287 replies to this topic

[ShadowTiger]

The ability to bend definitely requires a genetic component, because remember when ... okay, spoiler tag:

Spoiler

... Aang removes Yakone''s ability to bend, then Yakone moves to the Northern Water Tribe and has two kids. Those kids have bending abilities, despite their father having no bending abilities. Aang used energy-bending to remove his bending, and Amon used blood bending to remove peoples' bending. Although we don't know if having one's bending removed by blood bending allows for children to still have some bending, I doubt it wouldn't still be genetic.

[Frog]

It closed off real nicely.

I completely disagree.

Deus ex machina. Nuff said.

[Lemon]

Deus ex machina. Nuff said.

Nay. Deus ex machina can be done awesomely. And comon' it's a really broad term anyway. See the last series (lion turtles!)*.

This was just a really, really terrible ending. Korra learns to air-bend not by being patient, meditative, or being free, but by punching the air because her boyfriends in trouble. She's also told she's mastered her spiritual side because... ... ...

Seriously, in the end everyone's (health wise) alright, Equalists finished. She's surrounded by loved ones, and tells them all to F*** off. That and the fact that over the last few episodes she keeps retreating to being carried by Mako have made me kinda dislike her at this point. In the beginning we're shown her flaws, which we assume she'll later come to understand and at least control. Nothing of the sort happens beyond the "be like the leaf". It's a pity they decided that just getting your ass kicked qualifies as character growth. It doesn't.

So while the Lion Turtle was the product of Aang's worry about having to murder someone, which made sense, Korra's Avatar power and Air-Bending were both products of... well, bad writing.



*(yes, yes I know it was "kinda" hinted at in various scenes, but it was really out of left field and terribly convenient. Still sweet!)

[Russ]

For those of you saying it was a Deus Ex, lemme put it this way. Korra's biggest flaw was her pride. She was too proud and too stubborn to connect to the spiritual side of being the Avatar. But after having her bending removed, she was devastated. That was her image. Her life. It all came crashing down on her. She was a failure. She couldn't fulfill her duties.

Look at that scene on the cliff again. She was handing over so far, her tear fell off the side. She was going to jump. She would just end her life, and let the next avatar do it the right way. But she couldn't. She was too weak. So instead, she fell back, resigned to her fate. She would have to go through life as a normal person now. She overcame her pride at that moment, which allowed her to suddenly connect with her spiritual side.

As for airbending, she'd been practicing for a while, but there was just a mental block there. Chakra, lack of confidence, whatever. But when Mako was threatened, the panic of the moment spurred her to airbend. And actually, I thought the way she did it was amazing. It wasn't normal airbending. It was like she was firebending, but air came out instead. She was falling back onto what she was familiar with, only with her now-unblocked airbending abilities.

Also this: http://i1.kym-cdn.co...336/641/6b7.gif

[Frog]

Look at that scene on the cliff again. She was handing over so far, her tear fell off the side. She was going to jump. She would just end her life, and let the next avatar do it the right way. But she couldn't. She was too weak. So instead, she fell back, resigned to her fate. She would have to go through life as a normal person now. She overcame her pride at that moment, which allowed her to suddenly connect with her spiritual side.

She was going to jump? I thought she was just running away from everyone so they wouldn't see her cry.

Edited by Frog, 25 June 2012 - 10:07 PM.

[Russ]

Well, that's how I saw the scene at least. I mean, she was leaning over the edge, and after something that traumatic happening to her, I can see her initial reaction being "I should just kill myself so the next Avatar is born."

[The Satellite]

Also this: http://i1.kym-cdn.co...336/641/6b7.gif

You stole that from me, you loser, so I offer this instead: http://i2.kym-cdn.co...336/688/7e3.jpg

Anyways, I dunno, it may be a good theory, but I'm not so certain it's true. Then again, we had the greatest spitting upon the radar in Western Animation history, so, I dunno. I kind of don't want to believe she'd throw herself over the edge, but whatever.

[Lemon]

She was a failure. She couldn't fulfill her duties.

Maybe it's just me, but I can't find myself accepting that her lowest point was experienced after the bad guy had been defeated (even if he was still on the loose his entire movement was crushed quite effectively) and being surrounded by everyone that she cared about who were in perfect health (minus a few debended folk... or well, Lin).

There was a really nice opportunity for Korra to realize there's more to her than just "being the Avatar". But nope, apparently "being the avatar" is the only thing that' s important to her. They highlight this through her interactions with Mako before: "F*** off dude, I have no bending", and after she can cure everything "lol jk, got my identity back, lets do this".

As for airbending, she'd been practicing for a while, but there was just a mental block there. Chakra, lack of confidence, whatever. But when Mako was threatened, the panic of the moment spurred her to airbend. And actually, I thought the way she did it was amazing. It wasn't normal airbending. It was like she was firebending, but air came out instead. She was falling back onto what she was familiar with, only with her now-unblocked airbending abilities.

A very important thing from the original series was that there were very core values to each element, and Aang couldn't just do what he usually did to master them. For Earth he had to find fortitude and stand his ground. He had to learn. Grow. Develop. Korra... really didn't. At all.

I wouldn't mind it if it was even tangentially related to what Tenzin explained air bending was. As you said, it was like firebending.


Basically, both were incredibly important plot points for this series, both were explained as goals right from the get go. Also from the get go, both are explained as what they are, how to get there, and then both of those things are completely ignored and dropped.

[Sheik]

The show doesn't air in Germany yet. I'm watching the English (original) version, though. I love it so far.

[Frog]

I don't know why, but I found this funnier than I probably should have.

Spoiler

[The Satellite]

There's a ton of awesome images here, if you like that one.

[kurt91]

Was I the only one screaming at the screen for them to use lightning instead of fire blasts when...

Spoiler

Amon starts speeding away underwater. I mean, a few million volts of electricity coursing through the water would have zapped him, even if they missed him directly. What was the fire supposed to accomplish?

[The Satellite]

Maybe they would risk harming innocent swimmers?

It's kind of a good point, I don't know what they were thinking, but hey, I like the way it turned out better anyway; the truth was revealed, and the ending was heartbreaking.

[Tree]

I have only this to say...

Spoiler

When Tarlok used the electric glove to destroy the boat with them onboard, that was terrible. Even after the horrible things Amon and Tarlok did, my heart dropped when the boat blew up. It's by far the darkest scene in Avatar to date.

[The Satellite]

Spoiler

Not just Avatar, but possibly in Nickelodeon history. Heck, the Radar page for Korra has an epitaph for the Radar itself at the bottom. I can't say I'd rather have it any other way, though.