Book 2: The Southern Lights

[Musogato]

Discussion for episode 2 of Book 2: Spirits, also airing September 13!

[Dr. Joe]

It feels strange having Mako being the reasonable one here...

[0ceaness]

Wow! I think Korra managed to be more angsty in one episode (or I suppose it's pair of episodes) than Aang in all three seasons. She was being *really* bull-headed!

[Musogato]

I lovelovelove the new characters so far! Eska and Desna are hilarious and I can't get enough of them with Bolin. I really hope Bolin will continue to travel with the group just so that they'll interact more. I love their voice actors as well; they're deadpan and yet expressive, it's amazing to me. Also, it's a good thing Bolin did not get lost, because I'm sure Pabu already finished off his month's supply of food.

Unalaq and Tonraq's dynamic will be interesting to see play out. I knew there was a reason that Tonraq and Tenzin were so against having Korra go with him, and it definitely seems that we'll really see why in the next two episodes, but the writers did a really great job of presenting Unalaq as reasonable and dependable, especially in this spirit situation that no one else has a handle on. Looks like it'll be another season of brother vs brother, but I'm sure it'll be different than last season.

I've heard some frustrations elsewhere about how all of these guys are telling Korra what she should or shouldn't do and so she doesn't have much agency. But I think it's extra thick in these two episodes because maybe this season will be about Korra coming into her own and finding her own path, especially in how to deal with this spirit issue and the divide between technology and spirituality, and there needs to be a clear contrast. IMO anyway, I guess we'll see how it goes. But for Korra to flat-out say "I'm so used to people telling me what to do, it's strange for someone to just trust me." (or something like that), makes me think that will be one of the Book's themes.

So I thought that we would be seeing Wan's story in this episode, but I guess it'll be later. I like how they're setting up Jinora to be the spiritual guide though, and seeing Aang's statue made me tear up. Wan's statue looks really interesting though (and I love that it lit up in connection to Korra opening the portal, just like in ATLA when Aang first went into the AS it also made the statues light up, d'aww). But since the statues spiral downwards in that big room, shouldn't Wan's statue be at the very top? Or did I misunderstand the background.

Anyway, glad the show is back and I love it so far. Those dark spirit designs, oh my goodness! I'm already working on the sprites. <3

[Paraiba Ocean]

I'm with you. I love the new characters, especially the twins. I think the deadpan is a little forced, but it is a nice contrast to Bolin's more goofball humor. However, I think I'll come to like it more the more I hear it.

Unalaq and Tonraq have a really interesting background though the flashback seemed a little rushed as well, though I suppose the point is to provide some sort of exposition as to why the Southern WT is so far off balance. I almost was a little disheartened to see the "banishment with shame" theme again I suppose because of Zuko. That being said, Tonraq's wasn't nearly on the same level as Zuko's in a sense, but I suppose I would have preferred if he had exiled himself in a sense out of embarrassment/shame for his actions. Of course, I'm also hoping that while the brothers have some tension, it's not a repeat of previous seasons with the intense sibling rivalries that end in one having to "defeat" the "bad" one. Hopefully, their story lines will show characters who have made mistakes thinking they are doing what's right despite causing harm, and eventually they'll come together for the good of the world or something like that.

I think Korra's irritation with being told what to do is understandable because it seems like she doesn't get many choices, but I'm also a little surprised at how... haphazard she was also being. Not to say I was the most practical person in the world when I was 17/18 years old, but she was really brash with tossing Tenzin aside, which is almost surprising in a sense after everything that had happened with Amon. I suppose the feeling of betrayal could be the catalyst to send him on his way when Unalaq put things towards her, but idk. I also was kind of put off by how Korra's got magical complete control over the Avatar State so rapidly when she herself is so spiritually off-balance. It seemed like Aang really struggled throughout the series with the Avatar State and then Korra's got it on speed dial to win a race; perhaps it could be that his age made it harder to manage it, but at the same time, I was hoping it would show her trying to understand and connect to it more (perhaps Unalaq being able to try and "guide" her to use that ability for the bridge). Especially to see Korra managing to go to the Spirit World herself or even communicate with her past lives (I know people are itching to see Adult Aang serve Korra the way Roku did Aang). Anyway, I do think one of the book's themes will be trying to find your own path. I think that's a really big coming of age concept, and sometimes we get so used to people telling us what to do and how to do it that we get so disoriented if no one does that for us - even if we hate being told what to do.

I'm looking forward to this storyline with Jinora and I think it'll tie into Wan which will eventually tie into Korra. Perhaps Wan will be the advisor to Korra instead of Aang? That could be interesting.

[Zidaneski]

Wan's statue I believe was in a different room. I like the colors and style to these two episodes, it made it seem like the place was really cold compared to the blizzard we saw in the north. So correct me if I'm wrong but I get the feeling from other people that this second season will also be resolved by the end of the same season, like she'll restore balance with the spirits or something. Isn't that kinda repeating the same mistake as season 1? I was under the impression that the creators would be able to develop things gradually because they know they have 3 more seasons. I also feel like I'm being rushed through.

[ILZ]

Yeah, I agree that it does seem a little rushed. While I liked the storyline, I was surprised that Korra was able to put the south back in spiritual balance so quickly considering that merely six months before she was completely unable to access the Avatar state. Although I'm excited to learn more about the Avatar, and I like that Jinora is going to be the one that the story will most likely come through.

I felt so bad for Kya and Bumi that they were treated as less because they aren't Airbenders. I got the impression this was pretty typical for them and I hope we get to see more of them and learn more about their lives. There definitely seems to be some tension between them and Tenzin. It is sad for me to see how serious and unhappy Tenzin always seems considering how fun loving and free Aang was. I hope we do get to see that "vacation Tenzin" soon.

I hated how difficult Korra was being with Mako, but I was glad to see that she apologized in the end for being hard to put up with. I can understand her frustration about always being guarded and never given any freedom even though she is the one destined to keep the world in balance. I think her need for independence is pretty spot on considering her age.

Poor Bolin trying to find him a girlfriend was too funny. Eska and Desna are definitely an interesting set, but fun to watch for sure. I'm happy to see that Asami still has a friend in Bolin (I really hope it never turns into something romantic). I'm starting to feel a little more connected to these characters but I still don't feel as invested in their story as I did with the ATLA characters so I hope we get more character development this season to help with that.

I thought Unalaq seemed shady the whole episode so I wasn't too surprised to see he was launching an invasion of the south. I wonder where this will lead. I hope it isn't too much brother against brother since we kinda saw that last season with Tarrlok and Amon. But I think the whole North vs. South thing was even apparent in ATLA. The north seemed to have a sense of arrogance in response to the south and clearly never came to their aid during the war.

[Leaf]

Bolin is being setup as a manlet (I assume male valet), isn't he?

Sept 13, 2013 23:31:33 GMT -5 Musogato said:

I've heard some frustrations elsewhere about how all of these guys are telling Korra what she should or shouldn't do and so she doesn't have much agency. But I think it's extra thick in these two episodes because maybe this season will be about Korra coming into her own and finding her own path, especially in how to deal with this spirit issue and the divide between technology and spirituality, and there needs to be a clear contrast. IMO anyway, I guess we'll see how it goes. But for Korra to flat-out say "I'm so used to people telling me what to do, it's strange for someone to just trust me." (or something like that), makes me think that will be one of the Book's themes.

So basically would Iroh's advice of, "There's nothing wrong with letting people who love you help you," apply to Korra's situation?

[Paraiba Ocean]

Iroh does have some wisdom in that advice, but I think that comes from swallowing pride when you are faced with what seems like an impossible obstacle and asking for someone to help you. In Korra's case, it's like she hasn't received chances to overcome these obstacles on her own - I think in her mind, they're not "helping" her - they're trying to do it for her, or helping her with limited information.

Which can definitely feel like an act of betrayal.

[bagpipe turtle]

Well, I haven't posted in years, but oh well.

Korra seems to have plateaued in terms of her character development. Same angsty teen fighting with her teachers (and Mako) and thinking she knows best. Fighting spirits rather than working with them, punching to airbend. It's a little disappointing to see her regress after an entire season of work. The opening of the portal seemed a bit hasty, too. She doesn't seem to have much respect for things like the Avatar State, either, which does bother me because she can enter it so easily.