Avatar: The Legend of Korra

[Akiyama]

I think Akiyama's idea is great but we have to remember, at it's heart this is a kid's show. I doubt the plot would get that complicated.

Also when they bring out the crowd and start singling them out one by one you can see a guy visibly shaking out of fear, so I can only assume the threat is real.

This isn't your 'typical kid's show' really, though. It's insensitive to think of it that way. There's a lot of deep meanings to a lot of things interwoven throughout, beyond the 'good guys always win' thing. So I wouldn't put it past them for Amon to be stretching the truth on what he can do.

It's been 70 years, that's a lot of people learning, teaching, and mastering techniques that are now free to flourish.

Completely agreed. Toph was the first metal bender and creator.. she passed it down. Who's to say someone did mainstream the teachings of lightning bending as wel?

[zoobernut]

The one thing that does though is it takes some uniqueness away from the main characters. I loved in the first series how the ability to metal bend made Toph so unique similarly to the blood bending for Katara. Hopefully we see some even more advanced techniques show up with the main characters to give them something more.

[Dantrag]

I know there was no water around but I find it funny that Korra tends to fire bend the most.(Outside of the Pro bending matches).

[zoobernut]

I know there was no water around but I find it funny that Korra tends to fire bend the most.(Outside of the Pro bending matches).

I think it is because of her personality. She is very aggressive with her bending.

[Kobb]

This isn't your 'typical kid's show' really, though. It's insensitive to think of it that way. There's a lot of deep meanings to a lot of things interwoven throughout, beyond the 'good guys always win' thing. So I wouldn't put it past them for Amon to be stretching the truth on what he can do.

Completely agreed. Toph was the first metal bender and creator.. she passed it down. Who's to say someone did mainstream the teachings of lightning bending as wel?

I'm really on your side. I hope the story becomes that complicated and interesting. I was kind of in a jaded mood when I typed earlier D:

[Fhloston]

I think it is because of her personality. She is very aggressive with her bending.

Very true. I know Katara always carried a flask of water with her to water bend when needed, figured it was a water tribe tradition. Guess when you're the avatar and can bend everything else it isn't an issue though.

[Hatedregret]

Honestly feel like it is based on more of a cop out. Easier to fight a fire bender over an air or water as far as moves go. Fire is mostly close quartered strikes.

[Eurell]

Hmmm... I remember a fuckton of ranged fire attacks in the first series.

[Hatedregret]

Not trying to imply there's none, apologies on that. It just looks to me as their way of letting the nonbenders be effective. She was bending at what? four? She shouldn't be getting spanked by everyone. Aang was younger than her and struggled with each new type.

[Sunrider]

Not trying to imply there's none, apologies on that. It just looks to me as their way of letting the nonbenders be effective. She was bending at what? four? She shouldn't be getting spanked by everyone. Aang was younger than her and struggled with each new type.

She's not exactly a master, though. If Roku is at all representative of the Avatar's typical progression, even learning to bend three elements as a toddler, she could be well into her forties before she gains true mastery. In fact, it's rather odd that she was isolated to one small northern compound and that was meant to comprise her training.

Also, it's been established that she isn't the clearest head in the room. Disconnected from the spiritual, Korra is aggressive and reliant on her raw power, and doesn't favor strategy before entering a fight, which would explain her tendency to get spanked--particularly by non-bending chi blockers that have probably trained extensively (both intellectually and physically), to overcome the bender's advantage.

[Hatedregret]

Very good points all. Maybe I expected more too early? Love the show so far, but perhaps I'm viewing things from the end of Avatar and comparing to the beginning of Korra.

[zoobernut]

Yeah I noticed that even though Korra can bend three elements she isn't very good at any of them, when you compare how good Katara was at water bending or Toph at earth bending by the end of the first series. Even Aang was a master at air bending. Korra can just do them pretty well. Also I bet her lack of spirituality is going to inhibit her ability to go into the Avatar state and she will have to consciously unlock her ability to do that at some point unlike Aang who was very spiritual and would fall into the Avatar state as a defense mechanism.

[orson]

Anyone else betting Amon won't be the main villain? If they keep going with the spirit world aspect it might be something wholly otherworldly that becomes the antagonist. As it stands I can imagine the Avatar has made some serious enemies in the spirit world. Look at Koh AKA No Face in the the original series. He killed the Avatar's fiancee and we don't know why. We'll see but I think it's just as likely that Amon is being used and we could see a Zuko like character with him.

@Eurell The ranged fire attacks were mostly lightning based. Most firebending dissipated very quickly. I think to be able to control firebending at large distances you'd have to specialize. Sparky Sparky Boom man would be the only main firebender that I can think of that had a lot of range and relied on it. I can't think of many other ranged attacks other than that.

[Eurell]

Anyone else betting Amon won't be the main villain? If they keep going with the spirit world aspect it might be something wholly otherworldly that becomes the antagonist. As it stands I can imagine the Avatar has made some serious enemies in the spirit world. Look at Koh AKA No Face in the the original series. He killed the Avatar's fiancee and we don't know why. We'll see but I think it's just as likely that Amon is being used and we could see a Zuko like character with him.

@Eurell The ranged fire attacks were mostly lightning based. Most firebending dissipated very quickly. I think to be able to control firebending at large distances you'd have to specialize. Sparky Sparky Boom man would be the only main firebender that I can think of that had a lot of range and relied on it. I can't think of many other ranged attacks other than that.

I like that idea. Like maybe Amon will get stomped in the first season and we find out that some spirit has been pulling the strings and will be the big bad in season 2. That would leave tons of openings for aang to help out as a guide in the spirit world too.

As far as the ranged fire attacks though, didnt they used to fire bend off of Blimps and shit? I know we've seen tons of close combat fire bending, but I think thats because they were the main antagonists, and we saw them fight against everyone so much.

Actually, now that I think about it, they all tended to mix close and long range a lot. Earth bending had its armor stuff that Aang loved. Water bending had the tentacle arms. I'm gonna have to go look shit up, fucking love this show and all the tiny little details they put into things.

[Ragnus]

The only really really long range attacks I can remember were influenced by Sozin's Comet, a "dual cast" when Zuko and Iroh teamed up in like episode two, and Azula sending the flame saw down the track in Omashu during the Aang surfing on Bumi chase scene. Most other long range stuff came from the burning catapult balls.

[orson]

I like that idea. Like maybe Amon will get stomped in the first season and we find out that some spirit has been pulling the strings and will be the big bad in season 2. That would leave tons of openings for aang to help out as a guide in the spirit world too.

As far as the ranged fire attacks though, didnt they used to fire bend off of Blimps and shit? I know we've seen tons of close combat fire bending, but I think thats because they were the main antagonists, and we saw them fight against everyone so much.

Actually, now that I think about it, they all tended to mix close and long range a lot. Earth bending had its armor stuff that Aang loved. Water bending had the tentacle arms. I'm gonna have to go look shit up, fucking love this show and all the tiny little details they put into things.

Ya that's what really drew me to the original show. That and it had pretty awesome comedy. The attention to little details and consistency made it so easy to believe as a living breathing world. In someways I'm a little disappointed there seems to be such a huge cultural difference. I suppose so far we've only seen Republic city mostly which isn't too much different from Ba Sing Se. Just seems like they went from the 1800s to 1930-50s in a very short time but I suppose bending + peace = fast technological advancement.

[thetruepandagod]

Anyone else betting Amon won't be the main villain?

Spoiler: show

There will be a different villain for each season is what the creators said, much like zuko -> zhao -> azula -> sozin

So it will be Amon --> ??

[Akiyama]

I agree about Korra not being great at one element, but pretty good in all three. And she's not exactly the best student as seen with her failure to really 'get' what Tenzin was trying to teach her. It took her a match in Pro-Bending for it to finally click.

Honestly, I think she goes to firebending first of all over her other elements because of a couple reason. One, in another life, I'm fairly certain she would have loved to be born a firebender just because of the umph/power behind the element. Another is.. yeah, I never see her with a water flask like Katara had. She's used some Earthbending with her Firebending, but outside of episode 1.. she's not really seen in a lot of areas where there's water. That's where not knowing airbending is really screwing her over, honestly. Firebending and Earthbending are more common amongst benders I'm sure in Republic City, so people learn how to deal with it.. but airbending? Just a teensy, weensy bit more rare.

And yeah, don't think of the end of the original series and compare it to the beginning of this one. While Korra's older than Aang was when he was learning his last element, I don't feel like she's as mature (even if Aang had his moments.. when he had to get serious, he did get serious.. and have some tantrums in S2, but that's neither here nor there)

Korra's still relatively young as far as all things Avatar go, and she doesn't know how to deal with the assortment of people she's run across. Aang pretty much traveled as soon as he got out of the iceberg, and had more worldly experience at the age of 12 than Korra's had as well. So yeah, while Korra's got three of four already knocked out and isn't really in a 'rush' to learn the last element like Aang was.. Aang seemed to be a true prodigy when it came to that sort of stuff.

/endlongwindedpost.

Can't wait for this next episode, :<

[Sunrider]

I agree about Korra not being great at one element, but pretty good in all three. And she's not exactly the best student as seen with her failure to really 'get' what Tenzin was trying to teach her. It took her a match in Pro-Bending for it to finally click.

Honestly, I think she goes to firebending first of all over her other elements because of a couple reason. One, in another life, I'm fairly certain she would have loved to be born a firebender just because of the umph/power behind the element. Another is.. yeah, I never see her with a water flask like Katara had. She's used some Earthbending with her Firebending, but outside of episode 1.. she's not really seen in a lot of areas where there's water. That's where not knowing airbending is really screwing her over, honestly. Firebending and Earthbending are more common amongst benders I'm sure in Republic City, so people learn how to deal with it.. but airbending? Just a teensy, weensy bit more rare.

And yeah, don't think of the end of the original series and compare it to the beginning of this one. While Korra's older than Aang was when he was learning his last element, I don't feel like she's as mature (even if Aang had his moments.. when he had to get serious, he did get serious.. and have some tantrums in S2, but that's neither here nor there)

Korra's still relatively young as far as all things Avatar go, and she doesn't know how to deal with the assortment of people she's run across. Aang pretty much traveled as soon as he got out of the iceberg, and had more worldly experience at the age of 12 than Korra's had as well. So yeah, while Korra's got three of four already knocked out and isn't really in a 'rush' to learn the last element like Aang was.. Aang seemed to be a true prodigy when it came to that sort of stuff.

/endlongwindedpost.

Can't wait for this next episode, :<

I wouldn't really say Aang was much more mature than Korra:Aand did travel the world and fight a war, as you mentioned, but he was still a goofy and idealistic twelve-year-old, and keep in mind he didn't readily accept the roles of Avatar and defender. Korra is almost Zuko's age and is a born fighter, but has been pretty sheltered all her life--Republic City marks her first time out in the world, and on her own. I'd say they're of similar maturity.

Aang wasn't necessarily a prodigy at the other three forms: remember that he met with disaster his first time Firebending, and swore off it. Nor did he take to Earthbending immediately. Waterbending was about the only thing he really took to easily. Though, by Sozin's Comet, he still hadn't exhibited full mastery: both Toph and Zuko admitted he still needed a lot of work. His saving grace against Ozai was the deus ex machina-style appearance of the Lion Turtle (saving Aang from the hard decision), and dumb-luck activation of the Avatar state. I'd say Korra is more or less on the same footing as Aang was, with the obvious exception of Airbending.

I would love to see Korra commune with her past lives for no other reason than to see the dynamic with Aang, they're such opposites: she's aggressive, he's passive, she'll use force to solve a problem, he prefers diplomacy, she's reckless, he's patient... Aang needed to learn how to stand his ground, Korra needs to learn circumspection in conflict resolution. I can only imagine a conversation between the two of them would involve an argument.

As an aside, I wonder how the dynamic of pro bending might change when Korra learns Airbending and has that as an alternative to water.

[Silenka]

I wouldn't really say Aang was much more mature than Korra:Aand did travel the world and fight a war, as you mentioned, but he was still a goofy and idealistic twelve-year-old, and keep in mind he didn't readily accept the roles of Avatar and defender. Korra is almost Zuko's age and is a born fighter, but has been pretty sheltered all her life--Republic City marks her first time out in the world, and on her own. I'd say they're of similar maturity.

Yes, they are mature in different ways. Aang was brought up in a monk community that stressed the importance of peace, patience, spirituality and que sera sera mentality. Korra was not (obviously). Aang coming from the background he did meant he was inherently able to understand/accept certain things about life that others, including Korra, have a hard time with.

The other big difference is in their ages. Aang was getting up towards Korra's age by the end of the first series, but through most of it he was preteen, meaning he had very childish views of things like responsibility and relationships with others. He had to learn all of that stuff, (which for normal kids is learned gradually in school and with family) the hardest way possible, which caused most of his angst, depression and hissy fits.

Korra is past all that stuff and already understands responsibility and relations with others. What she's going through now is the typical rebellious teen phase where she doesn't step back to consider others' thoughts and wisdom over her own, thinks she's invincible and wants to take ALL of the responsibility on her shoulders to live up to her heritage instead of teaming up with others for help (which is quite clearly a bad way to go about it to those who are old and wise enough).

No matter how old they are and how many people are dispensing wisdom to them, though, life is all about making your own mistakes and then passing on your newfound wisdom to someone else who will probably still disregard it and make the same mistakes. Korra will learn the hard way just like Aang, she will just make slightly different mistakes from Aang because of the difference in stage of maturity.

Aang wasn't necessarily a prodigy at the other three forms: remember that he met with disaster his first time Firebending, and swore off it. Nor did he take to Earthbending immediately. Waterbending was about the only thing he really took to easily. Though, by Sozin's Comet, he still hadn't exhibited full mastery: both Toph and Zuko admitted he still needed a lot of work. His saving grace against Ozai was the deus ex machina-style appearance of the Lion Turtle (saving Aang from the hard decision), and dumb-luck activation of the Avatar state. I'd say Korra is more or less on the same footing as Aang was, with the obvious exception of Airbending.

Korra's disadvantage is that she doesn't seem to take to traditional teaching well. The thing that Tenzin was trying to teach her only clicked when she was under pressure in an actual situation. She doesn't have well-developed learning skills (assimilating something from someone else requires the ability to actually be passive instead of confrontational, which is what Aang was good at, quite the opposite of Korra as most have noted). Korra's confrontational nature may keep her from mastering her elements for a long time.