how many chances there are of Kuvira being redeemed, with her being Korra's foil and all?

I'm going to be honest, watching the episode fully now, I don't care for Suyin's Isolationist attitude. Not defending Kuvira since the other shoe has obviously dropped but having a "the world should become as progressive as I am, but it's not my duty to fix it" isn't a helpful mindset.

Was anyone else thinking that Zhu Li was so skilled with the mecha was because Varrick had her be the test pilot?

I agree. Su should have at least helped when Tenzin and Raiko asked her to. No need to install herself as supreme ruler, but at least do something.

Having the main villain redeem herself doesn't really strike me as this show's style. Still, I can sort of see it happening, because I can kind of see Toph's "you can learn things from your enemies even though they take them too far" speech as a set-up for something like that. I wouldn't bet on it, though.

edited 31st Oct '14 9:02:05 AM by DrDougsh

And this season is all about Balance and all.

Well, the theme of the season is Balance, so...

Obviously, neither extreme is right. Korra's ultimate job is to find the balance between Su and Kuvira, hence all the running back and forth she's doing.

EDIT: And 'd.

edited 31st Oct '14 9:04:40 AM by Renewal

LSBK: I'm not saying Kuvira will die next episode but I think whatever Varrick is doing will be far more catastrophic. The only scenes in the trailer that we don't have context for yet seem to involve Team Avatar fighting the crew of a train in Republic City. My guess is Kuvira makes some kind of spirit bomb thing that will react with all the other vines in Republic City and destroy it. Given how the next episode probably contains most of the fight scenes with Kuvira and Korra I wouldn't be surprised if episode 8ish had a Shocking Swerve. Hell, maybe Vaatu will come back somehow. The vines evidently contain his energy.

I don't think we were supposed to believe Su was right in not helping, Kuvira was obviously able to stablize Ba Sing Se without making things worse (at that point), Kuvira was right about doing something, Su was just right in that the kind of approach Kuvira was going for would only turn her into a tyrant.

edited 31st Oct '14 9:09:10 AM by LSBK

Was I the only person here who got Sozin vibes when Kuvira was talking about brining Zaofu's prosperity to the rest of the world?

No I got that too. Pretty sure it's deliberate.

Also, nice touch for the writers having Kuvira literally going all Darth Vader on Varric. As if the Star Wars allusions couldn't get any clearer.

edited 31st Oct '14 9:38:50 AM by Lionheart0

You know, though we all knew Kuvira was going to go all evil on us, I kind of wish they didn't do it so...suddenly. Yeah, the signs were there, but it's like all most ever scene she had in this episode she was threatening someone or generally acting like bitch.

edited 31st Oct '14 9:42:24 AM by LSBK

It's kinda like they don't want to make the antagonist literally hitler so they're going for star wars which is only hitler lite.

I didn't see that big a difference in behaviour with her.

Probably because it's the first time she's really had to face the fact that she can't get her way simply through clever words and looking very intimidating.

I'm pretty sure she's been like that all along, it's just now that her true colors are forced to come to light.

It's during the worst of times that you really get to know what someone's like.

edited 31st Oct '14 9:45:23 AM by TheSpaceJawa

Something to keep in mind is although Nazi's tend to be the go-to reference for fascism, I think Kuvira is meant to encompass all forms. "Reeducation Camps" were heavily used by China and Vietnam.

Watching Book Four Episode Five: Enemy at the Gates. Ominous.

• I really love the Earth Empire battleships. Look like giant floating metal whales.
• CGI's kinda awkward on the mech-suits.
• Trailer shot number one!
• God, even his voice is annoying. Bataar Jr. is such a tool.
• Damn Meelo, don't jinx it. We already know Korra's gonna lose today one way or another.
• Or not. Hey, character development!
• Ooooh, mad scientist stuff! Zhu Li's way stronger than Varrick, looks like.
• Oh. Yeah, either that's a new unit of measure (wouldn't put it past him) or it really is heavy. Everyone in this 'verse has super strength though, so no worries.
• God I love Varrick.
• Yeah, new units of measurement.
• Hey, that's a Vaatu laser beam! Complete with sound effect! Man, these spirit thing pack a punch. New WMD?
• Trailer shot two! And cute slash insensitive Zhu Li/Varrick moment.
• Varrick is being the responsible one over Kuvira? Okay, point for him.
• Kuvira, when you literally say "don't listen to your conscience, listen to me", you don't sound too good.
• Real dick move, Kuvira. Nice Vader neck lift, though. Maybe wearing a metal collar constantly around a megalomaniac metalbender isn't the best idea.
• Wow. Prison's done a number on Hiroshi. He's barely recognizable.
• Didn't expect this feels bomb. He sounds truly regretful.
• Goddamn, I want to punch and hug Bolin. Is that normal?
• The train tuns up to Zaofu? Sounds pretty inconvenient for the bulwark city.
• Hey, Huan changed hairstyles! Now he has emo bangs and dyed green fringe.
• Hahaha, goddammit Bolin.
• Okay, now he's refusing to hear what clashes with his established views. I'm pretty sure there's a name for that.
• Aaaaaand the other shoe's dropped. Good job, everyone.
• OOOOKAY COME ON. I hope this quells those who say Kuvira ain't that bad.
• If he has half a brain, which I question, he'll bolt as soon as Kuvira's back is turned.
• Aw, Kuvira looks almost innocent in that flashback.
• Okay, so she's evil now, but damn if she didn't have a point at least in the beginning. It's hard to take Suyin's side here. In the flashback, I mean.
• Yyyyeah, she isn't exactly a voice of reason right now either.
• No it didn't. Remember all those times fighting solved everything? It was fun.
• Aw, poor Asami. It looks like they're just throwing her a bone here, so to speak, given she has little relevance to the rest of the episode. Oh, idea: Hiroshi will ally with the good guys and provide the counter to Kuvira's technology.
• Man, I love the bromance between Varrick and Bolin.
• Korra's doing good. Love that character development. And dollars to doughnuts Kuvira's gonna break her truce.
• EAT A RUSTY COCK, BATAAR JR.
• Wow, those mech-suits are really cool.
• ROCK 'EM SOCK 'EM, MOTHERFUCKERS.
• Trailer shot!
• Jesus, Bataar (Jr) is hitting to kill.
• Zhu Li is kicking ass and Varrick is about to fuck it up.
• Bolin's gotten a lot stronger.
• LAVABENDING. He really got the hang of it. Oh, trailer shot four.
• Don't be a dick, Varrick. Also, seriously fuck that guy.
• Dawwwwww. Way to be the bigger woman, Asami.
• The Dog Bites Back. What a shame, Zhu Li.
• And the catchphrase comes back. Gotta say, I did not see that coming.
• Goddammit, Suyin. Now they'll give Kuvira all the justification she needs.
  
  And that's a wrap. Shit hits the fan something fierce. We're almost out of trailer shots, so we're venturing out into the unknown. And I never expected Zhu Li to be this relevant. Great episode.

I can't believe I was right about the spirit laser.

And Zhu li's betrayal was perfect. I particularly loved how she did the thing. I don't think she's faking though because she did seem pretty mad at Varrick, but in the end I hope she makes it out okay.

I think Zhu Li is serious, but I get the feeling that this will all end with Varrick apologizing and her returning to his employ.

They changed her behavior to make her seem more evil. She specifically said that they couldn't just conquer it becauase the world is on, and after negotiating for about two minutes decides that the next day they're going to take them by force.

It was inconsistant just for the sake of making her look more evil.

I thought the take over by force of Zhaofu made sense. She didn't want to just show up and surprise attack them because that would look bad, but by at least "negotiating" with Su Yin she could spin a story about how Su was being unreasonable or somesuch.

So that was an episode. Hiroshi has aged a lot in three-four years. I guess prison'll do that to you. I wonder if he's been set up as a counter to the spirit vine thing. It seems odd that they're doing this now. Or maybe they want to tie up everyone's character arcs as this is the last season.

And I'm going to guess Su and her kids aren't going to succeed in stopping Kuvira. Or maybe that'll be the mid-season twist and someone like Bataar Jr. will run things. Speaking of him, why are parent issues the go-to thing for most villains? At least Zaheer didn't have that and Kuvira mostly doesn't have it.