Korra S02E14

I still think the whole losing a connection to Ravva was a stupid move, but it presented an opportunity to... clumsily address that maybe Korra was insecure and only felt like she was awesome because she was the Avatar? Would have been nice to have seen more evidence of that through the season. This "moment" just felt like it came out of nowhere and just kinda doesn't have any impact as a result.

Oh... and now we're doing spirit kaiju battling. I'm... Ok. Sure. It's all very epic and fighty and fun to watch... but it feels so unearned.

Like... Jinora's coming down and flashing light and waking up Ravva and... I don't understand how any of this makes sense.

How does an absolute spirit novice like Korra go full spirit kaiju and stand toe to toe with the fused dark avatar guy? What did Jinora do? How did she know to do it? Why is Korra still cut off from the other avatars?

Korra keeping the portals open... I like that move. I can't help but feel it shows how Korra's physicality affects how she interacts with the spirit world. She's not great at being all spiritual, but leaving a link between the physical and the spiritual that can physically be traveled to and through just feels like something that would make sense to her.

Breaking up with Mako... I like that move too.

Maybe the next season will give me answers, but I'm glad this one is over. It was miserable.

Korra S02E13

God... I'm always struck by the art and animation in this.

These fights are badass.

Haha! A talking mushroom! I love the spirit world.

Ok... it always bothers me when a hit seems to have a greater impact on the protagonist than it seems like it should have. Korra was kicking so much ass and it was awesome to see. She takes a direct hit from Vaatu and is able to get up and keep beating ass. She gets hit by a water wave and she's basically KO'd just because it'd be convenient for the bad guy to get juiced up. I guess you could explain it as she was worn from trying to seal up Vaatu, but given the kind of writing we've had this season it felt very... again... just because it served the direction they wanted things to go, and not because it made any sense.

The spirit fog with Tenzin and his siblings was... well it was a good idea. Good way to explore more of their backstories... BUT IT DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE! Felt so rushed and shallow.

Ah! I remember this part! Where all of the prior incarnations of the avatar are... wiped away? Killed? I don't remember the details. I just remember something about them being gone and Korra never being able to call on them again.

Honestly, I think it was unnecessary and actually cut them off from so many story possibilities. I'll comment more on it when I get refreshed on exactly what happened.

I actually thought it was a pretty good episode... and I kinda hated it. lol. Objectively (as much as one can be) it was good. Stuff happened. The fights were good. The characters felt real. It was fun to watch. Just in terms of the larger meta perspective... it felt rushed and made me wonder just what the writers were going for. Tragic for tragic's sake?

Korra S02E12

Ok. I definitely took a long break before doing this one. Rewatched ep 11 to refresh myself and let's get into things.

Y'know. One thing that stands out to me after this break and watching other things is how freaking amazing the animation is in this show. Issues with the writing aside, Legend Of Korra is visually a delight to watch.

Ok. Half way through... this one's pretty badass. Nobody's an idiot (Except Mako), they're true to their characters, and the action is fun. I like the creativity of having Bolin firing explosives attached to rocks while on the wing of the plane.

Oof. Bad guy's speech was... bad? Super expositioneriffic and corny. Mwuahahaha! I will be the Dark Avatar! EEEEEeeeeeeeeviiiiiiiillllll! FFS!

Ha! Boomy vs spirit was great... but the musical bit felt rushed and really freaking convenient.

lol! I'm so glad the pied piper routine didn't work. Definitely a fun little twist. Yeah... this whole Boomy part is great. I'm so glad he's getting a chance to shine in his whole accidentally amazing kinda way.

This episode shone in its fights and the animation which were freaking awesome.

Last boss is free. Looking forward to two episodes of great visual presentation of shit storytelling until the end of the season.

Korra S02E11

I dunno. I just feel like Bolin's complete betrayal of Mako is so... WTF? Maybe I got the wrong impression from him in the first season, but it seems wrong for him. He visits Mako in jail and is all like "Sucks that you're guilty of crime. Here, have a poster of me"

Varrick is great. Hate the guy, but that's because he's a great villain character.

I love how they lean into the cheesiness of old movies with the propaganda film. Fun to watch.

The back half of this episode was fun to watch. Bolin's fight being sync'd up with the "mover" in the background was a cool touch.

Apparently Korra's memory is messed up and now she doesn't remember her fight with Mako. I have a feeling that's going to be very "convenient" for some other convoluted story point later.

I liked this one. It wasn't fantastic, but definitely watchable. I think the railroading was minimal, so things felt a bit more natural.

Korra S02E10

So Korra and Jinora in the spirit world and Korra's acting like a butt as if she learned nothing and I think I've finally put my finger on the main problem this season has. The actions that characters take are in service of the plot rather than in service of the characters.

The writers had a story they wanted to tell, and needed the characters to act in a certain way for it to work, but the actions the characters take are not in line with who the characters are. It's why it feels like the plot is this ethereal force that's just moving everything forward whether the characters are ready for it or not.

I'd compare it to the flow of a campaign from a first time Game/Dungeon Master. They have a cool plot they want to share with the players, but aren't letting the players actually take the time to play their characters and see where those characters take them. It's railroading, to use a tabletop RPG term.

That all said... I like this episode. The idea that people's own spiritual state impacts everything around them in the spirit world is really cool. We get to see Korra's insecurities and demons on display externally around her. So, while my criticisms of the season as a whole stand. This episode works well as a character story... mostly.

Library Owl guy taking "I'm with the Avatar" as a convincing argument as to why Jinora could read in the library, seemed forced. Nice to see Iroh though.

Liked this one. Not the best, but it's been one of the better (non-Wan) episodes of Season 2.

Korra S02E09

While I kinda binged my way through season 1, I needed a break from Season 2's bullshit. That's why this post is a bit more spread out from the previous ones. Anyways, into the episode.

I liked the bit with Jinora playing with the spirits that only she could see. I really do like the theme of the season. The spirits of the world of Avatar were always super neat to me... this mysterious aspect to the lore.

Nobody believes Mako that Varrick is a douche. Part of me is frustrated... another part of me recognizes that they benefit too much from their relationships with Varrick and it's likely altering their judgement... so... I guess at least that's *something* that makes sense in this plot.

Ok... I'm feeling this whole Varrick intimidating Mako and then framing him for much crime. It feels like the Tenzin leading Korra into the spirit world subplot was stupid rushed, like so much this season. It's just Tenzin going on and on about how he can do it, and then being butthurt, and then eventually without any actual "aha" moment eventually just goes "Welp! Guess I suck. Jinora, you do it".

Kind of a meh-pisode. I don't know... I feel like things are just jumping all over the place, dumping exposition while at the same time repeating the same crap over and over again.

Korra S02E08

What the fuck are the people standing around Korra talking about?

Yeeeeaaaaaaah! More Avatar Wan!

Hrm. Why does Ravva need to hold the power until Wan masters it? That feels a little convoluted. Turtle bro makes it sound like Wan could possibly do it, but he's gonna add an arbitrary limitation that Ravva has to carry it? Or... maybe my thinking that it's a case that humans "can't" control that much power, is wrong... and it's more of that the turtle knows it can trust Ravva to not abuse the power, but doesn't know it can trust Wan? I dunno.

Oh! Ok. So Ravva is literally just holding it until Wan's ready.

Hrm... I would have liked a little more heads up that Wan would have become aware that he and Ravva could fuse together to boost his power. It feels like it just comes out of nowhere. Like... I guess you could say we learn that spirits can possess people and they impart part of themselves on the people.

Ok. Cool. I really liked that... aaaand now we're back to Korra... and everything feels rushed and nothing makes sense. Great.

Korra S02E07

Oh shit! It's the origins of the Avatar episodes! I don't remember anything, but I do remember that I liked it the first time I watched it. The setup feels really convoluted though. Korra loses her memory and then just happens to wash up on a shore with some people who know to take her to some pool so that she can... something? I remember liking the origin story, but how we got here is dumb as shit.

Tree guy? There's a half tree, half guy, guy. I'm really liking the art in the telling of this story.

Ok, I like how the last season we had benders have all the power, to a story where bending is a tool to take the power from greed. At least initially.

This spirit forest is cool as hell. I want more early world of Avatar stuff. The world is strange and alien and so ripe for neat adventure.

Oh... there is a strong Spirited Away vibe here.

Wan... you naive dumbass. Unleashing chaos on the world.

To Be Continued!

Yeah... I still like this part. Better than any of the regular episodes so far this season.

S02E06

Ok. So... we're looking to figure out who's doing crimes. Mako and Asami wanna lay a trap. I couldn't care less about this plot point, but ok.

Jesus Christ! Bolin! Unscripted kiss? Way to respect Ginger's fucking boundaries, dipshit. So... Bolin really can't tell the difference between the character he's playing and himself. The guy literally can't tell truth from fiction.

Ok... so there's a double-cross and now Asami and Mako are on the run from the thugs they hired to help them run the sting... which means... nothing was accomplished... aside from bankrupting Asami. Which... I guess is a big character moment... oh... which is being used to get her back together with Mako? Great... she sprung a kiss on Mako, now!

Oh snap! Ok. I like the twist of Varrick bein' the ruthless business dude. I'm suddenly interested now.

And Korra has amnesia now.

Ok... so like the whole episode really wasn't pulling me in, but those last 5 minutes or so had some fun twists. I'll give this one a positive leaning meh... but still meh.

Korra S02E05

Where did this idea that the Avatar needs to be neutral come from? They keep hammering Korra on this. If a scale is tipping to the left, you're not going to bring balance by applying weight to the center... I mean... not unless you use overwhelming force. No. You put weight on the right. I don't recall any of this in TLA.

"If you can't make money during a war, you just can't flat out make money" - Varrick

Damn. That's a line.

Oh. We're doing war propaganda.

Korra and Mako broke up and she's now fighting the twins on the ocean... and some kaiju spirit is slapping her around, and she just avatar stated... which again did nothing... and she got eaten. Korra's avatar state blows... and yet... that was the best part of this episode.

No. I did not feel this one. Not a fan. Basically nothing happened but some political shit and brainstorming about failed ideas. I hate skipping episodes, even when rewatching shows, but I'd consider skipping this one. ​

Korra S02E04

What the hell, Korra?! She's such a dumbass, now.

I love Eska. She cracks me up.
I also love the business guy. Varick, I think his name is.

Hrm. Bolin was goofy before, but he never struck me as dumb. I think they knocked his IQ* down a few notches too.

Sibling/family sub-plot is precious. I love these parts.

Korra x Naga's Good cop, bad cop routine is beautiful. Oh look! The guy I called on being the bad guy turned out to be the bad guy.

Platypus Bear pooping money is... I appreciate these goofy moments of levity.

Using fire bending as a jet engine is an interesting idea. I mean... Korra could have just air bended the plane into the air, but ok.

I think I liked this one a bit better than the last one because of the fun jokes and goofy moments. Also, Korra didn't come across as a "total" moron, even though I was seriously questioning her intelligence at the beginning.

*IQ is a stupid concept and I use the term as a loose synonym for intelligence because the phrasing feels good.

Korra S02E03

This one is literally titled "Civil Wars (1)" which already has me groaning. I've had enough political conflict from the last season. I want the mysterious spirit stuff. This means we're going to have two whole episodes of "rah rah! bad guy is bad!"

What the hell Korra?! In the last season you had a front row seat to how these power hungry people operate under false pretenses to get what they want and you're just gonna side with the asshole?

I think Korra's smarts have taken a hit in the writing of this season.

Mako: "If you're that unhappy, just break up with her"
Bolin: "Break up with her? You can do that?"

I love Bolin.

No... nope! No! Ok. I figured out what was bothering me in the previous episodes. Korra's written dumber this season. As much as I initially gave her a hard time about being incompetent last season (and later revised)... this season... she's an actual dolt. Where's that sharp mind? Where's the skepticism? What happened to everything she just learned?!

I seem to have an emotional memory of hating how Aang was characterized as a father the first time I watched this. This time... no... I think it's fine. I can see Aang growing up into that kind of imperfect father. Especially considering the trauma he underwent. Kid fought a war before his teen years. Had so much pressure. That kid was destined to grow up a little messed up.

Yeah. This episode is saved by Tenzin's sibling adventure. Their interactions with each other are spot on.

Character regression is the worst. Aside from the badass fight scene at the end, Korra just pissed me off all episode.

I'm going to go with "barely meh". Tenzin's adventure saved this episode from the shit pile.

Korra S02E02

Holy exposition dump, Batman.

This episode is like...

(Exposition)

"I'm going!"
"You're not going!"
"I'm going"
"Well then I'm going too, also, spirits are angy"

(More exposition)

"I'm going!"
"You're not going!"
Spirits angy... blah blah blah rinse and repeat.

I love the twins. I can tell they're probably going to be a highlight for me this season.

Ok. I'm intrigued by this mysterious previous Avatar statue lighting up when Korra opens the portal thing. It's piqued my curiosity.

Oh, look! Warships and junk! I'm so surprised (/s). I wonder how many oppressions there will be!

Kind of a meh episode with a couple nuggets of mystery sprinkled in to keep my attention.

Korra S01E11

IT'S A TARP!

I was expecting things to chill a bit before the finale episodes. Maybe that'll be the next one. This one's got a real tech vs magic feel to it. Warplanes and battleships and shit.

Mako... you absolute emotionally unaware dumbass.

Whoa! Amon and Torrlak are bros... like actual bros... and Amon's a blood bender! Ok... that explains the blood bending resistance.

Oh look. Toxic masculinity is the root of trauma again.

Ok... cool. Getting the baddy's backstory is good stuff.

Korra S01E12

Oh, I thought there were 13 episodes. Guess not. Just gonna throw my thoughts for both into one toot since I didn't have much to say about the last one aside from "GOOD! ME LIKE!"

So... I clearly misremembered the ending to this season.

So... she managed to air bend because she was in a proverbial box (like the metal box) and was forced to connect with her spiritual side? So... air bending requires a spiritual connection?

I forgot we didn't get to see any avatar state fighting in this season. I guess her pulling out air bending was kind of a mini-avatar state thing? Or maybe Amon took her bending away, but because her air bending was inaccessible, he wasn't able to block it or take it away?

The exact mechanics of how that played out don't really make sense to me right now.

I like that they really made it clear that they were fighting an idea.

All in all. I'd give the first season of Korra a thumbs up. I'd watch that again. It had some rough patches, but I did really really enjoy it. We'll have to see how I find the later seasons.