Legend of Korra recap: Episodes 3 & 4

The Revelation

I love the old school feel of the film reel recaps the episodes have. It really drives home the 20’s/30’s style feeling of Republic City. The episode opens with the Fire Ferrets hard at work, training for the upcoming championship match but are informed they need to come up with the 30,000 yuans entry fee, something the brothers (the ORPHANED brothers) don’t have access to. As Bolin attempts to earn money with his pet ferret’s tricks, he is recruited by an old “friend” to do some guard work for the one of the three city gangs. Mako earns some extra cash doing side work at the power plant, putting his second level fire bending to practical use. When he arrives home, Bolin is nowhere to be found so Mako heads to Air Temple Island to see if he is with Korra. Jinora and Ikki are training with her and when they spy Mako coming up the stairs, they tease her relentlessly about his good looks. She dispatches them with a swift earthbending move and tells Mako she hasn’t seen Bolin but would be glad to help him look. A street urchin informs Mako that he saw Bolin head off with a gang member and Mako fears for the worse. They track Bolin down with the help of Naga and come across the adorable Pabu before watching helplessly as Bolin is kidnapped by members of the Equalist party.

Several Equalists attack Korra and Mako and utilize chi blocking techniques to stop them from bending. They are quickly defeated and as the Equalists leave, Korra questions what they would want gang members for. She remembers the protestor she argued with on her first day in Republic City and the pair head off to the park, where they pass the night. Korra asks Mako for details on why Bolin would go with gang members and Mako tells her they used to work for the gang as they had no choice, being orphans and all. Mako also tells her his parents were killed in front of him after being mugged and then he became Batman…er, he vowed to always protect Bolin. They pass out and find themselves leaning on each other in the morning before seperating awkwardly. They hear the protester spreading his mission to passerby and take one of his flyers, a paper that says “Witness the revelation tonight.” They question the protester relentlessly for the location but he claims he doesn’t know anything more. Mako figures out the backs of the flyers are different and form a map, detailing the location of the Revelation. Donning clever disguises, they infiltrate the meeting as a couple. Scores of people have gathered to see Amon speak and he rises dramatically from a center platform.

Amon starts the meeting by saying a firebender stole his family from him before taking his face, a brutal tale and perhaps one that rationalizes his mission. He reiterates that bending has only brought suffering to the world but that will change thanks to this revelation. He claims the spirits have chosen him and given him the power to take away a person’s ability to bend. He has his minions bring out several gang members, among them Bolin, so he can prove this for his followers. He allows a gang leader the chance at a fair fight and Amon shows his fighting prowess before placing a hand on the gang leader’s forehead and sure enough, removes his bending ability to the shock of the crowd. This rattles Korra to the bone and Mako hatches a plan to save Bolin as Amon calls for him to come forward as his next victim. Saved by the massive amount of steam Korra has ushered into the meeting, the brothers leave the stage, only to be attacked by Amon’s mustachioed lieutenant. He electrocutes both brothers repeatedly but is quickly defeated upon Korra’s arrival. Amon watches them escape, content that they will spread word of his acts.

As Korra arrives back to the island, she tells Tenzin about what Amon can do and Tenzin states that only the Avatar has only ever had that power and the episode ends with Tenzin saying no bender is safe.

Voice In The Night

Korra has begun having nightmares that feature Amon taking away her bending and she turns her emotions inward, which begins to effect all aspects of her life. Tenzin confers with the Republic City Council and Tarrlok, a  Northern Water Tribe representative, begins to insist a task force be formed in order to bring Amon to justice, which Tenzin shoots down as he sees it as a transparent attempt for Tarrlok to gain more power. Tarrlok gains the support of the other three members with a riveting speech. As Korra trains that evening, Amon hijacks the radio frequency and threatens that all benders will now know fear.

The next day, Mako is nearly run over by a gorgeous young woman on a scooter  named Asami who insists on treating him to an expensive dinner as an apology, which Mako accepts. As the evening comes on, Tenzin, his family and Korra are about to begin dinner when Tarrlok enters unceremoniously and joins them. Suspecting he’s up to no  good, Tenzin cuts to the chase and Tarrlok tells Korra he would like her to head the task force, which she declines stating she has to focus on her training, much to the surprise of Tenzin. Meanwhile Mako arrives for dinner and Asami lets it slip that she is a pro bending fangirl and has seen all of their matches, excited that the Fire Ferrets are finally in the championship. Mako fills her in on their money troubles before finding out her father is the creator of the Sato-mobiles….which everyone drives in Republic City. Bolin runs into Korra, who has missed practice (along with Mako) and brings her a rose and a dessert as thanks for saving him from Amon. As Bolin enthusiastically relives the experience, gifts begin to arrive from Tarrlok as a way to sway Korra’s decision.

As Mako meets Asami’s father, Hiroshi and hears his success story, he gratefully accepts sponsorship from the Satos in exchange for wearing their logo on the Fire Ferret uniforms. Speaking of Sato-mobiles, one arrives for Korra from Tarrlok and Tenzin starts to wonder if something is wrong as she has seemed unnaturally quiet. Korra denies anything is wrong and when an invitation to a gala thrown in her honor arrives, she accepts to attend with Tenzin. Tenzin informs Korra that Tarrlok is up to something and sure enough, that smarmy bastard makes a beeline for Korra and introduces her to several important people, including Hiroshi Sato who is accompanied by his daughter and her date…Mako. Korra is not pleased to see Mako with Asami but attempts to shrug it off. Tarrlok cleverly manipulates Korra into an impromptu press conference and the pressure gets to her. She hastily agrees to do anything she can in order to track down Amon and end the Equalist revolution, stating she is not afraid of anyone.

In a show of triumph, Tarrlok organizes the task force’s first outing to take down a make-shift school where chi-blockers are teaching their techniques to others and it’s a grand success, making the newspaper, which Mako reads, noting she has missed another practice.
At the next press conference, Korra grows tired of not finding Amon and challenges him to a one on one fight, in an attempt to end everything while Mako sees Asami again and on a ride through the park, it’s very clear that they have feelings for each other, sharing a tender moment.

Korra prepares for her confrontation with Amon and Tenzin shows concern for what he feels is a foolhardy action. As the hour draws to a close and Amon doesn’t show, Korra sets to leave. As she nears her boat, she is attacked by a group of Equalists who bring her to Amon in a scenario that echoes her nightmares. Amon reaches for her forehead as if to take her bending but grabs her chin instead, stating he won’t do anything at that moment for fear of making her a martyr, but is saving her for last. He then knocks her unconscious and we get a flashback of Aang (!!!!!!), Toph (!!!!!!), AND Sokka (!!!!!) before she awakens to Tenzin running toward her. She begins to cry and confides to Tenzin that she’s never felt so helpless and that she’s unsure of how to cope with her fear. He comforts her as the episode ends.

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The Lieutenant – Aside from having the most excellent Fu Manchu mustache I have ever seen, this guy is a force to be reckoned with for not being a bender. He fights with two electric kali sticks and is easily able to kick both Mako and Bolin’s ass in no time at all. He seems to be quite important, as he is Amon’s second in command. I find myself wondering more about his identity, his family, and his relationship with Amon. Did they grow up together? Is he older than Amon? Why is his outfit way cooler than the rest of the Equalists? I’m definitely excited to see him get more screen time as his short fight scenes have been nothing short of awesome.

Tarrlok – I really, REALLY dislike Tarrlok. He’s arrogant, manipulative, and I have trouble understanding why he made it onto the council…until I met the council and realized how easily led they must be (Tenzin excluded). He’s from the Northern Water Tribe and he certainly looks fancy in his ethnic clothing but I feel exactly like Ikki does…why does he have three ponytails and smell like a lady? I hope he gets beat up, which is mean to say, but like I said, I really don’t care for the guy. He gives me the “oogies.”

Asami Sato – I don’t care for Asami either and it’s not just because I ship Korra with the two brothers. She seems to be a bit too perfect and I think she may have ulterior motives for being interested in Mako. She comes off sweet and good-natured but I don’t know…I hope for Mako’s sake that it isn’t just an act. I also don’t like that she assumes everyone can afford a fancy schmancy dinner to a ritzy place but perhaps that’s what happens when you grow up rich? She is ridiculously beautiful and the girl can dress so I can see why Korra would be jealous at the sight of her with Mako.

Hiroshi Sato – Unlike his daughter, I think Hiroshi is freaking adorable. The creator of the car is rotund, jolly, and blunt, I laughed my ass off when he turns to Mako and says, “So, I hear you’re dirt poor.” I like that he’s down to earth and generous enough to help the Fire Ferrets with their monetary issues but as with Asami, I wonder if he has ulterior motives. Hopefully he is able to help the team out in the future but with less of his daughter, mostly because I think she’s evil.

Theories:  

1. I still think Amon is the grandson of Azula. This time I am basing it on the fact that he can take away a person’s bending. I’m unsure if it was stated that only the Avatar learned to do that because that’s the only person a lion turtle would teach or if Aang’s the first in a long time to do it. He straight up tells Ozai he learned it from a lion turtle and since neither him or Azula were dead at the end of ATLA, I feel that him telling Azula at some point is a possibility.

2. If that had too many holes in it for you, I also think Amon is that water tribe dick, Tarrlok. Again, I base this on nothing other than his douchiness.

3. At this point, I’m wondering why the HELL Korra didn’t go into the Avatar state when Amon cornered her and then I realized that Korra isn’t that spiritual, so maybe that won’t happen until later. This makes me extra sad in particular because that means she won’t be able to talk to Spirit Aang until that happens. The flashback only whet my appetite for these things further.

4. Speaking of that flashback…why does Sokka look so sad?! Why is Aang looking like a righteous badass?? Toph has boobies!!!