Book 4 of The Legend of Korra may be quickly approaching, but for the moment let's take some time to celebrate the awesomeness that was Book 3, the best book in the Korra series so far. Book 3 was fantastic from start to finish, and we were treated to a lot of cool stuff over the span of thirteen episodes.
Please beware, there are major spoilers in this post. I'm not holding anything back, so if you want to watch the episodes first, visit the Nickelodeon website first. Trust me, you do not want to spoil anything for yourself!
And with that, here are my Top 10 Things I Loved The Most About Book 3! (with some honorable mentions).
One of the best things about the original series was all of the traveling that Team Avatar did, and in this season Korra finally did some traveling herself to some of those places. It's interesting to see how things have changed (or haven't) in the last eighty years or so. Ba Sing Se is still the same corrupt city run by a terrible ruler with many people living in poverty. The Misty Palms Oasis is more of a desert resort populated by humans and spirits. The Northern Air Temple was pretty much the same, until lava bender Ghazan melted it in an attempt to kill Tenzin, Bolin, and Mako. Watching the temple go up in smoke and lava was kind of painful, considering that it wasn't just a historical part of the Air Nation culture, but a home to the new airbenders. The Air Nation just can't catch a break!
9) Seeing Familiar Faces
Seeing the original Team Avatar is always a treat, and this season we were treated to more flashbacks of Toph's younger days as well as an older, but still very powerful, Lord Zuko! Whereas the flashbacks in Book One featured Toph more as a side character to Aang's struggle with crime lord Yakone, this time around Toph and her struggles with raising her daughters are the main focus. We also learned some pretty exciting news: Toph is still alive! Here's hoping for an appearance in Book 4! Zuko, on the other hand, has stepped down from ruling as Firelord and is assisting the new Team Avatar in fighting the Red Lotus.
We're also treated to an awesome cameo from my favorite character in the Avatar universe: Uncle Iroh! I really love that the creators have found a way to keep him around as a mentor and advisor for Korra in lieu of her past lives, which she no longer has a connection to. It would be absolutely fantastic if there was a way for Zuko and Iroh to see each other again somehow in Book 4.
Korra's travels took her to places that not only she hadn't seen before, but we hadn't as well: the city of Zhao Fu, home of the Metalbending clan. I love it when the creators expand on this world and create new cultures, and Zhao Fu is a fantastic way to do so. Just about everything in the city is made of metal, and it has this really cool design where each collection of buildings is closed up for the night with huge metal doors, like the petals of a flower closing up in the evening after the sun goes down. There's metalbending dances, metalbending art, and even a new metalbending sport.
We also meet the matriarch of the clan: Suyin, daughter of Toph and Lin's half sister. Suyin and her husband built the city together and raised a family there. It's really amazing seeing new things being done with the style of bending invented by Toph so many years ago. Part of what made the episodes in Zhao Fu so great also had to do with the tense relationship between the two sisters and the complicated past they have with each other and their mother. Everything is resolved in the end, but it helped to provide some great backstory to Lin Beifong, who has remained a bit more of a mystery character up 'til now.
7) The Friendship Between Korra and Asami
Before this season, Korra and Asami weren't really close friends. Asami may have been a part of Team Avatar, but she and Korra felt more like acquaintances. Their relationship has been a little rocky and a little tense, considering the fact that they were both in love with the same guy. Korra was in love with Mako while he was dating Asami, and Asami tried to win Mako back after he became Korra's boyfriend...it wasn't very pretty. Dating Mako didn't work out for either of them, and now that they're all just friends again, it gave Korra and Asami a chance to forge a good friendship. As it turns out, these two make a great team! Between Asami's technical expertise and Korra's fighting skills, the two women were able to get out of a couple tricky situations together. Asami can hold her own in a fight alongside Korra as well, which was pretty cool to watch in one episode. I'm really glad all of the dating drama is behind them, and I look forward to seeing more of these two hang out and kick ass in the future.
Before this point in the season, it had already been established that Zaheer was a very dangerous, yet philosophical man, with a very specific view of how the world should be. "The natural order is disorder." he says to Korra in the episode prior. The goal Zaheer, and by extension the Red Lotus, had for the future was a world without nations or borders, without kings...and queens. And he finally backed up his talk of anarchy by killing the Earth Queen, the leader of the largest nation in the world. This act truly solidified Zaheer as a serious threat and put airbending in a new light. Aang would never have thought to use airbending to suck the air out of a person's body and cause them to die by asphyxiation, but Zaheer has no problems using his new skill in such a way. It was kind of horrifying to watch this woman, as much as I despised her, struggle for breath as Zaheer coldly tells her "Maybe I forgot to mention something to you...I don't believe in queens."
As horrifying as this was, the first thought that came to my mind when Zaheer was pulling the air out of her lungs was "FINALLY!" The Earth Queen was a horrible woman. She was a terrible leader who was stuck in her own little lavish world while many of the people in Ba Sing Se lived in poverty. So I was kind of cheering on the villain in this scene...does that make me a bad person?
This season introduced some really great villains, maybe the best Legend of Korra has had so far. Like Amon from Book 1, they use their righteous cause to justify their terrible deeds. They are very deadly in battle, but they're not black and white evil like Ozai. Zaheer in particular is a very philosophical and spiritual man, and a lot of what he says does make sense. The Red Lotus is a group of anarchists that broke off from the White Lotus because they believed that the White Lotus were wrong to come out of hiding to serve the Avatar and that they had strayed away from their true purpose. The Red Lotus believe that only the destruction of governments and nations, and the Avatar, will bring true balance to the world. These four tried to kidnap Korra when she was a child with the intent of brainwashing her, using her to open the spirit portals, and then kill her, but failed and were imprisoned.
Fast forwarding to the present, we meet these villains as they break each other out of these amazing Kung Fu Panda style prisons with their unique bending abilities. There's Zaheer, the leader of these four who became an airbender after harmonic convergence (having an airbending villain was AWESOME by the way), P'li the combustion bender (like Sparky Sparky Boom Man from the original series), Ming Hua the armless waterbender (she uses the water as arms), and Ghazan the lavabender. The prison breaks give us a good idea of just how dangerous these four are, and they continue to be a serious threat throughout the whole season. Each battle Team Avatar has with these guys is just amazing to watch. You don't want to mess with them, as the Earth Queen, and later Korra, found out.
Fast forwarding to the present, we meet these villains as they break each other out of these amazing Kung Fu Panda style prisons with their unique bending abilities. There's Zaheer, the leader of these four who became an airbender after harmonic convergence (having an airbending villain was AWESOME by the way), P'li the combustion bender (like Sparky Sparky Boom Man from the original series), Ming Hua the armless waterbender (she uses the water as arms), and Ghazan the lavabender. The prison breaks give us a good idea of just how dangerous these four are, and they continue to be a serious threat throughout the whole season. Each battle Team Avatar has with these guys is just amazing to watch. You don't want to mess with them, as the Earth Queen, and later Korra, found out.
The return of the Air Nation was something that I never saw coming, but it's a completely perfect follow up to the events at the end of Book 2. I think it's interesting that Korra is afraid that the world doesn't need the Avatar to bring balance, but by leaving the spirit portals open, she has brought balance back to the world, just in a way she didn't expect.
One thing I was happy to see was that our heroes had a bit of a difficult time trying to get people to leave their lives and join a practically dead culture. Living as monks in the same clothes everyday with little to no material possessions isn't exactly a strong selling point. The culture did need to change a bit in order to survive, and it was nice to see Tenzin realize that in the last episode. Instead of living as nomads, the new airbenders would travel the world and use their new abilities to help people and keep the peace. It was emotional at times seeing the rebirth of the Air Nation, and a little bittersweet, considering that the return of his people was something Aang always wanted but never got to see. And even though the new airbenders really struggled in the beginning adjusting to their new powers and their new lifestyle, it was very satisfying to see them come together in the end to help take down Zaheer and save Korra.
Perhaps the best thing about this though, is that Bumi is one of these new airbenders. It was a nice follow up to the conflict between Aang's children that was set up in Book 2, with Bumi & Kya upset that their father spent more time with Tenzin, his "little airbender", than he did with them as they were growing up. Though he wasn't born a bender, Bumi still tried to keep the world safe by joining the Republic forces, hoping to make his father proud. Even after recieving airbending, Bumi is still afraid that he won't measure up as an airbender. "Even though I'm Aang's son, I never really felt like I was part of the Air Nation before." Bumi laments to Tenzin at one point. But as Tenzin points out to him, he is a lot like his father even if he doesn't realize it. Like Aang, Bumi is a natural leader and has a strong connection to the spirits. It's very fitting, and it makes me love this character even more. I can't wait to see him become a greater airbender in Book 4!
One thing I was happy to see was that our heroes had a bit of a difficult time trying to get people to leave their lives and join a practically dead culture. Living as monks in the same clothes everyday with little to no material possessions isn't exactly a strong selling point. The culture did need to change a bit in order to survive, and it was nice to see Tenzin realize that in the last episode. Instead of living as nomads, the new airbenders would travel the world and use their new abilities to help people and keep the peace. It was emotional at times seeing the rebirth of the Air Nation, and a little bittersweet, considering that the return of his people was something Aang always wanted but never got to see. And even though the new airbenders really struggled in the beginning adjusting to their new powers and their new lifestyle, it was very satisfying to see them come together in the end to help take down Zaheer and save Korra.
Perhaps the best thing about this though, is that Bumi is one of these new airbenders. It was a nice follow up to the conflict between Aang's children that was set up in Book 2, with Bumi & Kya upset that their father spent more time with Tenzin, his "little airbender", than he did with them as they were growing up. Though he wasn't born a bender, Bumi still tried to keep the world safe by joining the Republic forces, hoping to make his father proud. Even after recieving airbending, Bumi is still afraid that he won't measure up as an airbender. "Even though I'm Aang's son, I never really felt like I was part of the Air Nation before." Bumi laments to Tenzin at one point. But as Tenzin points out to him, he is a lot like his father even if he doesn't realize it. Like Aang, Bumi is a natural leader and has a strong connection to the spirits. It's very fitting, and it makes me love this character even more. I can't wait to see him become a greater airbender in Book 4!
3) The First Airbender vs Airbender Battle
You ever have that moment when you're watching a show, and suddenly you never realize how much you cared about the characters until it looks like they're about to be killed? This was one of those moments, one of those great, intense battles where you have no idea what the outcome is going to be and you have no idea if any of the characters are going to live or die. In this episode, Zaheer and his pals have trapped the airbenders in the Northern Air Temple with the intention of using them as bait to capture Korra. Tenzin refuses to back down and fights back, giving the new airbenders a chance to escape, with Bumi and Kya staying behind to help him battle Ghazan and Ming Hua.
What makes this so exciting isn't just the fantastic choreography and intensity of the battle, but the fact that this is the first airbender vs. airbender battle that we've seen onscreen in both Avatar series. In the original, Aang was the only airbender in the world, so of course there were no airbender battles. But now that a villain in Korra has been given airbending, we are treated to a very cool action scene of Tenzin and Zaheer battling in the air temple, leaping over buildings and walls in the temple grounds. Zaheer is an amazing fighter and airbender, but he's not a match for Tenzin who quickly shows us how a real airbending master fights. It takes all four of the Red Lotus members to take him down. Tenzin fights until the end, refusing to give up, and when the episode ended I legitimately thought that he was dead.
2) The Airbender Ceremony
This was one of the most beautiful and emotional moments of the season. Jinora has really grown over the past two seasons, becoming a great airbender worthy of the title of Master over the last two seasons. She's become a great leader and developed an amazing connection with the spirits. Seeing the reveal of her new tattoos, combined with the music and the wonder of witnessing a part of the Air Nation culture, was a truly beautiful moment. The resmeblance she has to her grandfather Aang makes this even more of a tearjerker moment.
But the episode doesn't end on a happy note. Korra, who has always been a tough girl, has been left broken spiritually and physically by the Red Lotus. We've seen her cry before in previous seasons, but the lone tear rolling down her cheek was the saddest moment in the series. Even though she doesn't move or speak, this one shot just says so much. She's seeing her worst fears come true before her eyes. It was ultimately the Jinora and the new airbenders that took down Zaheer, not her. And although Tenzin has the best intentions, his decision to lead the new airbenders to keep the peace while Korra recovers has left her feeling like what every villain she's faced has told her is true: the world doesn't need the Avatar anymore.
Most people seem to have the airbender ceremony as their number one. It comes pretty close for me, but it's not quite there. For me, the absolutely best part of Book 3 was that final battle against the Red Lotus.
This was one of the most beautiful and emotional moments of the season. Jinora has really grown over the past two seasons, becoming a great airbender worthy of the title of Master over the last two seasons. She's become a great leader and developed an amazing connection with the spirits. Seeing the reveal of her new tattoos, combined with the music and the wonder of witnessing a part of the Air Nation culture, was a truly beautiful moment. The resmeblance she has to her grandfather Aang makes this even more of a tearjerker moment.
But the episode doesn't end on a happy note. Korra, who has always been a tough girl, has been left broken spiritually and physically by the Red Lotus. We've seen her cry before in previous seasons, but the lone tear rolling down her cheek was the saddest moment in the series. Even though she doesn't move or speak, this one shot just says so much. She's seeing her worst fears come true before her eyes. It was ultimately the Jinora and the new airbenders that took down Zaheer, not her. And although Tenzin has the best intentions, his decision to lead the new airbenders to keep the peace while Korra recovers has left her feeling like what every villain she's faced has told her is true: the world doesn't need the Avatar anymore.
Most people seem to have the airbender ceremony as their number one. It comes pretty close for me, but it's not quite there. For me, the absolutely best part of Book 3 was that final battle against the Red Lotus.
1) Korra vs Zaheer
This is my absolute favorite battle in the entire Avatar franchise. It's very big, very intense, and very beautiful to watch. The incredible music (hats off to Jeremy Zuckerman!) combined with the epic visuals made for a very exciting, tense battle. The choreography of the fight is absolutely amazing. There's this one shot that's twenty seconds long or so that shows Zaheer dodging and weaving everything she's throwing at him, and it's just amazing. There are echoes to Aang's battle against Ozai, with Korra using firebending to chase after Zaheer, who had harnessed the ancient airbending power of flight. But it's not a copycat of Aang vs. Ozai, make no mistake. It's its own thing, and it's glorious to watch as she uses all her powers to throw boulders and mountains at him. I don't know how they could possibly top this in Book 4.
What really makes this my favorite is that for me, it's the most emotional battle in both Avatar series. At this point in the episode, the Red Lotus had infused a metal poison (most likely mercury) into Korra's body in an attempt to force her into the Avatar state so they could kill her. She's in pain as the poison slowly kills her, she starts hallucinating, seeing the previous villains she's fought tell her the world doesn't need the Avatar, that she should give up and let the Red Lotus kill her. She's angry and in grief, believing that Zaheer had killed her father. And she's scared, not only because she's about to die but because she's afraid that her fear that she isn't needed is true. It's really hard to watch this character that I love so much, who is so strong and tough, suffer like this. When Korra finally enters the Avatar State, breaks free from her restraints and takes off after Zaheer in a complete rage, you can't help but cheer her on. Unlike Aang, who wanted to avoid conflict with the Fire Lord, Korra wants to fight Zaheer. She's out to kill him, and if it wasn't for the poison in her system, slowly killing her, I think she would have eventually caught Zaheer and ended his life.
Ultimately, the poison weakens her so much that she can't fight anymore, and Zaheer attempts to kill her using the same technique he used on the Earth Queen. Even though Zaheer fails and Korra is saved, the whole ordeal leaves her broken. When we see her at the airbender ceremony, it seems that she has a post traumatic stress disorder of sorts. She's tried so hard to follow in Aang's footsteps and be a great Avatar, but time and time again she's faced with people who tell her that she isn't needed. In Aang's time, the world wanted the Avatar around to solve their problems and defeat the tyrants who oppressed them. But the world is different now, and it makes me wonder about Korra's future as Book 4 approaches. Will Korra end up being the last Avatar, or will the world discover that they do need her?
This is my absolute favorite battle in the entire Avatar franchise. It's very big, very intense, and very beautiful to watch. The incredible music (hats off to Jeremy Zuckerman!) combined with the epic visuals made for a very exciting, tense battle. The choreography of the fight is absolutely amazing. There's this one shot that's twenty seconds long or so that shows Zaheer dodging and weaving everything she's throwing at him, and it's just amazing. There are echoes to Aang's battle against Ozai, with Korra using firebending to chase after Zaheer, who had harnessed the ancient airbending power of flight. But it's not a copycat of Aang vs. Ozai, make no mistake. It's its own thing, and it's glorious to watch as she uses all her powers to throw boulders and mountains at him. I don't know how they could possibly top this in Book 4.
What really makes this my favorite is that for me, it's the most emotional battle in both Avatar series. At this point in the episode, the Red Lotus had infused a metal poison (most likely mercury) into Korra's body in an attempt to force her into the Avatar state so they could kill her. She's in pain as the poison slowly kills her, she starts hallucinating, seeing the previous villains she's fought tell her the world doesn't need the Avatar, that she should give up and let the Red Lotus kill her. She's angry and in grief, believing that Zaheer had killed her father. And she's scared, not only because she's about to die but because she's afraid that her fear that she isn't needed is true. It's really hard to watch this character that I love so much, who is so strong and tough, suffer like this. When Korra finally enters the Avatar State, breaks free from her restraints and takes off after Zaheer in a complete rage, you can't help but cheer her on. Unlike Aang, who wanted to avoid conflict with the Fire Lord, Korra wants to fight Zaheer. She's out to kill him, and if it wasn't for the poison in her system, slowly killing her, I think she would have eventually caught Zaheer and ended his life.
Ultimately, the poison weakens her so much that she can't fight anymore, and Zaheer attempts to kill her using the same technique he used on the Earth Queen. Even though Zaheer fails and Korra is saved, the whole ordeal leaves her broken. When we see her at the airbender ceremony, it seems that she has a post traumatic stress disorder of sorts. She's tried so hard to follow in Aang's footsteps and be a great Avatar, but time and time again she's faced with people who tell her that she isn't needed. In Aang's time, the world wanted the Avatar around to solve their problems and defeat the tyrants who oppressed them. But the world is different now, and it makes me wonder about Korra's future as Book 4 approaches. Will Korra end up being the last Avatar, or will the world discover that they do need her?
Honorable Mentions:
Before we wrap this up, some honorable mentions! First off, the return of Varrick! I love this guy. He's definitely the funniest character in Legend of Korra, and I really hope we see more of him in Book 4. Maybe we'll see him again as Iron Varrick! They've gotta find a way to use that magnet suit in somehow...
And last but not least, Bolin learns he is a lavabender! I definitely didn't see this coming, and I'm glad this is the special talent they chose for him. I was waiting for him to suddenly start metal bending all season long, so this took me by surprise. I can't wait to see him use it again in Book 4!
Well, that's my top 10 moments from an incredible season! So what did you love most about Book 3?
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