In the twelfth episode of the third season of The Legend of Korra, THIS SHIT IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE, AND SOMEHOW, IT ALL HAPPENS IN THE SAME FUCKING EPISODE. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to watch The Legend of Korra.Â
I don’t even know where to start, y’all. I am still reeling from this experience because that’s the only way I know how to describe “Enter the Void”: an experience.
Bird Calls
I’ll start by saying I just really appreciate Bolin. I do.
Love
I don’t know that I’ll ever get much backstory on the four Red Lotus members, but holy shit, who thought it was fair to introduce P’Li’s escape from a warlord to her character at this point? Look, as I said in the video, I don’t need villains to be one-note, nor do I need intricately complex backstories. There’s a nice balance achieved here, enough that for just a moment, I wanted to know more about the romance between P’Li and Zaheer. How did they find one another? How did he save her from an exploitative warlord? Is this why she is so dedicated to Zaheer and his cause? Because y’all, that’s an absolutely understandable reason for someone to want the world to be more free. That’s a heartbreaking part of this story because P’Li most likely did not question Zaheer’s methods because his morality appealed to her so much. She wanted a world without kings and queens because a king once nearly ruined hers. But is this the answer to that?
I’d say no. I still don’t even know how this is gonna end, but NO is my answer.
The Swap
Well, I fell for it. Hard. For me, the moment this episode really kicks into high gear is when Zaheer reveals that he never truly had any intention of turning the airbenders over. The image of all those water-filled clothes held up SOLELY BY MING-HUA’S WATERBENDING is so goddamn disturbing. And it’s with that reveal that The Legend of Korra turns into a horror movie, as far as I’m concerned. Like, between Korra being forced to fight in chains and Ghazan shutting Team Avatar in the mountain, surrounded by lava, this is one of the most suspenseful episodes in this entire fictional universe.
But a cleverly detailed action sequence is not enough for Korra, is it? No, this show has to go and give us a number of reveals, plot twists, and shocks along the way, and I honestly don’t even know how to cope with what just happened. I like that phrase – “still reeling” – because it suggests that I am currently unable to form any sort of significant reaction beyond WHAT THE FUCK DID I JUST WATCH. And that’s the truth here. In a rapid fashion, the following things happen:
- Asami, Bolin, Mako, and Tenzin are sealed within the mountain by Ghazan and Ming-Hua, surrounded by lava.
- Zaheer throws Tonraq off of a cliff in front of Korra.
- Lin offers up herself as a distraction to P’Li, who relentlessly attacks Suyin and Lin.
- SUYIN METALBENDS HER ARMOR AROUND P’LI’S HEAD AT THE EXACT MOMENT SHE COMBUSTION BENDS AND IT IS THE MOST FUCKED UP DEATH I HAVE PROBABLY EVER SEEN.
- HER HEAD GOT ROASTED INSIDE SUYIN’S ARMOR
- WHAT THE FUCK
- !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- and then
- then
- “Let go of your earthly tether, enter the void, empty and become wind.”
- this.
- motherfucker.
- can.
- fly.
- WHAT THE HELL.
- HOW IS THIS EPISODE REAL.
- HOW IS ANYTHING I AM WATCHING REAL.
- AM I REAL ANYMORE?
- Before I could even cope with FLYING ZAHEEER, we find out that BOLIN IS A LAVABENDER.
- BOLIN
- CAN
- BEND
- LAVA
- This episode is a non-stop test of my ability to cope with plot twists, isn’t it?
It really feels like that’s the case with “Enter the Void.” In the span of twenty-odd minutes, the story of this season advanced light years ahead, leaving us only with the final mystery: what exactly is Zaheer going to do with Korra? The imagery employed in that final scene is haunting. We see Zaheer, able to float, meditating on P’Li’s death and the certainty of his plans. This is juxtaposed with Korra’s apparent floating, though this is due to her being strung up in a cave by platinum chains. All of this? It’s so that Zaheer can poison Korra.
WHICH… WHAT??? Poison her? With what? What’s that stuff in the bowl? What does it do? WHY IS THIS EPISODE ENDING ON SUCH AN UNFAIR NOTE?
I already know I’m not ready for this season’s finale. Good lord.
The video for “Enter the Void” can be downloaded here for $0.99.
Mark Links Stuff
– Please help book/finalize the Mark Does Stuff European Tour!
– I am now on Patreon!!! MANY SURPRISES ARE IN STORE FOR YOU IF YOU SUPPORT ME.
– 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.
– My Master Schedule is updated for the near and distant future for most projects, so please check it often. My next Double Features for Mark Watches will be the remainder of The Legend of Korra, series 8 of Doctor Who, and Kings. On Mark Reads, Diane Duane’s Young Wizards series will replace the Emelan books.
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