The Metal City, Zaofu.
Korra's search for new airbenders leads her and her friends to the metal city of Zaofu, a metalbender-focused community founded and run by Suyin Beifong, Lin's previously unknown half-sister. The two siblings haven't spoken for years, and their reunion is very much a hostile one, with Lin throwing jabs at Suyin throughout dinner. Discussing the matter with Korra later, Suyin explains that Toph, not wanting to be like her own controlling and overprotective parents, gave her two daughters all the freedom they could want, but this caused them to fight for their mother's attention, with Lin becoming a cop, and Suyin being more of a rebel before leaving to travel the world.
Back in Republic City, Zaheer infiltrates the new airbenders on Air Temple Island to try and find Korra, but is found out and forced to flee. Before this happens though, he obtains an old amulet with an inscribed poem written by Guru Laghima, who he describes as the wisest airbender to have ever lived. The poem goes: "Let go your earthly tether. Enter the void. Empty and become wind."
Tropes:
- Absurdly Cool City: An entire city (founded by metalbenders) devoted single-mindedly to innovation, freedom of expression and meritocracy.
- Awesome by Analysis: Kya figures out quickly that the new airbender is actually Zaheer due to his immense skill and knowledge of Air Nomad culture that he shouldn't realistically have if he was an ordinary person.
- Bald of Evil: Zaheer shaves his head in order to infiltrate the airbenders in Republic City in an attempt to discover where Korra is.
- Be Yourself: When Bolin decides to form a relationship with Opal, he tries to act suave around her, immediately putting her off. When he admits he overdid it because he likes her, she says he should just be himself.
- Big, Screwed-Up Family: Most of Suyin's kids seem relatively normal (save the angsty artist), but Lin and her sister don't get along very well, with Lin shooting down Suyin's reconciliation attempts.
- The Bus Came Back: Varrick and Zhu Li return.
- Chekhov's Gunman:
- One of the dancers practicing for the recital is Kuvira.
◊ She later appears in a picture on the back of a newspaper Lin is reading at the end of the episode. - Baatar Jr. is briefly seen working with his father.
- One of the dancers practicing for the recital is Kuvira.
- Continuity Nod:
- It's again mentioned that Toph invented metalbending.
- Suyin mentions traveling with sandbenders and that she joined a circus briefly, just like Ty Lee.
- Bolin mentions his pro-bending days and then his part fighting the Equalist revolution.
- Contrived Coincidence: The new airbender, a girl named Opal, happens to be Lin Beifong's niece.
- Crystal Spires and Togas: The city of Zaofu gives this flair, though the overall design is a flower motif and is made of steel. The citizens even wear fancy robes by default.
- Desperately Looking for a Purpose in Life: Suyin says that her nomad life style was her attempt to find a place she belongs, but when said search failed she decided to make a place and founded Zaofu, eventually marrying the architect she hired and starting a family.
- Disappeared Dad: Suyin reveals that neither Lin nor herself ever knew their fathers.
- Explain, Explain... Oh, Crap!: Kya does this when she realizes just who this new recruit at the air temple is.Kya: You seem to know a lot about Airbender history for someone who just got Airbending.
Zaheer: I've always admired the culture.
Kya: And you moved through those gates like a natural. Where did you say you were from?
Zaheer: A small village up north. You've probably never heard of it.
Kya: Wait. Zaheer! [launches an attack] - Fanboy: Bolin gets really excited at the thought of possibly meeting Toph, only to look slightly bummed out when Aiwei tells him she started Walking the Earth.
- Former Teen Rebel: Suyin describe herself as such, the opposite of her by-the-books cop sister.
- Free-Range Children: Toph gave her daughters a lot of freedom in contrast to her own strict upbringing.
- Get Out!: Lin toward Opal when the latter wants to talk with her.
- Hoist by His Own Petard: Zaheer's knowledge of airbender history and his skill are what tip Kya off to the fact that he's more than just a new student. He might have even gotten away with raiding Tenzin's study secretly if he had held back a little.
- Kick the Dog: Lin Beifong has a half-literal example when she pops Naga's ball and then she rudely pushes away her niece Opal. Both of these actions illustrate her "antagonist" role in the family reunion.
- Kung Fu-Proof Mook: Zaheer's martial arts training and knowledge of Air Nomad culture help him become an Instant Expert Airbender but he's also got the element (if you'll pardon the pun) of surprise on his side. Most people haven't been around Airbenders and therefore don't know how to fight them. Once he comes across Kya, who presumably grew up training against her dad and Tenzin, he's got a real fight on his hands.
- Leitmotif: Whenever a Lin/Suyin tension moment is imminent or happening, this soft hypnotic tone builds up and then is suddenly cut off.
- Living Lie Detector: Suyin's adviser, Aiwei, can use Earthbending to detect lies.
- Love Hungry: Suyin admits that she and her sister fought for their mother's affection, because she was often busy being police chief.
- Metaphorically True: Varrick insists he was never convicted for trying to kidnap President Raiko. After all, one can't be convicted for anything if you escape jail before the trial even starts. However, escaping prison is another crime in itself, which Mako points out.
- Moment Killer: Korra interrupts a moment between Bolin and Opal. She realizes she is, though, judging from her expression.
- No Celebrities Were Harmed: Many have noticed that Huan, Suyin's artistic son, looks a lot like famous Dubstep musician Skrillex.
- Not Actually the Ultimate Question: Asami asks Varrick why he's here. He starts to wonder about the nature of the universe, while she wants to know why an escaped criminal is eating dinner with the ruler of Zaofu.Asami: Varrick? What are you doing here?
Varrick: Good question, Asami! I mean, what are we all doing here... Food for thought! - Not So Stoic: Lin is driven to tears by Korra calling her a bitter, lonely woman who'll never change.
- Reformed Criminal: Suyin has a personal policy of reforming criminals.
- The sushi chef used to be a pirate.
- Suyin herself sailed with pirates for a while, as well.
- Varrick claims he's turned over a new leaf, but Asami, Mako and Lin don't believe it.
- Scenery Porn: The city of Zaofu is just plain amazing, consisting of flower-shaped palaces made of stainless steel. It's even more beautiful to see how their "petals" close for the night.
- Sparkling Stream of Tears: Opal has these when she runs away crying after Lin shouts at her angrily to get out.
- Suspiciously Specific Denial: Lin is quick to deny having ever been to Zaofu, even though she was only asked if she knew of it.
- Tattooed Crook: Suyin's chef is a former pirate, and certainly looks the part with his tattooed arms. Now he is a culinary master, however; people change.
- Took a Level in Jerkass: While Lin has never been the nicest person and in season one was a jerk to Korra for rather petty reasons, in this episode she really goes out of her way to be a jerk.
- True Art Is Angsty: In-universe, one of Lin's nephews is an angsty artist. It's actually an inversion: the artist is angsty, while the art itself is supposed to capture the inspiration of Harmonic Convergence.
- Walking the Earth:
- Suyin spent some time as a wanderer before founding Zaofu.
- Toph is mentioned to have done this, and hasn't been seen since.
- What the Hell, Hero?:
- Korra towards Lin for snapping at Opal.
- Asami towards Suyin for allowing Varrick in the city.
- You're Not My Type: Bolin says this about Opal to Mako, but Mako convinces him he needs to change his "type". Dumb movie stars and psycho ice princesses aren't a good match for him.
