The Legend of Korra: Battle of Zaofu

Well, if you were hoping that this would be a no-holds-barred, full-length battle sequence involving the citizens of Zaofu and the army of Kuvira (guilty) then this was not exactly what you got. Yet at the same time, foregoing a giant battle for the sake of a one-on-one brawl between Kuvira and Korra was a predictable substitute.

Not that this is bad, by any means. This showdown is one of the highlights of the episode, in which we learn that Kuvira can easily hold her own against the Avatar (at least until the Avatar State kicks in) and that Korra is still being haunted by her Dark Self. The moment in which she might well have pulverised Kuvira with that giant rock was halted when Kuvira took on the appearance of Korra herself, shocking the Korra out of the Avatar State.

But what does this mean? I had assumed that Dark Korra was the embodiment of Korra's mental state, one that was vanquished when she removes the last of the mercury from her body. Clearly that is not the case, and in hindsight, it doesn't account for the fact that the spirit (little white pup) could see Dark Korra. Whatever this thing is, it's not just in Korra's head. So what is it?

And how interesting that it appeared superimposed on Kuvira's face. I'm beginning to suspect that it isn't a coincidence both characters have a name that starts with K. It's to draw attention to the fact that there may be a "two sides of the same coin" deal going on with these two. A part of me hopes that all this will in fact end with the two coming to peaceful terms, though this show does love its action sequences, and I don't think Western storytelling has yet managed to wean itself off the need for a clear villain.

The problem (if you want to call it that) is that throughout most of this episode Kuvira was talking perfect sense. Suyin did try to attack her while a ceasefire was going on, and she did win the Combat by Champion fair and square. The decisions made by Suyin and Korra deprived Zaofu's citizens of the chance to fight for their independence on their own terms, and as a result they've been occupied by her army. Kuvira not only emerges as the victor, but the moral victor as well.

Thing is, we're meant to distrust and dislike Kuvira because she's building a super-weapon and has "re-education camps", but most of this falls under the category of Off-Screen Villainy. That means that most of what she does throughout this episode feels justifiable ... she's just acting like a bit of a jerk whilst doing it. And when it comes down to it, I'd rather have a snotty leader who knows what she's doing than a charming one who's completely useless.  

My issue isn't that there's nuance; that's great. It's that the writers seem to be making Kuvira a villain based on her attitude and a few informed crimes rather than the actions she's taking in the here and now. I don't blame the Beifongs for being mightily ticked off that their city has been conquered, but so far Kuvira is playing by the rules. All her verbal jabs at Suyin and Korra have held the element of truth. She didn't cheat or use underhanded tactics in any of their dealings together. She kept her cool and took no unnecessarily cruel actions.

Obviously the super-weapon is leading up to something, and Opal accusing Kuvira of caring only about controlling Zaofu is meant to be an opinion that the audience shares, but for now I feel discontented by the fact this is not so much a portrayal of a good woman slowly being compromised and corrupted by the demands of her position, but of an evil woman whose true crimes (which will inevitably justify the need for the good guys to thoroughly defeat her later) have yet to be revealed. I live in hope that the situation will prove more complex than that.

***

 

Meanwhile, Varrick has taken matters into his own hands by rigging the train to blow up, taking the spirit vine experiments with it. This subplot was mainly played for comedy, but it ends with Varrick and Bolin presumed dead and the super-weapon technology more-or-less destroyed. He's certainly come a long way since series two, when he made a veiled but serious threat to Mako concerning Asami's safety, complete with an evil shadowy smile. He's practically a different character now.

Though his plan didn't pan out exactly as he intended. Bataar finally proved himself a worthy partner for Kuvira by memorizing most of Varrick's movements in putting together the spirit vine experiment, leaving open the possibility for a weapon of mass destruction to be developed. So far he's been more of a trophy husband; something that Kuvira could flaunt in front of Suyin, but here he came into his own.

Miscellaneous Observations:

Zhu Li, what are you up to? Last week I was convinced she was just putting on an act for Kuvira's sake; now I'm not so sure.

Can't read my poker face...

Perhaps because I've been knee-high in Frank L. Baum lately, I now can't help but feel that Zaofu and its citizens were based on the styles and colours of Emerald City.

Face it, Kuvira knows how to work a crowd. She insists that her invasion of Zaofu is to share its technological resources with the rest of the world, promises that she plans to treat its citizens fairly, and announces that by fighting Korra she's proving that she wouldn't send her army to do anything she wouldn't do herself. And I couldn't help but feel that even if Korra had beaten her in combat, Kuvira would have still come off as a sort-of victor for having the guts to go through with it in the first place.

Pity that Kuvira's army was all masked, robbing them of their humanity.

Varrick's frustrations at Bolin not knowing what "the thing" referred to was hilarious, culminating in: "Unhook the cars, oh come on, that was an easy one!"

Urgh, can we please ship Meelo back to Air Temple Island?

Really missing Asami, but so far I'm loving this season. I've no idea where things are headed.