Support NeoGAF

[Joeytj]

I think for me, some of the plot resolutions just felt a tad bit clunky. Like, the way Lin + Toph just patch shit up. How that entire plot kind of feels glossed over. It's hard to explain. But basically, it feels like they have these "ideas"...and the ideas are kind of there, but not entirely fleshed out with depth. They are being played out, but they don't entirely connect.

I've felt that way several times in this series (mostly with Book 2), and unfortunately a bit in Book 4. Like the Vine episode last week, and how Korra finally overcame her issues. It's like..okay, well that resolution happened, but didn't feel worth the drawn out plot to get there.

It's a hard criticism to have. Because it's like, on the one hand you think the plot is taking too long to get to where it needs to be. But then you feel like the resolution feels too glossed over. It's this weird in between state. It's like with Korra. Let's say Korra HAD been healed with Toph earlier in the season. It would have felt like, that resolution felt glossed over BECAUSE of how they handled the plot up to that point (jumping around to other people, only quickly cutting back to Korra and her training and not giving us enough time to really get into her emotional state and how it's impacted her). My issue is (before someone criticizes me)...is that I don't really think the show did a good job with Korra and her emotional stuff after the fact. So they re-set the plot. They decided to extend Korra's plot for the entire season. And I never really felt like, we got good emotional scenes that really fleshed her issues out in a way that would have made it worth it. So they basically dragged it out, but squandered the time they had with it.

The other issue I've had (and I know not everyone agrees, which is fine)...I feel like this season is like spinning its wheels. Like...all these things are happening, and yet it feels like nothing is happening. Korra had her freak out, and was rock bottom. Did her training. Then realized she was still broken. So she ended up going back to Republic City, having not learned anything...or progressing at all.

Even with like everything that happened. We basically have Kuvira off in the distance, planning a future attack. Everyone is back in Republic City. It's like, where we were at the beginning, save Korra is now not broken. Obviously more things have happened (like with Bolin and Su). But just the way the pacing has been, and how they have moved (or not moved) the main plot. It feels like they are spinning wheels. It's so frustrating.



It's important. Wasn't trying to say it wasn't. Just that, I think choreography can definitely make a fight sequence rise above the production limitation. But you are right, it does lose something with the animation quality is shit. It is what it is. Sucks Nick are assholes.

I actually thought that Book 3's finale had some quality issues. Some drawings looked really janky. If you go back and watch Book 1, you can tell a massive difference with quality to detail and where they are at now. Certain elements got much worse as the show goes on. Then again, I also think some things improved a lot (Choreography for one).

Yeah, it is weird. It's like, they're doing what they're supposed to do, but our expectations are not just higher, but...different?

No, it's more like we're just too hung up sometimes here about stuff that-after a re-watch or two, and perhaps a complete re-watch of the entire season in one sit down- actually doesn't matter.

Like Kuvira. One problem is that Byran and Mike made a lot of emphasis on the "one villain per season" formula, so now we're obsessed on the villain, because the show makes a big point about him or her.

But this season, it's inverse. Bryke made the season more about Korra's journey, but designed a very cool "looking" villain in Kuvira that sets up a whole bunch of expectations that, by this time now in the season, aren't exactly met (of course, a lot of people would differ, even me) we're like "oh... so she's actually pretty one-dimensional and she's always' meant to be like this...ok", and the true focus is still Korra then. Personally, I was more excited about other aspects of the story, not really Kuvira herself. Sure, she could've been written better (still three episodes to go!), but the season is supposed to be more about Korra and wrapping up loose ends.

Not that Korra's journey doesn't make sense. The writers have handled her PTSD and overall journey a lot better than in previous seasons and deserve some praise for including that kind of message in an animated series, but it has felt stretched simply for the sake of plot, although not as tedious as the romance and character regression Korra suffered for the sake of plot in Book 2.

Overall, I still think, like I did weeks back, that Book 4 is meant to be watched all at once and not at a one episode per week pace. We'll see.

That preview though, for Episode 11,

Spoiler

"Kuvira's Gambit"

looks like it will

Spoiler

delve more into Kuvira's backstory and character, judging by moment with Baatar Jr.

She

Spoiler

does seem to care about Baatar Jr.

 

[Toa TAK]

Kuvira does have a heart. She's not completely Hitler.

nah, only 3 episodes left right? only 2 weeks till butt whoopin time.

Silence.

 

[Chariot]

Kuvira does have a heart. She's not completely Hitler.

Where. Hitler at least had a dog he genuinely loved. Kuvira probably running around choking dogs with their collars.

 

[Toa TAK]

Where. Hitler at least had a dog he genuinely loved. Kuvira probably running around choking dogs with their collars.

Yeah yeah yeah. Let's not forget what happened to that dog.

 

[Chariot]

Yeah yeah yeah. Let's not forget what happened to that dog.

He took her with him to the other side.

 

[Toa TAK]

He took her with him to the other side.

And half of Europe, too, that sweetheart.

You don't see Kuvira pulling that stunt.

 

[Hamlet]

As someone who takes senseless selfies, I 11/10 approve.

No. It's all about that slow burn, baby.

I like this. But then who is Moriarty?

Mako I suppose. Mako Slowly going insane and obsessed with Korra after she broke up with him would fit.

Where. Hitler at least had a dog he genuinely loved. Kuvira probably running around choking dogs with their collars.

Hey now that's Baatar's job.

 

[Atraveller]

And half of Europe, too, that sweetheart.

You don't see Kuvira pulling that stunt.

You sure?

 

[Toa TAK]

You sure?

Pretty sure we haven't seen her kill anyone (yet).

All she wants to do is rule an Empire, why is this so bad, people?

 

[WaLlbaNg]

Best episode of this book so far for me. Really cool combat scenes in the last third. Toph still destroys everything and the Kuvira vs Su one on one was sick.

Would've been interesting to get more information on Lin's father though. I can't even remember his name.

 

[Atraveller]

Pretty sure we haven't seen her kill anyone (yet).

All she wants to do is rule an Empire, why is this so bad, people?

She's an aggressive warmongering dictator who has set up labor camps all over the empire, very bad.

 

[Hamlet]

Pretty sure we haven't seen her kill anyone (yet).

All she wants to do is rule an Empire, why is this so bad, people?

Hasn't she started rounding up people of non Earth Kingdom origin to place in prison camps. Unless ethnic cleansing is totally ok as long as she didn't kill them.

 

[Discotheque]

Wooow, a kuvira fight is always the best among the series it looks like

 

[Timbuktu]

She's an aggressive warmongering dictator who has set up labor camps all over the empire, very bad.

We don't really get that sense of scale since the first few episodes, when the drama in Earth Kingdom focused on the Bei Fongs. I would have loved for Omashu to be at least name dropped.

 

[Chariot]

Pretty sure we haven't seen her kill anyone (yet).

All she wants to do is rule an Empire, why is this so bad, people?

Oh, you want to play that game. Sure. Hitler actually didn't kill anybody personally as far as I am aware.

Stop being the dictator defense force.

 

[Santerestil]

a kuvira fight is always the best among the series it looks like

The match with her and Korra at Metal City says F♥♥♥♥♥G WRONG!

 

[Discotheque]

The match with her and Korra at Metal City says F♥♥♥♥♥G WRONG!

You just mad ya girl got murked. It was a great fight...in the sense you were seeing such glorious moves being tested on a training dummy

She's just so efficient with the use of her armor as projectiles

 

[Phoenician_Viking]

I have re-watched the episode, and i love the spirits attitude towards Korra. They are right, and Korra is still oblivious towards the role of the spirits in the world.

 

[Phaethon0017]

The match with her and Korra at Metal City says F♥♥♥♥♥G WRONG!

Yeah, that whole sequence of events was the reason I hadn't caught up until today. I do appreciate the parallel of making Korra's spirit stronger by having her be physically useless but they took their sweet time making that interesting.

Would have much rather seen Toph tear her down, but latest episode even diminished the impact that would have had. Curious how things will play out.

 

[Astral Dog]

I don't what it is but I just can't buy Kuvira as this really powerful badass bender, I can't explain but it just feels like she's swaggering around and acting a lot stronger than she actually is.

Even though she beat Su and is clearly portrayed as highly skilled I just can't buy it for some reason.

I just keep imagining Azula getting in Kuvira's face, home girl would get the brakes beat off her.

Kuviras power changes for plot reasons, (or the others become weaker?) im waiting for her to give Korra the battle of her life.
She is at the level of one member of team Zaheer, i think.

 

[Icyflamez96]

.

 

[Hero Prinny]

I liked the new episode. It was pretty obvious that Lee didn't betray her boss tho so that coming from a mile away. Also I don't enjoy the romance in LoK or the last airbender. Its just so fucking cheesy and cringe worthy IMO. Wish they'd just cut that shit out completely. Also wish toph wouldve went ham and fucked everyone up but nooo we need to let crappy ass Korra do it cause I mean, that's why she exist, I guess.

Where. Hitler at least had a dog he genuinely loved. Kuvira probably running around choking dogs with their collars.

<3333

 

[Kinvara]

INITIATING KUVIRA-BOT EMOTIONAL RESPONSE.

FILE NOT FOUND.

REBOOTING HITLER.EXE

Pretty much.

 

[A Human Becoming]

Did Bolin ask Lin about her dad before or was Bolin just being incredibly inappropriate?

 

[E the Shaggy]

I think one of the biggest disappointments of the series on a whole has been the fallout from the season 2 finale. I felt that integrating the spirit world and the physical one was going to be this huge deal, changing almost every single aspect of the show moving forward.

Now, the spirits are just relegated to background noise. They hardly matter at all, outside from the mcguffin of the spirit tree, but you didn't actually need the two worlds to be integrated for it to be used.

 

[Kasumin]

you can give as many reasons as you want to try and justify it and all I hear/read is

"If she fought, it would make the rest of the characters look boring and unnecessary. Because that doesn't happen everytime Mama Korra has to save everybody when they all become incompetent within a certain radius near her"

Also wish toph wouldve went ham and fucked everyone up but nooo we need to let crappy ass Korra do it cause I mean, that's why she exist, I guess.

<3333

I can understand people being annoyed by Toph choosing to not fight. But I don't think this can really be something to blame the writers over. The idea of the older generation stepping back and letting the younger generation solve their own problems is pretty common in just about any series like this.

I mean, you may as well ask why Obi Wan didn't defeat Darth Vader in episode 4 of Star Wars. Say what you will about Korra, but it's been pretty clear from the get-go that she has to be the one to defeat Kuvira since she is the main character. It's a narrative convention, and I don't think the writers following that convention indicates a problem with the show's writing.

 

[Mononoke]

TAK, I have Halo MCC again. Tried to play it last night at midnight, still couldn't get into a match after 40 min. SMH.

But if you ever want to play with me, let me know (PM me since I'll probably be on PS4 playing Far Cry 4).

 

[Toa TAK]

She's an aggressive warmongering dictator who has set up labor camps all over the empire, very bad.

Hasn't she started rounding up people of non Earth Kingdom origin to place in prison camps. Unless ethnic cleansing is totally ok as long as she didn't kill them.

It is. Especially if Kuvira is doing it. It's not like they're suffering.

Oh, you want to play that game. Sure. Hitler actually didn't kill anybody personally as far as I am aware.

Stop being the dictator defense force.

I don't see Kuvira getting a suicide club together . 3:

TAK, I have Halo MCC again. Tried to play it last night at midnight, still couldn't get into a match after 40 min. SMH.

But if you ever want to play with me, let me know (PM me since I'll probably be on PS4 playing Far Cry 4).

Sweet. We should hook up Sunday.

 

[Mononoke]

It is. Especially if Kuvira is doing it. It's not like they're suffering.

I don't see Kuvira getting a suicide club together . 3:

Sweet. We should hook up Sunday.

I'm down. We need to play a lot. Been wanting to play Halo, also play witchu.

 

[Toa TAK]

I'm down. We need to play a lot. Been wanting to play Halo, also play witchu.

<333

But seriously. Halo.

 

[Mononoke]

<333

But seriously. Halo.

I hope we can play. Don't know why its' still having issues. Like I said, even last night at midnight I couldn't get into a match. It seems like it's still off and on. The other day I could get into matches pretty quickly. So just depends.

 

[Toa TAK]

I hope we can play. Don't know why its' still having issues. Like I said, even last night at midnight I couldn't get into a match. It seems like it's still off and on. The other day I could get into matches pretty quickly. So just depends.

It really does. Which is a bummer because when it works, it's golden. But until it's patched up I've just been switching between COD and campaign.

 

[Mass Effect]

Kuviras a filler villian. Just token antagonist to provide something for Korra to be worried about. Zaheer was much better, even though they didn't explore his full potential.

Horrible.

I agree with you on Zaheer. He was far more interesting even if they really didn't go very far with him (I blame the short seasons). But damn if he wasn't the most bullshit OP bender in all of the Avatar-verse. Ridiculous.

Kuvira is so damn dull in comparison. Boring typical military dictator who isn't even that great at bending.

 

[Mononoke]

It really does. Which is a bummer because when it works, it's golden. But until it's patched up I've just been switching between COD and campaign.

I think I'm going to buy COD then. So we can just play that. I'll prob get it today.

 

[Toa TAK]

I think I'm going to buy COD then. So we can just play that. I'll prob get it today.

Do it. At least we're guaranteed a game in that.

Plus I can show off my Metal Clan emblem.

 

[Mononoke]

Do it. At least we're guaranteed a game in that.

Plus I can show off my Metal Clan emblem.

Okay will do. I actually really liked the new COD. So I can't wait to play it with ya. Should be fun. Can we share emblems? Or would I just have to re-make that emblem for myself? Would be cool to both have the same emblem. THE GREAT UNITER!

 

[Toa TAK]

Okay will do. I actually really liked the new COD. So I can't wait to play it with ya. Should be fun.

I'm pumped for Sunday, baby.

Edit: YES matching emblems!

Kuvira is so damn dull in comparison. Boring typical military dictator who isn't even that great at bending.

TAKE THAT BACK.

 

[Loofy]

Kuviras the lamest metal bender holy shit.

outplayed so hard with these moves.

She still won though. Kuvira's basically spiderman.

One thing I dont get about this whole medal bending is why cant they just use each other armor to kill each other.

 

[CDiggity]

Cause we need more flippy shit. Kids love the flippy shit.

Don't bring logic into this.

 

[m_shortpants]

TAK, I have Halo MCC again. Tried to play it last night at midnight, still couldn't get into a match after 40 min. SMH.

But if you ever want to play with me, let me know (PM me since I'll probably be on PS4 playing Far Cry 4).

Have you tried co-op yet? I beat the game last night but I still have a ton of outposts to take.

 

[Toa TAK]

Oh my God, I can't stop watching that gif.

 

[victreeb3l]

Fuck man, that choreography in the last 10 minutes of the episode were absolutely incredible. Ninja Su's movements and design is just so badass. Seems like the only thing Kuvira has on Su is youth. Otherwise Su would have wrecked.

Loved seeing the Beifong reunion. "Hey chief" "Hey chief". Thats amazing. I feel bad for Toph but I hope she shows herself once in a while. Shes still got so much power.

Loved that line at the end to. "At some point, you gotta leave it to the kids"

Great, great episode.

From the looks of it, is Lin the better Earth bender and Su the better Metal bender? Or is Su just superior in every way?

 

[Admiral Woofington]

I think I'm going to buy COD then. So we can just play that. I'll prob get it today.

Off topic but I generally never comment about your avatars. Besides this one. Good show. Favorite Miyazaki movie.

 

[Astral Dog]

She still won though. Kuvira's basically spiderman.

One thing I dont get about this whole medal bending is why cant they just use each other armor to kill each other.

That would be gross.

 

[Toa TAK]

Just watched commentary for book 3's finale, and they talked about the Zaheer sock gag:

"We weren't sure if it was going to work because this was so intense --but it works."

Save Kuvira from Bryke.

 

[Admiral Woofington]

Just watched commentary for book 3's finale, and they talked about the Zaheer sock gag:

"We weren't sure if it was going to work because this was so intense --but it works."

Save Kuvira from Bryke.

they did the same with Ozai, don't know why you're surprised. The only reason they didn't do it with S1 and S2 finale is because the events leading up to the finale itself was the joke

 

[XAL]

That would be gross.

 

[Bit-Bit]

An Avatar show from the perspective of a side character would be really cool. Then in the last season, there's a major timejump, and the previous avatar is dead and the new one is born, so our side character protagonist is kinda like Toph or Katara. They're old and passing on their wisdom, but still having really cool adventures.

The Legend of Aang is from the perspective of Katara I think. It's how she perceives Aang and helps him on his journey to end the 100 year war. Legend of Korra should have picked up with Katara following Korra on her journey. Damn missed opportunity. Though I relished her episode with Korra this season.

 

[WrenchNinja]

.

I enjoyed this immensely. Thank you for this.

 

[Veelk]

She still won though. Kuvira's basically spiderman.

One thing I dont get about this whole medal bending is why cant they just use each other armor to kill each other.

I think you are severely underestimating the durability of rib cages, especially in a universe where people can shrug off boulders thrown at high velocities.