TLOK

IT WASN’T HER FAULT. She was a teenager that was manipulated by a family member who was also a world leader and was also apart of a secret terrorist group that she trusted not to lead her astray. He used her to start a civil war and open the spirit portals so HE could release 10,000 years of darkness on the world. Once Korra realized her role in the plan she tried to correct the actions that led to the conflict that Unalaq had planned probably for years. We saw how conniving he was when he convinced his father-The Chief of the Northern Water Tribe- to exile Tonraq for treason.

Let’s also not forget that Unalaq and Vaatu tried to kill Korra by crushing her in the ground and that they literally ripped Raava from Korra’s body THROUGH HER MOUTH (which was probably excruciatingly painful) and beat Raava within an inch of her life while Korra could do nothing except watch because the avatar spirit was forcibly removed from her.

Korra didn’t end the Avatar cycle. Unavaatu did. And even though when I first watched Book 2 I disliked it as much as everyone else, I guess I just realized today why it grinds my gears.

Saying it’s Korra’s fault that the avatar cycle ended is vicious victim blaming especially when you consider that only months before this fight she tried to end her life because Amon took her bending.

All of Korra’s villains stole pieces of her identity and essence which is why no matter how cool conceptually her villains are, I will never say I like them or support them. So for anyone to say that it was her fault is not only wrong, it’s cruel.

Especially since Korra *DID* blame herself for every perceived failure she had including the ending of the avatar cycle.

Losing the Avatar cycle wasn’t shown in a positive light. It was grieved and situated as a plot device to start over because just like in real life, sometimes we lose everything and have to move forward with whatever pieces we have and forge our own way.

Like I always felt so bad for him watching this scene.

Imagine working on a project for three years only to realise you've been helping create an ethnostate fascist dictatorship complete with concentration camps when all you wanted to do was prove yourself and help people. Like the amount of time and effort, and also being at odds with everyone he held dear. Not to mention Bolin coping with the trauma of what happened to Korra by projecting her qualities onto Kuvira.

I always wanted to see Bolin confront Kuvira over how she used him. (and Varrick over what happened in B2 but that's for another idea.)

Sadly, Bolin being manipulated and used by others is a pattern that keeps appearing. And he just... carries on like his trust hasn't been terribly breached?

I can't imagine this wouldn't leave some trauma here.

So when Kuvira started hanging with the Krew in RotE , I was kinda hoping for Bolin, to blow up on her? But the closest we got to that was:

Like, fascinating look into Kuvira's psyche, but so dissapointing for Bolin's character. I wish there were more of a confrontation between them.