I thing that I do wonder about Amon's "take away bending" block is whenever or not bloodbending could reverse it as well granted most waterbenders can only bloodbend in the full moon so it might be really hard for them to figure it out.
29:27 Its the modern style of bending based off MMA that the characters in the city use. Quick jabs that reduce damage to structures. Unlike the traditional bending which is suited for fighting multiple people at once and doing as much damage as possible (depending on the bending technique)
I do really love how she was able to adapt Air Bending to the modern styles, having Tenzin be the only source I expected it to be very similar to Aang's but this was such a good surprise!
I love how different Korra’s airbending is from Aang’s. She airbends like an earth or firebender and it’s so cool to see since Aang’s was always used as defense.
Same! Didn't think it would be possible with how we've only monks use it but this feels so natural to Korra and gives her something so unique compared to Tenzin and his family.
Well how they use the elements depends on the user. Aang being a monk yeah was always trying to avoid conflict and settle things peacefully. Korra on the other hand has always had a straightforward and aggressive personality which is why Air was the hardest element for her to unlock. I also liked how this season confirmed it isn't the Avatar's natural opposite element they struggle with but rather the one that is the most opposite of their personality. Roku and Aang just happened to have that issue with their natural opposites.
Looked through the other comments and did not see specifically how Amon took people's bending. Aang and the lion turtles before removed and gave bending by bending the energy within so it was "energy" bending. Amon used blood bending to block the Chi permanently. So Aang really removed Osai's bending but Amon could only block it. Korra's air bending was not active when he took the bending. So he could only remove what was already there. Think about it like you can not block a Chi/chakra that is already blocked. When she was able to connect to her spiritual side (she was emotionally feeling that moment if you think about it) and was able to open that chakra.
It was a near life ending situation. It was a popular fan believe that she was about to kill her self so the avatar cycle could continue. And this was later confirmed by the creators I believe. So her lowest point was almost death.
Honestly impressed that the writers would use such a dark idea for a show being aired to kids, but this makes the way she gained the Avatar state make a lot more sense!
@benspiller I think this show is aimed to the og audience of avatar so the show matured a bit just like the people that watched it when it first came out. Avatar was really aimed for kids even tho it has great lessons and themes for even adults. But Korra more to them young middle teens as you will see with the later seasons. And just the end scene of 2 people blowing up.
I personally always like the season 1 finale a lot but I am glad they was able to do more despite the treatment. Personally I think the reason why her airbending is still active is one her air chakra and chi network for it was already blocked so there wasn't anything to block. Also Amon has never blocked airbending before so it's possible he wasn't used to it or didn't even know how to do it as he has never practised it before.
Completely agree, considering the writers had no clue if the show would continue, they did an amazing job at finishing off this story. Love how you've put this and I view it in the same way, her lack of spirituality blocked the Air Chakra so Amon had nothing to do with it allowing Korra to unlock it herself. Also really like the thought that this Chakra would have been difficult for Amon so even if Tenzin and his family stayed captured, he might now have been able to take away their bending.
Amon's sense of equality got twisted by his hatred for bending (parallel to Hiroshi), The power was corrupting him(killed his lieutenant) the same power he hated, he realized he was becoming the things he hated the most a bending tyrant, so although he was too deep in to stop himself he allowed his brother to off him and only shed a tear at the end at how wrong things went.
The ending was so powerful and it's nice to know that Amon actually accepts his fate in that moment and realises that he became the thing he sought to remove from the world.
Originally, this was supposed to be it. It was meant to be a mini-series, but when Nickelodeon saw the ratings, they renewed it for 3 additional seasons. Its frustrating, because they kept moving it around, and people couldn't watch it because they didn't know it was coming on. The ratings went so low that they just put season 4 online.
It's sad to hear how much of a mess production was as you can imagine what kind of effect that would have had on the show's story, still impressed with how season 1 went when they didn't know they would get more seasons but I would have loved to see what they could have done if they knew they'd get 4 seasons.
The reason why Amon was bloodbending Korra and Mako is because when we had seen Amon fighting he was with his supporters or fellow equalists. But when he was fighting Korra and Mako he was alone, so he had free rein to do whatever he wanted to beat them
I love that he actually got a moment away from his followers 😂 It was so cool to see this guy go so nuts with his power plus it's really satisfying when his second in command shows up!
Connecting with Avatar State is of spiritual nature and Aang had no problem with that part it's just that he couldn't control it until later and choose not to use it often so it only came out as a defense mechanism . Aang was trying to reach out to Korra through visions but her spirituality was so far off..when she was at her lowest, free from all distractions and was empty did she finally posses the inner state required for a spiritual connection Aang didn't give her Avatar State only energybent the elemtal connections back. Mako used a move called 'instant lighting 'which talented lightning benders can use( Azula did later on in comics), it produces quick electricity with minimal movement but at the cost of power of the attack.
It's incredible how in-depth Korra's lack of connection to the Avatar state is, it's a great way to differentiate Aang and Korra's story was it's essentially like having Katara trying to connect with the spirit world. I love how difficult it was for her to finally reach this low point where she had no more distractions so Aang could finally reach her since she was unable to reach him. Mako's lightning bending was so insane!! The talent is so awesome and I hope we see more of it, it feels like we could almost have a good version of Azula.
That’s my girl. But even though she has regained her powers, even though she has gained a new ability. Her responsibilities have only just begun word of her victories alongside her friends and family, will spread throughout the world. She has to be ready
This is such a good point, Korra's reputation has finally started to grow and in a world still questioning if they need an Avatar I'm sure even more people will be wanting to remove her!
Enjoyed your reaction and agree with you assessment of season one of Korra. Looking forward to your thoughts on season two which has some really high highs but overall is probably not be as consistent as the other seasons.
Amon had not taken the bending of any Airbenders before. He did not know how. If you remember when Angg first went into the Avatar state during the storm. He had ran away and was really upset. He was desperately trying to save himself and Appa. The 2nd time he went into the Avatar state was right after he found Monk Geyatso. Both very low points. This was originally the series finale they didn't know they were going to get another season.
I love so much how they showed Amon being unable to take down an Airbender because he has never fought one before, and given this was the original ending of the show I think they did a good job with the Avatar state, I think it just didn't hit right for me as I know there are more seasons to come.
It's Ironic how water is the element of flexibility and adaptability yet the water bending brothers Amon and Tarlokk at the end felt that they could no longer alter or improve themselves from their heritage and choose to pass away, although Katara changed perhaps you stay what you are at core , their core being moulded by Yakone's policy at a young age.
Love how you've put this, it emphasises how damaging Yakone was to his sons that he actually managed to carve two water benders into people who could no longer adapt and be flexible to this new situation, to actually give them a limit to something that seems limitless to every other water bender.
She was really at her absolutely lowest point. She built her whole identity around being the avatar, and after that was gone she moved to the cliff and her tear fell down WAY OVER the cliff. So she was already thinking about starting the cycle anew.
Korra resisted his bloodbending. If only she tried it before instead of being afraid everytime she faced him..korra was always capable of resisting him she just didnt know it , he cant bloodbend a more powerful waterbender than him, just as katara said to hama 'your technique isnt working on me, my bending is more powerful than yours'
It's incredible how much fear controlled Korra's story here, so many times she could have stopped Amon but she got too scared which just let things get too far.
The avatar state as a defense mechanism works differently than when actively trying to call it up like Aang did after he took Ozais bending to stop the fires. As a defense mechanism it only comes on when the Avatar is in life threatening danger and since Aang had survived worse blood bending before I doubt it would qualify for it. If anything it would make much more sense for her to activate it for Mako when he’s gonna get his bending taken. Draw similarities to Katara being dragged into the ground by General Fong
Would have loved to see the Avatar state activate to save Mako! Given this was the only season the writers knew they were going to get I think they did a great job overall, just having the Avatar state activate in a different way would have felt much more satisfying.
Shame that it couldn't have been written better into the show, then again it would have been such a difficult task to work in getting Air bending and the Avatar state so since this was the only season they knew they were going to get I think they did the best they could.
Normally the Avatar has to train mentally and spiritually to unlock the ability to use the Avatar State at will like Aang did, but Korra kind of got to skip that thanks to Aang restoring her bending he also gave her the ability to go into the Avatar state at will.
Considering the writers thought this would be the end of the show I think they did well with this but I would have loved for her to go on another journey to get the Avatar State, it was such an interesting journey to watch Aang go through and it was something that could unite all Avatars so it's a shame that Korra just has complete control over it now.
If what she said is right, we already know that Rohan (the baby) is an Airbender because in episode one Katara told Pema that she sees another Airbender in the future when she touched the baby bump
I do really like this finale - the way I have always interpreted how Korra unlocked her Air bending through sheer desperation - it could have been interesting if she actually had to work on her own to get her other bending back and unlock the Avatar stage instead of Aang giving it to her - but the writers generally had no idea if the where going to get a next season - so I'm not that bad about it - and I believe Amon realized what Tarrlok was about to do due to having no way else to go and shattering a tear of joy that at least they would be together in their final moment - don't worry a lot of your issues will be addressed - also something I think you should know due to how messy Korra's production were the seasons are going to have far more separate storylines than Airbender - I'm so excited to see your reactions to it
Considering that the writers didn't know if the show would continue, I think they did a great job with the finale and I am happy with how Korra got the Avatar state, I wonder what the writers would have been able to do if they knew the show would continue, the final moment between Amon and Tarrlok was so powerful and I love how Amon does come to accept his fate here, he seems to accept that he's become what he sort to destroy. Really looking forward to seeing where this show will go from here, thanks for the heads up on the story I just need to prepare myself for seeing each season as its own separate thing 😂
Here will come some people with a NONSENSE THEORY that Korra was about to Jump the cliff, some of them will said that it was confirmed BUT IT IS NOT TRUE. That cliff is Korra safe place, literally shown in ep 1. And in the book Korra describes her feelings and the moment and no, that wasn't her intent. Just came to say that, avatar fandom create theories without paying attention to character or details.
@rafaella9700 I know, but they take so seriously something that clearly is not true. I have 3 episodes where Korra goes to that cliff when she is down or hurt but no one noticed that.
Is it really that hard to believe? Aang literally said she was at her "lowest point", after having her life's work ripped away from her? You're right to bring up it's the same cliff we see before, but following a character's eyes is really important to cluing audiences in to what's going on in their heads, especially when there's no dialogue: -At the start of the season, here eyes are on the horizon, showing her contemplating disobeying orders and taking destiny into her own hands. -Now we are put directly behind her eyes - and they are on the dark, icy abyss below, and she watches her tears fall; They go as far as to add both an auditory & visual cue to draw attention to their journey (again, with the "camera" in Korra's 1st-hand perspective) to lose their short, sad existences to the vast sea - symbolizing her feeling like she'll be a meaningless, shameful blip in the timeline, their impact on the sea as inconsequential as her turn in the cycle of the Avatar was going to be. Is it so hard to believe that the TEAMS of artists behind the show (writers, animators, sound editors, voice actors, each with their own unique artistic strengths and perspectives) were both conscious of and intentional in their use of symbolism when they make choices like having the main character at her lowest point stare at her own sparkling, audio-cue triggering tears taking the plunge?
@starkid910 You can put it as you please and still no confirmed, no canon and no sense. Even in the book she didn't think of that. She took Naga to watch her die? She is going to give ANOTHER person the power she likes? Korra doesn't care about the cycle itself (not in s1) she care about herself being the avatar. Either way, no canon and is just thinking deep into something that is not THAT deep
Hadn't even considered this but I can sort of see how some could come to this conclusion with the whole lowest point and all, but would the creators really explore such a dark concept when the target audience is children?
To be fair that was near death situation. Its confirmed that Korra was thinking about ending her life there to reborn.
I was going to say the same thing
Really!? That's a new level of dark for a kids show but I guess that's one way to activate the Avatar state 😂
@@benspilleryes really.
I thing that I do wonder about Amon's "take away bending" block is whenever or not bloodbending could reverse it as well granted most waterbenders can only bloodbend in the full moon so it might be really hard for them to figure it out.
29:27
Its the modern style of bending based off MMA that the characters in the city use. Quick jabs that reduce damage to structures. Unlike the traditional bending which is suited for fighting multiple people at once and doing as much damage as possible (depending on the bending technique)
I do really love how she was able to adapt Air Bending to the modern styles, having Tenzin be the only source I expected it to be very similar to Aang's but this was such a good surprise!
I love how different Korra’s airbending is from Aang’s. She airbends like an earth or firebender and it’s so cool to see since Aang’s was always used as defense.
Same! Didn't think it would be possible with how we've only monks use it but this feels so natural to Korra and gives her something so unique compared to Tenzin and his family.
Well how they use the elements depends on the user. Aang being a monk yeah was always trying to avoid conflict and settle things peacefully. Korra on the other hand has always had a straightforward and aggressive personality which is why Air was the hardest element for her to unlock. I also liked how this season confirmed it isn't the Avatar's natural opposite element they struggle with but rather the one that is the most opposite of their personality. Roku and Aang just happened to have that issue with their natural opposites.
The Avatar state theme, is SO iconic ❤ i can't wait to see how they adapt it to the new series
Same! Really looking forward to seeing how Korra will use this new power!!
“What’s happening?” BOOM “Ohhh.” Well, yes…
😂😂
Looked through the other comments and did not see specifically how Amon took people's bending. Aang and the lion turtles before removed and gave bending by bending the energy within so it was "energy" bending. Amon used blood bending to block the Chi permanently. So Aang really removed Osai's bending but Amon could only block it. Korra's air bending was not active when he took the bending. So he could only remove what was already there. Think about it like you can not block a Chi/chakra that is already blocked. When she was able to connect to her spiritual side (she was emotionally feeling that moment if you think about it) and was able to open that chakra.
YESSSS, my Korra 💙
It was a near life ending situation. It was a popular fan believe that she was about to kill her self so the avatar cycle could continue. And this was later confirmed by the creators I believe. So her lowest point was almost death.
Honestly impressed that the writers would use such a dark idea for a show being aired to kids, but this makes the way she gained the Avatar state make a lot more sense!
@benspiller I think this show is aimed to the og audience of avatar so the show matured a bit just like the people that watched it when it first came out. Avatar was really aimed for kids even tho it has great lessons and themes for even adults. But Korra more to them young middle teens as you will see with the later seasons. And just the end scene of 2 people blowing up.
I personally always like the season 1 finale a lot but I am glad they was able to do more despite the treatment. Personally I think the reason why her airbending is still active is one her air chakra and chi network for it was already blocked so there wasn't anything to block. Also Amon has never blocked airbending before so it's possible he wasn't used to it or didn't even know how to do it as he has never practised it before.
Completely agree, considering the writers had no clue if the show would continue, they did an amazing job at finishing off this story. Love how you've put this and I view it in the same way, her lack of spirituality blocked the Air Chakra so Amon had nothing to do with it allowing Korra to unlock it herself. Also really like the thought that this Chakra would have been difficult for Amon so even if Tenzin and his family stayed captured, he might now have been able to take away their bending.
Amon's sense of equality got twisted by his hatred for bending (parallel to Hiroshi), The power was corrupting him(killed his lieutenant) the same power he hated, he realized he was becoming the things he hated the most a bending tyrant, so although he was too deep in to stop himself he allowed his brother to off him and only shed a tear at the end at how wrong things went.
The ending was so powerful and it's nice to know that Amon actually accepts his fate in that moment and realises that he became the thing he sought to remove from the world.
Originally, this was supposed to be it. It was meant to be a mini-series, but when Nickelodeon saw the ratings, they renewed it for 3 additional seasons. Its frustrating, because they kept moving it around, and people couldn't watch it because they didn't know it was coming on. The ratings went so low that they just put season 4 online.
It's sad to hear how much of a mess production was as you can imagine what kind of effect that would have had on the show's story, still impressed with how season 1 went when they didn't know they would get more seasons but I would have loved to see what they could have done if they knew they'd get 4 seasons.
The reason why Amon was bloodbending Korra and Mako is because when we had seen Amon fighting he was with his supporters or fellow equalists. But when he was fighting Korra and Mako he was alone, so he had free rein to do whatever he wanted to beat them
I love that he actually got a moment away from his followers 😂 It was so cool to see this guy go so nuts with his power plus it's really satisfying when his second in command shows up!
Connecting with Avatar State is of spiritual nature and Aang had no problem with that part it's just that he couldn't control it until later and choose not to use it often so it only came out as a defense mechanism . Aang was trying to reach out to Korra through visions but her spirituality was so far off..when she was at her lowest, free from all distractions and was empty did she finally posses the inner state required for a spiritual connection Aang didn't give her Avatar State only energybent the elemtal connections back. Mako used a move called 'instant lighting 'which talented lightning benders can use( Azula did later on in comics), it produces quick electricity with minimal movement but at the cost of power of the attack.
It's incredible how in-depth Korra's lack of connection to the Avatar state is, it's a great way to differentiate Aang and Korra's story was it's essentially like having Katara trying to connect with the spirit world. I love how difficult it was for her to finally reach this low point where she had no more distractions so Aang could finally reach her since she was unable to reach him. Mako's lightning bending was so insane!! The talent is so awesome and I hope we see more of it, it feels like we could almost have a good version of Azula.
Awesome reaction
That’s my girl.
But even though she has regained her powers, even though she has gained a new ability.
Her responsibilities have only just begun word of her victories alongside her friends and family, will spread throughout the world.
She has to be ready
This is such a good point, Korra's reputation has finally started to grow and in a world still questioning if they need an Avatar I'm sure even more people will be wanting to remove her!
FINALE LET'S GOOOO
Enjoyed your reaction and agree with you assessment of season one of Korra. Looking forward to your thoughts on season two which has some really high highs but overall is probably not be as consistent as the other seasons.
Now is time for Korra to Find light in darkness, Enter de void, and finally Find balance
Amon had not taken the bending of any Airbenders before. He did not know how. If you remember when Angg first went into the Avatar state during the storm. He had ran away and was really upset. He was desperately trying to save himself and Appa. The 2nd time he went into the Avatar state was right after he found Monk Geyatso. Both very low points.
This was originally the series finale they didn't know they were going to get another season.
I love so much how they showed Amon being unable to take down an Airbender because he has never fought one before, and given this was the original ending of the show I think they did a good job with the Avatar state, I think it just didn't hit right for me as I know there are more seasons to come.
It's Ironic how water is the element of flexibility and adaptability yet the water bending brothers Amon and Tarlokk at the end felt that they could no longer alter or improve themselves from their heritage and choose to pass away, although Katara changed perhaps you stay what you are at core , their core being moulded by Yakone's policy at a young age.
Love how you've put this, it emphasises how damaging Yakone was to his sons that he actually managed to carve two water benders into people who could no longer adapt and be flexible to this new situation, to actually give them a limit to something that seems limitless to every other water bender.
She was really at her absolutely lowest point. She built her whole identity around being the avatar, and after that was gone she moved to the cliff and her tear fell down WAY OVER the cliff. So she was already thinking about starting the cycle anew.
Really!? Suprised the show would get that dark! But this makes much more sense in how she was able to finally unlock the Avatar state.
Korra resisted his bloodbending. If only she tried it before instead of being afraid everytime she faced him..korra was always capable of resisting him she just didnt know it , he cant bloodbend a more powerful waterbender than him, just as katara said to hama 'your technique isnt working on me, my bending is more powerful than yours'
It's incredible how much fear controlled Korra's story here, so many times she could have stopped Amon but she got too scared which just let things get too far.
just because he was a bender does not mean he couldn't have been been injured by a bender.
The avatar state as a defense mechanism works differently than when actively trying to call it up like Aang did after he took Ozais bending to stop the fires. As a defense mechanism it only comes on when the Avatar is in life threatening danger and since Aang had survived worse blood bending before I doubt it would qualify for it. If anything it would make much more sense for her to activate it for Mako when he’s gonna get his bending taken. Draw similarities to Katara being dragged into the ground by General Fong
Would have loved to see the Avatar state activate to save Mako! Given this was the only season the writers knew they were going to get I think they did a great job overall, just having the Avatar state activate in a different way would have felt much more satisfying.
Since this episode was written as the series finale, they just threw the Avatar State to Korra, lol.
Shame that it couldn't have been written better into the show, then again it would have been such a difficult task to work in getting Air bending and the Avatar state so since this was the only season they knew they were going to get I think they did the best they could.
Normally the Avatar has to train mentally and spiritually to unlock the ability to use the Avatar State at will like Aang did, but Korra kind of got to skip that thanks to Aang restoring her bending he also gave her the ability to go into the Avatar state at will.
Considering the writers thought this would be the end of the show I think they did well with this but I would have loved for her to go on another journey to get the Avatar State, it was such an interesting journey to watch Aang go through and it was something that could unite all Avatars so it's a shame that Korra just has complete control over it now.
They just hit the avatar hard reset button
😂😂
If what she said is right, we already know that Rohan (the baby) is an Airbender because in episode one Katara told Pema that she sees another Airbender in the future when she touched the baby bump
Ah true! Guess Pema will get even more outnumbered 😂
💙
Season 3 is the best ever
oy yes it is
Can't wait to get to it!
I do really like this finale - the way I have always interpreted how Korra unlocked her Air bending through sheer desperation - it could have been interesting if she actually had to work on her own to get her other bending back and unlock the Avatar stage instead of Aang giving it to her - but the writers generally had no idea if the where going to get a next season - so I'm not that bad about it - and I believe Amon realized what Tarrlok was about to do due to having no way else to go and shattering a tear of joy that at least they would be together in their final moment - don't worry a lot of your issues will be addressed - also something I think you should know due to how messy Korra's production were the seasons are going to have far more separate storylines than Airbender - I'm so excited to see your reactions to it
Considering that the writers didn't know if the show would continue, I think they did a great job with the finale and I am happy with how Korra got the Avatar state, I wonder what the writers would have been able to do if they knew the show would continue, the final moment between Amon and Tarrlok was so powerful and I love how Amon does come to accept his fate here, he seems to accept that he's become what he sort to destroy. Really looking forward to seeing where this show will go from here, thanks for the heads up on the story I just need to prepare myself for seeing each season as its own separate thing 😂
Here will come some people with a NONSENSE THEORY that Korra was about to Jump the cliff, some of them will said that it was confirmed BUT IT IS NOT TRUE.
That cliff is Korra safe place, literally shown in ep 1.
And in the book Korra describes her feelings and the moment and no, that wasn't her intent.
Just came to say that, avatar fandom create theories without paying attention to character or details.
To be fair, they writer that scene vague in tha regard, AND that's actually a goo things, promotes imaginación on the Viewer, Is art.
@rafaella9700 I know, but they take so seriously something that clearly is not true.
I have 3 episodes where Korra goes to that cliff when she is down or hurt but no one noticed that.
Is it really that hard to believe? Aang literally said she was at her "lowest point", after having her life's work ripped away from her? You're right to bring up it's the same cliff we see before, but following a character's eyes is really important to cluing audiences in to what's going on in their heads, especially when there's no dialogue:
-At the start of the season, here eyes are on the horizon, showing her contemplating disobeying orders and taking destiny into her own hands.
-Now we are put directly behind her eyes - and they are on the dark, icy abyss below, and she watches her tears fall;
They go as far as to add both an auditory & visual cue to draw attention to their journey (again, with the "camera" in Korra's 1st-hand perspective) to lose their short, sad existences to the vast sea - symbolizing her feeling like she'll be a meaningless, shameful blip in the timeline, their impact on the sea as inconsequential as her turn in the cycle of the Avatar was going to be.
Is it so hard to believe that the TEAMS of artists behind the show (writers, animators, sound editors, voice actors, each with their own unique artistic strengths and perspectives) were both conscious of and intentional in their use of symbolism when they make choices like having the main character at her lowest point stare at her own sparkling, audio-cue triggering tears taking the plunge?
@starkid910 You can put it as you please and still no confirmed, no canon and no sense.
Even in the book she didn't think of that.
She took Naga to watch her die?
She is going to give ANOTHER person the power she likes? Korra doesn't care about the cycle itself (not in s1) she care about herself being the avatar.
Either way, no canon and is just thinking deep into something that is not THAT deep
Hadn't even considered this but I can sort of see how some could come to this conclusion with the whole lowest point and all, but would the creators really explore such a dark concept when the target audience is children?