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The Legend of Korra: The Ship Sails into the Sunset
11 years ago
I just finished watching the last episode of The Legend of Korra. Thoughts are coalescing in my head. Spoilers are inevitable.
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Overall, I think the finale was good. It kept the action going, and there was enough character to keep things interesting. It was a satisfying ride... the only problem is that we had to endure a poor season to get to it!
There were some good ideas this season, and the overarching plot was solid, but some things just didn't measure up. The pacing was abysmal in this season, first of all. Part of it could be aimed at the executives who cut back on the budget (which is why we got a clip episode mid-season) but the writers needed someone to smooth things out. I mean, it felt like I was glancing at the clock most of the season, counting down to the inevitable showdown: "Okay, Korra's got five episodes to fix things. Now four... Now three..."
I'd also hoped they'd show more of Korra maturing and growing, but for some reason, it felt like she was just... blank. Like all her stubbornness, fiery spirit and impulsive attitude had just been worn down until there was nothing much left. As long as she was surrounded by fun characters, we wouldn't notice. She had become the Zeppo Marx of Team Avatar: not totally devoid of personality, but there was very little of it left.
Why the HELL didn't they detain Kuvira in Republic City after her self-appointment as "The Great Uniter"? Desertion and high treason are punishable offenses, in any military throughout history!
I'm glad that the Chekhov's Gun of Asami's dad actually went somewhere, but they couldn't have broadcast his death any louder this episode. There was a big red target on his back the moment he volunteered to fly the mecha-suit.
It's too bad there wasn't enough money to complete the season as they wanted. I have a feeling we would have got a kickass battle between Toph and Kuvira's army in the jungle AND more screen time with Zaheer.
The ultimate resolution left a lot to be desired. Everything Kuvira did was because she was just a scared little orphan? Sigh. I'm ashamed to say a small part of me wanted her to die a-la General Zhao. Or to be spirit-bent a-la Firelord Ozai. But a larger, more rational part was glad she'd be alive to stand trial.
The Korra/Asami relationship was actually the best part of the ending, regardless of how you interpret it. Are they just best friends now, or is this the beginning of a long and beautiful relationship? My heart says it's the latter. This has been building since the first season, and I can't decide of the writers intended it or not. Beck then, Korra was rivals with Asami, competing for Mako's attention (even though Asami wasn't really TRYING to compete). That ended as a win for Korra, at the cost of Asami's emotions.
Second season had them thrust together again, and so they needed to repair their relationship out of necessity. They both fought through some deep emotions and came out the better for it, even though Mako was the one who lost out this time.
They were actually working together in the third season as friends, working together to fight bandits and build an airship together. A bond was forged; and Asami fought to protect Korra while she was in the spirit world.
This season actually used a lot of subtext to show just how far they'd come. Asami was the only person whom Korra wrote to, showing that she trusted Asami more than anyone else while she was at her most vulnerable. She stayed with Asami while on Air Temple Island. As if Korra didn't blush when Asami talked to her, she also touched her hair, which is body language for "I like you." Finally, they're together at the end. Just the two of them, holding hands and disappearing into the light as they stare into each others' eyes.
I think it's the closest they could have got to an onscreen kiss. I'm a little disappointed that we didn't get to see one, but there's only so much they can do with children's entertainment. After the Marceline/Bubblegum fiasco from Adventure Time (one of the VAs had confirmed that Marceline and Bubblegum Princess were exes, but the statement was retracted), I think the producers were right to leave it ambiguous. By god, the Korrasami ship will never sink, nor should it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Overall, I think the finale was good. It kept the action going, and there was enough character to keep things interesting. It was a satisfying ride... the only problem is that we had to endure a poor season to get to it!
There were some good ideas this season, and the overarching plot was solid, but some things just didn't measure up. The pacing was abysmal in this season, first of all. Part of it could be aimed at the executives who cut back on the budget (which is why we got a clip episode mid-season) but the writers needed someone to smooth things out. I mean, it felt like I was glancing at the clock most of the season, counting down to the inevitable showdown: "Okay, Korra's got five episodes to fix things. Now four... Now three..."
I'd also hoped they'd show more of Korra maturing and growing, but for some reason, it felt like she was just... blank. Like all her stubbornness, fiery spirit and impulsive attitude had just been worn down until there was nothing much left. As long as she was surrounded by fun characters, we wouldn't notice. She had become the Zeppo Marx of Team Avatar: not totally devoid of personality, but there was very little of it left.
Why the HELL didn't they detain Kuvira in Republic City after her self-appointment as "The Great Uniter"? Desertion and high treason are punishable offenses, in any military throughout history!
I'm glad that the Chekhov's Gun of Asami's dad actually went somewhere, but they couldn't have broadcast his death any louder this episode. There was a big red target on his back the moment he volunteered to fly the mecha-suit.
It's too bad there wasn't enough money to complete the season as they wanted. I have a feeling we would have got a kickass battle between Toph and Kuvira's army in the jungle AND more screen time with Zaheer.
The ultimate resolution left a lot to be desired. Everything Kuvira did was because she was just a scared little orphan? Sigh. I'm ashamed to say a small part of me wanted her to die a-la General Zhao. Or to be spirit-bent a-la Firelord Ozai. But a larger, more rational part was glad she'd be alive to stand trial.
The Korra/Asami relationship was actually the best part of the ending, regardless of how you interpret it. Are they just best friends now, or is this the beginning of a long and beautiful relationship? My heart says it's the latter. This has been building since the first season, and I can't decide of the writers intended it or not. Beck then, Korra was rivals with Asami, competing for Mako's attention (even though Asami wasn't really TRYING to compete). That ended as a win for Korra, at the cost of Asami's emotions.
Second season had them thrust together again, and so they needed to repair their relationship out of necessity. They both fought through some deep emotions and came out the better for it, even though Mako was the one who lost out this time.
They were actually working together in the third season as friends, working together to fight bandits and build an airship together. A bond was forged; and Asami fought to protect Korra while she was in the spirit world.
This season actually used a lot of subtext to show just how far they'd come. Asami was the only person whom Korra wrote to, showing that she trusted Asami more than anyone else while she was at her most vulnerable. She stayed with Asami while on Air Temple Island. As if Korra didn't blush when Asami talked to her, she also touched her hair, which is body language for "I like you." Finally, they're together at the end. Just the two of them, holding hands and disappearing into the light as they stare into each others' eyes.
I think it's the closest they could have got to an onscreen kiss. I'm a little disappointed that we didn't get to see one, but there's only so much they can do with children's entertainment. After the Marceline/Bubblegum fiasco from Adventure Time (one of the VAs had confirmed that Marceline and Bubblegum Princess were exes, but the statement was retracted), I think the producers were right to leave it ambiguous. By god, the Korrasami ship will never sink, nor should it.
