Legend of Korra: spastic review

[brendala]

I finally caught the first two episodes and I just had to dish about them! Obviously, this post has spoilers. So don't read any further if you haven't seen them yet.....



-So far, Korra is an AMAZING character! I love how unique her look is. She's not tiny or a waif like most female characters out there. She's built like an Amazon! And her personality is awesome, too.

-I LOVE the designs for this series. It really does feel like the Avatar world has advanced and the technology level makes sense. The pseudo-1920s setting reminded me a bit of Talespin (a show that crafted one of the coolest fictional worlds EVER), and that made me happy.

-Speaking of designs, the characters look great. I like how the citizens of Republic City aren't easy to identify as Earth/Water/Fire benders like characters in the old series were.

-The supporting cast was strong, too. I adore Tenzin and his crazy family and I look forward to seeing more of them.

-Old-Katara was handled very well. I was worried that she might be written as being depressed because she's the only member of the old Gaang who is still alive. So I'm glad that her outlook was still positive and she still had the same spark as she did in the original show.

-The anti-bending movement makes a lot of sense. The 100 year war was caused by the Fire Nation deciding it's element was "superior". And now that technology has put non-benders on an even keel, I can see some of them going all 'Senator Kelly' and lashing out against benders.

-The voice casting. Some of the choices seem odd on paper (Bud Bundy as Mako!?). But they all worked. Especially Steve Blum as Amon. ^_^


....my only misgiving about the show is that it seems to be setting up a love-triangle between Bolin, Mako, and Korra. I really hope I'm wrong about this because I think it would be cooler and more original if those three remained platonic friends for the duration of the series. Or, at the very least, she hooked up with one of them without any hokey melodrama ensuing. I dunno, maybe I'm just paranoid because last year two shows that I liked at first eventually devolved into "female characters who only care about chasing penises and NOTHING ELSE!" and I don't want to fully fall in love with Korra just yet.



In conclusion, I cannot wait to see the rest of this show. It looks like it could easily surpass the original if it just keeps it momentum going!

Comments

[dj-rocca.livejournal.com]

I agree with everything you said. I'm not too worried about the possible triangle for now but I don't know who the age market for this show is, since it seems that they've established the Mako/Korra angle and Korra and Bolin seem more like BFFs. That's just the impression I get, but it could always change.

I'm just touched they have a guy named Mako, in honor of the VA for Iroh. And he's a bad ass and powerful firebender, as Iroh had been. I'm fangirling him for that fact alone!!

[earthstar-moon.livejournal.com]

I agree with everything you said, it was awesome!

While I'm sensing a Mako/Korra vibe and I'm thinking Bolin and Korra will be more like best buds, but it's too early to tell. Plus, I REALLY hope they don't go into a love angle too. It would be nice if this show didn't have a shipper war like the original series did. (Granted, it would be funny if both boys liked her but Korra is completely clueless about the whole thing. XP)

[dqbunny.livejournal.com]

Some people on Tumblr are saying that Korra/Mako is the creators trying to make up for Katara/Zuko. So not only will we probably have new ones, but we're still getting the old ones as well!

[earthstar-moon.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I have been seeing that. (Although, I think Korra/Mako is a bit different from Zuko/Katara, but I know shippers won't see it that way.) If the shipping wars get bad, I'll just avoid the fandom and just chat it with you guys. ^_~

[brendala.livejournal.com]

I saw Mako/Korra shippers pop up as soon as those characters had their information released. And most of them were clearly using those characters to vent their Zutara frustration. XD

I really hope the fandom learned it's lesson and tones down the ship wars this time around. I'd like to participate in the fandom without having to wade through that nonsense.

[dqbunny.livejournal.com]

I agree with everything as well! Like the others, I think they're setting up Mako/Korra with Bolin being the Sokka of the new series.

I love Katara pretty much helping break Korra out of the compound. I also love how Tenzin's mood swings are clearly inherited from his mother. And Korra's parents. Oh, I love them and how they love her, even though her mom clearly had that, "Help me," expression when baby Korra was destroying the house.

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

I get the feeling that if Korra does get in a relationship, she's going to be the funny, more detached one. Especially if it's with Mako. And i,m cool with that. Korra has plenty of love to throw around. She's really full of love, and likes hugging. Katara is a multi-generational badass. It made me sad to think that since she's Korra's waterbending teacher and that the avatar learns their "birth element" first, she probably had to start training Korra something like 6 years after Aang died. She's a strong gal, full of (sic) hope.

Tenzin has trouble with teens and I love it.