Legend of Korra Book 4: Balance |OT| A Feast of Crows

Status
Not open for further replies.
This is kind of a rude assumption to make.

Two friends becoming lovers is an appealing idea to a lot of people. This isn't something exclusive to either homosexual or heterosexual relationships.

Wait is this really that much of a rare thing that it needs to be pointed out? I'm just recently realizing that there are a lot of people that find the thought of going out with someone who has already been their friend for a while weird. The only people I've ever liked like that have been my friend for an extended period of time. I've heard multiple people over the past few months say something like "she's like my best friend, I can't go out with her." lolwut.

When it comes to a narrative perspective, people being genuine friends BEFORE liking each other feels much more natural and easy to watch than this love at first sight BS. Jinora and Kai, and also Bolin and Opal annoyed the heck out of me when I first saw it. I liked how it was done with Mako and Asami though.
 
Wait is this really that much of a rare thing that it needs to be pointed out? I'm just recently realizing that there are a lot of people that find the thought of going out with someone who has already been their friend for a while weird. The only people I've ever liked like that have been my friend for an extended period of time. I've heard multiple people over the past few months say something like "she's like my best friend, I can't go out with her." lolwut.

When it comes to a narrative perspective, people being genuine friends BEFORE liking each other feels much more natural and easy to watch than this love at first sight BS. Jinora and Kai, and also Bolin and Opal annoyed the heck out of me when I first saw it. I liked how it was done with Mako and Asami though.

The issue is, when you start dating a friend there becomes that progression where your feelings start to turn romantic. And you decide to take that relationship in that direction. In any story, there needs to be a proper foundation for it and then follow through.

I would say at this point in the plot, you could argue that Korra and Asami's deep friendship is the foundation. Fine. But I don't think 2 episodes is enough follow through. We really didn't have the plot that showed them realizing they had romantic feelings for one another. We never saw those feelings change. People are just pointing towards Korra and Asami becoming close friends, and saying THOSE are times when they realized their feelings changed. And I think that's a big stretch.

You are right, romance in these kind of stories often are based on attraction (like Kai and Jinora). But are you really going to tell me, that the Asami x Korra friendship was even handled that well? They spent all of Book 2 apart. They had one time hanging out shooting the shit talking crap on Mako which made them become best friends. They had some time together in Book 3, but nothing deep. And in fact, most of Book 3 they weren't even together. Book 4 Korra was gone for 3 years without seeing her.

So really, even on the friend level, it's not like they did a good job building that up. But okay. We are to accept based on Korra confiding in Asami (and only her), that they have this really deep friendship that grew over time. But I'm still not seeing the proper build up from friend to romantic.

You think they can do that it in a single episode, and make it feel right?
 
If Bryke 100% wanted Korra and Asami to be lovers, but knew they couldn't. So instead of fleshing it out and building it up, they danced around it by instead establishing a close friendship plot, and then decided to drop it in the last 20 min of the series. I could understand that. I mean, especially if they wanted it, but couldn't. Like they decided around Book 2 they were going to do it, but couldn't because of the push back.
If the writers/creators did that I'd be 100% fine with it. The problem I have is when people take characters that are not their own and try to twist them to suit their own personal desires. I've never understood the need some people have to ship. I've come to hate shipping because it inevitably shits up discussion.
 
lol, honestly like I said earlier though.

It's like, Bryke has done such a shit job with writing. Look at all the Deus Ex they've used. Look at all the short cuts they've taken. There is a long list of things these writers have done poorly.

So it's like, is it really that bad if they got these two together? No. If I didn't feel that Korra's plot makes more sense being single (which I still really strongly believe)...I wouldn't even be arguing here. I would say, the friendship with Korra and Asami is enough of a jumping off point, that they could transition into lovers.

I don't think it's the right thing for the character (given what they've done with her, and the plot up to this point). But as I said earlier, with all the bullshit Bryke has done, I really don't think this should be what we put our foot down.

I hope if it does happen, Bryke had genuine intentions, and aren't just giving shippers what they want. But I suppose that is always something you can't ever really know. Just have to have faith, and give them the benefit of the doubt. Plus, i still think Trey makes a good argument about, how if they really did want this, they would have had pushback. So, they wouldn't have been able to flesh it out, or build it up. It's not possible. It's kind of sad. But it's true. Gay couples in a kids show, aren't allowed to have a proper story fleshed out.

So in that sense, you can't blame them if that's what they really wanted. They did the best they could.

EDIT: So I guess I've changed my position. I think Trey made a good point.
 
To be honest I've been saying from day one that I don't really buy that Asami has any reason to be friends with these people.
I've actually always thought she felt incredibly tacked on. She still does to me.

In regards to shipping and such I'm still hoping for the "everyone ends up alone" ending that some of us cynics have floated.
 
To be honest I've been saying from day one that I don't really buy that Asami has any reason to be friends with these people.

Let's see, there's the ex-boyfriend that cheated on her twice with the same person, his brother that's always making lame jokes, but I guess she has had some bonding with him, like the time they played a board game, and the person her boyfriend cheated on with. but is now her bff.

Like, I can see a case with Mako, but Bolin and Korra are for the most part fine.
 
gentlemen (and gentlewomen),

it's been a pleasure, a privilege, and an honor to ride this ship with you all.

-Nearer-my-God-to-Thee---music-sheet-replica.jpg

:'(
 
To be honest I've been saying from day one that I don't really buy that Asami has any reason to be friends with these people.

Well yeah, that's kind of my problem with this. Like, Asami being friends with Korra never made sense to begin with (let alone the group). The way they had her react (or rather not react) to Korra stealing her boyfriend (and her boyfriend cheating on her)....is kind of crazy. She had almost no emotion to it.

Then they spent like an entire season with her not even being around them. Korra and Asami being "besties" felt tacked on to me as well. But I was willing to roll with it, given that i think Asami and Korra had good chemistry, and I think Asami needed some way to be involved. Granted, it didn't make sense to me, for Asami to jump into being best friends with her so quickly after all that happened.

But then I think, yeah this is a show with 13 episodes, and writers that don't know how to develop characters. lol

The only thing we know romance wise, is that Mako and Asami have had feelings in the past. They actually wanted each other. They wanted to date again in Book 2, but Korra ruined it with her amnesia. And that's it. There has been no romance plot with Korra/Mako or Asami since Book 2. We were just left off with Mako and Asami wanting to date, but it not happening because of Korra's memory.
 
To be honest I've been saying from day one that I don't really buy that Asami has any reason to be friends with these people.
Because with those guys she's pretty much just slumming it?
Let's see, there's the ex-boyfriend that cheated on her twice with the same person, his brother that's always making lame jokes, but I guess she has had some bonding with him, like the time they played a board game, and the person her boyfriend cheated on with. but is now her bff.

Like, I can see a case with Mako, but Bolin and Korra are for the most part fine.
I've always said that if this was real life Asami would've set Mako's car on fire and would've had some sort of street brawl with Korra.
 
As I see it:

Korra's 1st ever romantic relationship with Mako was an absolute mess from beginning to end.

Korra in Book 3 was her taking a break from all that and simply taking the time to establish meaningful connections with her friends independent of romance. Book 4 Korra was too emotionally and physically broken to have the energy to engage in that kind of relationship. She needed to take care of her own problems first. Plus, she's been preoccupied with her avatar duties.

Once Kuvira is taken care of, I could see Korra being ready to get into a romantic relationship again but that would be more of an "epilogue" situation.
 
You all gonna be surprised when you find out that over the timeskip Korra got with Huan. Always dug the masculine girl, feminine boy combo.
 
As I see it:

Korra's 1st ever romantic relationship with Mako was an absolute mess from beginning to end.

Korra in Book 3 was her taking a break from all that and simply taking the time to establish meaningful connections with her friends independent of romance. Book 4 Korra was too emotionally and physically broken to have the energy to engage in that kind of relationship. She needed to take care of her own problems first. Plus, she's been preoccupied with her avatar duties.

Once Kuvira is taken care of, I could see Korra being ready to get into a romantic relationship again but that would be more of an "epilogue" situation.

Yeah, agreed.

I guess this is where I was coming from with Korra being single making the most sense for me (personally). That she's decided she needed to focus on herself. And I think that's great. I wish more protagonist would do that, vs being forced into a romantic relationship. I think one of the more mature things this show did, was Korra and Mako ending their relationship calmly, and deciding that they weren't right for each other.

I mean, the writers have been pretty awful with romance. But that was actually well done IMO. One of the better things in Book 2.

But yeah, if they find time in an epilogue, I wouldn't be as opposed to it. I guess a time jump would also kind of help that.
 
The issue is, when you start dating a friend there becomes that progression where your feelings start to turn romantic. And you decide to take that relationship in that direction. In any story, there needs to be a proper foundation for it and then follow through.

I would say at this point in the plot, you could argue that Korra and Asami's deep friendship is the foundation. Fine. But I don't think 2 episodes is enough follow through. We really didn't have the plot that showed them realizing they had romantic feelings for one another. We never saw those feelings change. People are just pointing towards Korra and Asami becoming close friends, and saying THOSE are times when they realized their feelings changed. And I think that's a big stretch.

You are right, romance in these kind of stories often are based on attraction (like Kai and Jinora). But are you really going to tell me, that the Asami x Korra friendship was even handled that well? They spent all of Book 2 apart. They had one time hanging out shooting the shit talking crap on Mako which made them become best friends. They had some time together in Book 3, but nothing deep. And in fact, most of Book 3 they weren't even together. Book 4 Korra was gone for 3 years without seeing her.

So really, even on the friend level, it's not like they did a good job building that up. But okay. We are to accept based on Korra confiding in Asami (and only her), that they have this really deep friendship that grew over time. But I'm still not seeing the proper build up from friend to romantic.

You think they can do that it in a single episode, and make it feel right?

No i'm not a serious advocate of Korrasami at this point. My post wasn't to argue that it should happen in the finale.... But

when you start dating a friend there becomes that progression where your feelings start to turn romantic.

u did miss duh blush ;)
 
I went through a heterosexual phase in high school but then I grew out of it.

I made this statement in satire because it's so stupid how people think that homosexuality, bisexuality, etc. is some kind of phase that you can get bored of. Sexualities are an inherent part of someone's identity.

smh.
 
I made this statement in satire because it's so stupid how people think that homosexuality, bisexuality, etc. is some kind of phase that you can get bored of. Sexualities are an inherent part of someone's identity.

smh.

too much PMs huh?
 
I made this statement in satire because it's so stupid how people think that homosexuality, bisexuality, etc. is some kind of phase that you can get bored of. Sexualities are an inherent part of someone's identity.

smh.

Who said that?

Anyone stupid enough to think that, is...well...stupid. :P

The idea that someone's sexual preference is something they just casually choose, is one of the most ridiculous things I've heard. Kind of surprised someone on GAF is pushing that?

too much PMs huh?

I am confused. So, like people have been PMing people to tell them their sexual preference is just a phase? WTF
 
So I haven't caught up on this series yet, so haven't read the thread (afraid of spoilers), but is there going to be another series? It just seems like they should do one of every element. :\
 
I made this statement in satire because it's so stupid how people think that homosexuality, bisexuality, etc. is some kind of phase that you can get bored of. Sexualities are an inherent part of someone's identity.

smh.
Personally I just think it's something you're born as with nuances like what you actually find attractive is something you figure out as you get older.
So I haven't caught up on this series yet, so haven't read the thread (afraid of spoilers), but is there going to be another series? It just seems like they should do one of every element. :\
its-dead-jim.jpg
 
So I haven't caught up on this series yet, so haven't read the thread (afraid of spoilers), but is there going to be another series? It just seems like they should do one of every element. :\

Not any time soon. Probably not in another 10 years, if that. But no. The writers don't have interest in doing more Avatar (for the time being). And Nick is sitting on the IP. Nick doesn't want anymore Avatar stuff, as it doesn't fit in with the networks demographics, and the ratings tanked.

As a big fan, I'm pretty much thinking Avatar as we knew it, is 100% dead.
 
Who said that?

Anyone stupid enough to think that, is...well...stupid. :P

The idea that someone's sexual preference is something they just casually choose, is one of the most ridiculous things I've heard. Kind of surprised someone on GAF is pushing that?

The comic linked used the term "bi phase".
 
The comic linked used the term "bi phase".

Ah my bad, I didn't see that. That's terrible. =/

I thought people were pushing that on here. Was going to say...

I wouldn't be surprised if there are people against Korrasami purely because they are anti-gay. I would like to think, most aren't. Like, Avatar as a series is pretty progressive. I would like to think the overall fan base, would not take issue with it. Obviously we know the networks do (because they are cowards).

I'd hope anyone against it are only so because I. They are just some hardcore shipper, that has some other pairing in mind. II. They don't think the writing is there, or that it makes sense.

But if you are against it purely because you are anti-gay, that makes you a terrible person. I don't think anyone in this thread is like that. At least, I would hope not.
 
Not any time soon. Probably not in another 10 years, if that. But no. The writers don't have interest in doing more Avatar (for the time being). And Nick is sitting on the IP. Nick doesn't want anymore Avatar stuff, as it doesn't fit in with the networks demographics, and the ratings tanked.

As a big fan, I'm pretty much thinking Avatar as we knew it, is 100% dead.

Wish Nick would sell it, but they'll probably hang onto it forever like Fox does with Firefly.
 
Wish Nick would sell it, but they'll probably hang onto it forever like Fox does with Firefly.

Nick has a history of sitting on IPs though. They are some stubborn fuckers. Not seeing it. I truly think people are too optimistic about it being on Netflix.

Someone would have to reach out to Nick, actively seeking to buy it off of them. I guess that's possible. But I don't expect Nick to shop it around.

EDIT: You said, would and not could. Yeah I agree.
 
Nick has a history of sitting on IPs though. They are some stubborn fuckers. Not seeing it. I truly think people are too optimistic about it being on Netflix.

Someone would have to reach out to Nick, actively seeing to buy it off of them. I guess that's possible. But I don't expect Nick to shop it around.

And Nick would look at the maximum possible amount for the purchase, and then go slightly above that, because anyone that desperate to buy it off them is willing to pay just about anything. Plus, they need to be reimbursed for all the future Avatar series they'll never make, eh.
 
Ah my bad, I didn't see that. That's terrible. =/

I thought people were pushing that on here. Was going to say...

I wouldn't be surprised if there are people against Korrasami purely because they are anti-gay. I would like to think, most aren't. Like, Avatar as a series is pretty progressive. I would like to think the overall fan base, would not take issue with it. Obviously we know the networks do (because they are cowards).

I'd hope anyone against it are only so because I. They are just some hardcore shipper, that has some other pairing in mind. II. They don't think the writing is there, or that it makes sense.

But if you are against it purely because you are anti-gay, that makes you a terrible person. I don't think anyone in this thread is like that. At least, I would hope not.

This fanbase is pretty progressive simply due to the nature of the series.

But I did see plenty of arguments going around claiming that Aang was white when the casting for that terrible film was announced.
 
And Nick would look at the maximum possible amount for the purchase, and then go slightly above that, because anyone that desperate to buy it off them is willing to pay just about anything. Plus, they need to be reimbursed for all the future Avatar series they'll never make, eh.

I also think Nick has the mindset that, it's something they could make money off of in the future. And don't want to see someone else do it. Like, they could try to bring it back, and make some shitty teen version of it.
 
This fanbase is pretty progressive simply due to the nature of the series.

But I did see plenty of arguments going around claiming that Aang was white when the casting for that terrible film was announced.

To be fair, he was the one who looked most like his character, even if Aang is actually Asian instead of Caucasian.
 
This fanbase is pretty progressive simply due to the nature of the series.

But I did see plenty of arguments going around claiming that Aang was white when the casting for that terrible film was announced.

lol

Well, even though I have my thoughts on this, I kind of hope it happens, just because some people really want it to (because of the importance of it, and what it would mean with precedent). Like, if one good thing could come out of this series, it would be cool to be that.

I just hope people don't set themselves up for disappointment either. I could easily see them doing something awful like Mako X Korra and being completely vanilla. So I'm not going in with any expectations.

To be fair, he was the one who looked most like his character, even if Aang is actually Asian instead of Caucasian.

While that might be true, minorities have a hard time getting work in Hollywood due to white washing and racist casting. So I think that, even though he did look closer to the character then the other actors, I still think people can be upset about them choosing not to use the right ethnicity (if it was possible).

Plus it wasn't even just Aang.
 
This fanbase is pretty progressive simply due to the nature of the series.

But I did see plenty of arguments going around claiming that Aang was white when the casting for that terrible film was announced.
Who in their right mind would argue that Aang was white? There's nothing Anglo about any character in the avatarverse.
 
lol

Well, even though I have my thoughts on this, I kind of hope it happens, just because some people really want it to (because of the importance of it, and what it would mean with precedent). Like, if one good thing could come out of this series, it would be cool to be that.

I just hope people don't set themselves up for disappointment either. I could easily see them doing something awful like Mako X Korra and being completely vanilla. So I'm not going in with any expectations.



While that might be true, minorities have a hard time getting work in Hollywood due to white washing and racist casting. So I think that, even though he did look closer to the character then the other actors, I still think people can be upset about them choosing not to use the right ethnicity (if it was possible).

Well the entire casting of that film was a nightmare.
 
I like how apparently Korrasami can't be a thing because being a lesbian/bisexual must be PART of their characters instead of something that's just there and they slowly realized over the 3 years they spent only talking to each other.

Well, I think for some....seeing two characters have one sexual preference and then realize they are bi or gay without any kind of plot showing that...feels like a contrivance.

But the reality is, shows can't do that becuase of the pushback and stigma. But you are right, someome can realize their sexual preference later on. Both them dating males doesn't disqualify that. Plus as we've already said, plenty of romance on this show had no build up and just happened.

So at least you could argue this was a close friendship over years.
 
I just realized I'm even angrier about the lack of explanation of Lavabending than I thought.
Earthbenders really got gypped when it comes to"advanced/alternative" bending arts.

AIR: Flight, Body Temperature Regulation, and Astral Projection, plus possible miscellaneous spirit abilities.
FIRE: Lightning and Combustion.
WATER: Ice, Blood, Plant, Spirit Pacification and Healing.
EARTH: Metal and Lava.

Waterbending made out like a bandit.
Lava and Combustion are featured prominently, (Combustion even shows up in *both* series!), but we never really get any answers about them.
 
There's also inherent tensions between creating characters who "just happen to be X" and creating "X Characters" or "Characters who are X". There's certainly strong reasons to go after the former in terms of trying to normalize depictions in media content, to get something across rather than nothing. But the ideal should be to go beyond that; truly normalized depictions means inclusion of all the normal struggles and issues that people actually face. Race, gender, and orientation are more important than superficial characteristics like hair color or body shape. If your character can just be flipped between white and black, male and female, gay and straight, I don't think that's a particularly well-written character, and the trait seems thrown on rather than an intrinsic part of who they are. But I also understand that those kinds of "just happens to be" characters may be an important stepping stone to getting towards a better future.
 
This may just be my limited experience coming through, but I always thought something like true lavabending would require multiple proficiencies. Because you're sort of also controlling fire, and then because it melts, you're also sorta controlling a fluid. Like you couldn't just stumble into this power unless you were like Korra and were naturally gifted at a ton of element bending. Seeing someone who only knows earthbending do it always feels strange to me.

But redirecting lightning like a waterbender makes sense, because learning to do it is imparting some knowledge of how waterbenders work.

That make sense? Probably not. I'm sure I'm missing some vital part of canon that says it's exactly what I'm saying it should be.
 
I just realized I'm even angrier about the lack of explanation of Lavabending than I thought.
Earthbenders really got gypped when it comes to"advanced/alternative" bending arts.

AIR: Flight, Body Temperature Regulation, and Astral Projection, plus possible miscellaneous spirit abilities.
FIRE: Lightning and Combustion.
WATER: Ice, Blood, Plant, Spirit Pacification and Healing.
EARTH: Metal and Lava.

Waterbending made out like a bandit.
Lava and Combustion are featured prominently, (Combustion even shows up in *both* series!), but we never really get any answers about them.

ape-judging.gif
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom