Avatar gets stronger and
stronger...ironically as the focus shifts gradually away from its main
characters.
The second season was a huge
improvement on the first, but the giant squiggly spirit antagonist was a bit
unconvincing. This time, the threat is more earthly: when Korra opens the gates
to the spirit realm, all of a sudden new Airbenders begin popping up around the
world. At first, this is a time for celebration, but it also empowers a
dangerous prisoner. Using his new abilities to escape, he also sets free his
three old comrades, who of course are from each of the other elemental
factions. This group, part of the evil hidden society the Red Lotus, set about
trying to draw out the Avatar and kill her in the Avatar
State – which will end the
reincarnation cycle. While this is classic kill-the-innocent-main-character bad
guy stuff, the fact is that they’re quite cleverly depicted as genuinely
believing what they are doing is in the interest of the balance of the world,
and are fleshed out quite a bit through both romantic and comedy scenes. They
are fleshed out well, and if Bolin has rather descended to Sokka-level
inappropriate goofiness by this season, one great thing about having him around
is that he sometimes brings out a more interesting side of other characters,
giving them another dimension.
What really made me happy,
though, is a shift towards a younger generation, more like that of the old
season. Much as I like the older teen main characters, I find them pretty dull
and hard to like. On the other hand, giving Jinora more of a spotlight is very
much a breath of fresh air in the show, and then there’s the introduction of
Kai. Looking rather like Aang with darker skin and a Hitler Youth haircut, he
has the classic introduction of annoying streetrat thieving brat who repents
when he gets into hot water and falls under the positive influence of older
brother figures – but beyond that he gets really likeable and is given a role
that is clearly leading to a much-expanded one in Season 4. His puppy love with
Jinora is also absolutely adorable. He brings the same sort of energy Aang
brought to the original, and it’s extremely welcome.
Which isn’t to say I dislike
the screentime given to the others. I like how Korra’s mind works in this
season, suspicious of authority figures and determined to improve herself and
make sure those she cares about are getting on – even prickly Lin, who gets
lots more development as she is reunited with her estranged sister. Bolin and Mako
also get some good development thanks to reunions – stumbling upon their
extended family, including their grandmother.
Ultimately, of course, the
whole thing boils down to a big scrap, and the many overpowering the few,
thanks to Jinora’s quick work and leadership. It’s pretty satisfying and the
stakes genuinely feel high without being on the huge scale of the season 2
finale. Perhaps it would have been good to get some indication of where the
next season will lead, as things feel neatly wrapped up other than the
political upheaval of the Earth Kingdom ,
and of course the fourth season began very quickly after the (online) airings
of the last episodes of this season.
It remained a little
unsettling to the end that the same animators were working on this and The Boondocks. Especially in the comedy scenes, there was often a lot of
Grandpa Freeman in Korra’s expressions, and that is pretty weird and jarring. But
arguably the influence is actually going in the other direction. It feels like
there’s less ambition in the animation now, all looking just a little cheaper
than it used to, but the art stays on-model remarkably well, and the lava
effects are great.
Certainly I want more –
especially more Kai and Jinora, which from watching the first episode of the
next season I know I’ll be getting, with their designs really not changing much
after a time skip. I’m slightly sad Jinora grows her hair back, though – she looked
so cute as a bald girly-Aang!
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