Korra and Asami start off being forced onto an Earth Kingdom Airship, with a very cynical crew led by Captain Salt of the Earth.
McHale's Navy
Korra sounds crazy to me, ranting on about danger to the Earth Queen, and how Korra has to stop the Red Lotus, so it's not surprising that the Captain completely disregards her pleading to go free. The crew is about three other guys, and the one actually chaining them up in the brig has to be cajoled by a whining Asami not to chain her to the floor, and to a rail in the wall instead. He absolutely refuses to bring Korra any water, and only begrudgingly allows her to have air to breathe.
Zaheer and the rest of Red Lotus still in the truck they stole in Republic City, are on a deserted highway, speeding through the Earth Kingdom en route to Ba Sing Se. Bolin and Mako are still their prisoners. But neither seem very afraid; Mako asks pointed and pretty good questions, trying to deduce what Zaheer wants with Korra, and why he needs her alive; Bolin makes chitchat with Ghazan and Ming Hua in the back. The King of Stream of Consciousness meets two people who've been alone with their thoughts for thirteen years.
Not really a metal bender, more like a people bender
Bolin gets Ghazan and Ming Hua to dish on how they amused themselves while imprisoned for so long; then he gets all semi-psychic on them, deducing personal details that don't always work out. Ghazan and Ming Hua, though, are still impressed with him and it's not until Zaheer orders Mako and Bolin gagged that the party is over. They're approaching Ba Sing Se anyway, where Zaheer supposedly has a plan for getting Korra from the Earth Queen.
He'll need to revise his plan, because Asami knows something about airships. Namely, that her company builds the best ones, and that all others are cheaply made, with railings that won't hold her for long. Sure enough, she manages to yank her chained hands free, knee tuck the rail under her feet so her hands are no longer behind her back, and pry up a metal panel from the floor. Instructing Korra to call for help in five minutes, she disappears into the hole.
We should escape on general principle
In Ba Sing Se, Earth Queen Hou-Ting is in fine form, bullying her assistant, Gun, and complaining that she has to meet with the people who actually captured Bolin and Mako for her. She disdainfully sentences Bolin and Mako to jail with her political dissidents. The Dai Li open the floor beneath them, and they literally fall through the floor into prison. Hou-Ting then tells Zaheer that he can have his bounty, trying to dismiss him. But Zaheer has shown that he's not to be dismissed. Bolin and Mako aren't for payment- they're just Zaheer's bargaining chips, so he could get an audience in the first place. Zaheer then makes Hou-Ting another offer; declaring that he knows Korra is already captured and being transported to Ba Sing Se, and throwing Hou-Ting off her guard, he tells Hou-Ting that he will tell The Earth Queen where her draft-dodging air benders are, in exchange for Korra herself.
Hou-Ting is indignant at this offer; why would she hand over a prisoner as important as the Avatar to some nobody just to get her air benders back? And if she had a good intelligence division, she might already know that they're at the Northern Air Temple. But she doesn't. And Zaheer points out that Hou-Ting really can't hold Korra for long. She's the Avatar, and the White Lotus will eventually come looking for her. To say nothing of Lin Beifong. The sooner Korra's out of Ba Sing Se, the better for Hou-Ting. Hu Ting makes a big deal of mulling the offer, especially when Zaheer won't disclose what he wants Korra for. But he assures Hou-Ting that Korra will never bother the Earth Queen again, and that seals the deal for her.
Shoulda' stayed in Republic City, guys
Back in the airship above the great desert of the Earth Kingdom, Korra's call for help is answered, but the poor guy doesn't expect Asami to knock him out with the railing he chained her to. Asami is pretty smug as she twirls the keys from the guard on her fingers.
Guess we're not your prisoners, after all
She and Korra quickly take the airship's bridge, even as the Captain gets out a call for help. Korra's air bending quickly damages the controls and then the radio, and the airship crashes into the dunes below, somehow not blowing up. Asami gingerly walks out, just glad they survived and they're not still in a cell. The crew is pissed at the ladies, who weren't willing guests and who point out that any further attempts to capture and transport them against their will are a bad idea. When Asami suggests getting the ship ready to fly again, the Captain asserts, stupidly, that the ladies are still his prisoners, and that the crew is going to wait for another airship to come and pick them up.
A movement in the distant sand dunes diverts their attention, and they realize that they're not alone, and that help may not come in time. The crew overrides their Captain, agreeing to help Asami and Korra fix the ship and fly again.
In Ba Sing Se, Mako and Bolin meet their neighbor, who's sad story bodes ill for them. Mako, desperate, gives Bolin a huge, compassionate pep talk to metal bend already. Hearing Mako tell him it's his time, Bolin agrees to focus and really concentrate and just metal bend. Well, he focuses and concentrates, but not a bit of metal moves anywhere. The cell block is bummed, and someone asks if Bolin and Mako brought any toilet paper. It's reminiscent of the guys' night in the Lower Ring, when Bolin reassures Mako that the district is their toilet. Again, the toilet humor when they guys are roughing it.
Oh well, let's start pooping
Lin is the only character who actually does what she'd like to do this episode. After storming away from Suyin, instead of waiting, she finds the abandoned Jeep. Or rather, two abandoned Jeeps. She's examining them when Naga finds her, roaring at first, which gives us our first look at Lin scared. She's frozen, until Naga licks her. And normal Lin is back, annoyed with Naga. Pabu is also around, and just as happy to jump on people as usual, which Lin also loves. She doesn't have time to play with the pets, so she gives them a snack while she hauls out her radio. And calls Tonraq. Finally, she's called in some reinforcements.
Get here now and bring a leash
The crew is happy to report that Korra blew all the sand out of the engine room. And Asami's put her skills to work patching the ship's holes. They start it up, jubilant when the airship rises into the air, and shocked out of their minds when their stalker shows up, a giant sand dragon/worm that bursts out of the desert under the airship, ripping the airship to bits, which fall back to the desert floor, including one really petrified pilot, still strapped in his seat. But the fun's not over. Their new pet realizes they're around, chasing them around until they can get a safe distance from the airship. Captain Salt of the Earth says the time has come to just wait out the beast; Asami says let's build a sand sailor, like sand benders use, and get out of here. Guess what the crew decides?
Back at Hou-Ting's palace in Ba Sing Se, Zaheer and the rest of the Red Lotus notice Dai Li scurrying, and one rushing to the throne room. Zaheer air bends himself silently into the throne room after him and before the door can close. He overhears a very worried Dai Li guard explain Korra's current situation to Hu Ting, who is furious that her capture of Korra isn't going swimmingly. Zaheer reports back to the Red Lotus, who realize that Korra's not coming; even if another airship gets out there, Korra will be long gone. Ba Sing Se is a bust. Which is too bad, because they've been enjoying Hou-Ting's wine and lounge.
Here's to anarchy!
Luxuries are nothing compared to confronting the Earth Queen with their new information, though. She's imperious as she informs Zaheer that by learning about something without her permission, they've just committed a crime. Zaheer isn't impressed, and the Red Lotus forms a defensive pattern, and engages with the Dai Li. The Dai Li has lost to everyone else they've fought all season, so Zaheer, Ghazan, P'Li and Ming Hua make short work of them, and Gun makes off without a word, while Hou-Ting is horrified that she's been left alone to face her attackers.
The sand sailor is all ready and so is the crew. With all aboard, Korra air bends air into the sail, and they're off. An early outrunning of the sand dragon/worm gives them all false confidence, so when the thing leaps out from under them, and tries to swallow them whole, they're terrified. But Korra's got that too, bending fire into the dragon/worm's throat so it just hurls them out and away, to speed back to Misty Palms Oasis in peace.
Quick, Artoo- my lightsaber!
Hou-Ting isn't faring so well. Without her guards, and her beleaguered assistant Gun, she's actually completely powerless. Thinking her imperious attitude will save her, she reminds Zaheer that she's a queen. Zaheer, bending air to propel himself so he's standing on top of the ornamental work above her own throne, informs Hou-Ting that he doesn't go for the whole monarchy thing.
I only believe voluntary collective action
Bending the air around the Earth Queen, Zaheer literally sucks the air out of her lungs and throat, leaving her choking, surrounded by a vacuum bubble around her head, in which her eyes bulge with her impending death from lack of oxygen. As Hou-Ting slowly chokes to death, Zaheer goes on about freedom, and how Hou-Ting thought it was something she could grant on a whim. Actually, Hou-Ting thought she was free to do what she liked, and everyone else was free to obey her. But that's not Zaheer's point. His point, is that freedom is as essential to living things as the air Hou-Ting will never breathe again.
End of a dynasty, literally
Her death isn't shown, or even ever actually called a death, or a killing. After all,the show's for kids. But there's no doubt that she's dead when the Red Lotus takes over a radio station at the palace and Zaheer announces to all of Ba Sing Se, and maybe beyond, that the Earth Queen is "brought down". He refuses to identify himself, saying he's not important. This, from a guy who thought Harmonic Convergence giving him air bending powers was a sign from the universe that he's right. Regardless, his announcement gives the entire Lower Ring of Ba Sing Se a smile, and then a shout of joy when Ghazan himself appears and lava bends under the wall that separates the poor of Ba Sing Se from the rest of the city. The wall dissolves into lava as the poor of Ba Sing Se escape their tenements and slums, eager to see the rest of the city. Chaos soon ensues.
Back at the palace, in the jail for dissidents, the news throws the entire cell block into party mode. For Bolin and Mako, it can only mean that Zaheer succeeded, which they've learned isn't really good news. Mako turns to Bolin again, saying that now is really Bolin's time. What he means is that they may as well try metal bending again. Bolin, in a tizzy by the news from above, and just as desperate to get out as Mako, looks like he's taking a really huge dump, then forcefully waves his arms in metal bending movements. And suddenly, the metal gates of all the other cells open. Bolin is at first ecstatic! He metal bended, even if he didn't free himself! Mako realizes first what's happened when he sees Zaheer, who's now in control of the prison, and freed all the other prisoners. Bolin and Mako try to assault him, but Zaheer simply bends air and throws them against the back wall, leaving them on the floor while he explains that he's going to free the brothers, but only so they can deliver a message to Korra. I don't think it's a sales pitch to join the Red Lotus as Zaheer's partner, though.
Finally arriving back at Misty Palms Oasis, where they set out earlier that day, Korra, Asami and the crew set aside their differences and make up. Korra's sorry she put the crew in danger; the Captain releases her from his custody, saying whatever problem Hou-Ting has with her isn't his problem. His crew point out that a familiar, big red dragon is literally parked by a palm tree next to some extremely uncomfortable camels. The Captain decides not to see it, leading his crew away for a drink.
When you see this, just get drunk
Which is when Naga does her second pounce of the day, this time on Korra, sending her to the ground, elated to see her friend and protector again. Asami and Korra, proceeding to the nearest bar, find Lin, Tonraq, and Lord Zuko, he of the parked red dragon. No one knows where Mako and Bolin are, but Korra now has some information on the Red Lotus. They hear over the bar's radio the news from Ba Sing Se. This time, "the Earth Queen's reign was brought to a violent end"- once again, this is a kid's show. Korra realizes that she's too late to save Hou-Ting, or Ba Sing Se, and she tells everyone around her that this is just the beginning.
So, was Hou-Ting's end just? Was Zaheer right to kill her, and then start what he must know would be the riot end all riots? I don't think anyone, not even Gun, will miss Hou-Ting. The Earth Kingdom hasn't lost a leader so much as it lost the bureaucracy that kept order. Zaheer is being totally true to his philosophy by throwing Ba Sing Se into violent chaos. Let a new community, not even a nation or kingdom, come from Ba Sing Se's ashes, because to try to preserve the city as it was would just perpetuate the old cycle.
Unfortunately, a lot of Ba Sing Se is people's homes. And businesses. Zaheer may be perfectly fine with losing everything, but most people aren't. And the less you have, the more you need what little you have. And, exactly what new system is going to come from a riot where the violent can prey upon the meek? When some local warlord arises who bullies people into serving him, will Zaheer cut him down, too? Will Zaheer protect any of the people who he's now "freed"? No, he'll tell them to join the free for all and get theirs. He has no idea whether chaos will end, and a just government will be formed, because he doesn't care, and he doesn't particularly want any government formed, just or no. In fact, he'll probably assassinate that government, too.
This is Zaheer; he claims to be humble, with simple clothes, a shaved head, and simple words. But he's convinced that he knows what's best for the physical and spiritual worlds, and that the rest of the world is either deceived or deceiving. He thinks Harmonic Convergence was all about him, without noticing that a bunch of other people, who don't have delusions of anarchy, also now can air bend.
This is what's wrong with Zaheer, even though his arguments always seem complete and thorough. He wants a new world, but doesn't know anything about this new world he claims will come when the old is burned down. He wants you to just trust him that it will be better than what he's demanding you lose. He wants to do the destroying and leaving the rebuilding to anyone who can pick up a weapon. He wants the good people of the world to clean up whatever mess he makes, and try to make a living in chaos. And we all know how much people love to do that. Zaheer could never win an election, so he's decided the whole process is "corrupt", and he'll just destroy people's governments, even if they're elected (remember when he planned on killing President Reiko?). What will happen when Ba Sing Se burns down, and will Zaheer mourn for any of the dead from the rioting and fires? Or will he tell people that since he's ready to kill for a new world, everyone else should be ready to die?
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