Legend of Korra Review: The Explosive Showdown

[Mike Hoffman]

Legend of Korra Review: The Explosive Showdown

Korra is attacked by Zaheer and his gang, and the reality of the threat hits home.

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[Scarim Coral]

I thought it was a good episode especially the standoff scene since the fight was wonderfully animated!

I read some comments somewhere that some believe that Suyin and Varrick are somewhat in league with Aiwei (Varrick interagation was dismissed so quickly and Suyin wanted Korra to bring Aiwei to her personally) but I don't believe that theory.

Also while shutting the metal petals is a safe security method but it does seen to be a shame to shut out the natural night skies.

 

[kailus13]

I read some comments somewhere that some believe that Suyin and Varrick are somewhat in league with Aiwei (Varrick interagation was dismissed so quickly and Suyin wanted Korra to bring Aiwei to her personally) but I don't believe that theory.

Why would they think Varrick is against Korra and crew? He was the one who pointed out Aiweis deception tactics.

I just want to know why Zaheer and crew are trying to kidnap the avatar. It's obviously not just to kill her or they'd have done it while she was unconscious.

 

[balladbird]

I thought it was a good episode especially the standoff scene since the fight was wonderfully animated!

I read some comments somewhere that some believe that Suyin and Varrick are somewhat in league with Aiwei (Varrick interagation was dismissed so quickly and Suyin wanted Korra to bring Aiwei to her personally) but I don't believe that theory.

I've read some of those theories. Personally I think they're just remnants of the "Suyin is EVIL!" crowd trying to salvage their original theories. XD

With Varrick, they already played the "seemingly helpful, secretly villainous" card with him last season, can't imagine they'll try to do it again now

 

[Tanis]

I'd like to think Azula is still alive, and Combustion Woman is actually her daughter.

Thus, these people are working under her 'MUST HAS THE REVENGE' or something like that.

 

[FPLOON]

I think I watched this episode a lot more than I thought I would... and not just because of it being the last episode before a [random] Spongebob episode popped up afterwards... (Thank DVR...)

With that said, my favorite part of the whole episode was Bolin with the perfect pebble shot to the head! Strange how I felt like the whole sparring scene would come in handy later on...

Also, I wonder if Combustion Man had a "brother" who, later, had a daughter named P'Li...

 

[Redhawkmillenium]

Good episode. Book 3 has been going really smoothly as far as story is concerned, I'm excited to see what happens next.

I thought it was a good episode especially the standoff scene since the fight was wonderfully animated!

I read some comments somewhere that some believe that Suyin and Varrick are somewhat in league with Aiwei (Varrick interagation was dismissed so quickly and Suyin wanted Korra to bring Aiwei to her personally) but I don't believe that theory.

Also while shutting the metal petals is a safe security method but it does seen to be a shame to shut out the natural night skies.

Suyin simply being in league with Aiwei and Zaheer doesn't make sense. It was Suyin who came up with the idea that saved Korra, at great personal risk to herself. And Zaheer & co. didn't seem to be trying to throw the mission; if it hadn't been for Pabu waking up Bolin, they would have succeeded, and Zaheer seemed legitimately pissed that they failed.

It may be that Suyin knows more about Aiwei's affiliation with Zaheer's group than she lets on, but she's not simply in league with them..

Why would they think Varrick is against Korra and crew? He was the one who pointed out Aiweis deception tactics.

I just want to know why Zaheer and crew are trying to kidnap the avatar. It's obviously not just to kill her or they'd have done it while she was unconscious.

They have reason not to kill Korra under normal circumstances, as she would just be reborn into the Earth Kingdom. They could be trying to kill her in the Avatar State to permanently end the Avatar Cycle, and have to kidnap her and take her to a more controlled situation to forcibly trigger the Avatar State and kill her.

I don't think their plan is that simple, though.

 

[Palindromemordnilap_v1legacy]

Up to this point, Zaheer and his gang have only been guilty of breaking out of prison and sneaking around, but now that their path has finally crossed Team Avatar's they've shown how vicious they can be.

Just a quick nitpick to get it out my system, but I'm pretty sure the criminal quartet have killed, like, a lot of people. Cops were driving those trucks P'Li blew up in the last episode, and we don't see them conveniently leap to safety. During Ghazan's breakout he sent people flying with that lava star he had, and even in the Avatar world if you get hit in the face with a shuriken made of lava you are dead.
True its not like they've murdered anyone directly on screen, but with the firepower they've been throwing around and the lack of care they've been using I cannot imagine they haven't caused even a single fatality.


I'm wondering if they fact they all have a very unique style of bending (we haven't seen anyone lavabend before, only one other person combustionbend, Ming is a damn impressive waterbender for someone with no arms and Zaheer knew enough about airbenders, even before becoming one, that I suspect he can spirit-walk) is something to do with why they want Korra. Trying to take it upon themselves to teach her maybe? With his extensive knowledge of airbender culture and philosophy Zaheer does seem a pretty good evil counterpart to Tenzin

 

[Mike Hoffman]

Up to this point, Zaheer and his gang have only been guilty of breaking out of prison and sneaking around, but now that their path has finally crossed Team Avatar's they've shown how vicious they can be.

Just a quick nitpick to get it out my system, but I'm pretty sure the criminal quartet have killed, like, a lot of people. Cops were driving those trucks P'Li blew up in the last episode, and we don't see them conveniently leap to safety. During Ghazan's breakout he sent people flying with that lava star he had, and even in the Avatar world if you get hit in the face with a shuriken made of lava you are dead.
True its not like they've murdered anyone directly on screen, but with the firepower they've been throwing around and the lack of care they've been using I cannot imagine they haven't caused even a single fatality.


I'm wondering if they fact they all have a very unique style of bending (we haven't seen anyone lavabend before, only one other person combustionbend, Ming is a damn impressive waterbender for someone with no arms and Zaheer knew enough about airbenders, even before becoming one, that I suspect he can spirit-walk) is something to do with why they want Korra. Trying to take it upon themselves to teach her maybe? With his extensive knowledge of airbender culture and philosophy Zaheer does seem a pretty good evil counterpart to Tenzin

Yeah, they may have killed those people (Sokka's line, "It was really unclear" works so well here), but in all of those instances it was while they were escaping from prison and the authorities. Kind of a result of their situation, if that makes any sense, especially since we don't know enough about their imprisonment. Up until now it was feasible that they had good intentions, but were having to fight for their freedom to do so. I just didn't want to go into all that in the review.

I really like your theory about that group wanting to maybe train Korra. Now it's countered by the explosive Aiwei set up. Sure, maybe he expected that Korra would survive it, but that's the kind of thing you set up when you're okay with someone dying. Of course, whether that was all Aiwei's choice or supported by Zaheer and crew is up in the air, but by association I feel like it works to place Zaheer's group (plus Aiwei) into the "bad guys" role.

 

[LobsterFeng]

I thought it was a good episode especially the standoff scene since the fight was wonderfully animated!

I read some comments somewhere that some believe that Suyin and Varrick are somewhat in league with Aiwei (Varrick interagation was dismissed so quickly and Suyin wanted Korra to bring Aiwei to her personally) but I don't believe that theory.

Also while shutting the metal petals is a safe security method but it does seen to be a shame to shut out the natural night skies.

I don't think Varrick is in league but Suyin is definitely acting suspicious so I wouldn't be surprised if something happens there. But I've heard much more ridiculous theories.

The most ridiculous probably being that now that Korra is off network television they can make AsamixKorra official because lesbians are okay on the internet.