The Legend of Korra: Operation Beifong
December 5, 2014 6:41 AM - Season 4, Episode 10 - Subscribe
Bolin, Opal, and Lin, are joined by none other than the Beifong matriarch, Toph, in their mission to rescue Suyin and her family from the clutches of Kuvira. In the course of their mission, they discover the super weapon that Varrick had previously warned Kuvira was likely to create and alter their plans accordingly. In Republic City, President Raiko holds a meeting to find out the latest on Varrick and Asami's collaboration for the defense of the city, while Korra attempts to convince the resident spirits to join the fight. Also, Juicy the Air Bison.
Operation Beifong can be watched on Nick.com and purchased at online retailers like iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, and Google Play. Likewise, it airs tonight on Nick or Nicktoons.
Operation Beifong can be watched on Nick.com and purchased at online retailers like iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, and Google Play. Likewise, it airs tonight on Nick or Nicktoons.
Good Gawds, so, if you're bored, I apparently typed over four pages of a recap/opinions in my most recent post, of which, I thought would be shorter than usual.
During the rescue scene, I kept trying to figure out the physics of imprisoning earth benders underground; I guess only really good ones like King Bumi can manipulate earth without touching it first, otherwise, Su could just pull up some sharp rocks and cut their way out. Bet Toph could do that. Also Ghazan probably, since they put him on a ship. Like the earthbenders in the first series, come to think of it. Hm. Maybe that actually wasn't good plotting. Would have been more believable if they had stayed in the platinum suits (a platinum room?) or, kept Bataar Sr. in a separate place and threatened to off him if Su and kids tried to escape.
I was having the same thoughts. Perhaps there is a proximity aspect to it, because even Bumi was somewhat close to the earth he bended while restrained. It's not as if the Earth Kingdom is landlocked, either, or there aren't lakes they could have been placed on. I think we just have to settle for the expediency of the prisoners being in the same place as the super weapon.
My kid was talking during the scene with Varrick and Asami talking about defense; did they mention EMT pulses or magnets? I have a feeling that will become a thing.
Nope, just Varrick's refusal to develop spirit vine weapons. I think EMT's at least, have to play some role, and we still have not had Hiroshi Sato's role completed. That card is still on the table and maybe it'll be connected to the EMT Pulse.
I enjoyed the episode overall and appreciated how the Republic City side of things was kind of "build up build up" and the Team Beifong side of things was really it's own complete story arc in itself.
All that's left now is for Zhu Li to return to Varrick as an equal and partner and the Zhu Li saga will be complete! (or she can return as his boss, that works, too). There's a quickly drawn cartoon floating around which shows Varrick giving her a promise necklace. It's ADORABLE.
Kanto. DANG IT. I feel like I should know who Kanto is.
posted by Atreides at 8:28 AM on December 5, 2014
During the rescue scene, I kept trying to figure out the physics of imprisoning earth benders underground; I guess only really good ones like King Bumi can manipulate earth without touching it first, otherwise, Su could just pull up some sharp rocks and cut their way out. Bet Toph could do that. Also Ghazan probably, since they put him on a ship. Like the earthbenders in the first series, come to think of it. Hm. Maybe that actually wasn't good plotting. Would have been more believable if they had stayed in the platinum suits (a platinum room?) or, kept Bataar Sr. in a separate place and threatened to off him if Su and kids tried to escape.
I was having the same thoughts. Perhaps there is a proximity aspect to it, because even Bumi was somewhat close to the earth he bended while restrained. It's not as if the Earth Kingdom is landlocked, either, or there aren't lakes they could have been placed on. I think we just have to settle for the expediency of the prisoners being in the same place as the super weapon.
My kid was talking during the scene with Varrick and Asami talking about defense; did they mention EMT pulses or magnets? I have a feeling that will become a thing.
Nope, just Varrick's refusal to develop spirit vine weapons. I think EMT's at least, have to play some role, and we still have not had Hiroshi Sato's role completed. That card is still on the table and maybe it'll be connected to the EMT Pulse.
I enjoyed the episode overall and appreciated how the Republic City side of things was kind of "build up build up" and the Team Beifong side of things was really it's own complete story arc in itself.
All that's left now is for Zhu Li to return to Varrick as an equal and partner and the Zhu Li saga will be complete! (or she can return as his boss, that works, too). There's a quickly drawn cartoon floating around which shows Varrick giving her a promise necklace. It's ADORABLE.
Kanto. DANG IT. I feel like I should know who Kanto is.
posted by Atreides at 8:28 AM on December 5, 2014
Juicy is a terrible name, it should clearly be Runny or Booger.
Loogie?
Wu: being useful to get the ladies!
"Language was invented for one reason, boys - to woo women!"
This note might be a little counterpoint to Mako's discussion in Remembrances about how he realized he needed to *not* do that -- to figure out who he was without a relationship and to be more conscientious helping others for its own sake. Clearly Wu is not there.
I hope this is not some sort of lead-in for him to actually become the Earth King. That would suck.
From the moment Wu showed some self-awareness in Little Ba Sing Se, I was hoping a little that the writers were going to give Wu a real growth arc that could lead to him becoming a king that wouldn't suck. And in a 20 episode season, they might even have had time to do that. But, yeah, at this point, he's pretty clearly still ridiculous, and there really isn't time to make him more than that.
Spirits: doing their spirity inscrutable thing and fading out when asked for help.
They seem to be right, though. By trying to enlist them, Korra *is* doing something very similar to Kuvira, and we're back to one interesting question of the season: what really separates the Avatar from her antagonists?
(She's also doing something different with the spirits here: asking instead of forcing. Will it make a difference?)
"You give metalbenders a bad name!!"
Not the Beifong-administered butt-kicking I suspect many of us hoped to see, but I'll settle for a good scolding. :)
posted by weston at 8:47 AM on December 5, 2014 [2 favorites]
Loogie?
Wu: being useful to get the ladies!
"Language was invented for one reason, boys - to woo women!"
This note might be a little counterpoint to Mako's discussion in Remembrances about how he realized he needed to *not* do that -- to figure out who he was without a relationship and to be more conscientious helping others for its own sake. Clearly Wu is not there.
I hope this is not some sort of lead-in for him to actually become the Earth King. That would suck.
From the moment Wu showed some self-awareness in Little Ba Sing Se, I was hoping a little that the writers were going to give Wu a real growth arc that could lead to him becoming a king that wouldn't suck. And in a 20 episode season, they might even have had time to do that. But, yeah, at this point, he's pretty clearly still ridiculous, and there really isn't time to make him more than that.
Spirits: doing their spirity inscrutable thing and fading out when asked for help.
They seem to be right, though. By trying to enlist them, Korra *is* doing something very similar to Kuvira, and we're back to one interesting question of the season: what really separates the Avatar from her antagonists?
(She's also doing something different with the spirits here: asking instead of forcing. Will it make a difference?)
"You give metalbenders a bad name!!"
Not the Beifong-administered butt-kicking I suspect many of us hoped to see, but I'll settle for a good scolding. :)
posted by weston at 8:47 AM on December 5, 2014 [2 favorites]
They seem to be right, though. By trying to enlist them, Korra *is* doing something very similar to Kuvira, and we're back to one interesting question of the season: what really separates the Avatar from her antagonists?
True, this scene straight up compared her to not just Kuvira, but also Unalok. If we take the perspective of balance, perhaps her asking the spirits represents a "balanced" approach versus the use by force exhibited by the above named villains.
I fear the same for Wu. I think at best, perhaps he will become the king in more than name, but prefer to be a ceremonial figure. If it goes with how he was portrayed in this episode, he does it because he sincerely believes he can't be a good king, but then will comment it will let him to keep living the lifestyle that he prefers.
Not the Beifong-administered butt-kicking I suspect many of us hoped to see, but I'll settle for a good scolding. :)
Given that Toph saw Opal when she was a little girl and it seems obvious that Kuvira is older than Opal, there's a chance Toph might have even provided some instruction to Kuvira on metal bending, making her scolding even more painful.
posted by Atreides at 9:11 AM on December 5, 2014
True, this scene straight up compared her to not just Kuvira, but also Unalok. If we take the perspective of balance, perhaps her asking the spirits represents a "balanced" approach versus the use by force exhibited by the above named villains.
I fear the same for Wu. I think at best, perhaps he will become the king in more than name, but prefer to be a ceremonial figure. If it goes with how he was portrayed in this episode, he does it because he sincerely believes he can't be a good king, but then will comment it will let him to keep living the lifestyle that he prefers.
Not the Beifong-administered butt-kicking I suspect many of us hoped to see, but I'll settle for a good scolding. :)
Given that Toph saw Opal when she was a little girl and it seems obvious that Kuvira is older than Opal, there's a chance Toph might have even provided some instruction to Kuvira on metal bending, making her scolding even more painful.
posted by Atreides at 9:11 AM on December 5, 2014
I must express my complete disinterest in Wu's character arc, here. He is a trivial, spoiled, immature person. In order to become worthy of being a ruler he would need, like, 10 years of suffering in the wilderness and a spiritual revamp. He could become a decent human being, but he should not have the power of life and death over anyone whatsoever.
And ALSO, I am seriously pulling for the Earth Kingdom to become a Republic and have elections and cast off the nobility. I mean, not one of the rulers we've seen, in the previous series or this one, inspired confidence that this is a good system. Oh, King Bumi, I guess, but he was only in charge of his little piece, and also, seemed like he might be kind of a pain in the ass as a ruler.
Kanto was possibly in the comics. I haven't read them all but I've seen speculation about one guy that teamed up with Toph briefly, it might have been him.
I didn't see Korra as being Kuvira-like exactly; there is a threat to both spirits and humans, it is not unreasonable to ask for spirit help to fight it. And she did ask, not force. Perhaps the loss of the spirit vines is not a big enough threat to the spirit world as a whole, though. And we have not yet seen what her ability to "draw on ALL the spirit power" is going to look like.
By the way the final three episode titles are:
Kuvira's Gambit
Day of the Colussus
The Last Stand
posted by emjaybee at 9:44 AM on December 5, 2014 [2 favorites]
And ALSO, I am seriously pulling for the Earth Kingdom to become a Republic and have elections and cast off the nobility. I mean, not one of the rulers we've seen, in the previous series or this one, inspired confidence that this is a good system. Oh, King Bumi, I guess, but he was only in charge of his little piece, and also, seemed like he might be kind of a pain in the ass as a ruler.
Kanto was possibly in the comics. I haven't read them all but I've seen speculation about one guy that teamed up with Toph briefly, it might have been him.
I didn't see Korra as being Kuvira-like exactly; there is a threat to both spirits and humans, it is not unreasonable to ask for spirit help to fight it. And she did ask, not force. Perhaps the loss of the spirit vines is not a big enough threat to the spirit world as a whole, though. And we have not yet seen what her ability to "draw on ALL the spirit power" is going to look like.
By the way the final three episode titles are:
Kuvira's Gambit
Day of the Colussus
The Last Stand
posted by emjaybee at 9:44 AM on December 5, 2014 [2 favorites]
Kanto was possibly in the comics. I haven't read them all but I've seen speculation about one guy that teamed up with Toph briefly, it might have been him.
I thought so, too, and there's a guy she gets kind of close to in The Rift, but he's got a different name. Blegh. It's driving me crazy. This has to be trolling.
posted by Atreides at 11:49 AM on December 5, 2014
I thought so, too, and there's a guy she gets kind of close to in The Rift, but he's got a different name. Blegh. It's driving me crazy. This has to be trolling.
posted by Atreides at 11:49 AM on December 5, 2014
Seconding emjaybeee. Since after this episode it looks like Zhu Li won't be taking over the Earth Empire by seizing control of their secret super-weapon/mech, my new future head-cannon is that the Earth Kingdom becomes a Republic, and that Bolin becomes their first head of state. Bolin has name recognition from the Movers, he comes from a salt of the Earth Kingdom family, he knows the ins-and-outs of the existing Earth Kingdom power structure, and he has the friendship/support of the Avatar, the Air Nomads, the Metal Bender town, several rich industrialists, and of course the Water Tribes. Bolin for President!
posted by Balna Watya at 3:01 PM on December 5, 2014 [5 favorites]
posted by Balna Watya at 3:01 PM on December 5, 2014 [5 favorites]
I am seriously pulling for the Earth Kingdom to become a Republic and have elections and cast off the nobility. I mean, not one of the rulers we've seen, in the previous series or this one, inspired confidence that this is a good system.
Yeah, the Earth Kingdom really seems like it's had particularly poor results with its monarchs. And Su's thoughts on the need for change expressed in Book 3 would also seem to have set us up to anticipate something better.
On the other hand, it's interesting that Raiko is elected and not exactly an inspiring figure himself (and weirdly, arguably Wu's biggest supporter rather than any kind of advocate for democratic change). Sure, he's a step up from tyrants like the Earth Queen, Ozai, or Unalaq. But he doesn't really seem to shine next to Zuko or Tonraq. I wonder if he's meant to be a stand in for the limits/problems of democracy.
posted by weston at 7:41 PM on December 5, 2014
Yeah, the Earth Kingdom really seems like it's had particularly poor results with its monarchs. And Su's thoughts on the need for change expressed in Book 3 would also seem to have set us up to anticipate something better.
On the other hand, it's interesting that Raiko is elected and not exactly an inspiring figure himself (and weirdly, arguably Wu's biggest supporter rather than any kind of advocate for democratic change). Sure, he's a step up from tyrants like the Earth Queen, Ozai, or Unalaq. But he doesn't really seem to shine next to Zuko or Tonraq. I wonder if he's meant to be a stand in for the limits/problems of democracy.
posted by weston at 7:41 PM on December 5, 2014
I liked the short interactions around the campfire because it gave us the audience a good idea how it's like to grow up as Toph as one's mother. Yes, I'd completely obsess over Toph like Bolin but at the same time kinda glad she's not family. Still hoping they will someday create a OVA for the older A:tLA cast.
Not that interested in Prince Wu as he's kinda meh even though he is now more considerate than before. I expected the Spirits to be neutral but I can't say I'm not disappointed when they refuse to help Kora. I'm glad at least Varrick has some principales as he won't weaponize the spirit vines even to save Republic City.
posted by chrono_rabbit at 9:22 PM on December 5, 2014
Not that interested in Prince Wu as he's kinda meh even though he is now more considerate than before. I expected the Spirits to be neutral but I can't say I'm not disappointed when they refuse to help Kora. I'm glad at least Varrick has some principales as he won't weaponize the spirit vines even to save Republic City.
posted by chrono_rabbit at 9:22 PM on December 5, 2014
Shot through the heart
And you're to blame
You give metalbending
A bad name!
That was all I could think of after Toph said that.
I didn't think Zhu Li would be quite so obvious in her sabotage, but plot, plot, we must speed up the plot. I'm glad to see that she does feel this way and the reunion with Varrick will be loooooovely.
I love Beifong family dynamics. I love that Lin's dad just wasn't around. I love that we can still declare that Sokka is Su's dad. I love that the twins decide to join their mom in fighting Kuvira because they can't let Opal be the cool one in the family. I love Bataar calling Toph "Mother" and her reaction to that. You wacky Beifongs - I love you all.
I'm glad Bolin redeemed himself in Opal's eyes. I think she's actually really good for him and I want those crazy kids to stick together. Maybe Juicy needs to sneeze on them and then they will.
Poor Juicy. No one loves Juicy. Juicy has allergies or something and no one cares. Juicy needs a bath with plenty of steam and some sky bison medicine. I love you, Juicy! Come live with me! I'll take care of you! Even if you're not as cute as Pepper!
I shouldn't have been surprised by Reiko's demand for spirit weapons, but I didn't think they would actually go there. I'm delighted they did. I'm also delighted by what the spirits told Korra, but it totally should have been delivered by that adorable little pear-shaped spirit from "Korra Alone", because he was there, and I would have loved to have him interact with Korra again.
Oh! One more thing - there still might be hope for Junior's redemption. When he saw that his baby sister was in the town, he tried to stop the spirit cannon. Could it be that this is finally what turns him against Kuvira? Imprisoning is fine, but killing his family is not?
posted by Katemonkey at 3:35 AM on December 6, 2014 [3 favorites]
And you're to blame
You give metalbending
A bad name!
That was all I could think of after Toph said that.
I didn't think Zhu Li would be quite so obvious in her sabotage, but plot, plot, we must speed up the plot. I'm glad to see that she does feel this way and the reunion with Varrick will be loooooovely.
I love Beifong family dynamics. I love that Lin's dad just wasn't around. I love that we can still declare that Sokka is Su's dad. I love that the twins decide to join their mom in fighting Kuvira because they can't let Opal be the cool one in the family. I love Bataar calling Toph "Mother" and her reaction to that. You wacky Beifongs - I love you all.
I'm glad Bolin redeemed himself in Opal's eyes. I think she's actually really good for him and I want those crazy kids to stick together. Maybe Juicy needs to sneeze on them and then they will.
Poor Juicy. No one loves Juicy. Juicy has allergies or something and no one cares. Juicy needs a bath with plenty of steam and some sky bison medicine. I love you, Juicy! Come live with me! I'll take care of you! Even if you're not as cute as Pepper!
I shouldn't have been surprised by Reiko's demand for spirit weapons, but I didn't think they would actually go there. I'm delighted they did. I'm also delighted by what the spirits told Korra, but it totally should have been delivered by that adorable little pear-shaped spirit from "Korra Alone", because he was there, and I would have loved to have him interact with Korra again.
Oh! One more thing - there still might be hope for Junior's redemption. When he saw that his baby sister was in the town, he tried to stop the spirit cannon. Could it be that this is finally what turns him against Kuvira? Imprisoning is fine, but killing his family is not?
posted by Katemonkey at 3:35 AM on December 6, 2014 [3 favorites]
Oh, also, yes, another thing - I love that Operation Beifong was eating cups of noodles before the big fight. It's a ridiculous little thing that shows a lot about how the technology has changed - they're up to where they can have freeze-dried noodles in little containers.
posted by Katemonkey at 5:00 AM on December 6, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by Katemonkey at 5:00 AM on December 6, 2014 [2 favorites]
Haha yes Katemonkey, also Bolin has retained his STUFF ALL THE NOODLES IN style of eating.
I wondered about Junior too, but I think he might be doomed regardless. Possibly at Kuvira's hand; she's not going to be happy with his change of heart.
posted by emjaybee at 9:00 AM on December 6, 2014
I wondered about Junior too, but I think he might be doomed regardless. Possibly at Kuvira's hand; she's not going to be happy with his change of heart.
posted by emjaybee at 9:00 AM on December 6, 2014
I wondered about Junior too, but I think he might be doomed regardless.
Next week’s preview does nothing to dissuade me of that notion.
posted by 1970s Antihero at 10:25 AM on December 6, 2014
Next week’s preview does nothing to dissuade me of that notion.
posted by 1970s Antihero at 10:25 AM on December 6, 2014
I love this show.
I like how complex all the women characters are. The Beifong family dynamics are great and realistic. And I don't know -- I kind of like seeing a woman character, who while still loves her children, is kind of disinterested in being a mother. Toph always did her own thing. I'm glad they didn't soften her. But Lin's also not wrong for her feelings. I like this is a family (of women!) that still love and will support (and well, save) each other but still have their differences. So cool.
I also like how Kuvira's motivations aren't exactly feminine -- as in, no man wronged her or any of the other stupid reasons women characters turn "evil." But it also doesn't feel like they just took a male character and switched him into a woman. She feels pretty fully developed. Kuvira being the main antagonist and a woman makes her story interesting and she's a good dark mirror for Korra.
Also, I loved Bolin's whole fanboying over Toph. I cannot think of another instance in pop culture where a man is excited to meet a woman because of her abilities rather than because she was "hot" (or used to be "hot" or whatever). Bolin remains the cutest.
Still not enough Korra and Asami, though. I guess I'm giving up my Bolin/Varrick dreams but I will keep my Korra/Asami ones.
I will miss this show when it's done. Last season and this season have been so good.
posted by darksong at 8:22 PM on December 6, 2014 [6 favorites]
I like how complex all the women characters are. The Beifong family dynamics are great and realistic. And I don't know -- I kind of like seeing a woman character, who while still loves her children, is kind of disinterested in being a mother. Toph always did her own thing. I'm glad they didn't soften her. But Lin's also not wrong for her feelings. I like this is a family (of women!) that still love and will support (and well, save) each other but still have their differences. So cool.
I also like how Kuvira's motivations aren't exactly feminine -- as in, no man wronged her or any of the other stupid reasons women characters turn "evil." But it also doesn't feel like they just took a male character and switched him into a woman. She feels pretty fully developed. Kuvira being the main antagonist and a woman makes her story interesting and she's a good dark mirror for Korra.
Also, I loved Bolin's whole fanboying over Toph. I cannot think of another instance in pop culture where a man is excited to meet a woman because of her abilities rather than because she was "hot" (or used to be "hot" or whatever). Bolin remains the cutest.
Still not enough Korra and Asami, though. I guess I'm giving up my Bolin/Varrick dreams but I will keep my Korra/Asami ones.
I will miss this show when it's done. Last season and this season have been so good.
posted by darksong at 8:22 PM on December 6, 2014 [6 favorites]
> And I don't know -- I kind of like seeing a woman character, who while still loves her children, is kind of disinterested in being a mother.
I think they made the old cast age really well. They're not just wrinkled versions of their TLA selves. All the little personality quirks and flaws that we saw in the original series have developed and grown up along with them. The things that made Aang and Toph perfect heroes also made them poor parents in many respects. I haven't seen that sort of generational character development in any other show, I don't think.
posted by archagon at 10:10 AM on December 7, 2014 [7 favorites]
I think they made the old cast age really well. They're not just wrinkled versions of their TLA selves. All the little personality quirks and flaws that we saw in the original series have developed and grown up along with them. The things that made Aang and Toph perfect heroes also made them poor parents in many respects. I haven't seen that sort of generational character development in any other show, I don't think.
posted by archagon at 10:10 AM on December 7, 2014 [7 favorites]
Republic City Dispatch is up.
Have we talked yet about Suyin's amazing fight scene w/ Kuvira? Forming a spinning metal shield and then turning it into armor while twirling through the air? Bad. Ass. Lin remains my favorite Beifong sister, but Suyin is pretty amazing. I want to see more teamwork with those two.
posted by emjaybee at 3:49 PM on December 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
Have we talked yet about Suyin's amazing fight scene w/ Kuvira? Forming a spinning metal shield and then turning it into armor while twirling through the air? Bad. Ass. Lin remains my favorite Beifong sister, but Suyin is pretty amazing. I want to see more teamwork with those two.
posted by emjaybee at 3:49 PM on December 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
(Hopefully this thread hasn't been totally abandoned but it's only Tuesday)
I didn't think Zhu Li would be quite so obvious in her sabotage, but plot, plot, we must speed up the plot.
I was hoping that Zhu Li would have at least waited until after the demonstration to sabotage the cannon, but yeah, plot.
Seeing so many Beifongs in one place (and I'm gonna include Kuvira here, since she was Su's protege) really drives home how much of this Earth Empire business is at least partly a family spat writ large.
That said, I don't think Junior's going to make it to the end of the season alive. The Opal scene foreshadows his possible redemption, but then there's betraying his family plus everything else he's done in service to the empire. Redemption in death, probably (I'd love to be proven wrong)?
posted by supermassive at 5:45 PM on December 9, 2014
I didn't think Zhu Li would be quite so obvious in her sabotage, but plot, plot, we must speed up the plot.
I was hoping that Zhu Li would have at least waited until after the demonstration to sabotage the cannon, but yeah, plot.
Seeing so many Beifongs in one place (and I'm gonna include Kuvira here, since she was Su's protege) really drives home how much of this Earth Empire business is at least partly a family spat writ large.
That said, I don't think Junior's going to make it to the end of the season alive. The Opal scene foreshadows his possible redemption, but then there's betraying his family plus everything else he's done in service to the empire. Redemption in death, probably (I'd love to be proven wrong)?
posted by supermassive at 5:45 PM on December 9, 2014
(Hopefully this thread hasn't been totally abandoned but it's only Tuesday)
Ha, ha, never! I'm still working on another unrequested frame composition post to link to here, so yeah, I'm the ghost of Korra posts, I haunt until I'm invited to Iroh's tea parties.
That said, I don't think Junior's going to make it to the end of the season alive. The Opal scene foreshadows his possible redemption, but then there's betraying his family plus everything else he's done in service to the empire. Redemption in death, probably (I'd love to be proven wrong)?
I keep thinking about this and the show's tendency to kill off characters (and also considering ATLA), and I'm still pretty mixed about it. Villains in Korra have been killed off, absolutely, from Amon and Tarlok to three fourths of the Red Lotus last season. In terms of the Avatar universe, Book 3 was dripping with blood. This season, no one has died on screen so far, but that's not any type of guarantee that a few could die in the finale. Kuvira could definitely end up dead, granted, I don't think it would be at Korra's hands, but someone else's (spirits?).
But...Baatar, Jr., he's a "villain" for sure in this season, given his allegiance to Kuvira and her plans, and also in the manner he has treated his own family. Avatar shows are extremely focused on family, be it blood relation or simply friendships, and what happens to one family member tends to happen to another, UNLESS a person rejects that family, such as Unalok rejecting his children for Vaatu or Zuku rejecting the Firelord and his sister. The family unit of the Red Lotus went down with the exception of Zaheer, for example.
The question then, we have already seen that the Beifongs are so far coming out this all right. They have hit their bottom with their defeat and capture by Kuvira (who happen to reject them as a family), but where is Baatar, jr? Is his display of compassion and fear for Opal a sign that he's really still a Beifong and not a new family unit with Kuvira? How far that question lingers will probably play a big role in what his ultimate fate is. The last time we had two lovers on the wrong side of the Avatar, one had her head incinerated. Right now, it's entirely possible that Baatar ends up like Tarlok at the end of Book 1, not necessarily killing Kuvira in a murder-suicide, but someone who has a realization that what he's done was wrong and cannot unchain himself from the fate he has fashioned by being with his fiancee. From that perspective, I suppose the odds are on that he will not see the end of the show alive, but if he lives, he will at best end up in a prison cell, I think.
I was hoping that Zhu Li would have at least waited until after the demonstration to sabotage the cannon, but yeah, plot.
That makes sense, but it's also plausible that creating the appearance that the weapon simply won't work at all, is better than letting it get deployed and then attempting to sabotage it.
posted by Atreides at 7:08 AM on December 10, 2014
Ha, ha, never! I'm still working on another unrequested frame composition post to link to here, so yeah, I'm the ghost of Korra posts, I haunt until I'm invited to Iroh's tea parties.
That said, I don't think Junior's going to make it to the end of the season alive. The Opal scene foreshadows his possible redemption, but then there's betraying his family plus everything else he's done in service to the empire. Redemption in death, probably (I'd love to be proven wrong)?
I keep thinking about this and the show's tendency to kill off characters (and also considering ATLA), and I'm still pretty mixed about it. Villains in Korra have been killed off, absolutely, from Amon and Tarlok to three fourths of the Red Lotus last season. In terms of the Avatar universe, Book 3 was dripping with blood. This season, no one has died on screen so far, but that's not any type of guarantee that a few could die in the finale. Kuvira could definitely end up dead, granted, I don't think it would be at Korra's hands, but someone else's (spirits?).
But...Baatar, Jr., he's a "villain" for sure in this season, given his allegiance to Kuvira and her plans, and also in the manner he has treated his own family. Avatar shows are extremely focused on family, be it blood relation or simply friendships, and what happens to one family member tends to happen to another, UNLESS a person rejects that family, such as Unalok rejecting his children for Vaatu or Zuku rejecting the Firelord and his sister. The family unit of the Red Lotus went down with the exception of Zaheer, for example.
The question then, we have already seen that the Beifongs are so far coming out this all right. They have hit their bottom with their defeat and capture by Kuvira (who happen to reject them as a family), but where is Baatar, jr? Is his display of compassion and fear for Opal a sign that he's really still a Beifong and not a new family unit with Kuvira? How far that question lingers will probably play a big role in what his ultimate fate is. The last time we had two lovers on the wrong side of the Avatar, one had her head incinerated. Right now, it's entirely possible that Baatar ends up like Tarlok at the end of Book 1, not necessarily killing Kuvira in a murder-suicide, but someone who has a realization that what he's done was wrong and cannot unchain himself from the fate he has fashioned by being with his fiancee. From that perspective, I suppose the odds are on that he will not see the end of the show alive, but if he lives, he will at best end up in a prison cell, I think.
I was hoping that Zhu Li would have at least waited until after the demonstration to sabotage the cannon, but yeah, plot.
That makes sense, but it's also plausible that creating the appearance that the weapon simply won't work at all, is better than letting it get deployed and then attempting to sabotage it.
posted by Atreides at 7:08 AM on December 10, 2014
Is his display of compassion and fear for Opal a sign that he's really still a Beifong and not a new family unit with Kuvira?
Well, they haven't married yet, so there's still hope! And now that I think about it, I find it rather odd that their wedding, should it occur, would be taking place so late in the narrative. I understand that it's because Bataar/Kuvira would rather wait until after they've reclaimed the United Republic, but... still.
I want to believe!
posted by supermassive at 6:27 AM on December 11, 2014
Well, they haven't married yet, so there's still hope! And now that I think about it, I find it rather odd that their wedding, should it occur, would be taking place so late in the narrative. I understand that it's because Bataar/Kuvira would rather wait until after they've reclaimed the United Republic, but... still.
I want to believe!
posted by supermassive at 6:27 AM on December 11, 2014
The wedding has been delayed because they're still waiting on RSVPs from the Beifong Clan.
posted by Atreides at 8:18 AM on December 11, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by Atreides at 8:18 AM on December 11, 2014 [2 favorites]
And my under educated analysis of some miscellaneous frames from Operation Beifong. Read at your own risk.
posted by Atreides at 7:13 PM on December 11, 2014
posted by Atreides at 7:13 PM on December 11, 2014
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Raiko: still a jerk!
Wu: being useful to get the ladies! I hope this is not some sort of lead-in for him to actually become the Earth King. That would suck.
Spirits: doing their spirity inscrutable thing and fading out when asked for help. This would be a good time for Iroh to show up with advice, if he's going to. Or some other person.
Toph + Lin reconciliation and Lin's daddy revealed! Awww. Speculation that Sokka is Su's daddy: still ongoing.
"He's an actor."
During the rescue scene, I kept trying to figure out the physics of imprisoning earth benders underground; I guess only really good ones like King Bumi can manipulate earth without touching it first, otherwise, Su could just pull up some sharp rocks and cut their way out. Bet Toph could do that. Also Ghazan probably, since they put him on a ship. Like the earthbenders in the first series, come to think of it. Hm. Maybe that actually wasn't good plotting. Would have been more believable if they had stayed in the platinum suits (a platinum room?) or, kept Bataar Sr. in a separate place and threatened to off him if Su and kids tried to escape.
"You give metalbenders a bad name!!"
"At some point you gotta leave it to the kids," to also explain Katara staying out of the civil war.
My kid was talking during the scene with Varrick and Asami talking about defense; did they mention EMT pulses or magnets? I have a feeling that will become a thing.
Zhu Li: "You're a monster!" And then getting Bolin in good with Opal. Aw, Zhu Li. Also I totally called her still being a good guy.
posted by emjaybee at 7:08 AM on December 5, 2014 [1 favorite]