The Legend of Korra: A Breath of Fresh Air
June 28, 2014 9:31 AM - Season 3, Episode 1 - Subscribe
Avatar: The Legend of Korra returns for its third season with Korra discovering that her decision to leave the spirit portals open after the Harmonic Convergence has resulted in unforeseen consequences. For those who have yet to see it, catch the trailer for Season 3, here!
As a brief catch up, the last season of Korra concluded with the Harmonic Convergence, a veritable battle between the forces of chaos and darkness and peace and light. In the process, the spirit portals which had been closed between the spirit world and the bending world since the time of Wan, the original Avatar, were opened. During the battle, Korra lost her connection with Raava, the spirt of peace and light and the original source of Avatar power. In the process, she lost her connection with every Avatar before her all the way to Wan, himself. Korra did regain her connection, but at a cost of having no ability to rely on the wisdom of her previous incarnations. Korra also reversed the decision by Wan to keep the portals closed permanently, allowing spirits and humans to interact regularly for the first time in ages.
In other news, Jinora, was discovered to have powerful spiritual powers, Korra and Mako broke up, Bolin became a movie star, and Asami may or may not have lost her company to a war profiteering Howard Hughes like character, Varrick (who escaped after Zhu Li did that thing). We also learned that our favorite airbender, Aang, may have not been the best father due to his efforts to instill Tenzin with the knowledge of the air bending people, and in the process ignoring his other two children who were not air benders...but that knowledge may be something that might come in handy very soon (see air bending peeps in the linked trailer)!
As a brief catch up, the last season of Korra concluded with the Harmonic Convergence, a veritable battle between the forces of chaos and darkness and peace and light. In the process, the spirit portals which had been closed between the spirit world and the bending world since the time of Wan, the original Avatar, were opened. During the battle, Korra lost her connection with Raava, the spirt of peace and light and the original source of Avatar power. In the process, she lost her connection with every Avatar before her all the way to Wan, himself. Korra did regain her connection, but at a cost of having no ability to rely on the wisdom of her previous incarnations. Korra also reversed the decision by Wan to keep the portals closed permanently, allowing spirits and humans to interact regularly for the first time in ages.
In other news, Jinora, was discovered to have powerful spiritual powers, Korra and Mako broke up, Bolin became a movie star, and Asami may or may not have lost her company to a war profiteering Howard Hughes like character, Varrick (who escaped after Zhu Li did that thing). We also learned that our favorite airbender, Aang, may have not been the best father due to his efforts to instill Tenzin with the knowledge of the air bending people, and in the process ignoring his other two children who were not air benders...but that knowledge may be something that might come in handy very soon (see air bending peeps in the linked trailer)!
A'ight, so I absolutely loved the return to the world of Avatar last night. We're introduced almost immediately to the fact that air bending has returned with Bumi discovering he's one of unknown many who have developed the power to air bend. The great part was that everyone refused to believe him at first. At the same time, Korra had to deal with what were essentially spirit vines (and the spirits who have moved into them) which are taken over parts of Republic City, much to the chagrin of the residents of the city and even more to the president of the Republic, whose approval rating is nearly as low as Korra's. At the end of the episode, Korra has yet to solve how to remove the vines, but knowledge that other air benders are popping up has become accepted by Team Avatar, who convince one poor fellow to come to air bender island to learn how to control his new powers. Then, lastly, the president politely (or not so politely) tells Korra to leave Republic City, as in, exiled. The episode ends with Korra happy with this decision and plotting with Tenzin to travel the lands to find new air benders to restart the Air Bender Nation.
Immediately, I will add that I thought the animation was beautiful (and the following episodes only built on this opinion). It's incredible how much of a difference the animation studio makes in the product that's produced and StudioMir has shown itself to be irreplaceable in making the show a premium product (people are blinking again!). Likewise, Jeremy Zuckerman returns with impeccable scoring for the show, which hopefully will make its way to a released soundtrack sometime in the future. I thought the writing was fine and it seems that the writers are intent on making a statement by bringing Asami and Korra together in the first episode and establishing their relationship beyond Mako. There were a number of small moments which were great, such as Tenzin's and Korra's mentor/student or father/daughter talk on what it means to be the Avatar and pleasing everyone, Bumi's desire to give his spirit friend a sweater (it's his first one, okay?!), to the old man glaring at Korra's awful driving.
As the first episode concluded, I was already excited for the next. And while I don't want to make statements to the other episodes (leave it for those posts), I will say that this season so far is already starting to feel so much more like the original ATLA than the show has before.
posted by Atreides at 3:51 PM on June 28, 2014 [2 favorites]
Immediately, I will add that I thought the animation was beautiful (and the following episodes only built on this opinion). It's incredible how much of a difference the animation studio makes in the product that's produced and StudioMir has shown itself to be irreplaceable in making the show a premium product (people are blinking again!). Likewise, Jeremy Zuckerman returns with impeccable scoring for the show, which hopefully will make its way to a released soundtrack sometime in the future. I thought the writing was fine and it seems that the writers are intent on making a statement by bringing Asami and Korra together in the first episode and establishing their relationship beyond Mako. There were a number of small moments which were great, such as Tenzin's and Korra's mentor/student or father/daughter talk on what it means to be the Avatar and pleasing everyone, Bumi's desire to give his spirit friend a sweater (it's his first one, okay?!), to the old man glaring at Korra's awful driving.
As the first episode concluded, I was already excited for the next. And while I don't want to make statements to the other episodes (leave it for those posts), I will say that this season so far is already starting to feel so much more like the original ATLA than the show has before.
posted by Atreides at 3:51 PM on June 28, 2014 [2 favorites]
Agreed, super strong start. Good writing, animation, etc.
posted by signal at 5:20 PM on June 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by signal at 5:20 PM on June 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
As the first episode concluded, I was already excited for the next. And while I don't want to make statements to the other episodes (leave it for those posts), I will say that this season so far is already starting to feel so much more like the original ATLA than the show has before.
That statement makes me want to catch up, badly. Something was missing before, but if they've found it again, oh man...
posted by jason_steakums at 8:32 PM on June 28, 2014
That statement makes me want to catch up, badly. Something was missing before, but if they've found it again, oh man...
posted by jason_steakums at 8:32 PM on June 28, 2014
I feel weird being a voice of dissent because I love the Avatar-verse so much, and it may be a personal reaction as opposed to the actual quality of the show, but I didn't see all that much improvement from the previous erratic seasons. I loved some things - the Korra and Asami talk, for one, but on the whole I wasn't interested in the conflicts presented in this ep (as well as the second - haven't seen the other ones yet). It may be as simple as the fact that they seem to be planning a story that I'm not particularly interested in. Most of this episode was dominated by Korra being yelled at by the President, followed by reporters, and worrying about her poll numbers, and perhaps my deep loathing for that aspect of the storytelling is coloring other things. It's all so...I don't know, weirdly cliche and unwanted. The show set up interesting political questions during the first season of Korra and then failed to deliver on them, so I'm glad the story has changed to a plotline that takes them out of Republic City and hopefully away from that plotline.
posted by PussKillian at 10:06 PM on June 28, 2014
posted by PussKillian at 10:06 PM on June 28, 2014
I am so delighted with Korra and Asami hanging out together.
I secretly hope that they start dating, but *sigh* I'll just daydream about that.
Also, man, the fact that Bumi can airbend now. I mean, I'm sure Katara and Aang didn't ignore him because he wasn't a bender, and I know they must have tried, but it must have been so awful growing up watching his siblings do all this stuff, being like Mom and Dad, and knowing that you're not like them. And now... the one thing that would have completely won his Dad over, and it's too late.
I know that he'll probably be just like "Woo, airbending! Awesome!" because that's just how Bumi is, but it would be nice to see him reflect on that.
Or knit some more. C'mon, Bumi, develop the new skill of airknitting!
posted by Katemonkey at 1:07 AM on June 29, 2014 [6 favorites]
I secretly hope that they start dating, but *sigh* I'll just daydream about that.
Also, man, the fact that Bumi can airbend now. I mean, I'm sure Katara and Aang didn't ignore him because he wasn't a bender, and I know they must have tried, but it must have been so awful growing up watching his siblings do all this stuff, being like Mom and Dad, and knowing that you're not like them. And now... the one thing that would have completely won his Dad over, and it's too late.
I know that he'll probably be just like "Woo, airbending! Awesome!" because that's just how Bumi is, but it would be nice to see him reflect on that.
Or knit some more. C'mon, Bumi, develop the new skill of airknitting!
posted by Katemonkey at 1:07 AM on June 29, 2014 [6 favorites]
The Korra and Asami scene was gorgeous. Asami's all "let's drive, it's relaxing!" straight into the anime face and then the conversation with just the right pauses where I thought "oh they're going to turn this into a stupid girlfight" then relaxing into honest friendship stuff where both of them were grownass women with jobs to do.
Republic City is beautiful to look at but it's sorta stuck. I always liked the journey part.
Anyone know what's up with the villain?
posted by viggorlijah at 1:33 AM on June 29, 2014 [3 favorites]
Republic City is beautiful to look at but it's sorta stuck. I always liked the journey part.
Anyone know what's up with the villain?
posted by viggorlijah at 1:33 AM on June 29, 2014 [3 favorites]
Oh and Studio Mir is animating ALL of this season, so it's a return to quality animation and visual effects. I think S3 is a return to form. S2 had its ups and downs, but this season feels stronger already.
Also, love Asami and Korra as friends.
posted by Fizz at 6:20 AM on June 29, 2014
Also, love Asami and Korra as friends.
posted by Fizz at 6:20 AM on June 29, 2014
The show set up interesting political questions during the first season of Korra and then failed to deliver on them, so I'm glad the story has changed to a plotline that takes them out of Republic City and hopefully away from that plotline.
You stated you hadn't seen Episode 3 yet, I think you'll be pleased as it's obviously setting up another round of political questions and hopefully, it'll deliver this season to your expectations. So keep on watching!
Anyone know what's up with the villain?
Not much. Of all things, Henry Rollins is voicing the villain. Second, he's held in some kind of White Lotus Society prison and definitely haves a grief with the Society.
posted by Atreides at 7:16 AM on June 29, 2014
You stated you hadn't seen Episode 3 yet, I think you'll be pleased as it's obviously setting up another round of political questions and hopefully, it'll deliver this season to your expectations. So keep on watching!
Anyone know what's up with the villain?
Not much. Of all things, Henry Rollins is voicing the villain. Second, he's held in some kind of White Lotus Society prison and definitely haves a grief with the Society.
posted by Atreides at 7:16 AM on June 29, 2014
That's one thing. I was tempted to wait until the second episode to discuss it, but it started irritating me here.
I like Henry Rollins. I think that he can be a pretty good actor. But now I'm realising that so much of his acting is physical - it's in how he moves, it's how he looks at the other actors, it's all in his body.
So in this, it honestly just feels like he's reading lines. No real emotion. No real depth. Just reading lines, and I'm not feeling the character at all.
You can do emotionless readings and still have a great character - Aubrey Plaza and Aaron Himelstein did it perfectly with the Northern Water Tribe royal twins Eska and Desna. But Rollins? I don't know. I hope it'll get better, otherwise I'll keep finding myself falling asleep every time Zaheer monologues.
posted by Katemonkey at 8:43 AM on June 29, 2014
I like Henry Rollins. I think that he can be a pretty good actor. But now I'm realising that so much of his acting is physical - it's in how he moves, it's how he looks at the other actors, it's all in his body.
So in this, it honestly just feels like he's reading lines. No real emotion. No real depth. Just reading lines, and I'm not feeling the character at all.
You can do emotionless readings and still have a great character - Aubrey Plaza and Aaron Himelstein did it perfectly with the Northern Water Tribe royal twins Eska and Desna. But Rollins? I don't know. I hope it'll get better, otherwise I'll keep finding myself falling asleep every time Zaheer monologues.
posted by Katemonkey at 8:43 AM on June 29, 2014
I absolutely agree, I did find his voice didn't really match the character design. I wanted something a bit more grizzled.
posted by Atreides at 11:34 AM on June 29, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Atreides at 11:34 AM on June 29, 2014 [1 favorite]
It's true, Korra/Asami would magically make everything better.
posted by PussKillian at 3:51 PM on June 29, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by PussKillian at 3:51 PM on June 29, 2014 [1 favorite]
And now... the one thing that would have completely won his Dad over, and it's too late.
Thanks for this reading.
I've been having some trouble with the idea of making Bumi an airbender. How non-benders fit into the world in general has been interesting ground throughout both series. Having a non-bender child of the Avatar is (or was) super interesting ground.
Also, I thought it was great that each of Aang's kids seemed to have inherited different aspects of Aang: Tenzin inherited the status of last airbender, keeper of both the bending art and air nomad culture; Kya seemed to have inherited his free spirit; Bumi seemed to have inherited his humor and sense of adventure.
So I was thinking of this as blurring those distinctions, and also as easy wish-fullfilment -- as opposed to the characters of, say, Sokka or the lieutenant or Ty Lee or (to some extent) Asami, who don't just have superpowers they inherit but have to train heavily for.
But this reminds me that there's probably a wish here that can't really be fulfilled for Bumi (or at least, not yet), and that brings some complexity back. I hope they run with that.
I'm also kindof psyched about non-nomad-cultured benders. Airbending antagonists would seem difficult to come up with, out-and-out villains seemed likely to be almost impossibly rare aberrations inside the nomad culture. This enables both -- plus cultural tension between non-orthodox airbenders and those who choose to commit themselves to carry on in the nomad tradition. Could be a good time. Can't wait to learn more about Zaheer.
Talking of which, although I've been spoiled both by reading about the show and watching the Mundonick leaks, I still haven't seen the first two episodes (no cable). Anyone know where/when they can be watched online?
posted by weston at 2:47 PM on June 30, 2014 [3 favorites]
Thanks for this reading.
I've been having some trouble with the idea of making Bumi an airbender. How non-benders fit into the world in general has been interesting ground throughout both series. Having a non-bender child of the Avatar is (or was) super interesting ground.
Also, I thought it was great that each of Aang's kids seemed to have inherited different aspects of Aang: Tenzin inherited the status of last airbender, keeper of both the bending art and air nomad culture; Kya seemed to have inherited his free spirit; Bumi seemed to have inherited his humor and sense of adventure.
So I was thinking of this as blurring those distinctions, and also as easy wish-fullfilment -- as opposed to the characters of, say, Sokka or the lieutenant or Ty Lee or (to some extent) Asami, who don't just have superpowers they inherit but have to train heavily for.
But this reminds me that there's probably a wish here that can't really be fulfilled for Bumi (or at least, not yet), and that brings some complexity back. I hope they run with that.
I'm also kindof psyched about non-nomad-cultured benders. Airbending antagonists would seem difficult to come up with, out-and-out villains seemed likely to be almost impossibly rare aberrations inside the nomad culture. This enables both -- plus cultural tension between non-orthodox airbenders and those who choose to commit themselves to carry on in the nomad tradition. Could be a good time. Can't wait to learn more about Zaheer.
Talking of which, although I've been spoiled both by reading about the show and watching the Mundonick leaks, I still haven't seen the first two episodes (no cable). Anyone know where/when they can be watched online?
posted by weston at 2:47 PM on June 30, 2014 [3 favorites]
One of the most impressive things about watching episode 1 of this (haven't gotten around to episodes 2 or 3 yet) was how inconspicuous the CGI work was for a change of pace. They've really nailed it.
posted by DoctorFedora at 5:57 PM on June 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by DoctorFedora at 5:57 PM on June 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
Talking of which, although I've been spoiled both by reading about the show and watching the Mundonick leaks, I still haven't seen the first two episodes (no cable). Anyone know where/when they can be watched online?
It's really weird. There is no legitimate place online to watch these episodes. You can't find them at Nick.com, you won't find them at iTunes (which now doesn't even have Books 1 or 2) or on Amazon. Amazon just recently, yesterday perhaps, created a page for Book 3, but they only have the Season 3 trailer listed and no option to purchase the season in advance.
I don't know if this is a result of the abrupt decision to start airing the show or has something to do with paranoia due to the leakage of episodes 4, 5, and 6. I think the only thing it is doing is driving people to less than legitimate sites to watch the show, which may encourage them to continue to do so once they get the episodes out for purchase. Incidentally, the Book 2 art book is coming out in September, so I wonder if that was around the time when they had originally planned to release the season.
posted by Atreides at 1:48 PM on July 1, 2014
It's really weird. There is no legitimate place online to watch these episodes. You can't find them at Nick.com, you won't find them at iTunes (which now doesn't even have Books 1 or 2) or on Amazon. Amazon just recently, yesterday perhaps, created a page for Book 3, but they only have the Season 3 trailer listed and no option to purchase the season in advance.
I don't know if this is a result of the abrupt decision to start airing the show or has something to do with paranoia due to the leakage of episodes 4, 5, and 6. I think the only thing it is doing is driving people to less than legitimate sites to watch the show, which may encourage them to continue to do so once they get the episodes out for purchase. Incidentally, the Book 2 art book is coming out in September, so I wonder if that was around the time when they had originally planned to release the season.
posted by Atreides at 1:48 PM on July 1, 2014
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posted by Atreides at 10:27 AM on June 28, 2014