The Legend of Korra episodes review (with pictures!)

Hey everyone! I know this is a little bit late, but now that we have regular working internet again I can finally use my computer to make these reviews. Why is it important that I use my computer to post? Well because I don’t really feel like downloading HD version of Korra onto someone else’s computer. And without such easy access to the show I can’t make such awesome screenshots to insert willy-nilly into my review. And in case you haven’t noticed, I like my pictures. Anyway…

If you missed out on last months review, be sure to check it out here. And obviously, since these are reviews, there are going to be spoilers ahead. Of course since I’m sure you’ve been following the show religiously (seeing as you have every reason too) I’m sure that won’t be a problem. That being said, let us begin!

The Spirit of Competition

If you had any doubts going into this month that there was a potential love triangle between Korra, Mako and Bolin, this episode pretty much showed you up good. While Avatar: The Last Airbender was content to let most of the drama play out slowly over the course of whole seasons, here we are, five episodes into Korra and we’re tackling the issue head on. Bolin likes Korra, Korra likes Mako, and Mako likes both Korra and Asami. Clearly things between these four were going to get complicated at some point and this episode is the end result.

While I’d argue that this is the most filler-y episode of the season so far, it’s hard to argue that the “filler” wasn’t actually worthwhile. I mean on the one hand, we don’t really learn anything new. We already knew Bolin had a thing for Korra, and that she had a thing for Mako. Getting confirmation that Mako’s just as confused as we are on where he stands isn’t exactly news. But, the fact that the characters were able to resolve their drama and suck it up by the end of the episode was a nice change of pace. I mean, clearly things between them all aren’t resolved yet, but it was nice for the creators of Korra to get it out-of-the-way sooner rather than later. One could argue that half the fun of these kinds of shows is arguing over who should end up with who (because come on, who doesn’t like arguing about stuff like that.) But despite all the teen drama, The Legend of Korra is a show about Korra saving Republic City. It’s nice to know that the writers behind the show are focused in that regard. Lord knows they didn’t have to be.

I also have to give this episode props for its sly introduction to the Wolfbats, the previous winners of the Pro-bending Championship. Their inclusion in the episode is crucial to building their characters up before Team Avatar faces them in the next episode. And lets give the writers (and his voice actor) a round of applause for somehow conveying just how slimy and disgusting Tahno is in just a minute and 20 or so seconds…

I know I sure hated him.

And of course the fact that we end the episode on the fact that the Wolfbat’s are an actual (and physical) threat to Team Avatar is just enough icing on the cake for me to really enjoy this episode, despite the lack of any real plot movement. It’s so easy to just assume that The Fire Ferrets are going to win and clean house because they are our main characters, the fact that they may actually have a fight on their hands is a great way to end the episode. It makes it feel like a true set up for the episode following it, and therefore feel less like filler. Speaking of that next episode….

And the Winner Is…

Let me start off by saying that I love the little bit between Korra and Tenzin where she figures out that he and Lin used to be a couple, as well as the scene a bit later with Tenzin and Lin in the hall of the Arena. I like them because a) any time Tenzin is taken out of his comfort zone hilarity ensues and b) We finally get to learn why it is that Lin is the “cold-hearted” and stern woman she is. And we can even imagine that, deep down under Lin’s “abrasive” exterior, is a woman who was once passionate about someone before having her heart-broken. Tenzin doesn’t really describe it as playing out that way; but come on, no one likes breaking up with some buddy. Even if the two of them were drifting apart for some time, a break up is a break up. Bolin knows what I’m talking about, don’t ya buddy?

Anyway… I think it’s safe to say that the meat of this episode is the action. And boy, was there a LOT of action. The match between the Fire Ferrets and the Wolfbats was great, and I espically like how the Wolfbats cheated their way to victory. I mean, I don’t actually approve of the cheating itself, but there was going to come a point in the show where we ran out of new things to see in these Pro-Bending matches. So it was great to see what real, down and dirty, hardcore cheating looked like. I mean, these guys probably broke just about EVERY rule in the book.

Moving the stone beneath another player? Check. Mixing solid rock with your water bending? Check. Freezing the ground and tripping people? Check. If you could think of a cheap way to beat someone in these games, these guys pretty much did it. So while the Fire Ferrets eventually lose the match, you (as a viewer) know who the real winners are. Which was a nice change of pace in my opinion. Like I said earlier, it’s all too easy to just assume that Korra and her friends are going to win every battle. So it was nice to see that the writers aren’t going to give these characters any special treatment. Sometimes cheaters really do prosper. Well, at least until Amon shows up and steals your bending…

Now I gotta say, I really wasn’t expecting the Equalists to be hiding out in the audience (and with shock gloves no less!). I mean, as a viewer you kinda wonder exactly how it is the Equalists planned on taking out the police, after all, the police can bend metal. But seeing as how metal is such a handy conductor for electricity… well lets just say that the idea to use shock gloves was just ingenious. And it’s beautifully ironic that two of the most powerful “forms” of bending, Spirit and Lightning, are now in the hands of the people opposing the Avatar. Korra certainly has her job cut out for her this season.

I know I’ve talked about how much I love the look and flow of combat in Korra before, but man, it really shinned through in this episode. The battle on the roof, the flinging and flying around with Lin and her metal bending… THIS is the kind of stuff that I want Hollywood to do. Now granted, I’m sure a lot of the reason the show looks so great is because it’s animated and not being done with real people on real sets. But still, I can’t help but look at some of these fight scenes and marvel at how well they are done. About the only movie in recent memory that has had that same energy is Scott Pilgrim VS The World (a fantastic movie that you should go rent or watch on Netflix right now!).

I mean, just look at these visuals. Gorgeous!

Also, I think I’ve finally figured out who Lin’s father is: Peter Parker.

And of course how could I forget my all time favorite part of the episode! The Anouncer guy, trapped in his booth, narrating his assault at the hands of an Equalist… Comedy GOLD.

The Aftermath

So after ALL the sh!t that went down in the episode before it, you’d figure the writers of Korra would ease up for an episode. I mean, Korra’s life can’t spiral out of control THAT fast can it? Right?

Wrong.

Oh sure, we get a quaint little opening 10 minutes with Team Avatar lounging around the pool, chill’n with Pabu…

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They even go out and race some Sato Mobiles…

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But mixed in with all that is a classic police procedural featuring Korra, Tenzin and Lin. So here we are, enjoying an episode of CSI: Republic City with Lin arresting Cabbage Merchants and trying to find out who is making Amon his weapons when Korra accidentally overhears Mr. Sato say some rather shady things (after having a close run-in with a powderpuff.)

This of course leads to them eventually finding a super secret underground base under the Sato mansion that is housing not just run-of-the-mill Equalists weapons, but ultra deadly platinum mecha-tanks. Which of course leads to a bender VS mecha-tank fight of epic proportions. I don’t know about you, but I thought it was awesome. Lin with those blades on her arms, getting up close and personal with a mech to teach it who’s boss…

Some police being taught, once again, that metal does indeed conduct electricity pretty darn well. Much to their disappointment I imagine.

Of course despite all that action I think perhaps my favorite thing about the episode was how the reveal about Asami’s father lead to some serious character development/future angst for her character. Her father, who goes from one of Team Avatar’s biggest supporters to biggest enemies, was essentially lying to her for all of her adult life. And not just regular, “Oh I am secretly an Equalist,” lying. But full-blown “I secretly hate your boyfriend with all my heart and am out to hurt and/or kill your closest friends that I’ve been openly supporting for the past few weeks just so I could keep up appearances”. I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t blame her for having some issues from this point on. Learning that your father was secretly building an army of death robots can kinda do that to a person, ya know?

And of course, one of the final moments was one of the most touching. As Mako apologized to Korra for not believing in her, Korra turns and encourages him to be there for Asami, who would need him after what had just happened. Say what you will about Korra and her hot-headedness, but that one scene is arguably the most grown-up thing she’s done so far this season. And I have to give her mad props for that.

Well that’s it for this months episodes! From Pro-Bending championships and love triangles to terrorist attacks and familial betrayal. We’re three more episodes into this season and I can’t wait for more! So be sure to join me next month when I review what I can only imagine will be another roller-coaster of episodes. Same bat-time, same bat-channel!