287 replies to this topic

[The Satellite]

Spoiler

Regarding Korra being in some bending arena, personally I just wonder if it's a way to recuperate from her healing, and that she isn't actually fully-recovered and is trying to just relearn her bending abilities.

[David]

Spoiler

Regarding Korra being in some bending arena, personally I just wonder if it's a way to recuperate from her healing, and that she isn't actually fully-recovered and is trying to just relearn her bending abilities.

Spoiler

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking too. Hopefully she goes back to see her dad and the airbenders soon enough.

 

I'm just wondering, but is it required to keep having all these spoiler tags? It's seems to be becoming messy to me.

[Beefster]

I think the spoiler tags are only necessary for the first day or two after the episode.

 

Spoiler

This last episode did well to explain what was going on, but at the same time it was VERY mysterious...

 

But dang, I'm excited to see the interaction between Korra and Toph.

[Lejes]

I just started watching this show myself. I went through all of book one the past few days. So far, it feels kind of lifeless compared to The Last Airbender. 1920s New York City doesn't really captivate the way the setting of the original Avatar did. It was also kind of offputting just how neatly every single conflict of book one was resolved, most of them in the last few minutes of the final episode, even. Were they not expecting to get more seasons?

[Russ]

Were they not expecting to get more seasons?

Actually, yes, that is the case. Korra was originally going to be a 12 episode miniseries, hence why book 1 wraps itself up so nicely. After the viewership of the premier, Nick ordered a second season. The creators weren't sure if this would be the end or not; now there was the possibility Nick might want more. So they planned out the story and wrote the ending so that it could serve as the ending to the series, but it also left the door open for more. After the book 1 finale aired, Nick ordered seasons 3 and 4. That's why the books are kinda fragmented the way they are, although I felt book 3 did a great job of leading into book 4. Those last few seconds of book 3, those were powerful.

Regarding the lifelessness when compared to TLA, I kinda have to agree at first, then disagree. For me, the first two books were good, but never hit the same level as TLA (aside from Beginnings, which was the best episode in the entire franchise). Book 3 though, in my opinion, managed to reach and then overcome the bar that TLA set. In terms of scope, story, emotion, atmosphere, everything, it was just incredible. Book 4 is looking to be much the same. Speaking of which...

New episode spoilers

Holy cow this got dark fast. And I love it. Watching Korra's emotional struggles is gripping, and I'm really curious what's going on with her whole avatar state thing. And then we have the return of Toph. I squeed so damn hard when she said the Twinkletoes line. <_<

[Beefster]

I liked the entire series. I never really compared it to ATLA, because I knew it wasn't ATLA. I don't really get all of the hate. It took things in a "different" direction, not a "better" one. It's a much more mature series- with more focus on the characters. Even though the knee-jerk reaction was that Bolin and Mako are recycled from Sokka and Zuko, over the series, they've developed into far more than that and now feel like totally unique characters.

[Fabbrizio]

I still have to watch Books 3 and 4, but the first two books impressed me a lot, considering how terrible continuations can be (and often are). It's not nearly as soulful and expressive as TLA was, but that doesn't detract from the whole. The animation is still fantastic. The characters are dynamic and believable even when they're being idiots. And the theming prevalent throughout the series really brings out the more hard-hitting plot elements. 

Not to mention, did anyone not get chills the first time Korra entered the Avatar state, and we were greeted with this old friend (at 0:34)?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1ZpxhCN494

 

There's something so thrilling about the way they handled continuity from one Avatar generation to the next. It's powerful on so many levels, and having that legacy in place sets a precedent. Korra won't be the Avatar forever. We're probably going to have another generation of Avatar after this, unless something huge happens (or has happened? Like I say, I still need to watch books 3 and 4). It's kind of hard to say no to the future of a world we've come to know and love, portrayed through unwavering excellence of animation and soundtrack. 

[Russ]

Not to mention, did anyone not get chills the first time Korra entered the Avatar state, and we were greeted with this old friend (at 0:34)?

I still get chills every time I listen to the song. It really is fantastic, easily the best in the series (although the villains' theme from book 3 is a close second).

And on that note, you really need to watch books 3 and 4, as they address the "soulful and expressive" issue you have. Oh boy do they. I think I might actually like the last two books better than TLA. I dunno, it's a bit hard to say, given that I've got nostalgia blinding me a tad bit on TLA's side, but I'm really loving the direction they've been taking the show.

[Fabbrizio]

I think the biggest challenge Legend of Korra faces is simply the lack of contrast. The foundation of what made TLA compelling was the use of youthful protagonists. We got to watch young, impressionable characters become shaped by these fantastic and dangerous adventures. In Legend of Korra, the adventures are similar, but the characters are so much less malleable. They're adult. Any character development is going to seem either sluggish or forced without working a bit of magic. And granted, the Avatar writing team certainly knows how to work magic. But a lot more work falls on their shoulders to capture that sense of child-like wonder with characters who kind of already have a place in the world. 

 

I'm also having trouble with the fact that, as far as I've seen (2 episodes into book 3), Legend of Korra doesn't have any particular direction. With TLA, the goal was clear. Take down the Fire Lord, reunite the four nations. You had that to look forward to no matter what struggles each individual season put forth. With Korra, there doesn't seem to be any goal overall. There's Korra's individual goal of mastering the abilities and responsibilities of the Avatar, but that's a goal for every Avatar - it doesn't give any context to Korra's role within the world. The struggle within the world is invoked per season - there's no real link between each season except a recurring cast of characters. No unfinished business that justifies the next season.

Of course, these complaints rely on incomplete information, and are not particularly important in comparison to the mountains of things Legend of Korra gets right. It just bugs me a little.

[The Satellite]

Oh don't worry, a goal is swiftly approaching...

[DarkFlameWolf]

A new challenger approaches...!

[Fabbrizio]

Almost done with book 3, and I've gotta say, Mako and Bolin's grandmother might be my new favorite character.

 

EDIT: Okay, also,

Spoiler

The scene with Korra chained up and flickering in and out of the avatar state. I don't know why, but that scene kicked me in the gut. Just the idea that Korra had already forsaken her own life, and was fighting just to make sure there would be another avatar after her. Now that's protagonist material.

 

EDIT 2:

Spoiler

Finished book three, and nothing could have prepared me,

From the abject horror to the anointing of Jinora,

These characters I love are all a cut above
And this pain that I feel isn't meant to be healed

Art is beauty, and beauty is sadness

Especially in this cartoon of incomparable radness,

This story and this world I can't help but adore
But I'm tired, so tomorrow I'll dive into book 4.

Edited by Fabbrizio, 31 October 2014 - 12:39 AM.

[Beefster]

Today's episode was amazing!

 

Spoiler

Varrick is REALLY good at getting what he wants.

And Bolin did the thing!

And ASPLOSIONS!

 

So much awesome and not enough words to describe it!

[The Satellite]

Spoiler

"He Varrick'd himself because some guy Zhu Li'd him."

 

This is the best sentence to ever sentence.

[David]

TS, that is actually a really amazing sentence.

 

Anyway:

Spoiler

I really enjoyed episode 6 of season 4. The Korra vs. Kuvira battle was amazing, even if Korra lost. I can wait until next episode; this season has been really interesting for me.