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The Legend of Korra: Book 4 |OT2| ALL HAIL THE GREAT UNITER
- Thread starter Toa TAK
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sherbies? That name looks familiar...
lol, we should hire her to make book 5 - scissors
Yeah she's one of the biggest Korrasami shippers out there and makes a lot of great fanart/videos.
LAUGHTREY
Modesty becomes a woman
Remember when everyone was trying to figure out the red lotus' deal, like what they wanted?
Remember when everyone was excited to figure out how Zaheer was so good at air bending, and where he learned it from?
Remember when that all sucked ass and it sucked? Why did I keep watching after that?
Remember when everyone was excited to figure out how Zaheer was so good at air bending, and where he learned it from?
Remember when that all sucked ass and it sucked? Why did I keep watching after that?
That Dude John
Member
Pepperidge Farm remembers.
Icyflamez96
Member
Caring about Azula is like being on a rollercoaster ride man
Wait are you saying that you didn't like Book 3?
Icyflamez96
Member
I will never understand the continued query with Zaheer's airbending talent
He was already an excellent fighter before getting airbending.
He was crazy about airbending culture and would probably pick it up easier than your average joe.
It's not like he was actually good at the traditional style of aibending. He just used it as an extension of acrobatic fighting style. (Remember, he was in a carnival)
I guess you could say people aren't used to fighting airbenders.
Also, when going up against a real airbender (Tenzin) it showed what a not amazing airbender he actually was
SilentMatthew
Member
Goddamnit, why didn't the Red Lotus get a background episode? For a time waster named Kai...
Goddamnit, why didn't the Red Lotus get a background episode? For a time waster named Kai...
Why didn't any of the characters get a background episode?
LAUGHTREY
Modesty becomes a woman
That was made up. The most we ever got was they were going to kidnap Korra at a young age and they were going to be her bending teachers, and Zaheer clearly knew a lot about Airbending and Air Nomad culture, he knew how to fight with it just didn't have the ability.
It was just a huge waste.
Exactly.
Because let's be real here: LoK sucked and rode its way to 4 seasons on AtLAs coattails. Everyone watching it compared it to AtLA constantly, and we were all waiting for it to get as good as AtLA, but it didn't. AtLA was defined by its villains. I couldn't even tell you evil water bender from Season 1s name right now, compare that to Zuko, Ozai, Azula, Ty Lee, Mai, Long Feng, ZHAO THE MOON SLAYER.
m_shortpants
Member
Young Justice S01E14
Artemis - "I feel naked, and not in a fun way"
Artemis - "I feel naked, and not in a fun way"
Icyflamez96
Member
Oh wait I forgot, the carnival part wasn't real but you can still see that he doesn't have a traditional airbending style and got wrecked when going against a real one.
And he is acrobatic.
Man, him being part of a carnival at one point in his life would make so much sense tbh.
BKatastrophe
Member
It wasn't needed. You can tell the guy fucked up shit hard without any bending. They put him on a goddamn mountain. Baffles me that people don't get that.
Also I am so glad that Kuvira vs Unalaq discussion occurred. Huehuehue
All things considered, the show did kind of suck outside of its fight scenes. It sucked as almost as a whole without even having to compare it to TLA IMO. This is even worsened when you actively hope it'll be as good as some parts of TLA.
And when you lose the expectations, you're still kinda left with some disappointing villains by the time the books draw to an end. I think it's because the show was very good at selling enemies to you, but eventually dropping the ball someway or somehow like in Book 1's final episode, Book 2's final episode, Book 3's final episode, and...well...Book 4's final two episodes.
Of course, each book has their own issues as well. However, I have no doubt that each book's final episode either were a result of said issues or actually contained enough major issues in them to kill some enjoyment anyone could have of the book.
Since we're talking about Book 3 in question, having Zaheer degenerate into that raving, out of character, lunatic at the end when he was captured? Did he really need to say anything at all? For someone who was at peace and solemnly quiet for long periods of time, you'd think he'd just bite the bullet and go to prison with begrudging respect.
And when you lose the expectations, you're still kinda left with some disappointing villains by the time the books draw to an end. I think it's because the show was very good at selling enemies to you, but eventually dropping the ball someway or somehow like in Book 1's final episode, Book 2's final episode, Book 3's final episode, and...well...Book 4's final two episodes.
Of course, each book has their own issues as well. However, I have no doubt that each book's final episode either were a result of said issues or actually contained enough major issues in them to kill some enjoyment anyone could have of the book.
Since we're talking about Book 3 in question, having Zaheer degenerate into that raving, out of character, lunatic at the end when he was captured? Did he really need to say anything at all? For someone who was at peace and solemnly quiet for long periods of time, you'd think he'd just bite the bullet and go to prison with begrudging respect.
Icyflamez96
Member
It definitely wasn't needed. Just saying it would fit in.
TacticalFox88
Banned
That line pretty much confirmed she and Wally were banging on the regular.
Icyflamez96
Member
I'm leaving for a week cruise tomorrow.
SEA yea dudes later LOL
SEA yea dudes later LOL
m_shortpants
Member
see ya around kiddo
Icyflamez96
Member
Nah I'm pretty sure I'll pop in here a few times to post during down time, I just wanted to make that bad pun.
I'm not exactly sure when the ship takes off, but we're leaving for the airport at noon.
I'm not exactly sure when the ship takes off, but we're leaving for the airport at noon.
m_shortpants
Member
Amon would be proud. Have fun with the cruise.
Icyflamez96
Member
AlfonzoPalutena
Member
While we're all talking about which books are better, I think it would be interesting to try and rewrite the series to make each book live up to it's potential. Tell me if you guys think this is a good outline. There are problems with it, but I think it would be cool if the show had been similar. I don't really intend on expanding it or making any fan fiction. Share your own ideas as well!
Book 1 Air: Keep this book mostly the same, take out some of the love triangle stuff, add lesbian tension, wipe the last 5 minutes off of the face of the earth. Korra should have no spiritual awakening; she should go into Book 2 bending only Air. Amon and Tarrlok can still explode in hot fiery sibling love flame. Ends with Makorra I guess.
Book 2 Balance: The book starts with Korra undergoing spiritual training with Tonraq's brother. Story is as follows. Tonraq is oldest and rightful leader of Northern Water Tribe. Unalaq is a nonbender and jealous of Tonraq, gets him banished. Unalaq is imprisoned after doing something unspeakable. Korra is currently training with the youngest brother, another Waterbender and current leader of the tribe. Totally twist the crap out of this book from here on out. Focus of the first part of this book is getting Korra to awaken spiritually, unlock her blocked charkras, anything to undo Amon’s work. Get a brief scene of this mentor calming a mad spirit. Mention that the spirits have been acting up for unknown reasons. After intense meditation Korra has visions of harmonic convergence. Not understanding this as a warning from Aang, she opens the spirit portals hoping to fix her problems. By touching the dormant portal she is forced into the non combat mode Avatar State for a hot second. Doesn't actually fix anything. Breaks up with Mako. Leaves the South in frustration after four episodes of this, travels to the Earth Kingdom to stabilize it. A dictator with mommy issues is snapping up states and edging closer to Ba Sing Se. Basically Kuvira vs. Korra but with more villain backstory, higher stakes (Korra can only bend Air), and 100% more actual realistic character motivations. No mecha robot, Kuvira is a threat to the world because of her ideas, and to Korra because of her metalbending prowess. Kuvira is being neglected by her parents, Earth Kingdom is being neglected by lazy queen. Su and Zhao Fu make appearances. Lesbian tension 1.5x
Book 4 Spirits: Much like the original Book 4, a large amount of time has passed. Korra is better physically but plagued not only by nightmares of her near death experience, but of Unalaq coming to attack her, and of a looming black spirit. Vines are creeping into Republic City as the two worlds converge. Korra is running from her avatar spirit as the pain of past encounters haunt her, Aang is still unable to tell her to close the portals. Beginnings still happens. Finale is Big. Epic. Even the avatar state can’t help her now. Have an intense battle that gets carried into republic city somehow. Don’t ever go Kaiju battle, but intense energybending by both parties destroys the city and opens a new portal. Korrasami Endgame.
Main Villain: Vaatu Victim of Tentacle Seduction: Unalaq
Of course, I skipped a lot of stuff, Tenzin, Lin, Mako, Bolin, Jinora, most of the Beifongs, Varrick, Zhu Li, Asami, Bumi, Kya, Ikki, Meelo, Kai (lol), Raiko, and Izumi are hardly mentioned. They'd be there though. Any thoughts?
Book 1 Air: Keep this book mostly the same, take out some of the love triangle stuff, add lesbian tension, wipe the last 5 minutes off of the face of the earth. Korra should have no spiritual awakening; she should go into Book 2 bending only Air. Amon and Tarrlok can still explode in hot fiery sibling love flame. Ends with Makorra I guess.
Main Villain: Amon Secondary Villains: Tarrlok and Hiroshi
Book 2 Balance: The book starts with Korra undergoing spiritual training with Tonraq's brother. Story is as follows. Tonraq is oldest and rightful leader of Northern Water Tribe. Unalaq is a nonbender and jealous of Tonraq, gets him banished. Unalaq is imprisoned after doing something unspeakable. Korra is currently training with the youngest brother, another Waterbender and current leader of the tribe. Totally twist the crap out of this book from here on out. Focus of the first part of this book is getting Korra to awaken spiritually, unlock her blocked charkras, anything to undo Amon’s work. Get a brief scene of this mentor calming a mad spirit. Mention that the spirits have been acting up for unknown reasons. After intense meditation Korra has visions of harmonic convergence. Not understanding this as a warning from Aang, she opens the spirit portals hoping to fix her problems. By touching the dormant portal she is forced into the non combat mode Avatar State for a hot second. Doesn't actually fix anything. Breaks up with Mako. Leaves the South in frustration after four episodes of this, travels to the Earth Kingdom to stabilize it. A dictator with mommy issues is snapping up states and edging closer to Ba Sing Se. Basically Kuvira vs. Korra but with more villain backstory, higher stakes (Korra can only bend Air), and 100% more actual realistic character motivations. No mecha robot, Kuvira is a threat to the world because of her ideas, and to Korra because of her metalbending prowess. Kuvira is being neglected by her parents, Earth Kingdom is being neglected by lazy queen. Su and Zhao Fu make appearances. Lesbian tension 1.5x
Main Villain: Kuvira Secondary Villains: Earth Queen and Dai Lee
Book 3 Change: Basic story is the same, but the Red Lotus is changed slightly. Lineup is Ming Hua, Ghazan, P’li, and… Unalaq! Unalaq isn’t a waterbender, he fights like an equalist / nonbender. This dude is Ty Lee on steroids. Not sure how it would be done, but real emphasis is placed on how good of a fighter he is. He was imprisoned alongside the rest of the group for betraying his brother at the South Pole and attempting to take Korra. This kidnapping attempt is seen in a flashback episode narrated by Zuko, Katara, or Tenzin. Group escapes prison when a Red Lotus member infiltrates the White Lotus and unlocks Unalaq’s cell. Unalaq has multiple moments of intense psychosis. As the world edges closer to Harmonic Convergence a mysterious entity is whispering into Unalaq’s ear… Book ends with Korra severely damaged. Dying from poison, chained in Red Lotus headquarters Aang appears to her. “When we hit our lowest point, we are open to the greatest change". Avatar state activates, cue intense fight against Ming Hua and Ghazan. Korra wins, but Unalaq escapes, rest of the major players are dead. Lesbian tension 3x
Main Villain: Red Lotus
Book 4 Spirits: Much like the original Book 4, a large amount of time has passed. Korra is better physically but plagued not only by nightmares of her near death experience, but of Unalaq coming to attack her, and of a looming black spirit. Vines are creeping into Republic City as the two worlds converge. Korra is running from her avatar spirit as the pain of past encounters haunt her, Aang is still unable to tell her to close the portals. Beginnings still happens. Finale is Big. Epic. Even the avatar state can’t help her now. Have an intense battle that gets carried into republic city somehow. Don’t ever go Kaiju battle, but intense energybending by both parties destroys the city and opens a new portal. Korrasami Endgame.
Main Villain: Vaatu Victim of Tentacle Seduction: Unalaq
Of course, I skipped a lot of stuff, Tenzin, Lin, Mako, Bolin, Jinora, most of the Beifongs, Varrick, Zhu Li, Asami, Bumi, Kya, Ikki, Meelo, Kai (lol), Raiko, and Izumi are hardly mentioned. They'd be there though. Any thoughts?
m_shortpants
Member
Really good. Makes far more sense than how Bryke did it.
I just miss Zaheer. I really liked him and his airbender mumbo jumbo.
AlfonzoPalutena
Member
Thanks for the input! Of course Bryke didn't know they'd have this many episodes to work with, nor did they have so much time to reflect on it. I'm overall happy with what we got.
I wanted to keep Zaheer but I didn't know how to fit both him and Unalaq in. I like to think his Airbender mumbo jumbo lives on in Unalaq.
TacticalFox88
Banned
Random Question.
Aaron Ehasz was considered "Head Writer" of ATLA...
Um....shouldn't that be Bryke?
I mean, the term "Head Writer" kind of implies final creative control.
Aaron Ehasz was considered "Head Writer" of ATLA...
Um....shouldn't that be Bryke?
I mean, the term "Head Writer" kind of implies final creative control.
AlfonzoPalutena
Member
Thats really bizarre, I never noticed that before.
I guess the only explanation is that they decided Aaron's role on the show was more akin to Head Writer than anything else, even if he didn't have the final say in everything.
BKatastrophe
Member
TLoK is a straight up action show. Plain and simple. Saying that the show sucks outside of its action scenes is like saying Seinfeld sucks outside of its jokes, or porn sucks (heh) outside of the sex scenes. No shit, you are taking the actual core component of the show and removing it. It's like telling someone to look at a mirror and removing the mirror. You take away the core focal point.
As for the rest, people need to start judging it as its own show. Because it IS its own show. The comparisons are always inevitable, obviously, but the shows are pretty different. I am not arrogant enough to claim to be the only one that sees that they are. It's just a plain old action show, with nothing more than some fucking sick style and a pretty cool looking world and a cool premise.
As for my general pet peeve about people talking about how "terrible" this show is:
One of the most comparable shows to this one right now in terms of genres, popularity, and overall structure is Sword Art Online. Now let that sink in, and then tell me if The Legend of Korra is really that bad. Because I gotta say, SAO is one of the worst things I've ever seen in my life. Does that save TLoK of its flaws? Nah, but it's (very) far from the bottom of the barrel, I must say.
TacticalFox88
Banned
Outside of Asuna/Kiritos cute moments, SAO is just....omg. If rather rewatch book 2
BKatastrophe
Member
Even Asuna and Kirito's "cute" moments are sickening to me, considering how fucking Asuna just says "Oh Kirito, your general blandness and mediocrity enrapture me! Fuck me awkwardly and take your prize, you magnificently average son of a bitch! Watch me slowly devolve as a character! See? It's like I'm actually melting!"
jediyoshi
Member
Just to clarify, would you qualify the last few minutes of any of the finales action sequences?
BKatastrophe
Member
Nope, but I think you're missing my point.
The way I read the original post (so my bad, I guess), is that if you take action sequences out of the show, then it sucks. So, my bad if misread and all that, but that's a thing I see people do so often: try to make a valid criticism of something where the criticism involves removing a core component. Everything in this show, being an action show, is done to give weight to those action sequences. If you take out that core component, then everything else is genuinely meaningless. So, those last few minutes? They may not be action sequences, but they're resolutions to everything that's happened, and setting up more stuff.
I really don't think they're all that bad either.
Dat foresight
tkscz
Member
Sounds like someone is asking for MORE BOLESKA!
I really liked the opposite natures of the two characters and how their relationship did progress. I liked the juxtaposition her dark and gloomy attitude with Bolin's happy go lucky one, and how every time you saw them, she was doing something different to Bolin. I liked how controlling she was and how resistant he was to it, and yet in the end, he loved being with her. It just felt more genuine to me than with Opal. I have a hard time even liking Opal. She isn't a bad character, just going from one as fun as Eska to basically Katara 2 was such a downgrade in my eyes.
unknownstranger
Member
All the endings suck except for season 3. I'll stand by that season 2 had the best fight scenes of the series though.
Atraveller
Banned
Hot!Sounds like someone is asking for MORE BOLESKA!
BKatastrophe
Member
Makes those endings even more similar, then
thebaroness
Member
Cosplay progress!
Now deal with it!
thebaroness
Member
Sounds like someone is asking for MORE BOLESKA!
I really liked the opposite natures of the two characters and how their relationship did progress. I liked the juxtaposition her dark and gloomy attitude with Bolin's happy go lucky one, and how every time you saw them, she was doing something different to Bolin. I liked how controlling she was and how resistant he was to it, and yet in the end, he loved being with her. It just felt more genuine to me than with Opal. I have a hard time even liking Opal. She isn't a bad character, just going from one as fun as Eska to basically Katara 2 was such a downgrade in my eyes.
I agree with this. I liked them together. I figured over time Bolin would become a masochist that welcomed Eska's oppressive nature. Opal is adorable, but their relationship isn't much more than puppy love.
I'm beginning to think that dying shooting the spirit vines would have been a better ending for Mako.
Poor Mako ha, but I'm sure Mako will be fine in the end once he finally gets over Korra. He'll probably be quite busy helping Wu set up a democratic system in the Earth Kingdom. Still no denying that entire scene was the perfect place to give Mako a heroic sacrifice.
I feel like Zaheer should have been in the season a lot more as a spiritual/psychological mentor/comrade to Korra. With far better writing. Not that they would be cracking many jokes, but she would secretly go to him for perspective and guidance. He would help her work through her issues, so much so in fact that by the end she sees his own flaws (ego-centrism, extremism, hubris, ultimately on some level trying to use her for himself) and humbles him in turn. She might even free him in the end, allowing him to spend the rest of his days 'letting the world be'. Part of this reversal could also come about because it is revealed that Vaatu somehow was responsible for his transformation into an Air Bender, and some of his incredible (what seemed as) natural skill from the outset.
Book 4: After his failure to kill her, he realizes that he was operating on instinct from prior to his true enlightenment (once he learned to fly) and that Korra herself was not the power structure to be removed, she was there to remove power structures that became corrupt and exploited the people. Her inability to fulfill her function is his new Earthly tether brought on by his own failure to understand, and his new responsibility.
His brand of absolute freedom was in fact destined to create anarchy, and then oppression. People can not be truly free unless they are given the means to achieve it within themselves (while having the means to do so), as he did mostly through his prolonged isolation. It was his spiritual maturity and alignment that gifted him with Air Bending when the words stayed joined.
He now sees Korra as an instrument leading the world to freedom and harmony.
She survived him, now he feels responsible for her, and to some degree he refuses to allow the woman that survived him to not recover from the state he put her in. She will be everything she must be to be worthy of her victory over him and he will attempt to use her to full fill his dream and in some way validate and absolve him from everything he has been.
EDIT:
- "I say your power is limitless" would have been a lot less stilted if he had also revealed that the poison had been used to kill a previous avatar(s?). It should have killed her MUCH faster than it did and even then in the avatar state she shouldn't have been strong enough to do what she did. When he was running away from her when she was in the Avatar state, he wasn't even sure if it was still working.
Book 4: After his failure to kill her, he realizes that he was operating on instinct from prior to his true enlightenment (once he learned to fly) and that Korra herself was not the power structure to be removed, she was there to remove power structures that became corrupt and exploited the people. Her inability to fulfill her function is his new Earthly tether brought on by his own failure to understand, and his new responsibility.
His brand of absolute freedom was in fact destined to create anarchy, and then oppression. People can not be truly free unless they are given the means to achieve it within themselves (while having the means to do so), as he did mostly through his prolonged isolation. It was his spiritual maturity and alignment that gifted him with Air Bending when the words stayed joined.
He now sees Korra as an instrument leading the world to freedom and harmony.
She survived him, now he feels responsible for her, and to some degree he refuses to allow the woman that survived him to not recover from the state he put her in. She will be everything she must be to be worthy of her victory over him and he will attempt to use her to full fill his dream and in some way validate and absolve him from everything he has been.
EDIT:
- "I say your power is limitless" would have been a lot less stilted if he had also revealed that the poison had been used to kill a previous avatar(s?). It should have killed her MUCH faster than it did and even then in the avatar state she shouldn't have been strong enough to do what she did. When he was running away from her when she was in the Avatar state, he wasn't even sure if it was still working.
Lord Panda
The Sea is Always Right
Bravo.
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