Avatar the Last Airbender

[Kobold-Bard]

Episode 1

Wait episode 2 is out?!

Yup, they were released online at midnight last night & are available on korranation (or so I'm told, it's US only), as well as:

For the viewing pleasure of non-Americans:
Episode 1
Episode 2

Here is a 720p link that works for my British location, you can right click and save as to download.

[Bouregard]

Here is a 720p link that works for my British location, you can right click and save as to download.

Thanks for a valid link, and hey non atrocious resolution too!

Is it just me or is Tensin just great? I really like the calm and silent type that has to cope with someone like Korra. And his facial expressions are just priceless.

it occurs to me theres a certain irony to the avatars. aang was a pacifist in a world war. korra is combative in peace time.

But it makes a good story, with Korra in charge I somehow doubt that the Firenation would have gotten very far. And in return Aang would have it easy to deal with Korras current problems. He was the guy who was good in inspiring people and the whole spiritual mumbo jumbo.

About her combat style, well I like it. They manage to show that she is the avatar without surpassing the masterclass bending of specialised element master we have seen in the last two books of the old series. There is room on the top but she doesn't look weak because she can combine basic and medium moves and tricks to extremly deadly combinations.

Now one last thing to do, find that nice action background music.. nice

Edit: Is it just me or does she use a lot of firebending for a born waterbender?

[Hopeless]

For the viewing pleasure of non-Americans:
Episode 1
Episode 2

Thanks for the link enjoyed the 2nd episode!

And I still think using some two thousand year old training tools for someone who currently can't airbend is just asking for some firebending!!!

Really love how they're handling the family dynamics for Tenzen!!!

[Kobold-Bard]

...

Edit: Is it just me or does she use a lot of firebending for a born waterbender?

Firebending is a lot more efficient at ending combat than waterbending.

That's the advantage of having access to multiple elements right from the start, unlike Aang she's not spent years becoming attached to a single "main" element. She raised in the water tribe, she's not really any more a waterbender than a fire or earthbender, she's all three equally I'd say.

[dehro]

For the viewing pleasure of non-Americans:
Episode 1
Episode 2

you, sir, are a gentleman

[Flickerdart]

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the earth benders only have small disks to work with and there has to be something keeping water benders from just flooding the whole field (we know koora could do so easily otherwise)
the lack of sun power is probably the only way to keep the firebenders from just dominating

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I doubt it. It's pretty obvious that pro-bending rewards agility more than raw power. We haven't seen anything impressive done by any of the pro-benders so far - use the water as more than just thin whips, propel any more than two disks at a time, flood the field with flame. It's a sport, not a battleground, so none of them have likely trained for massive attacks like that.

[thubby]

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I doubt it. It's pretty obvious that pro-bending rewards agility more than raw power. We haven't seen anything impressive done by any of the pro-benders so far - use the water as more than just thin whips, propel any more than two disks at a time, flood the field with flame. It's a sport, not a battleground, so none of them have likely trained for massive attacks like that.

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we've seen korra fling waves 15+ feet high on reflex, while mounted
there's nothing except a potential lack of water keeping her from doing the same in the arena.

[Zeful]

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I doubt it. It's pretty obvious that pro-bending rewards agility more than raw power. We haven't seen anything impressive done by any of the pro-benders so far - use the water as more than just thin whips, propel any more than two disks at a time, flood the field with flame. It's a sport, not a battleground, so none of them have likely trained for massive attacks like that.

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Raw power has the chance to cause a foul, like Korra's first exchange. Thus the game is precision, patience, and observation, all the things Korra needed to understand to get anywhere in her airbending, which is why, when it came down to the wire, she went with baqua to dodge, and move with the flow, rather than try to the flow bend to her will.

[Bouregard]

So when is the next episode scheduled?

[Yellow]

From Bryan's tumblr post, the reason you don't see the firebenders charging up super hadokens or waterbenders flooding the stage is because the rules don't allow headshots. And it still counts as a headshot if you hit everything else too

[John Cribati]

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I was kind of bugged that Tenzin could be so straight-laced despite being related to both Aang and Sokka Then we got this little bit, and all was forgiven.

[Madara]

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Yeah, the Pro-bending was a little...underwhelming. But, there are rules and all for it. I kinda wonder who created it. Aang? Zuko? Someone else?

[Hiro Protagonest]

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I was kind of bugged that Tenzin could be so straight-laced despite being related to both Aang and Sokka Then we got this little bit, and all was forgiven.

I haven't even gotten through the first episode (about halfway), but I can tell that's Tenzin cheering for the Fire Ferrets.

[Flickerdart]

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we've seen korra fling waves 15+ feet high on reflex, while mounted
there's nothing except a potential lack of water keeping her from doing the same in the arena.

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I wasn't talking about Korra, I was talking about the pro-benders. Korra could obviously wtfpwn them with overwhelming power if the rules allowed it, but the point is that nobody else in the arena could do that because they don't train for it.

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Raw power has the chance to cause a foul, like Korra's first exchange. Thus the game is precision, patience, and observation, all the things Korra needed to understand to get anywhere in her airbending, which is why, when it came down to the wire, she went with baqua to dodge, and move with the flow, rather than try to the flow bend to her will.

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Which was my point, yes.

[Hiro Protagonest]

Finally... finished... episode... 1...

It goes a lot faster when my sister's not streaming Netflix.

[dehro]

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I was kind of bugged that Tenzin could be so straight-laced despite being related to both Aang and Sokka Then we got this little bit, and all was forgiven.

I was going to say you can totaly see the family genes there

[Morty]

Some impressions:

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I liked how Korra had to deal with modern law enforcement in the Republic City. Sets the tone for the series, different from TLA.
In a similar vein, I liked how she didn't do well in pro-bending at first. She's all raw force and no finesse; looks like one of her character themes is going to be growing out of it.
Finally, I'm curious as to how the benders really oppress non-benders: whether there are actually some laws or is it just a smug superiority kind of thing and wide-spread favoritism.

[Seerow]

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I was kind of bugged that Tenzin could be so straight-laced despite being related to both Aang and Sokka Then we got this little bit, and all was forgiven.

That gif is mesmerizing.

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I thought the second episode was interesting. Particularly in seeing how despite Korra's raw potential and literally entire life spent training, she was struggling to keep up with the pro-benders. I'm not sure if this reflects a lack of real fighting experience on her part, or if she just was too unused to the limitations of the tournament style setting. I think it's more interesting if it turns out to be the lack of real experience (after all with all her attempted training at the island, she failed, but in the match the airbending walk thing finally clicked for her. That's almost a textbook example of a D&D level-up), but could see the argument either way

[Hiro Protagonest]

Some impressions:

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I liked how Korra had to deal with modern law enforcement in the Republic City. Sets the tone for the series, different from TLA.
In a similar vein, I liked how she didn't do well in pro-bending at first. She's all raw force and no finesse; looks like one of her character themes is going to be growing out of it.
Finally, I'm curious as to how the benders really oppress non-benders: whether there are actually some laws or is it just a smug superiority kind of thing and wide-spread favoritism.

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I think the non-benders hating benders thing is because the triads would be formed similar to pro-bending teams. A bender of each type except air. Just a theory, though.

[Morty]

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I don't think organized crime is the issue here. I mean, it's likely to be a part of it, but the bit about non-benders being "second-class citizens" seemed to imply it's more widespread.

[Kobold-Bard]

That gif is mesmerizing.

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I thought the second episode was interesting. Particularly in seeing how despite Korra's raw potential and literally entire life spent training, she was struggling to keep up with the pro-benders. I'm not sure if this reflects a lack of real fighting experience on her part, or if she just was too unused to the limitations of the tournament style setting. I think it's more interesting if it turns out to be the lack of real experience (after all with all her attempted training at the island, she failed, but in the match the airbending walk thing finally clicked for her. That's almost a textbook example of a D&D level-up), but could see the argument either way

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She dealt with the Triad pretty easily. I'd say it's definitely not being used to Pro-Bending.

[Hiro Protagonest]

I finished episode 2!

Flickerdart said pro-bending matches with a bit of training sequence is ridiculous filler. I say it's awesome filler. Take the best parts of football and kickboxing, then give them to three guys who can manipulate one of the classical elements each, except for air.

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I think there were people in airbending clothes other than Tenzin's immediate family. They must've been his two siblings and their own families.

[Kobold-Bard]

I finished episode 2!

Flickerdart said pro-bending matches with a bit of training sequence is ridiculous filler. I say it's awesome filler. Take the best parts of football and kickboxing, then give them to three guys who can manipulate one of the classical elements each, except for air.

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I think there were people in airbending clothes other than Tenzin's immediate family. They must've been his two siblings and their own families.

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I thought Katara & Aang's other kids were Waterbenders.

I had those people down as Air "monks"/people who wanted to learn & preserve Air Nomad culture. Or they were people seeking to learn Airbending, either because they have an Airbender ancestor or there's a spiritual way to teach it, like the first Airbenders did with Sky Bisons.

[Comet]

Oh lord this series in fullscreen HD makes me entirely too happy.

The animation, the music, the characters. It's all just massive, massive fun and, most importantly, radically different from the original series without feeling arbitarily detached. The perfect sequel to Avatar? I'm a bit too tired at the moment to make rational observations but my gut feeling is to go with 'yes' on that one based on the first two episodes.

[Dienekes]

So watched episode 2 thanks everyone that posted it.

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Alright, token romance is gonna be Korra and Mako, hope it doesn't get too annoying.

I thought the first episode was better. But this one had some good jokes. Unfortunately I hope sports aren't going to play too huge a role in this series. I don't watch sports, I don't think sports are that entertaining to watch. Fictional sports do not get a pass on this, even if they do throw balls of fire during it.

Now it may be because I know nothing about eastern martial arts, but it looked like they were throwing in some boxing in there. That was an interesting touch, and the brief comment about old fighting styles echoed of a long standing argument my friend and I have on that very subject.

Also, anyone else incredibly curious what's happened to the rest of the old crew? I find myself wondering how Sokka died, and if he ever gets known as a great swordsman. I think right now I'm more interested in seeing how the old group ended up rather than whatever's happening with the anti-benders.

[Zeful]

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Alright, token romance is gonna be Korra and Mako, hope it doesn't get too annoying.

Why does everyone assume that the final scene is romantic? Think about Korra's personality for a second, she has the freedom to do something she really enjoys. That Mako and Bolin happen to live there is incidental.

As for pro bending, from spoilers and trailers, we know that there's going to be at least 1 other match, however given it's status as the "perfect teaching tool for [Korra]" I'm willing to bet that the sport will be pretty integral to her learning airbending.

[Hiro Protagonest]

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Alright, token romance is gonna be Korra and Mako, hope it doesn't get too annoying.
.

I'm going to echo Zeful, sorta.

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What the hell makes you think that!? Bolin is just as likely as Mako, as is neither. Neither Mako nor Korra have expressed romantic interest, Korra simply earned Mako's respect.

[Dienekes]

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Why does everyone assume that the final scene is romantic? Think about Korra's personality for a second, she has the freedom to do something she really enjoys. That Mako and Bolin happen to live there is incidental.

As for pro bending, from spoilers and trailers, we know that there's going to be at least 1 other match, however given it's status as the "perfect teaching tool for [Korra]" I'm willing to bet that the sport will be pretty integral to her learning airbending.

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Because in fiction romances tend to be cliched and predictable things. Get 2 individuals of roughly the same age, put them in a scene where they're wistfully staring off into the distance (at each other mind you) with mood music playing. Add in that they originally didn't like each other and 9 times out of 10 you have a generic boring romance forming.

If I'm wrong, awesome, taking steps away from the generic is great. But that was my first reaction when watching the episode. Along with a rolling of the eyes. But then I really don't find romance interesting, and while I liked the original show, a surprising lot actually, I felt whenever Aang/Katara started happening my interest began to drain.

[Flickerdart]

Flickerdart said pro-bending matches with a bit of training sequence is ridiculous filler. I say it's awesome filler. Take the best parts of football and kickboxing, then give them to three guys who can manipulate one of the classical elements each, except for air.

That was before the episode aired, so nobody knew that

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it would actually be important characterization for Korra.

[Hiro Protagonest]

I felt whenever Aang/Katara started happening my interest began to drain.

...So your interest started draining as soon as Aang woke up and saw her?