The Legend of Korra

Just going to throw in my two cents on the argument.

I personally agree with both that it is "overpowered and stupid" as well as the fact that it breaks rules (or rather, canon). I do prefer the term plot-hole for bloodbending in LoK though. Because if you cut the bull, Bloodbending is a huge plot-hole more than anything in LoK.

Breaking rules? I suppose I can agree that there aren't "rules." Yakone/Tarrlok break what the story has told viewers about Bloodbending, which is my problem. Maybe Hama is weak? I wouldn't think so. Though Katara was able to overpower her, Hama did pass on knowledge to Katara (sources of water, Bloodbending). And to boot she was clever enough to realize that the water in people could be bent, thus discovering Bloodbending. You're right on Katara, which adds to the whole plot-hole problem with Bloodbending. (Though you could argue that she planned her "visit" to the Southern Raiders intentionally on a full moon so she could use Bloodbending).

I discussed it on another forum about the Bloodbending plot-hole, and it's really just awful. Within, like seven years is what we decided, Bloodbending when from two people to serious enough to be outlawed. How'd it spread so fast given that the only known creator is either dead/dying in Fire Nation Prison and the other would probably never mention it to another soul?

Maybe the fact that Hama used blood bending on a tunnel full of fire benders/innocent civilians and hid them in a cave? The fact that maybe her fellow prisoners saw how she escaped? Maybe how the guard she blood bent told his superiors and spread rumors? Or the two people that Katara blood bent- the first captain of the ship she thought was the guy who killed her mother (he didn't die). Anyone who didn't die from being bloodbent probably went on to tell their kids stories and then water benders hear of it and try it on the full moon. Who knows who else Hama told when she got taken to prison. Rumors spread--> people start abusing it--> outlawed. Rumors spread like wildfire and then when you have instances where people actually do it on other people, then you have a confirmed rumor and more badass water benders try to do the same thing. It's only a matter of time before it gets out of hand.