#i love TLOK just for their fighting scenes and I need to use them for reference 💃

[trashfactorysstuff]

Just animating a bit of Azulon and his fighting style.

Average General Azulon but did it more of a Ilah/Azulon where he just “where is she?” thing, idk, lovebirds things.

+ Azulon drawing where he uses the waterbender techniques.

And blue fire so everything is perfect.

[burst-of-iridescent]

so i just went through your entire anti-lok tag and everything you said in it was SO WELL WRITTEN. i wanted to ask if you might have any analyses or anything (or just good old rants! we love being bryke haters) - about something that i noticed, which is this sort of... ATLA/TLOK dichotomy between how all aang's villains seem to be focused on gaining power/dominating the world or whatever, but the villains in TLOK seem to revolve around very pointed targeting of korra and specifically stripping her of her agency/bodily autonomy, but i don't know how to expand on that point.

(idk just. TLOK has a whole list of scenes that make me VIOLENTLY uncomfortable in a way even the worst of ATLA doesn't? and i thought you might have some input to share about it, if you don't mind me asking)

thank you sm!! i'm glad you enjoy my lok and bryke salt <33

i know what you mean, because it's something that struck me when i was watching lok as well. korra's villains are far more personal to her (particularly in what they do to her, or want from her) than azula or ozai or even zhao ever were to aang, and while that isn't necessarily a bad thing (in fact it can often be good to have a personal relationship between your hero and villain; just look at how much more impactful and meaningful zuko and azula's arc was compared to aang and ozai's), there is a way to do it right and that was... not what bryke did.

we didn't need to see korra brutally bloodbent and stripped of her bending, or brutally attacked by unalaq, or brutally tortured by the red lotus or - you got it - brutally beaten up by kuvira (over and over again, might i add). i'm not saying that violence never has its place in storytelling, but it needs to have an actual purpose that's not just shock value. atla, for instance, knew when and how to utilise violence: the sight of gyatso's skeleton in the southern air temple, aang's murder by azula, even katara bloodbending... the violence in all of those scenes was necessary either to communicate vital information to the audience, or drive home the emotive and narrative significance of the moment, or both.

in lok though, bryke hardly, if ever, achieved either of these objectives - especially because it was mainly only ever korra who got the brunt of the violence. no other character is repeatedly targeted and assaulted and violated even half as much as korra is, even when they're facing the same antagonists. tenzin's fight against the red lotus in book 3 gets a tasteful pan to black (one of the few times i think bryke did use violence purposefully; knowing what not to show is just as important as knowing what to show, and leaving the audience with the dread of tenzin's fate was actually sadder and more terrifying than letting us see what happened to him) but korra's agonizing torture at the hands of the red lotus is so long and drawn-out that it begins to veer into torture porn.

imo, this can probably be attributed to two things: 1) bry.ke thinking trauma = character development because they don't know how else to write a good character arc (and they still somehow fucked it up - i will never forgive them for making korra thank zaheer, of all people, for helping her overcome her trauma, like what the absolute fuck bry.ke), and 2) they wanted lok to be "more mature" than atla, which shows both that they fundamentally didn't understand atla, or what constitutes good storytelling, and also that someone desperately needs to tell them that simply upping the violence and hamfistedly handling "complex" topics does not maturity make.

(given the way bryke has written women, i also have to side-eye the fact that the strong-willed, independent, brown female protagonist is beaten and battered and torn down far more than the peaceful, affable light-skinned male protagonist ever is, even during an actual war.)

and of course, contrary to what our dear bryke probably expected, simply brutalizing korra season after season in the name of shock value and development did not, to anyone else's surprise, make lok the better show in the end.

[ahhhsami]

AO3 Writer 20 Questions

Saw @thatonebirdwrites answer these questions focused on AO3 writers and thought it'd be fun to answer them too!

1) How do you keep getting ideas for your ship/fandom?

Day dreaming, music, and other media (books, movies, TV series).

2) Which authors inspire you in your fandom, and why are they so freakishly good?

This is the main question I wanted to answer because I wanted to just praise people and share their works!

A_M_Nicholson since I really adore their AUs and amazing vibes you get from their settings. The characters are always so interesting and they're able to maintain the characters' personalities and traits even though they are in an AU.

RaeDMagdon since her stories introduced me to omegaverse. She also cranks out solid works consistently and it's extremely impressive and admirable.

Xaibaugrove's writing makes you feel things through her words. Each chapter, paragraph, and even sentence is so well thought out and her story telling is to die for. Plus the depth and details she goes into for the surroundings is beautiful and immersive.

Tabsbee writes for Genshin Impact and I adore her style of writing and the modern AU settings she uses. Everything she posts is a banger. Plus they feed my need for more JeanLisa stories!

AnotherShotofBourbon was one of the first fic writers I ever read in the korrasami fandom. They started a series of soulmate AUs and I adore them so much! Their new works are also just as exciting!

Velvet95 has super unique and fun AUs. They're working on their sequel to a galactic sci-fi story that they had created a while ago and just as the first part, it's super enjoyable and creative!

AsamiOnTop has a behemoth of a fic (I think almost 300k words) and it's such a fun read. I loved seeing her growth from chapter 1 to the ending and it's always so admirable seeing people wrap up long fics like hers!

kittymannequin is another OG korrasami writer that inspired me to write fics myself. Whether her stories are for TLOK or Arcane or another fandom, it's always a delight to read.

tumblr blogs: @raedmagdon @xaibaugrove @tabsbee @abronzeagegod @kittymannequin @asamiontop

3) Aside from the characters of your main ship, who are the characters you love to write?

There's a handful but here are the ones that come to mind; Vi & Caitlyn from Arcane, Jean & Lisa & Beidou & Clorinde from Genshin Impact.

4) Are there pairings or tropes you know for sure you'd never write about? Which ones?

I lean away from tropes that delve into Family dynamics. Mainly pregnancy since I actually don't like babies...

5) What is your writing process and why is it cursed?

Get an idea

Jot down a rough plan

Start writing and stray instantly from the plan

Get a new plot bunny and fight with myself whether to continue what I've written or scrap it for a new shiny story

Obviously the 4th step is where things become truly cursed.

6) What is your favorite part of your writing process?

Since I write so many AUs, the world building aspects are my favorite.

7) What’s the weirdest thing you’ve had to research for a fic?

I've had to research a lot of things... but the weirdest usually revolve around bodily injuries or time period research to keep things as accurate as possible when needed. If you need to know how to prepare opium like they did in the 1800s... I got you.

8) Is there a particular writing rule you struggle with (grammar, spelling, tense, reality in general)?

Grammar 100%. But I also think breaking grammar rules are okay for vibes, bruh.

9) What was your hardest scene to write so far and why?

It's one I'm currently working on and have been for years. It's the next chapter of Start Again and I'm struggling to progress the story in a way that I like. I've written and scrapped it so many times that I've lost count at this point.

10) Have your characters ever done something you didn’t expect, changing your plot completely?

All the time...

11) If you could converse with any of the characters, who would it be and why?

It'd have to be Korra. She's got such a special spot in my heart that I don't think I could choose anyone else.

12) What are some of the tropes or themes that you find yourself returning to in your writing?

College AUs just keep coming back even when I think I've had enough of them.

13) What's your most important resource as a writer?

Other books. I don't have a book in particular, but just reading other books and fics is helpful. I've also joined a local writer's guild that has been helpful too!

14) Can you share some of your strategies for editing and revising your work?

I read/mumble my stories aloud to myself to see if things come out clunky. I also have a wonderful partner that betas the majority of my stories and I couldn't be more grateful for her.

15) Which is worse: making the summary, picking the tags, or the anxiety when you post your fic?

SUMMARY. God damn, I will spend more time on a fucking summary than the story. I will also be lazy at times and just copy and paste an excerpt if I'm at a real loss.

16) How do you define success for your fanfic - hits? Kudos? Comments? Bookmarks? Or just if you like it?

A huge factor for me is if I personally like it, BUT hits/kudos/comments are always appreciated. The goal is to share my stories with people and for them to enjoy their time reading, so it's always nice to receive all of those. I don't gauge much off of bookmarks since I often write explicit fics, which tend to be privately bookmarked or not bookmarked at all.

17) Do you have a playlist for your favorite character/ship?

I make playlists for stories/chapters. I don't do them individually for characters. I wouldn't be surprised if I have 50 or so playlists for my writing though.

18) If fan art was going to be made from your work, which fic would you pick and which fan artist would you like to create it?

When it comes to the story, I'd want the artist to do art for one that resonates with them. One that somehow inspires them. And oh man, when it comes to specific artists, I'm not sure since there are so many amazing ones. I've recently been inspired by @seijousai and am writing a story inspired by their Clorivia art. @ppyuuingles art is super wholesome and adorable. I love their JeanLisa stuff. I also have always adored @persnickety-doodles style of drawing when it comes to Korrasami. In the past I had the pleasure to collaborate with @unii-outlawed and later commissioned her. If you don't know her, then definitely check out her stunning artwork! Other amazing artists that deserve a follow are @ttanaart, @kf1n3, and @mimiendos (follow their twitter).

19) How many WIPs do you currently have?

Erm... posted on AO3 there's 20 unfinished stories BUT I also have over 100 completed ones. As for the WIPs that are written and not posted... that's also probably in the 20s. It goes back to all of the plot bunnies that I get and the battles I lose which results in partially written stories.

20) What's your advice to new fanfic writers?

Write what you want. Even if you feel that it may be niche there'll definitely be people out there that will read and enjoy it!

[i-am-extremely-mad]

"#makorra got sm wasted potential #lok #the legend of korra #makorra #makorra 2.0 #mako #korra #tlok #avatar korra #mako x korra #avatar #lok critical #legend of korra #lok comics"

"But Korra is constantly reassuring him through some affectionately actions and words "You're part of team avatar. "

Constantly? After that scene, they didn't interact much, except when they were fighting against Red Lotus.

"two were obviously baited until the very end"

Only in your head.

"showing how extreme their relationships status could change, they'll always care and deeply need each other."

Korra showed no care and deep need for Mako, several times when she completely ignored him as well as when she completely forgot that he and Bolin were missing for the whole day.

"cuz once again we got major Makorra moments- he literally accompanied her during a major step in her recovery journey?"

That episode is really The Southern Raiders for m/akorra shippers, in both episodes Katara and Korra want to confront the person who caused them trauma and suffering and are completely focused on that, while z/utara and m/akorra shippers are still desperate and pathetic after all these years and want to make this about their ships...

"His part in the remembrance episode being just him ranting about how Korra is incredible, amazing, spectacular, show stopping, totally unique, never the same- and how she moved his whole world and inspired him"

I love how this just shows how totally one-sided it is. Korra mostly forgot about Mako whenever they weren't sharing a scene and never spoke about him after their breakup, she had more important issues to deal with than wasting time with her ex-boyfriend.

"Makorra literally share a such specific and traumatic same experience through these sacrifices, which is being disabled and partially losing their skills"

"but they did NOTHING of it ignoring Mako's trauma"

Mako got some burns and couldn't use his arm for a few weeks, that's not even close to what Korra went through.

"acting like Korra is all 'healed' also ignoring her trauma too cuz let's be real 'korra alone' was FAR from enough"

Nowhere in the comics is Korra treated like she's healed, after confronting Zaheer, she's just dealing with her PTSD more easily.

"and their relationship in general, especially in the comics, destroying what they build since b1 making Korra and Mako so distant (Korra not caring about Mako's arm while she literally lived the same experience he's going through) They could help and heal together understanding e/o so well."

They didn't build anything, they broke up in Book 2 and Korra was mostly focused on much more important things than her relationship with her ex-boyfriend.

Korra actually cared about Mako's arm in Turf Wars part 3, but that was it. Their experience was nowhere near the same. Again, Mako got some burns and couldn't use his arm for a few weeks, that's nowhere near what Korra went through.

"So my main complain will be mostly that and post b4 in general and how Makorra straight up got wasted and just loose a godly storyline over whatever bs we got instead."

It can't be wasted something that hasn't been a thing since the end of Book 2. But of course, as we know, Korra shouldn't be focused on her relationship with her actual girlfriend and instead be more in contact with her ex-boyfriend, because as we know, all people should only stay in close contact with their exes, and ignore their actual partners, for reasons...

@cell151 Can you believe this shit?

How do you think Makorra would occur in Season 3 and 4, with themes like Korra's PTSD and Mako & Bolin finding their family?

I genuinely think b3 is already good how is it, especially with how much action there's in it so there's not that much place for the rest, but Makorra still here even if it's mostly casual and the post break up context.

There's doubts and tension especially from Mako's side. But Korra is constantly reassuring him through some affectionately actions and words "You're part of team avatar. " and Mako still truly care about Korra and despite being awkward around her (due to still romantic feelings, but that's on my interpretation even if theses two were obviously baited until the very end) he's still her white knight constantly protecting her (fought the red lotus, making up plan for her to be safe despite putting himself in danger, plan to find her back..) like he always did since the beginning, showing how extreme their relationships status could change, they'll always care and deeply need each other.

They're truly a such cool lovers to exes positive representation, I'm glad for it 🙏🏽

but here comes b4...

tbh even with that one book I don't have that much to say outside that ending, cuz once again we got major Makorra moments- he literally accompanied her during a major step in her recovery journey? (facing Zaheer) Telling her how he got dead worried and was actually mad at her for not updating him? His part in the remembrance episode being just him ranting about how Korra is incredible, amazing, spectacular, show stopping, totally unique, never the same- and how she moved his whole world and inspired him, to the point he unhesitatingly sacrificed himself in the b4 finale directly paralleling Korra's sacrifice in b3 finale.

And with that last sentence I want to bring back my problem with that end and also the comics.

Makorra literally share a such specific and traumatic same experience through these sacrifices, which is being disabled and partially losing their skills while being used to be very talented, even prodigies, benders and fighters... but they did NOTHING of it ignoring Mako's trauma, acting like Korra is all 'healed' also ignoring her trauma too cuz let's be real 'korra alone' was FAR from enough, and their relationship in general, especially in the comics, destroying what they build since b1 making Korra and Mako so distant (Korra not caring about Mako's arm while she literally lived the same experience he's going through) They could help and heal together understanding e/o so well.

So my main complain will be mostly that and post b4 in general and how Makorra straight up got wasted and just loose a godly storyline over whatever bs we got instead.

Now on Mako and Bolin's fam path of plot, I don't think Korra was necessary in it since it's really focused on the bros unused back story, which I hope will be digged even more later.

That's it i guess. Hope I actually answered your question 🫶🏽

[low-budget-korra]

 Just  answering some questions ive saw in avatarverse twitter (credits to  @yuekataras for making the thread)

- who’s your one absolute comfort character Korra

- what’s your comfort ship Korrasami

-what character do u see yourself into the most and why?  Korra, cuz we are two lgbt woc who grown up with tons of expectations put in our shoulders. We also grew up overprotected from the world and that led to a difficult late teenage and early adult life cuz we didn't know how to do shit and life beat us like a mf. We trusted  people who scar us. We both fought battles against mental illness and when we are in rock bottom we just isolate ourself from everyone. And we both simp for hot femme brunettes with girlboss energy

-what’s your fave season of atla? Whats your fave season of tlok? Book 3 of atla is a masterpiercer. I also like book 3 of tlok, but today i will choose book 1 because everytime i rewatch it, i left with another discover or view of what happen there and everything is just so real and i think is the actually most dark season od tlok

-who’s your favorite villain? Azula 

-most overrated avatarverse character? Kuvira. She def aint all that. All of other main villains from both shows are better written within their goals and all of them are stronger than her, cuz all of them Ozai, Azula, Amon, Unalaq and Zaheer represented a real threat to the Avatar’s life and the fight their had kept you on edge because you knew they were powerfull. With Kuvira... her first match with Korra she was actually about to lose if Korra didnt had allucinate. And teh final battle, fighting one vs one with Korra, the avatar pulled her punches too much and it feel like Korra could murder Kuvira anytime she wanted

-most underrated avatarverse character? Katara. People joke so much about her that they forget how powerfull she really is. Katara can legit beat all of the others Gaang members, excepect Aang cuz he is the Avatar.

-who’s the most tragic character in your opinion? Azula. She was just a kid when everything happened and she needed help, love and support. And the away bryke destroy her character in the comics after The Search is something that enfuriates me as a fan and a fellow writer

-what duo did you want to see more of? Azula and Katara. I know they arent a duo but they have so similar backstorys and arcs that i wish they had more scenes together. I think it would be better than Zutara scenes.

what’s your favorite headcanon? Azula is a lesbian. Lin and Kya are a couple.Azula got the help she needed and was one of Korra firebender teachers.Korra find a way to connect with the past avatars in the spirit world.

[firelxdykatara]

I would actually be really genuinely interested to read your defence of Makorra. I’ve never really been partial to any of the TLOK ships but I know that one gets a lot of hate (even though I don’t see anything wrong with people shipping it) and I’m just curious to see your take.

I've been sitting on this a bit, because it's been a while since I actually sat down and thought about what it is I love so much about Makorra--the fire/water and slap-slap-kiss/BST energy aside--and it reminded me that I actually rewatched the first three episodes of LoK not that long ago (which is when I had my revelation about Equalist Asami, and how I think that the Equalist Mako and Korra fight in episode three was originally meant to be Asami's true introduction to the show, to be revealed when it became clear she and her father were Equalists), because of this meta by @devildogdemon on episode three that reminded me just how much those early episodes made me love Makorra well before the love triangle crashed onto the scene and everything went tits up.

I've spoken before about how what I really loved about Makorra was the potential:

I personally loved Makorra, but I loved it for what it could have been, not what it wound it actually being in the show–but that’s because the love triangle was sloppy as hell and poorly handled, and it took the place of actual bonding for the krew and development of their individual friendships.

This still holds true, and I think the foundations were all very well laid out in the meta that I linked above.

When Mako and Korra had time alone together, and were in a stressful situation, they worked incredibly well together, despite the way their personalities--Mako a bit staid and stoic, used to shoving down his emotions so that he could be the parent his little brother needed and, as a result, never learning how to process how he felt in a healthy manner, while Korra spent her whole life among adults and as a result never really learned how to just be a kid, or how to relate to others her own age, so she is brash and reckless and does what she thinks is necessary because she's never been around people who had to ask permission before they just Did Things and hey, she's the avatar, shouldn't she be the one everyone is looking to for leadership???--tended to clash, especially early on.

They slid almost effortlessly into the Battle Couple trope when it came time to fight--to try and get Bolin back, and to protect one another--and those scenes in Book 1 feel a lot like Zuko and Katara training together at the end of book 3, covering each other's blind spots and accomodating for each other's weaknesses. This is also, incidentally, the episode where Korra winds up wearing Mako's scarf--the one memento he has from his parents, who were killed when he was a child. Sound familiar?

-insert image of katara's necklace around zuko's wrist here-

And before anyone gets on me about the parallels, I'm not saying that Makorra is the same as Zutara (although if you told me that Bryke intended it to be, I'd believe it--either because they thought they were finally giving the shippers what they wanted or, more likely, they wanted to show why they believed zk would never work), but the parallels do exist, and it's largely because Mako occupies the same position within the krew that Katara does within the gaang. They also have the BST and the banter more than any other relationship in the krew, so of course they're going to wind up paralleled to the relationship in the gaang that had the most narrative tension. They are still, at the end of the day, very different relationships, because Mako and Korra are very different people than Zuko and Katara.

But I'm just saying, the symbolism of one half of the pair wearing the other's only physical link to their dead parents........it's there. I didn't make this up.

They also, again like zutara, have this moment of emotional closeness and vulnerability early in the book--in episode 3, where Mako reveals to Korra what happened to his parents and why he had history with the triads, which casts some light on why he acted the way he did in the very first episode (I've seen people getting on Mako's ass about how 'mean' he was to Korra, but like, a) he was very calm about it, and b) how else would you expect someone who lived hand to mouth on the street for an entire decade to react to someone claiming they had 'nothing' in the same breath as admitting that they'd never had to want for anything in their entire life?), and allows them to become closer emotionally--as friends and potentially more, given the explicitly romantic framing of the interaction and several others throughout the episode.

Ultimately, what initially drew me in to Makorra was that slap-slap-kiss/Belligerent Sexual Tension they had in the beginning of book 1, but what really makes me think of what they could have been is the way their relationship developed in episode 3 and the groundwork that was laid for a slow-burn there, rather than Korra deciding she was in love with him just in time for Asami to crash into the scene and nab him first.

(Incidentally, had Asami been an Equalist like she was originally supposed to, this could all have been part of a larger plot and Korra could have slowly come to realize what Mako meant to her while examining the things she felt when she saw him with Asami--meanwhile, all of their relationships could have been given room to breathe and grow, especially if Bolin's puppy crush on Korra were dropped, and Mako and Korra clashing over Korra's suspicions of Asami wouldn't have been quite so ugly if both of them were proven just a little bit right. And then allow for that betrayal to shake the foundations of the krew before Asami works her way back into their good graces, and Mako and Korra don't get together until they've navigated the fallout from that and discovered how much they really mean to each other.)

Uh... yeah, I rambled for days, hopefully I answered your question adequately! I just. I really love Mako, and I really love what he and Korra could have been to each other, and I really love who Korra could have become if the show let her actually grow organically instead of giving her Character Development Through Brutal Torture, and all of that has I guess kind of sunk into a ball of how the show would look if Makorra were done better to me lol.

[bharattlok]

Mako Appreciation Post

Mako is generally not appreciated for what he is and is kind of hated. So, I wanted to write this post to appreciate him and show how he is a great character and how much depth he has. I want to write why he is one of my favourite characters in the franchise.

First of all, let's start with his childhood. Mako's parents were killed in front of his eyes, when he was eight, by a firebender. Imagine seeing the murder of your own parents.

Being the elder brother, with no knowledge of his relatives, he was forced to take on adult responsibilities from that point on, depriving him of the majority of his childhood. He took on the parental role for Bolin from the age of eight. Let that sink in. This impacted Mako largely and he became stoic, brooding, aloof and indifferent.

He never allowed this to discourage him though - he did whatever was necessary in order for their survival. Even if it meant dipping his toes into shady criminal activities, Mako prioritized only making sure they'd be able to survive another night. He always protected his brother. Mako used to see it as his sole job to provide for him and keep him safe.

Partially due to Mako doing his best to shield Bolin from the true cruel nature of the world after their parents' death, Bolin's positive nature never left him. We can say it is because of Mako that Bolin is goofy and "likeable". He let Bolin be a child.

Mako is similar to Katara in that both have mothers killed by firebenders, a memento of a parent (Mako's father's scarf and Katara's mother's necklace), both also raised their brothers as a parent would do, a personality contradictory to that of their brothers, and both were love interests of the Avatar of their time.

Next, let's look at the romance part for which he is hated the most. The first thing to note is that he cared for both Asami and Korra, even when he was just friends with them. Also, he never made the first move. It was Korra (in season 1) and Asami (in season 2) who kissed him first. People often say that "Mako did this wrong thing, that wrong thing" but fail to recognise that although not being the sole one wrong he apologizes. He is very bad at relationships and Asami and his cousin, Tu best describe this-

Tu: “It seems like you're so afraid to disappoint anyone that you end up disappointing everyone.”

Asami: “Mako has never been the most "in touch with his feelings" guy.” (probably because of his rough childhood)

But Mako does care about them. Some examples are – he goes with Korra to fight Amon, he consoles Asami when she lost all her supplies, he is concerned when Suyin is taking out the poison from Korra’s body, etc.

The thing here is that most of his actions can be justified and he never did anything really horrible.

Although he is awkward at the beginning of season 3, he eventually gets over it and remains good friends with both Korra and Asami. He cares about them as a friend and we can see it throughout season 3 and 4. He does share a platonic relationship with them.

In short, Mako is a tries-to-be-good-but-not-so-good boyfriend but a great friend and brother.

Also, Mako is very committed to his job. Whether he was a cop, a detective or a bodyguard, he took his job seriously and worked hard.

Another remarkable thing about him is that how good firebender he is although not having any formal training in it. He is a quick-thinker and tactical.

We also see him grow emotionally when he gave his father’s scarf to his grandma understanding that perhaps she needed it more than him.

And now let’s talk about his best scene in the whole series – When he was ready to sacrifice himself in order to stop Kuvira and save the city. This was an act of selflessness.

His character growth in the series is not as big as Korra or Zuko (and it doesn’t have to be) but he does grow just like any other ATLA/TLOK character.

In the end, Mako is a kind person on the inside. He's devoted to the people that are close to him, and you can count on him in any situation.

I don't know how someone can hate him or call him unlikable.

This is Mako from season 1 start who was insensitive to Korra,

And this Mako from season 4 end who said that he has got her back. (The best ending for two good friends.)

From Bryan’s “Korrasami is canon” post, it’s supposed to be that “Mako and Korra break the typical pattern and end up respecting, admiring, and inspiring each other.”

[justteamavatar]

Thoughts on ruins of the empire 2?

***I decided to hold this off until the comic actually came out, but I’ll be sure to tag this with spoilers!***

I found it to be a pretty solid continuation of RotE part 1 despite having some small issues/concerns with it. It introduced a lot of cool topics into the story and it’s really making me excited for what RotE part 3 has in store for us!

* * * * *

It was nice to see Asami kicking some butt on the airship with Bolin and Mako, but I was a little upset by how quick that scene ended (though I totally understand that they only have so many pages to work with). I guess in a way, the shortness of the fight would make sense – they were surrounded in an enclosed environment, taken by surprise, and Bolin didn’t have any access to his natural element either. It would put the team at a disadvantage since the element of earth can easily wipe out large groups of enemies.

I do like how that scene enforced the distrust that the team (and particularly Asami) naturally has towards Kuvira. Even if we, as an audience, knows that Kuvira doesn’t have any malicious intent, it’s something she’ll have to prove to the rest of the cast. I think a big part of Kuvira’s arc is for her to understand the effects of her actions in Book 4 and take responsibility for what she did – simply apologizing won’t take away the pain she caused towards a lot of these characters. The flashback scenes in this comic and RotE part 1 kind of suggests that Kuvira’s always had troubles with taking responsibility for her actions (which seems to be a reason for why her parents gave her away to Su - though we still don’t have a clear idea on how they really were as parental figures).

Even though I’m not too big of a fan on the whole redemption arc idea, it does seem that Kuvira is trying her best to earn back some trust from our main cast. After she escaped Guan’s camp, she could have easily gone off on her own, but she decided to speak with Su and find her way back to Korra to help stop Guan and his forces. She seemed to address Asami a lot before she gets brainwashed, so perhaps this is showcasing Kuvira being a bit more aware about how much she hurt Asami by killing her father. I think the two of them will have to have a scene in RotE part 3, but I am a little worried that we’ll be hit with another “I guess I had you pegged wrong” moment by Asami to Kuvira…

* * * * * 

As for the whole brainwashing thing, I’m split two ways about it. On one hand, I honestly do find it interesting to see how Asami, Mako and Bolin’s loyalty/love for Korra is broken due to the effects of the brainwashing technology – especially when it comes to Korra/Asami (and to an extent, Opal and Bolin - considering what happens in that final fight scene). Seeing her walk towards Guan’s army on her own to try to rescue Asami, Mako and Bolin was badass! On the other hand, I see where some others are coming from when it comes to being annoyed about the Krew getting benched for Kuvira to have a redemption story. I think it’s a particularly sore spot when it comes to Asami – first she was kidnapped in Turf Wars, and now we see her being brainwashed in RotE.

Poor Korra and Asami just can’t seem to catch a break! That conversation between Korra and brainwashed!Asami in the airship really made my heart ache. Even if Korra know that it isn’t really Asami who’s saying those words, we can still seem how much it stings for her to hear them, nonetheless. She just (understandably) looked so distraught over the whole situation – from having to face her off in the battlefield to having to lock her up in that prison. This is the first time where the person she loves the most is no longer by her side and considering how both Korra and Asami expressed how they can overcome anything as long as they’re together, I’m sure Korra feels quite a bit lost about everything. I really hope we’ll get a nice conversation between the two of them in RotE part 3. I don’t know if Asami will be able to remember what happened to her while she was brainwashed, but I can’t help but wonder if this will be something that will weigh down on her and Korra’s minds even after the trilogy is over.

* * * * *

The vision that Wu had of Queen Hou-Ting was unexpected, but pretty cool! That encounter really seems to be challenging Wu when it comes to his responsibilities being a king. While he might genuinely believe that forming a democracy is what’s best for the Earth Kingdom, it might be too quick of a change for its people. And if that’s the case, Wu may have to confront the possibility of him having to take on the role of being a King, even if he’s apprehensive/fearful of it.

Kind of relating to this, I was surprised to see how fast Toph agreed to run in the election considering her dislike towards politics and people in general! Korra’s idea to use Wu’s vision of Hon-Ting to get Toph on board with the plan was clever, especially when she connected it to the idea of the swamp teaching you things that you need to learn if you’re opened to listening. It seems that Toph wants to challenge the vision’s words about Earth Kingdom people wanting to be “safe” and “secure” rather than going “outside of their comfort zone”, seeing as how she’s agreed to going outside of her own comfort zone to run as a candidate. I will say, out of all of this, Toph agreeing to run in the election allowed for the cutest panel in the entire book to be drawn:

(Korra helping Toph to sign her signature is just too adorable!!!)

Though, I’m not sure how the election is going to go now that Wu himself is being brainwashed. Before, he wanted to call off the election entirely, but now he’ll be in complete support of Guan.

* * * * *

I’m excited to see how Bataar Jr will play in on helping to reverse the brainwashing – I wonder if he’ll end up recruiting Varrick as well, considering how they worked together in Book 4. I wasn’t sure if the writers were going to have Kuvira and Bataar Jr confront each other in the comics, but I’m glad they went with it! They’ll be a lot of hard feelings between the Kuvira, Bataar Jr as well as Su and I can’t wait to see how it will be fleshed out in the next comic.

On a bit of a side note, something that caught my eye was the “Get down, mom!” dialogue that was pointed towards Kuvira in the action scene at the end. It’s weird because we see Su holding Toph down to get her out of harms in the same panel. I don’t know if this was a mistake and the bubble was actually supposed to be pointing towards Su, or if it was intentional to have it directed towards Kuvira. If it’s the latter, I really hope it’s something that’s expanded upon in part 3 because I feel like that’s a pretty significant thing for Kuvira to say to Su.

* * * * *

But yeah, overall, I feel like this comic introduced a lot of interesting plot points, though with so many different topics set in place, my biggest concern is how they’ll be able to tackle everything within RotE part 3. Everything from stopping Guan, reversing the brainwashing technology, expanding upon Kuvira’s relationship with Su + her family and the Krew and what happens with the election and Earth Kingdom after Guan is stopped – there is a lot to unfold here within an 70-ish pages.

I know some people have speculated that this all may even continue on into the next trilogy. Personally, I would love to see the next series based in the Fire Nation! We could see more of Zuko and Izumi (maybe we’ll even get introduced to Izumi’s daughter?) and who knows, maybe even Asami will finally get her own story to explore due to her Fire Nation heritage! Either way, I’ve really been enjoying how engaging these comics have been! It honestly feels like I’m watching a Book 5 continuation of TLOK!

[hachibe]

Ok, if anyone haven't noticed before, due to the amount of atla stuff i've been rebloging recently, I was rewatching atla after a long time. And now I'm on to tlok. Except for season 1, I haven't rewatched anything from tlok ever. Especially s2, which i hate.

So, I'm gonna live blog. I'm sorry for all my followers that couldn't give a shit about it. But i’m tagging it as #pris rewatches tlok so feel free to block

some thoughts on The Legend of Korra season 1:

- first thought: i love all the ways that Korra is so different than Aang

- I know I learned to love Tenzin with time, and I think is because it took me a while to realised how everything we know about him is what the narrative (and also him, I guess) wants us to think, not exactly how he actually is. We are constantly told how Tenzin is calm and patient and wise but we keep seeing him being nervous and impatient and making wrong decisions ( some of them completely biased and stiffed). And I learned to love him when I realised that he has (and us as an extension) this idea of what a airbender should be, and he tries to be that, he tries really hard to be that, but is not who he is. And I think this is more explored in s2 and s3 (I love his contrast with Zaheer)  but I'm getting ahead of myself. So... to cut things short, I appreciate how the narrative keeps telling us how calm and collected Tenzin is and then keep showing us how he is not.

- Mako, my boy Mako. On the first episode when he appeared I was like "why do I hate him, again?" and then 2 episodes later I'm like "oh jesus Christ will you shut your mouth!!!?"

- Lin, is a perfect human being, never done anything wrong ever in her life. (And I must confess, her voice is so sexy)

- the whole thing with Pema is so 😬

- i recently read a fic where in different occasions Sokka and Toph (or was it 2 different fics? Who knows?) complains that pro-bending is lame, is not truth to the real spirit of fighting or bending or whatever, and that earth ramble was the real thing. And although I agree that pro-bending brought something new to the styles of bending (you can see by the way the characters moves that there is not that clear distinction between the bending elements in their style of bending anymore, not like there was in atla. And I don't know if it was proposital or a mistake/laziness by the team), I must say so that is so cool to watch!!! I would definitely be a fan of pro-bending if I lived in that world.

- Lin sacrificing herself to save Tenzin's family? That's the shit! That scene haunts me in my dreams till this day.

- knowing how this romance plot is going to end is what's keep me going, honestly. Every time I have to see Mako and Korra interact in a scene I just get this nervous laugh.

- we haven't gone through the other seasons yet but I feel like Amon was the dude who had the best plan. The guy thought and planned his moves and I admire that in a villian.

- not to compare tlok to atla but...... I feel like the new avatar team misses a guy like Sokka. The plan guy, the guy with the ideas. And not just a person to have ideas but a person who think things and how to do things. I feel like this new team avatar just reacts to stuff. That's why their opponents are always ahead of them, because they never think things through. And I know that this is particular to Korra's nature, she's impulsive and always tries to strike first. (Alot like Zuko in s1). But they needed someone like Sokka in the group to balance things out. And I don't think any of the new avatar team is like that. Not even Tenzin.

- general Iroh was kind of the idea guy, and a good one, but he also only appeared for 3 episodes and never again. So... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

- btw, he deserves the name he was given. That dude never stopped even when the odds were all against him. I never checked for the tlok comics but I think I should. I would love some spin offs of the United Nations forces. Would love some stories with Bumi and him, please and thank you.

- to be honest I don't like how Korra got to airbend in the end. She couldn't airbend because she was never in the face of danger or because someone/something she cared about was in danger. It was always because she never listen, she never had patience. Or whatever it was necessary to airbend. Like Aang, when he couldn't earthbend, he couldn't do it because he was never willing to stand his ground and face things head first. And he was only able to do it when he finally stood his ground. But Korra, Korra only did it because the narrative needed her to.

- not gonna lie, that ending with Tarrlok and Noatak? The saddest thing ever.

[ourimpavidheroine]

So I take it you're not looking forward to the new Kuvira-centric comic?

Short answer? No.

Long answer? Honestly, I’ve been very, very underwhelmed by all of the ATLA/TLOK comics thus far. I mean…I suppose the new one could redeem itself by being really good, sure. But I’m not holding my breath or anything. 

I’m not a Kuvira-stan. You people know this. I think she’s an extremely compelling villain! In fact, I loved her as a villain. That being said, I am wholly uninterested in a redemption arc for her, especially as it looks like her redemption is going to be based on Suyin Beifong’s a mean old soccer mom and it’s all her fault and Oh look there’s the Avatarverse version of Mengele over there and he’s so much worse than me, he’s the real bad guy here.

I’m really fucking skittish about Su being framed as a villain. I do not think Bryke EVER got it right when it came to mothers in the Avatarverse. Either they were dead (Sokka and Katara’s mother, Mako and Bolin’s mother, Asami’s mother) or we had no idea if they were dead or alive or what the fuck during the actual story (Zuko and Azula’s mother, Eska and Desna’s mother, Izumi’s mother) or they were in the story but were basically there as scenery (Korra’s mother, Toph’s mother, Bumi, Kya and Tenzin’s mother, Mai’s mother, Noatak and Tarrlok’s mother). The only fleshed out mothers we get are Su and Toph Beifong, and Toph is really pushing it. I mean, we know canonically that Toph was a lousy mother. And while I do sincerely applaud Bryke for allowing Toph to be a lousy mother instead of some idealized 1950′s super mom that would be a wholly unbelievable character arc for her that only leaves us with Su as the sole mother who is a)actually in the show and b)has more than two lines.

Su Beifong, much as I loved her - and oh my god, did I love her - was a morally gray character. No doubt about it. She was a Slytherin Mom for damn sure.

Was she a perfect mother? I don’t think that exists. Good Mom? You know, I think she was, all things considered. I do not think anyone can argue that Su didn’t love her kids. She didn’t raise her sons with toxic masculinity - look at their father, for one thing, and we see the twins openly crying and that’s fine - and she’s proud of Huan’s ugly sculptures and there’s never any pressure on him to bend offensively (that includes in the train tunnels as Kuvira is attacking Republic City and he never bends at all). The moment Opal tells her parents she wants to leave Zaofu and go and train with the other airbenders Su and Baatar let her go - and they don’t bring her home even after the Red Lotus attack, despite how hard that must have been for them as parents. 

(We’ve got no idea about Junior, but the whole shy bumbling dork with no lines at all somehow turns into primo evil mad scientist thing comes out of nowhere and is not only not set up at all in the narrative but is never explained either. That’s on Bryke, however, and not Su and Baatar. It’s bad writing, for sure.)

And sure, Su as a mother has her moments. I mean…she also takes her teenage sons with her to assassinate someone, for the love of god. And she tells her oldest son, the war criminal, that everything will be just fine and all will be forgiven which is…neither reasonable nor realistic. She expects Tenzin, one of only five airbenders in the world (including the Avatar!) to drop everything and come and train her daughter on site. Which is just nuts. She has a truthseer who is always following her about, spying on people, which is super creepy. That’s Su for you. 

But, and I have said this again and again, but I have NEVER seen it addressed anywhere else - not in the show, not in any critiques I’ve read, etc. - there are TWO parents in Zaofu. Baatar may be mild-mannered, yes. But he’s there. He’s clearly an involved parent - we see him with his kids! We see him with his wife! We see him interact with his mother-in-law, we see him in the cage with the rest of his family, we see him in the tunnels with Huan, hell, we see him at the wedding in Republic City. He’s in the courtroom in the comic! 

So can someone PLEASE tell me why it always, always comes down to Su? That no one ever talks about her husband? Do not get me wrong, Su is clearly a dominant force; she’s a Beifong, for crying out loud. But Baatar has a backbone. He openly defies Junior and Kuvira without any hesitation whatsoever, fuck the consequences. He’s there when Opal tells her parents - not her mother, but her parents - that she wants to leave Zaofu to train. He’s clearly part of that decision. Does he leave the fighting to his wife? Yes, and rightly so. Does he let her carry on with the running of the city while he focuses on the building of it? Clearly. But he’s not scenery, not in the way that Senna is, for example, or Poppy Beifong.

Ever heard Kuvira mention Baatar Sr at all, never mind as someone who might have had a say in her upbringing? Never.

So to take Kuvira and reduce all of her megalomania, all of her madness, all of her destructiveness down into (foster) mommy issues? That is always going to feel like a cheap cop-out to me. I don’t care how you frame it. I cried bullshit all over that last conversation with Korra where Korra was like…oh, I get it, you felt insecure and your abandonment issues with parental figures made you want to wholesale kill people, cool cool cool cool cool, like I relate. 

Me, during that scene:

And the worst part of it is that they never did that with Amon. Yakone fucked up his kids but good; we know this. He was a legit criminal who only had kids as a means of getting revenge on those whom he felt had wronged him. He raised his sons as weapons. He was, beyond a doubt, an evil person and an appalling father. He had zero redeeming qualities. And yet…Amon is never given a pass for that. It’s there, it’s part of the story, we are horrified by it, but the narrative tells us that Amon is 100% responsible and culpable for his crimes despite his upbringing. The end.

The same is true for Zuko, by the way. The narrative makes it explicitly true that Zuko is responsible for his own shit despite what Ozai (and Ursa!!!) did to him. (The difference with Zuko is that he was still a child, whereas Amon and Kuvira are clearly adults. And even at that Zuko isn’t given a pass!)

So if the story, as told, is that in order to find redemption Kuvira needs to accept responsibility for what she did and stop blaming parental figures for all of the really appalling shit she should be in prison for the rest of her fucking life and not swanning around the former Earth Kingdom in snazzy Asami Sato hand-me-downs, then fine. I mean, been there done that already in this Verse and I’m not personally interested in following a rehashed redemption arc, but fine. It works.

But considering that they’ve got this new general dude outside of Gaoling that’s clearly set up to be Mengele and thus even worse than Kuvira? Oh man. I just…let Kuvira be a villain, okay? Redeem her if that’s what you want, but then REDEEM HER. Stop trying to make her somehow the lesser evil, here. This character was clearly created to make her seem the lesser evil; he wasn’t even alluded to in the show itself. I will lay cash that part of the Kuvira redemption arc is that OH NO she realizes that Megele dude is THE WORST and she is obligated to STOP HIM. Hey, here’s an idea…maybe you should have stopped him three years ago, how about that? You don’t get a goddamn pass for an unprovoked attack on a foreign nation with a weapon of mass destruction because some other guy in your army was conducting human experimentation. That’s not how this works. There’s no pass. 

But I’m never going to stop being super fucking salty that you take the ONE mother in this show that is actually a fully-fleshed out character on screen and let her take the blame - all alone, never mind her husband - for being a crap mother to her foster kid that decided to grow up and become a fascist. Fuck that noise. Sincerely.

[dontcountyourwords]

Welcome to Korra City

Finally, the first episode of the Legend of Korra! I have waited since this summer to start watching this series, and I am excited to get into it.

Avatar Aang and Fire Lord Zuko built up Republic City as a capital of their new United Nations-type effort. There are some people out there who would disagree with the following, and say that it instead mirrors some other metropoles, but with its Golden Gate Bridge, Central Park, and strongest of all, the literal equivalent of the Statue of Liberty, down to the figure representing it, I’d say this city is strongly modelled after New York City. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if there are other elements mirroring others, so do point them out!  I do love the idea of the Statue of Aang/Liberty. Who commissioned it? Was it commissioned after he passed, or still before? Given how young he looks on it, I’d say while he was still alive. Did another nation send it there, much like the real-world statue, or was it made in the city itself? This is not a critique, I just find the situation somewhat humorous :’)

Korra knows she is the avatar from a very young age, she didn’t need anyone to tell her this at her 16th birthday. I’ve seen many people being rather pissed at this in the same way they got pissed about Rey from Star Wars, but given the context that Nickelodeon didn’t even want a female protagonist, I think I can see where it came from. This way, they still had a “strong” character, “despite” her being female. Sigh. On the other hand, I love they way she’s introduced. “I’m the avatar, and you gotta deal with it!” It’s like she’s saying this not to the viewers, but to Nickelodeon themselves. It ranges up there with Sara Bareilles’ song “I’m not gonna write you a love song”. You go girl.

I love the little exposition we get into her character as both “strong” by Katara and “lacking restraint” by another White Lotus member, as I think this will set the theme for her character. In the city, when she fights the oppressing assholes, we indeed see that she is strong, but she wields her power in a very reckless manner. So, Korra is not perfect. One needs more than strength to be successful, one also needs to know how to wield it.

Korra being locked up in a fortress is a great limit to her development as the avatar. Her world is quite literally very small, and it probably is not what Aang envisioned when he said to “protect the next avatar”. Previous avatars travelled the world to learn the elements, in the meanwhile connecting with the people they meet, and learning the world’s ways. Korra’s world is still like Aang’s world, and this is about the first thing she learns when she arrives in Republic City. Her confinement did not prepare her for what it’s like out there, and so impeded her in her avatar duties. Korra has to learn what makes the outside world tick.

Still, I am a bit confused at how easily Korra escaped her confinement. Given the few hints we got at them being mistrustful of her even going out on a stroll with Naga, I’d think they would know better than her easily escaping by digging a tunnel through the ice. It would naturally be Katara to give her blessings though, as she has seen what change the avatar can bring about in the world, and she probably realises, too, that her confinement does her no good to achieve this

Once arrived in Republic City, she instantly wreaks havoc, clumsily running through the streets, showing she is not accustomed to the modern world. Her confinement actually made her less apt to perform her duty as the avatar, as it didn’t prepare her for what the world was really like. 

In the city, she finds out in a few scenes that the city isn’t what it promises to be: she has a chat with someone who’s homeless explaining it to her, she meets a guy who just walked out of X-MEN shouting that benders are oppressing them, and eventually she fights some assholes, who indeed use their bending to extort non-benders. 

She is arrested by Lin, who doesn’t want anything to do with her avatar business: all she sees is someone who trashed a neighbourhood in the city. Tenzin promises (as a councilman mind you) to send her back, but as she’s saying goodbye to him and his family at the dock, he changes his mind, and says she can stay. (Poor fellas in the background who were ready with their huge ship to take Korra back. “Did we just sail all this way for nothing?” I hope they needed to pick up some cargo, too.)

Anyway. If you ask me, that is not really good imagery for a councilman, breaking his word like that. It probably pissed off Lin a good deal, but we don’t get to see that in this episode. What we do see, is her standing calmly by Korra as she’s delivering her speech to Republic City about her duties and how she’s happy to be here.

I kind of wish the series would have started a bit differently. The series has to balance with most of its viewers probably being those who had already seen ATLA, but also somehow having to appeal to new audiences. I think it would have been interesting to keep the introduction a bit more vague, and also to take more time to build up Korra’s life in confinement, and her relationship with Katara and perhaps her parents. Currently, I didn’t really feel it when they said goodbye. Additionally, instead of immediately introducing her as bending all of these elements and showing how strong she is, this could be suspended until she got to republic city. This way, the viewers who might be unfamiliar, are still left with the wonder “what is the avatar?” “Why is it so important?” Then, the scene in Republic City, where she beats up some benders, and the bystander recites with amazement how she’s bending each element would make a bit more sense I think. Now it feels like “yes we know she’s the avatar, and we already know she’s super strong, the only possible new thing is that this is something we should be in awe of”. However, given that the series was first meant to run for one season, I get why it was rushed.

This concludes my first ramblings on TLOK! This post got helluva lot longer than I expected it to be. But hey, practice makes perfect! 

Let me know if there’s anything that rings true for you, or on the contrary, that you disagree with, or if there’s anything I’ve missed!

[kristallioness]

"Turf Wars: Part One" - a review

I am a very happy girl tonight.. My 7-months-preordered comic book FINALLY arrived, yay! I read the first part of "Turf Wars" around 1 am and I absolutely loved-loved-loved it! It really gave me the familiar feeling of TLOK (I haven't watched it since last year *sob* and now I miss it but I'm busy rewatching ATLA currently, will have to continue with TLOK after that). Okay, I'm still shaking a little because I'm so excited, but I'll try to write down some of my favourite things about this part:

First off, in general it was so gay, there's so much happening, but it's all sort of related and balanced out rather well imo, the illustrations are pretty *bows to Irene Koh*, the colour palette is soft and it all left me with such a nice impression! I'm very pleased that this is the first TLOK comic book ever to be released (almost forgot "Friends for Life", but "Turf Wars" is the first trilogy). I have no idea why I've seen so much critique about these kinds of things, but none of it bothered me at all. I think some people are only focused on (pointing out) the negative sides that they've forgotten why they're reading these comics in the first place - to enjoy reading them, to notice every positive little detail instead, to appreciate the fact that life goes on in the Avatar world and we've been blessed by Bryke to see it through these beloved characters.

Secondly, I think I'll mention some great moments I enjoyed very much. Obviously I can't get around the way Korra and Asami interacted - the loving gazes, the kisses, the hand holding, worrying about each other, talking about their feelings, fighting alongside Team Avatar, putting arrogant businessmen and the President in their place. It was so precious to see them doing everything together (and NO, it wasn't too much for me)!

Korra coming out to her parents - their reactions were realistic. I especially liked that Senna hugged both Korra AND Asami, too. To anyone who wasn't too happy with Tonraq's reaction - it was resolved later when Kya talked to Korra that it's Water Tribe tradition to keep very personal matters to yourself (I love that it's special in the Water Tribes and how Korra's face softened when Kya said it). This is such an important lesson and it's one my family has propagated as well (my parents taught me). Not everybody has to know about everything private that goes on at my home, if only my closest friends and family members. This is why I related to Tonraq, even Senna said what he meant - that not everyone won't be as accepting. And do people blatantly ignore the fact that as Korra was rushing out of the palace (with Asami's hand in hers, demonstratively) Tonraq apologized?

So they're now heading back to Republic City.. D'aawwww!!! Aang and Katara's children welcoming Korra and Asami back. Enough said. One of the most heartwarming moments. Poki for President! Meelo, you little nugget, I love you. And Korra stroking Poki's head, so cuuuute! Asami being a little shy about going with Korra to give a speech (because she's just the Avatar's lover.. Oh c'mon, Asami! Do it like Katara did when Aang had to thank everybody after the invasion failed, am I right?). I understand her and Korra was understandably disappointed. I love that Kya noticed it and later went to talk to them about it. Her smirk when Tenzin said that those two make a good team together. Kya, you lesbian goddess, stop stealing my heart, I'm straight! Also, I loved that Korra quoted Tenzin during her speech, that was touching.

Air Temple Island is such a beautiful place.. Aang and Katara had it good over there. I mean, that pretty bi-flag-coloured sunset, I'm in love! Kya's conversation with Korra and Asami meant so much to me (one of my favourite scenes EVER in this comic, if not in the entire series concerning Kya) and I can't wait to see more of her. If not, then I'm actually satisfied this time since we learned a lot more about her from these little moments where she was in. The most important being that AANG LOVED HER AND WAS FULLY SUPPORTIVE WHEN SHE CAME OUT TO HIM! Take notes, fandom! Aang and Katara loved all of their children, they only wanted the best for them and they tried to be the best parents they could be *drops mic*.. Also, yeah, when's Bumi's turn to interrupt his father's reincarnation's private moment with her girlfriend during that sunset? Ha-ha!

Did anyone even notice that the police headquarters is now temporary? Did that building with Toph's statue get wiped out during Korra and Kuvira's battle? Aww, I'm sad if it's so, I loved that statue because Toph was in her police uniform there.. *remembers that Toph has 2 other statues in Zaofu* Never mind, moving on! *lol* Then again, can I say how happy I am that Kya was in the evacuee camp helping the healers!? This gives me hope that maybe we'll get a peek at the hospital (and KATARA'S STATUE in front of it) if someone gets injured in the following parts!!! Also, even as a little girl, Kya totally went to work with her mother at the hospital (Katara would let her daughter play with the medical instruments or practise her waterbending and healing in her office, she might've gotten annoyed by it a bunch of times but eventually she'd always end up playing along to take a break from her paperwork). This is my headcanon and ain't no one stealing it from me now. Help, I NEED to draw this!..

Zhu Li taking command at the evacuee camp, damn yes! She's got my support for the election! Korra smirking when she sees President Raiko's campaign poster.. *lmfao* Same, Korra, same... His support is NEGATIVE 3%, pffft.. I can't breathe, this entire meeting was hilarious!

Wonyong Keum (note: this guy has a surname, a rich type) - it took me two pages and I already knew I hated that guy. Asami's right, she doesn't need his condolences. I giggled when Korra scared him and his workers away by going into the Avatar State and ever-so-gracefully airbending herself back down. Omg that smile, she was so pleased with herself (and so was I)!

Can we talk about the fact that Tokuga took out Viper by using his hook swords (the same weapon of choice by Jet) and can hold his own even as a nonbender? Just a reminder that nonbenders can be just as powerful as benders.

BOLIN!!! Bolin is such a precious gem throughout the book and I can't even.. Still talking to the captives and Mako being annoyed af (seriously, the changes in his expression in each panel are on point). Two-Toed Ping is a hoot, I really like him. Also, Bolin calling the first double date - my son, you are too sweet! Mako's.. god.. damn.. face. Mako.exe stopped working. *lol*

Ugh, I just adored that sweet Masami hug! Also, the radio frequencies have been screwy ever since the spirit portal appeared - I think this might play an important role in a future part. They wouldn't have put it in there otherwise (unless it was just meant to show that during this battle they were in trouble because they couldn't call for help). And the fact that the spirits' darker side appeared due to negative energy coming off from the battle - I didn't expect that, neither did I expect that bird spirit to be the one to charge at Tokuga. Since he saw Korra talking to it before it came for him, I don't blame him for thinking the Avatar sent the spirit to do that to him. Also, Korra having to choose between protecting Asami or stopping the dark spirit - this might turn some of the townspeople against her when they find out (if they think she was playing favourites and Tokuga tells them she ordered the spirits to attack humans).

In conclusion, I really miss TLOK, but this comic made me experience so many emotions, the familiarity of the characters and the breathtaking locations, the plot and the pace of action - everything made me feel like I was actually watching a brand new episode of the show and wow, I'm crying as I type this.. *rubs eyes* It made me feel at home, welcomed in a world I fell in love with back in 2012. I couldn't be happier.

[samfindingneverland]

Well, guys, even though my country status keeps stressing me (more each day) and things are not even remotely “ok” here, I took the decision to do things I like more often and try to enjoy my vacations somehow for my own sanity. Sooo, after months of uni, I finished watching the final season of “The legend of Korra” yesterday. I hadn’t completely identified why I loved this series this much, until these very last episodes. I see a lot of Korra in me: I hold myself down because the past haunts me and I can’t do anthything about it but move on and learn from it. I, as Korra, have refused (far too long) to forgive myself for my mistakes, and chose a reality of misery, self-shaming and pain, because that’s easier than facing my fears and my failure. Failure is one thing hard for me to accept, but failing people who believed in me?, that feels like twice harder. One previous event, traumatic as Korra’s was, holds me down from thinking I’m good enough to achieve what I want and, very important to me, helping others with my knowledge, kidness, determination, patience... my inner strength. I see Korra in this season and I see myself through all these past few years, and the fact that it was Zaheer himself, the one who made her suffer THAT much through the years, that helped her accept what happened to her and to keep moving forward is symbolic to me. It’s terrible and frustrating to know the one who hurt you so much has good in him, but it’s the truth; a person is never entirely holy or entirely sinful, including ourselves. And this is something one must accept to enjoy life’s bumpy ride, and it hurts terribly, yes, because you know your butt was kicked and your heart ripped, but it’s the courage to live a life in the present, to know it can be sweet and sour, that perfection doesn’t exist even though we would love that, that guarantees health and peace. Korra showed me wisdom, definitely, cannot be imparted; one has to find it and live it (at our very own pace!), it cannot be taught or communicated. I’m really proud of how wise she became. It was wonderful to connect this much with her, and I cannot thank enough Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino (and everyfuckingbody involved with TLOK in some way) for this show and all the passion they developed it with through the years.

Seing my loved characters evolve season after season gives me a sense of satisfaction I cannot describe. Character development was great on this show, but I did find some stuff that bothered me. One thing, for example, was Korra’s relationship with Mako. I found it very off at times, specially when team avatar was looking for Korra (book 1) and Asami was jealous af and Mako apparently super worried; I think Mako’s affection felt a bit forced there, and it was veeery hard for me to digest. Book 2, where the real official relationship between them is shown, involved many rolling eyes from me, but then I thought that, even though it was not portrayed just how I would have liked, relationships are messy and confusing; they involve lots of fights and disagreements, and expectations are rarely satisfied the way we thought, and that’s what we get in TLOK. Love is a very abstract thing, but mosly in our last teens (or teenage years in general) because it’s where our identity is being stablished; being on a relationship is an opportunity to get to know yourself, and I understand this is what Korra (and Mako, whatsoever) wants the most... who she is is something that can only be achieved through experience, and our feelings actually DO change as fast as it happened in the series to her. It fucking happens, and I won’t explain it: love is one crazy thing, and it helps us create our identity. I found Korrasami the most delightful thing I could encounter, because that’s love doing! (Truly, I ADORE that ship, and it is certainly not off to me because of all I have put out up here).

Probably book 3 is my favorite season, for I loved the antagonists since the very beginning, specially Zaheer, and the way the story developed just grabbed me whole. Let’s be honest: that season finale was THE SHIT. The action scenes were insane and goddamnit Korra was fucking dying and gave EVERYTHING she got. When she got out of the chains that imprisoned her and went into the Avatar state felt absolutely POWERFUL. The music played... everything felt just in the right place. Change is a tough thing to bear, but it is needed... It’s the name of this season, “change”, and with all the reason in the world: Korra must face change and all that it implies. Being afraid of change seems to only increase its inminence, but it’s our vulnerability, and acknoledging it, what makes us stronger. Sorry, but I fiercely believe that only a fool would assume that Korra isn’t strong.

I could keep writing hours and hours about this animated masterpiece, really. And I don’t expect anyone to read this long post; I do it for my own peace of mind and excitement over this series that I happened to enjoy so much. I’m so grateful that a female figure like Korra exists... I cherish her and embrace all that she is: courageous, loving, determined, selfless, empowered, outspoken, impatient, daring, vulnerable, moody, strong, resilient, human! I know the word “avatar” refers to some kind of incarnation of a deity on earth; “the bridge between worlds” she is called in the series, but if I learned something from this avatar, is that problems have solutions... solutions that I’ll be able to find if I work hard and put my heart and mind into it. There’s nothing I cannot do if I believe in myself; if I know I’m enough, no matter how small I am nor how dark is my skin.

Thank you, Korra.

[galrakythel]

voltron s8 liveblogging

episode 1:

well...here it goes...the last season.

no more predictions to look forward to, unless they do a spinoff

i hope they do a marmora spinoff, but we’d never get that

i almost wish they’d done a different opening for the last season

pidge’s pigtails

hunk’s parents are too cuteeeeeeee

allurance! allurance! allurance! i’ve been waiting for this! allurance! allurance! allurance!

yoooo as honerva taken over the galra

romelle! good job getting allura to go on a date with lance!

colleen colleen i love these mama bears

coran is such a clown i love him

allura and pidge omg 

keith’s peptalk is so good

honerva is badass i can’t

“allura, i love you” - lance, the smoothest motherfucker

kolivan smiling is the best thing i’ve ever seen

episode 2:

honerva you tried

this poor woman is searching for her son

this bitch gonna get her fucking cat

you get your cat honerva

omg they knew they were pregnant omggggg

so lotor is mad old

the galra are just space vampire cats

all that quintessence just to keep these two beautiful jackasses alive

little lotor is so cute. i feel like all he wanted was parents who gave a damn.

honerva is so fucking messy lmao

this reminds me of the legend of korra where for all of the last airbender, the fire nation was bad but then tlok for two seasons the water tribe was iffy. now the alteans are bad after the galra. i wonder how allura (and romelle) will deal with this

lotor tried

and i’m damn sure that haggar knew that she was honerva the whole time. she kept getting visions yo

this was a heavy episode

episode 3:

tbh i’m not sure how i feel about atlas and the other pilots

like i say full well that I don’t want a spinoff about them

wowwwww lahn is acting like an ass

part of me wishes that keith looked more galra

allura tries to empathize with everyone but they always throw it back in her face

is this creature ranveig was making?

i think it is

wow it’s actually really intelligent holy shit

ranveig what the hell did you do

keith saving the day and saving all galra like a good boy

was that acxa

listen if i can’t get sheith, i need acxa x keith bc they are so cute together

STOP SPLITTING UP! HOLY SHIT!

all those alteans are being super dumb

episode 4:

i’m just patiently waiting for more acxa

and krolia and kolivan, please

oh shit

what happened to olkarion with honerva’s craziness

giant space bees

that sucks, i mean honerva just totaled that entire planet

if she wants to destroy voltron, why not just go after voltron

i love how pidge and allura are different sides of the same coin. they both can do something “magic-like”. allura can tap into quintessence energy and pidge can access olkarion’s energy. they can both siphon and exchange with this type of science-y magical energy. it’s something the other paladins can’t really do. i think with pidge’s connections to forests/nature/etc. she can do this type of magic energy anywhere. as long as it’s a terrestrial planet of course

i mean the alteans may be a victim of honerva’s madness just like everyone else, but they literally went to another planet to destroy a people (the olkari) that never hurt them. i’m sry but they are the villains in this arc. you could have questioned lotor (AND HONERVA) like romelle did. you could have been eager to question and learn rather than be manipulated. you could have thought for yourselves instead of reacting like a hivemind. honerva keeps talking about how the galra are inherently evil, but here she’s doing this kind of shit. she’s a hypocrite, but she’s my hypocrite.

this season is comprised of a lot of flashbacks

...i want an acxa flashback

episode 5:

ACXA!!!!!!

ACXA WORKS ON THE ATLAS!!!!!!!!

ACXA IS SUCH A PEANUT I LOVE HER SO MUCH!

her cute ass hornssssssssssss

is this zethrid and ezor?

nevermind, i guess

these pirates yo, they need to leave

they have a vendetta against keith

what they hell

it’s gotta be zethrid or ezor

knew it it’s big zee

ezor fucking left zethrid are you serioussssssss wait what

ezor my sweet angel with the eyepatch. she must have been doing undercover missions

it’s good the girl gang is back together, even if narti is rip

episode 6:

honerva is really going this far

omg slav

what the hell is honerva fucking planning

i still don’t get her or lotor tbh

at least zarkon was concrete in what he was after: immortality

right?

honerva just seems like she’s after revenge at this point and that’s it

like where is the woman who was in love with science and the secrets of the universe

zethrid is a good guy now yay

yo that olkari who is mad mischievous is so cute

UNLESS SHE WANTS TO GO INTO THE RIFT AGAIN

or just rip spacetime bc she’s a petty bitch

TIME SPILLAGE

yo all these planets are just dying bc honerva is crazy and petty

JUST TO GET LOTOR OUT omg

“something’s not right” no shit bitch

wow honerva what the hell. he isn’t your son if he’s brainwashed

omg it’s a new castleship????!

episode 7:

he’s so cuteeeeeee. he’s recording everyone

this is so funny

omg he’s getting a cooking show

bae bae is too cute, fucking recording everything

is this this season’s filler because it’s good

space dogggggg

that was an intimate hugging scene

KOLIVAN omgggggggg i love you

i love how everyone aboard the atlas as a thing, a job, a hobby

this documentary omg

allura/lance. allurance!!!!!

hunk is the real MVP omg

he made them desserts!

this was a really good episode

episode 8:

holy shit we’re finally seeing that thing again

part of me thinks that those monsters are controlling honerva too

ALLURANCE!

omg that thing is fucking messing with her

coran is so weird

colleen is the best

allura see through that lotor bullshit

it’s trying to brainwash you

now it’s gonna do lance bullshit

ALLURA JFC

episode 9:

oh allura no

lance is pissed and so am i

gotta be proactive, even if its a whack ass plan

now it’s allura who is being used by honerva

i don’t like this plan

i don’t like this plan but i believe in you, allura

why was keith left behind?

it’s the old paladins

jfc allura in berserker mode

oh i get it. honerva trapped their soulssssss

omggg they meet the other paladins

omggggggggggggg allura and alfor reunited

episode 10:

alfor talks sense

this is one bad trip tbh

it sucks that keith can’t have zarkon with him, that he lacks that connection besides the fact that they are both galran

keith fighting zarkon is so important, he’s the leader zarkon couldn’t be

#keithforemperor2018

omg zarkon uncorrupted

zarkon is such a jock i love him

wow honerva’s ultimate goal is just so asldkjadlksdjsakd idk

“...took you into the mind of a psychopath” - zarkon talking about his wife to keith

damn zarkon

episode 11:

dont trust that wormhole

but honerva looks badass in her armor

if you hate the galra rn why the hell did you marry zarkon, honerva?

eleven episodes and i still don’t have closer with the blades

that’s a lot of people in one cell

COMMANDER OZAR YESSSSSSSSSSSSS!

OH NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

so altea and daibazaal were in the same star system!!!!!!!!!!!!

ALLURA JUST FUCKING TAKE THE ENTITY OUT OF YOU NOW

i’m so tired of these bloody alteans tbh

idiots omg

i love honerva as the villain though

i just think that allura acts out of character sometimes. like she comes off as the most level headed but will be the first one to be ruled by emotions. she should have never taken on the entity

episode 12:

merla was her name. wow. and they just killed off a big name like that

it really honerva versus shiro. i’ve been waiting for this yo

SHAY REAL MVP

the six of them omg i’m in love with this show

KROLIA AND KOLIVAN YAY

that young sendak aljsdlksajdalsdjoiasdjaslasjclkasjl?!??!?!!?

this reality yo

lotor knows that isn’t his mom holy shit

episode 13:

last episode i’m gonna cry

yo this bitch cray

this is wild

pure wild

they’re trying to talk her down omg

*snorts* honerva omg calm down

WHATasdwlakjsdlkasjdlaskdjsaldkjsaldkasjdlksadj

wHAT IS GOING ON

WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON

OMGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

I DONT KNOW IF I LIKE THIS FOR REAL

keith is emperor omggggggggg he’s gonna be the leader

wowwwwwww

lance omggggggg

that ending yo

[low-budget-korra]

Lets talk about Korra (again)

i already made this analysis, and it was well received but i dont know, i wanna do it again. Why not right? My english is better now than was when i made that analysis so i think  this one will be better written

What a way to introduce a protagonist. This line and this scene tell us everything we need to know about Korra at that time and everything she knew about herself.

In book one Korra is a 17′s old teenager who have no idea how the world, how life is outside the training center she grew up in and had been locked up since ever. So she is not only naive but have lack of social skills

Oh, and not everyone who lack’s social skills will act like Zuko and Azula okay? Korra can be confident, expressive and outgoing and still have problems when it comes to social skills.One thing dont exclude the other.

“I’m the Avatar and you gotta deal with it” did you guys notice that only for that line we can see the entire opposite on how she treat her role as avatar in comparisson with Aang? And im not here to judge because is two very different contexts.

As far as we know, Korra grew up without friends or romantic partners. Of course, she had her training partners but i believe that they are just that. 

So her entarely perception of herself was around her duty as Avatar, she didnt have personal life, she barely was Korra...She was The avatar and thats that.

So she came to Republic City, it was a mess. 

Its funny to see that she have no touch when it comes to simply talk to people, i guess when you grew up away from society, this happens. And yes, she is cocky and had to learn that people arent there to somewhat please her, and she learned that quicky. 

Thats why the Pro Bending was important for her character, not only for training but also as means of socilization.

Now lets talk about the villains: Amon and Tarrlok

The two of them represents two differents threats to Korra. Amon represents a threat to her duty as Avatar while Tarrlok represents a threat to Korra as a person.

In episode 4 we have what i still thinks is the darker episode from TLOK. In this episode Amon ambushes Korra in the final moments... Even knowing that they did their best to make Amon’s power and control be non-sexualized as possible still...He have her down on her knews, totally helpless and he even invades Korra’s personal space by touching in her face forcing her to look at him. He didn't have to sexually touch her to violate her.

And right after, the fear in Tenzin voice when asking what happened after seeing her laying in the ground like that, and how Korra is sobing in his arms teeling him how powerless and helpless she felt. I mean...Oh, and she keeps terryfied by him until he takes her bending.

Tarrlok in the  other hand doesnt do much different from his brother and started to harass Korra because he cant take ‘no’ as a answer when Korra didnt wanted to join his task force.

Whats interesting is that if it wasnt for Tarrlok harassement and maniputation, Korra wouldnt have joined his task force and wouldnt have confronted Amon and wouldn't have gone through that terrible encounter.

The thing is that Korra is caught right in the middle of a politcal power dispute over the city, something that she for sure wasnt prepare for it. And both Amon and Tarrlok woud hurt or kill her without think twice about it if that means gain  power. And that was exacly what happened

Tarrlok tried to manipulate her and keep her on leash where he could, and when his tatics didnt worked anymore he alreay had a plan B. Yes that whole metal box in that cabin in the middle of nowhere was made especifically for her and maybe Tenzin if he also get in his way.

In the end Korra lost the physical battle against both but won the ethical battle also against both. She was the responsable for expose both of them as corrupted and hypocrites. But at what price? Amon was able to remove the bends of the Avatar. And without them, how could she be the Avatar?

Remember that her entirely conception of herself was built around her duty as Avatar, be the avatar. After all, everything she was, everything she'd trained so hard for, had been destroyed in minutes. Thats why i still strongly believe that she was thinking about killing herself at the end, nobodys goes all sad and crying to in front of a clifft without thinking about jumping from it. 

But she, i think given up the idea and just sit and started to crying when Aang appeared and help her, giving her bendings back in one of the best scenes of the show. So after have everything solve and still managed to get the boy she was in love with, things where great and she “move on”

In that first half, Korra is unbearable. Everything she learned in Book 1 how to be more mature, less spoiled and all, was thrown in the trash and she was the same "child" of the book one only worse.

Until I stopped and realized that I was also unbearable and childish like this when I had my bad phases of anxiety and depression, as defense mechanism and keep people away. Returning to Korra, and if this way of acting of her was nothing more than this defense mechanism?

Because guess what, i dont think she “move on” from all that happened in Book One that fast, and for add more drama she discovered that was her father idea of keeping her locked up training in that training center we saw in book one and not traveling like avatars before her. No wonder she felt betrayed. And for adding even more drama, people still keep treating her like child, so she was despered for some validation. Something that she found in her uncles arms but she was betrayed by him after.

In the end, Korra again goes through a traumatic experience when she has her connection with past lives destroyed. We see how it affected her when she apologizes to Tenzin, through tears. And Tenzin, as the excellent master he is, tries to motivate her to face Vaatu again (now merged with Unalaq, her uncle) and again she saves the day even after go throught a traumatic event

In the final moments, we see the innocent decision to reconnect the world of spirits and the world of men. And we also see Korra and Mako permanently end their turbulent relationship.

Book 3 begins in a more mature, we see all the characters being presented in a more mature way and it seems that Korra now has overcome everything that has passed. We have the relationship between Korra and Asami deepening as well

In Book 3, called "Change" we have a great sacrifice from Korra. Her life goes down a notch when she decides to save the new airbenders from Zaheer and the Red Lotus, the only villain until now that really threat her life since their sole goal was to kill the avatar.

Korra won again but this time victory costed way too much. Yes she save the day again but now she was  physically and psychologically defeated. It was too much, she broke.

Book 4 begins and we only saw Korra in the final minutes and she is unrecognizable. We see that, once proud and courageous avatar, in someone depressed and cowerd. We never have saw Korra like that, even when she was afraid of Amon she wasnt like that.

Korra is afraid of being the Avatar again and her fight against PTSD is still one of the most sensitive, responsable and honest representation of Mentall Issues that i saw, and it was before this subject gain more space on media. It was before people started to give attention to this

I also think that she was having flashs from her other fights and not only the one against Zaheer.

Another thing I think is worth mention is that Korra took 3 years to feel safer and re-embrace her duties as Avatar. It was not 3 weeks or 3 months, it was 3 years. And anyone who suffers from some mental illness knows very well the stigma that is, the fight that is, because everyone wants you to be well faster as possible  when the truth is that many times you spend years fighting against this.  And this is a pressure that falls on you.Imagine, seeing all your friends moving forward while you continue "stock in the same place"?

Only after Korra confronts Zaheer, I think that was a way to show her coping with the trauma, she improves to the point of returning to be the great Avatar we know. I personally still struggles with this scene because put the victim in front of her agressor may not be the best idea but i understand that she needed to see that he was just a man and not the invencible monster her mind was telling her

One of the lines that stuck with me the most was in the TLOK version of the ember island players, the one that made a recap of the show before the finale. When Korra said “I was so naive” just before we watch her narration of her journey, we can feel pain, sadness and strenght. Janet was amazing in the way the delivered this line.

And this fucking quote i saw here on tumblr still is the goat: “The Last Airbender is a story of a boy who becomes a god. The Legend of Korra is the story of a goddess who becomes a girl "

And I still get really pissed when someone comes to talk shit about  Korra because she is such an incredible heroine and her journey is also so incredible.

The story of how life can be hard and unfair, how it can hurt and paralyze, but there is always a reason to move on. We should always move on.

Korra is definitely not weak, quite the opposite, she is one of the if not the strongest heroine I have ever seen. Korra inspires overcoming 

[low-budget-korra]

Coments about The Last Airbender and Legend of Korra

and just a quick review of The Last Airbender

It had been a while since I had been taking a few days just to re-watch this show and it was great.

I will never understand why they thought it would be a good idea to make Aang and Katara Endgame as they even joke about her seeming more like a sister to him than a love interest in episode 17 of book 3.

By the way this episode is cool because it has the confrontation between who we are and the image we transmit to the world.

Toph has always been one of the favorite characters. Honestly what they did to her is something to applaud, what could be considered a weakness is actually her greatest power.

And it's so hard to find tv shows and films that address disability in such a natural and inclusive way, Toph is best earthbender because of it.

I know, I'm not blind, so I can't and shouldn't speak for them, but that's just a thought of mine.

Katara is literally the mother of the group and this makes sense since she lost her mother very early in her life and possibly felt that she needed to take the responsibility. And also she is an extremely powerful bender.

Sokka is the brains of the team. You can look at him and think he's the weakest in the group because he's a nonbender. But no, he's amazing. And he and Suki make a very cute couple of very powerful nonbenders.

I love Zuko, he has one of the best character development I have ever seen and he is also a very powerful bender but honestly he only had a chance against Azula in the Agni Kai because she has already lost her mind at that time.

By the way, Azula is one of those characters that I can only look at and think "Dude you need therapy". I can't feel "happy" when she's defeated, just sad.

A girl with only 14years breaking like that is just sad.

I know, she had theoretically the same creation as Zuko but Zuko had his mother and she didn't even have that.

Azula was raised, at least as I understand it, by her father and the 2 elderly women there, both of whom demanded a perfection simply impossible to achieve.

She already lost her mother and we saw how it affects her and after she lost her friends, and after her father left her behind… she just break.

It's sad.

And The Last Airbender succeeded in something where Game of Thrones and Avengers Endgame failed and did not live up to the hype, respectively.

From the beginning we know that Aang has a destiny to defeat the fire lord and this is built during the three seasons. Of course the hype for the grand finale is huge and when the hype reaches a certain level is dangerous because many productions cant do something to live up to the hype. And The Last Airbender has made it one of the best series finale ever not only because they live up to the hype but cuz they exceed it.

If It had fanservice, it was so well inserted in the plot that I honestly didn't notice. This is particularly is my problem with Avengers Endgame, very unnecessary and badly executed fanservice.

Now reviewing TLA I got in touch again with some older thoughts of mine.

First of all, how i miss the feel like now i miss those filler's episodes on TLOK. Now I can clearly see that the lack of filler episodes was very detrimental not only to characters like Mako, Bolin and Asami but also to Korra herself. I'd love to see Korra deal with a more "local" problem and not always something that was threatening the fate of the world. In fact, she even had moments like this, of her facing ordinary bad guys and preventing a guy from jumping off the bridge.

And second, the world is completely different in almost every aspect.

TLA the world is old, full of philosophy and myths and a certain magic. A world of war. And in TLOK it's a modern, realistic and "peace" world

Aang was an avatar who in a very short time had to learn a lot. He had to grow really fast and take on a responsibility he never wanted. It was wonderful to relive the journey of that boy in the iceberg who became a wise avatar.

Despite the war, in TLA the protagonists and the Avatar have a lot of freedom and their help is most often welcomed. In TLOK everything is really difficult and full of rules, for example, Korra is arrested in the first episode for defeating some bad guys.

I think this is what makes some people prefer The Last Airbender over The Legend of Korra.

Not to mention that when Korra says she is the avatar, many and even Lin Beifong have a totally indifferent stance as if it were not important. While Aang was seen as the hope for better days.

Another point is the bendings. A lot of people say the TLA bending were stronger, I don't agree. I think it's just a matter of context, in TLA the benders had to exceed their abilities because it was a world at war and if they weren't the best it would mean they wouldn't come home.

In TLOK bending is a sport , instrument of work and martial art. After all the world is in "peace" so why train for war?

I think we see the difference in fighting styles when Korra enters the pro-bending, after all the pro-bending is kinda like MMA, when most of it what counts is not the beauty of the execution of the forms but the efficiency and speed of the blows and these dont have to be much powerfull cuz they not there to "kill or be killed", its Just a sport.

The sad thing is to see how the White Lotus has decayed and become just a kind of elite bodyguard. But it is understandable that just like the Avatar and after the great masters were gone, their role in the world was reduced by thinking they were no longer needed.

There were some things here and there that I didn't like aboute The Legend Of Korra or at the time I first saw I didn't get it right. Be it the giant fight at the end of book 2, argh, I hated that. And at the end of book 1, although I was always thrilled , back in the day, I didn't understand Aang appearing out of nowhere. But what he says explains exactly why he is there.

As I understand it, Amon uses bloodbending to disable the benders. But Only the Avatar has the power to take or bring back someone’s bend  forever, because only the Avatar has the spiritual power to do so. And there when Korra was crying at that cliff, I think she thinks of killing herself but now I also think that there she may have accepted her fate and by accepting that she was now just an airbender, by accepting the lowest point of her life until then, she can open herself and enter into an avatar state. I think the creators just found a nice and cool way to show it instead of showing  Korra there crying and out of nowhere start to "fly" and bend the elements. The   avatars showing up was something in her head. It may be kind of obvious, but there are people who say it's not and the scene doesn't make sense

Remember when Tenzin later says, "True wisdom begins when we begin to accept things as they are."

In book 2, Aang tells Tenzin something that also fits Korra and The Last Airbender fanboys "... You're not me, and you shouldn't be me ..."

The ironic thing is that Korra would have been the perfect avatar in TLA, with her combative spirit. And Aang would have been the perfect avatar on TLOK, with his patience and diplomacy.

But they had to adapt. Aang had to be more like Korra and Korra had to be more like Aang.

Two sides of the same coin. They kinda like complete each other.

That's why i dont think it would be another avatar series with a avatar from Earth Kingdom. I mean, is like it's as if the cycle has already been closed.

But It Will be fun see some avatar dealing with the internet.