Saw the season finale.
Boy did it feel rushed as hell. And it was great...but was rushed.
I enjoyed every last bit of the season finale EXCEPT for the last 2 or 3 minutes.
Needed more Aang time. Hell...the very last episode should have been 5 or 6 episodes, not just one. *
And I was right: real energy bending has the lights. THE LIGHTS!
Originally posted by dadudemon
3. It is not Energy Bending. When Aang took away Ozai's bending, it was all energy-like and light beamy. What Amon is doing is a permanent chi blocking type thing. It can be restored.
Everyone that disagreed with me: suck on deez. uhuh
Originally posted by dadudemon
Even if it is "energy bending", that means that the Avatar can restore it.
And especially suck on deeeez. uhuh
Here are the 5 or 6 episodes I think would have made a better ending:
Episodes 12: leads up to the Navy's approach to the island with a much more well-thought out military plan and war from both sides. This episode would include Katara turning the tide of the war (pun?) because she finally goes into the avatar state. This episode would end with the planes leaving in the wrong direction (to throw them off) and Bumi (the crazy general/uncle) using his crazy genius brain (just like the man he was named after) figuring out, through some awesome genius epiphany, where Amon's base is located. Bumi could have been introduced as both crazy and awesome at the same time. General Iroh would still get his awesome feats. The fans are happy. This concludes the first of the 5 (or 6) episodes in my plan.
Episode 13: This involves Katara and Mako go to the island (thanks to Bumi's crazy-genius insight). They should have had a show-down with the Lieutenant (and he wasn't made into a punk-b*tch throughout the season but maintained his awesomeness) and Katara barely etches out a win against him as Mako is crippled and on the floor (and The Lieutenant reveals that he is a firebender of epic proportions and selected by Amon specifically because he is the most powerful firebender on the planet). Katara wins this duel not by overpowering but by patience and strategy as taught to her by Tenzen and her Pro-Bending experience (this is the glimpse into Katara's later ability to air-bend because she uses an fireball augmented by air to deliver the final strike for the win (and reveals to the fans, for speculation, on whether or not it was actual air-bending)). And, again, The other "team" is busy with a mini-war against Sato's forces to destroy the main weapons manufacturing plant to cripple the remainder of Amon's forces. Hiroshi Sato has his show-down with his daughter and, similar to the real episode, the end up in a similar situation: Sato is on his back in his mech and she is resisting delivering a killing blow. Sato then decides to "reveal" what happened to their mother and why he sides with Amon. Before he begins, Katara and Mako make their way through the "side entrance" and run across Tarrlock. Same intro and everything and he begins his side story, too.
Episode 14: Sato begins his story as a young man around when he first met his wife. He, a third male (we'll call him "Zhao" and he's a fire bender), and his wife are all friends. The meet at school (university). Sato is the nerdy genius type, Zhao the lady's man type, and Sato's wife the "beautiful yet wise beyond her years" type. She takes to Zhao, at first. Sato is jealous but happy for his friends. After they graduate, they part ways and Zhao is still with the Sato's future wife. Later, Sato, runs across Zhao accosting the girl and Sato overhears why: Zhao is part of the biggest criminal family in Imperial City and refuses Zhao's offer for marriage. Zhao starts losing it and we see the darker side revealed when he strikes the lady. Sato comes out form hiding and stands up for her. Sato gets a beat down. She says she wants nothing to do with Zhao after he beats down Sato. Sato and her quickly fall for each other and get married.
A year later, one of Sato's inventions takes off and he quickly gets investment to create more. The lady is preggo. He runs into a funding problem because THE major investor pulls out their funding because another has a "more promising new invention": his old college firebending buddy. Fastforward a couple of years and Sato is struggling and his investors are pulling out. His old firebending buddy seems to be doing better and better and Sato spends their last dime on his "Satomobile" prototype. Asami was born during this 2 year time period, as well. During this Satomobile breakthrough, Yakone is shown talking to a messenger, in the Northern Water Tribe area...and he sends his informant to go check up on the biggest crime family in Imperial city: Zhao's family (because they owe him and he wants the status of Imperial City). Sato shows his prototype and all investors flock to Sato and Zhao (the old college buddy) loses all of his funding over the course of the next 5 years as his latest invention flops. Zhao blames Sato and in a rage, harms several people on the way to Sato's place (Aang is alerted). Zhao makes his way to Sato's place and confronts Sato at his place. Zhao argues with Sato about everything being Sato's fault. Sato offers to make amends (because he's still naive nice) by hiring Zhao to work for him. This enrages Zhao and says he would never work for a peasant (Aang shows up at the gates, at this point..but is only on his way). Yakone's informant also shows up and sees Aang enter the masive room where the arguing is. Sato's wife over hears Zhao's insult to Sato and she gives Zhao a verbal lashing so severe that he lashes out at her with a massive firebending attack...killing her. Aang walks in just a split second too late and sees the killing. Furious, Aang takes away Zhao's firebending and tells him that he is too evil to ever use bending, ever again. As Aang is leaving, and Zhao is in chains, he screams at the Avatar for taking away his "power". The informant does not know what happened and asks one of the crying maids (the place is in disarray because there are fires and the lady of the house has just been killed) what is going on. She tearfully, in broken words, says that "Madam is dead" and Zhao had his bending taken away. The informant misinterprets this to mean that Aang executed Sato's wife and took Zhao's bending...he runs off to tell Yakone in the Northern Water tribe before he got the complete story.
Afterwards: Sato dedicates himself to his enterprising to take his mind off of the loss of his wife and largely ignores his daughter too much. Then flash to present. Asami gives Sato "the speech" and he finally sees the error of his ways. He begs Asami for forgiveness and Asami agrees (hugs, tears, whatever you want).
Episode 15: This episode deals with Tarrlock's and Amon's father immediately after he gets imprisoned. It goes through how Yakone use his mobster connections to get out of prison, arrange his surgery, and escape. It then follows him to the Northern Water tribe (he goes there to hide until he can come up with a plan to get revenge against the Avatar). It gently covers how he fell in love with his wife (except a lot more romantic than the mere seconds shown on screen). Yakone is seen as a more sympathetic character to the viewer because the viewer sees Yakone change through his wife. We think he has made a real change and his sons are born.
During this time, he has had a yearly messanger coming to the Northern Water Tribe to keep him updated on the biggest mobster family in Imperial City: his last connection to his old life. Amon is now 6 years old and Tarrlock 4: Yakone decides to make this the last update. Well, we know what happens the messenger reports back what happened. We find out that Sato's wife was actually Yakone's youngest sister and the one person he sheltered from the mobster ways. Yakone then renews his vow to get revenge against the avatar. He then takes his boys on their hunting trip and reveals his history. His boys, in the beginning, are sympathetic to their father's cause and do agree to help and learn...then it cuts away to Sato and his story begins.
Episode 16: This details Tarrlock's and Amon's training and slow spiral of Yakone into a more evil and sinister father. This episode also deals with a pirate tribe of earth benders pillaging various Northern Water Tribal peoples. Several events later and the boys witness their father kill one of the raiders. This freaks the boys out, obviously, but Armon seems to break and is no longer the happy boy he once was: he becomes cold, shut off, and quiet. The training gets worse and Tarrlock eventually snaps and goes to attack Yakone. Yakone, of course, beats his boy and this causes Armon to use blood bending (the episode's training sequences can remain the same, of course) against his father and Armon runs away, just like the real episode. Yakone's revenge fades and he dies a couple of years later, just like the real episode. Tarrlock vows to get power in Imperial City to make his father proud for him, for once (and thus we finally get the character motivation for why Tarrlock is so power hungry).
The episode ends with a masked man recruiting The Lieutenant after they duel in an epic water-bending meets fire-bending master. Armon wagers he will win and the Lieutenant that he will lose. The bet is loser serves the other for the rest of their lives. They agree. Armon is on the losing end and before Armon has no choice but to admit that he is outclassed, he blood-bends and The Lieutenant submits. Episode ends (we could tie in that the duo kills Aang in a complicated plot where Aang must give up his life to spare Katara's or something, but that is too complicated...maybe we could save that for next season?).
Episode 17 is largely the same except none of that Lieutenant confrontation stuff: he was already dispatched. Everything can largely play out the same. Except, this time, Armon escapes with his brother (and Armon finally explains his anti-bender motivations being because of their father Yakone and the Avatar thinking they both could rule the world with bending intimidation...misguided but not really that far off). Then most of the episode focuses on Korra trying to figure out how to get her bending powers back. It's mostly a spiritual journey she takes similar to what Aang took in the swamp. She eventually learns to energy bend from Aang. Then the episode ends, just the same, with her restoring Lin's bending. The episode has closes with Tarrlock and Armon dying in the boat, again (that would be the season's very last portions and we get credits).
If you guys would want to split up my last episode into two episodes:
17 could be the first confrontation of Armon in the same way as Korra does in the convention. No Lieutenant fight. But still the showdown with Mako and Korra. It quickly ends with Korra getting WTFPWNed and powers stolen. Then the rest of the episode centers on Korra going on her spirit journey.
Episode 18 would then be the last bit I outlined, above (the resolution). Except this time, Armon faces a fully realized avatar and for the first time, Armon is genuinely afraid. His bending is taken. Tarrlock makes a plea for his brother to stop (because Armon continues to want to fight even with his powers gone) and Korra agrees to release Armon into Tarrlock's hands and they leave together. Episode cuts back to Korra and their group and they get their resolution. Lin gets her powers back, etc...just like I outlined before. It cuts back to Tarrlock and Armon in the boat...very similar ending to the real ending:
Tarrlock seems like it will be just like the old days and they reminisce a bit and laugh it up. But Armon ruins the moment by telling Tarrlock that they "will kill the avatar, together, and get their father's revenge just like they were meant to". Tarrlock says, "Yes. Of course, brother. Just like father wanted us to." Armon hears Tarrlock unscrew the gas cap and Tarrlock and Armon both know what he is about to do. Armon closes his eyes, tear or two roll down, and his last words are, "I will always love you, little Tar." Tarrlock says, "And I, you." Tarrlock smiles, he got a tear, his hand slams, boat explodes. Credits.
Originally posted by TheAuraAngel
Indeed. Thanks to the combined efforts of a bender and nonbender. Symbolism!Eh, even in the show I was very annoyed at him just up and leaving the Gaang to explore the world. He's the freaking Earth King! He should be working to get his city back, not go on vacation!
I see. You hate him based on pure disgust. Did you loathe Ozai?
And the boy and the girl who play second fiddle to Mako & Korra.
He was a figure-head with his only power being tied to his status, and his generals being the prisoners of the Dai-Li. He did not have an inkling on how to run his country. It's no wonder he left. Bumi should have taken over. Would have been lulzy.
The Promise is where I started to dislike EK though.
Yes, but not to the extent of my I dislike for Hiroshi. In no small part due to Ozai being voiced by one of my favourite V.actors, and Ozai being a cruel d*** from the start.
Getting past my dislike though, I'd say Hiroshi was a much better character than Ozai. More impressive too. Dude hid his goals and motives extremely well until Korra came along.
Originally posted by Demonic Phoenix
And the boy and the girl who play second fiddle to Mako & Korra.He was a figure-head with his only power being tied to his status, and his generals being the prisoners of the Dai-Li. He did not have an inkling on how to run his country. It's no wonder he left. Bumi should have taken over. Would have been lulzy.
The Promise is where I started to dislike EK though.Yes, but not to the extent of my I dislike for Hiroshi. In no small part due to Ozai being voiced by one of my favourite V.actors, and Ozai being a cruel d*** from the start.
Getting past my dislike though, I'd say Hiroshi was a much better character than Ozai. More impressive too. Dude hid his goals and motives extremely well until Korra came along.
New show should be about Bolin and Asami.
Even a figure head has some value...granted, he might honestly have been too stupid to be of any worth.
It's where he is at his worst yes.
Hiroshi was a good character but I dunno. Ozai had a cool design and had massive buildup for him. He only got better in the Promise.
Originally posted by TheAuraAngel
New show should be about Bolin and Asami.Even a figure head has some value...granted, he might honestly have been too stupid to be of any worth.
It's where he is at his worst yes.Hiroshi was a good character but I dunno. Ozai had a cool design and had massive buildup for him. He only got better in the Promise.
As well as Tenzin and Lin. Meelo as comic relief.
Knowing Azula, she would have probably just killed him, or kept him as a pet. 😛
Massive ego thing for him. Maybe he'll realize he's just being stupid once Aang talks to him, or shows off his 'I win' button.
Well, Ozai was the big bad of the show; it is natural he'd have a lot of buildup, and he had to be beaten by a Deus Ex Machina, so there's that too, and Dat smexy voice.
As far as villains go, he was well-done I suppose, but I was impressed by Hiroshi's intelligence and deceit more than I was by Ozai's status in the Avatar-verse. Still hate Hiroshi more though.
Originally posted by Demonic Phoenix
As well as Tenzin and Lin. Meelo as comic relief.Knowing Azula, she would have probably just killed him, or kept him as a pet. 😛
Massive ego thing for him. Maybe he'll realize he's just being stupid once Aang talks to him, or shows off his 'I win' button.Well, Ozai was the big bad of the show; it is natural he'd have a lot of buildup, and he had to be beaten by a Deus Ex Machina, so there's that too, and Dat smexy voice.
As far as villains go, he was well-done I suppose, but I was impressed by Hiroshi's intelligence and deceit more than I was by Ozai's status in the Avatar-verse. Still hate Hiroshi more though.
Meelo as Big Bad. uhuh
No I mean for the good guys.
Indeed. Zuko was too busy flaunting how much of a better character he is(and boning two Kyoshi warriors every night) and that made the Earth King mad.
I was more scared by Ozai's buildup, implied power, and his position than Hiroshi's brains.
Man, it's cool how we both prefer the maniacal, completely evil villain who wants nothing but to rule the world over the guy who was supposed to be sympathetic. Him trying to kill Asami was simply too much I guess.
Originally posted by TheAuraAngel
Meelo as Big Bad. uhuhNo I mean for the good guys.
Indeed. Zuko was too busy flaunting how much of a better character he is(and boning two Kyoshi warriors every night) and that made the Earth King mad.I was more scared by Ozai's buildup, implied power, and his position than Hiroshi's brains.
Man, it's cool how we both prefer the maniacal, completely evil villain who wants nothing but to rule the world over the guy who was supposed to be sympathetic. Him trying to kill Asami was simply too much I guess.
Meelo should star in Rugrats as the big bad. ahah
I know. Just pointing out that Azula wouldn't really bother to keep him around once she took over the Earth Kingdom.
Yeah, and Mai didn't even go to the Earth King after breaking up with Zuko.
You were scared of Ozai? Sissy. uhuh In all seriousness, Ozai disappointed me once Aang entered the Avatar State. I had thought he'd be strong enough to challenge an Avatar using the Avatar State. Now that the Avatar State basically amounts to an 'I win', I suppose it's understandable that he got his shit pushed in.
For every person that disagrees with you, there's someone that agrees with you, I guess.
You know...I think the worst failing on the part of the show was how our protagonists didn't even spare a thought to whether or not the Equalists had a point or not.
Which is why the original is superior. It addresses the uncomfortable side of a story where you can honestly say there was, for the most part, pure black and white morality in play. Stories like Jet going too far to rid the Earth Kingdom of the Fire Nation and showing the firebending kids as normal children who honestly didn't seem to know that their nation was doing wrong stand out.
True you can blame them for not seeing if the Equalists had a point. But any point they had was overshadowed heavily by the methods and extremes they went to to get it across. I'm not gonna listen to a guy who says "hey, it's unfair that you can toss fire and I can't, so I'm gonna take away that part of you that you've had all your life". I'm gonna say, f*ck you.
Naturally his methods are wrong, yet the show set up the fact that non-benders are a lower-class. Just look at how many Equalists there were. You don't get numbers like that unless theres an actual problem. As the show ended, its somewhat disturbing to think that its story was about an unsatisfied underclass rebelling and getting beaten back down by people who can shoot fire out of their hands. Its almost an affirmation of privilege.
All of them weren't necessarily lower class; we didn't get to go in depth about the reasoning why each Equalist joined up, but you can't say all of them just felt like they were treated less than equally. Perhaps the second most powerful of them all(Hiroshi Sato) was the richest man on the show, an industrialist genius who everyone loved.
He just had a grudge against them because Benders killed his wife, even though she was one I believe. Amon, the leader of the whole thing, was crazy and felt like Bending was unfair because of what his father made him do, even though he used Bending the entire time. He told the general public that a bender killed his family, and they identified with him because of it. Many times someone as charismatic as Amon can make you see problems that really aren't there, and you go along with him just because it seems like a good thing to do.
But the problems are there. We see that benders have better job opportunities than non-benders, and just better opportunities in general. Mako and Bolin went from street-rats to 2nd place Championship winners based on their bending. Furthermore we have hoards of Triads running around, all benders, threatening non-benders for protection money. Until the Equalists the non-benders were fvcked in regards to them, except to rely on the all-earthbender police force, who seem to be ineffective at fighting them. Plus theres the fact that theres no non-benders on the Council at the time (otherwise they would have protested to Tarrloks oppressive laws), so non-benders have no say in government.
Then Tarrlok happens and we get rampant non-bender oppression.