The Legend of Korra: Season Finale

This is it, the Season 1 finale of The Legend of Korra.  Over the weekend Venessa I watched all ten episodes leading up to the one hour finale that consisted of Skeletons in the Closet and Endgame.  This has been a fantastic series.  Re-watching all the previous episodes has show what a carefully crafted piece of storytelling the Legend of Korra is and it has been a joy to experience.  In Episode 11, Skeletons in the Closet, we learn the truth that Amon has so carefully hidden and we get our Endgame in Episode 12.  Spoilers from here on out...

Republic City is now under the control of Amon and the Equalists.  Korra is hiding underground with Asami, Bolin and Mako.  Korra and Mako have been scouting the city disguised as chi blockers and getting a bit cozy.

Amon is using Air Temple Island as his headquarters where he’s been systematically stripping the Republic City police force and the White Lotus guards of their bending.  The United Forces soon arrive under General Iroh’s command but they are not met with any resistance.  That is until they are hit by underwater mines and are then attacked from the skies!

The United Forces have never faced a threat like this before and it doesn’t take long for the Equalists to destroy the battleships.  Korra does what she can but the Equalist’s air power is too much to withstand.  General Iroh is knocked into the water by a torpedo blast.  Fortunately Korra is there to pull him back up and takes him back to the underground tunnels New Team Avatar have been hiding out in.

The fleet is lost but General Iroh informs them that a second wave of reinforcements are on the way.  With Gommu’s help a message is sent to Commander Bumi (Tenzin’s brother) about this new air threat and to wait for Iroh’s signal before approaching the city.  They plan to take out the Equalist's air fleet but Korra decides to stay in the city.  She’s tired of hiding and plans to face Amon.  Mako volunteers to stay with her.  General Iroh doesn’t like the idea but gives in, saying his grandfather would respect the Avatar’s instinct and so will he.  Sending Naga along to watch out for Bolin, Asami and General Iroh, Korra and Mako then make their way back to Air Temple Island.  Their plan is to ambush Amon, so Korra leads Mako through a secret way into the temple.  Inside an attic they are shocked to find an imprisoned Tarrlock.  And it is Tarrlock’s story that gives us this episodes title, Skeletons in the Closet.  Tarrlock reveals he is Amon’s brother!  And that’s not all.  Not only are Tarrlock and Amon brothers, but Amon is a waterbender and a bloodbender!  Doh, there goes your revolution Amon!  So it was already revealed that Yakone, the gangster from Korra’s flashbacks who gets his bending taken away by Avatar Aang, is Tarrlock’s father, making him Amon’s as well.  Yakone fled Republic City afterwards with a new face and identity and settled down in the Northern Water Tribe, got married and had two sons: Noatak (who we know as Amon) and Tarrlock.  They led a happy life until Noatak and Tarrlock discovered they were waterbenders and Yakone’s true nature began to show through once again as he began training his sons.

One day Yakone revealed who he really was and how his bending had been taken away by the Avatar.  He wanted his sons to avenge him, to take back Republic City and destroy the Avatar.  Once the boys mastered waterbending, they began to learn how to bloodbend, first starting out on animals, then forced to bloodbend each other.  The event created a rift in the family with Noatak running away, not to be seen again until recently when brothers once again faced each other.  After Tarrlock finishes his story, Korra realizes that Amon uses his bloodbending to take a bender's power away.  Knowing this she can’t think how he can be beat without him bloodbending them.  But she does come up with a plan.  With the information they now have on Amon being a bender, they will undermine his revolution by revealing the truth... 

We continue with Asami, Bolin and Iroh on their way to the secret air field.  There they plan to tear up the runways to prevent the planes from taking off.  As they approach, Asami wonders why there are fence posts with no fence but they soon discover why.

Meanwhile, back in Republic City, Korra and Mako are disguised as chi blockers once again to infiltrate Amon’s rally.  Korra reveals her presence as well as the truth about Amon in front of the thousands who have gathered.  But Amon continues with his charade, even revealing his face, “scar” and all.

Since Korra’s plan didn’t work the way she had planned, she and Mako prepare to leave.  But Amon reveals another card up his sleeve...

Back at the hidden air field, Asami, Bolin and Iroh wake up, tied up and behind bars.  Hiroshi Sato, Asami’s father, approaches them and tries to convince Asami to see things his way.  She refuses and Hiroshi doesn’t like that at all.  He then reveals he intercepted Iroh’s message to Commander Bumi and knows where they are in order to annihilate the reinforcements.  But with a little help from Naga (and Pabu) they are able to escape.

Asami takes a seat inside a mecca tank and Iroh goes after the planes.

Back in Republic City, Amon threatens to rid the world of airbending.  Korra tells him to let the airbenders go.  Amon says come and get them and they do.

They clear the stage of Equalists and release Tenzin and the kids.  Backstage they separate, Tenzin and the kids go to get Pema and the baby, while Korra and Mako try to distract Amon.  But Korra and Mako are not able to hide from Amon for long.  He captures them with bloodbending and as Mako watches unable to do anything, Amon then takes away Korra’s bending!

Meanwhile, Iroh is hot on the trail of the air fleet.  He’s able to bring down all the planes before they can even leave Republic City.  Back at the air field, Bolin tears up the runways while mecca tanks try to stop him until Naga comes in to stop them.  Asami destroys the planes that are left in a hanger and is confronted by her father who is also in a mecca tank.  They fight and Asami is down but Bolin comes in on Naga to back her up.  The distraction is enough for Asami to get back up and teach her father a lesson.  In Republic City, Korra is weakened and Mako is still under Amon’s bloodbending control when Amon’s lieutenant (Mustache Guy) faces him after witnessing Amon bloodbending.  Amon attacks his lieutenant then goes for Mako, intent on taking his bending away.  But Mako is able to fight through the bloodbending and hits Amon with lightning.

Mako picks up Korra and tries to escape but he’s not able to get far.  Amon stops him with another bloodbending attack.  Amon tosses Mako around like a rag doll then comes in again to take away his bending.  Korra gets up to try and stop him and manages to airbend!

Amon tries to stop her with bloodbending but she fights through it and blows him out of a window into the bay.  Seeing Amon tossed out the window and apparently drowning, his supporters turn against Korra, until Amon waterbends himself back up, scar-less, in front of everyone who now see that Korra was telling the truth about him earlier.

His true identity revealed, Amon has no choice but to run and manages to get away.  He then goes back for his brother Tarrlock.  Everything is lost but they still have each other.  Awwww…


Everyone is reunited on Air Temple Island and we get a quick glimpse of Bumi as he sails in with his fleet and Tenzin does not seem all that pleased that he will have to deal with his brother now.  Amon, or rather, Noatak and Tarrlock are speeding away on a boat where Noatak entertains delusions of reconnecting with his brother as Tarrlock looks on not entirely convinced by Noatak’s plans.  Tarrlock then takes one of the Equalist’s gloves and holds it over the gas tank and…

We return to the Avatar training facility where Katara has tried to restore Korra’s bending but has not been able to.  Korra, feeling lost without the rest of her bending leaves so she can be by herself.  But Mako follows and confesses his true feelings for Korra, that he loves her.  But Korra does not want to deal with it and runs off.  On her own looking out at the ocean, Korra starts to cry when she is approached by who she thinks is Tenzin but turns out to be Aang!

Aang reveals to Korra that she has connected with her spiritual self, that it was after hitting her lowest point that she is open to the greatest change.  And then we get to see what we have all been waiting for… Korra in the Avatar State!

And Korra goes on to bend all the elements, in front of an astonished Mako.  She jumps into his arms and tells him she loves him too.

But let’s move on to something more important than Korra’s love life; Korra restoring Lin’s bending!

And they all live happily ever after… until Season 2!

So many revelations and twists and turns I hardly know where to begin.  We definitely got our resolution: We found out who Amon is and what turned him into this Equalist tyrant.  We got Korra learning to airbend.  Mako finally make up his mind.  Lin’s bending has been restored.  And of course, Korra connecting with her spiritual side and achieving the Avatar State.


I’m happy, what about you?  Pretty much everything I guessed was wrong but that’s fine.  Amon was using his bloodbending to block bender’s powers, not a chi block.  I did guess that Amon and Tarrlock might be related but I didn't want to commit to how and Tarrlock had no idea who Amon was until after his bending was taken away so it doesn't count, considering they each had their own agendas.  I had hoped Korra would reach the Avatar State before Amon had taken her bending but I’m really liking the way this happened.  It gives Korra her own journey, it’s not a repeat of Aang’s.  They are two very different Avatars caught up in very different circumstances and I enjoyed watching their stories and the way they each handled these trials.  I also love learning about these new layers involved with the Avatar State.


Korra is great.  She's strong and smart.  She relies a lot on her muscle and bending but she's shown she is clever too.  She's made mistakes but she's learned from them.  She can lead and stand up for herself and her decisions but she will also listen to what others have to say.  She will be a great Avatar and she's a character I don't mind my daughter looking up to.


I'm glad Asami didn't turn on her friends and there was a mature resolution between her and Mako that was handled well.  I'm not fully on board the Mako and Korra train but we'll see what happens with these two in Season 2.  At least Mako wasn't as annoying and had some great moments in this finale.


Now for our villains: Amon and Tarrlock.  Two sides of the same coin, twisted and tormented by their father, Yakone to try and take back Republic City in very different, yet very wrong, ways.  Of course, the Big Bad was Amon but I liked Tarrlock for that extra element of suspense and drama he added to the mix.  I also like him as the man who had nothing left to lose and decided to help Korra and in the end rid the world of a very dangerous bloodbender.  That had to be a tough decision, to kill yourself and the brother you thought lost.


I really liked Amon as the villain.  He had crazy ideas but he seemed so cool, calm and collected, always one step ahead of our heroes, yet completely mentally unstable.  I love that the only way to defeat him was not just with physical power but mental, to turn his followers against him; his own power of words turned against him.  He would have struck again if Tarrlock hadn't done anything.


Let’s talk about Korra’s bending being taken away but she’s able to airbend.  Was is simply that it unlocked her airbending or rather it was there all the time but she was too reliant on her other bending that once those were out of the way she could airbend?  Then it could be asked, but why wasn’t that blocked like the others?  I have a feeling Amon wouldn’t be able too.  He’s never encountered airbenders before.  There are plenty of fire, water and earth benders to practice on so he may not have been able to remove Tenzin and his children’s bending. 


The whole sequence of the air attack on the United Forces felt so much like the bombing of Pearl Harbor.  This was so scary to watch!  Then again with Iroh taking out all those planes before they could attack Bumi’s fleet.  Those were definitely pulse pounding moments.  Someone watched a lot of war movies.  And I have the sudden urge to watch Wings now (no, not the TV show but the very first Academy Award winning movie).

Bumi looks like a wild one!  I hope we get to see a lot more of him (and General Iroh) in Season 2.

Memorable Moments:


Korra redirecting the torpedo

This shot as General Iroh goes after the planes on his own

The past Avatars

Lin earthbending!

Growing up I didn't watch shows like this.  The closest I can think of was The Secret of NIMH; something dark and intense.  I am very glad smart, mature animated shows are being created for both kids and adults to enjoy without feeling like we're being talked down to but still giving us a good laugh.  I am going to miss having a regular show to watch with Venessa as we wait for Season 2.  We looked forward to each new episode and had a great time flipping out together.  I am so very impressed with this show and look forward to new adventures with Korra.  

The Legend of Korra Episode 10: Turning The Tides

With each episode I always make sure I sit and watch with Venessa to experience each one for the first time.  It also provides an arm for me to grab and let me tell you, it’s happened quite a bit.  There’s also a lot of couch jumping.  By Venessa, obviously, not me, duh.  So it’s been like this for the last 3-4 episodes or so: a lot of arm grabbing, shoulder shaking, jumping up and down, laughing and squealing in fright.  Yesterday, there were some tears to add to the mix.  You know that whole scene in Spinal Tap, about the amp going to 11?  This episode was an 11 and then some; upping the ante and the intensity factor at least 100 times more than the whole series so far in my opinion.  I fear for the finale, I don’t think my heart can take it.  And I feared writing the recap that follows because I didn’t know if I wanted to relive what happened all over again.  But, I will...

SPOILERS

The episode begins with Korra getting some much needed rest.  Then after a good home cooked meal, Korra tells everyone what happened to her, Tarrlock’s true identity and about Amon showing up to take away Tarrlock’s bending.  A council member attacked my Amon worries Tenzin and Asami confronts Mako about the kiss between him and Korra.  Before Tenzin heads to Republic City, he asks Lin to look after her family.  Pema is only too happy to take advantage of Lin’s generosity.

When Tenzin arrives in Republic City, he is too late.  The Equalists have attacked the other council members and Tenzin manages to escape when they come for him.  That’s when all hell breaks loose as strategic blasts go off throughout the city.  Republic City is under attack and the New Team Avatar rush to help.  We find out Korra can’t drive and Mako has been banished to the backseat.  Tenzin arrives at police headquarters but it’s not long before it comes under attack.  As Tenzin tries to lead those that are left to safety they find themselves surrounded.

New Team Avatar arrive just in time to save Tenzin, who for the second time, was almost captured by Equalists.  But their work is not done yet when they look out across the bay and see Equalist airships heading for Air Temple Island.  Of course, unborn children always choose the worst time to be born so Pema goes into labor as the airships are coming for them.  Lin stands her ground to protect Pema and the children, but is soon overwhelmed.  When it looks like this is it for Lin, who should come to her rescue but Jinora, Ikki and Meelo!  They are able to hold off the first attack in time for Tenzin and New Team Avatar to arrive.  Tenzin and the children meet their new brother but there’s no time to enjoy the happy moment.  More airships are on the way.  They decide to split up, to regroup and return to fight another time.  The members of the White Lotus hold off the Equalists while Lin, Tenzin and his family leave on Oogi.  Korra, Asami, Bolin and Mako leave on Naga.  But the airships are hot on the trail of Oogi.

Lin turns to Tenzin and his family, tells them “Whatever happens to me, don’t turn back”, then makes the jump to the closest airship.

Lin manages to take out one of the ships.  As she starts on the second, she is captured.  The second airship breaks off its pursuit of Tenzin’s family but Lin is brought before Amon and her bending is taken away!

Republic City has fallen, the police force has been captured by Equalists, but General Iroh and the United Forces are on the way.  But is it too late?

Let’s start with the hard part first, like ripping off a band aid quickly; Lin Beifong losing her bending.  This was so heartbreaking.  I don’t know which was worse: hearing her tell the others not to look back for her, leaving us to think we wouldn’t see her alive again, or her bravely facing Amon as he took her bending.  Not even a tear from her.  But not a dry eye amongst most of us fans I’m sure.  She has nerves of steel and was not about to let the last airbenders fall into Amon's hands or betray Korra.  Toph would be so proud.  Meelo said it for all of us: That lady is my hero.  Ugh, I’m about to cry writing this.

Okay, next up: General Iroh.  It’s obvious this young man is related to Zuko from the original series (voice actor is the same too).  I’ve only heard through the internet grape vine that Zuko has a daughter.  Since Zuko was the oldest out of the Gaang, I’m going to say this is likely his grandson and Zuko would be old enough to have a grandson as young-ish as General Iroh seems to be.

And grr, I knew Tenzin would get himself into trouble heading back to Republic City.  Thank goodness Asami’s father had her take those self defense classes.  She single handedly took down five Equalists to save him.  And once again Mako is annoying but it was about time we finally see someone redirect the electric charges that has been used against the benders.  I’ll just move on and complain that there wasn’t enough for Bolin to do and I’m not counting him worrying about parking tickets then pointing out mustache guy.  This episode was also a bit Korra-lite too but she did a lot in the last one so I’ll let it pass.  But at least we got to see the airbender kids show off!


I've already said it, that Amon is using a really good chi block to take away someone's bending, or rather, to give the impression it's been taken away.  I think Tenzin made it very clear a few episodes ago, that only an Avatar can take away someone's bending permanently and that's that.  So what's Amon plan?  To attempt to "take away" Korra's bending in order to trigger the Avatar State, then he'll go in for the kill because it's only when you kill an Avatar in the Avatar State that you can stop the cycle, otherwise a new Avatar will be born.  It's never been discussed what happens if the Avatar ceases, other than there will never be another.  What if that also rids the world of bending as well?  Which is ultimately Amon's plan.  So anyways, that's what I think...

Memorable Moments:

The set up to the Equalists attack on the council members with them posing as "innocent" exterminators and window washers

Seeing Republic City under attack from Air Temple Island

You can feel Tenzin’s helplessness as he looks on unable to stop these events on his own

Preparing to attack Air Temple Island

Jinora, Ikki and Meelo coming in to help Lin

Naga gets a hero moment

The hope that help is on the way

I really don’t know what else to say.  I love this series.  This episode was just packed with action, there was no room to breathe... it was fantastic!  It looks like we’re possibly heading into an Empire Strikes Back ending and yes, this one was pretty close but this was just Han Solo being encased in carbonite.  We haven’t even gotten to the Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker’s father revelation yet!  (Side note: Oh my god, Google Docs actually had Vader in its dictionary!)  I’m just happy I can enjoy such a wonderful, well thought out show and to be able to share the experience with my daughter.  RIP Lin’s bending (for now, because darn it I won't believe it's permanent!) and whether I’m prepared for it or not, on to the finale!

The Legend of Korra Episode 9: Out of the Past

I don’t know if I can love this show any more than I already do.  It just keeps building and building toward a bigger pay off, but revealing just enough details here and there to satisfy our instant gratification needs.  Below is a recap of what happened in Episode 9 Out of the Past and I’ll discuss my thoughts next.  

SPOILERS OF COURSE!

Tarrlock imprisons Korra in a metal cell leaving her in some shack far up in the mountains.  Tenzin gets a call that Korra has been taken by Equalists.  When he goes to City Hall to find out what happened, Tarrlock lies, saying Equalists attacked him and Korra and that he tried to protect Korra but he was unable to.  Lin hears the news and, still injured, suits up and busts Asami, Bolin and Mako out of jail.  While trapped, Korra meditates and finally connects with Aang’s memories.  That means we finally get to hear what a forty year old Aang sounds like!  And Toph still calls him Twinkle Toes!  Anyways, back to business.  We get the arrest and trial of Yakone, a gangster accused of using blood bending, which is illegal, obviously, to intimidate innocent citizens of Republic City.  Lin, along with New Team Avatar, minus one, go to recruit Tenzin to find Korra.  Lin believes that where Korra is, her officers will be there too.  They find a secret network of tunnels used by the Equalists and while inside Mako is unusually worried about Korra and Bolin tells Asami about the kiss between Mako and Korra.  While in the tunnels, Lin senses her officers but no Korra but when they rescue the officers it’s too late, their bending has been taken away.  Mako interrogates an Equalist and they find out they don’t have Korra and they didn’t attack City Hall.  Tenzin realizes Tarrlock was lying and that he has Korra but the Equalists are alerted to New Team Avatar’s presence and there’s a thrilling escape through the tunnels with Lin displaying some really incredible earth and metal bending.

Once they are safe we return to Korra meditating and we see Yakone’s trial, where Sokka is sitting in as a council member on the proceedings.  When Sokka announces Yakone is guilty and sentenced to life in prison, it doesn’t seem to disturb Yakone one bit because he begins to blood bend everyone in the room!  Back to New Team Avatar who confront Tarrlock, who then denies taking Korra, but Tarrlock’s assistant admits seeing Tarrlock take Korra and that Tarrlock is a blood bender.  As Lin and Tenzin attack, Tarrlock blood bends everyone in the room and escapes.  We then return to the flashback where Yakone escapes but Aang, using the Avatar State, is able to overcome Yakone’s blood bending control and after a chase through the streets stops Yakone and finally puts an end to him, by taking away his bending.

Korra realizes Aang was trying to warn her about Tarrlock, who she knows to be Yakone’s son.  That’s when Tarrlock returns and he is not all that happy with these turn of events.  He plans to leave, to start a new life somewhere else and wants to take Korra along as a hostage.  As he goes to make preparations, who should he run into but Amon and his backup singers!

Tarrlock tries blood bending on them but Amon is not affected by it!  Then he goes on to remove Tarrlock’s bending!  Amon orders his chi blocker backup singers to electrocute the metal box Korra is in to subdue her but she’s too clever for them and manages to avoid being electrocuted and once they open the box, she escapes.  Korra is eventually found by Naga who had tracked her down and carries her safely back to Republic City where New Team Avatar find her, bruised and exhausted.

Oh boy, another exciting episode that answered some questions, such as what those flashbacks Korra was experiencing were all about and whether Lin would find her officers.  It also brought up another question: how was Amon able to break free from Tarrlock’s blood bending?  And whether Amon and Tarrlock are related in any way or know each other on a personal level when they were young?  It may not really matter if they are related but perhaps they had been working together but Tarrlock saw his chance to make a break from Amon to further his own ambitions.

In the flashback, when Aang took away Yakone’s bending there was no light display like the one when he took Ozai’s bending away.  After seeing that, it could be said that Amon can truly take away bending since there was no light display when he has done it.  BUT, there is a difference in the placement of their hands.  Aang and Amon both place a thumb on their victim’s (not sure if this is really the right word when Aang does it, but I can’t think of anything else right now) forehead, but Amon places his other hand on the back of their head while Aang places his hand on their chest.  So I think the theory still stands that Amon is using a very good chi block.  Which I think is supported by this:

Sokka telling the story how he defeated Combustion Man (or Sparky Sparky Boom Man, whatever you prefer) by hitting him in the forehead with the boomerang (that always comes back!).  I was rereading a recap last week of a past A:TLA episode regarding the episode of Combustion Man that made me really believe that Amon is just blocking someone’s bending with a unique chi block, the way Combustion Man’s chi was blocked by the boomerang and in an earlier episode, a pebble.  Then we have Sokka here being very specific about the way he defeated Combustion Man.

Over on Republic City Dispatch, someone (don’t remember who) has the theory that Aang has done something to the Avatar State, which could explain why Korra hasn’t achieved it yet.  But I don’t believe this because why would Aang leave Korra defenseless?  Look how it helped him when he was young and in the flashback.  So why hasn’t she achieved the Avatar State yet?  Before Aang fully tapped into and controlled the Avatar State, it was always triggered because he was either angry, his life or the life of others he cared about were in danger.  He was also twelve and a very scared little boy with a huge burden on his shoulders.  Korra is seventeen and quite a formidable young woman who knows herself, is completely confident of her abilities and has been training to be an Avatar in an ideal situation, where Aang returned to a world at war for a hundred years and had a year to learn three other elements and had to defeat Fire Lord Ozai.  There have been moments when it would be useful for Korra to use the Avatar State but when I think about it, she seems to have more control over her emotions in times of stress and is able to get out of situations on her own or where she’s incredibly lucky, like her first encounter with Amon.  So, I think it’s there for her, but it’s just not the time for her to use it and she’s been doing fine on her own without it.  So far.

Some other thoughts, a friend and I were IMing and trying to come up with who Amon could be related to from the original series that would tie them together but also create an epic revelation about him.  We haven’t really come up with anyone yet and we’re leaning towards The Promise graphic novel series that might provide the answer, especially with its removing the Fire Nation colonies from the Earth Kingdom storyline.  And my friend has read Part 2 so she probably sees something more to it than I am right now.

Mako was a little annoying.  Dude, look, we get it, you care for Korra too but you were acting really weird about it in front of Asami, alienating her.  And if Asami turns against Korra and the rest of them because she’s jealous, I will not be happy.  Let’s not go there.

When proofreading the summary I wrote for the episode, I noticed how nicely Yakone’s attack and escape was followed up with Tarrlock’s; just a chip off the old block, isn’t he?

Memorable Moments:

Meelo crawling over a sleeping Tenzin to answer the phone

Lin suiting up

Does she work out?

Lin pulling up Bolin’s fly with metal bending

The moment when Korra bursts through the flames to make her escape

So, only one more episode left, then it’s the one hour finale on June 23rd!

http://www.nick.com/videos/clip/legend-of-korra-finale-extended-saturday-june-23rd-N14915-07.html (fortunately I’ve already trimmed my fingernails so there are none to chew)