Book 1 Discussion

[honeybee]

I agree. They focused way too much on romance this time around. I think they had taken the complaints about Kataang's and Maiko's lack of romantic development and overdid things with LoK's romances.

Gah! I agree with this, too! I hated how Korra could suddenly airbend - but like you said, if they had just left the show like that, hinting that she had to re-learn the other three elements all over again, that would have been great! But no, they couldn't leave it like that. Korra is the Avatar, the hero, so nothing bad should ever happen to her for an extended length of time. *Sighs* It feels like Avatars, no matter who they are, will always get a free pass in life. If something seems impossible, someone will suddenly come along and hand the solution (or power) to them on a silver platter. I know it's a kid's show, but still... Korra could have learned all of those elements again. She's a tough girl - a fighter through and through. I feel her character was cheapened somewhat by making her give up and then get what she wanted during her down and out stage.

Speaking of which, did anyone else find it weird how all the characters figured it was okay to let Korra wander off to a cliff's edge during her depressed state? XD

[advocaat]

I personally found the ending really unsatisfying. Especially the part where Katara tried to heal Korra to get her other bendings back. I know she made a promise to never bloodbend again, but in this case, bloodbending might very well have been the only thing in the world that could restore Korra's bending. Without her bending, Korra can't properly perform her duty as the Avatar, and without the Avatar, the world is f*cked.

The Katara I knew would've done anything in her power for the good of the world. She "would never turn her back on people who need her". Using bloodbending to help someone isn't evil or wrong. Katara would know that. She wouldn't go "Sorry, dawg, can't help you. I promised."

Also, Korra's confession to Mako really got my goat. She's just like, "I can't love you! I'm not the Avatar!" Then ten minutes later, "I'm the Avatar again! I love you!"

Just, what?

[chromeknickers]

I still love Makorra, though, and can't wait to see what they do with those two in the other books. \o/

[nami]

I am unsure how I feel about the ending. I was sort've like; "That was WAY too easy." I mean, look at what Aang had to go through to get his firebending right! Korra trains, sort've, and then she gets it? :/ It probably would have made the second book a bit more interesting to see her trying to recover her powers. But hey, can't change what already happened.

As for the romance aspect, I'm sure they could have done more, but I don't expect much from Bryke anymore. They are normally only doing half of what they could do anyway. *shrugs* My expectations weren't that high, honestly. But I enjoyed it more than I expected.

I still love Makorra, though, and can't wait to see what they do with those two in the other books. \o/

SAME! >D

[azuremoon]

I am on episode 9! I am finally finishing LoK! Haha. I hadn't seen it all yet as I just got into Avatar back in late Sept/October. But now I can't stop watching it!

[emletish]

Oh I think my opinion will be unpopular. So sorry if you love Korra. Maybe skip past me and my disgruntled rantings.

I didn't mind Korra - but I just cannot love it. I don't love it the way I love ATLA and I'm not that excited for Book 2. unless Bryke get some more writers on board for peer review/ constructive feedback. I feel like the whole show was, in the end, just squandered potential. at the end I was a bit gobsmacked, I started at my TV just thinking about the series as whole thinking : They could have done so much....and they did that?

Like Lia and Advocaat, the ending bugged me. Aang just handing Korra her bendning back was the ultimate deux-ex-machina. You guys know how the lionturtle does my head in - Well Mr Lionturtle, you have been offically out deux-ex-machina-ed. Deux-ex-Aang made me even more cross because:
1: it felt OOC for Aang - didn't he learn about hardwork and how sometimes you have to earn your happy ending and how things shouldn't just be handed to you because you're the avatar. (okay that is up for debate, but I'd like to give Aang the benefit of the doubt. I like to think he learned this).
2: it reinforces Korra's belief that she is worthless without her bending and that non-benders are of inherently less value in society....and wasn't that kind of the point about the equalists.
3: it restores the status quo of everything (when the status quo was proven to be very flawed) nothing is learned or gained or changed or sacrificed. all of the previous few episodes and their development are almost rendered meaningless.
4: Korra learns nothing from this interaction with Aang (except how awful it is to lose your special powers). I would have prefered it if Korra had to spend sometime as a non-bender and learned waht life was like for them.

If I could re-do the ending I would have Korra be told that she can get her bending back, but she must relearn the elements. Time as a non-bender would help her see the non-bender pov (Urgh don't get me started on how Korra handled the issue of oppression). Her final showdown with Amon could have been her as a nonbender outsmarting him by using her wits and patience and good stratgey (obviously the show would have had to focus on her learning these things in the prior 11 eps). This would have been a better ending for me. it would also make her victory over amon feel ...earned.

other things that bugged

1) murder/suicide as an appropriate solution to the problem of A/T.
2) the romance....why did it have to be so in our face and eat up so much time.
3) the gradual reduction of bolin's character to merely comic relief.
4) the issue of oppression - why would you even take your story there if you are going to handle such a complex issue so hamfistedly bryke?
5) the pacing - I also take issue with the "they only had 12 eps" excuse...because err, they KNEW they had twelve eps - knowing a timelimit normally implies a need for tighter story-telling. (if I had any creative sway it would be buh-bye to the romance quadrangle.
6)the tenzin/lin/pema ancient pyramid of a love triangle. this made all the adults look at least a little like jerks. I would have preffered it is Lin and Tenzin were just good friends and Lin didn't like Korra because she was implusive and destructive, not because she was vaguely linked to an ex-flame. She could have helped Korra curb her destructive tendencies and been an awesoem mentor. anyway I felt this triangle was belittling to all the characters involved.
7) Katara what the hell is wrong with you? Where were you during the Yakone bloodbending schmoozle. As another Bloodbender, your help would have been invaluable. OR were you at home with the kids? barefoot and pregnant? couldn't be bothered being involved anymore? Seriously Katara, where were you?

Also Katara: Did you never make peace with your Bloodbending ability - was that because you have been repressing all of your "dark" tendencies for 70 years, for your tru wuv and have never accepted that whole side of yourself? Did you not learn that no ability is inherently "evil" - it is the intention behind the bending that is "evil". Everything and everyone has the capacity for good and evil. Everyone has two sides - did you never make peace with yours?

LOK makes me so sad for Katara's character.


End of the Day: for me, Korra was a story about how awful it is to lose your special powers and the restoration of an oppressive status quo, not about seeing another person's point of view and solving problems together.....that was very beautifully scored and animated. and was also the sequel to a show I dearly love.

Oooh this is a long rant.

Yes, end of the day - Korra was watchable for me, but not loveable. couldn't love it - but I now know to lower my expectations for book 2. But I totally have a heap ton of respect for those of you who do like it.