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Legend of Korra Book 4: Balance |OT| A Feast of Crows
- Thread starter Satch
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I want to see her about to lose and go insane like Azula during the Agni Kai
Probably Toph being Yoda.
If there is anything good that Legend of Korra has ever brought us, it's the fact that we can come together and talk about it, and bitch about it, and hope for it, and otherwise communicate.
Legend of Korra has kept us, who would have likely not continued talking since TLA ended, together and made us a community. And as much as I'd like the show to be better, it's existance can't be more validated by anything else than the fact that you are here, hanging on to life, talking to us, your friends.
We've all been together for 3 years now, give or take. We're here for you. We're family. Don't ever forget that.
JadedWriter
Member
There's nothing wrong with projection. It seems like that what goes on a lot on here any way. It just makes for a fun healthy debate.
Train of Midnight
Banned
Today I learned people hate Bolin.
How?
How?
Not much really apart from its titled The Coronation and this preview clip from the episode
Just want to add in that I'm pretty sure Korra found out about Zaheer in episode 4.
Also don't worry Azula you're always the highlight of this thread. We totally understand.
His movers are overrated.
Just feel free to post how you are. We're always here for you.
Considering that's my favorite fight in the whole franchise, that would rock.
Dude, we're here for you, and, at least speaking for myself, won't be annoyed or anything.
This is what fandoms/geeks do anyway, support each other. While I can't ever know how you're feeling right now, I've seen people close to me suffer and know that not feeling alone is paramount to recovery.
Train of Midnight
Banned
Come on, that was Bolin GOLD
It wasn't. It was obnoxious and I love Bolin.
Ah my bad. Thought it was 6. Their clash was definitely pretty delayed though as there was a shifted focus on the air nation stuff. But you are right. I know some people had an issue with the delayed main conflict. I actually liked all the episodes in the season so it didn't bug me. Although in hindsight I wonder if they could have done more with fleshing out Zaheer. And I wonder if all those early episodes were used as well as they could have been.
JadedWriter
Member
His mouth writes checks his brain can't cash. I don't hate him, but he has his moments.
Definitely check this out. Still on the fence about this.
I loved Bolin in Book 1 and I love the idea of Bolin. I like that while he's not always funny he has a kind heart and is there for others. But I feel like they devolved Bolin into being a stupid man child as the show went on, and he went from being funny with good intentions to being more annoying (even the group starter to react negatively to him). We also saw this weird shift in the kind hearted nature of him to being more douchey (it's almost as if him and Mako swapped).
Bolin being full of himself as a mover and his pathetic stuff with Ginger (I actually liked the mover stuff, but it dragged on too long and I don't think it was the best use of him. I only bring it up because it was the first time we saw them start to introduce cocky/douchey Bolin). Then we saw his gross stuff with Opal (that Mirror talk scene with Mako was gross).
So I've just come to really dislike him. And that makes me so sad because I loved the character. I feel like his character is missing the heart of the group, which always made him likable even when he wasn't always funny. And I find his cocky side to be off putting. So basically he's more annoying then funny now (even the group gets annoyed by him). They really dumbed him down and made him a buffoon. And I don't like his cocky side that comes off as gross.
We have more of a bond with each other than the Krew atleast.
Totally agree. I project a few things onto TLA to make myself enjoy it just a little bit more, so that the lion turtle and energybending make a bit more sense than they do for most other people. But projection is essentially fanfiction. It's not canon, and you can't argue that a relationship makes sense with it. It only makes sense because you MADE it make sense. If the writers go with the Freudian route you suggested, okay, there's more to it than shown thus far then. But they have to show it for us to be on the same page.
I....suppose I did, but I've cooled down on it somewhat from my first response on finishing it. The problem is that for every good thing they accomplished, there's always a "But..." that illuminates on lost potential.
Zaheer still kicked ass as a villain. He and his team was a force to be reckoned with, and I liked the tiny parts where they show the genuine friendship that the Z-team had with each other and their individual quirks. But....his lack of interaction with Korra killed any true depth that could have resulted from their antagonistic relationship, for either party. The Kai storyline is not bad in and of itself, with him being a likable little scamp (despite his scummy intro). But....I don't feel it really needed to exist. A big part of Book 3 is the air nation coming into it's own, not just in terms of population growth, but the young growing into self sufficient characters. Kai was not needed for this. If anything, Jinora would have been more effective to tell this story with, since we've known her from the start, so her growth would have felt more genuine. Instead, she was damseled like 3 times. Mako and Bolin's storyline was designed to invest us in Ba Sing Se so that we'd want it to not go shit like the queen intends for it to do. And as a bonus, Mako and Bolin finally got out of the vicious cycle of being the clown and shipping bait. But....well, maybe there is no but here, it worked out well, and while it wasn't out of this world, I don't see how it could have gone better than it did. We got much needed backstory, and Mako and Bolin finally got to do something else.
I still find Suyin to be a completely unbelievable character with the kind of accomplishment she's made. In our world, elon musk would feel small and insignificant next to her and there is no real explanation given for why she has been so insanely influential other than a vague backstory of her doing random things. And her subplot with her sister...Well, it wasn't badly written or anything, but what it did add to the story as a whole? How was Korra's understanding of people deepened? What was the significance of Lin and Suyin getting along? How would the series have been different if they hadn't? Would Suyin NOT have helped if Lin's thing wasn't resolved. I doubt it. In retrospect, I don't see the point of it, personally, and it turned the Gaang being terrible parents into a trend.
The biggest problem is the stalling of Korra's development. She should have met Zaheer far earlier, she should have interacted with him more, and the season shouldn't have ended with her essentially defeated. The downer ending was kind of a holy shit moment, but I don't see the point other than making us feel bad for Korra because some jackass just tried to murder her. But...she definitely was more likable than the past seasons, and the episode where she talked to that guy on the bridge gives me hope that they're learning what it really means for Korra to be the Avatar. Plus the Asami scenes with her were nice.
Overall, it's a step in the right direction on all possible fronts, and I'll totally agree with you that it's far more enjoyable on an episode by episode basis (with the exception of the Air Temple episode. That was pointless). Definitely a step in the right direction. But on par with anything from TLA? No. Closer than the other seasons, but no because it just feels incomplete. Korra didn't learn anything, she just got her shit kicked in. Her relationships didn't really grow past very few scenes and the ones that were given focus don't feel like they contribute much. Like you said, there's too many side characters running around, eager to have their stories told, when the 4 main characters are spread so thin you can almost see through them. Book 3 could have been TLA material if it cut the unnecessary bits and focused on developing it's 4 main characters. As it stands....
Yeah, I definitely like it, but there is still so much to improve.
As long as the combat is as fun as previous Platinum games i'll be happy with that.
As i''m not expecting anything too ground breaking with this with it being a 3-4 hour digital title. Still I hope it succeeds so that we can possibly have a chance of a big budget avatar game in future even if its looking very doubtful right now with nicks current treatment of the show.
Its still a minor miracle that Nick/Activision picked a decent studio to make the game.
I trust platinum to make it fun
I'll read your post and reply more in depth. But just wanted to say I agree with you on Kai. I've come to like him a lot. But why did a new charcter need to exist when the cast is already too big and they don't have time for them? In hindsight his side plot is really fuckin bizarre in the context of the season. That they chose to have that over Zaheer. I guess I get that it's apart of the air nation plot. So maybe they needed a new main character to drive that story. But it's still strange to me why they keep adding more and more characters.
Also, I'm not sure Kai had a profound impact on the air nation plot to justify his story. Would like to hear others thoughts on this. Keep in mid I like Kai. I enjoyed his story overall. I'm just saying in the larger context I wonder if he was needed. Especially since Zaheer and his group seemed more interesting and lacked screen time.
Also, I'm not sure Kai had a profound impact on the air nation plot to justify his story. Would like to hear others thoughts on this. Keep in mid I like Kai. I enjoyed his story overall. I'm just saying in the larger context I wonder if he was needed. Especially since Zaheer and his group seemed more interesting and lacked screen time.
Can't wait. It'll be my last gaming purchase for the month.
That's probably the best way to describe Book 3 in a nutshell.
An incomplete story with pointless subplots, written well enough to enjoy.
Edit: Tak, you seem to be the biggest Kuvira supporter here. What did you think of my post on her?
Hmm could this mean that Korra will potentially be finishing up in early December.
All good things must come to an end .
All good things must come to an end .
I wonder if this is an event? If it's in LA, maybe I'll try to make it (hopefully my rotting corpse can make it).
EDIT: I went to their book signing in LA. I was able to get my books signed. Was a cool event.
Separated former swingers in a custody battle over the house and kids have more of a bond than Korra and company.
I'm sorry, but now I just read everything you say in Toph's voice, and it is hilarious.
Glad I'm not the only one.
Please. PLEASE!!!One can hope.
I really need those soundtracks man.
This is my curse.
JadedWriter
Member
I will admit Kai wasn't exactly needed in the grand scheme of the season. He's kind of just there to cause trouble in the beginning and to wind up as ship bait, but I'm kind of glad he's there. You got to see him grow up and turn into an actual honest person that eventually hits puberty and fights crime in a wing suit. It's kind of like watching what Mako must have been like as a younger kid. Mako stole and got wrapped up with the wrong people, but he eventually makes up for it in the end after meeting Korra, granted Kai seems to have better common sense regarding relationships. I will echo your sentiment though. The Z team needed their own episode just chilling out doing Red Lotus shit. There was a lot of back story that needed to be filled in. Did Ming Hua lose her arms, was she born like that? How did they all meet?
shira
Member
four part 2 hour series finale with another 2 part mid season?
Nick gonna make it a TV movie event like they did with ATLA...
lol nah. But they should have. They could have been like AVATAR FANS your favorite series is going to die, and will never come back. Might as well watch this final movie and say goodbye, and give us some ratings. Because we won't be selling this shit to another network, and there won't be anything else after this. So what do ya say, come and watch this MAJOR event.
I'm not seeing the appeal of Kuvira. I mean, she's obviously better than Unalaq, but Melon Lord was a better villain than Unalaq.
In terms of her character, while the philosophical debate of governance is genuinely compelling in a general sort of way, it's just not my field. Psychology, spirituality, character themes, worldbuilding, sociology? Sure, I'll dive into those regardless of anything else going on. Systems of Governance? Eeh....And yet, I feel like I could make a in depth argument on how TLA was an examination and ultimate denouncement of imperialism and so on... but if I were, it'd be because of how it affected the characters. Katara and Sokka's homeland was ravaged, and Aang's people genocided, and Zuko's situation was entirely because imperialism allows people like Ozai to flourish while Iroh's kindheartness was treated as weakness. It was very intricately woven into the narrative by having characters we care about directly affected by it as the basic premise of the show. For them, I'd be willing to go into uncharted territory when it's usually not my thing.
The long ass posts are back, everybody
Haha, glad to have them back.
But yeah, summarized as such: you don't like political references (I'm a sucker for them) and you don't trust that the Korra/Kuvira dynamic will play out the way it works for you, which is understandable.
We're only at the second episode and we don't really know what the conflict between Korra and Kuvira will be.
I think also that you sort-of get to hang up about plots or mythology going how you like them. I mean, of course no one likes that, but in this case, it makes you miss the real subtext behind certain episodes and characters. For example, Korra Alone wasn't about Korra's struggle to find herself or to define the Avatar, as much as It was a pure analogy for PTSD, and very well done judging by the reactions online from people who know PTSD sufferers or have it themselves. I know that isn't a grand mythological issue, at least not obviously so, but Korra's problems with her identity as the Avatar was actually the second or even third problem on Korra's mind during her journey in Korra Alone, and you missed that completely in your recap, while other reviewers picked it up immediately.
It all is a bit more complex, no doubt. Korra's PTSD is worsen by her own doubts as the Avatar, and viceversa.
EDIT: I just saw that you already addressed this issue a couple of moments ago in your response to JadedWriter haha, but yeah.
Also, I think it's clear Book 3 and Book 4 are meant to compliment each other, especially when it comes to developing characters that were introduced in Book 3, like Kai and Suyin, so I'll hold off on judging their introduction into the series, for now.
For me, Kuvira will live or die on the political plot line. If they actually do something meaningful with it, and don't skirt it to the side and make it just an evil ploy for her to have ULTIMATE power...she could be compelling.
Just on a shallow level, I dig Kuvira. I like her fighting style. I like her overall design (I kind of dig that it's not like over the top, and that she seems like a regular person). And I also like her being backed by a military.
Again, it just depends on what they do with the main plot, and what her actual motivations are that will determine (at least for me), whether she's an interesting threat or not. I don't really think she can surpass Zaheer though in terms of a physical threat. While he wasn't as technically threatening as Kuvira, his style of fighting was a ton of fun, and his Z-team was fuckin amazing (so they were such a threatening presence). And I also think, Zaheer's conviction for his philsophies also made him feel more dangerous (and we don't exactly know what Kuivara's convictions are, what she's even about, so we'll have to wait and see).
I was never the biggest fan of Mechs in Book 1. So if all this devolves into Kuvira being threatening because of mechs and technology, I'll also kind of be a bit let down (I mean on a shallow/entertainment level) I dunno.
Just on a shallow level, I dig Kuvira. I like her fighting style. I like her overall design (I kind of dig that it's not like over the top, and that she seems like a regular person). And I also like her being backed by a military.
Again, it just depends on what they do with the main plot, and what her actual motivations are that will determine (at least for me), whether she's an interesting threat or not. I don't really think she can surpass Zaheer though in terms of a physical threat. While he wasn't as technically threatening as Kuvira, his style of fighting was a ton of fun, and his Z-team was fuckin amazing (so they were such a threatening presence). And I also think, Zaheer's conviction for his philsophies also made him feel more dangerous (and we don't exactly know what Kuivara's convictions are, what she's even about, so we'll have to wait and see).
I was never the biggest fan of Mechs in Book 1. So if all this devolves into Kuvira being threatening because of mechs and technology, I'll also kind of be a bit let down (I mean on a shallow/entertainment level) I dunno.
Lol yeah I was surprised to.
I'll admit, he does cross the line sometimes into annoying territory. But mostly I like his brand of comedy.
That said, he isn't really a deep character.
That's the problem with the so called Krew as a whole...they really don't feel like a group of friends.
Comparing it to something like Persona 4 the animation or the original series where we see the characters act and bounce off one another and it's really sad. Legend of Korra is one of the few animated shows where I can say the team doesn't feel like a team at all.
Ergo, switching out Bolin for Lin probably wouldn't affect the group dynamic at all.
Eh, to be perfectly clear, I do like political intrigue, but it's more in exploring how a system of government can be used and manipulated. For that, I enjoy Game of Thrones and House of Cards. The conflict, however, seems to be asking which is a BETTER system of governance, and I don't have the knowhow of various governmental structures to say too anything too meaningfully there. I can learn if the characters know about it and act through it, but nothing of that nature has happened yet.
And you may be right in that I am looking at Korra as the Avatar first and a person second. And that might actually be the wrong way to go about it. I guess I've just gotten used to ignoring Korra's personal issues since she wasn't an interesting or likable person for so long. But they're justified now. Through the lens of PTSD, it puts Korra's episode in a different light. I like that she's struggling for self improvement. Still, the fact is that she defines herself as the avatar just as much as I do, so atleast to a large extent, I feel her learning to fulfill the role correctly ought to play a big part in her recovery.
JadedWriter
Member
Her design was actually toned down a lot to be honest. She's more distinctive (though her armor is almost TMNT Shredder like) in the initial concept design.
It's too good an idea so of course Nick will do the complete opposite.
Admiral Woofington
Member
Admittedly when Cameron's Avatar was coming out and there was a shitstorm over the name, I was a bit pissed at first. But then I realized the title made more sense for Cameron's
Her design was actually toned down a lot to be honest. She's more distinctive (though her armor is almost TMNT Shredder like) in the initial concept design.
See, that's what I'm talking about. Having her have a distinct uniform than the rest, while still maintaining a unison style, would have worked so much better and given her more of a presence. The only over the top bit here is the arm gauntlets, but that could easily be justified the same way as her shoulder armor.
I still fail to see why we couldn't have both. I seriously doubt Cameron would have lost any money over the show, and I seriously doubt people fans of the show couldn't have done a google search for the movie. Nick didn't even get threatened by Cameron, they just backed down before anything could happen.
It's still "Avatar: Legend of Korra" to me, dammit.
Admiral Woofington
Member
I know I do.
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