by Daniela
Hello there readers! Long time no see. I guess I’ll get the
apologies out of the way. After exams ended I was thrust straight into the
world of work once again and let me tell you… retail around the holiday season
is no laughing matter. There have been many things that we’ve been dying to
write about but so often they have been left as drafts and cast aside,
unfinished and forgotten. But hey, now that we’re into the new year, new
movies, new music… hopefully we can get back into the swing of things.
This post has been in the works for a while and I have tried
to start and finish it on many occaisions. I guess you could say that I’m in
denial, I can’t believe that The Legend of Korra is over and that I have to
carry on without any new episodes. Mind you it’s already been about a month
already. This is not the kind of life I want to live! All dramatics aside, like
I’ve said, I’ve tried to write this finale post from different angles. A lot of
times it just turned into a scene- by-scene retelling of the episodes. And
that’s definitely not what I wanted. So hopefully, I have more luck with this one.
If you’re in the Avatar fandom (hey, even if you aren’t) you
will know that the series finale of The Legend of Korra caused generated a lot
of attention. All good things, all good things. It was a highly anticipated
finale with plenty to offer. So far in the season, we’ve followed Korra’s
struggle after she suffers the repercussions from her fight with Zaheer in the
Book 3 finale. We watch her start from the bottom as she learns how to walk
again and face her inner demons after suffering PTSD from the poison taking
over her body. We’re also reintroduced to Kuvira who has taken the role as the
main antagonist for the season and appears to be a dictator. The Air Nation has
grown and the airbenders are more active in their snazzy new airbender suits.
We leave things off after Kuvira’s Gambit, where Kuvira has just fired a blast
at our heroes (and Bataar Jr. who is also her fiancée) from her giant mecha
suit, the Colossus. The penultimate episode ends ambiguously as we don’t know
if our Team Avatar (and Bataar Jr.) has survived. Oooh cliffhanger.
Watch the official Book 4: Balance trailer!
The Day of the Colossus
All I can say is… what an action packed episode! Right from
the get go Team Avatar is thrust into many nail biting situations. I actually
really enjoyed this episode. I thought it was paced quite nicely and avoided jam-packing
too many action sequences into just over 20 minutes. I do believe that a lot of
it was set up for The Last Stand but it does stand on its own as a good
episode.
The first sort of action scene we get is Meelo’s plan. The
airbenders drop balloons filled with paint on the windows of the Colossus and
block Kuvira’s vision. Lin, Bolin and the others then work on tangling up the
legs of the Colossus and then the airbenders and Korra use their bending
abilities to sweep it off its feet. I think it was a great way to showcase how
far the air nation has come since the new influx of airbenders in book 3. We
get some great aerial shots of the airbenders in action and in their bird-like
formations as they swoop in and become a nuisance to Kuvira. And it’s great to
see Tenzin’s kids in action, and Meelo not having to use fart bending is a
bonus. Meelo’s fart bending, while funny, probably would have ruined he moments
in the finale. There’s a time and place for that kind of humour but when the
tone is overall quite serious, then it’s better without.
We also get to see Pema play a larger role instead of just
being the mother. She gets into the action in a different way by helping with
the evacuation of the citizens of Republic City at the train station. Prince Wu
also shows his leadership skills… and vocal abilities by reeling in some badger
moles. “Badger moles digging holes under Republic city, gotta run away from
Kuvira today although I do still think she’s pretty.” I thought it was a nice way
to tie the series to the Airbender series. Even though there wasn’t really an
explanation for the badger moles in Korra, fans of the original series will
appreciate the touch. And now everyone learns to respect the brooch! The
cutaways to the evacuation gave us all a break from the intense battles against
the mecha tanks. Although these scenes still give us a bit of action, it’s more
light-hearted and gives Wu his opportunity to show his character growth into a
potential leader.
Prince Wu and Pema save the citizens
Team Avatar regroups and tries their hand at another plan at
taking down Kuvira. Varrick, Zhu Li, Asami and Hiroshi Sato fly around the
mecha suit like a swarm of mosquitoes. Once in the clear, Hiroshi attempts to
cut a hole into the Colossus. In order to do so, Hiroshi sacrifices his life
but ejects Asami out of the Hummingbird in the nick of time. I love the
heartbreaking reaction shot of Asami as she is ejected from the Hummingbird and
the realisation that her dad has died sweeps over her face. And the first of
many crying sessions begins. We haven’t seen Hiroshi since Book 1 and his small
redemption storyline this season was pleasing to see. Especially since we’ve
all grown to love Asami, we also become invested in her relationship with her
severed relationship with her father. Y’know, he did try to kill her too. We
don’t get very long to let his death settle in as Korra, Lin, Su, Bolin and
Mako jump right back into action and infiltrate the giant mecha suit.
 |
| The Hummingbird Mecha Suit |
Although this episode acts as a set up for The Last Stand, I
don’t think that factor takes away from the fact that it was a thriller. In comparison
to Enter the Void, this may have not had as many nail biting moments. I
remember watching Enter the Void and having my heart stop at many key moments.
Who could forget P’Li’s death? But the various attempts and plans at defeating
Kuvira showed how much the team has grown. Seeing the airbenders in formation
and looking more organised and experienced shows how much the Air Nation has
developed since it’s rebirth in Book 3. Asami’s growth has also been noticeable
since Book 1 where she was introduced as just as the pretty girl love interest.
Now we get to see her mature physically and mentally as she becomes a great engineer
(and part time pilot). But the real
action starts now…
The Last Stand
The Last Stand is the final episode of the Legend of Korra
series and Bryke made sure to leave with a bang. Literally. We continue from
the events of Day of the Colossus where the team have infiltrated the Colossus
and are beginning to take it down from the inside. Fans of Avatar: The Last
Airbender series may also make the connection with the Book 2 episode, the
Drill where the Gaang takes apart a Fire Nation drill before it breaks down the
walls and invades Ba Sing Se.
Su and Lin wreak havoc on the massive cannon attached to the
mecha suit’s arm and Kuvira doesn’t have the slightest hesitation when ripping
it off clean. Mako and Bolin attack the operators in the engine room and
realise that in order to take down the mecha suit, Mako must lightning bend the
spirit vines. Mako knows that it will be risky and endanger his life so he
orders Bolin to take the knocked out operators and save himself. Bolin protests
but Mako insists that it’s the only way to destroy the mecha suit. He generates
lightning into his body and zaps the vines but it also rebounds onto him as
well. Mako then lies unconscious on the floor as the vines begin to explode. Bolin
returns to the scene and saves Mako in the nick of time. I guess Mako only uses
his lightning bending solely for finales because of all that dramatic effect.
After all his battles with Ming Hua in Book 3 he only uses it to electrocute
her in Venom of the Red Lotus (the Book 3 finale). It builds up for dramatic
final moments but really he could have made his life a whole lot easier by
using it more often. The score made me second guess whether he was going to
survive for a hot minute and I found myself hoping that he wouldn’t die. But
then at the same time I was also slightly disappointed that he survived. He
could have had his amazing hero moment and that was that. I guess it would be
too much on top of Hiroshi’s death.
Mako's sacrifice
The Last Stand also happens to have some of the best fight
scenes in the entire series. Watching Kuvira and Korra battle it out in the control
room. It’s nice to see a fight that doesn’t heavily rely on bending solely. The
use of hand to hand combat is different but still beautiful to watch as two
characters’ fighting styles contrast. I just rewatched the episode today with
friends and we all commented that it looked like a Tekken fight or something
straight out of fighter video games. Which might I add… I was pretty good at back
when I was younger. It’s a ruthless showdown between the two and all bets are
off as the fling each other from every side of the room. Along with some great
use of slomo and effective use of camera angles, the fight is epic in all proportions
and much better than the Battle (not quite a battle) at Zaofu. I love how Korra
busts into the control room guns a blazing and ready to end it once and for
all. The animation is so fluid despite the constant switching perspectives and
angles. It looks to be an even fight as they throw everything and anything at
each other. Once the explosion of the spirit vines in the control room starts
to tear the mecha suit apart, it’s time for Kuvira’s escape in the spirit
wilds.
Korra and Kuvira fight in the control room.
Just when you think it’s over, tiny Kuvira finds the massive
cannon she discarded and points it at a terrified Korra. I don’t know why but
the image of a little Kuvira holding onto this monstrous cannon is hilarious to
me. It’s just the scale of this gigantic weapon in comparison to Kuvira who
looks like an ant. Kuvira loses control over the cannon and it begins to set
Republic City ablaze. Korra jumps in and saves Kuvira from the warpath of the
blasts and in a massive bright light the two disappear. What remains instead is
a new spirit portal in the middle of the ruins of the city. Actually didn’t see
that one coming. Kuvira and Korra have now entered the spirit world through
what I can only describe like a Sailor Moon transformation sequence. Korra
takes this opportunity to talk to Kuvira and tells her that the both of them
are alike. Both are strong characters who won’t stop fighting for what they
believe in. Kuvira then admits that she was wrong and apologises for her
wrongdoings and is taken into custody once they enter the human world along
with the returning spirits. Even though it seems silly for them to just sit
down in a meadow and talk it out after such an intense battle, it works. Kuvira
looks vulnerable and Korra lends an ear and is understanding. It’s a nice way
for two forces of nature to settle their differences and become equals.
Korra and Kuvira in the spirit world.
The Zhurrick wedding is something that fans are looking
forward to after all the chaos and it’s a sign that things are starting to wind
down. They’re going to do the thing for the rest of their lives! After some
very unique vows and great cameos ahem… Tahno on the trombone, we start
learning about what our characters are going to be doing post-finale. I must
say that I’m a huge fan of everyone’s formal wear. But couldn’t the airbenders
have gotten something nice to wear instead of their airbender suits? Korra makes her way around the party by
talking to various characters and we sweep over the party to see various
characters we have meet throughout the series.
Now I know what we’re all here for. After a Makorra fake out
and an almost endscene with Tenzin… WHO SWEEPS IN FOR KORRA’S FINAL MOMENTS IN
THE SERIES? ASAMI, THAT’S WHO! The two have been noticeably getting closer over
the past two seasons but I always assumed that that was because they were just
becoming better friends. Although, I did detect (just like everybody else) the
romantic hints along the way. But guys… Bryke went there! iThey went as far as
they could. And Korrasami is canon. AND YOU GOTTA DEAL WITH IT. The two hold
hands as they step into the spirit portal for a girls holiday while exchanging
loving looks. It’s amazing and I get so happy just thinking about it. It’s a
huge step towards representation in the media and hopefully a step forward in
society today. No other children’s show (it’s questionable whether Korra is a
kids’ show) has really dared to be this outright and hopefully other shows will
follow in Korra’s lead. But as of now… we cry, we cheer and we celebrate!
Korrasami is real and no one can take it away from me.
The Korrasami End Scene :')
If I’m going to be nit-picky about the finale, I’m going to
say that I expected some more Avatar state action. But I guess that wouldn’t
really fit with the rest of the season. Korra didn’t really use it at all and
why would she pull out that card just for a finale? It’s just something that I
miss from the rest of the Avatar finales. Having so many characters in a finale
can be blessing but it can also be a curse. In this case it was both. It was
nice to see them all but I was disappointed that many of them didn’t get
speaking roles. Jinora and Ikki didn’t even get to speak at all! I’m putting
that down to those infamous budget cuts that set them back a bit. Hiring voice
actors is pricey especially with such a large cast. And I guess I can let the
lack of Kainora slip… we got Korrasami to make up for it.
The Book 4 finale generated lots of buzz for the series and
I think that made for a great send off. I’ll definitely miss the show and the
Avatar world. We got to see the animation for the show at its prime and I’ll
definitely miss this cast of characters. But for now, Korra will just have to
join my list of shows that I rewatch every holidays. Avatar: The Last Airbender
belongs on this list so I think I’ll be seeing plenty of Avatar marathons in my
future.
Check out Mike and Bryan's tumblr posts confirming Korrasami!
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