Nickelodeon’s The Legend of Korra closed Book Four with an impressive final chapter.
Hiroshi sacrifices himself to make victory possible for Team Avatar, and together they bring the colossus down.
In the process, a new Spirit Portal is ripped open right there in Republic City.
What is she really to the story of Korras Avatar journey?
Shes the wife of her mentor.
I suppose on a spiritual level, shes also Korras daughter-in-law, but not really.
And theres nothing wrong with those things.
Theyre fine qualities, but they alone do not an interesting character make.
She has proven herself to be flawed and fallible but ultimately strong and well-intentioned.
And we know her kids very well, which is why when she says, I raised Meelo.
I can handle anything, we fully understand what that means and we know that shes got this.
So, rock on, Pema.
Youve more than earned your stripes.
Of course, Pema wasnt alone.
Prince Wu had quite a hand in the solution to that entire situation.
In trueAvatar-verse fashion, his sillier qualities proved to be assets in disguise.
Over the past few episodes, hes introduced one good idea after another.
His motivations may not always have been pure, but his actions were effective.
Wu found the middle ground between the anarchy of the Red Lotus and the fascism of Kuvira.
It really seems that he embodied the spirit of this season better than anyone.
Who saw that coming?
Varrick proposes to Zhu Li.
Oh my God, bless Zhu Li.
Shes just thinking, Seriously.
Are are you going to do this right now?
But indeed, Varrick asked Zhu Li if she would do the thing for the rest of their lives.
Also, did you see that jade ring?
And thats why I think their relationship works.
Zhu Li is bright, educated, and resourceful.
The only missing element was reciprocity.
It just doesnt work.
When did Varrick stop taking Zhu Li for granted?
When she demanded that he not.
Once that problem was solved, all systems were go, a perfect match had been made.
All that was left was for Varrick to do the thing.
Now, of course, we come to the main story, the final confrontation with Kuvira.
Nice use of that aspect ratio as well.
It took me some effort not to giggle.
That said, airbender kids aside, pretty much everyone got something to do.
Seeing Bolin go all out with the lavabending was immensely satisfying.
And in that context, I fully enjoy being put in my place.
That required a little more back-up, which is why Hiroshi makes his appearance.
I am pleased as punch that he had a role to play in this finale.
I suppose I should have known from the second he showed up that he was going to die.
Thankfully, my enjoyment blinders went up, and I didnt see it coming until shortly before it happened.
Hiroshis death was an effective one.
His sacrifice saved Asamis life and made Team Avatars victory possible.
Hiroshis arc in this season has been so spare yet so effective.
Everyone did, which is what made this episode work so well.
Nearly every core character had a role in taking the colossus down.
Its just deflection, man.
Unlike Azula, whose insecurities and underlying psychology did her in, Kuviras instability was born of panic.
And I like that she has this sad backstory.
I like that it motivated her to become the kind of person she is.
Because I will concede that it started out that way for her.
She was a well-intentioned extremist like Jet, someone who set out to do good but lost her way.
But by the time the events of Book Fourrolled around, she was totally drunk with power.
Theyre something about the way all this was resolved that didnt quite do it for me.
Its not that the logic of the situation didnt work, because on a fundamental level, it did.
Its just that it all happened a little too fast.
Because really, that spiritual energy was just a supernatural stand-in for blunt force.
In the end, the resolution of this conflict wasnt about spirituality or balance.
It was about who had the biggest gun.
The biggest problem with these last two episodes was that they felt kind of rushed.
Not very, just by slices here and there, but all those slices add up.
They add up to about an episodes worth of content.
Just look at it structurally.
In this finale, however, the denouement didnt start until well into Act Three.
In fact, the exchange leading to Kuviras philosophical defeat didnt even begin until Act Three.
Thats some serious compression right there.
So, lets trace this backwards.
Well, suddenly weve got all the room we need, dont we?
Or at least we would have if Nickelodeon werent such dicks.
So, bottom line?
I totally blame Nick.
If these cracks in an otherwise solid finale are visible, its not the creators fault.
They did what they had to do to compensate for the time they were cheated of.
And the end result is more or less satisfying, but its not what it could have been.
To be fair, the finale was not completely lacking character moments.
She forgives Baatar Jr. his trespasses.
Ohhhh hell no, bitch.
You will know the insatiable fury of a mama bear, and that shit will take.
And good for her.
I love that it was on Air Temple Island.
I love that Varrick was using his special effects and hamming it up to the very end.
I love the little Nuktuk outfits for the servers.
Let me be clear.
Thank you, Mike and Bryan!
Thank you a thousand times over!
Side note, I am loving everyones wedding outfits.
Look at Asamis dress.
I just cant even with how awesome she looks.
At least he got some spotlight by officiating the wedding.
So, here we are.
The big finish… Korras final conversation with Asami and the ending that followed.
That music that played as they walked up to the spirit portal…
I never expected it to actually happen.
Now, a lot of people are going to jump down my throat on this.
And I understand their complaints.
Why does everything have to be about romantic love?
Why is the beauty of a true friendship considered incomplete or less satisfying than romantic feelings?
I dont think it is.
Why cant two people of the same sex be physically close without it being interpreted romantically?
And, look, I dont see gay in everything I read and watch.
And the people that slash Chibiusa and Hotaru fromSailor Moon?
But Tomoyo ofCardcaptor Sakurais in love with the titular character.
And not chaste crush love; that girl is in heart-pounding, come-puberty-Ill-be-taking-cues-from-the-Divinyls-over-you love.
So, why are people quick to jump on the Korrasami?
That kisss absence is not a sign that the creators didnt want it there.
All you have to do really is look at the facts.
Korras final words in this entire series are with Asami.
Why not any of the other friends Korra loves so dearly?
Why not her mentor?
Why is Asami the one she goes on a vacation with alone to another dimension?
Why is Korra the person Asami couldnt lose?
Why end on this image?
Could you read that scene as not gay?
Sure, I suppose.
But why would you?
Together… we did the thing.
Rating:
4 out of 5
