Legend Of Korra: Will It Bend!

[Fjolnir]

But that would put the two most awesome voice actors on the same character!!

Also I saw this and was curious what episode is the sokka part from?

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[SuperPanda]

On Amon:

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I've two theories for what/who he'll turn out to be.

Theory 1 (most likely) Amon is the son of whoever Aang took out based on the dialogue and flashback from the new episode. Aang tried to mediate the situation, Toph and or Sokka were hurt and Aang lost control for a moment going into a firebending rage. This is why Lin doesn't want the Avatar in her city, she's seen how it can go wrong, this is also Amon's "firebender" story.

doesn't explain how he learned energy bending though.

Theory 2 (the absolute long-shot): Korra is not the Avatar. Well, maybe not truly. Korra is Republic city's Avatar, but Amon is connected to the left over part of the world. He is an airbender, but never learned how to bend (eye color) and his connection to the spirit world is real and he knows energy bending because He very well could be the rightful Avatar. This requires the man behind the mask to be around Korra's age, something of which we have no proof yet. I'll be pretty surprised if that winds up being true, and it will be proven wrong as soon as Korra is able to airbend (which 4 episodes in she still can't do. In episode 3 she used Earth bending to launch the kids into the air).

Also, about Mako and Bolin

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Is it just me or with the focus on the importance of his scarf, is it possible Mako is related to the firebending thug from Episode 1?

[SuperPanda]

Edit: Well that unfortunately double posted. Sorry about that.

[thubby]

my amon theory is that he's an earth kingdom native who's father suffered as a direct result of the between series issues with the fire nationals still living on the earth continent which are a direct result of sozin and ozai's war, and later zuko and aang (who through various drama decided it best to leave the integrated fire nation people be).

would have both emotion and nuance i think.

[Ninjadeadbeard]

my amon theory is that he's an earth kingdom native who's father suffered as a direct result of the between series issues with the fire nationals still living on the earth continent which are a direct result of sozin and ozai's war, and later zuko and aang (who through various drama decided it best to leave the integrated fire nation people be).

would have both emotion and nuance i think.

Too boring

Also, how did a normal bloke learn Energybending?

[MLai]

No, because I deeply despise the potential Mako/Korra romance, so Asami is everything I could hope for..

+9000. If there's 1 thing I don't like it's when writers talk down to me.
"LOL sorry we sunk the Zutara, here's Makorra." would be the ultimate patronisation. I'm glad it's not a sure thing.

Anyone else get the subconscious vibe that she was evil though? The too convenient meet-cute, the slow motion hair, the chi blocker color scheme, the fac that she looks like Lust from FMA...

Lust... whose daddy is Henry Ford...
Y'know, if I was Mako I wouldn't care if she eats kittens.
But yeah... the easiest way to discredit a rival love interest is to reveal that she's EVIL AND EATS KITTENS. Le sigh. What an easy out for Korra that would be.

If anything Sato is living proof that non-benders aren't directly oppressed by benders.

This is the kind of strawmen certain political proponents of unchecked capitalism always fall back on.

I can't see the new girl being evil, she seems way too sweet to suddenly be a villain.

Sudden heel turns are not unheard of, but what makes it unlikely is her background. She's the pampered daughter of the richest tycoon in the city. What does she possibly have in common with a Guy Fawkes? Nothing.
Maybe she's a political sympathiser of his cause? Unlikely. Children born into the lap of the privileged are seldom connected to the sentiments of the plebian masses. Maybe she'll sponsor some charities, and genuinely care for the plight of orphans, but she would never passionately sympathize with a populist revolutionary.
If this happens, it's the writers grasping at straws because they created the Makasami and then found it impossible to sink without resorting to cartoonish extremes.
So far the writers have surprised me at every episode with this series' depth, so I don't think it would happen that way.
Episode 4 has blown away all of my negative preconceptions from just watching the teaser clip:
1. Tenzin recognizes cowboy SWAT action as authoritarian and flaming potential populist anger. It's written as the manipulation of an unlikeable politician, rather than a good and just occurrence.
2. Korra tagging along with SWAT and challenging Amon is written as being manipulated, and using bluster to hide her fears. Rather than just black-and-white shonen writing.

I'm starting to think we're all a bunch of cynical morons who shouldn't be watching this cartoon

+1
I'm glad you can word that in humorous terms. If I worded that sentiment it would come out offensive. ;)

Honestly the former "public enemy #1" that Aang took care of probably has more to do with Amon than any of the characters introduced now. If he was a person who was energybent out of his bending sometime close to Aang's death he

First speculation I agree with, that I've read so far.

[Mutant Sheep]

Also I saw this and was curious what episode is the sokka part from?

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The Blind Bandit (Toph episode, duh.) It's a bit after Katara uses her women's ways to find out where the wrestling match is, I think. After the match, now that I think about it, when they ask around who Toph is. *feels all detectivey*

[Fjolnir]

The mask would make more sense there too, especially if this villain was someone who was undeniably a person of few redeeming qualities to the general public...

[Dienekes]

Fjolnir that was hilarious, and reminds me how much I miss Sokka in his goofball roll. Here's hoping Bolin gets much funnier in the next few weeks.

Also, am I the only person who really could not care who Mako ends up with? Just so long as they don't spend more time than they need to on it so I can see what Amon's up to.

[Ninjadeadbeard]

+9000. If there's 1 thing I don't like it's when writers talk down to me.
"LOL sorry we sunk the Zutara, here's Makorra." would be the ultimate patronisation. I'm glad it's not a sure thing.

1. I hated Zutara. Much better this way.
2. I'm also ok with Mako and...whoever that girl is (can't remember, don't care to look it up), just so long as that doesn't auto-lock Korra with Bolin. I HATE that guy. He's like Sokka...but lacking all the charm and wit and likability that Sokka had going for him. Just an idiot.

[Fjolnir]

The Blind Bandit (Toph episode, duh.) It's a bit after Katara uses her women's ways to find out where the wrestling match is, I think. After the match, now that I think about it, when they ask around who Toph is. *feels all detectivey*

Thanks I thought it was him at the 5-7-5 club, but he's done similar things a few times so I thought it would be safer to ask... but Korra is definitely in need of a lighter character her age in her little group, though as you pointed out, Bolin seems to be slowly coming into that role as the series is developing.

Looking at it again it must be after Aang wins the belt, because Sokka is clearly wearing the earthbending wrestling championship belt in that picture...

[Silverraptor]

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The only problem I have with Amon being Aang is that it specifically goes against the whole Avatar reincarnation thing.

[Starbuck_II]

[QUOTE=SuperPanda;13147440]On Amon:

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Theory 2 (the absolute long-shot): Korra is not the Avatar. Well, maybe not truly. Korra is Republic city's Avatar, but Amon is connected to the left over part of the world. He is an airbender, but never learned how to bend (eye color) and his connection to the spirit world is real and he knows energy bending because He very well could be the rightful Avatar. This requires the man behind the mask to be around Korra's age, something of which we have no proof yet. I'll be pretty surprised if that winds up being true, and it will be proven wrong as soon as Korra is able to airbend (which 4 episodes in she still can't do. In episode 3 she used Earth bending to launch the kids into the air).

Well, the avatar died in the first show remember? Only Katara's special wate revived the avatar.

Call me crazy, but maybe that means there are two potencial avatars.

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Aang and the other guy (didn't do anything noteworthy, did'nt have time to master them all).
So when he died Amon became the next (weaker) avatar. Thus, he can reach spirit World, but he doesn't like bending so he doesn't master any beyond Energy.

When Korra and Amon finally fight their final showdown, Korra will take his head and with it his power. There can only be one Avatar, let it be Korra McCloud, the Avatar.

[Ninjadeadbeard]

Call me crazy, but maybe that means there are two potencial avatars.

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Aang and the other guy (didn't do anything noteworthy, did'nt have time to master them all).
So when he died Amon became the next (weaker) avatar. Thus, he can reach spirit World, but he doesn't like bending so he doesn't master any beyond Energy.

When Korra and Amon finally fight their final showdown, Korra will take his head and with it his power. There can only be one Avatar, let it be Korra McCloud, the Avatar.

No. Oh god no. If that last part's true, the next Avatar series will have some overweight pale guy singing badly while we find out the Avatar's true purpose was to...I don't know, Un-bend the elements.

[Fjolnir]

The other thing wrong with that is that korra would have been an earth avatar as well

[memnarch]

On Amon:

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...
I'll be pretty surprised if that winds up being true, and it will be proven wrong as soon as Korra is able to airbend (which 4 episodes in she still can't do. In episode 3 she used Earth bending to launch the kids into the air).

...

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Call me crazy, but Aang might not have been the avatar. He hadn't bend all the elements by episode 4. Never mind that there was a total of 60-something episodes.

[Ashen Lilies]

+9000. If there's 1 thing I don't like it's when writers talk down to me.
"LOL sorry we sunk the Zutara, here's Makorra." would be the ultimate patronisation. I'm glad it's not a sure thing.

Because Mako and Korra are clearly just expies of the waterbender and firebender from the previous series, not characters in their own right, and therefore cannot have a romantic subplot without it being a callback to/apology for the Zutara ship?

I'm not sure I follow this line of thought.

[Seraph]

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Call me crazy, but Aang might not have been the avatar. He hadn't bend all the elements by episode 4. Never mind that there was a total of 60-something episodes.

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they never made a point of demonstrating Aang's inability to bend any particular element, whereas Korra's repeated failure to bend air is a noted part of the plot.

also relevant, someone noticed this little fact:

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In the original show, Aang's first contact with Roku's spirit was in Roku's temple. In this one, Korra's first vision of Aang was inside the temple at the base of Aang's statue, but it was much less clear, perhaps as a symbol of her low connection with the "spiritual" side of avatardom.

[Ninjadeadbeard]

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they never made a point of demonstrating Aang's inability to bend any particular element, whereas Korra's repeated failure to bend air is a noted part of the plot.

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Actually, there was that one episode where he couldn't bend Earth no matter how hard Toph pushed him (in fact it was noted her forcefullness was probably why he didn't take to Earthbending). Although he got over it by the end of the episode, they did cover it.

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In the original show, Aang's first contact with Roku's spirit was in Roku's temple. In this one, Korra's first vision of Aang was inside the temple at the base of Aang's statue, but it was much less clear, perhaps as a symbol of her low connection with the "spiritual" side of avatardom.

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That's not a fair comparison. Aang's spirit was currently ripped from his mortal shell. Korra was just knocked out. Sure, it was a savage blow what knocked her senseless, but there wasn't any evidence that it kickered her spirit out of her body.

[Flickerdart]

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they never made a point of demonstrating Aang's inability to bend any particular element, whereas Korra's repeated failure to bend air is a noted part of the plot.

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Aang had great difficulty bending Earth, as mentioned above, but also made a huge fuss about Fire. Korra, whose favourite is Fire, has the same apprehension about Air. It makes sense.

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In the original show, Aang's first contact with Roku's spirit was in Roku's temple. In this one, Korra's first vision of Aang was inside the temple at the base of Aang's statue, but it was much less clear, perhaps as a symbol of her low connection with the "spiritual" side of avatardom.

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Aang was meditating. Korra was punched in the neck.

[MLai]

1. It's funny how Korra, a Water Tribe, defaults to fire whenever she acts on instinct. In the unlit hall of that temple, the smart thing to do was to raise a shell around her with the floor tiles, then quickly earth-teleport out of there.

Regardless, I'm starting to get the feeling that even though she can bend all 3 elements, she's not a formidable combatant. Her techniques always default to basic whenever she gets stressed, so full of holes even non-benders can just wipe the floor with her.

Yet she did dispatch her instructors who are supposed to be good. Maybe it's just inexperience and nerves.

2. Amon could've freakin' killed her with that finger-jab. He shocked the vagus nerve so hard she passed out. With that much force at that area, he could've sent a blood clot straight to her brain.

Man's gotta be more careful with the little lady.

[Brother Oni]

Having a hobby, and/or trying to live off of that hobby is a fine and fair way to make a living. However if that hobby should prove to be non-sustainable as a means for a career and you could quite easily make a living with a normal career and yet you choose to keep plugging away at the hobby until you have literally 0 options left, why should I care? You had the opportunity to make a living. That is more opportunity than a lot of people in this world get, if I'm gonna pity someone it's going to be one of them.

That's a perfectly fair and reasonable stance to take, however I would make one caveat - if the person has no responsibilities (and makes no undue demands on society), then I'm all for them to keep chasing their dreams.

As soon as they get responsibilities, be it in the form of looking after family, supporting their city/country in a time of need etc, then I'm with you.

[Sith_Happens]

So has the new episode not been posted online yet, or did they only put it up for a limited window out of contempt for people like me who want to watch it at 5:00am?

On a related note, great consistency using those spoiler tags, people. I was totally able to avoid skimming about half the posts in the past two pages while looking to see if my question was already answered.

[Kobold-Bard]

So I just read The Promise part 1.

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SWEETIE!!

Seriously, Zuko needs to learn to think for himself, rather than just doing what everyone tells him is best.

[Morty]

Because Mako and Korra are clearly just expies of the waterbender and firebender from the previous series, not characters in their own right, and therefore cannot have a romantic subplot without it being a callback to/apology for the Zutara ship?

I'm not sure I follow this line of thought.

It's shipping. It's quite removed from what we puny humans call logic.
Anyway, some thoughts on the fourth episode, particularily the vision:

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Those few images Korra saw definetly raise some questions. Sokka, Toph and Aang, the latter apparently attacking someone at the end. It's indeed quite likely to be connected to Amon, whose stated reason for hating bending is, frankly, too simplistic for me to believe. Obviously, we can also be pretty certain Toph and Sokka were involved somehow - Toph was the chief of the police at the time, and we have no idea what Sokka was doing. All in all, I'm really looking forward to finding out more about that event.
On another note, Amon is indeed quite clever, which gives him a clear advantage over Korra who isn't very good at this whole "thinking things through" business. She shouldn't have expected Amon to come alone... and Amon clearly has a plan more complex than just "run around and take away people's bending one by one".
Tarrlok, similarily, either has some ulterior motive or no imagination whatsoever. Declaring Amon public enemy #1 and leading raids against his supporters only adds fuel to his fire - "Look how the bending elite responds to any dissent!".

[Madara]

If I were the council, I would respond to him complaining about the task force with this,

"Benders or not, he kidnapped citizens and caused serious harm which undid most of the education of their life. It is as if he cut off an artist's arms. We have no idea how the threat will grow, but as of now he is charged with kidnapping and causing severe harm to citizens.

If Anyone causes harm to our citizens, no matter what the reason, they are dangerous and will be stopped."

Amon is enjoying this too much.

Edit: Amon identity guess:

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Aaang confronted Amon, because Amon was this previous criminal. In his peaceful manner, he took away Amon's bending. But, we've seen that if you lack the will, you can screw it up. Aang screws it up and Amon gets energybending.

[DomaDoma]

When will the current episode be put up on nick.com? (Being a TV-less snob has its drawbacks.)

[dehro]

Now to defend this motivation it was brought up that pro-bending was Mako's only means of sustaining himself and his brother. But that is proven blatantly false. In fact 2 episodes ago it was shown that he makes more money working for 1 day as a lightning man than he had for a whole week of training for pro-bending and his winnings from the game. So since he can sustain himself rather easily as a lightning-o-mancer why should I feel sorry for him for being broke? He has the solution for his money problems right in front of his nose. Of course, now he has all the money he needs, and good for him, that was lucky. But it's stupid to rely on luck to keep yourself going. Hell, that was Nero's economic plan: strike gold somehow.

you're making a mighty number of assumptions there.
1) we don't know just how much he made from the energybending shtick. agreed, anything more than 0 is a bonus, but that doesn't mean he could actually live of it. he and his brother get free lodging in exchange for cleaning up and competing. for all we know, the money he got from energybending might not be enough to rent a place for himself and his brother.
2) we have no idea how "readily available" that job fuelling electricity actually is. For all we know he was subbing for the regular guy who was sick that day, and it may never happen again.
Given the 1920s setting, I feel confident equating the energy production job to a dockers job back then. these things were in the hands of the mob, highly sought after by scores of jobless people as a means to put together a few meals, but still not steady jobs and hardly enough to pay for anything more than a meal or two a day. Simply hard to come by on anything like a regular basis unless you're in with the foreman.
Equal amount of assumptions to yours, yes, granted.. but realistic.

We know there's unemployement, we know Mako had to run numbers for the mob just to survive on the streets. We know they took the first chance they got to get off the street and that chance was pro-bending. We know that they're indebted to the shady guy who runs the pro-bending. Most likely they can't just walk out on him without landing on the street again.
Quite simply, there's no way for you to tell that energybending at the powerplant would be a viable alternative to pro-bending, as far as sustaining oneself and one's little brother. In fact, for all we know it's a highly draining activity that can only be done for so many days in a row, and therefore has a high rotation and simply doesn't pay enough to make a living for 2 people....but is better than nothing, which is why it's a good extra income for someone who already has rent provided by other means.

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they never made a point of demonstrating Aang's inability to bend any particular element, whereas Korra's repeated failure to bend air is a noted part of the plot.

also relevant, someone noticed this little fact:

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In the original show, Aang's first contact with Roku's spirit was in Roku's temple. In this one, Korra's first vision of Aang was inside the temple at the base of Aang's statue, but it was much less clear, perhaps as a symbol of her low connection with the "spiritual" side of avatardom.

not true, Aang took a couple of episodes to learn how to earthbend and several more episodes to get over his hungups regarding firebending.
we're only 4 episodes in and a lot has happened in the meantime, and some progress has been made by Korra.

as for the second point..

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maybe the lack of clarity of the vision depends simply on the fact that she was busy being knocked out and falling on the floor.

[Morty]

If I were the council, I would respond to him complaining about the task force with this,

"Benders or not, he kidnapped citizens and caused serious harm which undid most of the education of their life. It is as if he cut off an artist's arms. We have no idea how the threat will grow, but as of now he is charged with kidnapping and causing severe harm to citizens.

If Anyone causes harm to our citizens, no matter what the reason, they are dangerous and will be stopped."

Amon is enjoying this too much.

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Yes, because reasoned arguments always work with extremists such as Amon and their followers.
It's not about what Tarrlok or the rest of the Council want to do, it's about what Amon can twists their intentions into.

[Soras Teva Gee]

So has the new episode not been posted online yet, or did they only put it up for a limited window out of contempt for people like me who want to watch it at 5:00am?

That's because it leaked days ago now so a delay should be expected because it will stirr certain corporate decisions, I saw the same thing when iTunes released a MLP episode early.

Worst case they will stop uploading entirely leaving it up to pirating and y'know watching Nick.