Honestly, I thought this was a great finale. For several reasons.
1) No cliffhanger. They're fucking awful. I hate cliffhangers. They feel like, to me, the worst possible way you can ever try to get people to watch your show again next season. I'm happy they're not doing that. Good endings where the main plot is resolved but some lesser plots are not are a great way to bring people back, in my opinion. Those little things ache at you, but I've left shows because of horrible cliffhangers. Don't ask why, it just annoys me.
2) The commercial didn't ruin the ending. I was so happy when the ending wasn't "Korra lost her bending, buhahaha." They had some interesting surprise twists at the end that really did it for me.
3) With Korra regaining her Bending, learning Airbending, and being a fully realized Avatar, we can now enjoy 14 episodes of "Awesome Fully Realized Avatar Action." I hope. Seriously...one of the biggest downers of The Original Series' ending was that Aang had JUST become a fully realized Avatar, and it was over. I want to see what an Avatar can really do and not in flashbacks. Honestly, waiting for that is enough of a cliffhanger, and it didn't leave us going "OH NOES, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN!?!??!"
4) Honestly, if half or all of Book 2 was "Korra goes on a Spiritual Journey to regain her bending," it would have been awful. We've already seen an Avatar when they just know Airbending, we don't need that again.
5) Awesome characters like Lin aren't screwed.
Now to address a few complaints I read before I posted:
Mako x Korra: Completely agree with this. I felt this was randomly rushed on...you don't fall in love with someone utterly and completely like Mako apparently has in 2 months. But then again...if you think about it...Aang and Katara knew each other for....6-7 tops? So eh, whatever. I guess it's cause it's a smaller span of episodes over a similar time period in the show's world it feels tacked on. I think it's stupid that he just randomly dumps Asami without a second thought. Korra got kidnapped and suddenly Asami didn't exist anymore.
Aang showing up to restore Korra's bending: Although slightly rushed, they clearly didn't want a cliffhanger ending and had little time to fix this situation. I do want to point out "The Winter Solstice, Part 2." Roku materialized himself through Aang and attacked the Firebenders ready to attack Aang. Clearly the past lives of the Avatar have some ability to interact with the environment, and that's exactly what happened here. They're not imaginary, or just part of the current Avatar's mind and we've seen this shown in that episode.
Why couldn't the other Avatars Energybend: Remember the Lion Turtle? "In the times before the Avatar we bent not the elements, but the energy within ourselves." I've mentioned this quote in a different argument, yes, but it pertains to this situation as well. I note times before the Avatar. This implies that it is unknown, even to the Avatars, because it was done before they showed up. Therefore it is very possible, probable even, that Aang is the first Avatar to learn this ability.
Well I haven't seen the episode yet, but I've seen some episodes of the Makorra garbage in it. I think a cool way to start off the next season would be that Asami joins the equalists. She could be so mad that the Avatar and Mako did what they did, that she just agrees with the ideals of the equalists, and their hatred of benders. Like I said, I haven't watched the last episode, so idk what happened with Amon, but she could join, become a high ranking equalist member, and be one of the ones who has a say in what to attack and stuff. At the same time, she can be with her father too and that would be cool too I think. Eventually Mr Sato would start thinking she's going too far with trying to hurt Korra and the benders, and that creates tension with her and her dad, etc. Would be cool imo
Deus ex Air bend
Deus ex spiritual connection
Deus ex korra bending healing
Deus ex Amon taking away bending
Deux ex Makorra
Not to mention the whole problem of pacing and lack of character consistence/progression.
Yeah, I'm kinda disappointed.
Cool stuff:
Iroh fire jetpacking
Lin is back, I love that woman even if it was through a deus ex
Spoiler
>Because Korra learning to Airbend wasn't the premise of the show. She was only shown actually trying to Airbend like... twice. Yeah, it's not the best time to whip out that she can do it, but it's not like it's Energybending where it was just like "OH LOOK. AANG HAS THIS NON-LETHAL METHOD TO DEFEAT OZAI. HOW HANDY. LEARNED IT JUST IN TIME TOO."
>Not Deus ex when it happened multiple times in ATLA. Roku even took over Aang once.
>Kind of Deus ex, but if the Avatar can take bending, logically he can give it back, no? Just like how Yue took some of the moon spirit, and then gave it back.
>Unexplained more than anything.
>Makorra isn't deus ex when they kissed in like the third episode and it was obvious as pineapple that they were going to end together.
Way to create half of your disappointment bra.
Berzerk Wrote:
Spoiler
Overall, Korra was no where near as good as the first series for me. Maybe it was because of my age, but regardless, I wasn't very pleased. I feel like Amon being Tarlok's brother was just a very underwhelming plot twist, and the pacing for the battles was just horrible. Not to mention the fact that a second season was ordered, but there's absolutely no carry over from the first season. Seriously, are they going to pull some bull like there's another bad guy they spend 11 episodes failing at beating then in the final they win?
Maybe I can just blame good TV for spoiling me.
Spoiler
Because in ATLA, there was just a myriad of baddies that Team Avatar thrashed through! Fire Lord took all three seasons and actually went down in the last episode. Azula took two seasons and went down in the last episode. Zuko took two seasons and he just had a change of heart, though arguably he was crushed so many times.
How can Noatak take someone's bending away? They didn't explain that in this season. Maybe a topic that will turn up in season 2?
I have a feeling Noatak survived the exploison. I'm happy with this ending.
I really like the music in The Legend of Korra. Hopefully it will be available soon.
I have no idea how someone would survive that explosion. It might just be that I'm tired of Amon and want a new villain for Book 2. Seeing as there's been a lot of fanservice with flashbacks of the Gaang and voice actor nostalgia, I say they should just have Azula come back after escaping prison or something. Screw logic, that peach is arguably my favorite villain of all time.
Dam son, some of that came out of nowhere, but other things I saw coming. That was a really good ending imo.
The Asami vs. Sato mech fight, Aang showing up at the end, and Mako being an ass hole and falling for Korra without breaking up with Asami were REALLY predictable. God dam Mako, why are you such a f'ucking d'ouche.
I doubt Yakone's sons are dead (f'uck those hard to spell names) because there needs to be some new villain or villainy to keep me interested. I'm curious if anyone helped Amon in the time between him leaving his home in the water tribe and showing up in Republic City, could bring up some storyline.
Also, how the hell did Amon get Tenzin and his family? This episode left a lot of things unexplained- such as how Amon could take people's bending.
Tarlock moment at the end was really REALLY powerful. I never expected something like that in Avatar. I'm so damn satisfied now, and I can't wait to see what they pull out next season.
I wonder if there's going to be a timeskip or something since they tied up everything I can think of in the moment.
Tarlok definitely redeemed himself at the end there. Was impressed by that.
As for how Bloodbending can take away Bending...I fear that may be joining the "What Happened to Zuko's Mother" club in that we'll never know, but they'll probably taunt us with it.
Welp I gotta say Polantaris blood bending is pretty OP, since only the Avatar and other bloodbenders can stop it, and now it can take away someone's bending.
At least the only three known "strong" users of it are presumably dead.
Polantaris Wrote:Tarlok definitely redeemed himself at the end there. Was impressed by that.
As for how Bloodbending can take away Bending...I fear that may be joining the "What Happened to Zuko's Mother" club in that we'll never know, but they'll probably taunt us with it.
But what happened to Zuko's mother is just a general wondering in the world. How bloodbending -> taking away bending is just a what. Not to mention they did acknowledge that everyone wants to know what's up with Zuko's mom anyways. I'll join Corn in the explanation that bloodbending is just "that strong."
>Because Korra learning to Airbend wasn't the premise of the show. She was only shown actually trying to Airbend like... twice. Yeah, it's not the best time to whip out that she can do it, but it's not like it's Energybending where it was just like "OH LOOK. AANG HAS THIS NON-LETHAL METHOD TO DEFEAT OZAI. HOW HANDY. LEARNED IT JUST IN TIME TOO."
Actually, if I remember correctly Korra never once performed Airbending until the last episode. In the Pro-Bending episode she started fighting like an Airbender, with fluid movements and the like, but I don't remember her ever actually Airbending. That's why she was so surprised that she did in the last episode. It's possible that the Bloodbending reversed the bending abilities in her (IE, she could Firebend, Earthbend, and Waterbend but couldn't Airbend, and it reversed). Don't ask me how that's possible, just theorizing.
Jamesie Wrote:But what happened to Zuko's mother is just a general wondering in the world. How bloodbending -> taking away bending is just a what. Not to mention they did acknowledge that everyone wants to know what's up with Zuko's mom anyways. I'll join Corn in the explanation that bloodbending is just "that strong."
While I will agree with the first part, it doesn't change that people will and are wondering how it could do that, something that will probably never be explained (Just like Zuko's mom never was).
Corn Wrote:Welp I gotta say Polantaris blood bending is pretty OP, since only the Avatar and other bloodbenders can stop it, and now it can take away someone's bending.
At least the only three known "strong" users of it are presumably dead.
Strong abilities against one person and being able to use it against hundreds is two different fields of expertise. A good example is Lightningbending. It's very strong, but only is able to target one person. Yakome and family's Bloodbending can magically fill both fields. I still call bullpomegranate "OPness," so to speak.
Polantaris Wrote:Actually, if I remember correctly Korra never once performed Airbending until the last episode. In the Pro-Bending episode she started fighting like an Airbender, with fluid movements and the like, but I don't remember her ever actually Airbending. That's why she was so surprised that she did in the last episode. It's possible that the Bloodbending reversed the bending abilities in her (IE, she could Firebend, Earthbend, and Waterbend but couldn't Airbend, and it reversed). Don't ask me how that's possible, just theorizing.
Well, I was more attacking the idea that Airbending was complete deus ex. Yeah, the whole timing is awkward and off, but it's not like it was a central plot point for a decent amount of the season. But attempting Airbending, I was referring to the few times Korra actually tried to make Airbending happen. I am aware that she was only successful until that awk Bloodbending thing happened.
Polantaris Wrote:While I will agree with the first part, it doesn't change that people will and are wondering how it could do that, something that will probably never be explained (Just like Zuko's mom never was).
Well I think it's important to note that the creators do acknowledge that everyone wants to know what's up with Zuko's mom (see: last episode of ATLA, first episode of LoK) and to top it off Katara says it's a "fascinating" tale, therefore we "know" what happened to Zuko's mom. However, Zuko's mom can be swept under the rug indefinitely since it has no important ramifications on the story. Bloodbending's power on the other hand, while it's likely to be swept away anyways, it's a lot harder to ignore. I do agree that they need to address it, however I also agree that it'll probably never happen (but not like Zuko's mom though, that may eventually happen).
She was able to airbend because when she saw Mako in grave danger, something clicked and it activated. Hence Aang saying "when we hit our lowest point, we are open to the greatest change." I don't think Amon's bending-blocking technique enabled it. She unlocked it.
also, someone please explain what deus(x?) ex is..?
Puppeteer Wrote:also, someone please explain what deus(x?) ex is..?
Deus ex machina (God from the machine). It's a type of plot device where something usually "just happens" to allow the protagonists to win a seemingly impossible situation. The Greeks loved deus ex machina. Energybending from ATLA is a deus ex device as Energybending just happened to be a conveniently timed short-cut to allow Aang to not kill Ozai. (The creators argue that the concept was around forever though, whatever.)
![[Image: mandark2.jpg]](http://marmalademusings.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/mandark2.jpg)
![[Image: odDoF.jpg]](http://i.imgur.com/odDoF.jpg)