Reviews WesternAnimation / The Legend Of Korra

Well to be fair to Bolin, lavabending is a more laid-back version of earthbending than metalbending. Literally, in metalbending, you have to find tiny pieces of earth and force them to your will; lot of effort overall, comparing to regular Earthbending. Whereas lavabending is making earth move more like water. And since Bolin is a laid-back kind of guy, it does make sense I think. And the comedy wasn't that bad; I found it pretty funny, because of his 'I do what I do' part, which is his shtick.

Also, don't agree that Book 1+2 were rushed or that they ever lost their footing (or was even 'bad'), but that's just me, and all I wish to say.

As for why not using the Avatar state, she was still technically chained in the first place (and before you say it, her use in the finale was pure adrenaline-survial-power unlocked - so I doubt she could have broken them normally, even in the Avatar state). But that's simply my attempt at an answer to a good Headscratcher question.

I don't see how Book 1 was wasted potential. It simply needed a better finale.

Afro Warrior 27:

Book 1 didn't explore the non-benders and benders conflict enough (but in their defense, there was no possible way that it would work out well....which begs the question....WHY BRING IT UP?!!! It's not even mentioned in the next 2 seasons or even adressed!)

And yes, it did need a better finale.

Don't even get me started on the Book 2 Deus ex Machina ending (Yes, avatar the last airbender had these too but still....)

Omegafire17:

Your lavabending explanation makes sense. I drop my sword. Wish they would SAY it instead of making us figure it out (No I don't want them to spoon feed us....but there are times when not spelling it out for us is a great thing....like this season's finale...or a bad thing...like most of the Headscratchers in this show)

Book 1 finale was rushed...at least to me. I didn't think Book 2 was that rushed but its finale was pretty....weird (but tbh there was no possible way they could have taken on this universe's equivalent of Satan....so I guess it doesn't bother me as much but still...there are ways it could be better executed (Like in Justice League Unlimited))

No, they weren't bad. They just needed more characterization, less love-triangles, and actually using its potential (benders vs nonbenders? Barely addressed in the next 2 seasons. This is a fact not an opinion. Try this: Count how many times they addressed this in the next two seasons and it having meaningful impact....i suspect you won't find many) otherwise they were pretty solid. Especially compared to most of the garbage Nick is currently airing or most cartoons this year.

• shrugs at the Headscratcher question* Your guess is as good as mine....still cool though.

It doesn't need to be addressed over all three seasons; that would lose it's meaningfulness fairly easily because the audience could easily think it was being rehashed. Plus the focus is on Korra and her personal troubles with trying to bring balance to the world, and priorities over doing that the best way would change overtime. The bender-vs-nonbender issue still exists of course, but I think we could see that with the Northern vs Southern civil war, she didn't have time to tackle that - then it just got worse with the approaching Harmonic Convergence threatening Vaatu's release, then the actual release of dangerous anarchist benders.

Either way, I honestly don't see the lack of mention as wasted potential (but again, that's just me). And even if I did think so, that wouldn't be an issue for me

Omegafire:

Northern vs Southern civil war...I really wish that they addressed that more. Not a flaw at all...just a wish....

You are right that the non-bender vs bender conflict would lose its meaningfulness. But I just wish that it had an actual conclusion. Some kind of closure to the conflict.

Eh, despire all of this...I still feel that this is easily the strongest season. I can't wait for season 4.

Oh, but they did grant one of my wishes. They actually did tie in all of the villains motivations in this series. I saw it in an interpretation..I'll try my best but if this interpretation in true then this is brilliance.

Each one of the villains in LOK are all political villains who talk about a not needing the avatar anymore. After getting the poison, this could explain why she is in depression. Korra is contemplating her current uselessness through the words of her past attackers. The icing on the cake comes when Tenzin says that he and the airbenders will make a great world together. The tear that comes out of Korra's eye is due to her feeling even more useless than before.

....so yeah....pretty good ending

Quite likely, her feeling useless... but even if she doesn't, somehow, depression is a very strong after-effect of mercury poisoning (which that was by all accounts but named)

I'm just worried that Vaatu's appearance wasn't merely a hallucination; by all accounts, we know he's growing and reforming inside Raava (and thus Korra), and that he thrives on the sort of chaos and darkness that she was going through that very moment. Rather than just being something she saw, he could have physically reached out himself to say all that...

"(Personal Con) Why didn't Korra just use the Avatar state in the first place? She could clearly use it before. Oh, and don't try to tell me that she had platinum around her, SHE BROKE THROUGH THE PLATINUM THAT WAS BINDING HER ON THE SEASON FINALE!!! Still cool though.....and a nice way to show her struggle to survive."

Because the Avatar State is physically very taxing on the body, and consequently the reason why Aang died young; it's best to avoid using it whenever possible.

"(Personal Con) Bolin Lavabending? Really?!"

Lots of people, including myself predicted it and found it to be a logical power progression for him. After all his failed attempts at metal-bending by having the proper mentality for it, lavabending made far more sense.

"Kai and Mako's relationship is by far the most unexplored relationship in the series. (They had like 3 scenes together...)" "(Personal Con) Most of Red Lotus was one-dimensional from start to finish." "Some dialogue still feels rushed (Some scenes had them talking really fast)"

Those three go hand in hand if you think about it. The creators had enough going on in order to condense everything into such a short season. You complain about lack of villain depth and rushed dialog, yet you wanted more? Sorry, it would have slowed things down further. You can be sure to expect their relationship to develop in Season 4, so the point it moot anyway.

What did you think about Metal Clan/Old Wounds? I thought that it was amazing. Old Wounds is easily the best Legend of Korra episode so far.

Fuzed Box:

Because the Avatar State is physically very taxing on the body, and consequently the reason why Aang died young; it's best to avoid using it whenever possible.

- 0.0 Aang died young? But how is this true when she has clearly used the Avatar State so many times throughout the series (Mostly Seasons 2 and 3) without really caring? She even used it to spiritbend (that's what its called right? Sorry, my memories are kinda fuzzy on what it's called.) some plants? Ummm.....

Lots of people, including myself predicted it and found it to be a logical power progression for him. After all his failed attempts at metal-bending by having the proper mentality for it, lavabending made far more sense.

- Sorry dude. Omegafire17 already beat you at using this logical standpoint.

Those three go hand in hand if you think about it. The creators had enough going on in order to condense everything into such a short season. You complain about lack of villain depth and rushed dialog, yet you wanted more? Sorry, it would have slowed things down further. You can be sure to expect their relationship to develop in Season 4, so the point is moot anyway.

- If you are going to introduce a relationship dynamic, then give us more than 3 scenes. That's all I need to say. I guess I could excuse the one-dimensionality of the Red Lotus since the main focus was on the plot, but I cannot excuse the dialogue. I'm sorry but a cannot excuse some of the most obvious, rushed dialogue I have ever seen. Maybe if they gave themselves more time....

But I still like this season. Leagues better than Seasons 1 and 2 and the finale was actually satisfying.

Strejda:

Hmm..Old Wounds does flesh out Lin but it doesn't really make her a three dimensional character...She's two-dimensional though since it doesn't really link to her decisions...but it does explain why she has a scar and it does give her a backstory. Either way, I still liked the episode. Regardless of whatever flaws I had with it.

I consider my favorite episode of Season 3 to be Original Airbenders. Strange choice...but I said this since, after all, it has the best character in the series *cough* Tenzin *cough* and it expands on his motivations and goals even if it is more lighthearted (with some darker moments) than the other episodes.

It also fleshes out Bumi and Tenzin's sister...(forgot her name dammit....)...sorta...and I just thought it was a fun episode.

But Old Wounds as the best LOK episode........it comes close but I still feel that the best episode was Beginnings Part 1 and 2.

"Old Wounds does flesh out Lin but it doesn't really make her a three dimensional character...She's two-dimensional though since it doesn't really link to her decisions..."

How does it not? It explains why she hates her sister, partly why she became so bitter and shows genuine change in her. And how in the flying hell is she two-dimensional?

I also forgot to mention that I think Beginnings is pretty overrated.

And you are right, Tenzin is the best.

Strejda:

For first comment: I thought she was two dimensional because she had a backstory and didn't really link to her decisions in Seasons 1 and 2. She has changed yes, and she did become bitter but it just didn't really link to her decisions back in those previous seasons. But otherwise, yeah you're right.

For second comment: Beginnings IS overratted as all hell. I've seen enough posts on social media sites about how "Oh Avatar Wan should be the main character instead of Korra" to have be annoyed with most of the fanbase at that time. But I still liked it. It explained a bit of the mythology of how the Avatar came to be, it had a decently relatable character (looking back, Avatar Wan wasn't really a an OMG SO AMAZING character he's just alright (compared to the other characters in this series), he gets the job done for the 2 episodes and he develops decently well throughout the episode), it links to what Korra and Unalaq's real goal is.

I personally thought it was a great episode but yeah Old Wounds and Original Airbenders came REALLY close.

Aang dying young at 66 is true, because of the hundred years he was frozen in the iceberg, via continuous-Avatar state. So long-term, it is taxing, and also the reason Tenzin scolds Korra for using it friviously (when she used it in that race in early Season 2)

Also, personally, as far as 'can't excuse this', I think you should loosen up slightly. Disliking it and moving on is enough really

omegafire17:

0.0 I thought Tenzin scolded Korra because......it made her get exhausted........

Already did but it still has to be mentioned.