#the reason I don’t count the boleska fiasco as fueled by Bolin’s stupidity

[likeadragonfruit]

Normally, I would wait until I was finished with a completed series rewatch to talk about a character’s arc. But I had to say something early. As previously stated, I’ve found Bolin far less likable than the first time I watched The Legend of Korra.

When I gave my opinion of Bolin in the book 1 of TLOK round up, I said that Bolin is great at best, but an obnoxious store brand Sokka at worst. But I hit my breaking point with Bolin in book 2.

The issue isn’t that he can be dumb. There are plenty of likable stupid characters in the past. But there’s nothing endearing about it, and actually it’s worse than simply not being endearing. His stupidity is actively used to facilitate absolutely horrible plot lines. 

So, Bolin is supposed to have problems telling differentiating between the fictional roles of the mover, the public personas of actors and actual reality. And that’s used for such great ideas like him kissing Ginger while she’s tied up and without her consent. Or him constantly being confused at her lack genuine positive response.

Does any of this go anywhere? Have him face what he did wrong with the kiss? Tie into the whole identity and true self thing Tenzin goes through, which is supposed to build to the lesson Korra was supposed to take away in the finale? 

Nope, never address the kiss, consent or boundaries? Their last interaction is Ginger deciding she wants to be (seen as being) with him. 

As for the whole fiction and reality thing, the big resolution of that is basically nothing. I mean, Bolin does use his brain cells to save the President and First Lady in a sequence where reality mirrors the mover on screen. But Bolin seems to just ditch the whole thing when President Raiko refuses to mobilize the United Forces, Bolin jokes that he wishes never saved the President. Then he apologizes to Mako and the story pretends basically pretends none of that happened.

And considering in the future, he supports Kuvira, but gee, is completely ignorant of the things she’s doing…