#lok: 4x04

[mxmeiyun]

Toph’s retellings are giving me life

[lokgifsandmusings]

The Definitive Ranking of LoK Book 4 Episodes

So a goddamn year ago (why does anyone still follow me), I began writing shockingly lengthy metas on an episode-by-episode basis for the final season, starting with the ones I found least successful, to the most meaningful/impactful.

And now, as I did with Book 2, I get to present THE LIST in its full glory. I’m not sure I have a favorite essay this time around, mostly because I barely remember writing half of these at this point, but my gif game for 4x12 was definitely on-point.

#13. 4x08 “Remembrances”

Highlight: Arrested Avatar fodder

Lowlight: the completely straight-shot Korra recap portion

#12. 4x11 “Kuvira’s Gambit”

Highlight: Korra’s effective threatening of Baatar Jr.

Lowlight: Mega Maid Mustache Twirling Land War of Doom

#11. 4x09 “Beyond the Wilds”

Highlight: Korra confronting herself Zaheer and the guided mindful meditation/exposure therapy for her PTSD being presented in a ridiculously realistic yet somehow age-appropriate fashion.

Lowlight: “Kuvira hasn’t done anything aggressive yet.”

#10. 4x07 “Reunion”

Highlight: ~~~snazzy~~~

Lowlight: Tenzin’s “meh we’ll worry about Zaofu later go get sushi” attitude. It was a good episode, but a little light tonally at a strange time.

#9. 4x06 The “Battle of Zaofu”

Highlight: Varrick’s escape from the train with Bolin. “Okay I have a remote and a detonator!”

Lowlight: Kuvira politics. What’s...happening...

#8. 4x12 “Day of Colossus”

Highlight: Absolutely stunning fight sequences against Mega Maid

Lowlight: Hiroshi’s very very very contrived entrance to the scene. It plays out fine, but it pulls me out of the moment every time.

#7. 4x01 “After All These Years”

Highlight: The pacing & ground it covered, while hitting the building sense of doom with a missing Korra tone perfectly.

Lowlight: Kuvira was a bit too mustache-twirly for me out of the gate.

#6. 4x03 “The Coronation”

Highlight: Probably the scene in the hotel where they just went for high-comedy. Kuvira looked directly into the camera, and Suyin got off on being withholding. 

Lowlight: Where in the script is Asami Sato?

#5. 4x04 “The Calling”

Highlight: Ikki

Lowlight: Meelo’s red flags being played for comedy wears a little thin.

#4. 4x05 “Enemy at the Gates”

Highlight: The sheer amount of ground covered. It’s kind of crazy.

Lowlight: The mecha suit escape sequence went on a click too long.

#3. 4x10 “Operation Beifong”

Highlight: Beifong. Family. Drama. But mostly Lin dealing with her relationship to Toph.

Lowlight: I guess Korra’s b-plot, though it was more of a wash than a negative.

#2. 4x13 “The Last Stand”

Highlight: The tone when Korra talks to Kuvira in the spirit world

Lowlight: Wonky conversations thanks to time constraints. It’s not even bad, just...wonky.

#1. 4x02 “Korra Alone”

Highlight: I think the way it was put together, non-sequentially and with this sort of ungrounded tone. It was really perfect.

Lowlight: I’m honestly having trouble thinking of one. 

Up next, Book 1!

[mxmeiyun]

These kids are killing me...

[mxmeiyun]

It’s like that creepy scene in the last Life is Strange episode where Max is literally walking down memory lane.

[mxmeiyun]

Toph is literally Yoda. Small, green, master of their art, speaks kind of in riddles, demands piggyback rides from their pupils...

[mxmeiyun]

The Swamp is not very subtle...