In the seventh episode of the second season of The Legend of Korra, I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to watch The Legend of Korra.Â
Well, if I felt there was a lull in the middle of this season, IT’S NOW DEFINITELY OVER. This is a bold episode for the show, since the main characters are only here for a couple of minutes and it deals entirely with a flashback. But it’s done SO WELL, from the story to the animation to the characterization. YES. YES NOW, YES FOREVER.
I mean, I don’t like amnesia tropes. I just don’t! And somehow, this show found a way to invoke one in a way that wasn’t boring or repetitive. Within this world’s design, it makes sense that a violent interaction with a dark spirit would strip one of their identity or memory. In Korra’s case, it makes even more sense that her connection to the Avatar spirit was nearly severed by the altercation. So, instead of spending twenty-odd minutes with Korra stumbling through some derivative story about regaining her memory, the unnamed firebenders lower Korra into the spirit waters so she can find Raava.
Who exactly is Raava? Well, it takes twenty full minutes until we actually meet this character, and it is a GORGEOUS twenty minutes. I loved that I didn’t question this being part of the greater Avatar universe, you know? The story is unmistakably about people struggling under power structures. In this case, Wan and his family live in poverty while the Chou family lives in excess, taunting their wealth and power. It’s easy to sympathize with Wan and his decisions, as misguided as they might be, because we’re shown why we should care. He’s trying to do the best for his brother and… grandfather? Father? Are they all related? That’s not important because we can tell from this episode that they’re family, no matter how they came together.
In what little time we know Wan, it becomes clear that he’s a determined character, one willing to go to great lengths to help and protect those he cares for. So when he signs up to hunt in the Spirit Wilds, he does so for his family. AND HE GETS FIREBENDING FROM A LION TURTLE, OH MY GODÂ THAT SCENE WAS SO EXCITING. Lion turtles! Entire cities on the backs of lion turtles! AND THERE ARE MORE OF THEM!
Which I hope to see in the next part, given that Wan is now on a quest. After being banished by the Chous, he learns to survive on his own in the Spirit Wilds, and that journey is a transformative experience for him. At the start of “Beginnings, Part I,” he is arrogant and flashy, quick to fight and combative. But he’s humbled by the spirits he meets, all of which look like they’ve stepped out of a Miyazaki film. I WANT TO BE FRIENDS WITH ALL OF THEM, FOR THE RECORD. Anyway, the aye-aye-cat is the first spirit he meets, and I’d say that this particular spirit is the major force that changes Wan.
And isn’t the Avatar series as a whole about change? Change for the better? Aang had a long, tortuous journey; Korra is still on hers; and we’re watching Wan grow into a much more harmonious person. When he entered the Spirit Wilds, he was hostile and violent towards the living creatures around him. Understandably, sure, since they were attacking them. But weren’t they all defending themselves? Wan’s perspective is shifted once he relaxes and tries to empathize with the living world, and that makes all the difference. He learns to move with the forest and his own power instead of against.
And eventually, he outgrows it. But what I love about this step in the journey is that the writers don’t assume that Wan’s quest is over. Obviously, there’s the logistical aspect missing: how does Wan become the first Avatar ever? So while that hasn’t been answered, we still see Wan stumble in other ways. When he comes across the two massive spirits battling in the forest, his first instinct is to protect life. Which is good! But in doing so, he frees Vaatu, the dark spirit of chaos, because he trusted the spirit immediately. He didn’t try to determine the full context of the battle before getting involved. He’s got a new conflict to contend with now: he set a terrible spirit free into the world, and it may just destroy it.
This episode is beautiful, touching, and brilliantly animated. The style fits so perfectly with the story, and it’s yet another reason for me to fall in love with The Legend of Korra. I can’t wait to see the second half of it.
The video for “Beginnings, Part I” can be downloaded here for $0.99.
Mark Links Stuff
– The Mark Does Stuff Tour 2015 is now live and includes dates across the U.S., Canada, Europe, the U.K., and Ireland. Check the full list of events on my Tour Dates / Appearances page.
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