My friend just showed me season 1 of Korra, and I'm just gonna say...Aman made several points that were, uhhh, never addressed

I don't like the way most media handles revolution narratives. It's always told with a flattening "both sides" or "too extreme" lens, and it drives me bonkers.

Like, he made up the story about being attacked by benders, but also....Asami's father, the triad benders who were shaking down non-benders run entirely by benders...these were all valid points for unrest and they were just...not addressed sufficiently, if at all.

And his backstory is framed as a child radicalized by his father to take vengeance upon Republic City.

But what they show is a child who traces his father's abuse to bending, which he comes to understands as the origin of all wars that have hit the land, and takes action.

And legit the whole time, he'd speak and I'd be waiting for him to sound villainous or nefarious but it...never happened. He just...was advocating for a better world?

The monster!

Also, I love how he took Korra's bending away for tension...only for her to unlock air bending, be granted her other elements back, AND achieve avatar state ANNNDD return Lin's bending back....all in the same episode.

Couldn't even use it as a cliffhanger LOL

See, I figured that would become the plot for season 2, her exploring the spiritual side of being an Avatar as a way of re-connecting with the elements she'd lost.

What's interesting about that prediction is that I was right and wrong, since s2 does explore the spirit realm.

It has its fun moments, I'm just really not fond of how this show is written. Wasn't fond of how ATLA was written either, and while this series is far less episodic and does more worldbuilding, its politics are just...eh, to me.

We had five episodes left in s2, and I'd honestly like to finish the series, just to see where it goes from here. Gotta figure out what other platforms are streaming it (he was watching via Apple TV).

I will say, tho, Korra is almost unbearably annoying. She's like Katara x 10, and Katara was like my least favorite character in ATLA

It's not all criticisms though. One thing this show does better than ATLA is balance the main arc with side arcs, e.g. this whole thing with Varrik/Asami/Bolin/Mako that is impacted by but adjacent to the spirit realm portals in Korra's arc.

Effective structuring there.

One more thought for now, I think.

I...do not see "anime" when I watch this show. I see anime-inspired U.S. animation. Japanese animation, to me, isn't just the art style itself, it's the cinematography, editing, etc., and all of that in this show is distinctly American to me

(I got access to the rest of the show so I can finally continue, yay!)

The way the show makes a constant mockery of Tenzin's spirituality does not sit right with me at all. But on a lighter note, I feel like he is such a Capricorn LOL

Dawg, this expository dialogue is brutal

Wait...when Mako Iwamatsu, the Japanese voice actor who originally voiced Uncle Iroh, died, they brought in a white dude to do an imitation accent/voice? In a cast that's already primarily white? I...

This is my favorite character from the original series, and I can't even enjoy the moment because the voice is so bad

Bolin, my sweet child...his character development in s2 is so trash.

I will say, I do find this arc with Varric to be far more interesting. I like how he reflects Edison's role in the history of filmmaking, as well as the use of cinema as war propaganda.

President Reiko right now...

(That's literally what I think they're alluding to, lol)

So, Unaloq's motive is that Korra and Tonraq's spiritual neglect has brought imbalance to the world, so he aims to release a dark spirit of destruction as a way of fusing the spirit world with the material world.

Hmm

I'll have to revisit the Avatar Wan episodes to see if they explain if and why that'd be...bad, within the lore of the world.

Cause between this and the way the show treats Tenzin, it really feels like it's lowkey demonizing spirituality in general.

Aang's spirit to Tenzin:

Nah real talk, tho, I do actually like this for Tenzin. He needed that. This Book of Spirits arc has been as important for his character growth as it has been for Korra, and his arc has been far more compelling and substantial tbh.

Unalaq beat the BRAKES off Rava's ass

Korra "mastered" all four elements but this guy stay giving her the business with one damn element. Shoulda been listened to Tenzin and stepped ya spirit game up, sis

...I guess Unalaq gets to skip the whole Mastering the Four Elements journey and skip right to Avatar Beast Mode. That's convenient.

Eh, that was so epic and yet deeply disengaging and boring, and that is really quite a feat unto itself.

S2 was paced a lot slower than s1, and it felt like it dragggged in the end, when all the side arcs resolve so focus can shift to the main arc.

And that's because the main arc was somehow the least interesting?

Avatar Wan was fascinating, the Varric arc had some fun things going on there, even Tenzin's character arc was somewhat compelling.

But Korra getting her ass beat by a water bender no matter how intense the score crescendoes? Chile, tiresome

And even then it was Jinora who dealt the crucial blow, cause all Korra is really good for is button-mashing

That had the potential to be a really good story, but I don't think white people are best suited to explore spiritual themes tbh.

"You are the Avatar. The Avatar. Avatar. Korra THEE Avat--"

"My Avatar powers are gone..."

"I think it's time for you to focus on WHO you are, not what. You're more than just the Avat--"

"Got my powers back! What should I do?"

"You're the Avatar, it is your decision..."

If I have to hear the words "Harmonic Convergence" one mo' 'gain

The villains are always so much better focused and trained and skillful than the heroes in this show. Every other bender gotta be trained but Zahir aka Farra-khanvict just came out the gate swinging

"I might be able to be airbend but I'm no Air Nomad, I'm no monk!"

I mean....points were made.

"I didn't ask to be an airbender..."

"Well, I didn't ask to be the Avatar, but I am, and I'm fulfilling my duties!"

"So? You don't have to..."

....y'know, again, perhaps points were made!

When you present it as an opportunity to train and master a new skill, instead of an outright obligation that dismisses agency, you get a bit more enthusiasm in response. Whoda thunk!?

(I'm a little more into this season already ngl)

Wait, this queen and her servants just reminded me...the shit with Varric and his "assistant" was so irksome and they really just played that shit off as a joke.

Mako and Bolin meeting their grandmother for the first time...whoo they finally got a bitch.

"So that's why you and my father were sheltering me away..."

Yes, come on with this ret-con! Ok not quite that, but I can see they're using this season to loop back around to s1 and build on what was started there. I'm listening...

I'ma call this early and just circle back if I'm wrong...but s3 and s2 probably should've switched. It'll be quite the task to establish proper tension around four strong benders after defeating the original spirit of darkness.

"These people are stronger than anything you've ever faced before."

Stronger than Vaatu?? Word??? I mean, they are extremely bad-ass and she stay getting her ass whooped but still

The Metal City. Man. Toph's impact. Aang whomst, tbh? I miss Toph...her daughter is NOT as enjoyable at all.

"So, you're a dancer?"

"Dancer. Leader. Wife. Mother. Collector of rare meteorites."

Chile, that's a Twitter bio

Bolin is so adorable and I love him. I would ship him with this airbender girl, but no need, they're hetero, they'll be dating by the end of this 23-min episode

"I mean the idea of a queen is outdated, don't you agree Korra"

"I haven't really thought about it too much"

"Well you should start"

Ooh honey, you barking up the wrong tree. That child ain't got but two brain cells and they both just go smashy-smash. Bless her heart.

And now she's trying to mend a 30yr rift between two women she barely knows, like she ain't gon lose her patience in 2 seconds and just use all four elements to hem someone up against a wall until they act how she wants them to. Chile, someone please call Tenzin!