Legend of Korra III: In honour of the victims of A. Firebender [Archive]

Brother Oni

2012-06-04, 04:36 AM

This is a thread for the discussion of the new Legend of Korra show, where the eponymous heroine is the spiritual reincarnation of the Avatar, a being with the ability to control, or bend, four elements, and will bring balance to the world.

Previous on the Legend of Korra:

Republic City is in the the thrall of A. Firebender, a merciless waterbender serial killer who murders parents to create orphans to enact his wicked watery will!
Will the Avatar be able to end A. Firebender's reign of terror?
Or are people still more interested in who Korra will match up with?
Find out in this exciting episode!

Fan works of interest:

Seal of Approval: One (http://rufftoon.deviantart.com/#/d4vvis4), Two (http://rufftoon.deviantart.com/art/Seal-of-Approval-Part-Deux-295700123?q=gallery%3Anoselfcontrol%2F72693&qo=0)
I can bend! (http://i622.photobucket.com/albums/tt310/Kobold-Bard/1339857858175.jpg)

Previous threads:

Legend of Korra: Will it Bend! (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=239010)
Legend of Korra II: Brought to you by Flameo Instant Noodles! (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=242399)

JCarter426

2012-06-04, 04:43 AM

Will the Avatar be able to end A. Firebender's reign of terror?
Or are people still more interested in who Korra will match up with?
Calling it now... Mako is A. Firebender. The waterbender thing was just a cover.

t209

2012-06-04, 05:49 AM

Korra: More Wham Episodes since OOTS 825 in one go.
- Amon has power to take away bending
- He destroy pro bending arena
- Mr Sato is an equalist and Chief Bafun quits
- Tarrlock is a blood bender and has something to do with the death of original Team Avatar and support from the council.
I think Tarrlock might be descendent of evil old blood bending lady or one of her disciple (Katara also learned blood bending.
Urban Dark Fantasy anyone?

Fragenstein

2012-06-04, 06:19 AM

Heck. We've already seen a cheapening of both Metal bending and Lightning. Skills which were once considered nearly impossible to master are now relatively common. Who's to say Bloodbending hasn't been secretly rediscovered and developed to where it no longer needs the power boost granted by a full moon.

http://files.sharenator.com/csi_yeah_skyline_RE_Justin_Bieber_gets_shot-s449x287-138348.jpg

dehro

2012-06-04, 06:21 AM

I quite like the theory put forth about Tarrlok being related to

what'shisname..the dangerous benderguy from the flashbacks.

John Cribati

2012-06-04, 06:40 AM

So as of this point, I have literally zero sympathy for the Equalist cause.

No, seriously. Give me some hard evidence that benders were being oppressed before this episode. Not conjecture. Not assumption. Cite a law or policy that treated non-benders unfairly.

You can't do it. You know why? Because the Equalists didn't either.

Seriously, when people on the internet claim that certain groups are being oppressed, they use examples. The Equalists have just been saying things like "it's the bender establishment dude" and "the benders are keeping us down, dude."

No, I will not believe the word of Amon. Because television has taught me that anything said by someone wearing a mask or someone with a creepy voice should be taken with a massive grain of salt. And even then, he's never cited policies either. He just said "Hey, some benders are bad. Let's get rid of all the benders." Plus, the guy proved himself a hypocrite. Claiming that benders are the cause of wars, then starting a war. With a terrorist attack. So he's lost all credibility in my book.

And neither will I believe the word of the angry mob at the rally. Because there's this thing called "Crowd Mentality" that more or less makes a mob a bunch of idiots.

What's that? The Triads? They're criminals. Not oppressors. Next question.

The council is all benders? So? Prove to me that they were chosen over non-benders who wanted councilman positions and then we'll talk.

Let's have a look at the laws and policies introduced in this episode.

"You know those guys who blew up the arena? Yeah, it's illegal to be affiliated with their group." Obvious. Logical. Fine with me.
"If you're suspected of being part of this group, you lose certain rights in relation to your investigation and trial." Um... okay. That's slightly on the iffy side, but if you come in with cold, hard proof-
"Also, all non-benders are assumed to be members of this group, so their rights are being restricted." No. Bad government. You're grounded for fear-mongering and general d**kery.

So that last part, and a bit of the second part, were unfair. But that law was only put in place because the Equalists declared war on the city and blew up a sporting arena. It is their fault that the law went into place. This does not mean that the law is right. It does not mean that I am blaming all non-benders for this unfair policy. But they basically said "We're doing what the nonbenders want." Then they said "We're declaring war on benders." The obvious logical conclusion the government is going to make is that non-benders want a war against benders.

Brother Oni

2012-06-04, 06:51 AM

"Also, all non-benders are assumed to be members of this group, so their rights are being restricted."[/LIST]

Not having seen the episode, but if this law was phrased as "rights are being restricted for the immediate future.", how would that be different from imposing a curfew during instances of civil unrest?

I agree that it's very discriminatory against non-benders, so the Government gets a bad mark for that, but in a situation like Republic City is currently facing, temporary restrictions of civil liberties isn't inherently wrong in and of itself.
It's when these restrictions are selectively applied, never rescinded or overly draconian that things go wrong.

John Cribati

2012-06-04, 07:00 AM

Fragenstein

2012-06-04, 07:22 AM

Not having seen the episode, but if this law was phrased as "rights are being restricted for the immediate future.", how would that be different from imposing a curfew during instances of civil unrest?

I agree that it's very discriminatory against non-benders, so the Government gets a bad mark for that, but in a situation like Republic City is currently facing, temporary restrictions of civil liberties isn't inherently wrong in and of itself.
It's when these restrictions are selectively applied, never rescinded or overly draconian that things go wrong.

Yeah, I think we're seeing all of that. Tarrlok's new law was passed with no limitations and just a token vote by the council. Clearly they would have voted that cheese-benders live on the moon if he'd told them to.

Republic City has a thriving nightlife and the economy will feel the impact of losing so much business. So stating that ALL non-benders have a curfew and not allowing people with legitimate business out is fairly brutal on its own.

Add in the fact that everyone picked up under this new law is locked up without bail or a trial... or even with a publicly known location, perhaps... and you're stepping over the line.

Clearly, everything Amon pushes the Equalists to do forms the excuse Tarrlok needs to gain more power. It's all a massive political game being played with both of them secretly on the same side.

dehro

2012-06-04, 07:24 AM

Infernally Clay

2012-06-04, 07:36 AM

I don't buy that Bloodbending has been "rediscovered". Lightningbending has been commercialised (perhaps Zuko shared the knowledge as an apology for what his family put the world through) and Metalbending was taught by Toph herself. Only two people knew Bloodbending and the one that first discovered it only did so because of the situation she was put in - so I'm pretty sure Tarrlok has some connection to Hama and that he has simply mastered Bloodbending to such a degree that any amount of moonlight allows him to use it (remembering that Waterbenders are stronger at night and strongest during the full moon, so there's no reason why Bloodbending couldn't be used as long as the moon is out).

Morty

2012-06-04, 07:40 AM

Hama developed bloodbending on her own. I don't think it's impossible that someone else did the same, before or afer she did.

Prime32

2012-06-04, 07:43 AM

TSGames

2012-06-04, 07:46 AM

I'm pretty sure Tarrlok has some connection to Hama and that he has simply mastered Bloodbending to such a degree that any amount of moonlight allows him to use it (remembering that Waterbenders are stronger at night and strongest during the full moon, so there's no reason why Bloodbending couldn't be used as long as the moon is out).
So... Tarrlok is the Super-Saiyan of water benders?

Soras Teva Gee

2012-06-04, 07:52 AM

Clearly they would have voted that cheese-benders live on the moon if he'd told them to.

Cheese-benders living on the moon is now my new headcanon.

So... Tarrlok is the Super-Saiyan of water benders?

Also my new headcanon.

Kobold-Bard

2012-06-04, 07:53 AM

So... Tarrlok is the Super-Saiyan of water benders?

No, he's simply being possessed by Hama, who is doing all of this to get revenge on Katara & the Gaang.

dehro

2012-06-04, 07:54 AM

guys..half the world has yet to see the episode,which is only 2 days old.

spoilers please?

that said..
do we know what happened to Hama after the war ended? after all she was a watertribe citizen..if a convict. they might have liberated her as a prisoner of war kind of thing, which means she'd have been free to teach her stuff to pretty much anyone. if they didn't free her, they most likely have sent her to a watertribe prison... for all we know, Tarrlok started out as a prison guard.

zimmerwald1915

2012-06-04, 07:58 AM

The fact is that some non-benders are causing problems, and all non-benders are being punished. That's wrong no matter how you slice it. Just like Amon's campaign against all benders is wrong because he's justifying it by saying that some benders are douchebags.
The fact that the Council has the power to enact a state of seige and to enforce it with police tactics designed to terrorize the population, with no oversight or input from either another body of UR government or from the national governments to which the Council theoretically owes its power is a problem in and of itself. At this point, if Amon tried to target the Council as such, downplaying the fairly cartoonish - :smallamused: - Equalist social programme in favor of a political programme emphasizing UR self-determination, he could get a heck of a lot more support, both in Republic City and, more importantly, from me. Of course, he won't, because he's got his own motivations, whatever they are, for hating all benders and wanting them gone, but it would make smart revolutionary politics.

Fragenstein

2012-06-04, 08:01 AM

What would Tarrlok's bloodbending be like if it was the full moon?

In the flashback, whoever was on trial seemed to not only be holding The Avatar and his gaang under control, but the entire courtroom itself.

All with a casual, contemptuous smirk on his face. Either that's some damn powerful bloodbending or he flooded the room with a paralytic compound that only he'd been innoculated from.

My bet's on the bloodbending.

By the way. WHAT, exactly, did he mean by "You're not the Avatar..." long long long pause "... yet."

Do we take that at face value as Korra's trouble with Air Bending will prevent her from being fully recognized as the Avatar? Same goes with her admission of being spiritually dead as well (depsite the confusing and focus-shifting flashbacks she's been getting)?

Did Tarrlok actually have something to do with her not being able to airbend? Will we see some flashback in her life of a diguised chi-blocker creating a subtle-setback for the girl's abilities under the guise of a physical examination?

Or what if... crazy thought... she really isn't the Avatar after all? Simply the eventual byproduct of so much bender crossbreeding? A mutant and the first of her kind with the ability to bend more than one element? Three in fact?

All the while, Tarrlok has the true Avatar hidden away and being secretly educated to follow his will, only to be revealed when the time is right.

Nah, doubt that. It'd cheapen Korr'a character to the point of restricting toy sales if it turns out she's not the Avatar. Better to have a fake Avatar hidden away and present it as a challenge that Korra must overcome late in the series.

Prime32

2012-06-04, 08:23 AM

In the flashback, whoever was on trial seemed to not only be holding The Avatar and his gaang under control, but the entire courtroom itself.

All with a casual, contemptuous smirk on his face. Either that's some damn powerful bloodbending or he flooded the room with a paralytic compound that only he'd been innoculated from.

My bet's on the bloodbending.

By the way. WHAT, exactly, did he mean by "You're not the Avatar..." long long long pause "... yet."

Do we take that at face value as Korra's trouble with Air Bending will prevent her from being fully recognized as the Avatar? Same goes with her admission of being spiritually dead as well (depsite the confusing and focus-shifting flashbacks she's been getting)?

Did Tarrlok actually have something to do with her not being able to airbend? Will we see some flashback in her life of a diguised chi-blocker creating a subtle-setback for the girl's abilities under the guise of a physical examination?

Or what if... crazy thought... she really isn't the Avatar after all? Simply the eventual byproduct of so much bender crossbreeding? A mutant and the first of her kind with the ability to bend more than one element? Three in fact?

All the while, Tarrlok has the true Avatar hidden away and being secretly educated to follow his will, only to be revealed when the time is right.

Nah, doubt that. It'd cheapen Korr'a character to the point of restricting toy sales if it turns out she's not the Avatar. Better to have a fake Avatar hidden away and present it as a challenge that Korra must overcome late in the series.
Clearly Amon is the real Avatar. Or A. Firebender, explaining how he can waterbend.

dehro

2012-06-04, 08:28 AM

By the way. WHAT, exactly, did he mean by "You're not the Avatar..." long long long pause "... yet."

Do we take that at face value as Korra's trouble with Air Bending will prevent her from being fully recognized as the Avatar? Same goes with her admission of being spiritually dead as well (depsite the confusing and focus-shifting flashbacks she's been getting)?

I take that as her being the Avatar by name and..rank.. but not yet avatar in fact..on account of not having yet mastered the elements and/or attained avatar state.
which is an uncomfortable truth, but a truth nonetheless... not that that should reduce her lawful authority... but it is my understanding that the Avatar's lawful authority rests on the fact that s/he has a big stick to back it up with.. without the stick, the authority comes in question in a "oh, you're the avatar? well I don't give a crap..and what are you going to do about it? wave your big stick? oh..wait..you can't!" kind of way

Telonius

2012-06-04, 08:35 AM

What would Tarrlok's bloodbending be like if it was the full moon?

Also, if he's using some trick rather than just being that good, as some have suggested, I'm going to go with "water from the magic koi pond". (seems more likely he's just that good)

IIRC, it was the full moon (or something very close to it) in the most recent episode. I'd have to go back and look, but I'm pretty sure there was one scene where Korra (or possibly Asami) was looking out the window and admiring the moon.

Socratov

2012-06-04, 08:38 AM

Oh my, Korra really is a rash unthinking little brat... this was teh stupidest thing she could have done... Sure, Tarrlock is powerful, to a degree we haven't seen before (bloodbending really is one of the most powerful things in the avatarverse). it is also foolish to play batman and go all roflstomp on the city.

on the political side of things:

tarrlock is equally stupid (at east, if his goal is to suppress equalists. this move will only make non-benders hate him (and therefor benders in general) with a passion he cannot fathom. Tarrlock is smart, but not as cunning as we think (or he must have a different and more hidden agenda). It is time for Tenzin and the other councilmembers to regain control and to start governing all of republic city instead of throwing it into the hands of Tarrlock.

Well at least Korra can spend some time to meditate on her visions. It's about time she met her predessessors...

Flickerdart

2012-06-04, 08:44 AM

IIRC, it was the full moon (or something very close to it) in the most recent episode. I'd have to go back and look, but I'm pretty sure there was one scene where Korra (or possibly Asami) was looking out the window and admiring the moon.

Not even close. Right after Korra is driven away, the camera pans to a crescent moon.

John Cribati

2012-06-04, 08:50 AM

Burner28

2012-06-04, 10:41 AM

I like the name of this thread.

Fjolnir

2012-06-04, 01:05 PM

Absol197

2012-06-04, 02:01 PM

yep, that waterbender is a particularly crafty foe when he changed his name to firebender to throw off the authorities.

Here is the most recent composite sketch we have of the culprit http://25.media.tumblr.com/avatar_10a8c62e1fd4_128.png

You know, I had heard that he wore a fake beard and mustache in order to help hide his identity, but there's no way facial hair that glorious is fake!

Ashen Lilies

2012-06-04, 02:08 PM

I still think A. Firebender is
Tarlokk. I mean, A. Firebender is a waterbender. Tarlokk is also a waterbender. What more proof do you need? :smallamused:

As for why? He's been planning it from the beginning, subtly guiding events to take power in Republic City.
He killed Amon's family and scarred his face to instill him with hatred for benders and create in him a foe who would catalyze his rise to power.

He murdered Sato's wife for the similar reasons, ensuring that Sato would lend his technical aid to Amon to make him more of a threat.

Mako and Bolin's parents were killed so that the resulting tragic orphans would be put in a position to befriend the new Avatar, thus granting Tarlokk the opportunity to use them as leverage over Korra by arresting them.

As you can see, Tarlokk, aka the nefarious A. FIREBENDER is clearly a cunning and meticulous foe, having calculated and predicting results for decades, murdering to set in motion events that would eventually lead to him becoming SUPREME LEADER OF REPUBLIC CITY, and perhaps, THE WORLD. Only his regrettable loss of temper in the latest episode over being compared to a bumbling, easily manipulated fool like Amon has trashed his carefully arranged preparations, but knowing A. Firebender, this setback is only temporary. Also Asami is his trusted minion and has been from the beginning.

DomaDoma

2012-06-04, 05:37 PM

Mutant Sheep

2012-06-04, 05:48 PM

Episode's finally up on Nick.com. Holy ****, I thought #6 was the best episode thus far, and it's already been topped. (But then, I always thought the Dai Li were nearly the best part of the original series, second only to a tie between Azula and Iroh, so it goes to show.)

Where is everyone getting that the presumed firebender serial killer is a waterbender? I mean, unless it's just the OP being silly.

Well, A. Firebender is a waterbender because him being a firebender would be stupid. Too many evil firebenders already, you see.:smallwink:
(Why its being seriously put into not jokingly-put epileptic trees, I dunno.:smallsigh:)

Kobold-Bard

2012-06-04, 05:49 PM

...

Where is everyone getting that the presumed firebender serial killer is a waterbender? I mean, unless it's just the OP being silly.

The premise is that everyone has said they're family, etc. was killed by a Firebender.

However (I forget how) we have determined that that was a description, but a name: A. Firebender (like Adam Firebender).

We also determined that A. Firebender is in fact a waterbender, with Firebender just being their surname, nothing more. I have no idea how that conclusion was reached either.

Brother Oni

2012-06-04, 06:26 PM

Where is everyone getting that the presumed firebender serial killer is a waterbender? I mean, unless it's just the OP being silly.

I merely collate the collective silliness of this thread.

Kobold-Bard has the gist of it and how we came up with it is buried somewhere in the depths of thread 2. I suspect BRC has something to do with it (it seems random enough to be him). :smalltongue:

dehro

2012-06-04, 06:40 PM

both the serial killer and the fact that he's a waterbender are pure silliness, yes

DomaDoma

2012-06-04, 06:57 PM

No, I totally believe there's a firebending serial killer. Given that firebenders aren't any kind of focal villain, that whole parents-killed-by-firebenders backstory is coming up way too much.

DrBurr

2012-06-04, 07:21 PM

So I have to say this was an excellent episode probably the best one of the season so far I love the duality of the villains and Korra being lost in the middle. Also I'm glad something bad has finally happened to team avatar besides them losing the probending tournament its times like these which will develop the characters way more than another shipping episode

I think Tarrlock being a blood bender is completely logical, The original team avatar pretty much published their adventures for the general public to learn even to the point of what they called themselves so if a book came out by the world's most powerful figure which talked about the power of bloodbending its completely reasonable that people would start training in the technique.

Also Korra seemed only moderately surprised that Tarrlock was a bloodbender instead of crazy surprised when she had the revelation of Amon's potential energybending (seeing as the jury is still out on that one)

DomaDoma

2012-06-04, 07:32 PM

Intriguing that it's implied to be something unique about Tarrlok's backstory. Metalbending is put down to Toph coaching people en masse, and lightning is... probably just a thing that's relatively common now, but bloodbending apparently gets much more interesting. Can't wait to hear it; Tarrlok is now kicking ass as a villain.

BRC

2012-06-04, 07:41 PM

I merely collate the collective silliness of this thread.

Kobold-Bard has the gist of it and how we came up with it is buried somewhere in the depths of thread 2. I suspect BRC has something to do with it (it seems random enough to be him). :smalltongue:

I am shocked and offended by that accusation.
But yeah, it was totally me.

Also, I kind of want to sig that

Zeful

2012-06-04, 07:56 PM

guys..half the world has yet to see the episode,which is only 2 days old.

spoilers please?The episode is out on Nick.com (I just got done watching it from there because no cable) so people overseas can use proxies to see it, after tomorrow we can probably discuss it openly.

Episode discussion.

do we know what happened to Hama after the war ended? after all she was a watertribe citizen..if a convict. they might have liberated her as a prisoner of war kind of thing, which means she'd have been free to teach her stuff to pretty much anyone. if they didn't free her, they most likely have sent her to a watertribe prison... for all we know, Tarrlok started out as a prison guard.
What would be interesting is if Hama taught another waterbender while she was imprisoned and that's how the technique propagated and was refined. Depending on how they manage to bloodbend without the moon being full, as the interplay between Korra and Tarlock infer that the reason Tarlock can bloodbend is intrinsic to him, and not general capability, we'll get some interesting worldbuilding from it.

Oh my, Korra really is a rash unthinking little brat... this was teh stupidest thing she could have done... Sure, Tarrlock is powerful, to a degree we haven't seen before (bloodbending really is one of the most powerful things in the avatarverse). it is also foolish to play batman and go all roflstomp on the city.

on the political side of things:

tarrlock is equally stupid (at east, if his goal is to suppress equalists. this move will only make non-benders hate him (and therefor benders in general) with a passion he cannot fathom. Tarrlock is smart, but not as cunning as we think (or he must have a different and more hidden agenda). It is time for Tenzin and the other councilmembers to regain control and to start governing all of republic city instead of throwing it into the hands of Tarrlock.

Well at least Korra can spend some time to meditate on her visions. It's about time she met her predessessors...
Yes, Korra's rash and impulsive, but it also worked to her benefit. What's her last public action? Freeing people protesting being treated like criminals. Those people will talk, and it will negate some of Amon's grandstanding, I'm predicting that when she gets back to republic city, the city will be divided.

Soras Teva Gee

2012-06-04, 09:09 PM

So rewatching the episode on Nick's website and noted something for sure I wanted to bring up.

So does anyone else think something is up with now Chief Saikhan?

I'd noted before from Welcome to Republic City that he is described as being Lin's right hand and having a great deal of respect for her. Now he takes command and just rolls right over to become Tarrlok's lapdog? I don't buy it. Then there are a couple of sighs he gives off in the episode. First to Korra at the "Equalist" rally when she starts to interfere, then to Tenzin. These aren't the actions of a true believer to me, I think he's faking being as helpful to Tarrlok as he is apparently being.

Probably on Lin's orders.

(Also at a meta-level, like hell Batou works for anyone but the Major! Or more seriously while not exactly the biggest name I'd find it odd they'd tap Richard Epcar without him having some role to play... though it would not be the biggest waste of awesome voice I've encountered)

Ashen Lilies

2012-06-04, 09:49 PM

(Why its being seriously put into not jokingly-put epileptic trees, I dunno.:smallsigh:)

It is? :smallconfused:

(If it's me you're talking a about, I was totally joking, I assure you.)

Grey Watcher

2012-06-04, 10:10 PM

Clearly they would have voted that cheese-benders live on the moon if he'd told them to.

To the tune of "We're Whalers on the Moon" (http://youtu.be/60BjkUtqxPE) from Futurama

Cheesebenders on the moon!
They'd eat it with a spoon,
But there ain't no cheese
So they shoot the breeze
And sing a bending tune!

...

Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

Dr.Epic

2012-06-04, 11:31 PM

Well, A. Firebender is a waterbender because him being a firebender would be stupid. Too many evil firebenders already, you see.:smallwink:

I don't know what you're talking about. Name one evil firebender from this or the other series.

Fjolnir

2012-06-04, 11:49 PM

there's that guy, who wasn't a firebender anymore at the end of the series, and that corpse near the northern water tribe, also the former firebender's daughter...

dehro

2012-06-05, 01:25 AM

The original team avatar pretty much published their adventures for the general public to learn even to the point of what they called themselves so if a book came out by the world's most powerful figure which talked about the power of bloodbending its completely reasonable that people would start training in the technique.

wuh...what now? where does that come from? when did that happen?:smalleek:
and would it really mention that?? I'm not buying it.
also..
debating the extent of her surprise at the fact..or her expression of surprise, in the heat of battle is a bit of a pointless exercise.. because it is entirely subjective.. all we know is that she was aware of the existence of the technique and of it's supposed premises (full moon and all)..which begs the question..if she knows about it.. can she do it as well? does she have specific ways to counter it other than improvvisation?

Brother Oni

2012-06-05, 04:03 AM

I am shocked and offended by that accusation.
But yeah, it was totally me.

Also, I kind of want to sig that

Feel free. :smallbiggrin:

I don't know what you're talking about. Name one evil firebender from this or the other series.

Sparky Sparky Boom Man?

DomaDoma

2012-06-05, 07:45 AM

Devonix

2012-06-05, 08:07 AM

Wasn't Yakone the leader of the Red Monsoons a Blood Bender?
He could have learned from him.

TheTick

2012-06-05, 08:11 AM

Isn't that Red Monsoons/bloodbender hypothesis from a fan? Probably true though, as 'Yakone' in Inuit can refer to a 'blood spray on the snow' according to the Avatar wiki.

There's an episode 9 preview on Youtube (possibly playing on Nick as well), that shows Korra trying to meditate, and more of grown-up Aang going Avatar State.

Socratov

2012-06-05, 08:18 AM

The episode is out on Nick.com (I just got done watching it from there because no cable) so people overseas can use proxies to see it, after tomorrow we can probably discuss it openly.

Episode discussion.

What would be interesting is if Hama taught another waterbender while she was imprisoned and that's how the technique propagated and was refined. Depending on how they manage to bloodbend without the moon being full, as the interplay between Korra and Tarlock infer that the reason Tarlock can bloodbend is intrinsic to him, and not general capability, we'll get some interesting worldbuilding from it.

Yes, Korra's rash and impulsive, but it also worked to her benefit. What's her last public action? Freeing people protesting being treated like criminals. Those people will talk, and it will negate some of Amon's grandstanding, I'm predicting that when she gets back to republic city, the city will be divided.

(I assume we can now freely discuss it, since i guess enough time has passed)

If she gets back. it could take a while and all sort of things can happen in between. I am also curious what the reason is that Tarrlock can bloodbend without a full moon. Sure if you are a prodigy you might be stronger, but tis is ridicilous. he can swing kraters into the walls with just bloodbending... that can't be right...

So, my predictions for the next episodes:

1) Korra will get to travel to the spiritworld where she'll be greeted by Aang.
which leads to:
2) Aang will help korra to airbend (it's quite a spiritual bending style with a philosophy to adhere to before you can use it)
3) Korra will have to make a tough choice. I'm guessing it will have to do with bloodbending because she will be able to discover Tarrlock's secret. her control won't be perfect, but while rudimentry, it will be good enough to escape. She will suffer emotional backlash from that (as did katara)
4) **** wil lhit the fan because of what happened at the city hall. I mean, the thing is a mess, and not by a bit.
5) we will see Win Beifong going batguano crazy (I'm especially waiting for this...)

Soras Teva Gee

2012-06-05, 08:21 AM

zimmerwald1915

2012-06-05, 08:22 AM

So... what exactly is with the non-Tenzin members of the council? I mean, if Tarrlok is coercing them, it raises the question of why Tenzin doesn't really have anything to go on beyond "ambitious prick". If they just happen to agree with him without comment on everything... no, I don't buy that.
Has anyone considered the possibility that the Fire Nation, Southern Water Tribe, and Earth Kingdom just don't really give enough a hoot to send a non-apparatchik to sit on the Council? Even after seventy years and even after receiving aid from the Northern Water Tribe and hosting the White Lotus, the Southern Water Tribe could easily still be recovering from the damage Azulon's forces did during his reign. Sokka notwithstanding, because no one was going to deny him whatever he wished, they might not be able to spare anyone other than a political hack. Furthermore, they might not have anyone more suited to political maneuvering. In Hakoda's time, politics in the Southern Tribe amounted to "do what the Chief or his designated representative says," and everyone knew each other personally. That is not a political culture well-suited to breeding skilled operators. The Earth Kingdom and the Fire Nation might probably still be interested in reclaiming the United Republic for themselves, or at least subjecting it to their sole, as opposed to joint, "protection". If that's the case, it's in their interests for their Councilmembers to be easily controllable personalities - though they'd prefer that control to be emanating from them and not from another Councilmember - and especially for the United Republic to suffer as much internal dissention as possible. And of course Tenzin's only there because he and Pema are the only Air people (they all live in one place, it's not really appropriate to call them nomads, really) adults left in the world, because nobody wants to look like Sozin mark two, and because Pema might not even qualify if "nationhood" for purposes of Council membership is based on ancestry.

There are, of course, two problems with this theory. The first is that we've got no idea what politics in the Water Tribes, Fire Nation, and Earth Kingdom are actually like these days (who's the Earth monarch these days? What's Zuko's daughter - does she have a name - like as Firelord?), or what their ambitions really are. This is just speculation, and not particularly well-founded speculation at that. The second is that there is no reason for the Northern Water Tribe to be exempt from this. I can't think of a reason they would purposefully not send a faceless apparatchik to sit on the Council unless Tarrlok is the most recent appointee, chosen in the hopes that he would come to dominate the Council in the interests of the Northern Water Tribe. Equally, I can't think of a reason a charismatic manipulator like Tarrlok couldn't have made his way through the Fire Nation and especially Earth Kingdom (where it's happened before) political scenes just as easily as Tarrlok himself did through the Northern Water Tribe's.

Kobold-Bard

2012-06-05, 08:27 AM

Person_Man

2012-06-05, 08:28 AM

I'm really annoyed at the antagonists. They make such stupid mistakes.

Sato had effectively framed Cabbage Corp and established his innocence. He could have continued to bide his time and support the Equalist movement. He could have talked to his daughter Asami about his feelings, making sure that she hated benders as much as he did. He could have filled Asami's head with poison towards benders while raising her, ensuring that she would carry on his goals. He had no reason to lure the Korra et al into his failed trap. But he did, and of course failed (mostly), presumably so that we could see the main characters fighting robots. And now his business is ruined, his daughter is estranged, and he's living in hiding.

Tarrlok had won. He effectively rules the city through the council and fear of the Equalists. He has his own task force. He controls the police. When Korra confronted him, he could have just sat there and laughed at her, because he held all of the cards. There was no reason for him to attack her, because there was nothing Korra could do. But he did, presumably so that we could see Korra fight him. And then Tarrlok made the mistake of not killing Korra, even though doing so would get the Avatar out of his hair for another dozen years or more. So now, even though he won in single combat against Korra, he's lost. People will come back and see the destruction they caused during the battle, and ask a lot of questions. Eventually they'll find her or she'll escape on her own or his true motivations will be revealed, and he'll lose the support of the council and the police. All because he couldn't just sit there and smile while a teenager yelled at him.

zimmerwald1915

2012-06-05, 08:36 AM

I'm really annoyed at the antagonists. They make such stupid mistakes.
But it's okay because their stupid mistakes are balanced out by our protagonists' stupid mistakes.

DrBurr

2012-06-05, 08:37 AM

wuh...what now? where does that come from? when did that happen?:smalleek:
and would it really mention that?? I'm not buying it.
also..
debating the extent of her surprise at the fact..or her expression of surprise, in the heat of battle is a bit of a pointless exercise.. because it is entirely subjective.. all we know is that she was aware of the existence of the technique and of it's supposed premises (full moon and all)..which begs the question..if she knows about it.. can she do it as well? does she have specific ways to counter it other than improvvisation?

Jinora mentions reading Grandpa Aang's adventures in the first episode though she could of simply read a group of private scrolls,but Mako and Bolin seem to know of Aang's adventures as they reinform Korra how he hadn't fought alone even dubbing themselves the New Team Avatar. Combining these two points I'm just speculating the memoirs are public information.

Morty

2012-06-05, 08:38 AM

zimmerwald1915

2012-06-05, 08:39 AM

dehro

2012-06-05, 08:40 AM

dehro

2012-06-05, 08:44 AM

Jinora mentions reading Grandpa Aang's adventures in the first episode though she could of simply read a group of private scrolls,but Mako and Bolin seem to know of Aang's adventures as they reinform Korra how he hadn't fought alone even dubbing themselves the New Team Avatar. Combining these two points I'm just speculating the memoirs are public information.
I had missed that...
mmmh... I'm guessing Jinora read some of his diaries..and pretty much everybody is bound to have heard tales and legends about the latest incarnations of the avatar.. especially since he's ushered in the current era of relative peace.

how much of that is true and accurate, and how in depth diaries and popular/folk tales are is territory for speculation.
too little about either is known to base a solid argument on either the diaries or what is common knowledge

Fragenstein

2012-06-05, 08:45 AM

On the subject of the more esoteric bending techniques...

Aw, crap. Guys. A. Firebender isn't a waterbender. He's a...

Mindbender!

http://media.animevice.com/uploads/1/13254/309407-mindbender_large.jpg
All units be on the lookout for this man, pictured here halfway through donning a disguise of mustache, fake beard and glasses.

Grey Watcher

2012-06-05, 08:53 AM

I would speculate simply economy of time and casting. Its simpler writing and production wise to have Tarrlok and Tenzin argue then the council just silently vote as the tie-breaker. While this is a more adult show its fully adult as it were and not exactly one that is revolving around dialogue and drama, extended debates are probably considered padding by the staff who are just going to skip them.

Its not particularly sensible but that's my theory.

I agree that extended debates on the ethics and practicality of legislation doesn't exactly sit well in what is, at heart, an action adventure story, I did start to find the Council's sheepish willingness to side with Tarrlok ALWAYS to get a little absurd by this point. Even without changing the dialogue, I do wish they'd at least made it a 3-2 vote, and not a 4-1. If for no other reason than so we get the vaguest impression that the Council is composed of thinking individuals and not just a bunch of sponges.

I also wish that Tenzin had had a little bit more in the way of arguments than "It's wrong!" I realize that, as a True Believer in Air Nomad philosophy he doesn't really think in the same pragmatic terms that Tarrlok does, but would it really have killed the show to have him raise at least ONE of the many practical concerns alongside the moral ones? (ie "We shouldn't be wasting our efforts enforcing curfews and harassing civilians; we should be redoubling our efforts to find Amon and the rest of the Equalist leadership."

Also, more flashbacks! I wonder what was going on with Sokka in that one shot?

EDIT: Upon rewatching the flashback here (http://youtu.be/h1YOBujTvzo), it looks like this mystery antagonist of Aang's (possibly this Yakone we've heard so much little about) is bloodbending an entire room full of people. While handcuffed. :smalleek:

TSGames

2012-06-05, 09:04 AM

I'm really annoyed at the antagonists. They make such stupid mistakes.

Person Man, I agree with everything yous said. In fact, when Korra busted in through the window I fully expected Tarrlok to goad her into attacking him so that he could claim the role of victim and have her arrested, thereby removing her as an obstacle by putting her in jail, discrediting her, and, consequently, discrediting Tenzin, his only opposition on the council.

Instead he did the dumbest thing imaginable. No, seriously. I can hardly imagine how that situation could have been handled worse. Not to mention the fact that the leader of the anti-equalist task force had no guards on hand. lending strength to the thoery that he's in it with Amon, which makes little sense seeing as how he's a master bender, or he's really dumb.

Mistakes were made in the last Avatar series too, but none of these antagonists, or the protagonists for that matter, seem to have a brain between their ears. I can't help but feel that this show does not have the rich and well thought out plot that it could have.

Kobold-Bard

2012-06-05, 09:05 AM

On the subject of the more esoteric bending techniques - do we know just how widespread metalbending is? Toph founded an academy after the War, and she became the chief of metalbending police in the Republic City, but we don't know how many, if any, earthbenders outside of the police force know how to metalbend.

I'd imagine the police would try to keep it in their own hands, otherwise you have potential criminals able to just walk out of prison. ut the chances are that like Bloodbending, Metalbending has probably slipped through the cracks and some non-police benders will probably be able to do it.

New question: since when can Mako use Lightning in combat? I thought the stuff we had from Nick said he could only do it when he wasn't under pressure or something.

Ramza00

2012-06-05, 09:16 AM

About the history of Aang. Guys you have to remember that the general populations knows a lot about Aang and his gang, even the personal stuff which only team avatar should know.

Remember Ember Island Players, yes they made Toph a man (with echolocation) and Aang a female but they were able to recreate events that only the gang and a select few should know.

1) Ember Island Players know about the boy in the iceberg even though only aang, katara and sokka were there.
2) Aang vs King Buma duel
3) Waterbending Scroll
4) The Blue Spirit incident, which only Aang, Zuko, and Commander Zhao's army knew about. Zhao after the incident tries to hide he captured the avatar and then lost him.
5) Jet Incident
6) Princess Yue becoming the moon spirit.
7) Zuko and Iroh seperating
8) Azula vs everybody after the chase in the old town corral
9) Jet being mindcontrolled by the Dai Li/Earth King
10) Aang announcing feelings of love to Katara before the day of black sun.

If the general population is able to gain this information without Team Avatar's help it is just as likely that the bloodbending incident is also common knowledge.

Once the theory of bloodbending is known, people will be able to recreate it. Remember Katara was able to bloodbend without being shown how to bloodbend. Hama even comments you should have learn the moves before betraying me. Once Katara knew of the idea of bloodbending as was subjectgated to only a few moments of being bloodbent she was able to recreate the art and was able to overpower Hama.

Grey Watcher

2012-06-05, 09:16 AM

Person Man, I agree with everything yous said. In fact, when Korra busted in through the window I fully expected Tarrlok to goad her into attacking him so that he could claim the role of victim and have her arrested, thereby removing her as an obstacle by putting her in jail, discrediting her, and, consequently, discrediting Tenzin, his only opposition on the council.

Instead he did the dumbest thing imaginable. No, seriously. I can hardly imagine how that situation could have been handled worse. Not to mention the fact that the leader of the anti-equalist task force had no guards on hand. lending strength to the thoery that he's in it with Amon, which makes little sense seeing as how he's a master bender, or he's really dumb.

Mistakes were made in the last Avatar series too, but none of these antagonists, or the protagonists for that matter, seem to have a brain between their ears. I can't help but feel that this show does not have the rich and well thought out plot that it could have.

Maybe Tarrlok is just this series' ZHAO THE MOONSLAYER!!!11!1!

Lhurgyof

2012-06-05, 09:26 AM

I have a sneaking suspicion that Tarlock is either Amon or working for him, and is pulling a palpatine by working both sides of the issue. Does anyone else agree?

Grey Watcher

2012-06-05, 09:33 AM

I have a sneaking suspicion that Tarlock is either Amon or working for him, and is pulling a palpatine by working both sides of the issue. Does anyone else agree?

Given his reaction to being compared to Amon, I'd say it's one of two distinct possibilities, though, honestly not the one I'm rooting for. Having all of one's antagonists revealed to be secretly in cahoots the whole time is a very difficult thing to pull off very well.

The other possibility is, of course, that Tarrlok, despite his appearance as a scheming and sleazy politician is, in fact, truly, passionately, and deeply determined to take down Amon at all costs, and being compared to the very person he hates most just really ticks him off.

TSGames

2012-06-05, 09:33 AM

I have a sneaking suspicion that Tarlock is either Amon or working for him, and is pulling a palpatine by working both sides of the issue. Does anyone else agree?

It's either that(in which case the writers have so 'splaining to do), or he's just really stupid.

Kobold-Bard

2012-06-05, 09:36 AM

I have a sneaking suspicion that Tarlock is either Amon or working for him, and is pulling a palpatine by working both sides of the issue. Does anyone else agree?

Many people agree.

I personally do not because Tarlokk got so angry about being told he's just like Amon that he flipped out & attacked the Avatar rather than letting her attack & then being able to condemn her. I think he genuinely hates Amon & sees himself as a saviour of sorts against the Equalists.

Making him Palpatine would ruin both Amon & Tarlokk as villains I think.

TSGames

2012-06-05, 09:39 AM

Many people agree.

I personally do not because Tarlokk got so angry about being told he's just like Amon that he flipped out & attacked the Avatar rather than letting her attack & then being able to condemn her. I think he genuinely hates Amon & sees himself as a saviour of sorts against the Equalists.

Making him Palpatine would ruin both Amon & Tarlokk as villains I think.

I think most would agree that trurning Avatar into Star Wars would definitely ruin it. Just look at what the new trilogy did to that series...

Soras Teva Gee

2012-06-05, 09:47 AM

I agree that extended debates on the ethics and practicality of legislation doesn't exactly sit well in what is, at heart, an action adventure story, I did start to find the Council's sheepish willingness to side with Tarrlok ALWAYS to get a little absurd by this point. Even without changing the dialogue, I do wish they'd at least made it a 3-2 vote, and not a 4-1. If for no other reason than so we get the vaguest impression that the Council is composed of thinking individuals and not just a bunch of sponges.

I also wish that Tenzin had had a little bit more in the way of arguments than "It's wrong!" I realize that, as a True Believer in Air Nomad philosophy he doesn't really think in the same pragmatic terms that Tarrlok does, but would it really have killed the show to have him raise at least ONE of the many practical concerns alongside the moral ones? (ie "We shouldn't be wasting our efforts enforcing curfews and harassing civilians; we should be redoubling our efforts to find Amon and the rest of the Equalist leadership."

Also, more flashbacks! I wonder what was going on with Sokka in that one shot?

Well if nothing else this thread has pointed out that the antagonists keep rolling natural 20s and the protagonists keep rolling natural 1s.

This doesn't persay bother me as much as its seems to bother others, mostly because no one example is particularly bad. And I try to have deliberately blank expectations on what should happen as a rule.

People seem to want Light Yagami-class ridiculous layers of intrigue, with Char Aznable-class moral ambiguity, and optimized Wizard tactics. Or something.

I have a sneaking suspicion that Tarlock is either Amon or working for him, and is pulling a palpatine by working both sides of the issue. Does anyone else agree?

To keep things short: you are not alone.

A good bit of us think any "Amon is [X]" theory is dumb, others believe it resoundingly obvious. Most of use would not put it past Tarrlok ethically to be playing the Equalists for his own ends, but whether he actually has is very slippery to determine.

For my money I don't think Tarrlok has actually done anything that would require him to sabotage his own apparent efforts on the logic of letting the Equalists be a bigger threat. While corrupt in his use of power I seem him as genuine in his baseline beliefs. The Equalists are a threat, he will crush them by any means nessecary and make his power from that.

Morty

2012-06-05, 09:49 AM

Given his reaction to being compared to Amon, I'd say it's one of two distinct possibilities, though, honestly not the one I'm rooting for. Having all of one's antagonists revealed to be secretly in cahoots the whole time is a very difficult thing to pull off very well.

The other possibility is, of course, that Tarrlok, despite his appearance as a scheming and sleazy politician is, in fact, truly, passionately, and deeply determined to take down Amon at all costs, and being compared to the very person he hates most just really ticks him off.

Flipping out when compared to Amon points to the latter being true. If he was Amon or was working with him, it would be just another insult from Korra. Instead, being told he's just as bad as Amon finally crashed Tarrlok's unflappable demeanor.

TheTick

2012-06-05, 09:58 AM

Tarrlok is a political creature - he wants power and control in Republic City, and was well on his way to getting it. He seemed to have the council (save for Tenzin) in his pocket. Amon, though, is a complicating factor. He's disrupting his hold, turning the common people against benders - against him. If the theory that Tarrlok is Yakone's son, and would have a reason to hate/fear someone that could take bending (because it happened to Yakone) holds true, he might be getting desperate. If Avatar Korra won't help him, then she's his enemy, and being alone gives him the best shot to get rid of her in some way without witnesses. Especially if he knows he has the bloodbending ability as a trump card.

Grey Watcher

2012-06-05, 10:35 AM

...

People seem to want Light Yagami-class ridiculous layers of intrigue, with Char Aznable-class moral ambiguity, and optimized Wizard tactics. Or something.

...

Honestly, for the most part, I think the intrigue-to-action ratio is, overall, quite good. It's just, without it being justified in some way (even just a throwaway line about how Tarrlok's spent years finding ways to influence and coerce his fellow Council Members), their almost slavish adherence to going along with whatever Tarrlok wants is starting to strain credibility for me.

As for Tenzin having more than the moral argument to fall back on well, it just starts to feel like he's not really trying. Maybe I'd feel better if there were a stronger implication that we were only seeing the tag end of a much longer debate....

Of course, maybe Tenzin's ineptitude at this sort of thing is why everyone seems to listen to Tarrlok...?

dehro

2012-06-05, 11:36 AM

whilst I agree with the general sentiment of your statement and with the logic behind it, the examples you list are...terrible

1) Ember Island Players know about the boy in the iceberg even though only aang, katara and sokka were there.
except both of them told the tale to basically anybody who would listen to it.

2) Aang vs King Buma duel half of Omashu was either a direct witness (guards, servants and such) or heard about it once it was known that the avatar was in town

3) Waterbending Scroll all the beat up pirates and such, plus anybody else involved in that one

4) The Blue Spirit incident, which only Aang, Zuko, and Commander Zhao's army knew about. Zhao after the incident tries to hide he captured the avatar and then lost him."only the entire army?":smallamused:... also..all of the north watertribe must have learned about it in short order after the events...what with their princess turning into the moon and the avatar going berserk

5) Jet Incident fair enough..that one is a difficult one to explain

6) Princess Yue becoming the moon spirit.see above..that's not exactly something that wouldn't be talked about far and wide. it has "stuff off legends" written all over it.

7) Zuko and Iroh seperating depending on what separation we're talking about, the answer to this one varies..

8) Azula vs everybody after the chase in the old town corral yeah..well.. how would that be a secret?

9) Jet being mindcontrolled by the Dai Li/Earth King again..a bit of a puzzle..

10) Aang announcing feelings of love to Katara before the day of black sun.
stop hogging all the shipping :smallbiggrin: it was a bit of a cheap shot..that so happened to land in the target.

only a small number of the plot points in the theatre show are puzzling me as to how these actors knew it... but I tend to explain it away by thinking about the function of theatre in medieval times, and the function of cinema in wartime. the whole thing is clever propaganda, probably fuelled and even penned together by some bureaucrat wearing a firenation uniform. it stands to reason that to discredit the avatar s/he would put together all the dirt they have on him, or twist the good things into dirt.

it is however also a perfect example of how popular knowledge that need not be accurate, true or remotely close to actual events, spread and turn into legend. the fact is, so far we don't know what the common knowledge about events 70 years prior is in Korra's time.

in fact, this has even been used in at least one other show, where, only a few years after misterious and somewhat supernatural events happened, people started to question them and the facts started to get muddled
(babylon 5, in case you're wondering)

John Cribati

2012-06-05, 11:45 AM

New Clip. New Questions. (http://korranation.tumblr.com/post/24475868571/new-clip-tenzin-rushes-to-city-hall-to-find-out)

Namely how the hell Tarrlok got his hands on all that Equalist stuff. Maybe he got it from police Evidence already confiscated, but...

zimmerwald1915

2012-06-05, 12:04 PM

it's a possibility..but Republic City is very much presented as the place to be and the place where everything is happening.. as in technology and stuff.. so.. they wouldn't want to lose control over it entirely.

edit: this was to reply to zimmer... theory about the other kingdoms not giving a hoot about republic city.
This is my point: that the nations besides the United Republic care more about maintaining their influence, in the form of influence over their Councilmembers, in the United Republic than about the actual governance of or current events in the United Republic. Thus they appoint pliable personalities to the Council. These people, apart from Tenzin who doesn't matter because he is an ineffective politician, are meant to be political stooges. Thus they act like political stooges. This is all fine and dandy (for the governments of the four nations, not so much for the people of the United Republic) as long as each representative doesn't differ too much from his neighbor. When someone like Tarrlok comes in, suddenly all the political stooges have someone to listen to who is not only a stronger personality and in control of the situation, like their suppsed superiors in their home nations, but is also in close personal contact with them for much of each day. That he is able to capture their loyalty, by whatever means we weren't treated to, is unsurprising.

Again, this is based on the observation that the Councilmembers we see are basically without character. There are a number of possible explanations for this, and I chose to raise this one - that the Councilmembers were deliberately chosen by their home nations precisely because they were characterless - because it hadn't come up yet.

There's also the "meta" reason that these people are meant to contrast with the kind of Council the United Republic had in the good old days. The good old days when Aang and Sokka sat on the Council and when Zuko and Kuei appointed the Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom Councilmembers. So far, of the people whose ancestors we know about and have seen, only Lin has even begun to measure up - and she has one of the highest bars set against her.

CoffeeIncluded

2012-06-05, 12:28 PM

John Cribati

2012-06-05, 12:34 PM

Dammit, you beat me to it!

I have joined the tumblr singularity. You will always be too slow until you do as well.

Kobold-Bard

2012-06-05, 12:59 PM

For the foreigners:
Clip 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ov0PDpJqv-A)
Clip 2 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvjYPXEmjik)

Thank goodness Tarlokk has gone completely wacko (I was afraid there for a while). He's still got some sense.

@Herpestidae:
I'd assume he's probably had it for a while, in case he needed to plant evidence. Given their rounding up of non-benders, I'd assume they've probably been planting stuff left, right and centre.

Callos_DeTerran

2012-06-05, 01:18 PM

Tarrlok had won. He effectively rules the city through the council and fear of the Equalists. He has his own task force. He controls the police. When Korra confronted him, he could have just sat there and laughed at her, because he held all of the cards. There was no reason for him to attack her, because there was nothing Korra could do. But he did, presumably so that we could see Korra fight him. And then Tarrlok made the mistake of not killing Korra, even though doing so would get the Avatar out of his hair for another dozen years or more. So now, even though he won in single combat against Korra, he's lost. People will come back and see the destruction they caused during the battle, and ask a lot of questions. Eventually they'll find her or she'll escape on her own or his true motivations will be revealed, and he'll lose the support of the council and the police. All because he couldn't just sit there and smile while a teenager yelled at him.

Tarrlok hadn't won though. Sure, he had all the cards, but that 'teenager' yelling at him is the Avatar. She might not have any official position or authority, but almost everything acknowledges the Avatar as a force of balance and justice in the world. They are the medium between the spirit world and the physical, the last Avatar managed to stop a hundred year long war when he was only 12-13.

That's not just some teenager. That's a very serious threat to any plans Tarrlok might have because people will listen to Korra when she states her views and she's already thought of fondly in the public eye. She stood up to the Equalists terrorizing the city (including challenging Amon to a duel), was the star player on an underdog pro-sports team that became rather popular, and as of the most recent episode, was even shown standing up for the rights of oppressed non-benders. I wouldn't be surprised at all to find out that Korra has greater public standing then Tarrlok does, even if Tarrlok has actual political power, and that kind of public standing is dangerous to him if she's not on his side. Did he do something stupid by attacking her and kidnapping her? Yes, not arguing that. But he hadn't 'won' yet. Tarrlok made a poor judgment call, but it's not like he gave up sure victory because he didn't have a sure victory yet.

Agreed on Sato though. I would point out though that Sato seemed to be trying to keep Asami out of all this nastiness, to keep her safe if for no other reason (being a chi-blocker/Equalist is becoming more and more dangerous). Morei mportantly, if he poisoned Asami's feelings on benders then he risked exposing his true leanings.

Morty

2012-06-05, 01:31 PM

Regarding the clips:
Tarrlok hasn't gone completely nuts after all. And he managed to salvage the situation pretty quickly.
It also looks like the Avatar State can overcome bloodbending - which is just what Korra needs if she wants to take down Tarrlok.

Flickerdart

2012-06-05, 03:18 PM

Soras Teva Gee

2012-06-05, 03:21 PM

Clips:

For the hopefuls this is the first thing that might be evidence for an Equalist-Tarrlok connection. That stuff had to come from somewhere.

Of course this makes the lack of say Equalist minions to drive Korra out of town or set up the scene even more odd.

Of course its well after we know the Equalists have had some of their stuff seized so. So for my money he just nicked them from evidence or something.

Still be interesting to see what sort of story is behind it. Also how the heck did he get the glove off if he electrocuted himself?

For the other... no comment yet.

Kobold-Bard

2012-06-05, 03:21 PM

You know...we never see any young Avatars in the spirit line. Do Avatars that aren't fully realized (and thus incredibly difficult to kill) not get included? Or does it just so happen that they always survive? Because if Korra were to get offed, the next Avatar would be royally boned when it comes to getting guidance from his predecessors, at least until he's able to reach further back than one.

One would assume very few Avatars are killed in their youth, given that even in their youth they would presumably have the Avatar State to fall back on if **** did indeed hit the fan.

Edit:

Clips:

...

Still be interesting to see what sort of story is behind it. Also how the heck did he get the glove off if he electrocuted himself?

...

Low voltage shock? Enough to leave an obvious physical sign of him being electrocuted, but not enough to actually knock him out?

Morph Bark

2012-06-05, 03:26 PM

New thread again already? Woohoo.

I should go watch the new episode since I couldn't this weekend. Tiny laptop with bad video card. :smallfrown:

zimmerwald1915

2012-06-05, 03:27 PM

Low voltage shock? Enough to leave an obvious physical sign of him being electrocuted, but not enough to actually knock him out?
Do the gloves actually have settings to which they can be tuned? I don't think we've ever seen them adjusted, in any fashion, by anyone. Of course, Tarrlok could be well-versed enough in the body's chi paths to shock himself where he won't do much damage, or he could be just that tough.

Kobold-Bard

2012-06-05, 03:28 PM

Do the gloves actually have settings to which they can be tuned? T don't think we've ever seen them adjusted, in any fashion, by anyone. Of course, Tarrlok could be well-versed enough in the body's chi paths to shock himself where he won't do much damage, or he could be just that tough.

It was just a theory. Maybe he just lied & woke up before the police arrived. Or maybe the new Chief just concealed it, since he's Tarlokk's lackey.

BRC

2012-06-05, 05:59 PM

Alright, having seen the clip

now, THERE is the clever Tarlock I came to expect. I still don't believe this was his plan from the beginning (That anger was real), but it's very good improvisation on his part. Tenzin is his main political opponent right now, and Tenzin will do whatever it takes to find Korra. So long as Korra is missing, he can get Tenzin to tag along with his task force, countering every argument with "This might lead us to Korra".

Even the most principled man can budge when things get personal.
That said, my guess as to the Episode.

Tenzin starts working with Tarlock, shaking down Equalists to see where they hide their prisoners. Lin however thinks something is fishy and conducts her own investigation.
Meanwhile Korra, locked up in a metal cell (She's not a metalbender, so that works), gets in touch with Aang and learns about what happened with Yakone.

Then, as the episode ends she is snapped out of her trance by cell opening, everybody gets all excited expecting it to be Lin, and the episode ends with a shot of some Equalists, having just opened the cage.

MLai

2012-06-05, 08:21 PM

If Korra were to get offed, the next Avatar would be royally boned when it comes to getting guidance from his predecessors, at least until he's able to reach further back than one.
LMAO.

Next Avatar: North UR threatens to secede from the East and South districts, gasoline taxes are rising and rising, and now the champion pro-bending team are found to be taking performance-enhancing drugs. What do I do?

Korra ghost: FIGHT IT WITH FIRE! :D
===============================================

So, is that theory of chakra centers aligning with each episode still holding true? Granted, the theory is vague enough to almost always fit... but it's still fun to see each time.
===============================================

I looked it up.
http://i.imgur.com/tkmQX.png

Wow, so far it's still corresponding. And based on the preview clips for eps. 9, it looks like the next one will correspond as well.

Dr.Epic

2012-06-05, 10:04 PM

there's that guy, who wasn't a firebender anymore at the end of the series, and that corpse near the northern water tribe, also the former firebender's daughter...

Wait, you think those guys were evil? Heck no. That's a common misconception. They were actually Lawful Good but a very strict version of Lawful Good. I can see how you'd make that mistake.

Sparky Sparky Boom Man?

Come on. Can someone named "Sparky" really be evil? Name one other person named Sparky who's evil. I think it's even against the law to be named that and be evil.

Fjolnir

2012-06-05, 10:55 PM

Wait, you think those guys were evil? Heck no. That's a common misconception. They were actually Lawful Good but a very strict version of Lawful Good. I can see how you'd make that mistake.

Come on. Can someone named "Sparky" really be evil? Name one other person named Sparky who's evil. I think it's even against the law to be named that and be evil.

Former firebender is definitely evil, as is his daughter, northern water corpse might have been misguided until he tried to kill the moon.

VanBuren

2012-06-05, 11:20 PM

Former firebender is definitely evil, as is his daughter, northern water corpse might have been misguided until he tried to kill the moon.

Frankly, I've never seen a moon that was so obviously seeking death. Frankly, that was a mercy kill at worst.

Besides, that Water tribe was totally sexist. Clearly the villains.

slayerx

2012-06-05, 11:53 PM

Because if Korra were to get offed, the next Avatar would be royally boned when it comes to getting guidance from his predecessors, at least until he's able to reach further back than one.

Korra may not be so well off herself

http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2012/119/8/0/korra_and_kyoshi_by_tracywilliams-d4xzwlw.jpg

http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2012/126/f/e/korra_and_aang_by_tracywilliams-d4ypvpd.jpg

http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2012/134/f/a/korra_and_roku_by_tracywilliams-d4zrrvo.jpg

Ah the things you find on devianart ^^

dehro

2012-06-06, 01:50 AM

serious lulz

and yeah..avatars don't die young..because the main purpose of the avatar state is to keep them alive..and the avatar state trumps everything else.
Azula just happened to be really lucky as she took a potshot at him. things like these probably happen once every several millennia.

Fjolnir

2012-06-06, 02:04 AM

the next episode is Insight/illusion correct?

Brother Oni

2012-06-06, 06:26 AM

Come on. Can someone named "Sparky" really be evil? Name one other person named Sparky who's evil. I think it's even against the law to be named that and be evil.

I'm sure Spiderman has made numerous references to Electro as Sparky.

There's also 'Old Sparky', a reference to the electric chair. Whether it's evil or not is a matter of opinion though.

A quick check on wikipedia shows up Sparky aka Experiment 221 (http://liloandstitch.wikia.com/wiki/Sparky_(Experiment_221)), who's a boss in the game Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep.

and yeah..avatars don't die young..because the main purpose of the avatar state is to keep them alive..and the avatar state trumps everything else.
Azula just happened to be really lucky as she took a potshot at him. things like these probably happen once every several millennia.

Well it depends - assassinating an Avatar by surprise would only delay the Avatar by a couple decades, but squaring off against an Avatar in a toe to toe fight while they're in full Avatar state is asking for trouble.

Repeatedly murdering baby/juvenile Avatars would also net the same outcome as a surprise ambush - all you're doing is delaying them.

I suspect that access to the Avatar state is extremely restricted to prevent accidental collateral damage and to ensure the best chance of continuation of the Avatar spirit. Aang's early triggering of it to survive being frozen/drowned is probably in no part due to his very spiritual nature allowing emergency access.

Fjolnir

2012-06-06, 07:54 AM

The fire nation's plan involved "kill 2 avatars and train the next fire one to back us up" in the previous series, that or "keep aang in a dungeon until we win, then solidify our position by executing him and hunting down the next 2"

dehro

2012-06-06, 10:21 AM

I'm sure Spiderman has made numerous references to Electro as Sparky.

There's also 'Old Sparky', a reference to the electric chair. Whether it's evil or not is a matter of opinion though.

A quick check on wikipedia shows up Sparky aka Experiment 221 (http://liloandstitch.wikia.com/wiki/Sparky_(Experiment_221)), who's a boss in the game Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep.

Well it depends - assassinating an Avatar by surprise would only delay the Avatar by a couple decades, but squaring off against an Avatar in a toe to toe fight while they're in full Avatar state is asking for trouble.

Repeatedly murdering baby/juvenile Avatars would also net the same outcome as a surprise ambush - all you're doing is delaying them.

I suspect that access to the Avatar state is extremely restricted to prevent accidental collateral damage and to ensure the best chance of continuation of the Avatar spirit. Aang's early triggering of it to survive being frozen/drowned is probably in no part due to his very spiritual nature allowing emergency access.

mmh dunno.. the way I remember it is that the avatar state is designed as a way to keep the avatar safe.. to the point that in the original pilot of the show (unaired episode) Aang would purposedly jump off a cliff or otherwise endanger his life in order to access the avatar state and whoop ass. I'm guessing that even toddlers would go shiny-berserk should someone jump them with a knife. though yes, I admit this is stretching it a bit.
the point there being that the entire raison d'etre for the avatar state is for protection of said avatar..like an effective firewall that just sits there until a virus comes along and then slamdunks said virus in the pavement.

tyckspoon

2012-06-06, 10:32 AM

mmh dunno.. the way I remember it is that the avatar state is designed as a way to keep the avatar safe.. to the point that in the original pilot of the show (unaired episode) Aang would purposedly jump off a cliff or otherwise endanger his life in order to access the avatar state and whoop ass. I'm guessing that even toddlers would go shiny-berserk should someone jump them with a knife. though yes, I admit this is stretching it a bit.
the point there being that the entire raison d'etre for the avatar state is for protection of said avatar..

Which makes it interesting that it *hasn't* happened for Korra yet; the ambush at Aang's statue, the long fall in the Bending Arena, and getting Bloodbent were all situations that probably would have set off Aang (well, not necessarily the fall, but then, Airbender.) I'm interested to see if they're going to provide an in-show explanation for why Korra hasn't gone full Avatar like that, or if they've just decided not to use that particular deus ex and are quietly pretending it doesn't exist.

Callos_DeTerran

2012-06-06, 10:35 AM

mmh dunno.. the way I remember it is that the avatar state is designed as a way to keep the avatar safe.. to the point that in the original pilot of the show (unaired episode) Aang would purposedly jump off a cliff or otherwise endanger his life in order to access the avatar state and whoop ass. I'm guessing that even toddlers would go shiny-berserk should someone jump them with a knife. though yes, I admit this is stretching it a bit.
the point there being that the entire raison d'etre for the avatar state is for protection of said avatar..like an effective firewall that just sits there until a virus comes along and then slamdunks said virus in the pavement.

It also seems contingent on Aang's emotions and what Aang is aware of. If Aang were killed in his sleep, or never put in a stressful enough state to go all glow if imprisoned, that the Avatar state would never activate. Heck, it's probably happened before...and then the next Avatar likely hunted that person down and ended them, which is why people probably don't do it anymore. >.>

EDIT: I don't know...Up until Amon showed up, I wouldn't peg Aang for going Avatar state because he's been ambushed and captured before. A fair number of times actually. He's also been blood-bent before and no Avatar State (though that ability was apparently blocked at the time do to Azula's sneak-attack). There's no reason to suspect they'd get Korra to go Avatar state either.

Brother Oni

2012-06-06, 11:13 AM

mmh dunno.. the way I remember it is that the avatar state is designed as a way to keep the avatar safe..

However accessing the Avatar state also makes the Avatar spirit vulnerable - you're thinking too much in terms of the individual reincarnation of the Avatar and not so much on the eternally renewing Avatar spirit.

Much like the real world beliefs this is based on, death isn't so much a 'game over' as more a 'insert karmic coin to start again' situation.

Heck, it's probably happened before...and then the next Avatar likely hunted that person down and ended them, which is why people probably don't do it anymore. >.>

Depends on how vindictive the Avatar is feeling. They could just hunt down the person responsible, or they could exact justice on every descendent, making sure each generation knows the pain of losing a loved one, until they either feel justice has been done, or they just get bored.
In a obviously Chinese based society, playing family feuds with something that is eternally reborn is a losing proposition for your family line and would be obviously avoided.

This is not mentioning that the aforementioned spirit is regarded as the ultimate mediator and authority of justice, plus it's hard to argue "my great grandfather says the Avatar struck first!" versus "actually, I just spoke to my previous incarnation and she says she remembers your great grandfather and was wondering how he knew that, given he was a baby at the time?".
The Gan Jin and the Zhangs feuding from the first series was a good example of all this and how the Avatar can lie to present their case.

Anyway as far as I know, the only long term feud the Avatar has had, was with Koh and that was limited to a single incarnation (good thing for Aang that Koh doesn't hold a grudge).

Soras Teva Gee

2012-06-06, 11:32 AM

Which makes it interesting that it *hasn't* happened for Korra yet; the ambush at Aang's statue, the long fall in the Bending Arena, and getting Bloodbent were all situations that probably would have set off Aang (well, not necessarily the fall, but then, Airbender.) I'm interested to see if they're going to provide an in-show explanation for why Korra hasn't gone full Avatar like that, or if they've just decided not to use that particular deus ex and are quietly pretending it doesn't exist.

Using a concept you've already introduced from the beginning is hardly a deus ex. While on the other hand they don't have a need to explain it since every bit of Korra is different from Aang, if it never manifested before now then it never manifested. That's all there need be.

If we must demand such detail then the most likely explanation is already well established... Korra fails spiritually. That's essentially what the state is, calling for backup from all your lives and channeling vast spiritual power right? Unless there is some other reason why Korra doesn't I don't feel it needs to be stated personally.

YPU

2012-06-06, 01:00 PM

If we must demand such detail then the most likely explanation is already well established... Korra fails spiritually. That's essentially what the state is, calling for backup from all your lives and channeling vast spiritual power right? Unless there is some other reason why Korra doesn't I don't feel it needs to be stated personally.

That was pretty much what I figured, korra simply does not yet have the connection to the spiritual energy of the avatars past lives.

There is another aspect which might be important here. One would imagine that entering the state becomes progressively easier each time it is done, or rather that the first time would be the hardest to achieve it. Remember what it took for Aang to enter it the first time. The enormous raw emotion of realizing your entire race, your home civilization has been exterminated to the last man, with the exception of you. To know you are truly the last one, and truly alone. That is a pretty powerful trigger, and none of Korra's emotions has come close to that for now.

Fjolnir

2012-06-06, 01:11 PM

That would be the second time, the first was when he fled the air temple and got frozen in the ice...

Douglas

2012-06-06, 01:14 PM

Remember what it took for Aang to enter it the first time. The enormous raw emotion of realizing your entire race, your home civilization has been exterminated to the last man, with the exception of you. To know you are truly the last one, and truly alone. That is a pretty powerful trigger, and none of Korra's emotions has come close to that for now.
Actually, that was Aang's third time. The first was locking himself in the iceberg for a century to avoid drowning, and the second was avoiding drowning again followed by kicking some firebender ass. Both of those first two events involved great physical danger to the Avatar but little or no emotional stress.

Brother Oni

2012-06-06, 04:33 PM

Actually, that was Aang's third time. The first was locking himself in the iceberg for a century to avoid drowning, and the second was avoiding drowning again followed by kicking some firebender ass. Both of those first two events involved great physical danger to the Avatar but little or no emotional stress.

Unless you consider the emotional stress of running away from everybody he's every known, so I guess the first one kinda counts.

Morty

2012-06-06, 04:41 PM

dehro

2012-06-06, 05:04 PM

Lord Raziere

2012-06-06, 05:07 PM

Madara

2012-06-06, 06:34 PM

All the flashbacks so far make me dizzy and go to fast, I have to go online just to see the pictures :smallsigh:

Hopefully the next ones will be better.

Soras Teva Gee

2012-06-06, 09:11 PM

Thinking about what's happened so far, I'm wondering just how long has the Equalist movement existed. According to Amon, they've been forced to "hide in the shadows for years". If they've really existed for years but only began to stir things up relatively recently, then I wonder what started their growth in power. Amon, probably.

I'd view that as mostly rhetorical. As long as the Equalists are more then one year old at the time of that statement, then they can say years. My reading is that likely Amon is referring to anti-bender sentiment in general which is presumably almost as old as the Lion Turtle.

I would suspect that what we are called Equalists though are entirely Amon's creation, giving a face and a voice to sentiment.

Dr.Epic

2012-06-06, 09:49 PM

Someone tell me if I'm crazy, but I'm about to post something extremely controversial they may make people angry. I'm just saying this now, I had a sort of revelation last night about the new Team Avatar and the group sort of parallels another group in fiction. Now tell me if I'm crazy, but do they sort of mimic the characters from Scooby-Doo?

Mako=Fred
Bolin=Shaggy
Asami=Daphne
Korra=Velma
Naga and/or Pabu=Scooby-Doo
Amon=masked antagonist
Meelo=Scrappy-Doo

I mean, am I crazy or does anyone else see the parallels? Someone should totally do an animation combining the two where they like catch Amon in a poorly constructed trap and remove his mask and it turns out to be old man Tenzin. It'd be hilarious.:smallbiggrin:

Lord Raziere

2012-06-06, 09:53 PM

I think your not crazy at all.

after all, you accurately matched the two most annoying characters in both series together. quite fitting. Meelo is definitely The Scrappy.

Dr.Epic

2012-06-06, 09:58 PM

I think your not crazy at all.

after all, you accurately matched the two most annoying characters in both series together. quite fitting. Meelo is definitely The Scrappy.

ANNOYING!?!?!?!? Meelo is a super cool, super awesome, super great, super cool, amazing character all the fangirls want. That Meelo, he definitely isn't annoying comedic relief. He's awesome comedic be-the-RE-leaf.:smallwink:

Dienekes

2012-06-06, 10:21 PM

I don't see it. Bolin and Shaggy are only both comic relief (and like food, but even the proportionately it's not so similar), Korra is most definitely not "the smart one" of the group, and honestly off the pro-bending field Mako isn't much of a leader, and not actually similar to Fred's personality at all.

Also, it's already pointed out, but since you like Meelo to a befuddling and in some ways bizarre degree, why did you feel the need to compare him to one of the most annoying and loathed characters in animated history?

Soras Teva Gee

2012-06-06, 10:46 PM

{Scrubbed}

Fiery Diamond

2012-06-06, 11:51 PM

{Scrub the post, scrub the quote}

I'm gonna have to agree with Soras here.

Dr.Epic

2012-06-07, 12:23 AM

I'm gonna have to agree with Soras here.

:smallfrown:

Oh man! Well, can you make a list of characters it is okay for me to obsess over? Then I won't have to keep talking about Meelo.

YPU

2012-06-07, 12:51 AM

Actually, that was Aang's third time. The first was locking himself in the iceberg for a century to avoid drowning, and the second was avoiding drowning again followed by kicking some firebender ass. Both of those first two events involved great physical danger to the Avatar but little or no emotional stress.

My bad, I meant it was the first time he accessed it without being on the verge of dying. (I seem to remember he was actually drowning in both occasions, but I might be wrong)

VanBuren

2012-06-07, 04:44 AM

Congrats you've just made me see that Meelo is a waste of animation in this story.

And seriously dude everyone here knows you like the guy, but on a personal level every post you make about him (and if I may diverge a lot of posts from you in general) is roughly equivalent walking in front of me and loudly breaking wind then stopping to laugh and draw attention to the fact. It directly lowers my enjoyment of this forum. You can do as you like but I felt the need to state this at least once.

:smallfrown:

Oh man! Well, can you make a list of characters it is okay for me to obsess over? Then I won't have to keep talking about Meelo.

Conform harder, dammit

:smallamused:

Silverraptor

2012-06-07, 10:45 AM

Just got caught up on episodes and saw the preview. Blood bending looks awesome! Also, it seems we have a good idea now on what Aang is trying to tell Korra.

TheAmishPirate

2012-06-07, 11:13 AM

Guys. I know why Amon was so intent on destroying Pro Bending.

It's because he's clearly Anti-Bending!

...

http://i.imgur.com/JtOnx.gif

Ashen Lilies

2012-06-07, 11:33 AM

:smallfrown:

Oh man! Well, can you make a list of characters it is okay for me to obsess over? Then I won't have to keep talking about Meelo.

From the way I see things it's not the specific character but rather the 'obsession' part that has people (including me, I'll admit) slightly annoyed.

It's okay, even great, that you like a specific character (I like Meelo too, if not as... exuberantly) but maybe if you restricted yourself from making literally every post you submit to this thread a rambling, cartoonish display of affection towards him, it might make the rest of us not feel like you're physically slapping us in the face with every word you type.

Soras Teva Gee

2012-06-07, 12:06 PM

From the way I see things it's not the specific character but rather the 'obsession' part that has people (including me, I'll admit) slightly annoyed.

It's okay, even great, that you like a specific character (I like Meelo too, if not as... exuberantly) but maybe if you restricted yourself from making literally every post you submit to this thread a rambling, cartoonish display of affection towards him, it might make the rest of us not feel like you're physically slapping us in the face with every word you type.

This.

Its not so much about Meelo as the presentation.

Dr.Epic

2012-06-07, 03:15 PM

From the way I see things it's not the specific character but rather the 'obsession' part that has people (including me, I'll admit) slightly annoyed.

It's okay, even great, that you like a specific character (I like Meelo too, if not as... exuberantly) but maybe if you restricted yourself from making literally every post you submit to this thread a rambling, cartoonish display of affection towards him, it might make the rest of us not feel like you're physically slapping us in the face with every word you type.

But how am I supposed to enjoy a work of fiction without pointlessly obsessing over a specific character?:smallconfused:

Xondoure

2012-06-07, 05:13 PM

Personally, I quite like Dr. Epic's posts on Meelo. They haven't failed to be amusing so far.

Brother Oni

2012-06-07, 05:16 PM

But how am I supposed to enjoy a work of fiction without pointlessly obsessing over a specific character?:smallconfused:

We're not saying 'don't obsess', we're saying 'keep the noise down'.

Madara

2012-06-07, 08:58 PM

Personally, I quite like Dr. Epic's posts on Meelo. They haven't failed to be amusing so far.

This. When the thread is filled with a serious analysis of almost everything, his posts remind me its a children's show. :smallbiggrin:

Soras Teva Gee

2012-06-07, 09:06 PM

In other news.... Hiroshi Sato was totally based off the best president ever. (http://bryankonietzko.tumblr.com/post/24446247365/edit-hiroshi-satos-character-design-was)

VanBuren

2012-06-07, 09:17 PM

In other news.... Hiroshi Sato was totally based off the best president ever. (http://bryankonietzko.tumblr.com/post/24446247365/edit-hiroshi-satos-character-design-was)

Clearly we're supposed to be supporting the Equalists, then.

TSGames

2012-06-07, 10:07 PM

Clearly we're supposed to be supporting the Equalists, then.

Only if you believe in FREEDOM. God bless 1920's America Repubic City.

Dr.Epic

2012-06-07, 10:56 PM

Mutant Sheep

2012-06-08, 12:27 AM

The president that hunted vampires?:smallconfused:
What? That... what?

Only if you believe in FREEDOM. God bless 1920's America Repubic City.
1920's? Good sir, the man was not doing his great actions after the Great War. He was the leader and dominating power of a hemisphere in the first decade of the 20th century, not third decade.:smalltongue: However, the 20's were his legacy and child. That is true.:smallbiggrin:

VanBuren

2012-06-08, 12:46 AM

The president that hunted vampires?:smallconfused:

Teddy "The Bonesaw" Roosevelt > "Honest" Abe Lincoln.

In fact, the only reason I chose Abe as the protagonist of my novel* Abe Lincoln Vs Zeus in SPACE is because it wouldn't have been realistic for Theodore to angst.

*which will never be written.

Dr.Epic

2012-06-08, 01:00 AM

What? That... what?

Yeah, he hunted vampires then freed the slaves. Geez, you people need to read your history.

slayerx

2012-06-08, 01:04 AM

The president that hunted vampires?:smallconfused:

No, that was totally Abe Lincoln (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X58RPS665V0)... he also fought zombies (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tFaQYSFLuE)

Dr.Epic

2012-06-08, 01:09 AM

No, that was totally Abe Lincoln (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X58RPS665V0)... he also fought zombies (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tFaQYSFLuE)

He never fought zombies. That's just a dumb movie with little to no historical accuracy.

Fjolnir

2012-06-08, 01:10 AM

I'm going to see the movie and shudder to think that in 200 years vampire hunting might actually be in the history books regarding lincoln...

Anarion

2012-06-08, 01:15 AM

Guys. I know why Amon was so intent on destroying Pro Bending.

It's because he's clearly Anti-Bending!

...

http://i.imgur.com/JtOnx.gif

I want to punch you, but I also want to kiss you.

In other news.... Hiroshi Sato was totally based off the best president ever. (http://bryankonietzko.tumblr.com/post/24446247365/edit-hiroshi-satos-character-design-was)

I think you're confused about which Roosevelt deserves that particular moniker. Frankly, Teddy doesn't even win the most ballsy president award (that particular honor going to Andrew Jackson).

The president that hunted vampires?:smallconfused:

I thought they all did that? :smallconfused:
Are you trying to say that there isn't still a secret cabal of vampires and wizards running the country?

Dr.Epic

2012-06-08, 01:26 AM

I'm going to see the movie and shudder to think that in 200 years vampire hunting might actually be in the history books regarding lincoln...

So long as they still get Washington right... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbRom1Rz8OA)

Leliel

2012-06-08, 09:35 AM

Teddy "The Bonesaw" Roosevelt > "Honest" Abe Lincoln.

You DARE impinge the name of the man largely responsible for Roosevelt having a Presidency to be elected to? YOU SHALL DIE BY THE UNDEAD HAND OF GENERAL SHERMAN'S ARMY!

Also, FDR was cooler then Teddy.

Absol197

2012-06-08, 10:00 AM

So long as they still get Washington right... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbRom1Rz8OA)

What? :smallconfused: That video has none of its facts right.

For one, we know that Washington wasn't buried at Mt. Rushmore. They thought it would be to obvious, what with his face there. He was buried in Nevada, so that his radiation wouldn't kill everyone nearby. The nuclear tests were done there to feed him so he would stay asleep.

Of course, that didn't work, and we all know what happened at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The US Government had to come up with a cover-up quick of course; after the Revolutionary War, a special council of nations decreed that the use of George Washington as an implement of war was to be banned for any future confrontations, in order to give America's opponent's a sporting chance. The dropping of the A-bombs on the rubble was an ingenious move in allaying suspicion.

Soras Teva Gee

2012-06-08, 10:28 AM

Putting aside the question of "best president" in a historical sense... Teddy was the best president because he could out ham and out fight all the others, possibly combined. Despite having asthma and being blind in one eye from a boxing match.

Though I'm sure Andrew Jackson would just pull his piece and shoot Teddy... but its not like nobody ever thought of that.

Ashen Lilies

2012-06-08, 11:11 AM

A friend on Facebook sent me this.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/401829_10150996977925027_745820700_n.jpg

Who am I to argue with the truth? :smallbiggrin:

Soras Teva Gee

2012-06-08, 11:29 AM

That is some of the funniest wiki vandalism I've ever seen. Though I can persay approve

Dr.Epic

2012-06-08, 04:11 PM

A friend on Facebook sent me this.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/401829_10150996977925027_745820700_n.jpg

Who am I to argue with the truth? :smallbiggrin:

Well that simply is NOT true. I find it hard to believe his age is 37. Guy looks too young.

:smalltongue:

Burner28

2012-06-08, 04:37 PM

That is amusing!:smallbiggrin:

Morty

2012-06-08, 05:03 PM

Maybe he really is douchebending. He doesn't control Korra's blood through bloodbending but by his power of being an enourmous jerk.

Soras Teva Gee

2012-06-08, 05:16 PM

So with a little over 12 hours to go I'd like to give the speculation pile a good kick. And so I discover this (http://tvlistings.zap2it.com/tv/the-legend-of-korra-out-of-the-past/EP015470410010) synopsis description:

Korra tries to understand her visions; Tenzin and Beifong search for Equalist hostages.

And you know what really interest me: Tenzin and Beifong. I'm hoping we get a chance to see earth and air team up to kick some major ass. Also since they used to be an item... UST anyone?

Screw whatever Korra's vision is give me BatLin and Tenzin the Air Wonder.

Flickerdart

2012-06-08, 06:11 PM

Well that simply is NOT true. I find it hard to believe his age is 37. Guy looks too young.

:smalltongue:
Considering that Tarlock goes so far as to perfume himself, I've no doubt that he takes meticulous care of his appearance.

dehro

2012-06-08, 11:02 PM

Tarrlok in his down time
http://okinawaassault.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/vlcsnap-53809.png?w=590

Pokonic

2012-06-09, 02:22 AM

This might be relivent to the currant conversation. Or not. (http://you-are-bolin.tumblr.com/post/23200693911/amons-revelation-speech-has-a-hidden-message-a)

Ashen Lilies

2012-06-09, 02:27 AM

Amon is Batman.

But really, we knew that already. :smalltongue:

MLai

2012-06-09, 05:48 AM

Mephit

2012-06-09, 06:02 AM

God Damn it, I want to click that link so bad out of curiosity but I don't want to spoil things for myself.

Someone braver than me click it and tell me if it's really that much of a spoiler. :smallfrown:

Edit: Ok, curiosity got the better of me. That speculation was posted in the last thread.

Gamerlord

2012-06-09, 06:05 AM

God Damn it, I want to click that link so bad out of curiosity but I don't want to spoil things for myself.

Someone braver than me click it and tell me if it's really that much of a spoiler. :smallfrown:
Basically, it's a prediction about what exactly happened at that trial 42 years ago we keep on seeing in flashback.

Morty

2012-06-09, 06:15 AM

Ashen Lilies

2012-06-09, 08:53 AM

Do not hate me if you read this below and feel like I ruined the rest of this season for you. Reading this will spoil you to LoK season 1, the same way that Prometheus trailer analysis picture ruined all motivation to watch the movie for me.
http://i3.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/320/725/21e.jpg

BTW, did that Prometheus trailer analysis predict the movie's plot correctly?

I just came back from watching Prometheus, so if you linked me the picture, I could tell you. :smallsmile:

Also, this is really just a word choice level nitpick of that speculation, but Aang shouldn't need to 'overpower' the Avatar State anymore like he does in the fight against Ozai. He has full and absolute control over it now, as a fully realized Avatar, as shown when he uses it raise the tides to put out the fire at the end of the battle with Ozai. It's not really a point against the theory, it's just something that irks me.

CoffeeIncluded

2012-06-09, 09:58 AM

To the television!

Ashen Lilies

2012-06-09, 10:09 AM

So my friend keeps linking (http://avataraang.tumblr.com/post/24274843972/this-is-the-best) me to this random stuff...

*shakes fist at people who are watching Korra RIGHT FRIGGIN' NOW*

Devonix

2012-06-09, 10:32 AM

So um... Wow

Yeah I'd say that given his ability to flat out shrugg off bloodbending that Amon's either not entierly human or deffinetly getting some protection or power from the spirits

CoffeeIncluded

2012-06-09, 10:32 AM

That theory was almost perfect, and this episode was awesome! I was so happy to see the Gaang again; I just hope that Sokka and Toph were okay.

Also, who else saw the teaser trailer at the end? I think that when she opens her eyes again, they'll be glowing.

Though I'm not sure I liked Amon's sudden abilities. They better give a good explanation.

Fjolnir

2012-06-09, 10:33 AM

telling you, she loses bending and triggers the avatah state, where she can bend through the glowy soul connection to the previous avatars...

Mephit

2012-06-09, 10:34 AM

There's usually a live stream up if you can't watch Nick from where you live. It's what I just watched.

Devonix

2012-06-09, 10:35 AM

also if Amon's getting stopped this early in the show then I believe that whoever gave him this ability is gonna end up being the villan for next season.

Mephit

2012-06-09, 10:38 AM

also if Amon's getting stopped this early in the show then I believe that whoever gave him this ability is gonna end up being the villan for next season.

The creators have stated before that they want a new villain each season, so yeah, at the end of the finale, Amon will be defeated.

Speaking of, goddamnit I don't want to wait that long.

Devonix

2012-06-09, 10:39 AM

Soras Teva Gee

2012-06-09, 10:53 AM

So... Amon=Tarrlok huh? Or y'know not.

However the Yakone=Papa Tarrlok was right on the money. Of course that was very well supported from visual evidence and timing of flashbacks. I suppose decent background check technology is still a few decades away. So not bad Tarrlok, almost a shame it fell apart because someone was more hax then you.

Speaking of which I'm almost willing to call Amon ignoring bloodbending as perhaps a point against him being an energybender. Or at least not like Aang, but because he has a much broader skillset related to his inner spiritual energy. So he can for example resist bloodbending by fighting it with the energy within himself. So Amon may have hooked into an entire art not just been given a particular power.

However whatever Amon has it does not apparently include a knowledge of electricity. Korra could have pressed herself against the wall and been just as safe. A better plan would be one of those smoke grenade through the grate ontop. Just saying.

(Minor side note since Bumi was the only other presented canidate on Amon... from the trailer I got a good look at Amon's hands in more then one shot I think and they aren't Water Tribe brown toned. So Amon has to be of Earth or Fire descent)

Oh and Lin and Tenzin you were awesome this episode.

The creators have stated before that they want a new villain each season, so yeah, at the end of the finale, Amon will be defeated.

Do you have a source on that quote? I don't recall anything so specific being linked to this thread.

Venom3053000

2012-06-09, 10:56 AM

hearing Sokka talk about Sparky sparky boom man in the trial was funny so was Aang saying he was 40 and asking when toph would stop with the nicknames :smallsmile:

Kobold-Bard

2012-06-09, 11:00 AM

I ****ING TOLD YOU AMON WASN'T TARLOKK!!!!

Ahem, excuse me.

That was another good episode. But Yakone is a moron, what kind of fool goes up against a 3 decade, fully powered Avatar, and does it solo?

Mephit

2012-06-09, 11:01 AM

Interview (http://www.toonzone.net/news/articles/42559/toonzone-news-interviews-michael-dimartino-and-bryan-konietzko-co-creators-of-the-legend-of-korra/) as requested.

MICHAEL DIMARTINO: Book 1 was always going to be 12 episodes. When we started writing, we didn't know if we would do more beyond that. Unlike the original series which had a three season arc, we designed "Korra" so that each season had it's own villain and clear resolution, so they are more stand-alone seasons. Although there are definitely arcs that carry over from Book 1 to Book 2.

Mutant Sheep

2012-06-09, 11:10 AM

*Rages against waking up an hour late*

I AM UPSET.:smallfrown:

Soras Teva Gee

2012-06-09, 11:12 AM

Interview (http://www.toonzone.net/news/articles/42559/toonzone-news-interviews-michael-dimartino-and-bryan-konietzko-co-creators-of-the-legend-of-korra/) as requested.

Thanks for that. The exact quote is important with these things. There's a bit of past tense in there that makes me the tiniest bit suspicious, but seems to hold up.

Though knowing that Amon is going down doesn't tell us too much. I'm not sure I'd like him getting a Bigger Bad and would hope if they are going for different villains its someone almost entirely unrelated to the Equalists and Amon.

Now here's a question... what's the next book going to be called? Spirit maybe?

Leliel

2012-06-09, 11:19 AM

Yeah:

Amon is definitely a demon or something.

Remember that weird echo his voice had at the end of his "backstory"?

The echo in backmasking makes it "servants, I am the night".

Either that, or he's Batman's evil twin. Either way, I didn't need to sleep...for the next month...

DrBurr

2012-06-09, 11:23 AM

Thanks for that. The exact quote is important with these things. There's a bit of past tense in there that makes me the tiniest bit suspicious, but seems to hold up.

Though knowing that Amon is going down doesn't tell us too much. I'm not sure I'd like him getting a Bigger Bad and would hope if they are going for different villains its someone almost entirely unrelated to the Equalists and Amon.

Now here's a question... what's the next book going to be called? Spirit maybe?

My guess is whatever they call the power Amon has tapped into

Great Episode today though I could of gone without Team Avatar minus Korra raiding the equalist tunnels, all that was accomplished there was make Lin Beifong look more awesome and tie up some loose ends regarding the two stupid to live police force

Fjolnir

2012-06-09, 11:40 AM

Episode analysis
first things first, good setup by Tarrlok in order to pull the wool for as long as it did. Secondly, platinum must be fairly plentiful in the avaverse since he just put her in a box the size of a fridge that appears to be made of it. Third, Yakone is a BA and really needed to think his escape plan through a bit better. Fourth up is I think that Zepp Linn probably gets dressed everyday like that, though there appeared to be very little padding to that metal outfit. Fifth is a competent raid carried out by team avatar (sans korra but still), I was a bit surprised that the metalbending cops were debent and kept in the hole, especially when you could just make a thick wooden box to keep them in similar to how waterbenders were imprisoned in the fire nation, restrict all elemental access and go from there. Sixth Amon is definitely NOT your average human. Seventh, did Korra airbend away prior to using waterbending to sled or? Eighth Naga is best dog ever!
On the preview for the next episode
I hope the Statue of Aang gets vandalized early, because it is a VERY nice piece of psyops for the equalists...

Mephit

2012-06-09, 11:43 AM

Browsed through the episode again real quick, some notes:

1. They played a variation of the first series' Avatar State theme during the last flashback. Really nice touch.

2. Amon's such a douche to his people. :smallamused:
''I'll take the unconscious, now defenseless councilman to the car, you guys deal with the greatest bending power in the world.''
- ''What, you let her get away?''

Kobold-Bard

2012-06-09, 11:54 AM

...

On the preview for the next episode
I hope the Statue of Aang gets vandalized early, because it is a VERY nice piece of psyops for the equalists...

That was the episode after next I thought. Isn't there another episode still before the 2-in-1 finale?

Mephit

2012-06-09, 12:00 PM

Yes, next week is episode 10. "Turning the Tides."

Fjolnir

2012-06-09, 12:13 PM

Alright, I apparently missed that, sorry

Reverent-One

2012-06-09, 12:42 PM

That was the episode after next I thought. Isn't there another episode still before the 2-in-1 finale?

Oh, that would make sense. They made it sound like that the next episode that was going to air would be the finale in a couple of weeks.

Lothston

2012-06-09, 01:02 PM

Well, that particular theory's down the drain. Oh well.

Tarrlok being Amon, that is.

Pity that Tarrlok was taken down so fast. I hoped he'd have some more meaty battles before being defeated - e.g. taking on the Equalists at the head of a bender army, or somesuch. Guess it's up to Korra now.

In the end, Tarrlok made a half-a$$ed villain, IMO. Why didn't he kill the people who found him out? Why didn't he kill Korra? Why didn't he have a backup plan with some loyal troops who could have bailed him out if things got tight (such as his damn task force)? There was just no good reason for him to behave like he did.

There are still a few weird things about Tarrlok in this episode. E.g. he's proficient with the bolo (equalist favourite weapon). And Amon decided to take him, instead of just leaving him in the cabin, bending-less. Maybe to interrogate him or use as hostage against the task force, or as a source of information.

There also remains the possibility of Tarrlok and whoever's behind the Amon mask working together. However, judging by the two's latest interaction, this possiblity slimmed considerably. It does fit with Tarrlok's self-professed plan, though - that of becoming "Republic City's Saviour".

Oh, that would make sense. They made it sound like that the next episode that was going to air would be the finale in a couple of weeks.

That's the same way I understood it - with the finale being "3-in-1", not 2-in-1, with no ep next Saturday.

Of course, I'd much prefer to have an ep in 1 week instead of having to wait 2 weeks for the finale.

Morty

2012-06-09, 01:18 PM

Some thoughts about the new episode:
"Tarrlok = Amon" theory is dead and buried. Not that it ever had much credibility.
And of course, the theory about Tarrlok being Yakone's son was correct in many respects... except for the part where it was thought that Yakone can't have bloodbent so many people into submission. Which he totally could do. Strange. I hope they elaborate on that subplot. It sounds like it doesn't have anything to do with Amon, and Aang was just warning Korra about Tarrlok... so I was wrong. Unless the two plotlines are connected after all.
Speaking of Tarrlok, he went down pretty easily and quickly. But I think we might not have seen the last of him, what with Amon taking him alive. So maybe he will explain how he's bloodbending without the aid of full moon. I hope he will as otherwise, it will be left hanging, so to speak, and that's not a very good thing.
Finally, Amon is definetly more than human. He was the only person except an Avatar in the Avatar State to shrug off bloodbending and he called himself "a solution". Ominous.
And I have to say, I feel bad for Asami, watching her boyfriend fret over another girl... then finding out they'd kissed.
On a note unrelated to the new episode... I do hope Amon won't be beaten in this season. He and his Equalists are great villains.

otakuryoga

2012-06-09, 01:20 PM

yeah that was some grade 1 bad-assery from Amon today
ignoring the AE bloodbending and then just being temporarily slowed when he got focused on

i shall call Amon's power Mind Bending
able to bend someones mind so they can no longer access their bending abilities

pre-requisite to doing so is being able to maintain TOTAL control over your own mind/body hence the ability to ignore the bloodbender

and lemme just say before Dr Epic posts it

Meelo stole the show in his scene

Xondoure

2012-06-09, 01:33 PM

Clertar

2012-06-09, 01:53 PM

That was a nice episode. I'm really liking this series and the way it's going, the slight genre change from the first one works well with the more urban and grounded setting.

Adult Aang was really good to see. Plus, I miss airbending a lot :smalltongue: I wonder whether, whenever Korra ends up talking to his spirit (if she does at all), Aang will look like that or an older aspect of himself.

Plotwise, Korra's kidnap was very well solved. The moment when Tarrlok and Amon came face to face was great (like seeing A16 and Cell fight in DB xD) It's surprising how well both of them were established as antagonists in just a handful of episodes. Also, Korra's shy showdowns against Amon are always exciting, they really build up expectation for the final fight.
The Korra troupe's little adventure was neat, the (brief) airbending and the badarse metalbending were nice touches.

DeltaEmil

2012-06-09, 01:59 PM

I wonder if that councilman wearing air nomad clothes in the flashback is a pupil of Aang in Air Nomad culture or another survivor like him.

Madara

2012-06-09, 02:11 PM

Flashback stuff:

1. I am Disappointed in Aang. Even though he "Mastered" all four elements, he only used airbending until he went into the Avatar state.
2. Aang seemed kinda grumpy, he lost his spunk. While on the other hand, Toph seems the same.
3. Sokka made at least 1 boomerang reference :smallbiggrin:
4. Bloodbending was nasty, just crazy powerful. He took at the whole room, alone, without moving anything but his eyes
5. Did you see Aang remove his bending? No flashy lights. I'll call it evidence that Amon's thing can be energybending and probably is.

VanBuren

2012-06-09, 02:19 PM

I think it's safe to say that Energybending doesn't have those lights. When we saw them in the Ozai fight, that was either what Aang and Ozai themselves saw, or was simply a representation of what was going on in their respective energies. Presumably if someone had witnessed that moment, they would have seen Aang place his hands on Ozai and nothing else.

Burner28

2012-06-09, 02:23 PM

Yes, next week is episode 10. "Turning the Tides."

That would be an interesting episode.

Flickerdart

2012-06-09, 02:38 PM

So...
Amon has as much control over his energy as a fully realized avatar in the Avatar State? That seems kind of hax. Preview for Ep10 also suggests thathe discovered area of effect/contactless energybending, or else has found some way to "kill" bending in the same way that Zhao wanted to kill the moon spirit.

Mephit

2012-06-09, 02:49 PM

Flashback stuff:

2. Aang seemed kinda grumpy, he lost his spunk. While on the other hand, Toph seems the same.

Maybe an explanation for this will come in The Promise part 3?
Wait a second...We didn't see Katara in any of the flashbacks!
Are you guys thinking what I'm thinking is the reason for Aang being grumpy?

slayerx

2012-06-09, 03:45 PM

I wonder if that councilman wearing air nomad clothes in the flashback is a pupil of Aang in Air Nomad culture or another survivor like him.

He is most likely one of the air Acolytes. You can see them around air temple island. According to the website they are non-airbending monks who carry on and teach the traditions of the air nomads...

though no real insight on where they come from... though it is possible that Aang decided to take in interested non-benders and has been teaching them the traditions so that they can help carry them on to future generations.

Kobold-Bard

2012-06-09, 03:59 PM

He is most likely one of the air Acolytes. You can see them around air temple island. According to the website they are non-airbending monks who carry on and teach the traditions of the air nomads...

though no real insight on where they come from... though it is possible that Aang decided to take in interested non-benders and has been teaching them the traditions so that they can help carry them on to future generations.

It's really a shame Aang never figured out how to reverse Energybending & give people Bending, rather than just taking it away. That'd have been a hell of an incentive to take up the Air Nomad way of life.

Dr.Epic

2012-06-09, 04:22 PM

Morty

2012-06-09, 04:22 PM

I think it's possible that given time, the children of the Air Acolytes born with bending abilities might be born Airbenders, if they manage to fully recreate the Air Nomad culture. That's just speculation of course, because we don't know just what makes people benders and what determines what sort of benders they are. My personal theory is that the element one bends is cultural, hence the speculation above.

Kobold-Bard

2012-06-09, 04:48 PM

Man, we missed out on a potentially AMAZING phone conversation involving Meelo.:smallwink::smalltongue:

As for the rest of the episode...

Bending is hereditary? How else would Tarrlock just be able to bloodbend and Korra jump to the conclusion he was the other guy's son? I mean, I guess he could have trained Tarrlock, but Aang was 40 when he removed his bending - could Tarrlock have been alive then? That was 60 years ago right?

Flash back was entertaining: "I'm 40. Can we stop with the nicknames?" And since Korra is technically Aang, I'm gonna start calling her Twinkle-toes!:smallwink:

As for Amon, is he a cyborg or a robot? How else did he overcome bloodbending? I'm tempted to say Amon is Aang:
-Can energybend (and we see the flash of light from the last series was just artistic license now)
-Over came bloodbending (when Aang went into his avatar state, he seemed immune to that)
I admit it doesn't make sense. I doesn't seem to fit his character and Korra wouldn't be the avatar if Aang was alive, but we see Aang isn't afraid to take away someone's bending.

I believe it was a training thing, though maybe his heritage gives him a disposition towards Bloodbending skill.

Republic city was founded ~70 years ago, a couple of years after the Fire Lord's defeat. Aang was 40 in the flashback, so it's be about 40 years ago.

You say yourself he overcame Bloodbending, it didn't just have no effect on him. So he has blood to bend, he's just got badass shielding. I'd say this is probably a side effect of his take on Energybending; his energy is unbendable (as the Lion Turtle said) and this allows him to throw off the Bloodbending.

I think it's possible that given time, the children of the Air Acolytes born with bending abilities might be born Airbenders, if they manage to fully recreate the Air Nomad culture. That's just speculation of course, because we don't know just what makes people benders and what determines what sort of benders they are. My personal theory is that the element one bends is cultural, hence the speculation above.

I'm assuming that is the case as well, it just might have been nice if he could give them a direct gift for their dedication.

Dr.Epic

2012-06-09, 05:01 PM

Republic city was founded ~70 years ago, a couple of years after the Fire Lord's defeat. Aang was 40 in the flashback, so it's be about 40 years ago.

According to the wiki, Tarrlock isn't even 40. So that either means he learned it from someone else making him the son of that other bloodbender pointless, or being a great bender is really hereditary.

Absol197

2012-06-09, 05:03 PM

Flashback stuff:
5. Did you see Aang remove his bending? No flashy lights. I'll call it evidence that Amon's thing can be energybending and probably is.

I'd actually say the opposite. All three times now that we've seen Energybending (from specially known sources, i.e. the lion-turtle and Aang) they've touched the third eye and the heart. Amon has always touched the third eye and the back of the nect, and from the preview for the finale, it seems he continues to always do so. That difference strikes me as important. It's just a personal opinion, though, until canon proves otherwise :smalltongue:

EDIT:

Dr. Epic, who's to say that Yakone didn't teach his son those abilities himself? Just because he can't bend anymore doesn't mean he doesn't remember how the techniques work. He might not have been able to show Tarrlock how to do it, but he could definitely walk him through it.

Of course, that's dependant on the idea that after Aang energybent him, Yakone wasn't then forced to serve his life sentence, which, now that I think about it, is kind of absurd. Maybe Tarrlock made a lot of visits to the prison while he was a kid? But wouldn't they always have gaurds on post, so they'd know what they were talking about? So many questions as of yet unanswered...

Dr.Epic

2012-06-09, 05:08 PM

Okay, I don't really believe Aang is Amon. I mean, there's some evidence supporting it, and a lot going against it, but I'm just throwing this theory out. In the series finale of the last series, it was said that one risk with energybending is part of the personality or character might consume the person doing it. What if Aang doing it to all these people altered his mind and turned him down this path of anti-bending?

dehro

2012-06-09, 05:17 PM

Maybe an explanation for this will come in The Promise part 3?
Wait a second...We didn't see Katara in any of the flashbacks!
Are you guys thinking what I'm thinking is the reason for Aang being grumpy?

nuh-uh... she was at home changing nappies.. 3 kids..remember?

well..
so apparently the lightshow isn't necessary for energybending... or maybe it was only necessary because Ozai was at his most powerful, what with Sozin's Comet and all. unless the lack of lightshow is due to the sepia-tinged overall effect of flashback...
So yes, this does increase the possibility that Amon is indeed an energybender, which would also explain how he's mostly imune to bloodbending, on account of energybending being on the whole more powerful than element bending, especially when the "self" and one's energy is involved.
How, when, who from, why or where he learned it, I am not going to waste my time speculating, now that we're this close to the final episode/s. For all we know he might simply be gifted.. the way Toph was gifted to discover metal bending, Hama was gifted to first develop bloodbending. (also, I do wonder if she was the main reason why it was declared illegal.. because there must be a healing potential that has gonde down the train with the ban on bloodbending..I'm thinking "healing" bloodclots and such). for all we know Amon has simply rediscovered the skill
That said, this episode was pretty good, and contained a few small scenes setting up an upset or two for the finale. the preview seems promising. I do believe that the old clerk in the council room was a bit of an asspull, but a nicely played one.
meelo could have been funnier..it seems like they either missed a trick or purposedly decided not to do the obvious again.
so..is Lin chief of police again?
where was pabu?
why is nobody yet calling in the big guns? Republic City isn't an isolated nation..it seems high time now to call in at least a few choice troops.. Katara, the firelord (lady?), the Kyoshi warriors.. now would be the perfect time to both call them in and see what came of them over the last 70 years.

also adult Aang looks like a slim version of Michael DiMartino

anyway..now that we know for sure that all the flashbacks were in fact about Tarrlok and nothing is revealed about Amon, my theory that Amon must be someone we know because of the flashbacks occurring whenever he's around, is shot to pieces. it may still be someone we know and we will all go "oh, him".. but it might just as well be a random guy who truly has ugly wounds on his face. (although I'm still not buying his pity-backstory)
Amon simply cannot be Aang because if that were the case, he wouldn't have died when everybody says he died, would be in his 80s (plus 100 of course) and Korra would either not exist or not be the avatar...
come to think of it..that is actually possible.. the way some people seem to be defying canon and "the impossible" by showing new freak talents, she might be the first non avatar multibender in history.. but no..it is possible, but goes against anything the show tells us and, in fact, stands for. we know without a doubt that she is the avatar.. and therefore, Aang can be no more.

Clertar

2012-06-09, 05:30 PM

Re. the special bloodbending:

The show itself leaves the ambiguity of Yakone's and Tarrlok's bloodbending. It's just supposed to be some type of exceptional bending, as Sokka says, either from an innate talent (like Combustion Man's mental firebending) or through training and dedication (like Toph's metalbending). The difference doesn't matter that much, and I'm ok with leaving it like that.

dehro

2012-06-09, 05:33 PM

one thing that annoys me a little about adult Sokka is that he stays awesome but has a sour face. I don't know you guys, but in my experience, upbeat people with a great sense of humour, a positive attitude and a happy-go-lucky outlook on life rarely have sour faces. the simple act of smiling often gives ones face a jolly appearance (well..that's extremely put..but you know what I mean, I guess).
so yeah..they should have made Sokka happier looking.

btw, for those who haven't seen it yet (http://www.justin.tv/livetoons2/b/320885261)

Fjolnir

2012-06-09, 05:34 PM

oh and as for the people who talk about bloodbending like it should have become relost since katara wouldn't teach it. Both Aang and Sokka had been bloodbent during a:tla, Zuko saw it as well at least once during the field trip, and that's enough to warrant banning it.

Zevox

2012-06-09, 06:25 PM

Absol197

2012-06-09, 06:35 PM

Something to note from the episode about a topic that was much-discussed before:
Since Sokka was a councilor in the flashback there apparently is no requirement that councilors in Republic City be benders.
Zevox

I, personally, never figured there was. The council isn't elected, the councilors are chosen by their respective nations, and I would assume that the nations would chose the person who could best represent its interests politically within the United Republic. Being a bender would be helpful, but being charismatic and politically saavy would be even better for that task.

Ramza00

2012-06-09, 07:12 PM

Great episode my only complaint is that adult sokka and adult aang don't sound anything like their children self. Toph was alright though.

Dr.Epic

2012-06-09, 07:13 PM

Great episode my only complaint is that adult sokka and adult aang don't sound anything like their children self. Toph was alright though.

I don't know who this "Sokka" is, but I thought Wang Fire was pretty good.

:smallwink:
:smalltongue:

KoboldRevenge

2012-06-09, 07:13 PM

Absol197

2012-06-09, 07:14 PM

I don't get the Name of the Thread?

Also There seems to be Secret techniques for all forms of Bending except Air.
Water has Bloodbending.

Earth has Metalbending.

Fire has both "Explosion Bending" and to a less Secret extent Lightning.

What could Air's be? Lungbending?:smalleek:

I've always considered it to be soundbending, but there's no official source to confirm that.

Dr.Epic

2012-06-09, 07:15 PM

I don't get the Name of the Thread?

All the tragic backstories and dead character relatives are all caused by firebenders.

Also There seems to be Secret techniques for all forms of Bending except Air.
Water has Bloodbending.

Earth has Metalbending.

Fire has both "Explosion Bending" and to a lesser extent Lightning.

What could Air's be? Lungbending?:smalleek:

Aang invented the air scooter.

Ramza00

2012-06-09, 07:18 PM

I don't know who this "Sokka" is, but I thought Wang Fire was pretty good.

:smallwink:
:smalltongue:

Wang Fire, grandfather of A. Firebender who burns so people will always remember the name of Fire.

Soras Teva Gee

2012-06-09, 07:18 PM

I don't get the Name of the Thread?

Its exactly what it says, remember all those who's tragic backstory are the result of A. Firebender.

What could Air's be? Lungbending?:smalleek:

We've discussed this too actually. I'm not convinced this would qualify. Air isn't sealed really into your lungs to begin with. You should be able to just suck it out by playing with pressures.

Dr.Epic

2012-06-09, 07:20 PM

I, personally, never figured there was. The council isn't elected, the councilors are chosen by their respective nations, and I would assume that the nations would chose the person who could best represent its interests politically within the United Republic. Being a bender would be helpful, but being charismatic and politically saavy would be even better for that task.

If that's the case then why isn't Meelo representing the Air Nomads? Guy's way more awesome then Tenzin! Maybe Tenzin was put there before Meelo was born and his term hasn't expired.

:smallwink:

Xondoure

2012-06-09, 07:41 PM

Pressure bending would be cool, if unlikely to ever show up.

Dr.Epic

2012-06-09, 07:59 PM

Well, we got to see zipper bending from Lin in the last episode.:smalltongue:

Mephit

2012-06-09, 09:09 PM

So, new theory.

http://i.imgur.com/FYTED.jpg

Eh? Eeeeeh?

Honestly, I have no clue. I just found this on a tumblr and I thought it's pretty interesting.

Misery Esquire

2012-06-09, 09:15 PM

Maybe he really is douchebending. He doesn't control Korra's blood through bloodbending but by his power of being an enourmous jerk.

You might say he's just... Jerking her around?

:smallwink:

MLai

2012-06-09, 09:18 PM

Korra skibends down the mountain.

Me: "Yeaahhh Avatar, your natural element! WOOT--"

Korra trips on a twig and knocks herself out against a tree.

Me: :smallconfused:

Dr.Epic

2012-06-09, 09:24 PM

Korra skibends down the mountain.

Me: "Yeaahhh Avatar, your natural element! WOOT--"

Korra trips on a twig and knocks herself out against a tree.

Me: :smallconfused:

Don't be so surprised. Superman's greatest weakness is a rock. And in the Dark Knight, Batman had trouble fighting off some dogs. Maybe the avatar's greatest weakness it an ironically placed root.

Zevox

2012-06-09, 09:26 PM

I, personally, never figured there was. The council isn't elected, the councilors are chosen by their respective nations, and I would assume that the nations would chose the person who could best represent its interests politically within the United Republic. Being a bender would be helpful, but being charismatic and politically saavy would be even better for that task.
I didn't either, but some were making a big deal out of the assumption that the entire Council was benders earlier, enough so that I felt this worth pointing out.
Zevox

The Librarian

2012-06-09, 11:05 PM

Having watched the latest LoK:

*Schoolgirl squeal* Korra finally made contact with Aang, and she managed to maintain her bad*** fighting skills too. On the otherhand though, I get that Amon is suppose to be this season's big bad, but COME ON! He can resist Bloodbending! Yakone could temporarily floor Aang with Bloodbending, but Amon was like "Huh, that tickles" as his bros are were writhing on the ground in pain. Amon is possibly the most OP Bad guy character I've ever seen in a Anime/Movie/TV Series. Were talking about topping Aizen, Frieza, Thanos, and Madara.

I'm clearly exaggerating here, but I seriously can't get over the idea Amon was able to actually resist other than it could be inconvenient for the plot if he ousted by Tarrlok, and not the Avatar.

------------
Also, like your theory Mephit, but I'm stumped how it could work.

PairO'Dice Lost

2012-06-09, 11:14 PM

Since this episode killed a few crazy fan theories, it's time for more crazy speculation! Found this on another site:

http://static.fjcdn.com/pictures/My+bloodbending+theory..+This+is+my+theory+based+o n+my_f1e768_3778276.jpg

DrBurr

2012-06-09, 11:28 PM

I didn't either, but some were making a big deal out of the assumption that the entire Council was benders earlier, enough so that I felt this worth pointing out.
Zevox

Unless they wanted to put Katara on the council the south tribe couldn't even elect a bender and Aang being the Avatar would be a conflict of interest for the umm make believe air nomads.... Nope that theory is dead stick a fork in it

In other news are their previews for next weeks episode I only saw previews for the finale which isn't for two week right?

Dragonus45

2012-06-09, 11:30 PM

The Librarian

2012-06-09, 11:52 PM

Honestly it isn't beyond comprehension he could resist it, energy benders have to have an iron control over there own body and spirit.

Well that is true. I don't know, maybe I just felt he should of had a harder time dealing with it then he did.

Douglas

2012-06-10, 12:15 AM

I think this makes 3 ways to resist bloodbending now. Be a bloodbender yourself and bend your own blood to block the other guy's control (I think that's how Katara beat Hama in bloodbending's intro), trump it with the avatar state, or be an energybender and make yourself unbendable.

Speaking of that first method, given that they already knew Yakone could bloodbend in daytime they really should have had Katara at the trial to augment security - she's the one person who might be able to counter Yakone if he tried something. Avatar state turned out to be a workable alternative, but I doubt they knew that and it looked like Aang still had difficulty calling it up on demand while under attack. Sure, Katara never bloodbent without a full moon and Yakone's bloodbending is stronger, but I'd guess the defender has a huge advantage with regard to bending her own blood.

BRC

2012-06-10, 12:17 AM

alright, thoughts

I was actually kind of disappointed in this episode, though that's probably a result of excessive expectations than anything.

Everything seemed a little too neat. Tarlock can Bloodbend because he's Yakone's son, and Yakone can bloodbend because...he can. I was hoping they would go a little deeper than that. But fair enough, Sokka has a point about Sparky Sparky Boom Man, who was certainly more unusual (especially since I got the impression that the full moon made bloodbending possible because it boosted the waterbender's power, and therefore a sufficiently powerful and/or skilled Bloodbender wouldn't need the moon. )
However, I kind of wish they had done more with Tarrlock than " I want to rule the city because of my daddy issues", though he's not dead yet, so I suppose it could happen. I was hoping his stupid decisions from the last ep (Rounding up random civilians, guilt by association, ect) would be part of some grander scheme but nope, he really is just that stupid.

Really, I think it's a wasted opportunity. Tarlok could have added a new layer of complexity to the show, setting up a conflict between him and Amon. But, he's gone now, and so the Heroes are once again in control of the City.

Although Amon has gone from "Charismatic Rebel Leader" to full on James Bond Villain by this point. The first few episodes he seemed like he had a small group of Chi Blockers, but now he's got them standing guard duty in his elaborate base underneath the city. And I hope we get some explanation for how he resists the Bloodbending besides "He's just that badass".

I didn't care for the flashback voices, but whatever.

What's really bugging me about this ep is the reappearance of the whole Shipping Subarc, which I thought they had wrapped up very well in that earlier episode. Bringing it back would be bad enough, but they're choosing the "Wacky Hijinks and Crazy Misunderstanding" route, which is not only annoying, it's very predictable. Asami will get increasingly passive-aggressive towards Mako and Korra until she finally snaps, probably at Mako. Mako explains that Korra kissed HIM, and then they either kiss and make up, or they break up. Personally, I like the current group dynamic, with Korra having accepted Asami and Mako's relationship. There is enough drama with the whole Equalist thing, they don't also need to screw around with this high school nonsense.
Also, come on Asami, his friend has been kidnapped by her worst enemy/a ruthless terrorist. Of COURSE he is intense about finding her.

Flickerdart

2012-06-10, 12:31 AM

Craft (Cheese)

2012-06-10, 12:38 AM

alright, thoughts

What's really bugging me about this ep is the reappearance of the whole Shipping Subarc, which I thought they had wrapped up very well in that earlier episode. Bringing it back would be bad enough, but they're choosing the "Wacky Hijinks and Crazy Misunderstanding" route, which is not only annoying, it's very predictable. Asami will get increasingly passive-aggressive towards Mako and Korra until she finally snaps, probably at Mako. Mako explains that Korra kissed HIM, and then they either kiss and make up, or they break up. Personally, I like the current group dynamic, with Korra having accepted Asami and Mako's relationship. There is enough drama with the whole Equalist thing, they don't also need to screw around with this high school nonsense.

They COULD do that... or they could be using it to foreshadow Asami's face heel turn in a major "The Bad Guy Wins" scenario like the TLA season 2 finale. I honestly don't find either option particularly attractive though.

Personally I found it disappointing thatthey mention that Yakone didn't bloodbend during the full moon, which would have been an obvious way to beat Tarlock, but now Amon's take care of that through his plot armour. Unless he gets the powers of everyone he equalizes, that bit of weakness is lost forever.

Really? It seemed obvious to me Yakone avoided bloodbending on a full moon as a legal defense. You saw exactly what his lawyer argued, "Hey, it wasn't on a full moon, so these crimes couldn't have possibly happened!" I don't think he'd suddenly lose it on a full moon.

Zevox

2012-06-10, 12:42 AM

Personally I found it disappointing thatthey mention that Yakone didn't bloodbend during the full moon, which would have been an obvious way to beat Tarlock, but now Amon's take care of that through his plot armour. Unless he gets the powers of everyone he equalizes, that bit of weakness is lost forever.
Um, that's not a weakness. That's Yakonne providing himself with an alibi - not using his power at the one time that people who know of it believe it is possible to use, so that he can use the defense that everyone who claims that he's a bloodbender must be wrong, precisely as we saw him do in the episode.

Really, why would you think that part means that he couldn't bend blood during a full moon? That's the one time that it was possible before, because that's when waterbenders are at their strongest. There's no reason that would change just because someone discovers how to do it without the full moon, much less that it would become reversed like that.
Zevox

Ashen Lilies

2012-06-10, 12:56 AM

Flashback stuff:

5. Did you see Aang remove his bending? No flashy lights. I'll call it evidence that Amon's thing can be energybending and probably is.

Actually, I'd call this episode definitive proof that what Amon is doing is absolutely different from Aang's energy bending. When Aang removes Yakone's bending, he does so from the front in the same manner as he does Ozai, with one finger on the chest and one finger on the forehead. When Amon removes Tarlokk's bending mere minutes later, he does so from behind as he always does, with one hand grasping the back of the neck, touching only the forehead. He might still be energybending, but not as Aang or the Lion Turtle do it.

The Librarian

2012-06-10, 12:58 AM

alright, thoughts
Although Amon has gone from "Charismatic Rebel Leader" to full on James Bond Villain by this point. The first few episodes he seemed like he had a small group of Chi Blockers, but now he's got them standing guard duty in his elaborate base underneath the city. And I hope we get some explanation for how he resists the Bloodbending besides "He's just that badass".

I didn't care for the flashback voices, but whatever.

What's really bugging me about this ep is the reappearance of the whole Shipping Subarc, which I thought they had wrapped up very well in that earlier episode. Bringing it back would be bad enough, but they're choosing the "Wacky Hijinks and Crazy Misunderstanding" route, which is not only annoying, it's very predictable. Asami will get increasingly passive-aggressive towards Mako and Korra until she finally snaps, probably at Mako. Mako explains that Korra kissed HIM, and then they either kiss and make up, or they break up. Personally, I like the current group dynamic, with Korra having accepted Asami and Mako's relationship. There is enough drama with the whole Equalist thing, they don't also need to screw around with this high school nonsense.
Also, come on Asami, his friend has been kidnapped by her worst enemy/a ruthless terrorist. Of COURSE he is intense about finding her.

I agree, the Highschool drama can become a bit much after a while, especially this whole questionably still existent Mako/Korra thing. I like the Asami, Mako relationship, and I think the plot's being edged towards derailing that over the close-friends relationship Korra and Mako have; and I know I would be just as intense as Mako about protecting/saving a friend of mine if put into a similar situation.

In my opinion Asami is overreacting, though the last two minutes of the episode with Mako playing Prince Charming with Korra might be grounds to defend Asami jealousy.

Xondoure

2012-06-10, 01:02 AM

Um, that's not a weakness. That's Yakonne providing himself with an alibi - not using his power at the one time that people who know of it believe it is possible to use, so that he can use the defense that everyone who claims that he's a bloodbender must be wrong, precisely as we saw him do in the episode.

Really, why would you think that part means that he couldn't bend blood during a full moon? That's the one time that it was possible before, because that's when waterbenders are at their strongest. There's no reason that would change just because someone discovers how to do it without the full moon, much less that it would become reversed like that.
Zevox

I thought that made perfect sense if you remember who the moon spirit is. Maybe Yue has decided she didn't like Yakone and was weakening his bending... just another crazy theory to throw out there. I don't really have much of an explanation for why she didn't stop crazy witch lady though.

dehro

2012-06-10, 04:26 AM

Unless they wanted to put Katara on the council the south tribe couldn't even elect a bender and Aang being the Avatar would be a conflict of interest for the umm make believe air nomads.... Nope that theory is dead stick a fork in it

you're assuming that over the last 70 years no waterbenders were born in the southern tribe... which is unlikely.. also, we know for a fact that Pakku moved to the southern tribe.. there's a good chance he took some more benders with him as he went... who would have had children and so on.

I thought that made perfect sense if you remember who the moon spirit is. Maybe Yue has decided she didn't like Yakone and was weakening his bending... just another crazy theory to throw out there. I don't really have much of an explanation for why she didn't stop crazy witch lady though.

yeah...no, seriosly, I don't see it. the moon spirit has bigger concerns than regulating the bending ability of single individuals. I doubt they even scan on her radar anymore. And no, clearly Yakone chose not to bloodbend during full moon. everything we know about bloodbending says that it's easier during full moon

I agree, the Highschool drama can become a bit much after a while, especially this whole questionably still existent Mako/Korra thing. I like the Asami, Mako relationship, and I think the plot's being edged towards derailing that over the close-friends relationship Korra and Mako have; and I know I would be just as intense as Mako about protecting/saving a friend of mine if put into a similar situation.

In my opinion Asami is overreacting, though the last two minutes of the episode with Mako playing Prince Charming with Korra might be grounds to defend Asami jealousy.
also, highschool drama plays a big part in people's life..bigger than we care to admit.. if the relationship woes threads in the friendly banter zone are anything to go by. so it's not at all out of place here.

Bouregard

2012-06-10, 04:54 AM

I don't get the Name of the Thread?

Also There seems to be Secret techniques for all forms of Bending except Air.
Water has Bloodbending.

Earth has Metalbending.

Fire has both "Explosion Bending" and to a less secret extent Lightning.

What could Air's be? Lungbending?:smalleek:

I would prefer weatherbending. You know like tornadoes, lightning strikes and other mass destruction. But as most airbender are rather peacefull..

Brother Oni

2012-06-10, 05:21 AM

However whatever Amon has it does not apparently include a knowledge of electricity. Korra could have pressed herself against the wall and been just as safe. A better plan would be one of those smoke grenade through the grate ontop. Just saying.

Pressed herself against the metal box? I know the box would have just acted like a faraday cage, but with the amount of electricity arcing about, it would have caused severe contact burns.
Even if she was just standing in the middle, it would depend on how well insulated her boots are - hanging from the middle by a non-conducting material was probably her best option.

2. Amon's such a douche to his people. :smallamused:
''I'll take the unconscious, now defenseless councilman to the car, you guys deal with the greatest bending power in the world.''
- ''What, you let her get away?''

To be fair, she was in a metal box and he expected taking care of her to be effectively shooting fish in a barrel. Even so, he told them to be careful.

Flashback stuff:

5. Did you see Aang remove his bending? No flashy lights. I'll call it evidence that Amon's thing can be energybending and probably is.

Well aside from the tattoo glow, but nothing on the scale that the last series finale had. Maybe Aang had properly mastered it by then or Yakone simply doesn't have the strength of will or sheer power as a Sozin's Comet empowered Ozai, thus there's no need for a lightshow?

Again, there's the possibility that the visible lightshow we saw was just for our benefit and to build dramatic tension.

Well that is true. I don't know, maybe I just felt he should of had a harder time dealing with it then he did.

That's another reason for the mask - to hide any visible effort he may be making, to give the impression of implacability. He definitely was struggling while all his men were on the ground and it wasn't until Tarrlock lost concentration that he was able to move freely.

Morty

2012-06-10, 08:19 AM

alright, thoughts

I was actually kind of disappointed in this episode, though that's probably a result of excessive expectations than anything.

Everything seemed a little too neat. Tarlock can Bloodbend because he's Yakone's son, and Yakone can bloodbend because...he can. I was hoping they would go a little deeper than that. But fair enough, Sokka has a point about Sparky Sparky Boom Man, who was certainly more unusual (especially since I got the impression that the full moon made bloodbending possible because it boosted the waterbender's power, and therefore a sufficiently powerful and/or skilled Bloodbender wouldn't need the moon. )
However, I kind of wish they had done more with Tarrlock than " I want to rule the city because of my daddy issues", though he's not dead yet, so I suppose it could happen. I was hoping his stupid decisions from the last ep (Rounding up random civilians, guilt by association, ect) would be part of some grander scheme but nope, he really is just that stupid.

Really, I think it's a wasted opportunity. Tarlok could have added a new layer of complexity to the show, setting up a conflict between him and Amon. But, he's gone now, and so the Heroes are once again in control of the City.

I agree, and I hope they elaborate on it. Yakone bloodbent multiple people in broad daylight while hardly moving. All three were supposed to be impossible or very hard at best, so we'd better get some explanation on it. The same applies to Tarrlok really, except that he bloodbent only a few people and had to move his arms around while doing that.

As for advanced bending techniques and why air doesn't have one - I wouldn't call the "Air Scooter" a technique equivalent to bloodbending, metalbending and lightningbending. It's simply an inventive application of the regular air manipulation technique. Airbending doesn't have an advanced technique we know of. Why - that's anyone's guess.

Seerow

2012-06-10, 09:29 AM

nuh-uh... she was at home changing nappies.. 3 kids..remember?

New Theory: The two have been together at that point in the flashbacks 30years, and they only have 3 kids, in a world that presumably lacks contraceptives (and even if they existed Aang probably kind of feels an obligation to repopulate the air nomads).... I can think of a couple reasons stemming from this for Aang to be grumpy.

Ashen Lilies

2012-06-10, 09:44 AM

I agree, and I hope they elaborate on it. Yakone bloodbent multiple people in broad daylight while hardly moving. All three were supposed to be impossible or very hard at best, so we'd better get some explanation on it. The same applies to Tarrlok really, except that he bloodbent only a few people and had to move his arms around while doing that.

As for advanced bending techniques and why air doesn't have one - I wouldn't call the "Air Scooter" a technique equivalent to bloodbending, metalbending and lightningbending. It's simply an inventive application of the regular air manipulation technique. Airbending doesn't have an advanced technique we know of. Why - that's anyone's guess.

Probably because the airbenders all died, so there wasn't anyone around to invent one. Bloodbending and Metalbending are both very recent innovations after all.

Clertar

2012-06-10, 10:23 AM

Well, my guess is that Yakone and Tarrlok were real, natural bloodbenders, akin to Azula's exceptional affinity with the "cold" aspect of firebending: her more intense blue fire, and the ease with which she bent lightning, both redirecting it and creating it.

Hama and Katara were both good waterbenders who were pushed by necessity to use this form of their art, while not necessarily being bloodbending prodigies; therefore the need of a full moon to even use it successfully.

The Librarian

2012-06-10, 10:29 AM

also, highschool drama plays a big part in people's life..bigger than we care to admit.. if the relationship woes threads in the friendly banter zone are anything to go by. so it's not at all out of place here.

Well then I just hope they don't go muddling the friendship dynamics between everyone too much.

That's another reason for the mask - to hide any visible effort he may be making, to give the impression of implacability. He definitely was struggling while all his men were on the ground and it wasn't until Tarrlock lost concentration that he was able to move freely.

That...actually is a good explanation to why it didn't look like Amon was barely struggling against the Bloodbending. I guess the fact Tarrlok's Bloodbending wasn't even close to the level of Yakone's whom I had witnessed just before the Amon/Tarrlok fight scene is another reason why I was so befuddled by Amon's seemingly god-like resistance.

Silverraptor

2012-06-10, 10:54 AM

Okay, I saw the episode yesterday, but only had a chance to post now.

This episode was awesome! I can't decide which is the best part between the flashback and the Tarlock vs Amon part. Just curious, did anyone else cheer when Amon appeared out of no where to where Tarlock was, and then cheer loudly again when he showed his resistance to bloodbending. Amon sure has some protection from something, but he is not immune to bloodbending. He faltered once or twice as Tarlock tried bloodbending him. So Awesome!

Oh, and a minor nitpick about this episode.

When Tarlock was putting the fake evidence around and he shocked himself with the equalist glove, that struck me as odd that he didn't come to with the glove on his hand. I understood that being zapped by that thing causes you to go unconscious and when Tarlock was wearing it at the time of zapping himself, how did he dispose of it in time before the police came?And if he didn't fall unconscious, then why zap yourself to begin with. Zapping shows no physical marks, so he could've just said he was zapped instead of actually zapping himself and no one would no the difference.

Mephit

2012-06-10, 11:00 AM

New Theory: The two have been together at that point in the flashbacks 30years, and they only have 3 kids, in a world that presumably lacks contraceptives

Waterbending.

:smallamused:

Flickerdart

2012-06-10, 11:04 AM

Oh, and a minor nitpick about this episode.

When Tarlock was putting the fake evidence around and he shocked himself with the equalist glove, that struck me as odd that he didn't come to with the glove on his hand. I understood that being zapped by that thing causes you to go unconscious and when Tarlock was wearing it at the time of zapping himself, how did he dispose of it in time before the police came?And if he didn't fall unconscious, then why zap yourself to begin with. Zapping shows no physical marks, so he could've just said he was zapped instead of actually zapping himself and no one would no the difference.
He had visible burns after using the glove, and his sleeve got torn up.

New Theory: The two have been together at that point in the flashbacks 30years, and they only have 3 kids, in a world that presumably lacks contraceptives (and even if they existed Aang probably kind of feels an obligation to repopulate the air nomads).... I can think of a couple reasons stemming from this for Aang to be grumpy.
Waterbending. :smallwink:

Edit: Ninjabending

Ashen Lilies

2012-06-10, 11:07 AM

Oh, and a minor nitpick about this episode.

When Tarlock was putting the fake evidence around and he shocked himself with the equalist glove, that struck me as odd that he didn't come to with the glove on his hand. I understood that being zapped by that thing causes you to go unconscious and when Tarlock was wearing it at the time of zapping himself, how did he dispose of it in time before the police came?And if he didn't fall unconscious, then why zap yourself to begin with. Zapping shows no physical marks, so he could've just said he was zapped instead of actually zapping himself and no one would no the difference.

My guess is that Tarlokk zapped himself hard enough to cause a burn, but not long enough to actually knock himself out.

And yes, I did cheer. Tarlokk is just a smug snake who thought he could play the big people's game. Amon is the real Big Bad of this piece, and it was nice to see him show Tarlokk why. :smallcool: