I think it was still handled well. Even being prepared for them to exist, I still managed to guess a startling amount of WHY they exist. Go read post 87 again and be like "whoa".
The stuff with Bolin and Asami playing Pai Gao was great and we see now why these guys never broke, once, in 13 years. They were able to sneak off to the spirit world! Who wants to bet money that Zahere found Guru Lahima in the spirit realm?
Still, there WERE a few twists left: Unalaq's involvement, for one.
and I agree, Hannibal getup was pretty nifty.
I'm not sure I like where this whole Earth Queen thing is going, I mean, I guess we are going to see where Azula could have been had she not... you know... snapped. lol.
Actually, Zaheer meeting Lahima in the Spirit World would make sense, especially if he is misunderstanding what Lahima is telling him. (this is honestly what I expect to happen)
Something like Unalaq's involvement is hard to predict and, as I told a friend yesterday, I'm going to wait and see if its more than just a retcon. If the plot depends on this, somehow, sure, but this comes off as "lets make last season make sense" instead of being natural.
Regarding the earth queen. We're going to see her corrupt. We're going to see her torturing Korra. We're going to see Zahere getting Mako and Bolin to help him break Korra out with the full knowledge that the second they do they will be turned on by team avatar and he accepts that, but in the meantime they can work together to save her.
He is not misunderstanding Lahima. Not all air benders are going to be saints. Wouldn't it be even more interesting if it was just an air bender with a philosophy more violent than the modern-ish air philosophy? It was 4k years ago, right?
Yeah, We'll just have to wait and see how they handle the Unalaq thing. I'll agree with you on that.
I agree that we're going to see Korra get hurt/tortured and such, But I wouldn't put it past the Earth Queen (who was trying to boost her military might by conscripting Air Benders.) to attempt to "recruit" Korra. The Dai Li is still active, apparently, and I doubt they have forgotten their methods of persuasion. (The Earth King has invited you to Lake Laogai.) I agree it would be interesting to have the Red Lotus and the Krew team up to get her out, and it could give Zaheere a chance to persuade Mako or Bolin about their cause. I think that this is going to be Zaheere's goal throughout his spotlight time: convincing as many of Korra's friends as possible that he is right. It makes sense, and kinda fits with his style, from what I can tell.
I get that Lahima may not have been a saint, but the Air Nomad philosophy holds all life sacred. This is even part of Aang's Heroic BSOD during TLA; He wanted to defeat the Fire Lord without killing him. I sincerely doubt that one of their Gurus would advocate for the kind of mass destruction that it seems Zaheer wants. It is quite possible that Lahima was talking spiritually, much like Iroh does quite often. Lahima could have been teaching that in order to grow spiritually, you need to burn down the part you want to replace. This might just be Lahima's teachings taken too far.
It's quite likely the Earth Queen will try petty revenge in terms of torture or attempted brainwashing. The time that takes is probably more intensive than the, what, 4 hour lead they have on her will give. Him using the opportunity to show his philosophy is true is going to have an effect on Bolin and Mako since, well, they are predisposed to it. Authority has never gone well for them, at all. Once Zahere has a chance to explain who he is and why he is for all we know Mako and Bolin will like the idea. Especially once they know that they mean Korra no harm.
Revelations should impact the main characters more than the villains. What do you think is a stronger storytelling moment for both Tenzin and Korra (and the audience)? Either a villain we just met is wrong about something OR that villain is right and Tenzin, Korra, and the audience both have a massive revelation that Air Nomands werent always so lovey dovey. Which makes for a better story? Its stressed that Lahima was 4k years ago. Philosophies evolve. Plus don't forget that all FOUR of Aangs most recent past lives told him to kill the Firelord. Including the air bending past life.
It could also just be that, like all thing, the philosophy of the past was written about the past. Applying it to the present is always tricky.
alright, I'll have to give that one to you. lol. from a narrative standpoint, it does make more sense for Zaheere to be correct about Lahima, just like the other villains in this series had some legitimate points. (Amon and the inequality between Benders and non-Benders, and Unalaq with the lack of spirituality in the world.) The interesting part comes when they take that ideology too far, such as "remove bending from the world!" or "whatever I am doing to bring more spirituality, even though I'm pretty sure I'm just serving my own interests at this point!".
well, I'm pretty sure that was included under admitting you were right about Lahima (fairness, though, Avatar Yangchen was speaking as an Avatar, not as an Airbender. The Avatar can't let things like pacifism get in the way of maintaining balance.) I will concede the point that, even though she was speaking as an Avatar, it seems like she was advocating for the death of the Fire Lord.
But, in a way, none of them did.
Roku tells Aang to "be decisive", recounting his failure to prevent the 100 years war.
Kyoshi talks about Chin the Conqueror, and says that She WOULD HAVE killed him, and states that "only justice will bring peace".
Kuruk tells about how he was laid back, and let the four nations solve their own problems, and as a result, lost his love to Koh, the Face Stealer. He tells Aang that he must "actively shape your own destiny, as well as the destiny of the world".
Then Aang seeks Yangchen's guidance, and she tells him that he cannot let his personal philosophy get in the way of what must be done, and that he must do "whatever it takes" to protect the world.
Taken at face value, yes, these are all advocating for the death of the Fire Lord. BUT! look at how Aang's solution also fulfills these requirements:
He took Ozai's bending, and disabled his destructive capacity for life. He was Decisive when the moment came.
By not killing the Fire Lord, and allowing the four nations to condemn him, He brought Justice to Ozai, not just revenge.
When he decided to spare Ozai's life, he was actively shaping the destiny of himself, by rejecting the destiny given to him, and the world, by letting the leaders remain sovereign.
He also did whatever it took, risking his own life, to take away Ozai's bending.
On a NOT spoilerific tangent, anyone notice that Zuko looks like Roku with a scar?
Avatar Yangchen speaking as an avatar isn't a good counterpoint since Aang as the Avatar was having issues with the same air bender ethics and what he needed to do as an avatar. When Yangchen couldn't find a way, like with the other avatars, he said to kill him (or alluded to it since its still Nickelodeon and there are lines that cant be crossed there)
The point comes down to "how can Aang save the world without becoming something he couldn't live with"
plus, how many people explicitly died in TLA? Not in the backstory or off screen, but explicitly died? Even with Jet, who there was obvious meddling with showing his death, got a nod to it in the ember island players that it was ambiguous. The entire thing with the past avatars was a trick. Two tricks, actually. There was the trick with the younger audience who might believe Aang might actually kill the bad guy, and for the older audience, that Mike and Bryan might pull an Invader Zim and say "**** it, last episode"
Of course, we then get explicit murder/suicide shown onscreen in TLK, so, success?
ya know, I'm not entirely sure that what we are talking about needs to be in Spoiler tags anymore...
but, oh well LETS SCREW WITH SOME PEOPLE! *cue Earthbending a wall down*
I guess my point was that, if Yangchen had been speaking as an Airbender, and not as the Avatar, then she might have been a little more sympathetic. But, again, I will concede the point.
Yes, you are correct. Yangchen is female. That was loose of me.
As for keeping things in spoiler tags? Nah, only stuff that needs it!
For me, I kind of really wish Nickelodeon wasn't being such idiots about this whole thing. The screwups and failure is kind of a death knell for a 3rd series with an earth bender avatar set another 100 years in the future with a contemporary setting and the fabled fourth series with a fire bending avatar in a sci fi setting.
Well, maybe it can get picked up by a better company if Nick gives up the rights.
it's just close enough that maybe a Japanese studio will pick it up. but, probably not. I guess Funimation could take a stab at animating instead of just dubbing... ah, well. lol.
I do agree that with Nick's current handling, it's kinda shooting itself in the foot. I am forced to bring up the Heroes comparison. Had it not been for Executive Meddling, I believe that series could have been AMAZING. (the original premise was that it would feature a different set of people each season, with the occasional repeat.) Nick, I believe, is doing the same thing with Korra: instead of letting the story tell itself, the company is trying to shoot for a certain demographic, and it shows in the writing.
The NGL people were originally approached to do the animation, turned it down. I don't know why it would be an animation studio since they have that. What they need is someone funding it. Heroes had a secondary issue with the writers strike, but yes, the show would have been better off with the "American Horror Story" setup.
Well, we now know what the "bloodbending" for airbending is, holy *****.
Also, was it just me, or was this episode just chock full of references to star wars and batman?
Holy *****, they killed the earth queen!!!!!! In the most brutal way possible too, like, holy *****. Its a good thing the air benders are generally so peaceful
yeah, when I first saw it, I wondered how Monk Gyatso was able to take out that many firbenders back in TLA. Then I figured: He was an airbender. He could bend the air in their lungs. Honestly, though, what Zaheere did was less brutal than what he could have done. (air exploding out of the torso, anyone?) That is an example of what an Airbender can do without any restraints. I think that might be a part of the reason WHY Airbenders were so peaceful: they HAD to teach peace and nonviolence to prevent things like that.
And WHAT THE ****?!?! WHAT THE ****?!? WHAT THE ****?!?
I think Monk Gyatso used a more self-destructive form of breath-bending by creating a giant vacuum where no one can breathe, not even himself. But, that's just my hypothesis.
Either way, the Earth Queen had it coming. This one's for you, Bosco!
Perhaps it it would be interesting in a second gear kind of way if Gyatso stole the air and used to enhance his bodies abilities in a hyper destructive fashion?
And yeah, this is what I meant by "good thing" because earth and fire are the most powerful elements being that they dont need to generate them and air is probably the most powerful since fire isnt something you can steal
I've always felt that airbending is the most OP bending of them all.
-You can either fly with a glider or boost yourself up incredible distances. Plus you can make that ball of air and ride on it.
-You can blast just about anything away from you.
-It makes you super acrobatic.
-And now you can asphyxiate people.
I mean, compare that ***** to earth bending or fire bending. Who cares if you can shoot lightning or bend metal? I don't need any of that elite-crap! I'll just asphyxiate you. Try shooting your lightning at me while you're gasping for air!
Seriously though, this is actually a great nonlethal move if an air-bender figured out how long it takes for people to lose consciousness without oxygen.
I think asphyxiation bending is rather difficult. I didn't download this episode so I can't quickly check, but I remember Zahere taking a lot more care and bending more slowly than most of the time. This is something that takes skill since, if done wrong, you just take a breath and they breath in again. It's also slow, so its not going to be super effective in a fight unlike the godly bloodbending. Not saying its bad, but unless the person is super precise they would just end up pushing the person around (hence why even Zahere had to go slow.)
Earthbenders have the coolest specialty bending though. Lava and Metal are both insanely cool. Lightning is badass, but it lacks special utility that other specialty bending has.
Really though, all the bending has pros and cons. Water bending can do something pretty similar to the aspyxiation thing, but so far they haven't done the "Im going to drain your fluids" thing where a person gets sucked dry
Plus that one wouldnt need the finesse that Zahere used her, you could just drain them
That's true. You'll probably have to keep up the bending for a very long and controlled period of time.
Heck, it may even be the case that only people as talented as Zahere are capable of it.
Hah, water-bending can drown you! It has always amazed me to see people get stuck in these giant balls of water for what seems like a long time but never drown.
I wonder how lava bending works. Does that guy actually get in touch with lava way underneath the ground and pull it up? Or does he somehow super-heat earth, create lava, and use that lava to create more lava? Regardless, it is an incredibly impressive feat as you said.
Heck, all of the Red Lotus members have incredibly impressive feats. They're like the super-humans of benders.
Vacuum bending was one of the types of bending people had theorized a long while ago. Same with lava bending. There's a list of different types of possible bending out there. It's pretty cool.
Anyways I feel that they are saving Bolin's moment! He's going to be there to metal bend or possibly something greater.
The stuff with Bolin and Asami playing Pai Gao was great and we see now why these guys never broke, once, in 13 years. They were able to sneak off to the spirit world! Who wants to bet money that Zahere found Guru Lahima in the spirit realm?
Also, Korra in Hannibal Lecter getup was great
Still, there WERE a few twists left: Unalaq's involvement, for one.
and I agree, Hannibal getup was pretty nifty.
I'm not sure I like where this whole Earth Queen thing is going, I mean, I guess we are going to see where Azula could have been had she not... you know... snapped. lol.
Actually, Zaheer meeting Lahima in the Spirit World would make sense, especially if he is misunderstanding what Lahima is telling him. (this is honestly what I expect to happen)
"normality is a paved road: it is comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow there."
-Vincent Van Gogh
things I hate:
1. lists.
b. inconsistencies.
V. incorrect math.
2. quotes in signatures
III: irony.
there are two kinds of people in the world: those who can make reasonable conclusions based on conjecture.
Regarding the earth queen. We're going to see her corrupt. We're going to see her torturing Korra. We're going to see Zahere getting Mako and Bolin to help him break Korra out with the full knowledge that the second they do they will be turned on by team avatar and he accepts that, but in the meantime they can work together to save her.
He is not misunderstanding Lahima. Not all air benders are going to be saints. Wouldn't it be even more interesting if it was just an air bender with a philosophy more violent than the modern-ish air philosophy? It was 4k years ago, right?
I agree that we're going to see Korra get hurt/tortured and such, But I wouldn't put it past the Earth Queen (who was trying to boost her military might by conscripting Air Benders.) to attempt to "recruit" Korra. The Dai Li is still active, apparently, and I doubt they have forgotten their methods of persuasion. (The Earth King has invited you to Lake Laogai.) I agree it would be interesting to have the Red Lotus and the Krew team up to get her out, and it could give Zaheere a chance to persuade Mako or Bolin about their cause. I think that this is going to be Zaheere's goal throughout his spotlight time: convincing as many of Korra's friends as possible that he is right. It makes sense, and kinda fits with his style, from what I can tell.
I get that Lahima may not have been a saint, but the Air Nomad philosophy holds all life sacred. This is even part of Aang's Heroic BSOD during TLA; He wanted to defeat the Fire Lord without killing him. I sincerely doubt that one of their Gurus would advocate for the kind of mass destruction that it seems Zaheer wants. It is quite possible that Lahima was talking spiritually, much like Iroh does quite often. Lahima could have been teaching that in order to grow spiritually, you need to burn down the part you want to replace. This might just be Lahima's teachings taken too far.
"normality is a paved road: it is comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow there."
-Vincent Van Gogh
things I hate:
1. lists.
b. inconsistencies.
V. incorrect math.
2. quotes in signatures
III: irony.
there are two kinds of people in the world: those who can make reasonable conclusions based on conjecture.
Revelations should impact the main characters more than the villains. What do you think is a stronger storytelling moment for both Tenzin and Korra (and the audience)? Either a villain we just met is wrong about something OR that villain is right and Tenzin, Korra, and the audience both have a massive revelation that Air Nomands werent always so lovey dovey. Which makes for a better story? Its stressed that Lahima was 4k years ago. Philosophies evolve. Plus don't forget that all FOUR of Aangs most recent past lives told him to kill the Firelord. Including the air bending past life.
It could also just be that, like all thing, the philosophy of the past was written about the past. Applying it to the present is always tricky.
"normality is a paved road: it is comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow there."
-Vincent Van Gogh
things I hate:
1. lists.
b. inconsistencies.
V. incorrect math.
2. quotes in signatures
III: irony.
there are two kinds of people in the world: those who can make reasonable conclusions based on conjecture.
No points on the "a former air bending avatar said to kill the firelord" as evidence that the pacifism of the air benders is not absolute?
But, in a way, none of them did.
Roku tells Aang to "be decisive", recounting his failure to prevent the 100 years war.
Kyoshi talks about Chin the Conqueror, and says that She WOULD HAVE killed him, and states that "only justice will bring peace".
Kuruk tells about how he was laid back, and let the four nations solve their own problems, and as a result, lost his love to Koh, the Face Stealer. He tells Aang that he must "actively shape your own destiny, as well as the destiny of the world".
Then Aang seeks Yangchen's guidance, and she tells him that he cannot let his personal philosophy get in the way of what must be done, and that he must do "whatever it takes" to protect the world.
Taken at face value, yes, these are all advocating for the death of the Fire Lord. BUT! look at how Aang's solution also fulfills these requirements:
He took Ozai's bending, and disabled his destructive capacity for life. He was Decisive when the moment came.
By not killing the Fire Lord, and allowing the four nations to condemn him, He brought Justice to Ozai, not just revenge.
When he decided to spare Ozai's life, he was actively shaping the destiny of himself, by rejecting the destiny given to him, and the world, by letting the leaders remain sovereign.
He also did whatever it took, risking his own life, to take away Ozai's bending.
On a NOT spoilerific tangent, anyone notice that Zuko looks like Roku with a scar?
"normality is a paved road: it is comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow there."
-Vincent Van Gogh
things I hate:
1. lists.
b. inconsistencies.
V. incorrect math.
2. quotes in signatures
III: irony.
there are two kinds of people in the world: those who can make reasonable conclusions based on conjecture.
Finally caught up with the series...
Iroh's Beard!!!! The heck just happen?!? Feels like I can't wait for this week's episode!
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RGWMarath, Will of the WildRGW
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The point comes down to "how can Aang save the world without becoming something he couldn't live with"
plus, how many people explicitly died in TLA? Not in the backstory or off screen, but explicitly died? Even with Jet, who there was obvious meddling with showing his death, got a nod to it in the ember island players that it was ambiguous. The entire thing with the past avatars was a trick. Two tricks, actually. There was the trick with the younger audience who might believe Aang might actually kill the bad guy, and for the older audience, that Mike and Bryan might pull an Invader Zim and say "**** it, last episode"
Of course, we then get explicit murder/suicide shown onscreen in TLK, so, success?
but, oh well LETS SCREW WITH SOME PEOPLE! *cue Earthbending a wall down*
I guess my point was that, if Yangchen had been speaking as an Airbender, and not as the Avatar, then she might have been a little more sympathetic. But, again, I will concede the point.
also, PRETTY sure Yangchen is a girl...
"normality is a paved road: it is comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow there."
-Vincent Van Gogh
things I hate:
1. lists.
b. inconsistencies.
V. incorrect math.
2. quotes in signatures
III: irony.
there are two kinds of people in the world: those who can make reasonable conclusions based on conjecture.
As for keeping things in spoiler tags? Nah, only stuff that needs it!
For me, I kind of really wish Nickelodeon wasn't being such idiots about this whole thing. The screwups and failure is kind of a death knell for a 3rd series with an earth bender avatar set another 100 years in the future with a contemporary setting and the fabled fourth series with a fire bending avatar in a sci fi setting.
it's just close enough that maybe a Japanese studio will pick it up. but, probably not. I guess Funimation could take a stab at animating instead of just dubbing... ah, well. lol.
I do agree that with Nick's current handling, it's kinda shooting itself in the foot. I am forced to bring up the Heroes comparison. Had it not been for Executive Meddling, I believe that series could have been AMAZING. (the original premise was that it would feature a different set of people each season, with the occasional repeat.) Nick, I believe, is doing the same thing with Korra: instead of letting the story tell itself, the company is trying to shoot for a certain demographic, and it shows in the writing.
"normality is a paved road: it is comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow there."
-Vincent Van Gogh
things I hate:
1. lists.
b. inconsistencies.
V. incorrect math.
2. quotes in signatures
III: irony.
there are two kinds of people in the world: those who can make reasonable conclusions based on conjecture.
I'm guessing it took Nick by complete surprise and they made a stupid decision- release everything as quickly as possible.
http://www.nick.com/videos/clip/legend-of-korra-210-full-episode.html?vcs=social_20140808_29378226&xid=LOKFB
Also, was it just me, or was this episode just chock full of references to star wars and batman?
Holy *****, they killed the earth queen!!!!!! In the most brutal way possible too, like, holy *****. Its a good thing the air benders are generally so peaceful
And WHAT THE ****?!?! WHAT THE ****?!? WHAT THE ****?!?
"normality is a paved road: it is comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow there."
-Vincent Van Gogh
things I hate:
1. lists.
b. inconsistencies.
V. incorrect math.
2. quotes in signatures
III: irony.
there are two kinds of people in the world: those who can make reasonable conclusions based on conjecture.
Either way, the Earth Queen had it coming. This one's for you, Bosco!
And yeah, this is what I meant by "good thing" because earth and fire are the most powerful elements being that they dont need to generate them and air is probably the most powerful since fire isnt something you can steal
I've always felt that airbending is the most OP bending of them all.
-You can either fly with a glider or boost yourself up incredible distances. Plus you can make that ball of air and ride on it.
-You can blast just about anything away from you.
-It makes you super acrobatic.
-And now you can asphyxiate people.
I mean, compare that ***** to earth bending or fire bending. Who cares if you can shoot lightning or bend metal? I don't need any of that elite-crap! I'll just asphyxiate you. Try shooting your lightning at me while you're gasping for air!
Seriously though, this is actually a great nonlethal move if an air-bender figured out how long it takes for people to lose consciousness without oxygen.
Earthbenders have the coolest specialty bending though. Lava and Metal are both insanely cool. Lightning is badass, but it lacks special utility that other specialty bending has.
Really though, all the bending has pros and cons. Water bending can do something pretty similar to the aspyxiation thing, but so far they haven't done the "Im going to drain your fluids" thing where a person gets sucked dry
Plus that one wouldnt need the finesse that Zahere used her, you could just drain them
That's true. You'll probably have to keep up the bending for a very long and controlled period of time.
Heck, it may even be the case that only people as talented as Zahere are capable of it.
Hah, water-bending can drown you! It has always amazed me to see people get stuck in these giant balls of water for what seems like a long time but never drown.
I wonder how lava bending works. Does that guy actually get in touch with lava way underneath the ground and pull it up? Or does he somehow super-heat earth, create lava, and use that lava to create more lava? Regardless, it is an incredibly impressive feat as you said.
Heck, all of the Red Lotus members have incredibly impressive feats. They're like the super-humans of benders.
Anyways I feel that they are saving Bolin's moment! He's going to be there to metal bend or possibly something greater.
Also Asami doesn't skip leg day.
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