The Legend of Korra

Well, i just finished watching the episode (it wasn't easy to get to, let me tell you) and frankly, so far, the only part i didn't like was when Mako brought up the reunion he and Korra had before the battle with Unalaq (I might have been able to deal with that if they hadn't shown that scene where everyone was staring, that was always a scene that never left my mind and drove me insane).

Okay, the only reason why I'll remember this clip show was the phone call scene.

Oh boy. I just read someone's impressions of this episode and it sounds awful.

Meh, if you consider they did it to not have to fire staff members then it's good enough. I'm sure the rest of the season will be much better.

Out of the three recaps, Varrick's was the best.

Were they under obligation to make thirteen episodes this season? With the budget cut, it seems to me that it would have been simpler to just make twelve episodes like in the first season. Or would that also have required laying someone off?

jeez, first 10 minutes are about Mako's failed relationships.

Hey, I'm just saying, immediately preceding the final climactic confrontation that the entire series has been building towards probably isn't a good time to pull a massive tonal shift like that out of nowhere.

As filler goes, it could have been a lot worse, but the timing of it was kind of baffling.

edited 21st Nov '14 4:51:33 AM by Gault

Are you talking about "Ember Island Players" or "Remembrances"?

It's not an uncommon practice. There's a trope for it and everything.

Eh, "Remembrances" was fun. Worse comes to worst, it can be cleanly dropped without breaking the flow of the season. It's the best kind of filler, in that it's enjoyable without disturbing the plot. If I had to choose between this and a 12-episode season, then it's fine.

Actually, the joke is that Toph was originally going to be a man. That design is the intro earthbender and got reused as Roku's earthbending teacher (briefly seen in The Avatar and the Fire Lord).

I think she had just finally realized how the Fire Nation saw her.

A monstrous wrecking ball who is absolutely terrifying and uproariously loud.

And, aside from being a dude who echolocates, it was remarkably accurate to her character.

Man, if they'd kept that proto-Toph, all of the benders in the opening sequence would've made an appearance in the series. It would've been a neat bit of foreshadowing. Well, it still mostly is, but the earthbender sticks out for being unseen...

edited 21st Nov '14 5:48:35 AM by Renewal

I know that, but that doesn't explain it in-universe. Within the context of the play, it's not even very clear to if the character is meant to be a Cross-Cast Role like Aang, or if the writers actually changed Toph to a man. It comes off as a tad random, and it muddles the joke a bit.

Also, for a character concept that never really got used, Bryke really must have been fond of Male!Toph. They've snuck it into the show with that opening earthbender, the Boulder, Sud the earthbending teacher, Player!Toph and then, according to the Wiki, with Bolin. Not bad for a character that never existed.

edited 21st Nov '14 5:54:49 AM by DrDougsh

I haven't watched Remembrances yet. About to though.

edited 21st Nov '14 6:18:48 AM by Gault

Jeez, that phone call was just like "Marik's Evil Council".

Thank Varrick from bringing some actual entertainment this episode.

If I was on Tumblr and could reblog, I would.

http://dylanftsw.tumblr.com/post/103176033384/opinion-an-indictment-of-nickelodeon

Fortunately, Korra's part in 'Remembrances' was the shortest and they used most of the episode for the entertaining recaps of Mako's and Bolin's lifes in Lo K.

Seems like I can skip "Remembrances". Nothing in there I care to watch, even for filler.

Thanks for reminding me why I don't like Mako or season 2, writers.

edited 21st Nov '14 7:06:06 AM by Mullon

Gonna watch B 4 E 8, Remembrances. Heard about the budget thing. What a shame.

• Man, even Shiro says this is a recap episode. Whatever, I missed that guy.
• Wu-ss.
• Pack. Of cops. In the woods. God bless.
• Ooh, flashbacks start!
• This is some good character talk, no joke.
• "When you got charm like mine, you don't need introductions". DORK.
• Ouch, flashbacks to the meatgrinder Book One was for Mako in the fandom.
• "You know, it was really unclear". BRYKE YOU TROLLS.
• Oh God, I'm cringing.
• Well, this is probably ship sunk. GG everybody.
• And that concludes Mako's relationship woes. Wonder what's next.
• Korra's pains now. She did go through a lot of shit.
• Tenzin being a bro like usual.
• Baraz! Man I love Wako.
• Varrick is a genius.
• "They're all the same man!" I hadn't laughed out loud at this show in ages.
• Best part of the episode.
• Oh no. They're not doing this.
• "The biggest scariest meanest kite that ever flew". I'm in love.
• OH MY GOD. I'm in tears.
• Yeah, screw the naysayers, this moment makes the whole episode worth it.
• THAT'S BOLIN'S FACE ON SPIRIT KORRA WHAT THE FUCK.
• Man, these refugees have really bad taste.
• And that's that. Shame Bryke got so fucked over by Nick, but they did their best with what they had.

The Varrick section was glorious, I wish the whole episode had been like that.

Though this just reminds me that, yet again, that I think from a developmental perspective Asami isn't really considered a "lead" the same way Korra, Mako and Bolin are. She seems to be treated as a second tier character - like Lin or Tenzin. Still important, just lower priority.

The fact that the 3 parts of this recap were basically divided into Mako, Korra and Bolin's stories (though Varrick kinda hijacked Bolin's) highlighted that they all get significant arcs each season, even if people don't like their particular season arc. While the secondary characters get subplots that are worked around the main arc, but are shifted into the background when the leads need focus.

Just saw it. Considering their situation I don't think it was too bad actually. Varrick made everything funny and the chibi heads were kinda cute.