Legend of Korra

[Khaldun]

The premiere episodes of the sequel series to the animated Avatar: The Last Airbender can be legally viewed now at http://www.korranation.com/

I really like the world-building on display here--it's a very nice way to establish a completely new narrative situation while keeping faith with the baseline set-up from the last series. It's a good model for how to move a story ahead and establish some new conflicts and characters. Animation is also very high quality.

Definitely wondering what the eventual reveal of the Big Bad's identity will be. Fun to speculate.

[Samwise]

korranation.com redirects to korranation.tumblr.com, which says that you can watch the episodes at korranation.com.  What sort of sick joke is this?

[RhyssaFireheart]

korranation.com redirects to korranation.tumblr.com, which says that you can watch the episodes at korranation.com.  What sort of sick joke is this?

^^^^
What he said.  I wanted to watch the first two episodes and can't.  I is sad.

[Khaldun]

Wow. That's annoying. I don't know when they did that. It was up live when I posted. I don't think they said anything about it being a limited run.

There's always the method that dare not speak its name, of course. Or wait until April 14.

[RhyssaFireheart]

I'll probably just wait.  I plan to set the DVR to record episodes anyways, so I'll just plow through shows in chunks, which is kind of how I like to watch.  Just wish the DVR could be set more than 2 weeks out.

[Kitsune]

I watched them on Sunday on this site.  So far I'm feeling very good about the series.

[Samwise]

There's always the method that dare not speak its name, of course.

They are pretty much begging me to do that, aren't they.

[Surlyboi]

The first two eps are up on iTunes. I liked them. The progression to 20s-ish aesthetic is pretty cool.

[Cadaverine]

Just got done watching the first two episodes, and I'm liking it a lot.

I really like the 20's era technology vs. Eastern philosophy/bending direction they look to be heading to.

[caladein]

So, as someone that made it a few episodes into the first show before Sokka (and Aang to a lesser extent) grated on me badly enough to stop watching, should I even bother with this one?

[Fordel]

You clearly hate fun, so no. 


Seriously though, if you didn't enjoy the first series, you won't enjoy this one.

[caladein]

Works for me.

[Fordel]

The first two episodes are available on the Nick site itself.

http://www.nick.com/videos/clip/legend-of-korra-101-full-episode.html

http://www.nick.com/videos/clip/legend-of-korra-102-a-leaf-in-the-wind-full-episode.html

[Trippy]

You clearly hate fun, so no. 


Seriously though, if you didn't enjoy the first series, you won't enjoy this one.

The personalities of the main characters are different though. Aang is a light-hearted kid. Korra is a rebellious headstrong impetuous teenager who has taken her status as avatar for granted. If that sort of character is more appealing to you you might like the new show.

[Khaldun]

I am really liking this show so far. In some ways, better than the first series.

[Fordel]

It seems much faster paced, almost rushed at times.

[RhyssaFireheart]

Well, the overall series is planned to be shorter than the original was - 12 episodes this season and 14 next.

I still need to watch yesterday's episode but yeah, this is a great show.  Another site I'm on has gotten into a debate about whether bending is a genetic trait or a learned one.  Right now the general consensus is leaning more towards genetic.

[Ruvaldt]

I don't think there is any question that it is genetic, but with some kind of spiritual connection.  If it was purely learned then there would be more air benders; the only living examples are direct relatives of Aang.  It's also the only way to explain the cycle of the Avatar always being: earth > fire > air > water because it implies that people are either born benders or not born benders.

The show is awesome.  The sixth episode was phenomenal.  I've got a pretty good idea of who Amon is, but it's a fun mystery, and I'm looking forward to finding out more about Aang and the crew's fate between the two series.

[Khaldun]

Yes. The flashbacks in the last two episodes are so tempting--they really suggest that something terrible happened to the Aang Gang when they were adults that split them apart.

[Fordel]

Well, the overall series is planned to be shorter than the original was - 12 episodes this season and 14 next.

I still need to watch yesterday's episode but yeah, this is a great show.  Another site I'm on has gotten into a debate about whether bending is a genetic trait or a learned one.  Right now the general consensus is leaning more towards genetic.

Didn't know it is going to be that short, makes more sense then.

[Fordel]

And I can't watch the episodes from the web anymore because I'm Canadian.


How do I trick the website into thinking I'm not Canadian, surely there's a plugin or something that does that by now?

[Teleku]

Speak the pledge of allegiance clearly into your microphone before attempting to watch.

[Fordel]

They'll clearly hear through my HI-larious Canadian accent.

[Samwise]

You can route your traffic through a free proxy in the US.  Or just torrent the show.

I'm loving the crap out of this, btw.  Definite DVD buy once it's available.  The writers are doing a lot of the things that made the first series great while doing something entirely different with this one.  I think it's great how the heroes are caught between two "bad guys" and it's not obvious which is worse.

[Khaldun]

I think it's actually one of the best re-imaginings of the rise of fascism in 1920s Europe that I've seen. In many ways, more convincing and interesting and complex as a confrontation with evil than the first series.

I'm about 100% certain who Amon is at this point...

[Ruvaldt]

Better than the original series, I think.  These last three episodes have been stellar.

[RhyssaFireheart]

The saddest part is that Amon's going to be done as a villain after this season, so after the one hour season finale this coming week.  No more Steve Blum to listen to. 

No real vote on who Amon could be, though I have a few possibilities in mind. 

[Mazakiel]

The momentum of the last few episodes has been great.  I can't wait to see the finale. 

[sickrubik]

[Samwise]

I really really hope it is not that. That would be a friggin cop out as far as I'm concerned. The whole "normal" humans vs "super heroes" is much better than a supernatural excuse.

(despoilering because I don't think there's anything spoilery in that particular comment, or the one I'm about to make)

There's no way Amon is a completely "normal" human, being as he can do that whole "energybending" thing.

What I find most interesting about Amon and the various theories on who he is (we're sort of assuming he's wearing the mask because he's somebody we the audience would recognize -- wouldn't it be funny if that turns out to be a complete red herring?) is that no theory explains both how he can do what he does and what his motivation would be.

Re: energybending, here's what the lion turtle told Aang when he taught him how to do it.  I'm sure this will end up being relevant somehow:

In the era before the Avatar, we bent not the elements, but the energy within ourselves.  To bend another's energy, your own spirit must be unbendable, or you will be corrupted, and destroyed.

[sickrubik]

Well, if it were supernatural, this would be a very weird way of going about things. I fully expect that there is another layer to the "conspiracy" (specifically on his identity), I just hope he doesn't end up being the being pitched in the spoiler I replied to. It just rubs me a little too Deus Ex Machina for my tastes.

(I also love the fuck out of this show.)

[RhyssaFireheart]

"Legend of Korra" creators preview the season finale.

Nothing very spoilery, but a nice little interview, all the same.

[Khaldun]

I was surprised that things were wrapped up as much as they were.

[Mazakiel]

I was surprised as well, but pleasantly so.  I'm looking forward to where they take the next season. 

[RhyssaFireheart]

About the arc - I've heard offhand that the first season was initially it so that's why the storyline is so compact and complete.  Then the second season was given the green-light and hence, separate storylines.  I'm actually kind of fine with that because it gives a sense of stages completed for Korra rather than the overarching storylines that Aang needed.


Best moment of the series?

Overall, I really enjoyed the first season and hope it's not too long before the second season comes out.  I'm re-watching ATLA right now and plan to segue right into LOK when I'm done.

Boo - can't nest spoilers