Exactly. I'm really hopeful that we're at a turning point where the case of the stupids starts to go away and difficult situations crop up instead.Avalanche91 said:
Looks pretty much exactly like what you're expecting.
Legend of Korra Review: More Like Avatar, But Still Korra
- Thread starter Mike Hoffman
- Start date
This happened in Avatar too though. Only season 1 didn't introduce any new super benders or special abilities. Season 2 gave us metal bending that made Toph into a super Earth bender. We also learned that, not only can certain Fire benders redirect lightning, they can even create it, as shown by Azula. Finally, in season 3, we find out that Water benders have the literal ability to control other people with blood bending. And Combustion Man is also revealed, and his powers are never even explained. So introducing new super benders isn't out of line at all. It's been happening since the original show.Rawbeard said:
I enjoyed this, and I'm sure the week break won't hurt the show at all. In fact, I believe the only reason we got these three episodes at all already is because a great deal of episodes got leaked, so Nick decided to up the premiere.
1. Korra goes from cant drive to driving pro in 5 seconds.
2. You have super powerful benders you have to construct elaborate jails to hold just one of them, why not just kill them?
3. Mako makes a big speech to Kai about knowing all about people like him and that he will be watching him, and then totally doesn't. Seriously you let the kid that just stole and lied to you guys walk at the back of the group where he can just sneak off? Makes no sense.
2. You have super powerful benders you have to construct elaborate jails to hold just one of them, why not just kill them?
3. Mako makes a big speech to Kai about knowing all about people like him and that he will be watching him, and then totally doesn't. Seriously you let the kid that just stole and lied to you guys walk at the back of the group where he can just sneak off? Makes no sense.
Why does Nick hate Korra so much? They are always willing to show endless reruns of that damn sponge but they can't be bothered to rerun any Korra episodes except on one specific day? Hell, why can't they show reruns from other seasons? Or from ATLA for that matter?
Those first two are pretty nit-picky and can just as easily be applied to 'Last Airbender' as well.Scytail said:
1. Considering Sokka became a master swordsman and forged a sword in what seemed like a few days, I gave it a pass. The Avatar franchise has a habit of making people suddenly learn/master things in an impossibly short amount of time.
I find Korra's learning to drive much less jarring than Sokka practically mastering a martial art and crafting a high quality sword in just a handful of days, when it would normally take months/years.
2. You could just as easily ask why Ozai didn't have Iroh executed as a traitor instead of throwing him in jail. He would have had to know that Iroh was powerful enough to easily break out on his own if he wanted to.
Or, why did the Fire Nation put Hama(Water bender who invented blood bending) and other dangerously powerful water benders from the southern tribe in an elaborate prison, instead of just killing them?
Because the story requires them to be alive... also it's still predominantly a family show.
I'm still amazed they were allowed to get away with the murder-suicide at the end of book 1 though.
Sokka only needed formal sword training, he did have allll those previous adventures they went on to pick up on improvised basics. It doesnt take months/years to forge a sword. You can forge a sword in a few days tops.Tank207 said:
Pretty sure Ozai knew that to kill a popular and accomplished general like Iroh despite him being a traitor wouldnt have ended well with the people.
Hama invented blood bending in jail. And that jail housed all the people from the southern water tribes. It was not an elaborate prison to house just one person. If a person is so dangerous that you have to build a special prison to hold them then that person is too dangerous to live.
Kai annoys me. He pops up, and is IMMEDIATELY a love interest? I mean what the heck? He's going to be set up as a golden child or something if he redeems himself over all the annoying junk he does. I'd say I'd hope they don't push him too hard to be a spotlight character, but I'd say it's too late for that now.
The rest was pretty okay.
The rest was pretty okay.
I like that Zuko is finally back and not just a fanservice like Iroh (I'm sorry, but no one will ever replace Mako's voicework), but I just do not like his new voice. Something about it just seems too playful. Nonetheless I can't wait to see what happens when he meets Korra. Kind of hoping they'll somehow make some kind of riff on Zuko trying to capture the Avatar again. He was one of the most compelling characters in TLA, probably the most compelling especially given how much his story was tied up in the history of the Fire Nation. Also pleased to see the Dai Li coming back, they were some really solid villains back in TLA. Korra's new more mature attitude (more reminiscent, ever so slightly, of Aang's collected temperament) seems more in character with the expectation of the. The new state of the world now that spirits have moved in has brought back a bit of the adventure and mystery feeling of the first 3 Books.
All told, it feels like the show is starting to come full circle and is starting to really figure out how to work with the new aspect of the show along with what made the old show great.
I'm also excited that we might finally get some backstory on the psychokinetic explosion powers that Combustion Man had what with this new firebender lady. I always felt like that was a bit of missed potential there, but I guess the show was already winding down and it wasn't the right time to fully introduce a new character.
And also that 22 year old airbending geek, I kind of hope he comes back. Avatar has gone too long as a series without a token nerd character.
2.) Firstly, because it's a family show and executions, while they have been mentioned in the show, they're something you have to be careful with in that context. They often got rather close to the edge of what was acceptable on a network like Nickelodeon and I imagine they were wary of pushing it. Secondly I don't think the Fire Nation had any intention to exterminate the water benders, just imprison them until the tribes were subjugated. They also already had one genocide and I think from the writer's perspective another would water it down too much.
3.)...okay, yea. I don't think he would be my first choice to bring as part of an entourage for a diplomatic mission either. But it looks like it's going to be important for the plot.
All told, it feels like the show is starting to come full circle and is starting to really figure out how to work with the new aspect of the show along with what made the old show great.
I'm also excited that we might finally get some backstory on the psychokinetic explosion powers that Combustion Man had what with this new firebender lady. I always felt like that was a bit of missed potential there, but I guess the show was already winding down and it wasn't the right time to fully introduce a new character.
And also that 22 year old airbending geek, I kind of hope he comes back. Avatar has gone too long as a series without a token nerd character.
1.) Well driving isn't exactly the hardest thing in the world to learn, and it's already been shown that she can drive, just not particularly well and that, like her struggle with mastering air bending, it was a nerve thing rather than a genuine lack of skill (Asami's encouragement seemed to help). Also, because plot device.Scytail said:
2.) Firstly, because it's a family show and executions, while they have been mentioned in the show, they're something you have to be careful with in that context. They often got rather close to the edge of what was acceptable on a network like Nickelodeon and I imagine they were wary of pushing it. Secondly I don't think the Fire Nation had any intention to exterminate the water benders, just imprison them until the tribes were subjugated. They also already had one genocide and I think from the writer's perspective another would water it down too much.
3.)...okay, yea. I don't think he would be my first choice to bring as part of an entourage for a diplomatic mission either. But it looks like it's going to be important for the plot.
Probably the same way Nicktoons, Nick's other channel, LOVES showing ATLA basically every single day... They just don't give a fuck! /halfsarcasmLobsterFeng said:
OT: Season 3's starting off pretty interesting so far... However, only Zaheer and, especially, Kai seem to be rubbing me the wrong way so far... Maybe they'll get better as this season goes on, but right now I'm not really jelling with these two new characters...
You know I just realise something, has any of the Air Acolytes (the non benders who adopted the Air Normad culture and lifestyle) gain airbending since they are the ideal candidates to be air bender. No offence to those who got the bending since they cannot throw their current life so easily except for Kai.
One thing everybody seems to have a problem with is that Legend of Korra is not The Last Airbender. Guess what? That's the whole freaking point! The one thing you cannot accuse it of being is just a rehash of stuff done by it's predecessor. That's a good place to start a sequel. Now, have they succeeded? No, not entirely. But at least it has the guts to try. And when it works, it reall works. Think about Beginnings being absolutely fantastic episodes. Or taking half an episode to tell the back story of the villains, in the second to last episode. That is where the true genius of the writers shines through. For a lot of stuff that doesn't work, I'm kind of inclined to blame Nickelodeon.
Here's a bit of the story of the conception of these shows: Konietzko and DiMartino spent 4 years thinking of and writing The Last Airbender, before he first episode aired. They then had another year for each following season. The decision to finally go with Legend of Korra was made in late 2009, after Nick first declined the stories that would ultimately be turned into The Promise and The Search. Then Nick complained they didn't want a female protaganist, but ultimately gave in and said they could do one season. After it was announced in 2010, the split between the fans began. On the one hand, the people who thought ''Iceberg right ahead, Prequels all over again'' and the people who were generally excited to see the show coming back. So in 2011 Nick told the creators of the show to also do a second season, when the animation of the first season was already halfway done. Shortly after, they started negociating again afterwards, Nick also agreed to two more seasons after that. So in short: there were 4 years between the first ideas and the initial airing of The Last Airbender, 3 years for the first season Legend of Korra, only 2 for the second season and 3 for the current season.
Hell, the reason Beginnings is so good is because it had been written when Konietzko and DiMartino were writing season 2 of The Last Airbender. They ultimately deemed it too difficult to fit into the existing storyline and shelved the concepts. Instead they wrote the episode ''The Avatar State'', explaining how it works, but not where it came from. Because they were running low on time for season 2 Legend of Korra, they pulled it out again, and with minor modifications managed to work it into the story.
So the title ''Avatar but still Korra'' is something we're meant to take as an insult, but I actually think that's a great thing. It's not like The Last Airbender because it's not trying to be and the start of season 3 really captures that for me. It has the nature of its great predecessor but is very much doing its own thing. It's going for a slow, character focused build up, unlike season 2, which just just throws a ton of stuff at you and then grinds to a halt. (Or as Rob Walker said: throws everything at the wall and hope it sticks, but is completely shatters) It actually has me legitimately excited again, and not just; ''Well, if I have to choose between watching Avatar or Transformers...'' I think this is a great show, taking bold risks and by far the best Nickleodeon show currenly running. Hell, it's much better than a talking sponge voiced by Wheelie from Transformers 2.
Here's a bit of the story of the conception of these shows: Konietzko and DiMartino spent 4 years thinking of and writing The Last Airbender, before he first episode aired. They then had another year for each following season. The decision to finally go with Legend of Korra was made in late 2009, after Nick first declined the stories that would ultimately be turned into The Promise and The Search. Then Nick complained they didn't want a female protaganist, but ultimately gave in and said they could do one season. After it was announced in 2010, the split between the fans began. On the one hand, the people who thought ''Iceberg right ahead, Prequels all over again'' and the people who were generally excited to see the show coming back. So in 2011 Nick told the creators of the show to also do a second season, when the animation of the first season was already halfway done. Shortly after, they started negociating again afterwards, Nick also agreed to two more seasons after that. So in short: there were 4 years between the first ideas and the initial airing of The Last Airbender, 3 years for the first season Legend of Korra, only 2 for the second season and 3 for the current season.
Hell, the reason Beginnings is so good is because it had been written when Konietzko and DiMartino were writing season 2 of The Last Airbender. They ultimately deemed it too difficult to fit into the existing storyline and shelved the concepts. Instead they wrote the episode ''The Avatar State'', explaining how it works, but not where it came from. Because they were running low on time for season 2 Legend of Korra, they pulled it out again, and with minor modifications managed to work it into the story.
So the title ''Avatar but still Korra'' is something we're meant to take as an insult, but I actually think that's a great thing. It's not like The Last Airbender because it's not trying to be and the start of season 3 really captures that for me. It has the nature of its great predecessor but is very much doing its own thing. It's going for a slow, character focused build up, unlike season 2, which just just throws a ton of stuff at you and then grinds to a halt. (Or as Rob Walker said: throws everything at the wall and hope it sticks, but is completely shatters) It actually has me legitimately excited again, and not just; ''Well, if I have to choose between watching Avatar or Transformers...'' I think this is a great show, taking bold risks and by far the best Nickleodeon show currenly running. Hell, it's much better than a talking sponge voiced by Wheelie from Transformers 2.
I actually agree with you. I love how Korra is done and I totally respect the decisions the showrunners have made. What I was trying to convey in this review is that people who aren't as big of Korra fans and miss ATLA might be happy with the direction this season is taking, but it's still totally Korra.Henkie36 said:
I can't get over the fact that a clearly anime/manga inspired work is named "korra".
"Korra!" with a rolling 'R' rather than 'L' as in more friendly Japanese is what tough-guy yakuza say to get someone's attention.
Imagine a Japanese show set in a vaguely stereotypical American pioneer setting called "Ey, Yo!"
LOL
EDIT; on topic:
I haven't watched much of Korra (halfway through), but to me it seems a logical next step for a slightly older audience while retaining much of the charm.
I'm hoping it doesn't become too much like ATLA, especially after that disgrace of a movie. I wish I hadn't seen that and I might still be more hyped about the original series.
Of course, I'm way out of the target audience so ....
"Korra!" with a rolling 'R' rather than 'L' as in more friendly Japanese is what tough-guy yakuza say to get someone's attention.
Imagine a Japanese show set in a vaguely stereotypical American pioneer setting called "Ey, Yo!"
LOL
EDIT; on topic:
I haven't watched much of Korra (halfway through), but to me it seems a logical next step for a slightly older audience while retaining much of the charm.
I'm hoping it doesn't become too much like ATLA, especially after that disgrace of a movie. I wish I hadn't seen that and I might still be more hyped about the original series.
Of course, I'm way out of the target audience so ....