(04-11-2012 05:55 PM)Kimberly M Wrote:  Here's a discussion prompt: Do you think there is very deliberate "shipping" going on between Korra and Mako?

My answer? Yes. Yes there is. Is it an apology to the Zutarians? Perhaps.

(04-11-2012 08:40 PM)John Wrote:  I'm not a fan of shipping in general, but I sensed that since this character is much older than the last Avatar, I anticipate the romance (or romantic tension) to become an interesting part of the story.

(04-11-2012 11:13 PM)Kimberly M Wrote:  That's what I find interesting. In the previous series, the characters were younger ... so I think as fan interest increased, the writers decided to play up the romance more. And then to keep everyone chill about the fact they were kids, they got as far as a simple kiss. Now, from the start, they've set up a serious potential romance ... even more so than the overall conflict. Honestly, I love the show so far--it's everything I loved about the previous series and more. But I find this interesting in a world that currently puts a lot of bank into teen romance.

Quote:“I’m the Avatar,” shouts the pot-bellied little girl, emerging from the rubble of the wall she just demolished with a single punch. “You gotta deal with it!” Then she leaps forward, flings a fireball at the camera, and…

…match cut to the same girl as a teenager, sparring with a trio of firebenders—and effortlessly swatting each of them aside.

“She’s very strong,” observes a wizened old woman wearing her hair in a familiar pair of loops.

“She lacks discipline,” growls one of her fellow masters.

And less than five minutes into the one-hour premiere of Legend of Korra, we know our heroine—and the character flaw that will no doubt drive the conflict of many episodes to come.

I had high hopes and higher expectations for the sequel series to Nickelodeon’s immensely popular Avatar: The Last Airbender. At last year’s San Diego Comic-Con, I planted myself in one room for about five hours (along with a few thousand enthusiastic cosplayers) just to glimpse some early footage. But even that superb preview hardly prepared me for the flawless storytelling I witnessed in those first two episodes. Every scene—heck, every second—conveyed something about the characters, their relationships, their place in this strange new world.

No character shines quite as brilliantly as Republic City itself. Like Taxi Driver’s neon-drenchedNew York or Blade Runner’s cyberpunk Los Angeles, The Legend of Korra’s setting springs to life. It’s far more than just an interesting backdrop; its very nature promises to challenge our heroes in exciting ways. This goes far beyond the obvious fish-out-of-water narrative, and even the looming threat of an anti-bending revolution; in the United Republic, a subtle tension exists between traditional and progressive values (just look at the diverse clothing styles). The premiere’s second “chapter” tackles this theme directly: Korra, frustrated with Tenzin’s old fashioned teaching methods, decides to study the more aggressive, competitive, and modern techniques on display in the “Professional Bending” ring. While Tenzin feels the sport makes a mockery of his heritage, it ultimately helps Korra understand his lessons. Success, then, depends not on choosing sides, but on compromising—finding balance.

I predict we’ll see a lot more of this message as the show’s story unfolds. I look forward to the ride.

Quote:I hope this series will still give us an occasional surprise of the Avatar's spiritual roots to go along with the new emphasis on technology.