The Legend of Korra

Because breaking all pre-established rules with no reason at all (for now) seems kinda deus-ex. It's better when the world is consistent.

Like how lightning bending is not extremely common?

Like how everyone and their grandmothers can do metal bending?

Like how this random dude somehow knows how to spirit bend?

Like how the series finale of the old Avatar pulled a deus ex of spirit bending?

It really doesn't matter that much for me compared to all of the above. As long as they make it so that everyone can't blood bend that easily, it's fine by me compared to what else they did. I mean, I might even argue that it might be a necessity, as Korra could probably easily destroy Tarlok otherwise, and we all know how boring that is.

If Katara is old as hell and Korra is like 16 then that means Aang didn't THAT long ago, probably in his early 60's since Katara looks like she's 80. Amon took away Tarlock's bending. Aang took away Yakone's bending so Yakone didn't kill Aang, he probably went through something like Avatar Roku did.

Why do I feel like Amon has something to do with Azula? Call me crazy but I think there might be a connection between Amon and the past events of the Fire Nation. Also, they haven't really shown light on Zuko and his future or offspring. Does he have any children? They showed his face as an elder but that was it.

Energy bending only works if the person's spirit can dominate the other's. I think this will reflect when Amon tries to take away Korra's bending and if he fails, he would lose his own bending which means he wouldn't be able to take anyone's bending away anymore. But that would probably end the series since Amon is the main villain and this is only a season finale.

Katara is in her late 80s, Korra is 17, Aang was 66 (i believe) when he died (chronologically 154 ish years). on the Nickalodeon website, there's this little interactive thingy thing called "explore Republic City" and it gives a whole bunch of information about stuff seen in the episodes (and some from TLA realm like how Avatar Kyoshi was 23x years old).

 Spoiler

Loving the series, but I get the feeling that the season finale will be Korra losing her bending. The next season will be focused on finding out who Amon really is, and Korra's spiritual development into the Avatar State (and regaining her bending).

It just seems too rushed to have Korra defeat Amon in the next 3 episodes. Oh, and there are rumors that one of Zuko's descendants will make an appearance during the season finale!

Like how lightning bending is not extremely common?

Like how everyone and their grandmothers can do metal bending?

Like how this random dude somehow knows how to spirit bend?

Like how the series finale of the old Avatar pulled a deus ex of spirit bending?

It really doesn't matter that much for me compared to all of the above. As long as they make it so that everyone can't blood bend that easily, it's fine by me compared to what else they did. I mean, I might even argue that it might be a necessity, as Korra could probably easily destroy Tarlok otherwise, and we all know how boring that is.

Lightning Bending was uncommon 80 years ago, and was likely kept as a royal secret in the Royal Family. No one outside of the Royal Family could Lightning Bend (that I remember, please correct me if I'm wrong).

Metal Bending was thought impossible until Toph mastered it. The only reason she discovered it is because she was blind, and could sense the Earth inside of the Metal. Once that was determined, it was just a matter of teaching others to take advantage of the small amount of Earth in the metal as Toph had. It wasn't that people had tried and failed, it was that people thought it was impossible so they never tried.

We don't know that Amon is Spirit Bending. It is only assumed because he is taking away bending. Someone else mentioned that his stance and hand placements differ from when Aang Spirit Bent. Also, Aang learned Spirit Bending from a Lion Turtle. It was an unknown secret, and it could easily be that Amon ran into a similar situation that Aang did and learned it a similar way...or simply by watching Aang...or by travelling to the Spirit World much like Iroh did, and learning it from the Spirits themselves.

Spirit Bending as a deus-ex, while may not be the best thing they ever did either, wasn't breaking known facts. We have 70 episodes of Avatar that show that Benders aren't as powerful as Yakome. The only way to get nearly that powerful is to be the Avatar. You have the most powerful Benders in the entire world and none of them came close to that. Hell, without the Avatar State he could even take out Aang, who should be beyond a master of Water Bending, AND still take out 100+ people in that court room. It just doesn't make sense. Spirit Bending doesn't take everything we knew about the Bending Arts and throw it out the window, it was it's own Art altogether. This is an established Bending Art, magically going from "Once a month super power that can control a few people" to "Whenever you want control entire rooms and cities." It screams bullpomegranate.

Thinking about that, why didn't they have chi-blockers in the police to prevent this type of thing from happening? Ty Lee was part of the good guys at the end.

Lightning Bending was uncommon 80 years ago, and was likely kept as a royal secret in the Royal Family. No one outside of the Royal Family could Lightning Bend (that I remember, please correct me if I'm wrong).

Metal Bending was thought impossible until Toph mastered it. The only reason she discovered it is because she was blind, and could sense the Earth inside of the Metal. Once that was determined, it was just a matter of teaching others to take advantage of the small amount of Earth in the metal as Toph had. It wasn't that people had tried and failed, it was that people thought it was impossible so they never tried.

We don't know that Amon is Spirit Bending. It is only assumed because he is taking away bending. Someone else mentioned that his stance and hand placements differ from when Aang Spirit Bent. Also, Aang learned Spirit Bending from a Lion Turtle. It was an unknown secret, and it could easily be that Amon ran into a similar situation that Aang did and learned it a similar way...or simply by watching Aang...or by travelling to the Spirit World much like Iroh did, and learning it from the Spirits themselves.

Spirit Bending as a deus-ex, while may not be the best thing they ever did either, wasn't breaking known facts. We have 70 episodes of Avatar that show that Benders aren't as powerful as Yakome. The only way to get nearly that powerful is to be the Avatar. You have the most powerful Benders in the entire world and none of them came close to that. Hell, without the Avatar State he could even take out Aang, who should be beyond a master of Water Bending, AND still take out 100+ people in that court room. It just doesn't make sense. Spirit Bending doesn't take everything we knew about the Bending Arts and throw it out the window, it was it's own Art altogether. This is an established Bending Art, magically going from "Once a month super power that can control a few people" to "Whenever you want control entire rooms and cities." It screams bullpomegranate.

Well, he wasn't able to take out Amon, so it shows that blood bending has some weakness, although we're not sure what at this point. Amon probably knows how to counter it (which everyone in the trial obviously didn't.)

Edit: As an afterthought, Combustion Man doesn't break any "established bending rules?"

Hell you're kind of lop-siding it. You're saying that undiscovered knowledge doesn't break "established bending rules," yet you declare massive blood-bending outside the full moon "breaking them" while it could be very well that it was just undiscovered knowledge. I mean I agree it'll be very stupid if your average waterbender could do it and there's no counter, but we've already seen two ways you could break it, not to mention the two people who could do it can't bend anymore, so it should be fine.

 Spoiler

Loving the series, but I get the feeling that the season finale will be Korra losing her bending. The next season will be focused on finding out who Amon really is, and Korra's spiritual development into the Avatar State (and regaining her bending).

It just seems too rushed to have Korra defeat Amon in the next 3 episodes. Oh, and there are rumors that one of Zuko's descendants will make an appearance during the season finale!

Off topic : OH MY GOD WELCOME BACK BACON YOU MOTHERF-
On topic : Did Hama have any kids? If so, maybe Yakone and Tarrlok are her descendants.

Well, he wasn't able to take out Amon, so it shows that blood bending has some weakness, although we're not sure what at this point. Amon probably knows how to counter it (which everyone in the trial obviously didn't.)

Edit: As an afterthought, Combustion Man doesn't break any "established bending rules?"

Hell you're kind of lop-siding it. You're saying that undiscovered knowledge doesn't break "established bending rules," yet you declare massive blood-bending outside the full moon "breaking them" while it could be very well that it was just undiscovered knowledge. I mean I agree it'll be very stupid if your average waterbender could do it and there's no counter, but we've already seen two ways you could break it, not to mention the two people who could do it can't bend anymore, so it should be fine.

As we know nothing really about Amon, there could be a million and a half reasons to explain his resistance to Bloodbending. Half Mechanical? Mostly Spirit? Bloodbender himself? We just don't know enough about him to explain that course of events.

Combustion Man certainly had unique Firebending, but he wasn't able to take out over a hundred people at once...or in a small amount of time...or at all (from what we saw, at least). Plus, his abilities were new, not a concept already given to us and then wildly thrown out of control to create a far too powerful enemy. Bloodbending isn't a new concept. When it was, it was limited, and shown to not be as powerful as it suddenly is. Combustion Man's abilities were introduced how they were, and even then they were nothing more than focused Firebending. It's kind of like Combustion Man was a Firebending Bumi, able to use his face as a Bending form. "Hey you know everything we told you about Bloodbending? It suddenly doesn't apply anymore because we need an evil SOB."

Undiscovered Knowledge doesn't break "established bending rules" because never at one point did they say that the Four Bending Arts were the only Bending Arts. Hell, it was essentially a lost Art, as explained by the Lion Turtle, "In the times before the Avatar..." How many books, games, shows, movies, etc. have added some "lost power" at the near end of the story? It's no different here.

As we know nothing really about Amon, there could be a million and a half reasons to explain his resistance to Bloodbending. Half Mechanical? Mostly Spirit? Bloodbender himself? We just don't know enough about him to explain that course of events.

Combustion Man certainly had unique Firebending, but he wasn't able to take out over a hundred people at once...or in a small amount of time...or at all (from what we saw, at least). Plus, his abilities were new, not a concept already given to us and then wildly thrown out of control to create a far too powerful enemy. Bloodbending isn't a new concept. When it was, it was limited, and shown to not be as powerful as it suddenly is. Combustion Man's abilities were introduced how they were, and even then they were nothing more than focused Firebending. It's kind of like Combustion Man was a Firebending Bumi, able to use his face as a Bending form. "Hey you know everything we told you about Bloodbending? It suddenly doesn't apply anymore because we need an evil SOB."

Undiscovered Knowledge doesn't break "established bending rules" because never at one point did they say that the Four Bending Arts were the only Bending Arts. Hell, it was essentially a lost Art, as explained by the Lion Turtle, "In the times before the Avatar..." How many books, games, shows, movies, etc. have added some "lost power" at the near end of the story? It's no different here.

Hell, what are we arguing about again?

Seriously. Are we arguing how this bloodbending is overpowered and stupid, or that it breaks rules? The former is probably done discussion on this point; it rests on how the hell Amon resisted bloodbending. If the average joe can learn how to resist it, then it won't be OP, but if it turns out Amon was a waterbender or something, then essentially you won the argument.

The "breaking rules" part though extremely irks me, because never I have heard anything like that. There's no rulebook dictating how the 4 bending arts should be. Maybe Hama was a weak idiot; she didn't realize you could bloodblend outside of the full moon. Katara never attempted it because, well, she hates it. In reality, isn't bloodbending the same exact thing as metalbending? I'd argue that metalbending is even harder, as blood contains almost 50% water, while metals contain only specks. Maybe Tarlok and his dad were genetically/spiritually/whatever predispositioned towards bloodbending.

I enjoy this argument. Wish more arguments were like this.

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Lmao, anyone have a gif for when Beifong pulls up Bolin's zipper? rofl

I like the first one cus it's funny when she zips it up, lmao. It doesn't explain what happens like the second one does though. Anyone know one with all of that together?

Here's a better one.

Lool, yea that's awesome.

Out of curiosity, why do people keep saying 80 years? Korra takes place 70 years after the original series, not 80. All of the original cast, or rather, original Team Avatar are/would be in their 80s. :x

Seriously. Are we arguing how this bloodbending is overpowered and stupid, or that it breaks rules? The former is probably done discussion on this point; it rests on how the hell Amon resisted bloodbending. If the average joe can learn how to resist it, then it won't be OP, but if it turns out Amon was a waterbender or something, then essentially you won the argument.

The "breaking rules" part though extremely irks me, because never I have heard anything like that. There's no rulebook dictating how the 4 bending arts should be. Maybe Hama was a weak idiot; she didn't realize you could bloodblend outside of the full moon. Katara never attempted it because, well, she hates it. In reality, isn't bloodbending the same exact thing as metalbending? I'd argue that metalbending is even harder, as blood contains almost 50% water, while metals contain only specks. Maybe Tarlok and his dad were genetically/spiritually/whatever predispositioned towards bloodbending.

I enjoy this argument. Wish more arguments were like this.

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?

 Spoiler

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.

(1) Maybe the fact that Hama used blood bending on a tunnel full of fire benders/innocent civilians and hid them in a cave? (2) The fact that maybe her fellow prisoners saw how she escaped? (3) Maybe how the guard she blood bent told his superiors and spread rumors? (4) 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.

(1) The fire nation village she terrorized did not know she was a Waterbender; they just thought she was some sort of witch.
(2) Hama says she and Katara are the last Southern Tribe Waterbenders (kind of funny since Katara is trained in the Northern Tribe style), so it's likely that her companions are dead.
(3) In the fire nation, I wouldn't reveal that a prisoner escaped. :/ She also could've killed him, I don't remember exactly what she does to him.
(4) Katara only bloodbent one person outside of the Hama incident. Again, he had no clue what was going on.

The key is knowing that there is water in everything. Everyone who was bloodbent in ATLA did not know that the water in themselves was being bent, they either thought there was some magic or were just confused as to what was going on.

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.

I find it being passed on by some other people/tribe more plausible than that, bet that they only thought it could only be used in full moon was thanks to Katara, being most likely the only person that was willing to talk to others about it, you guys remember that small water tribe in that swamp, pretty much no one knew about them and the ability to bend plants.