The Legend of Korra Book 4: Balance ***Spoilers***

[Sharoth]

Freehold DM wrote:

He's an annoying little boy. I was one, once.

Ikki is my favorite. Such a sweet little girl.

ONCE?!? ONCE?!? ~shakes my head and walks away~

P.S. - On the plus side, you are no where near as bad as I am.

~grins~

[Dragon78]

Great episode, as expected, I hope this season will have Korra fighting the main villain(s) without help or being screwed over and actually getting to kick her/his/there butts.

[Orthos]

Spoiler:

"Guards... Do The Thing."

[jemstone]

Orthos wrote:

** spoiler omitted **

Spoiler:

"NO! NOT THE THING!"

[Freehold DM]

I truly love her....

[brad2411]

you know she is faking it to get varrik out

[Chris Mortika]

Spoiler:

The Battle went poorly. What's your interpretation of Kuivera's winning move in the one-on-one?

And brad2411, that doesn't look to be the case. She didn't seem to be too bothered at the news of Varrik's death.

[Freehold DM]

Jesus Christ SPOILERS MAN?!?!

[Chris Lambertz]

Threw on a spoiler tag.

[Chris Mortika]

I was deliberately vague and/or misleading, Freehold DM.

(Back in the day, I had friends coming out of "ST 2: Wrath of Khan" who saw us waiting in line. One of them ran up to us and shouted, "Chekov lives!")

[Tels]

It's usually best to wait about 24 hours after an episode airs to be posting about it on here outside of a spoiler tag.

That said, I'm pretty sure I initially included ***Spoilers*** in the thread name, so it's not exactly out there or something. It would be a very different story if it had been posted in the "Let's talk about Anime" thread though.

[Grey Lensman]

Tels wrote:

It's usually best to wait about 24 hours after an episode airs to be posting about it on here outside of a spoiler tag.

That said, I'm pretty sure I initially included ***Spoilers*** in the thread name, so it's not exactly out there or something. It would be a very different story if it had been posted in the "Let's talk about Anime" thread though.

We do have several people who stream television and won't always get to watch on the network air date. Granted, that doesn't apply to a show that is only available online, but it is still a good rule of thumb.

[Kryzbyn]

The battle of Zaofu...

Spoiler:

How many fights are we supposed to watch Korra suck at? I understand that she's recovering or whatever, but she didn't even put up an arena-level fight. What's with the Avatar state deal with "I'm saving that for last"? She absolutely needed a quick and decisive victory here, and she didn't need to kill her to win. Why did the avatar state screw with her? What the heck is that whole fight scene even about? Are we supposed to believe that the Avatar state is a bloodthirsty git? Are the writers trolling us now?
That fight was incredibly painful to watch.

[Tels]

Spoiler:

I agree. We've consistently seen Korra get her butt handed to her for 3 seasons now. She did well in the fights in arena, but, against it seems like every other time she's gotten in a fight, she's lost. Hell, even when she fought Unalaq, she beat him, but lost access to the previous Avatars, so it's kind of a Pyrrhic victory.

The whole confrontation with Kuvira strongly reminded me of Kyoshi and Chin the Conqueror, except Kyoshi was no fool and opted to end the fighting before it began.

As an Avatar, Korra has lost all major battles, or her victories have been spoiled by Pyrrhic victories.

She didn't beat Amon, Amon fled after the truth was revealed.
She didn't be Unalaq, he defeated her and then became the Dark Avatar and destroyed her connection with the past Avatars.
She lost to Zaheer and ended up poisoned and out of commission for years because of it.
She lost to Kuvira and cemented her right to rule the Empire in the eyes of her army.

I can't help but think that Aang, as a 12 year old, handled himself better than Korra does as a 21 year old (I think she's 21 now?) which is kind of sad.

[Umbral Reaver]

I suppose for one, Korra's avatar state is devoid of any wisdom or insight of the ages. It is empty.

[Grey Lensman]

Remember, Aang's avatar state was kind of bloodthirsty too, at least in comparison to Aang himself. While in the state, he was about to force Ozai to 'pay the ultimate price' for his actions and had to force himself out of it in order to try something a little less lethal.

[Orthos]

While I'm loving this season overall, I can't disagree much with the complaints.

Spoiler:

On the other hand, at least Bolin is coming into his own and becoming less of a worthless goofball. That's something at least.

[Scintillae]

I dunno.

Spoiler:

I kinda like that the Avatar State isn't an instant "I Win" button and there's actually a credible reason that it isn't the go-to instant conflict resolver.

That said...it would be nice to see Korra actually win, yes. It's been interesting watching her struggle with her role, but c'mon. It's the final season. Bring it.

[Varrick of Varrick Industries]

Chris Mortika wrote:

** spoiler omitted **

Spoiler:

Relax. It's not like she'll know when to do the thing without me to tell her!

[Orthos]

Relevant to our interests

[Freehold DM]

Scintillae wrote:

I dunno.

** spoiler omitted **

Spoiler:

agreed. The avatar state has been shown to be a win button for much of the series. If she beat kuvira and the series ended right then and there, we'd all be pissed. They are clearly going in another direction here.

[Dragon78]

I just hope that the final fight of the series will be Korra kicking butt without anyone else's help for once.

[jemstone]

Where.

Is.

Pabu?

[Kryzbyn]

With the dog bear.

[Kryzbyn]

Scintillae wrote:

I dunno.

Spoiler:

I know the avatar state isn't supposed to be the go to option, but when the enemy will not accept diplomacy, and challenges you, the Avatar, to a duel for an entire nation, you don't wait to use your best weapon as a last resort.

Yeah, it would have been crappy if she defeated Kuvira and the series ended, but it didn't have to. I know the writers must have a different path to take here. Why not leave Korra hanging for another episode working on getting right, AFTER Zoufu was taken? Or use a different hook?
You don't say "I'm the Avatar, bring it", then not fight like the Avatar is supposed to. Avatar Kyoshi used the avatar state to settle that dispute without killing anyone, and Korra could have done the same before getting painted into a corner.
I guess I'm just disappointed, because the writing is usually so much better than this...

[Freehold DM]

Kryzbyn wrote:

Scintillae wrote:

I dunno.

** spoiler omitted **

Spoiler:

This is Day of Black Sun redux and considerably more personal. It wouldn't have been just "crappy" if Korra won and the credits rolled- pitchfork and torch sales would have sent the dow jones to new heights. Let the writers finish- something else is happening here. It could still suck, but they aren't going for the quick finish ending.

[brad2411]

Chris Mortika wrote:

** spoiler omitted **

Yeah it is looking like I am wrong. I am loving Bolin and can't wait for him to be more awesome. Meelo is hilarious. Also totally in agreement Aang was a much better fighter at 12 then she is.

[Freehold DM]

Tels wrote:

** spoiler omitted **

Spoiler:

Chin the Conqueror was no Kuvira, and I think to draw parallels is a bit silly.

Aang lost until he won too.

[jemstone]

Kryzbyn wrote:

With the dog bear.

Is he? I don't think we've seen any sign of Pabu this entire season, not even on Airbender Island. I could be wrong, but I think our little Fire Ferret friend is MIA.

[Chris Mortika]

I can't imagine Kuivira allowing pets on her train.

I'm still not sure why

Spoiler:

the avatar-state abandoned Korra and possessed Kuivira during the fight.

It seemed obvious to me that Kuivira manipulated Korra into the fight. Obviously, she wanted to beat the avatar, in public, to cement her army's loyalty. But why was she so damn certain that she'd win? She must have known in advance that the avatar state would betray Korra.

[Freehold DM]

brad2411 wrote:

Chris Mortika wrote:

** spoiler omitted **

Yeah it is looking like I am wrong. I am loving Bolin and can't wait for him to be more awesome. Meelo is hilarious. Also totally in agreement Aang was a much better fighter at 12 then she is.

I think this has less to do with skill and more to do with noone having fought an Airbender in a generation, maybe more. Also aang learned from perhaps the best benders of his day in a time of war. That's going to make you more than bad ass.

[Scintillae]

Chris Mortika wrote:

I can't imagine Kuivira allowing pets on her train.

I'm still not sure why ** spoiler omitted **

Spoiler:

I don't think it did. Korra was shown to be hallucinating that vision in earlier episodes, either as a side-effect of the poison or PTSD. Since the poison's gone, I'm going with the latter. Kuvira didn't get possessed by the Avatar State; Korra just got startled out of it by a remarkably ill-timed flashback. Also probably meant to hammer in the idea that Kuvira's methods are a lot like Korra's used to be - hit it until it stops disagreeing with you.

My money's on the rest of the season going to be heading back to Republic City to regroup, get the team back together, and help her work through her issues so she's as fit to fight as an Avatar should be.

[Kryzbyn]

It didn't possess, it was a hallucination

[Kalshane]

Yeah, that was definitely

Spoiler:

Korra's head, completed with hair ties, on Kuvria's body. It was the same hallucination she's been having all season.

I think Kuvira was confident she was going to win because 1) she's defeated everyone she has fought before, and easily 2) she knows Korra was grievously wounded and been healing since. Also, Korra looks skinnier than usual this season around the arms and shoulders. Kuvira could likely tell by looking at her that she's not back to full strength.

[Blayde MacRonan]

Spoiler:

I was initially under the impression that the Avatar Spirit abandoned Korra, but going back and rewatching it showed me that it was indeed a hallucination.

And as for the battle, Kuvira obviously planned for this eventuality. If you're embarking on an endeavor that would eventually bring the Avatar into play, would you do anything less?

She read Korra like a book throughout the fight. On top of that, Kuvira was one of Suyin's best metalbending students. I'd place her squarely in the category of an Earthbending Master just based on what we've seen in this episode. She had a counter for practically everything the Avatar did, and the few times Korra got something going, Kuvira not only shut her down, but she did it quickly. She expended little effort for most of that battle, only truly becoming pressed once Korra went into the Avatar State. Plus she developed her own style of metalbending for combat (probably out of necessity since she knew that a confrontation with Zaofu was going to be an inevitable one), one that was both simple and effective.

[LazarX]

Korra and others apparantly were under the mistaken impression that Korra's problems were all physical in nature. What has been demonstrated is that while all the mercury may finally be expunged from her body, she has along way to go as far as healing her soul damage.

Korra vs Kuivera was essentially a mirror of Zuko vs Aszula.

[Tels]

Reunion:

Nice to see Korra can at least fight mooks and get away, though it seems she's not very confident in her abilities as the old Korra would have stood her ground and fought them all off.

Is anyone else hoping for a Toph/Kuvira showdown with that scene at the end?

[brad2411]

Tels wrote:

** spoiler omitted **

totally looking forward to that. can't wait for toph to school people again.

[Dragon78]

I really hope there is a powerful spirit inside that giant tree.

[yellowdingo]

Dragon78 wrote:

I really hope there is a powerful spirit inside that giant tree.

Ko the Face Stealer...

[brad2411]

So here is what I am seeing this season is about.

spoiler:

Korra has to realize that she has to talk with Kovira about how she thinks she is doing the right thing. As all the past bad guys where thinking they where doing the right thing. That is why when Korra fought Kovira and could have ended it she saw herself. Because it was not the right thing to do and she knew that that is why she did not want to fight cover in the first place.

[jemstone]

Pabu is alive and well!

*choirs of angels sing*

Spoiler:

And as of this episode, every Korrasami shipper in the world has no doubt had a brain-gasm

[Tels]

So.. uh... that's some imagination Varrick has huh?

[Kalshane]

The Varrick part almost made enduring a clips episode worth it. Almost. All the other villains dissing Unalaq was great.

Though Mako's family and Prince Wu pointing out how much of a jerk Mako was with Korra and Asami was good, too.

[Blayde MacRonan]

Crawling out of my hole to comment on the latest episode of Korra. A theory I've always had is proven to be true, more or less... Today's episode is just full of awesome.

Spoiler:

The theory I had was that because Aang and the Avatars before hadn't learned energybending, that was why they were powerless in the Spirit World. But even after he learned energybending, because he didn't have that intimate connection with Raava, Aang had no way to act on that. And all it took for Korra to make that leap was confronting Master Zaheer (by rediscovering flight, Zaheer is now an Airbending Master) and letting go of what happened.

And as Zaheer pointed out, the real world is suffused with spirit energy thanks to the thinning of the barriers. Kuvira is so going to get her @$$ whupped.

[Chris Mortika]

Heck,Zaheer may even join in on the whupping.

I'm hoping that Prince Wu grows up a little, and I'm hoping that Varrick grows up relative to Jhu Li, too.

[LazarX]

Chris Mortika wrote:

Heck,Zaheer may even join in on the whupping.

Maybe he would, and then he'd turn on the Avatar the moment the first foe was down. He's still an anarcho at heart.

[Blayde MacRonan]

Today's episode was full of metalbending goodness. And although I didn't get the fight I wanted, what I did see almost made up for it.

Almost...

[brad2411]

Yeah I wanted Toph to kick some butt.

[Dragon78]

Good episode, can't wait for next week's, though I still wish we would get a cooler villain for the last season.