The Earth King or someone on his side. What she did was closer to a coup than a speech, so I just had that thought.
The Legend of Korra: Book 4
- Thread starter Agent Richard07
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Define "someone on his side." The last monarch of the Earth Kingdom terrorized and exploited her people and taxed them into poverty. Remember how readily they revolted against the status quo when Zaheer killed the queen. In the years since, Kuvira and her forces have restored peace and order and fed the starving masses. Sure, she's been coercive about it, but the rank-and-file people are safer and better fed now than they were three years ago. And Wu is a self-absorbed brat who, as Mako pointed out, has done absolutely nothing to earn his throne beyond being born. Why would anyone in the Earth Kingdom be on his side?
Besides, as I said, the entire military might of the Earth Kingdom is loyal to Kuvira. She's been the de facto ruler of the EK for three years now. Whatever functional institutions exist now in the EK are the ones she put in place. This wasn't a coup; she doesn't have to take over the country, because she already did. She has the actual power, while Wu had nothing more than his own and others' mistaken belief that the old, monarchical basis of power was still somehow relevant. So who would possibly have both the will and the ability to arrest her? If anything, it was generous of her not to have Wu arrested.
Another solid episode though I am looking forward to Korra actually joining the main story and getting some proper action scenes. Old Toph was an absolute joy and I forgot how much I loved that character in the old show (she and Iroh were my favorite characters). I really loved her interactions with Korra and look forward to seeing more of that.
Obvious solution to the Earth Kingdom problem; once Kuvira is defeated, Suyin will reluctantly step up to be the new ruler. It has to be someone who doesn't want the job.
Obvious solution to the Earth Kingdom problem; once Kuvira is defeated, Suyin will reluctantly step up to be the new ruler. It has to be someone who doesn't want the job.
I didn't particularly like the format of this episode. I think it may have been served better as two episodes (one dealing with Kuvira and her takeover, another with Korra and Toph), but I liked what was going on. Toph was hilarious. "And I'm an old lady! Imagine me in my prime! I would have destroyed you!" 
I think the only thing I'm having a hard time with this season is Bolin. Him being on Kuvira's side feels out of character to me.
I think the only thing I'm having a hard time with this season is Bolin. Him being on Kuvira's side feels out of character to me.
I liked how Toph is like Yoda. Hiding in a swamp, imparting wisdom in a cryptic manner.
I wonder if Toph will die.
Not to me, because he's always been easily led astray. This is Nuqtuq all over again -- someone with questionable motives convinces Bolin that he can help them do something good, and he gets so excited about playing the hero and winning the approval and admiration of the masses that he doesn't stop to question the ethics of what his employers are doing.
I don't disagree, but you'd be surprised how stubborn and entrenched traditionalists can be, especially when a monarchy is involved. There are plenty of real world examples of equally useless Royals managing to rally armies to their side in one dynastic dispute or another. Hell, a few of them were probably worse!
I agree. And I hope Bolin wakes up to it in time to get out before Kuvira decides to take him out.
Got to say, Zelda's voice acting is pretty darned good. She plays the villain quite convincingly.
That's the thing, though -- Kuvira isn't simply a villain. Her goals and motives are good, and she has done a lot to bring the EK back from chaos, feed and protect the people, etc. But she's a military leader and she assumes that military discipline and strict obedience to a single commander -- herself -- is the best way to do that.
A lot of fascist or authoritarian regimes start out with benevolent intentions, with the goal to restore a society that's fallen apart due to prior conquest, corruption, or the like. Overcoming the chaos requires order, and feeding and protecting the people on a vast scale when the institutions have broken down requires the kind of mobilization and discipline that a military or an authoritarian system can provide. The problem comes when order has been restored and the rulers refuse to relax their grip. Now, Kuvira actually has a valid point here, since restoring the monarchy would do nothing to help the EK. Really, the only thing she's doing wrong at this point is maintaining her personal grip on power. What she should do is to work toward the establishment of a civil authority that can take her place. But she's become too convinced that she and she alone can save the world.
Which could make for an interesting contrast with Korra, because Korra has always assumed that the fate of the world rested on her shoulders. This whole series has been about her learning that the Avatar's role is not so simple and not so much about wielding power. Now Toph is starting to suggest that the Avatar isn't really responsible for making the world better, that nothing she personally does is really going to achieve that. Building a better world is something the people have to do collectively. If one person, whether Amon or Unalaq or Zaheer or Kuvira or Korra herself, believes that he or she must personally reshape the world, then it becomes more about their own ego than the good of the world. That's something I expect Korra will learn by the end of this season, and I hope that Kuvira can learn it too.
A lot of fascist or authoritarian regimes start out with benevolent intentions, with the goal to restore a society that's fallen apart due to prior conquest, corruption, or the like. Overcoming the chaos requires order, and feeding and protecting the people on a vast scale when the institutions have broken down requires the kind of mobilization and discipline that a military or an authoritarian system can provide. The problem comes when order has been restored and the rulers refuse to relax their grip. Now, Kuvira actually has a valid point here, since restoring the monarchy would do nothing to help the EK. Really, the only thing she's doing wrong at this point is maintaining her personal grip on power. What she should do is to work toward the establishment of a civil authority that can take her place. But she's become too convinced that she and she alone can save the world.
Which could make for an interesting contrast with Korra, because Korra has always assumed that the fate of the world rested on her shoulders. This whole series has been about her learning that the Avatar's role is not so simple and not so much about wielding power. Now Toph is starting to suggest that the Avatar isn't really responsible for making the world better, that nothing she personally does is really going to achieve that. Building a better world is something the people have to do collectively. If one person, whether Amon or Unalaq or Zaheer or Kuvira or Korra herself, believes that he or she must personally reshape the world, then it becomes more about their own ego than the good of the world. That's something I expect Korra will learn by the end of this season, and I hope that Kuvira can learn it too.
Really enjoyed the last couple of episodes. The stuff with Korra's recover and her training with Toph was great. I'm also really enjoyed the Kuvira arc. It's always more interesting when you have a villain who has some good intentions, rather than just a bwahhaha mustache twirler. I like the fact that they have the brothers on either side of the Earth Kingdom/Empire conflict. It adds a nice bit of drama, and gives us a familiar POV character for each side.
4x04: "The Calling"
Korra has restored enough balance in her life to move forward. Now it's time to fulfill whatever "balance" needs to be fulfilled and perhaps the key lies here...
I liked the ending of this episode, btw. It was very much in the spirit of The Last Airbender.
Korra has restored enough balance in her life to move forward. Now it's time to fulfill whatever "balance" needs to be fulfilled and perhaps the key lies here...
Exactly, and hopefully the show will end in a very interesting way and not with Korra simply defeating Kuvira.
I liked the ending of this episode, btw. It was very much in the spirit of The Last Airbender.
Solid episode. I really got a kick out of the airbender kids as always. They make me smile. But why didn't Tenzin go with them?
Painfully obvious Empire Strikes Back parallels aside, I really enjoyed Korra and Toph. Toph was a hilarious mentor and I thought Korra overcoming her problems to be really moving.
Painfully obvious Empire Strikes Back parallels aside, I really enjoyed Korra and Toph. Toph was a hilarious mentor and I thought Korra overcoming her problems to be really moving.
As he said, President Raiko wanted him to stay and work on diplomatic solutions to the Kuvira problem.
In watching the climax, I was really struck by how important the physicality is to this show. Seeing Korra do tai chi moves that I actually know and have tried myself (though not recently) gave the scene more weight and meaning to me.
I think Toph's speech about Korra's three nemeses, how they all supported valid causes but took them to harmful extremes because they were out of balance, is going to be very significant for the rest of the season. Kuvira is cut from the same cloth, pursuing a legitimate goal using extreme and harmful methods. I'm betting, now that Korra's gained this insight from Toph, that Kuvira is going to be the one villain that Korra successfully redeems, by convincing her to find the balance the others lacked.
This might've been painfully obvious to everyone else but with this episode I realized that Tenzin's three kids are just like Aang's three kids.
Tenzin = Jinora calm responsible spiritual leader
Kya = Ichi the forgotten one makes fun of the buffoon
Bumi = Meelo obnoxious and bossy and hilarious
Tenzin = Jinora calm responsible spiritual leader
Kya = Ichi the forgotten one makes fun of the buffoon
Bumi = Meelo obnoxious and bossy and hilarious
I wonder if Meelo might actually someday leave the Air Nomads to join the United Forces. He semi-doesn't seem to be getting the whole peaceful part of being an Air Nomad.
Probably. But I'm hoping we'll see a post-finale scene showing a reunion of the Beifong girls, Lin, Suyin and Toph.
Does anyone else think Bumi was the reincarnation of his namesake?
Q&A with Mike DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko.
What's Zuko's daughter's name?
Did Ming-Hua lose her arms or was she born that way?
Will we see Toph again?
Will Korra be the last avatar?
What of relationships on the show?
What's Zuko's daughter's name?
It's Izumi and she'll be back.
Did Ming-Hua lose her arms or was she born that way?
She was born that way.
Too bad. I liked the idea of her arms being removed to prevent her from doing complex movements.
Too bad. I liked the idea of her arms being removed to prevent her from doing complex movements.
Will we see Toph again?
Yes. Of course, this was answered two days before the most recent episode but I took it to mean that we'd see her again after that.
Will Korra be the last avatar?
This wasn't answered but DiMartino answered a question about what happened to Vaatu and suggested that the avatar will have to deal with him in 10000 years since he's presently in Korra along with Raava.
What of relationships on the show?
Some people think there's too much and some think there's not enough. They try to weave in things like that organically.
I'm one of those who wants a Korrasami 'ship.
And honestly, while Korra's been running about, it might have been nice to see her getting out of bed with a guy next to her still asleep. Yeah, yeah, not on a kids' show.
I'm one of those who wants a Korrasami 'ship.
And honestly, while Korra's been running about, it might have been nice to see her getting out of bed with a guy next to her still asleep. Yeah, yeah, not on a kids' show.
