Leaf
Gran Gran
Posts: 585
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Post by Leaf on Sept 21, 2013 0:00:59 GMT -5
I'm really surprised there isn't a thread about this yet.
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Post by Paraiba Ocean on Sept 21, 2013 5:02:01 GMT -5
Yikes, sorry, one of the staff usually makes a thread but I just saw it this evening (missed the live stream because of the typhoon has made the internet spotty)!
Anywho, interesting episode. I'm a little glad Korra came around and apologized to her father, and there were a lot of adult themes going on this episode - especially with Tenzin and his siblings. Also nice to hear Aang wasn't the perfect dad, either. Nothing against Aang as a character, but it's relieving to know he maintained humanity. While understandable that he placed so much attention on Tenzin (as upon Aang's passing, Tenzin would become the sole individual responsible for the maintenance of an entire race/culture), I can really empathize with his siblings - especially feeling abandoned and/or neglected for another sibling. Since my brother and I are so close in age, I felt really abandoned by my parents (my mother especially) because she paid such specific attention to my brother after he was born (naturally because he was younger and needed more attention), but to an 18 month old, that's not really a thought you have. And I've noticed that for a lot of children, fathers can be very idolized and their opinion, attention, and approval can sometimes mean such a world of difference. I'm not sure if that's because fathers typically are breadwinners and they can be more distant or more of an enigma (perhaps if a child was raised predominantly by a father and the mother was the provider, it would be opposite), but having the Avatar as a parent - especially as a father - probably makes his opinion and attention all the more important. I think it's a really good theme to address that not all siblings feel like they get the same upbringing, even though it's the "same" family.
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Post by ILZ on Sept 21, 2013 12:39:15 GMT -5
I agree that it is nice to get to explore the relationship between Tenzin and his siblings. I can definitely believe that Aang would consider it his "duty" to spend more time with Tenzin to prepare him to keep the Airbending culture alive. I thought it was interesting that Tenzin never realized that he was being favored so is having a hard time coming to terms with the fact that his "perfect" father wasn't so perfect for his brother and sister. And poor Bumi didn't really have a connection to either of his parents through bending. In my mind I imagine him spending a lot of time with his Uncle Sokka growing up, which would explain his goofiness and his inability to accept that there are some things that non benders cannot do. I also think it is kind of telling that neither Bumi or Kya had any children of their own. Perhaps they were afraid they wouldn't be great parents because of their raising. Or maybe they knew that their children would always be living in the shadow of their cousins who are the next generation of Airbenders.
And I'm really starting to feel sorry for Korra. She really seems to be struggling. Like she said, all she ever wanted to be was the Avatar, but I don't think she understood that sometimes the role of the Avatar is a lonely one. There is no one for her to please her people and still remain impartial as the Avatar should. Of course, I still believe that Unalaq doesn't have entirely pure motives for invading the South so I think her best option would be to stand with her tribe. But I was glad that she apologized to her parents. I think this is a good theme in this series. Just getting to explore the relationship between the Avatar and their family.
On a side note, I wonder where Asami was in this episode?
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Post by Musogato on Sept 22, 2013 16:41:16 GMT -5
Sorry about that! I try to make 'em before I leave for work, but it just didn't....work out. I also found the sibling theme interesting, and I'm glad they delved into it as much as they did. I feel for Kya and Bumi and am glad they're showing that Aang wasn't some perfect all-being but a fallible human. But at the same time I understand why it turned out that way. Aang spent so many years being the only Airbender, and then finally his youngest child turns out to be one too? I can imagine how excited Aang was to have someone to share his culture and everything with, not just to carry on the legacy or tell how things were, but to have someone who actually understands what it's like. To be able to play airbending games and just be around another airbender again, I can imagine that really filled a void for Aang. And it's because of this difference that I'm glad it's being brought up, and Tenzin who seems like he's always been at odds with his siblings, can come to terms with that and hopefully try to make amends or strengthen his relationships with Kya and Bumi while he still can. It'll be interesting to see how it goes in Part Two. As for Asami, I think they just had so much to do in this episode that they couldn't switch to her without it breaking the rhythm too much? But hopefully she'll be in Civil Wars Pt. 2 or the episode after since she'll be working with the Water Tribe's Tony Stark. (what's his name?) Also, Unalaq using Korra's suggestion of a fair trial to go after Tonraq, auugh! I definitely don't think he has good intentions anymore, though him sitting on a throne in that dark room when Korra went to talk with him was pretty anvilicious. I just hope he'll teach Korra his fancy spirit taming move before they fully become on separate sides. If they do? It'll be interesting to see what Korra does. Also, Bolin was too cute in this episode. (or am I just terrible?) If he's not able to break it off with Eska, hopefully Mako or Korra will be able to step in and help. Or Asami, as he is supposed to be her assistant. Aw, now I hope it will be Asami that helps, that would be sweet, since he helped her with the business interview. I still don't ship them, but I would like them to be friends.
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Post by Nashk Tategami on Sept 22, 2013 18:50:00 GMT -5
Wow, I have never had such a whiplash when it comes to deciding whether or not I like a season. I mean I hated the first two episodes. They were so full of plot yet they managed to feel like a slow, meandering mess the entire hour of the special. and the "new" art style felt off putting and so full of mistakes I could barely watch it. (Like people missing their iris's in certain frames, perspective was off and made faces look warped. )
Here though... The pacing felt absolutely perfect and the animater must have finally hit their stride as I couldn't spot any errors and the fight scenes felt fluid again! I'll miss the original "cinematic" quality animation from the first season but I can safely say it no longer bugs me now. (If you want me to elaborate I will if someone asks. I don't want to bog down the thread with tangents that refer to the entire series.)
As for the episode itself I was hooked from beginning to end even at the slow bits. Character development, aside from a few glaring issues ,feel much better to me especially with Tenzin and his family. Unalaq still feels like the obvious villain of course but seeing how he handles his actions makes him feel far more balanced to me. I still get the "Tarrlok 2.0" feeling from him but the episode makes me feel that either he really believes that this is best for the tribe as a whole. Other than at the very end with arresting Korra's dad, I feel he hasn't made any overtly "lol evil" moves like Tarrlok did.
However I feel like Korra has done a completely 180 after the first season. It feels like the first season never happened with her lesson wise. She is even more impatient and bull headed than ever, she brushes away reason and while her frustrations with her father and Tenzin are well founded and deserving of answers her treatment of Tenzin and her father feels so childish. This wouldn't be so bad except for everything that happened in the first season!
I also felt Bolin has been lagging this season. Yes he is comedic relief (and I enjoy that, I do) but so far he feels like nothing BUT comedic relief. Maybe its because of the civil war subplot. Hopefully he will get some more substance in later episodes.
@musugato
I agree about Asami. She has had so little screentime this season and the last. She needs some love to come into her own character. Heck she even felt a little out of place in the first episode for me as it was so disconnected to everything else.
However I am sure she will get a bigger role. Probably involving her company's new airplanes.
@ilz
I agree about Aang and his duty to focus on Tenzin. It sucks for his other children but Tenzin was literally the last airbender after Aang. It was up to him to preserve the nomad culture and teachings and hopefully preserve the art itself. That is incredibly important, not just for the culture but to preserve the avatar cycle.
I'm sure Bumi and Kya understand that but it doesn't change the fact their own father didn't spend much time with them.
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