The Spirit Bending Blues

So it has been really quiet on this blog a few weeks, I stopped writing reviews before the final episodes aired because i honestly could not keep watching it. Then i checked the inbox and found this little “Ask” gem from some negative anon who was treating it like a PM instead of an Ask. He/she/them? was ranting about ‘feministic stuff’ and thew me off by starting to talk about false rape claims statistics in real life and since i was so tired i first thought he/she was talking about people that said a rape happened in Lok or something. And since you know, this is an LOK blog and not a rapes statistic blog or feminist propaganda blog i was not expecting that at all. Sorry about the confusion, let me clear this up right now:

Anon whoever you are i don’t like that you just assume people are anything just because they say something is sexist. People who are not feminists are perfectly capable of seeing sexism and other problems in LoK and other series. 

No matter what you think about someone else’s opinion/criticism, harassing them in asks or PM’s is never okay. And it won’t make people shut up. Ever.

If you want to talk about feminists then at least have the guts to talk to people who are feminists face to face - In a civil manner with no anon mask on.

This season so far hasn't been bad but it hasn't been stellar either. It's 'ok' but in the past 3 weeks I seem to have lost the remnants of my interest in this show! It seems to be two steps forward but then one step back for season 3 and 4, they removed some problems but some things never seems to change about it, the bits of sexism, the progression and then regression of some the characters.

With Korra it's three steps forward and then two steps back, she does get a little development in season 2, 3 and 4 but then she is back in the "fight!" mindset again) and some characters like Mako just changed off screen and were 'ok' but is mostly so bland it's almost sad these days. And Bolin seemed to have matured at first but then it seems that he hasn't really learned something from some of his past mistakes. The character is made out to be naive at best and an idiot and a chew toy and the part in season 2 when he acted like a creepy person to Ginger, at worst.

This isn't enough to make me want to keep reviewing this show. I'm sorry but I've (finally) stopped caring about this show and it shows, my latest reviews were pretty dull and i don't think anyone even cared about them.

I want to thank everyone who followed this blog, those who left their input and those who inspired me along the way.

I finally have my PC in working order and can use the keyboard that works properly!

OK here we go:

LoK Book 4

Episode 1 “After all these years”

The first episode of the season starts around three years after season 3 ended, Republic City has now learned to co exist with the spirits in peace and a lot of practical problems have been solved thanks to Asamis Company. I have mixed feelings about the time jump but i’m not against it.

Kuvira from Zhafou who saved Korras dad last season has been given larger role, but it seems she will become another villain that started out with good intentions.If people don’t join her freely they get no food or protection. The alternative is the spoiled Prince Wu who seems so clueless! Much like a certain young emperor in The Emperor's new groove movie, as I'm sure many other fans have mentioned about a hundred times by now, lol!

Bolin has joined Kuvira's army and genuinely believes in Kuvira and her cause, he hasn't witnessed what Kuvira is fully capable of behind the scenes yet and not even Opal's words of doubt could make him doubt her mission.

I understand Opal's POV as well and I'm glad she stood her ground. Just because you love someone doesn't mean you should go along with whatever they think is right over what you think is right and accept whatever their boss is doing.

I think Kuvira was behind the raid on the food supplies Opal and Kai tried to bring to the village - she could easily have asked some of the recently 'reformed' raiders to do it. She probably genuinely believes that what she is doing is right and is ready to do whatever it takes.

Opal's brother  Baatar JR being on Kuviras side as well (and her boyfriend and recently betrothed) was interesting... and adds further drama.

The end of the episode was a surprise with nobody knowing where Korra was, most of them expecting Korra to arrive with her dad but her parents though she was already in Republic city and had been for the past months! Then we see her elsewhere in Earth Kingdom clothes and short hair, fighting an earth bender in a match. Losing and denying she is the avatar, having a rough time in general.

Episode 2 “Korra Alone”

Finally we find out what happened during the years Korra was recovering and what she's been doing the past months. She can walk again but is suffering from PTSD. Her time of recovery is very realistic and well done.

Eventually ending up i the Swamp following the cute little spirit was a nice touch and we finally get to see Toph as an old woman.

Episode 3 “The Coronation”

Toph is still he same old Toph in behavior, she was certainly more more serious and responsible during her years as a cop but i think she went back to her old ways when she retired and got older.

I'm glad Korra didn't get a quick miracle cure from Toph in this episode, that it's still a realistic struggle for her.

Bolin and Mako meet again and talk about things. At first things sem to be okay but of course things are about to get complicated fast.

 Kuvira had given her word to Republic City's president Raiko to step down when she had united the Earth Kingdom. She was expected to hand it over to Prince Wu at his coronation after she received the Kyoshi medal but refused to do so and said she would continue to lead, warning the other leaders from interfering. She has the people on her side as well as her army so she is very secure in her claim for now.

After that Mako and Bolin are at odds with one another, but it's understandable, they both believe that what they are doing is right.

Mako was tolerable in season 3 and now he is a bit more than tolerable. Being the spoiled Prince Wu's lifeguard isn't easy but he copes with it and he told Wu some hard truths, Wu listened to him and seemed to understand. Maybe there is hope for the spoiled prince after all?

Korra, her father, Lin, Zu, Asami, Bolin and Mako discussed what to do but Korra thought the best option was to hand herself over to Zaheer and the Red Lotus in exchange for the Airbenders. Not exactly the best plan, even if the others were close by as they split into two teams ready to move in.

During the exchange:

Korra: You never intended to free them all right away, you tricked me and I surrendered and here i am in platinum chains! Ok fighting time!"

Zaheer : Well duh of course i never intended to let them go the moment you surrendered!  I have an ideology i took too far using violence and then started to threaten civilians so now I'm kinda the bad guy and you know what that means on this show?

Korras dad shows up: Not my daughter! *fights him alongside Korra for a bit until Zaheer literally hurricanes him off the cliff and Korra thinks he is dead.*

P'li dies after fighting Su and Lin and getting Su's armor clamped around her head just as she lets a blast out. RIP!

Zaheer: Oh no! P'li My love! *wins the fight with Korra, grabs her and takes off.* "I can fly now (it's not like i actually need years of practice and meditation to accomplish this or anything!) I'm rid of all my earthly desires/anchors! Poor P'li though!"

Me "P'li! Dammit! She was one of the more interesting Red Lotus members! I know she would have killed Lin and that is not an option, but why did they have to kill her off and like that? Ugh. Apparently Zaheer saved her from a Warlord who wanted to make her into a weapon when she was a girl and then she joined him and the Red Lotus to fight for their cause.

Bolin, Asami, Mako freed Tenzin only to be attacked by Ghazan and Ming-Hua, Gazan makes the whole temple start melting in floods of rocks turned into lava.

Bolin: "Wait, did i just lava bend when we were about to die? Oh ok you can catch your breaths now!"

Kai appears on a Sky bison calf: "Hi just thought id' conveniently drop by this sudden hole in the cliff side, need a lift down?"

Su had with her several Metal benders and one of them was brought to the forefront and presented as Kuvira in this episode, she also saved Tonraq when he fell during the battle and that makes me think she might have a more prominent role in the next season.

Kai reveals that he saw where the Airbenders were taken earlier and thinks they must have brought Korra there.

Korra wakes up chained up and Zaheer, Ming-Hua, Ghazan  talk to her and and a few masked people are about to poison her...dunn dunn dunnn!

It was an okay episode.

The bad: The plan wasn't good and it was bit too convenient the way some things happened.

I've come down with a cold it seems, so I'm feeling a bit drained today and decided to just post a review of episode eleven and post reviews of the last two episodes when I'm feeling better.

My reaction to the latest Legend of Korra episode of Book 3 Change episode 9 "The Stakeout"

Some spoilers:

Epic Geo Sister battle between Lin and Su and then Opal showing her true strength and telling them to stop and then Korra breaking Lin's fall? That was pretty good.