Avatar: The Last Airbender

[kkslider5552000]

I think Korra's biggest problem has usually been that Avatar is one of those series that was actually able to make the heroes as compelling as the villains/important secondary characters, so when going from those high expectations the entirety of Korra feels like "god dammit, you're better than this, what are you doing?"

also PTSD was also used to justify Other M's writing, so I find it difficult to take that seriously for anything in fiction ever (perhaps unfairly?). Though to be fair this time from what I've seen (only up to ep. 2 so far) it actually fits what the characters have said possibly!

[Giogio]

*happily giggles "Toph" repeatedly*

*joins in*

[mangaluva]

I think one of the best assessments I've seen of ATLA vs Korra is that ATLA was all about building Aang up to be powerful and confident and capable of ending the war, whereas Korra started out powerful and confident and the series thus far has been all about breaking her down, not building her up. Hopefully that's what Book 4 will do. Can't comment on Other M but I've seen some discussion of Korra online among people who actually have PTSD who state the depiction to be very realistic and that seeing Korra dealing with it is very important to them. So that's good.

[kkslider5552000]

Honestly my biggest problem with Korra as a whole probably has very little to do with logical writing ideas. It's probably more to with (or at least as much to do with) the fact that it's a more serious series with seasons that feel way less connected (though seasons 3 to 4 is a major exception I guess?). And that I'm just not nearly as attached to the characters. I've never felt the series was particularly bad, not even close (low points of Season 2 aside), I just can't care too much tbh. It's a good series, but it's not gonna stick with me the same way the first series did. It's kind of a shame it has to be compared to the original like that, but it isn't like the series has been hiding its connection to the original anyway...

and Other M was the worst (story-wise at least) and has the most annoying defenders

[mangaluva]

Yeah, I really wish that Korra's seasons were longer (12-13 episodes isn't a lot when compared to ATLA's 20-21 episodes per season) and that Bryke had known from the start that they were getting four books (ATLA was so perfectly planned and paced because, from the beginning, they knew exactly how many seasons and episodes they had to work with. Korra was originally only going to get Book 1, then Book 2 was confirmed, then 3 and 4 together, allowing for a little more foreplanning between 3 and 4).

I don't want to condemn Korra on that basis because it's not the writing team's fault. It isn't poor planning on their part. I think they've done the best they can while getting quite badly jerked around by the network. I still wish Korra had been longer and they'd had the chance to better plan it, though.

[kkslider5552000]

You can condemn it as long as you aren't condemning the writers. As long as you understand why it happened, I feel that's fair.

And also, even in the worst parts of season 2 I was defending the series from people saying it sucked. Sorry, look at the talent involved, the talent clearly shown by its animation budget alone and compare it to any actual legit bad cartoon, and tell me it's bad. I dare you.

[Kor]

And also, even in the worst parts of season 2 I was defending the series from people saying it sucked. Sorry, look at the talent involved, the talent clearly shown by its animation budget alone and compare it to any actual legit bad cartoon, and tell me it's bad. I dare you.

I've seen you repeat this point on multiple occasions (not just for this show), and the main reason why I can't get behind it is because even if a thing is better than a whole lot of other things, it doesn't mean that thing is not bad on its own. "Better" is a comparative word, while "bad" isn't. Making comparisons between unrelated shows doesn't seem meaningful to me.

[mangaluva]

^While this is true, I personally still feel that Korra stands well on its own merits. I love the characters, and while I wish they had more time to be better developed, I don't think that means that they're BADLY developed. Quite the opposite. The fact is that Korra can't escape being compared to ATLA because it's a sequel, and while I don't think it's as good as ATLA, that certainly doesn't mean that it's bad.

idk. I'm easy to hook with well-crafted and well-developed characters. I'm not too hugely fussed about plots in comparison to character arcs myself XD

[Kor]

^While this is true, I personally still feel that Korra stands well on its own merits.

I was merely criticizing the rhetoric. The show has its merits, but a lot of faults too.

The fact is that Korra can't escape being compared to ATLA because it's a sequel, and while I don't think it's as good as ATLA, that certainly doesn't mean that it's bad.

I kinda agree. It's not an awful show, but... I can't bring myself to call it a good one either. It does seem to me like season 4 has the potential to be the best one, but overall (mostly because seasons 1 and 2), this show will stay in the "meh" territory for me.

[mangaluva]

Spoiler:

I heard this one made the animators cry, so I was fearfully expecting a death... I'm quite glad that it was much happier than I expected. I teared up a little myself when the kids found Korra XD

Although TBH I was expecting the hunt for Korra to go on a bit longer, as well as the PTSD struggle. I kinda hope they aren't just "we're dropping this, that's the end, Korra's completely okay". I feel like she needs to get some wins under her belt to really get back on her feet. (Again I weep that Korra doesn't get seasons as long as ATLA's...)

Kinda cute that Toph finally let Korra hug her, though. And her "stories" made me laugh XD I hope that's not the last we see of Toph this season...

Also, I need to find a recording of the Q&A because I've read that they FINALLY confirmed Zuko's daughter's name. All hail Firelord Izumi.

[Kor]

The last few episodes made me lose hope that this season can get good. It turns out to be a mediocre mess just like the rest of the seasons. Too bad, it had some potential at the beginning to be slightly good, but nope, at best, this might end up be "okay".

Asami all of a sudden remembers she has a father and visits him in prison, because. Varrick suddenly develops a conscious, because.
Even though Bolin seemed to have an arc this season, I just can't get over how oblivious he was to Kuvira. I don't have a problem with unwise characters, but seriously...

Oh, and in episode 7, Korra reunites with Asami and Mako, only 90% of their scenes are absolutely unnecessary, because all Korra does is tell them stuff the audience already knows, and the rest of their stuff is trying to rescue the obnoxious prince, even though we already know Earth kingdom people are trying to capture him, so what the hell was the point of that sequence?
Why should I feel bad about the show's lesser number of episodes compared to the first series, if the show seems contend to waste its very own precious time on pointless exposition and repeated beats?

Heck, we just got a bloody clip show, which was done in one of the dumbest ways possible. The first part is Mako telling people of his atrocious dating life (good going show! Please remind us of all of those scenes that we hated).
The second part was not only bizarre because Korra and Asami summarised events that both of them know, it was pure melodrama of Korra going "I make things worse!" and then Asami says "No you're not." over and over and over again. It actually makes me think less of Korra because she can't figure out on her own that conflicts will always happen, and that she had more (impossible) triumphs than losses, but well... melodrama I guess. I hope the writers don't seriously believe their character and story developments were as natural and dynamic as they tried to present them in this clip show.
Oh, and then the third part... wow... that was just horrible.

So yeah, 5 episodes more to go and then it's over. Yay....

[JohnTitor]

I'm curious of the "Colossus" though. Will they really name it so, or is it just a symbol for the title?

And really, between that and "The Last Stand", it feels a bit too X-Men to me.

I think the finale would be unexpected, though I cannot imagine how. It has to be.

[mangaluva]

The show feels much more back on form this week, which is nice -_- Although maybe it's my immense love for the Beifong clan in general that's telling me that. An episode full of Beifongs is definitely enough to keep me happy.

Spoiler:

I'm also somewhat amused by the way the show pokes fun at itself--like Toph commenting on Katara not getting involved much in the Civil War, or Bolin finally asking who Lin's dad is and finally getting us an answer--although some of it does whiff of covering up after the fact. I mean, Toph's answer to Bolin kinda affirmed the fact that Lin and Suyin's dads are just really not that important, but Lin's daddy issues seem to have kinda come out of nowhere. There's been no previous indication that her issues with her mother were from anything other than Toph not being a present or involved mother and the whole thing with Su. So suddenly a woman in her fifties is flipping her shit about growing up without a father? Less of that, more Beifongs fighting Kuvira, please.

[Kamite]

Not sure if fanmade or not but pretty much. Love the ending.

Spoiler:

SQQQEEEEEEEE

[kkslider5552000]

I'm assuming manga has been too busy going nuts over the ending to properly respond to this thread.