The Legend of Korra : Season 1 (2012)

I've seen the first episode several times now, and it is a wonder to behold every time. I can't believe how much information and emotion is packed into just the first few minutes. I feel the need to articulate why in detail, maybe then I can get it out of my system.

Episode 1 - Welcome to Republic City

00:14 It starts like The Last Airbender, listing the elements, and showing a little demo, but who is this old guy narrating? Is it grown up Aang? Also, the animation is immediately more sophisticated in the new series.

00:24 "When I was a boy, my father, Avatar Aang..." - what an impressive way to move the story forward in half a sentence. Suddenly everything you knew has been replaced, and it's almost too much to process. And yet the voice of the narrator is wise and patient, like the airbending masters that Aang knew, so you know you must be in good hands.

00:32 And with it comes this golden (literally) tribute. All our heroes, frozen together into a moment of triumph, immediate and alive forever. And yet simultaneously distant and irretrievably in the past as the narrator remembers events long gone. The voice of the narrator conveys this sense of history with perfection.

0:44 So the Fire Lord and the Avatar built a new and peaceful world, something broadly hinted at towards the end of the last series, and a welcome reward for ending a hundred years of suffering. And then they show the new capital, and its... it looks just like New York City! And in this world, its even grander and more magnificent! How could this much have been built so quickly?

00:59 Avatar Aang has a statue, and he certainly deserves one, but the parallel to the Statue of Liberty, facing a wall of skyscrapers, isn't even different enough to be debatable. It hints at a great many things about this new world.

1:09 "Avatar Aang accomplished many remarkable things in his life, but sadly, his time in this world came to an end, and like the cycle of the seasons, the cycle of the Avatar began anew."
Its precisely the right closing sentence to this intro, and though it reads blandly in text form, the narrator delivers it with such depth and weight that it feels magnificent. He sounds like he has seen and endured much, yet still trusts in the grand cycle of things.

After that bit of heaviness, things start getting even more serious as members of the White Lotus are apparently on some mission. From the end of the last series, you know the White Lotus acts openly only when something serious is going on. And then you see the family they are visiting are kind of frazzled, everything's messy, wall decorations are falling down - something is about to be revealed.

01:53 "What makes you so sure your daughter is... The One?" You can feel the joke coming as if from a great distance, as the White Lotus members are clearly tired of searching for the next incarnation of the Avatar, and annoyed at all the false leads. And yet mom and dad look so tired, and so certain and relieved, that you know for sure the Avatar is about to appear. It's kind of exciting this time around, because you've seen the long line of Avatars that came before, and you're about to see the next one for the first time.

02:13 "I'm the Avatar, you gotta deal with it!" - its a kid's show, so the sentence stops there, but its painfully obvious that the sentence should end in some sort of expletive. The new Avatar is even younger than when we met Aang, and she is instantly everything he was not. Aang was shy and humble, Korra is in your face and aggressive. Learning the new elements was a process for Aang, Korra is clearly proficient at three elements already, and she's still a child. Not only that, Aang had to be told he was the Avatar, with all the angst that entailed; Korra knows from the start her birthright. Where Aang was quiet, and often still, Korra is a whirlwind of activity even just to say hello, demonstrating why the parents look so frazzled.

02:16 And just when you've met baby Avatar Korra, suddenly she's all grown up, and taking what appears to be a test in the fire element, and handily kicking the butts of several sparring partners simultaneously.

02:48 "She's strong" says one of the people watching the test... its those same White Lotus members, now over a decade older, and... Kitara!
One thing you must have known about this new series was that at least someone from the previous series would be in it. Its just too much of a narrative opportunity to drop in an old character, no writer could resist it. But for it to be Kitara carries so much extra meaning. You know that Aang and Kitara got together, and therefore the narrator is their son. But Korra, the successor, is not their daughter - Korra is Aang reincarnated. Kitara is not standing there as the proud grandmother of the next avatar, Korra is the reincarnation of her dead husband. What must Kitara be thinking and feeling? Her position is unique, and doubtless a bit sad, though she's had a long time to get used to the inevitable. Aang will go on forever in some form, and yet her husband is also permanently gone. Kitara is a master water bender, probably one of the greatest alive, so it is also obvious that she should be here, guiding the new Avatar. It tells you something about Kitara, that she undertakes this duty when she could have probably been excused, and had someone else oversee Korra's training.

03:43 A bunch of dialogue ensues, exactly what you expect about Korra being strong in the elements, but lacking restraint, or the proper respect for the spiritual side of the Avatar. Yes, this was kind of explained already by example, but I guess it doesn't hurt to put it all out there explicitly. And she still needs to study air bending with... Tenzin. Like any good storytelling its not spelled out that this must be Aang's son. And it also strongly implies that airbending is back in the world, that it did not die with Aang. Another sad and wonderful moment as Kitara watches Korra walk away.

04:52 It looks like Korra's spirit animal helper is some kind of dog bear thing. A seemingly unneeded but beautiful moment occurs as Korra takes Naga out for a ride as an erhu plays. Its another wonderful bit of storytelling shorthand that shows you that Korra is a real person, with her own wants and needs, and not just some caricature of a whirlwind.

05:09 Before you can dwell on that for too long, several remarkable things happen in a few seconds. The narrator, who must be Tenzin, arrives on a flying bison, with his family. This really underlines the point that you don't get to see Aang grow up and have a family, that's all long gone, you are now watching Aang's children and grandchildren. At least two of the grandkids are airbenders too! It feels like a relief that somehow airbending has not been lost to the world.

05:49 "What happened to Zuko's mom?" asks one of the quieter children, who reminds you of young Kitara, until interrupted by another child who reminds you of young Sokka. And then there's the other little one who reminds you of Aang. Its all so new, yet comfortably familiar, and it all happens at once. Tenzin's siblings are mentioned, Kya and Bumi (will we ever meet them?)

06:41 It's a touching family reunion, and there in the back is Korra, like another relative at the gathering. But she's not! She's the last vestige of the one person who is not at this family reunion - Aang. It seems like it should be so awkward, but its not, its more like Korra is another one of Aang and Kitara's relatives. She's not, but yet it feels like she is, because spiritually she is. It's a strange situation if you think about it too much, but if you feel your way through it, its not only OK, but maybe even right.

09:07 "Aang's time has past. My brother and many of my friends are gone". Korra's air training is cut short because Tenzin is needed back at Republic City, so Korra is going to have to stay put. Of course, hot-headed and strong willed Korra has no patience for that, so she's going to follow the only living airbender master, against everyone's orders, and get that training no matter the cost. Of course. And Kitara catches her while escaping, and lets her go. When Kitara said out loud that almost everyone from the past is gone, you can feel the pain of her loss, and the loss that everyone from the previous series is gone. You, the audience, are being explicitly told to let go of the past and embrace the present that is.

10:04 Another heartfelt moment as Korra says goodbye to her parents. And then a shot of a large metal sea ship, steaming through the night (like the firebender ships of before, but much more civilian than military). The "camera" pans through the hold, past what is obviously a ground car, with wheels and headlights. It looks just like the cars tethered to the deck in the hold of the Titanic movie, but with a more Asian feel, which places us where technologically, in the 1910s? It raises so many questions, and yet it was just a brief pan of the background. And then there's Korra and her companion, either stowed away or booked on low passage with the cargo, with a look of anxiety but sublime optimism on her face.

10:51 The way they bound off the ship, it seems passage was more like stowaway than economy class. Then suddenly you are amongst airships, suspension bridges, skyscrapers, cars. You have already been told to let go of the characters from the first series, but now you must let go of that feudal fantasy world. You are in a new modern world, that still has magic.

From here until the end of the episode, adventure ensues, and the spell of the intro is broken. Korra goes on to learn more about this new environment, she achieves a small victory, and the story can begin in earnest.

That first ten minutes was some of the densest storytelling I've ever seen. There's a lot to live up to if this next series wants to live up to that.

Episode 2 - A Leaf in the Wind

The show opener has changed a bit, and it seems much reduced. The four elements are still there, but now it ends with Korra in the shadow of Aang, with no other goal than balance. I guess after Aang saved the world, there's not much left for follow-up Avatar to do, until the world goes sufficiently out of kilter again. How long does that usually take? If its every generation, this must be quite the unstable world. Otherwise, there may be several generations in a row of Avatars that really don't have much to do.
And then it goes into early 20th century style newsreel footage to recap the events so far. That's very cute, with the old timey voice, and the scratchy film stock, but who is this new narrator? Where's our previously established narrator, Tenzin? And why is the the film reel voice all-seeing? Its showing 'footage' of Korra doing things by herself, when no camera could have possibly been recording her.
I know, its just a conceit to perform the necessary work of recapping the episode so you can get in the proper frame of mind to contextually enjoy the episode you're about to see. But its a bit short-sighted, as the implications of this news reel are that they are just throwing gimmicks at the wall to see what sticks, and they're out of good ideas already.
It strongly hints that the good writers did the hard work of setting things up, then moved on, leaving the B team to carry on.

Tenzin, who seemed the very model of compassion and understanding, is suddenly cursed with the loss of several points of wisdom. He knows he has a hot-headed action-girl as a student, but he expects her to act like she's entering the Vulcan Academy. Tenzin is surrounded by air students (another great nod to the rebirth of the air benders), surely he is one of their masters, and he should know better than to go with this tired approach. And another point - the air benders were serious and spiritual, yet playful and mischievous; Tenzin seems way too uptight about Korra's training. Perhaps the wise old Tenzin that narrated the opening is a future Tenzin, looking back, not this uptight middle-age Tenzin.

"Let's begin your first lesson", says Tenzin. This lesson seems to be more of a graduation test than a lesson. For supposedly kind and compassionate monks, the first thing Tenzin does is set Korra up for immediate failure, and rub her nose in it by having his kids run through the test like its nothing. Why start the test at suicide speed, when a gentle beginning would have almost certainly conveyed the proper lesson? Tenzin is practically daring her to give up and run away from her training and go off to join the Pro Bending circus across the bay. Is Tenzin really this dense?
We meet the brothers Bolin and Mako, I wonder if this is a reference to voice actor Mako, who voiced Iroh. Bolin seems to be an almost too direct reincarnation of Sokka from the last show. I like how Korra wastes no time revealing who she is to her new found friends. Its not like she's trying to impress them, its more like she just can't hide who she is. She grew up safe, and protected, so its more like naivete than pride. Keeping a low profile is out of the question.
Back at air academy, Korra continues to be frustrated, and calls Tenzin a terrible teacher. That actually hurts a bit, because maybe he is, at least to her.
Back at the bending soccer arena, Korra only too obviously and smoothly gets on the team, and her presence is revealed to the public in the most dramatic way possible.
Nice reconciliatory ending, nice longing gazes over the water.
Have I mentioned the beauty of the end credits, with the erhu playing over the water. I could watch that for hours, too bad it lasts only a few seconds.

Episode 3 - The Revelation

The narrator of the news reel recap is ever more all-knowing, talking about Korra and (end-level boss and antagonist) Amon in a big picture kind of way, like it knows what the characters are thinking and feeling. I'd rather it remained with Tenzin, especially if its a wiser and older version that knows how this is all going to turn out, and is telling a story that has gone by. He could even comment on some mistakes and regrets about younger Tenzin, to further differentiate the narrator.

I love that the power generators of Republic City are fire benders. But it doesn't seem that this job pays very much. A difficult, dangerous, and hard mastered skill from the old series has become so inflated, its barely a minimum wage job now.
Bolin is clearly the Sokka of this series, the comic relief. It kinda sounds like even the same voice actor sometimes, as he says things exactly the way Sokka would.

We learn a bit more about the city low-life, the triad gangsters. Some of the gangsters are chi blockers, and can take away bending for bit. This feels cheap, as in the first series it was a special talent of Ty Lee, a unique character that was convincing of pulling off such a power. Now it feels like every run-of-the-mill gang has a few bender blockers in stock, like its no big deal. And they're not just blockers, but talented acrobats (like Ty Lee), and expert bola throwers. More inflation.

And if that wasn't enough, the big bad Amon can take bending away permanently, like Avatar Aang. This makes no sense, and as smart as this show has been so far, I don't think they can ever explain this satisfactorily. Also, the ability to take away bending is a power granted to those who are in harmony with the universe and the elements. Amon just seems like some petty revolutionary thug who doesn't even seem to be able to bend, let alone master multiple disciplines like the Avatar. It seems a betrayal of all the lore of the universe we've learned so far.
I also personally hate the meme of magic going out of the world. If I wanted a dead world where there is no magic, I already live in one and wouldn't bother watching fantasy shows.
And who is this Amon with this previously unheard of power? Having an anti-bender in the story opens up some interesting story possibilities, but it really messes with the world as we know it. And what's with the mask, who cares who he really is? Unless he's someone famous and well known, which is obviously going to come out.
Another obvious is the Chekov's Gun of Amon's ability; some character we care about is going become its victim. How permanent are the effects? Is it like a really long-lasting chi block, or is it really permanent like only Aang could do?

I think I would like it better if Amon could just block all bending within a certain large radius around himself (like Rose in The Black Company), leaving you no way to fight other than conventional arms. It might even make Amon a good allegory about the technology of this new world, and the place of bending in it.

Speaking of the new world, I'm getting used to it. I objected at first, because it seems they took away the old feudal world too quickly, and dumped us in this new modern world with no time to adjust. And yet, there is plenty of historical precedent for this. Think about the Black Ships that came to Japan, forcing new tech on a (self-imposed) medieval world. From what little I know of anime, I see constant references to anachronisms, that indicate they are still digesting this forced rapid change, even centuries later. I also think of a recent picture I've seen of Shanghai, where its a town by a river, and a few decades later its covered with skyscrapers. Even though its real it still feels a little too fast, which may well be the point. A subtle and fascinating topic for a kids' show.

On a much less subtle note, Korra's season one enemy is someone who's face is scarred by firebending. Shades of Aang's antagonist in season one, of course, but it makes me wonder if Amon is related to Aang in some way. Maybe Amon, despite his claim, is a child of Aang who didn't inherit any bending, only anti-bending, and he's mad about it. At the end of the Aang's story it is emphasized, especially by the ancient lion-turtle, that the universe seeks balance, and this is the Avatar's job. I don't see how Amon fits into this, and suspect the writing has lost its way. I hope not.

Episode 4 - The Voice in the Night

I like how this series continues to deal with mature issues, like a corrupt politician who wants to use a crisis to gain more power. It makes you long for the simpler days of Aang, when evil walked the earth openly, and you knew who your enemies and friends were.

Shades of Titanic ('shines up like an new penny') as Mako visits Ms. Sato's upper class world. And like Titanic, this new industrial world needs its captains of industry, so Mr. (Henry Ford) Hiroshi Sato makes perfect sense.
Chief Beifong is as awesome, as ever.

Korra challenges Amon to a duel, and while she waits we get to see more of Liberty... Avatar Island. Amon actually shows up, beats Korra, lets her go. Ostensibly not to make her a martyr, I like that, the enemy is playing a bigger chess game, it fits the higher political sensibilities of this series. Nothing too noteworthy but nice to see.

What was cool, as Korra gets knocked down a peg, we get to see a glimpse into the past. I rewind, and pause. Looks like an older Sokka, an older Toph, an older Aang, or is that a younger Tenzin? Something bad happened in the previous generation, and its bearing a bitter harvest today. Now we're getting somewhere.

The episode ends with Korra crying in Tenzin's arms - it seems natural, as Tenzin is a father, and a master, and Korra is his student, and somewhat like a daughter. Korra is also the reincarnation of Tenzin's father - I'd like to see at least a little hint as to how that makes the older generation feel.
Another thing - where's the Avatar state? It has not been mentioned at all yet. Young Aang dropped into Avatar state every time he got upset - can Korra? Will Korra get a guru, who can unblock all her chi so she can state at will?

Episode 5 - The Spirit of Competition

Love triangle... Bolin -> Korra -> Mako -> Asami, or is that a love quadrangle? It's a teen romance episode, and its not bad. You pretty much see everything coming, and yet you still feel every cringe and awkward moment.

"Daddy was in love with someone else before you?"
Bolin's date with Korra is awesome. They have a burping contest, go to the Eiffel Tower, everything. But it's not enough to stop a fateful kiss...
"Bolin, this isn't what you think".
Back to the tournament.
"Flameo Instant Noodles, noodliest noodles in the united republic" (that one's got Sokka written all over it).
"I know things are confusing right now, but I hope we can still be friends."

"Relax, I'm a healer. I learned from Kitara, the best there is." A nice and welcome reference.

I realize that Bolin and Mako are brothers and benders - but of different disciplines. Bending type runs in families, so... did they have a different parent? Does bending usually pass from the mother or the father? We have one anecdote, in that Aang was able to have an airbender child with Kitara.

Episode 6 - And the Winner Is

A "Cabbage Corp" advertisement - as in the "my cabbages!" guy? I guess he finally made it, after all his cabbage setbacks.
The leader of the Fire Ferrets main enemy team, the Wolf Bats, looks like a character who would be at home in Aeon Flux.
How can Amon hack the radio frequencies? Wouldn't he need a more powerful transmitter and... best to just let that go. Its a minor nitpick.
Chief Bei-fong: "It's time that the benders of this city displayed some strength and unity against these equalists". That's cool and all, but what's Lin even doing here? It's one thing for the Avatar to barge in on a closed meeting, the chief of police should probably be the last person... unless she was investigating why someone barged in on the Council's closed meeting... OK, I've really got to stop nitpicking.
Metal bender armor is impervious to chi blockers? That explains why they wear it.
Tarlok smoothly dumps responsibility on to Lin - so he can't lose either way, setting her up (and Tenzin seems to notice this). Is Tarlok Amon's secret identity?

"You two were a couple!"
"So, Pemma stole you from Beifong!"
"We both had different goals... why am I even telling you this!" I love the score swell as Tenzin goes into his heartfelt story - then abruptly puts the breaks on. There's an awful lot of romantic intrigue and love triangles for what seems to be a kids' show. Or maybe this is targeted at a more young adult demographic?
"Perfect, everything is going according to plan".
Who is this Amon with all this deep plotting? Emperor Palpatine?

"Wouldn't have guessed you knew the rules of pro bending."
"I can't believe your sweet-tempered father was reincarnated into that girl, she's tough as nails."
Amon's group kicks everyone's ass, seemingly with little effort.

Another flashback to the past. it looks like old Aang, old Toph, some other old guy, old Aang in the Avatar state.
"It seems fitting that you celebrate three bullies who cheated their way to victory."
"We will equalize the rest of the world, the revolution has begun!"

I like the aerial fight as Lin and Korra chase Amon, I love the little extra details in the background. Even if you don't freeze-frame to take a look at the statue in the background, you still know its there.

Tenzin:  "Republic City is at war" - chilling to hear, especially when a pacifist says it.

Amon doesn't make any sense. He is extremely politically astute and a talented leader of the rebellion. He's got extreme dodging skills and there is no bender yet, not even professional athletes who compete at the highest level, that can land a hit on him. He has access to resources and connections that indicate he's deeply embedded in the system, or really good at a hacking it (ex: being able to sneak airships right over the pro bending arena without getting shot down or even detected, hacking the radio system, etc.).
Amon is good - too good. Where does a multi-level threat like this come from? Because of the many parallels to the past, he's probably the descendant of someone from the old show. Someone like Azula, super talented and crazy. A bizarre love-child of Azula and Aang would fit the bill, but there's no way that's happening anywhere but in some hardcore fanfic.

Looking back at what Amon said, about equalizing the rest of the world, this sounds a lot like bringing balance to the Force. Maybe there are just too many benders now? In the old days you could count lightning benders on one hand, now lightning benders are so common they are used to perform menial industrial work in the power plant (i.e. Mako's day job). Last we saw, spirits still rule this world, behind the scenes, and maybe they don't like having this much bending in the world. Maybe the spirits have created an anti-avatar.

Bending is natural in this world, even some animals do it (bison, dragons, moles, etc), and this has been going on forever (like the ancient lion-turtle who helped Aang). Actually, the fact that animals can bend, and have been probably doing so since before man 'evolved' (if that's a thing in this world), indicates bending is deeply rooted in the metaphysics of this world. To try to eliminate bending from the world would be most unnatural. Therefore Amon's goal of removing bending from the world is unnatural. But reducing it... maybe.

Episode 7 - The Aftermath

Strange use of the sepia-toned re-cap segment, they show a speech by Tarlok. Why not just make the speech live and in color in the present? Would it have made any difference?

Poor Cabbage Corp., they are the eternal Butt Monkey of this universe.
Interesting meeting between Korra and the stricken leader of the Wolf Bats who lost his bending - he's been to the best healers, and his condition can't be helped.

Asami introduces Korra to fast land vehicles. "Pretty cool, huh?"
Our hero suspects an ally of treachery, tells her friends, they investigate, nothing is found, our hero looks bad in front of everyone, but actually there was treachery, and it will come out later that - no! This show cuts to the chase, and skips all that middle part. The suspicion was correct, no time wasted, plot careens ahead. This episode was so well paced it felt like it was all of five minutes.
Curious parallel, Sato (this world's Henry Ford) sympathizes with Amon, whereas our world Henry Ford sympathized with Hitler? (if that's not an urban legend).
Steampunk mecha suits. Where won't this show go? But wait... what is powering Satomobiles, I always just assumed it was some kind of canned firebending. Has this world discovered oil, and refining? I guess we wait for that to be addressed.
It was really neat to see Lin Beifong and Tenzin in action.
Asami is shaping up to be a multi-dimensional character, as is Korra as she sadly looks away as she sends Bolin to go be with her.

In Korra's world, Satomobiles are allowable, because this is a world of fire and lightning bending, and it almost makes sense that somehow this power has been harnessed into small motors that can turn wheels, presumably for a while until some firebender charges them up again. After all, in Aang's world, fire benders powered whole naval and air fleets, and a small leap of sophistication could conceivably power cars.
But to try and parleigh that into mecha suits is really pushing the concept past the breaking point. A fire/lightning black box powering a car is one thing, but something that can fit in and power a man-sized suit is another. This world has cars in what seems to be their 1910s, as we did, but there's nothing even close to mecha suits in our 1910s, let alone 2010s. So where did all the fine mechanical equipment come from, stuff that's more advanced than our current real world? A little artistic license from the writers is one thing, but to go this far shows greed and laziness. If you want to push this premise this far, you have to show some work to make it believable. Ultimately, its just poor writing.
Good character episode, bad world building episode.

Episode 8 - When Extremes Meet

This episode went by even faster than the last one.

"Asami, did you know Korra likes Mako?" Sometimes these little cartoon dramatizations of characters internal feelings are a bit much, but this one makes total sense. I wonder if firebenders can actually create a nuclear mushroom cloud.
Since Lin resigned, new police chief Sai-kon inducted.
"What is that weasel-snake Tarlok up to now?"
Tarlok: "You're not, in fact, the Avatar. You are merely a half-baked Avatar in training. Which reminds me, how is your air-bending going? Made any significant progress with that? I didn't think so." Quite the come-back from Tarlok. Makes me wonder if Tenzin will be offed this season, and Korra will have to really really struggle to master air-bending.

Tenzin: "Have you ever made contact with your past lives?"
"Aang's spirit must be trying to tell you something".
The Team Avatar thing was a bit much, but its OK because it gets farted on (literally) right quick.

"My Dad had police scanners installed in all his cars. I guess now I know why."
Trouble at police HQ.
"If it wasn't for Team Avatar, they would have gotten away."
Tarlok imposes curfew against non-benders, which is an obvious writing fail on multiple levels. This is an obvious reference to real-world discrimination, of which there are countless examples. But how would the police even know who is bender or non-bender, just by looking at them? Are the non-benders wearing some kind of identification? Discrimination of this level doesn't just go from nothing to extreme, it first insinuates itself into society in many subtle ways, before it becomes so blatant. This writing can be so sophisticated at times, and then gets really juvenile, like the Star Wars prequels.

Sometimes, its just fun to see our characters hanging out. "Equalists have taken to the streets, consider them armed and dangerous, proceed with caution".
"Why is the power out?"
"Please help us. You're our Avatar too". A seeming throwaway line from the anonymous crowd, but it encapsulates the whole problem with this city.
Tarlok: "Unless you want to join your friends in prison I suggest you put those down and go back to the Air Temple."
"So sad to see your little Team Avatar broken up."
I like how Tenzin pulls rank on Sai-kon.
Korra is so impatient she can't even wait til morning, and has to confront Tarlok in the middle of the night.

"You're just as bad as Amon!" Its a little surprising that Tarlok would turn to violence here, even going so far as to strike first. Its one of those actions in life, and in stories, that changes everything, and is even more shocking as it comes out of nowhere. Its a nice fight though, if brief.
"You're a blood-bender?" More bending inflation. Another arcane power from the old days that seems to be a little too common nowadays.

"It's not a full moon, how are you doing this?" I do appreciate that they remember to emphasize just how creepy blood bending is. I also appreciate how fast things are moving along. No beating around the bush how Tarlok may or may not be be the Sith in the Chancellor's clothing, they just get right to it. But is he also Amon?

More and longer flashbacks. These are a bit frustrating as Tenzin and Kitara probably know most of what happened, and should just tell Korra whatever they know. Why leave the Avatar unarmed with the truth, or at least history ? This is like someone becoming the leader, and not becoming privy to the state secrets, and your intelligence officers dole out the clues on a need to know basis, if at all. The Avatar is not the world leader, but their job is to right the balance in the world whenever they feel it necessary, which makes them the closest thing to it. Why is Korra so ignorant of how the world works, when it is her job to regulate its spiritual (and sometimes political) balance? After all this time, shouldn't some organization be in charge of continuity, of keeping the Avatar's secrets, or at least a store of knowledge, so it can be passed to the next Avatar as smoothly as possible? More than once, whole populations have been wiped out because the transition from one Avatar to the next has been rocky. You'd think White Lotus, at least, would have figured this out by now. It would be a more peaceful world, but it would probably not make a good TV show.

Episode 9 - Out of the Past

Bloodbending as previously explained allows you to control your subject, it does not mean you can levitate your subject (or does it?). In any case, bloodbending means telekinesis (of bodies) now.
So Tarlok has an empty mountain cabin to stash Korra in, but why does he already have a metal box at the ready?
Tarlok: "That's when the Equalists attacked".
"...but Korra was gone."

I like how Lin gets dressed for work, or rather, breaking into her old workplace, and busting the rest of Team Avatar out.
Bolin: "I can't go with you listening!"
Lin: "Your fly was down."
Tenzin: "I believe Aang's spirit is trying to tell you something."

Toph: "Follow me, twinkletoes". I love the constant reminders, that the past is in the past, and yet for the avatar, past memories can be in the present.
Toph: "You're under arrest, Jacon."
Korra: "I finally connected with you, Aang, but what are you trying to tell me".

Lin: "There's a tunnel nearby!". As much as I love this nod to the past, i.e. Toph's seismic ability, it seems like yet more power inflation. Though I guess it makes sense that Toph would have the time and ability to teach her daughter this power, it still feels a bit cheap. (I should have noted this earlier, when Lin used her seismic ability to find Sato's underground base).
Asami: "They kissed?" Bolin rats out his brother for no apparent reason, I thought he wasn't resentful. Maybe the quadrangle is still in play.
Secret underground Bond villain style enemy base.
Metalbending seemed like such a side note in Aang's time. Here in Republic City, where so much of everything is metal, it seems even more logical that the police would be made up of metal benders.
Lin: "That monster already took your bending, didn't he?" "I'm so sorry".
Lin: "Korra's not here".
Tenzin: "Because he has Korra, he fooled us all."
Nice escape by Lin, who bends the track and tunnel, and makes new tunnel until they hit daylight. I sometimes wonder about metalbenders, how good they are at bending just earth. It kind of reminds me fire benders compared to lightning benders. If water's primary and secondary specialties are water/healing, what is air's? If this has been covered already, I can't remember what it is.

Some lawyer: "Jacon has ruled Republic City's criminal empire for years." ... "And they will tell you Jacon has maintained his grip on the underworld by using an ability that has been illegal for decades... bloodbending." Really? You could keep something like that a secret for so long? Especially amongst cheats, thieves, and liars? There should have been at least rumors, this shouldn't be such a big surprise.

"Councilman Sokka will now deliver the verdict". He seems so old and wise and serious now, and shows no indication of ever having been a goofball. Is the show trying to say something about that? It seems a little sad.
Sokka: "life in prison". Jacon seems awfully powerful, in that he can blood bend everyone in the room at the same time, including Toph and the Avatar.
"You kidnapped her, Tarlok!"

"It's true, he took her!" This is why you should never mistreat the help. Also, what gender is Tarlok's secretary? Not that it matters in the slightest, but I'm curious why the show went to so much trouble to make this character so androgynous.
Secretary: "I was terrified to tell because... Tarlok is a bloodbender!"
I do like the parallel stories of evil bloodbending past, and evil blooding present. Its also interesting that Tarlok is so powerful he can knock out a whole room full of people at once.

Aang: "Jacon, you won't get away with this".
"Republic City is mine, Avatar. I'll be back one day to claim it".
I love the use of the Avatar State here. Aang is clearly a master of it at this point in his life, and he can use it whenever he needs a little boost to get back into the game. Its not clear if being in the state is enough to break bloodbending, or if Jacon was just so surprised at Aang's comeback it broke his concentration.

Aang: "I'm taking away your bending, for good".
Aang: "Its over." Just a great scene over all, and nice to see it completely after all these hints.
Korra: "So your little bloodbendings secret's out?"
Korra: "And I know how you bloodbent me without a full moon. You're Jacon's son".
Tarlok: "My father failed because he tried to rule the city from its rotten underbelly."
"Amon!" This guy can just appear anywhere, at any time. You've got to wonder when Korra hear's Tarlok's shock at Amon being here, especially since she's trapped in a box.

Amon: "It is time for you to be equalized".
Amon is immune to bloodbending.
Tarlok: "What, what are you!?"
Amon: "I am the solution".
So there goes the theory that Amon is Tarlok. This was such a surprising scene, because it seemed so certain that Amon was going to finally get bent, and he just shrugs it off, further deepening the mystery of Amon's power.
Amon: "You four retrieve the Avatar, do not underestimate her." He says the plan out loud, even though Korra is surely listening, giving her time to come up with a counter-measure. Is evil being written stupid to move the plot along, or is evil helping out for some reason?

Perfect use of slow-mo, as Korra sees Amon, and decides to just run away. Its a great insight into Korra's mind that she no longer is looking for a duel, but to simply survive.
"I thought I told you not to underestimate her." But its almost as if he let her go on purpose.

If past is prologue, Korra will soon ally with Amon to fight his evil fath-.... hmm, who is there to fight? This season's big bad is completely unrelatable as a human being, compared to Zuko. It's as if Amon is just a robot, some product of technology. And where's our wise old Iroh character, he's sorely missing. The closest we've got is the sympathetic sounding assistant to Amon, the dual energy-stick wielder, but he's barely a character. There's no sympathetic Zuko and Iroh story here, which so enriched the first series.

I just realized something - some of Amon's fighters wield energy sticks, and have glowing goggles. How are these powered? Are there batteries in this world, let alone that small?

Episode 10 - "Turning the Tides"

"Everything's going to be fine now, I promise." This is clearly not the wiser older narrator Tenzin, who doesn't sound like he would ever say anything that stupid.
Korra: Tarlok is Jacon's son.
Korra: "Amon captured him... and took his bending."
Tenzin: "I fear Amon is entering his endgame."
Asami finally snaps.
Mako: "Bolin told you, didn't he."
Mako doesn't handle it well.
Tenzin: "Will you stay here and watch over Pemma and the children...?"

Lin: "This is not what I signed on for!"
"I gotta poo - really bad."
Another great relationship moment, enhanced / destroyed by Aang's grandson.
"We're here to fix a spider-rat problem". Council members get taken out.
Watching Tenzin fight is always a treat. It gives insight as to what kind of air mastery Aang must have achieved, and passed on.
Secretary: "they've all been captured".
Tenzin: "This can't be happening."
Lin: "Republic City is under attack."

What a chilling image. The Avatar's statue watches, helplessly and unknowing, as the city he founded is being taken.
Korra: "I made it very clear, I don't know how to drive."
Tenzin: "I'm the only council member left".
Tenzin: "I need to send a wire... to the general of the United Forces".
officer: "the phone lines just went dead!"
Flashlights - they do have battery technology.
Tenzin: "Not these mecha-tanks again".

Sato: "Tenzin has escaped once again. I can't stand to see Asami fight alongside those... benders."
Tenzin: "Oh no."
That's just playing dirty pool, going after what is probably the only air temple in existence. Especially after they are still recovering from getting genocided.
Pemma: "The baby's coming!"
Lin: "Nice work, kids". Almost silly but it worked, the kids were awesome.
Lin: "I would have been toast if it weren't for your kids. You should be proud, you taught them well."
Tenzin: and the new baby's name is... "Rohan"
Lin: "You and your family are the last airbenders. There's no way in the world I'm letting Amon take your bending away."
United Forces are on the way, need to be patient.
"Nice one, Naga."

waterbending + Naga = submarine. I love the endless creativity of bending.

"Whatever happens to me, don't turn back!" Lin takes care of the pursuing airships.
"That lady is my hero."
Tenzin: "Yes, she is." Knowing Tenzin's and Lin's past, its all the more poignant that she sacrifices herself for his family.
"I won't tell you anything, you monster!" This kick the dog moment is necessary, to make you hate Amon, but damn is it hard to watch. Also, this taking of bending ritual has some scary connotations of, I hate to say it, rape and violation. If I had kids I don't think I'd let them watch this series without me watching it with them.

"Tell her we'll be arriving in three days time, and that I look forward to winning back Republic City, together."
"As you wish, General Iroh".
It is wonderful and confusing that this voice sounds like the voice actor for Zuko. I just don't know how to feel about this. It sounds like a very young Zuko, but this general looks older than the Zuko we knew.
Also, where have you been during all this trouble, General? Republic City has been troubled for some time, so why has the fleet been away?

Episode 11 "Skeletons in the Closet"

OK, Amon has taken Republic City, and you need some quick visual shorthand to show that, but this seems a little strange, sticking things on Aang's statue. You'd think they would just blow it up.
Underground hideout, "wise and noble hobo".
Amon: "Next." Sad line of victims extending around the corner.
United Forces arrive, strange looking battleships with dragon heads and artillery. This is the best that the new republic has to offer? Do they have air units? Strange that its a slow sea fleet, when the old fire nation had a fast fleet of fighting air ships.
It's a trap!

Bi-planes! The United Force fleet seems to have no anti-air, which makes no sense. Air ships have been in use for a long time now, they should have something against dirigibles, even if they've never seen airplanes before. And how did Sato develop this much technology without it ever getting out? Airplanes, torpedos, mines, and nobody else has ever even thought or heard of it?
They make sure to point out that every downed airmen deploys a parachute - can't let the kids think anyone dies. But what about all the people in this sinking fleet? Who's coming to rescue them? They're not that close to shore. I guess its OK to kill NPCs as long as its not obvious.
I like Korra's fighting music, its more contemplative than actiony.
General Iroh looks kind of like like a combo of Zuko and Mai, nicely done. So who's in charge of the Fire Nation now?
Korra rescues Iroh, takes him to underground hobo town. What about all those sailors? Hopefully rescued, though imprisoned.
A second wave of reinforcements are on the way, need to be warned. Message going to... Commander Bumi, second division of the United Forces. Isn't (new) Bumi Tenzin's brother? Yes.
"We need to ground those aircraft"
"Its time to take down my father".
Korra decides not to join the sabotage mission, but to face Amon directly. That seems to fit her approach.
"My grandfather would respect the Avatar's instinct. So will I." So, is Iroh the grandson of Zuko? So many questions.
The love triangle persists, thought it seems to have shifted slightly in Korra's favor.
I like how Korra can make a water submarine with an air bubble. It looks like airbending, but we know she can't do that (yet).
"We need to get into the temple".
Tarlok is locked in the attic because... he's Amon's brother. Both water benders, and blood benders.

Nice story about how Jacon changed his face, and escaped to the northern water tribe, and started a family. "Noatak was a good-natured kid".
"Our training brought out a different side of our father."
Jacon tells his kids his true identity - kind of a heavy thing to lay on a couple of little kids, and that he will train them as blood benders, and that their purpose in life was to destroy the Avatar to avenge him.
"We kept the truth from our mother".
"My father taught us to blood bend any time, without the need of the full moon."
"The loving brother I once knew became cold, and detached."
Now this is the kind of back story that this series is all about. Young Amon and Tarlok had a really shitty childhood, and their father is clearly responsible for their craziness. Its too bad it all has to come out now, this late in the series, with such rapid exposition, instead of being beautifuly worked into the whole series, as it was in the last series with Zuko.
"And one day he made us blood bend each other".
"How dare you blood bend me!" This is a terrible and awesome moment. Sad ending to the family.
"So, he somehow uses bloodbending to take people's bending." OK, its a little bit of a stretch, but it kind of works. It also implies that its undo-able.
"Any attack we throw at him he'll redirect with his mind". This is the point where the narrative starts to break down for me. Just because Noahtak/Amon can bloodbend anyone, doesn't imply he can read your mind and see any attack coming, and that's why he can dodge anything any bender throws at him, no matter how fast. Well... maybe its good enough for the story to move ahead, but it doesn't seem fleshed out enough at all.
"If we expose him as a bender, in front of all his supporters..." I like where they go with this, attacking Amon's marketing strategy, if not his powers.
Tarlok: "Put and end to this sad story". Well said.

Episode 12 "Endgame"

Korra confronts Amon at the rally, interesting that the battle is now of words, not bending.
Despite Lin's sacrifice, somehow Amon has captured Tenzin and family anyway.
Asami and Sato confrontation. "Mom would hate you for what you've become". Naga to the rescue.
Asami takes a mecha. "What do you know, just like a Future Industries forklift".
"Prison break!"
Amon: "I told you I would destroy you".
"Thanks for looking out for me, Aang."
"You don't feel love for Mom anymore, you're full of hatred."
"You really are a horrible father".
Amon: "Finally, you are powerless." This should be a lot more tragic, but it just doesn't seem to sink in. Things are moving so fast, and its hard to accept that the Avatar could be so easily neutralized. Surely there must be a way to fix this?
The Lieutenant: "Amon, everything the Avatar said is true, isn't it? I just saw you blood bend her".
"I can airbend!?"
"I can airbend!"
Amon waterbends in public, is completely discredited, and flees.
What a moment for Korra, who loses all her mastered powers, but gains airbending.
Amon/Noahtak goes to his brother.
"I should have left with you when we were boys."
Our heroes meet up on the dock as another fleet approaches.
"Yeah, Uncle Bumi's here!" Wait a second... Bumi, like Tenzin, is a son of Aang and Kitara, so why does he have mannerisms of Aang's friend Bumi? Aang and Bumi aren't related, so young Bumi shouldn't look like old Bumi, unless... no, they can't possibly be implying that Kitara... no way, old Bumi was over 100 at the end of the last show. I'm sure this is just some heavy handed callback.
Cut to the bloodbending brothers on a speedboat.

"It will be just like the good old days." A sad self-sacrifice. I hope they honor this moment by never bringing back the Jacon brothers. Let them rest in peace.
It's like a funeral, as Kitara enters the room and tells everyone she tried everything within her power.

"Her connection to the other elements has been severed."
Tenzin: "It's going to be all right, Korra".
Korra: "No, its not".
Korra: "I'm not the Avatar anymore."
Tenzin: "We need to be patient with her. It will take time for her to accept what has happened"
This is shaping up to be a new and very different direction for Korra, and her story.
"Not now Tenzin, I just want to be left alone." I totally bought this the first time I saw it. Even thought Tenzin just said let's give her some space, when the robes came walking up, I thought it was Tenzin.
Aang: "But you called me here." It's like being smacked unexpectedly, and yet it is also a ray of hope. Something is about to be revealed.

"When we hit our lowest point, we are open to the greatest change." Every time they show the long line of Avatars, receding almost infinitely to the past, I feel an urge to know every one of their names, every one of their stories. It's like having a vast archive inside you, if only you could fully access it. Hmm, kind of reminds of something from Dune.

Of course! It makes perfect sense. The Avatar is the self-healing mechanism of this world... it makes perfect sense that it can heal itself. This feels so right, and not even a little like some deus ex machina.
Mako is witness. "I love you too".

All my fears disappear, like morning fog in the sun. Not only can the Avatar heal itself, it can heal others. Again, in the context of this world, this feels exactly right as something the Avatar is uniquely able to do.

And a wonderful moment as Tenizin looks on in awe, as if he fully realizes that the Avatar (and therefore his father Aang) is back. Of course he always knew, but this is the first time he's really seeing it.

And another beautiful moment as Lin is restored, and tests her abilities.

"I am so proud of you, Avatar Korra."

You could stop the series right here, and I would be satisfied, but there are several comics and another season to go. I hope they can keep up this level of quality.

Time to review. Its good, and a worthy successor to The Last Airbender series. If that's good enough for you, there's really not much more you need to know. Other than this is not Aang's story, you have to let that go. This is a good story, and a good world, and its great to be back in it.

I've watched the entire first season several times now, and I keep finding value and depth in it. Some episodes I watched over and over again, like the first and last. I don't know if that's really a good idea, but its so easy to do since its on Amazon Prime.