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Legend of Korra Book 4: Balance |OT| A Feast of Crows
- Thread starter Satch
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D1renegade
Member
Spot on
Yeah, basically this. I'm actually very happy the swamp arc wasn't the end of her development this season, and they didnt just sweep evil Korra under the rug. The swamp arc remains important, but its just not the whole story.
Another enjoyable episode. I wish they showed more of the army actually taking the city - rather than just having them auto-win when Korra escaped. Also not really sure why Kuvira wanted to kill Korra, seemed unnecessary.
My one complaint remains that Kuvira is inconsistent - at times a evil dictator, at times having a legitimate point.
Brawndo Addict
Banned
Varrick with the redemptive suicide plan.
What's weird is that Batar junior is apparently smart enough to replicate the project from memory but he couldn't notice Varrick was building a bomb? He even says at one point the energy is being redirected to the train and thinks nothing of it.
What's weird is that Batar junior is apparently smart enough to replicate the project from memory but he couldn't notice Varrick was building a bomb? He even says at one point the energy is being redirected to the train and thinks nothing of it.
JadedWriter
Member
It would also cement Toph as a worse parent than Ozai or at the very least give him a decent challenge.
Yes Opal, the pityful peacekeepers are nothing for you. Make your own corps, filled with crimson rage!
"With blood and rage of lotus red,
Ripped from a corpse so freshly dead,
Together with our hellish hate,
We'll burn Kuvira--that is your fate!"
Yeah, that episode sucked on almost all levels. Korras progression was totally useless. The fight was very unimpressive. As people said Korras performance wasn't near the level of the higher level benders in ATLA. Also Kuvira was so super evil again, despite having lots of valid points. Jesus, I can't route for Korra, I just can't.
Then Varrick. My god. This could've been very funny, if they weren't constantly driving the points in. Varrick realizing that he misses Zhu Li was so far shoved in my throat, I couldn't even throw up anymore and the Bataars decision to let Varrick continue to work at the bomb was stupid. A scientist can do what he want, even if you force him to explain something. If you don't completely understand what he does, this is for naught. Why didn't they let Zhu Li work at this from the very beginning. Varrick may be the creative brain, but Zhu Li should've known enough of the bomb at this point to at least try to work on it.
But at least he actually blew the wagon up.
There is nothing inconsistent about that. What do you think of the rise of various historical dictators?
This fuckin episode.
All this "peace" crap is so ridiculous. Kuvira is clearly an aggressor in that she won't accept someone from not agreeing to her take over. It's either you agree to my terms, or I will invade and take you over. Okay, lol so that in itself is aggression. So Korra's "peace" stuff was pretty aggravating. The stuff with her and Opal in the beginning....I just wanted to smack Korra and Jinora.
Also, lol at Su trying to assassinate Kuvira.
"you want to fight the avatar, let's finish right here, and right now"
*gets Rekt*
The cringe is so strong.
Yeah...I'll only use the Avatar state as a last resort. Oh god this is just too much. This fuckin show.
Bataar is such a joke. His evil caricature is so lame. No build up, and the level of his evil is almost laughable. It's hard to take any of his scenes seriously. LOL the only good part about this episode was Varrik and his remote.
Also lol with how much power Opal and Jinora could do with that insane air bending...why didn't they just bring back all the air benders to make a wall, and just make a massive tornado to FUCK the army up. I mean, just two of them rekt shit. lol
I honestly kind of hated that episode. We got some action, but it was all pretty predictable. It was pretty much the typical, Korra gets bested in the early plot against the villain. Only to rise up in the back half. I just feel like, we are in the final season already. We already had the entire plot drag on where Korra was weak. We had her go though the training and get the "poison" out (all of this was in the first 4 episodes, where the plot didn't really move). So I was really hoping they would do something different here, and not have her get rekt. That the fight would be a tie, or something else would have happened that made the fight break up.
Just anything then what we got. Because honestly, this was just more stalling of the plot. There is still not much going on. We are basically where we were at last week. Actually we are two steps back. We are back to Korra being haunted and weak...again. So we have to go through another 3-4 episodes of her figuring out what's wrong *groan*
Bleh, this season. Starting to get a bit iffy on it. I mean, no episode has been bad per se. Every episode is good. But like the overall season stepping back so far, I'm not really digging it.
Legit, Varrik was the only good thing about this episode. Also lol at Chariot still thinking Opal is evil. That boat has sailed. You should just accept your L on that bet.
All this "peace" crap is so ridiculous. Kuvira is clearly an aggressor in that she won't accept someone from not agreeing to her take over. It's either you agree to my terms, or I will invade and take you over. Okay, lol so that in itself is aggression. So Korra's "peace" stuff was pretty aggravating. The stuff with her and Opal in the beginning....I just wanted to smack Korra and Jinora.
Also, lol at Su trying to assassinate Kuvira.
"you want to fight the avatar, let's finish right here, and right now"
*gets Rekt*
The cringe is so strong.
Yeah...I'll only use the Avatar state as a last resort. Oh god this is just too much. This fuckin show.
Bataar is such a joke. His evil caricature is so lame. No build up, and the level of his evil is almost laughable. It's hard to take any of his scenes seriously. LOL the only good part about this episode was Varrik and his remote.
Also lol with how much power Opal and Jinora could do with that insane air bending...why didn't they just bring back all the air benders to make a wall, and just make a massive tornado to FUCK the army up. I mean, just two of them rekt shit. lol
I honestly kind of hated that episode. We got some action, but it was all pretty predictable. It was pretty much the typical, Korra gets bested in the early plot against the villain. Only to rise up in the back half. I just feel like, we are in the final season already. We already had the entire plot drag on where Korra was weak. We had her go though the training and get the "poison" out (all of this was in the first 4 episodes, where the plot didn't really move). So I was really hoping they would do something different here, and not have her get rekt. That the fight would be a tie, or something else would have happened that made the fight break up.
Just anything then what we got. Because honestly, this was just more stalling of the plot. There is still not much going on. We are basically where we were at last week. Actually we are two steps back. We are back to Korra being haunted and weak...again. So we have to go through another 3-4 episodes of her figuring out what's wrong *groan*
Bleh, this season. Starting to get a bit iffy on it. I mean, no episode has been bad per se. Every episode is good. But like the overall season stepping back so far, I'm not really digging it.
Legit, Varrik was the only good thing about this episode. Also lol at Chariot still thinking Opal is evil. That boat has sailed. You should just accept your L on that bet.
Let's not forget that Korra haas saved the world twice. S2 and S3 are world tier threats.
@NeoGAFNoContext
Supermanisdead
Member
agreed azula. this whole thing is so laughably immature. of course kuvira is evil, of course she wants to build a nuke, of course korra loses her first fight against kuvira, of course of course of course.
there's no interesting protagonists to make up for the one dimensional villains and it all becomes dull.
there's no interesting protagonists to make up for the one dimensional villains and it all becomes dull.
It's all just kind of boring. Like everything is falling into place in a perfect formula we have already seen and done a million times already. Doesn't help that in the overall context of what this season has done so far (stepping back and looking at the bigger picture) it's all just kind of....meh and moving very slowly. I feel like we are running in place here. And I'm really not looking forward to them dragging out the "korra" is weak and broken plot some more, before she finally finds herself. I mean...c'mon.
And like you said, none of the characters are really that interesting. I think, I liked Kuvira in concept (like her design, and her bending style). But I'm actually coming to dislike her the more the plot goes on. She really has no depth to her at all, and her evil to be evil personality is kind of grating (doesn't help that they are using Bataar too). Gah.
BRYKE - YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE THE CHOSEN ONE
Varrik is the only real star of this season at this point. That dude gives no fucks. He's great. And even he, you could argue was kind of handled poorly. Dude had no issue being immoral before, but....what is this, this...this beating in his chest. He has a heart. And..a conscience. I mean, that was used for a joke. It was kind of funny. But in terms of the character swerving to be good, it was kind of just like...he's going to be good because we need him to be good. Okay. But at least he's funny in his scenes. I thought the whole sub plot with him with the remote was the only thing good about the episode (even if it was kind of a throwaway plot that didn't add anything.)
WhereAreMahDragonz
Banned
It'd been great Korra just gave it to Kuvira and knocked her out. Would have been a great "Avatar is back bitches!" moment. She ended up doing some of the most basic bending I've seen in the entire series. And yeah, Opal/Jinorah with the OP tornado. Korra, you should be able to do that without the avatar state.
Yeah, Kuvira was just standing here, ready to push the counter button.
Yeah that is what kind of bugs me too about all of this. Like, I get Korra was broken. But you really telling me she is bending worse than a beginning bender? lmao Those bending moves were a joke. I could totally buy the fact that, the poison in her body blocked her chi paths or some shit, so she physically is weaker. Like her ability to actually access the bending is weakened.
I guess if they are still going with the plot that she has metal still in her that they didn't get out, it would explain it. Gah. Does anyone really want more episodes of Korra finding herself...before getting rid of the last metal in her body? AKA the plot from episodes 1-4 again, repeated.
And if she doesn't have the metal in her body anymore, and she's just "messed up" emotionally...well then the fuck that explain that amateur bending hour.
I don't have the time to do a full reply, but I want to just note how horrible the action choreography was. Like, the actual creativity of it wasn't completely awful, but it was sooooooooooo slooooooooow. And it didn't help that it was all long distance, so rarely were Kuvira and Korra on the same screenshot. THe whole right was: Korra throws Element, Kuvira blocks it. Kuvira throws element, Korra gets hit. Then repeat that 24 times.
If there is one thing I thought Korra would know how to do, it'd be fight.
If there is one thing I thought Korra would know how to do, it'd be fight.
Varrick's role this season should have been Asami's
but heaven forbid asami have plot relevance
Admiral Woofington
Member
Some comments on the episode:
- Even with all of the internal struggle I still preferred watching Aang fight 99% of the time. Being an airbender in a world without them he had an advantage that most didn't know what to expect or how to fight them, so it was interesting to see it. Though to be fair most of his battles were retreats as he only truly fought somebody when he finally got the resolve. But say on his encounter with Sparky Sparky Boom Man and using the air to divert the explosion? That was great. Still the point is I don't like how Korra fights when compared to the airbending Aang. And yeah get rekt.
- Definitely looked like Zhu Li was trying to hide her pain from hearing that Varrick was supposedly dead. I'm still pretty damn sure she's going to help with building the bombs but somehow sabotage the experiment or make a counter against it. She hasn't Zhu Li'd Varrick just yet.
- Gotta say the dynamic of Bolin and Varrick might be the best way to make Bolin shine as a humorous character. Put him alongside the humorous crazy scientist. Bolin is better as a reactionary comedian, saying pitiful things like "but I like my hands, can we at least have breakfast first? While we still have hands?". Also their dynamic worked very well. Good guy Varrick looking at him with a calm smile like "I got this" was awesome he should have been a good guy from the start. And Bolin figuring out a way to escape the explosion? Good thinking on your feet. Now they're dead as far as the enemy knows so they have the element of surprise.
- Kuvira seems to have a bit of Azula in her, slight mocking of the enemy throughout a battle to distract them while still capable to kick some ass. To be fair current state Korra wasn't much of a fight. Still this added a bit to her character that she needed. Also what was the point of lying to Opal that Bolin was on her side? That's just the writers adding more tension to the situation. Poor Bolin gonna have to explain himself now lol
- Well at least the show isn't following what I thought would happen. Not necessarily a good thing as my ideas were ideas as to ways to correctly utilize Bolin's character to show growth. But he has shown growth in a different manner, just not nearly as much. So he wasn't taken to the reeducation camp. I guess they didn't feel like brainwashing again after AtlA. That's good though, by next episode or the one after that they'll probably have met up with the krew again.
Over-all a solid episode but once again I find myself more entertained by everybody else but Korra in terms of capabilities. Which was the same issue as season 2 where the scenes where Korra wasn't involved were the best for me. So yeah, personally I'd suggest you fix that shit. The titular character shouldn't be the lowest entertainment factor in a show.
- Even with all of the internal struggle I still preferred watching Aang fight 99% of the time. Being an airbender in a world without them he had an advantage that most didn't know what to expect or how to fight them, so it was interesting to see it. Though to be fair most of his battles were retreats as he only truly fought somebody when he finally got the resolve. But say on his encounter with Sparky Sparky Boom Man and using the air to divert the explosion? That was great. Still the point is I don't like how Korra fights when compared to the airbending Aang. And yeah get rekt.
- Definitely looked like Zhu Li was trying to hide her pain from hearing that Varrick was supposedly dead. I'm still pretty damn sure she's going to help with building the bombs but somehow sabotage the experiment or make a counter against it. She hasn't Zhu Li'd Varrick just yet.
- Gotta say the dynamic of Bolin and Varrick might be the best way to make Bolin shine as a humorous character. Put him alongside the humorous crazy scientist. Bolin is better as a reactionary comedian, saying pitiful things like "but I like my hands, can we at least have breakfast first? While we still have hands?". Also their dynamic worked very well. Good guy Varrick looking at him with a calm smile like "I got this" was awesome he should have been a good guy from the start. And Bolin figuring out a way to escape the explosion? Good thinking on your feet. Now they're dead as far as the enemy knows so they have the element of surprise.
- Kuvira seems to have a bit of Azula in her, slight mocking of the enemy throughout a battle to distract them while still capable to kick some ass. To be fair current state Korra wasn't much of a fight. Still this added a bit to her character that she needed. Also what was the point of lying to Opal that Bolin was on her side? That's just the writers adding more tension to the situation. Poor Bolin gonna have to explain himself now lol
- Well at least the show isn't following what I thought would happen. Not necessarily a good thing as my ideas were ideas as to ways to correctly utilize Bolin's character to show growth. But he has shown growth in a different manner, just not nearly as much. So he wasn't taken to the reeducation camp. I guess they didn't feel like brainwashing again after AtlA. That's good though, by next episode or the one after that they'll probably have met up with the krew again.
Over-all a solid episode but once again I find myself more entertained by everybody else but Korra in terms of capabilities. Which was the same issue as season 2 where the scenes where Korra wasn't involved were the best for me. So yeah, personally I'd suggest you fix that shit. The titular character shouldn't be the lowest entertainment factor in a show.
Astral Dog
Member
Kuvira is
what a twist!
Ozai reincarnated
This entire season is all about being sloooooooooooow.
I think the writers forgot that slow build up only works if you know how to write characters, and deep character driven plot. So far I'm not seeing that. So it's not like there is going to be any pay off in the back half. Like, all of this is going to build toward this incredible pay off.
I just hope they get a fire lit under their ass, and start to ratchet stuff up. Because let's be real, this season's plot is going to be shallow. So at the very least, we deserve a good show. We deserved to be entertained.
Phoenician_Viking
Banned
I can´t stand seeing Meelo on screen anymore.
shira
Member
With Mako as Zhu Li? OMG Makuvira is real
I enjoyed fart bending. His current form is stupid.
Moral Panic
Member
What else is the Avatar supposed to be? A lilly-livered diplomat? The Avatar brings balance BY FORCE. Why does Korra have to use a deu ex machina in order to win? Why can't they just write the story in a way that doesn't pit the goddamn Avatar in a 1v1 fair fight with someone, and then have her LOSE? It's not like Kuveira brought out some special hidden blade or anything unexpected at all. Korra just got rekt.
As regards ATLA, Aang's personal feelings getting in the way was silly, but the character was a child who was constantly shown to have very strong emotions towards Katara. And the deus ex at the end of ATLA is nothing against the constant use of that and worse plot devices in LOK.
I know it seems like I am constantly complaining but they seriously created an awesome fantasy world with ATLA and now they seem completely lost.
With her hair down and how her personality and motivation is being presented she surely comes off like a female Ozai. Like a femzai.
Admiral Woofington
Member
I think we can all agree that it's a very slow fucking season. Korra doesn't need more fucking episodes of discovering herself. Remember how many episodes Aang truly needed of a resolve to defeat Ozai? It was all in the finale special. So technically we didn't have to fucking wait over and over again week after week. And then he fought. Fucking A.
Korra has her strong points but I can say with confidence that I preferred Aang infinitely as a protagonist. The writers have been fumbling all season. Sure the season came out right after the previous one, probably had a huge part to do with it. But that's the legacy of this show. It just looks like they lost passion for story telling. I can't in good conscience recommend this show to people. I would tell them "if you don't mind the visual hiccups here and there go watch AtlA instead"
Korra has her strong points but I can say with confidence that I preferred Aang infinitely as a protagonist. The writers have been fumbling all season. Sure the season came out right after the previous one, probably had a huge part to do with it. But that's the legacy of this show. It just looks like they lost passion for story telling. I can't in good conscience recommend this show to people. I would tell them "if you don't mind the visual hiccups here and there go watch AtlA instead"
Miles Quaritch
Member
Fantastic episode, loved every second of it.
Completely lost it at this...
Amazing.
Completely lost it at this...
Amazing.
I still like 1st grade Meelo. I despise puberty Meelo. His outbursts are so awkward.
This season does feel like a by the numbers rendition of avatar. Even Season 2 for all the terrible illogical moments had more soul and spunk than this season. The avatar series shouldn't be ending on a whimper.
It just all feels like a retread. Each episode itself is fine. They are all quality and much better than Book 2s first half (in terms of the writing structure and just being competent). I even think each episode itself is enjoyable. I'm just losing patience with where the overall season is going. What they have already told plot wise (how they told it).
And I just think what they are covering right now isn't all that interesting. Or at least the way they are telling it isn't an interesting take on it. Also sorry Toa TAK...Kuvira is becoming less and less interesting as an antagonist.
JadedWriter
Member
Kuvira is straight up Sith Lord.
I think the problem with the avatar concept in general, which someone mentioned a week or so ago, is that it's pretty much OP. It worked in ATLA because Ozai was also going to have a power up from the comet so he could actually give aang a little bit of work but outside of that, nobody is really going to give someone who can bend all 4 elements at will, problems. We haven't even added in the Avatar state yet which basically puts them on a whole another level power wise. They wrote themselves into a corner with this concept. Fight scenes like the one we got in this episode had to be "plot nerfed" because we already know she can take Kuvira.
Also speaking of it, Aang's fighting style was always a reactionary and retreat style of fighting. Like literally 90 percent of his fights were just him "defending" himself and dodging everything and throwing a counter here and there. The only thing I really liked about his fight scenes were the different ways he threw someone's bending back at them in some way. Other then that, Korra is honestly more interesting. I'm interested in where they are going to go with this now that the poison is out.
Also speaking of it, Aang's fighting style was always a reactionary and retreat style of fighting. Like literally 90 percent of his fights were just him "defending" himself and dodging everything and throwing a counter here and there. The only thing I really liked about his fight scenes were the different ways he threw someone's bending back at them in some way. Other then that, Korra is honestly more interesting. I'm interested in where they are going to go with this now that the poison is out.
Admiral Woofington
Member
I get that Kuvira is the Avatar version of Stalin. I really get that. But I really wish they would move the plot along to something more interesting. Now that she has full control of the earth kingdom I just want a non-stop war. Make this shit interesting. The united forces vs the earth kingdom.
She's such an amateur.
Kuvira just needs to react to Korra and punish accordingly. Korra's ability to fight in general is seriously disappointing.
I'm assuming she will say that Republic City is earth kingdom territory and isn't soverign land. She'll argue it was land stolen from the kingdom and will be brought back under the empire.
So her final move will be marching the army towards Republic City to take it back. I'm assuming this is the end game conflict.
Edit: also Chariot should just accept his L on the Opal is evil bet. That ship sailed!
Yeah, this was the episode to give Korra her turn around. Next episode is going to be her recovering from her ass-kicking and being all moody. Kuvira is losing steam too, mostly because we haven't seen anyone capable of giving her a challenge. She needs her jimmies rustled stat.
JadedWriter
Member
Yeah she's pretty reactionary while fighting Korra. She looked really light on her feet. I was like, "Kuvira moves like an airbender more than Korra does" while watching them fight. She glides around, even her stance changing was precise and smooth.
Which makes no sense. Korra has always been a bruiser. With all her training from an early age (she's actually the earliest an Avatar has been trained) -- she should be a highly skilled physical fighter. Her bending and physical attacks should be tend folds stronger than Aang (who would have been more like Zaheer and strategic over physical). And yet her bending and fighting has always been inconsistent in this series.
JadedWriter
Member
I think it's because she has always brute strengthed her way through her fighting. She's not a master of any of the elements so I don't think she's really grasped any of the nuance or forms from any specific element.
They pretty much dropped the ball on making the rest of world governments a factor. The only thing that will be "interesting" is how Korra regains her mojo and how Asami kicks ass.
Korra's always been less effective when she's full of herself. She also just recently got rid of the mercury, and so she hasn't been training at optimal levels for the past couple of years.
Season isn't over yet.
Yeah I mean I get that to an extent. But she should still be pretty damn good still. Her brute approach should be a flaw and a downfall. But shouldn't define her overall ability to even fight. Rather her aggressive approach should sometimes not be what was right for the situation. Her fighting should still be competent.
I'm assuming there is still metal in her body so they are saying that her chi paths are fucked. Because her bending today was worse than beginner tier bending. Which makes Kuviras fighting kind of awkward. Like the fight felt slowed down to match Korra. In reality Kuvira should have been much stronger. Either that or Kuvira really isn't that strong. Because beginner tier Korra didn't get entirely decimated.
JadedWriter
Member
Don't worry about it Toa, Kuvira is all about the nuance, she's fine, just evil.
lol such nuance. At the rate they are going, we gon find she got two split personalities.
Atraveller
Banned
Went to see Interstellar instead of Korra, I take it you guys don't like the new episode that much?
I mean, it was fine as a stand alone episode. I think just a few of us are getting a bit fed up with how this season is unfolding (the overall pacing, and how the story is being told...and what is being told).
Episode itself is fine. You should enjoy it. I think it was good. I just am losing patience in the overall season perspective.
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