OKAY KRISK I'M JUST GOING TO FOLLOW WHEREVER YOU GO NOW
Seriously your posts are amazing
On another note, I really hope Asami gets some more development, be it good or bad. So far she's just....there. She has no dimension to her, and I feel that such a beautiful character should get a little more action other than just the 'WOW GREAT JOB GUYS ALRIGHT BYE' at the end of every probending match.
oh god lol, thanks fliss. I'm hoping they stay that way as we go along
seriously.
I mean, we know that she's a huge pro-bender fan, but I wish we'd get to see her actually geek about it instead of each "GG TEAM" she throws at the Fire Ferrets following a successful match. I know there's enthusiasm there, but it's really restrained. By this point, they wouldn't even have to do something overly badass or fantastic to give her substance - they can use what they have.
Asami's a pro-bending fan, we
know this - so give her those nerdrage/nerdgasm moments we all know people have when they're passionate about something. Maybe she gives long-winded explanations about pro-bending stats or has an elitist mentality about her Fantasy Pro-bending Team and, I dunno, argues with Korra about her own or something. (omg I'd love to see that. Korra's a fan of pro-bending too, maybe they'd argue and kitten on eachother's favorite players/teams.
then share some cactus juice and talk about Mako's diq lolol).
I'd rather Miss Argumentative Pro-bending Fanatic than Mako's Hot Girlfriend. At least it'd be better than nothing (i.e., The Plot Device or Shipping Fodder on Legs).
And yes, I know this is Korra's story, and Korra's development takes center-stage but we've got to build up Team Avatar again. Despite Korra's strengths, she can't do this alone.
Really? I found the dialogue in this episode to be the best it's been in 5 episodes. As much as I like Asami, 4 was atrociously done with lines that rang as cliche. I mean I enjoyed the episode, but nothing sparkled about it. (Asami doesn't count)
eh take that part with a grain of salt. When I said "tiny bit" I seriously meant tiny, because even now I'm failing to remember which part I disliked.
hm, I'll even admit I jumped the gun. I guess I did some of my own misinterpretation when looking at Mako's weak "defense" against Korra's reaming was a fault on the dialogue - it wasn't. It was intentional and I miscontrued it badly. Disregard that, I officially decree this episode free of dialogue flaws.
However, if I were to pinpoint a spot that the episode did stumble at, I guess I'd choose the end of the episode. Not because of what happened, just because it happened so quickly. I'm probably being selfish by not considering the fact that the episode was only <25 minutes, but I really wanted more from the resolution. Maybe if they had slowed it down abit - but again, I can't really offer an alternative way for them to accomplish this; there just wasn't enough time.
I'm fine with it though. Even if this episode wasn't perfect, it's still ranked 2nd and AVITN is tough competition.
re: episode 04well, in defense of that episode I feel like Asami's lines were intentionally done that way (much like how Mako's was in Episode05, haha). The lack of substance in her words tells me it was the writer's intention to create a false sense of security in the audience. I know people were wow-ed by her entrance (which more than likely was the point) but her lines were vaguely dipped in subtle suspicion.
aside from that, hearing you weren't that taken with the script from episode 04 is disappointing and I'm kind of wanting to say "your loss" but I won't - different strokes for different folks, you know? I personally loved it.
the weaknesses (which I think were intentional):
For Korra, she was merely using her false bravado as a means to avoid what she felt - and false bravado is usually plagued with cliche reasoning and baseless defense. When you try to avoid something so glaringly obvious, your attempts at masking it are pretty weak: The stronger your truth, the weaker your lies. And her dialogue proves this.
- I'm not scared!
- Coward!
- D-D-D-D-DUEL
- If you're man enough!
- Who's scared now?
The only thing powerful about what she said was the volume in which she said it.
For the Masami interaction, I feel like it was to balance out the political strife going on with Korra and the Council. As their date dealt with easy topics (simliarities, pro-bending, etc.), we've got Korra dealing with the looming threat that is Amon, Republic City demanding her interference with that aformentioned threat, her obligations to Tarlock as a heavily desired asset, and her failure to live up to the Avatar legacy because of something she hadn't ever felt before (fear). Everyone was wanting a piece of her and for very adult reasons - the Masami date served to be a resting place for the audience, a place to catch our breaths and differentiate the heavy from the light. Personally, I'm glad they included it.
And the strengths:
Amon - god he scared the ever loving f♥ck out of me, and it was
Korra who was the one who was supposed to feel it. Using the MC to feel the seriousness of the situation is either a hit-or-miss situation for me (Korra seemed like a superhero when she crashed through the first episode, I didn't much relate to her) and then E04 came along and I suddenly felt what Korra was feeling. And that - from a writer's point of view - goal was achieved ten-fold, and as the audience, I gladly give them full credit.
Furthermore, he didn't even have a direct presence in the episode (until the very end), and I was feeling anxious through and through. That anxiousness built quickly into an outright "aw kitten" whenever Amon decided to broadcast another lovely anecdote on the radio or even have his Equalists make a political move somewhere. That right there is powerful. He had probably 1 to 2 full pages of lines in the whole of the episode, and I still left it feeling threatened by what him and his "plans" represented. Quality seriously trumped Quantity here ergo, their writing was perfect.
I mean he barely spoke and when he did, face-to-face, only did Korra reach her breaking point:
Our showdown, while inevitable, is premature. Although it would be the simplest thing for me to take away your bending right now - I won't. You'd only become a martyr. Benders of every nation would rally behind your untimely demise. But I assure you, I have a plan. And I'm saving you for last - then you'll get your duel. And I will destroy you.jfc! however, I get your point applied to the "destroy you" line, but I feel like that was Nick's fault. A "finish you" or even a "destroy what you are" would have worked better without overstepping itself, imo.
Tarlock - what a shady snake. Gaining the support on the Council and then Korra on his task-force,
and then working with the press. He's definitely got a way with words. Each verbal bargaining chip is finely crafted (with his own goal at the center) specifically for each and every type of audience he knows he will encounter and the writers took that into account. Tarlock wants something from Group X. Group X wants something else. Tarlock appeals to Group X's desires, then warps their goals to coincide with his own. Group X agrees. Flawless victory.
examples:
- He wants power? The Council wants Amon taken down. He suggests a task-force. The Council agrees since Tarlock states this is the solution to taking down Amon (which they want). Who will lead it? Tarlock volunteers. Cha-ching.
- He wants Korra on his team? Korra doesn't. No-cha-ching.
- He doesn't give up. How does he break her down? First he figures Korra had humble beginnings, so he sends gifts. She doesn't buy it. What does Korra want? Approval as Avatar, or some kind of acknowledgement that she's not running away from her duties (she is, but being lied to temporarily quiets a painful truth). He throws a Let's Appreciate Avatar Korra for being a Great Avatar party (even though Chief Lin calls out the whole thing as a farce, which it was). Korra accepts. Cha-ching.
- He wants Korra to reach her breaking point. He's set her up for that, since she's at the ball. How does he complete his task? He warms Korra up by bombarding her with Very Important Figures of the City and then finally the press. Tarlock sits back and lets the press put on the pressure. Korra breaks, she declares herself officially in. Cha-ching.
He only has to change his tune and suddenly everyone is falling over themselves to help him, thinking they're helping themselves. And sometimes, what he says may sound contrite or weak, but the fact of the matter is that his audience wants to hear it.
I know this turned into a Watch-krisk-suck-Episode-04's-huevos-rancheros senario, but I really can't help myself. Regardless of my over-enthusiasm for the episode, I feel like the dialogue was on par (even better) than episode 04's - but again, different strokes.
I agree on all accounts on this, though in all fairness, Bryke would be able to handle a reasonable transition if they really felt like it, but I highly doubt it. Bolin and Asami have had no character interaction in the least, and from a storyteller's standpoint that would be contrived. Each pairing that happened or could have happened in A:TLA had at least some grounding for it. Kataang, Zutara, Sokka/Suki, Zuko/Mai (this one is lacking) were sort of hinted at in Book 1 and pretty early on to.
exactly.
I would have a more open mind to Basami in the present, if they'd had Bolin speak with Asami at the Avatar's Gala back in episode 4 - but they didn't. It's implied they shared introductions behind the scenes prior to Korra showing up and that just doesn't give me any incentive to believe Basami has any potential. If the moment Bolin and Asami moved from being strangers to acquaintances (to now I guess friends? I can't even tell with these two) wasn't even shown to the audience, I'm gonna take that as another cue to not even humor the ship in the canon-verse.
Not exactly how I'm going to respond to this, but I'll give it my best.
As of 5 episodes, Mako and Korra are the two most dynamic characters. And with such a short series Bryke has almost forced it in that direction. Bolin and Asami are one dimensional as of now. Borra is dead as of now. Sunk. Until Bolin is given something to show that he is capable to act mature. He is the Sokka of this generation after all.
But 5 episodes is not enough for me to judge anything appropriately. In fact as I mentioned earlier in a post somewhere...this super emotional entanglement is prime for Amon's taking. If Bryke were to utilize this to its fullest advantage, everything could be shattered within moments. Korra thinks she likes Mako? Bolin thinks he lies Korra? Asami likes Mako? Lol nope.
Amon ladies and gentleman!
But that's my wishful thinking. I'm sure it is clear cut. It was with Kataang and it probably will be with Makorra too. Though I must say I'm fine with it. Leaves Asami me for me.
Greed, ladies and gents!
I see your point, but if I may I'd like to defend Bolin in two ways real quick.
Bolin showed maturity by stepping up his game in the pro-bending match in episode 05 when both Korra and Mako failed to perform (twss). I know that their lack of development may have been preemptively placed there as a conflict-hurdle for Bolin to prevail over, but I feel like - despite the writer's preconceived objectives to offer Bolin a consolation knowing what he'd do at the end of the episode - Bolin pulled through and should get to take SOME credit for doing so.
and then there's Bolin's feelings for Korra. I know I sound like a broken record by this point, but I can't stress enough just how important it was for Bolin to let go of Korra. He showed a great amount of maturity for acknowledging that it was 'time' to walk away from something as complicated as another person's
emotions (or lack thereof, actually). You can't force that, you can't fight that - the decision for reciprocation is completely up to the other person and Bolin finally realized that he had no control over it. When an individual yearns for control in a situation that will ultimately lead to one's goals being met, they fight for it. But in Bolin's case, the reality of the situation was that he could never have that control - he accepted that.
Maturity usually falls under doing what is right, despite the individual wanting something contradictive to what must be done. And Bolin met these requirements. I'm proud of him.
His situation and the involvement of maturity can be compared with the Nice Guy TM theory. Bolin had the basic foundation for being a Nice Guy (he compliments her when she'd recently been burnt by another guy; buys her things, gives her gifts; reacts in indigation when he catches her kissing not-him, etc.), but he didn't take that route when it came time for him to react to his failure in 'getting the girl'. A Nice Guy would have reacted in outrage, demanding The Girl reciprocate his feelings because he treated The Girl like a Queen, where The Wrong Guy For Her treated her like kitten. Bolin could have used that as leverage (no matter how stupid that mentality is) and demand Korra like him back out of obligation to his Nice Guy Treatment.
But he didn't. He chose to be mature in his resolution, and I'm very thankful for it. Otherwise, I wouldn't even consider defending him if he had indeed been pissed at
Korra for not returning his feels.
Dude's mature. And if, by chance, he's got lingering contempt after this episode I don't think I can sympathize with him anymore. I'd probably just consider him the guy we all laugh at when things get rough because he lacks a foundation to grow upon.
re: Amon the Mean Girllmao, well if he can work his magic and come out with 3 broken ships I'd definitely join the Equalist movement because
damn son.
interesting theory, tbh, but I can't really even think to how he'd manage that. Or even if he'd care about teens being teens enough to try, despite the results hurting The Young Avatar's emotional stability. I can see him mocking her, and maybe even gauging her for reactions by hurting Mako/Bolin but outright messing with the other three so all 4 of them suffer?
I'll humor you though. Let's say Amon is wanting to cause grief for Korra by stirring up emotional drama. Got it? Okay, picture this and then apply it to your theory:
Amon wants to put The Young Avatar to a test by having undercover agents work in the Stadium and/or the Airbending Monastary to observe Korra. They notice she likes Mako, but Mako has no idea and/or is showing no signs of reciprocation. Sooner than later, Korra will probably proposition Mako. Equalist Agents tell Amon. Amon decides then and there to give Korra hell - Amon starts Operation Forever Alone Avatar, and ... inserts Asami as an Equalist sleeper agent.
BOOM. Asami reports to Amon, Amon tells her to lay it on thick and then suddenly Korra breaks: she prematurely spills her noodles on Mako; gets rejected; Bolin is involved to placate her sadness; Mako pisses her off by being insecure; they're both pissed off at each other; 2/3rds of the team is screwed up; Mako further complicates things; Korra responds; Bolin finds out; everyone suffers; Korra downright is in emotional hell.
BOOM. errybody has problems with errybody, Korra can't concentrate, and now Amon's mission, Korra failed his test, and now he's planning on infiltrating the Stadium because The Young Avatar is just a teenage girl with an uncontrollable vjj
however, the end of episode 05 (Korra passing his test) is probably what Amon isn't going to expect when he takes over the stadium, and Asami is now going to be fired and/or told to do something drastic to save Operation Forever Alone Avatar or
else! TO BE CONTINUED...
lmao, fun stuff. but that's all it is.
Like I said before, I can't see him caring enough to actually actively seek to cause Korra that kind of strife. His goals are much more broad, a wordly level that is quite controversial. His character would seem kind of laughable if he did use his enemies' personal doki-doki emotions as an advantage to him.
He knows Korra on a more serious level and coincides his plans appropriately. His tactics would result in more life-altering consequences for Korra instead of emotional depression. The one thing I know that's clear-cut of Amon's intentions in Korra is concentrated on her ability to bend. First and foremost, Korra IS elemental bending. She simply cannot function (mentally; physically; spiritually; etc) without her bending and Amon knows this full well.
I just can't see him playing with Korra. He may treat her like a child by toying with her emotions, but in all serious, I think he'd do that to force her to own up to her title and present a challenge to him. Be his Equal.
I admit, he may use some under-handed tactics to create a reaction from Korra, but I don't think he knows - or cares - who Korra's bunkmate is at that moment of confrontation. Although, I may be wrong - I don't know enough of Amon to gauge just how far he'd go for his goals.
I want her father to be involved with the Equalists - not her. For the love of this show I hope they don't pull out something so obvious. I want her father and Korra's team to be the center of her character growth, not her changing sides...let's not pull another Zuko here.
I wouldn't be adverse to Asami not being an Equalist herself actually. I know for sure we'd need a whole lot more episodes than what we have to spare for them to pull off Asami's Heel Face Turn correctly and powerfully if she were, in fact, an Equalist ready to be reformed. Zuko's arc was beautifully done, if only because Bryke had more than enough episodes to do it right. Not to say they couldn't do it again, I just feel like Asami's arc would lack in development because of certain time constraints.
re: Asami's Daddy Issuesnow that I think about it, your preference for Asami's father being involved with Equalists may actually have some ground to work with
Asami stated she "felt safe" with Mako directly following their conversation about their dead parents - maybe the Equalists have some kind of involvement with her mother's death. A child is naturally dependent on their parents for safety. Asami lost her mother, so I'm assuming all she has left is her father. But what if it was
because of her father that her mother died? Maybe he had some shady dealings with the Equalists, failed to meet his contractual obligations and they took his wife away. And soon thereafter, Asami found out and her faith in her father was shattered. Now she uses his wealth as the last, albeit superficial, tie with him? I'm hoping she has some kind of genuine strength herself, because all she offered for Mako was cash - which is kind of like following in her father's footsteps in terms of pseudo-security.
Anyway just throwing it out there. I'm not leaving the issue with her mother out of this, though, and I don't think it should be - dead mothers (dead parents in general actually) seem to be a glaring red flag with Bryke (and Bryke is nothing if not consistent.)
Edited by krisk, 10 May 2012 - 09:48 AM.
