But, we start with Republic City, which our old, faithful announcer tells us has done quite well since Korra defeated Zaheer. The spirit vines that enraged the local population last season now draw tourist crowds, excited to see spirits in their natural habitat and the hippies who commune with them. The Air Nation, after losing the Northern Air Temple, use Air Temple Island, conveniently located near the Earth Kingdom, as a home base. They've been acting as peacekeepers, albeit in a limited way. There are still far too few of them to go around. But hey, they've updated the uniform. Instead of the monk's robes, they basically look like Young Justice characters.
These ain't your mother's air benders
The intro tells us that Korra is still recovering... somewhere. Her return to Republic City is eagerly anticipated, mostly so she can see Avatar Korra Park, where a statue of her, big but not as big as Aang's in the bay, stands. The city is in love with her now that she doesn't live there.
The city is also in love with Future Industries and it's owner, Asami Sato. She's older, but still rocking dark tunics, even if she's ditched the goggles and stashes the electric shock glove. As the show enters real Avatar-world time, President Reiko can't stop saying how awesome Future Industries is for rehabbing Republic City's train station and providing new trains that will provide service between Republic City and The Earth Kingdom.
The entire Tenzin/Pema family is there. Vomitting baby is perched on Tenzin's shoulders, and Meelo is still picking his nose. Even Mako, looking older too, attends. He's not dressed like a Republic City cop, and we will learn why in just a moment. Next to him is probably the most useless person on planet, His Royal Highness Prince Wu.
He's either a young Wizard of Oz or the heir of Hou-Ting
Prince Wu, as a speaker, is the opposite of Hou-Ting. She was a recluse, obsessed with her garden projects and sitting in her throne room. Wu prefers basking in the adoration of groupies and digging deep to find every totally inappropriate way of hitting on Asami. FYI, when a woman tells you she wants to put you on a train and send you far away, you don't have a chance.
Where's my electric shock glove when I need it?
Wu, for all his superhuman creep-bag talents, just can't be better than his great-aunt Hou-Ting's self-centeredness. Probably a minor player while Hou-Ting lived, her death has catapulted him to a very undeserved fame. Imagine if the Kardashians had a little, smarmy brother. That's Prince Wu.
Mako interrupts Wu's repeated failures to impress Asami, telling Wu that Reiko wants to talk about "king stuff". Wu, who can't refuse to do his duties, can definitely whine about having to do them. But it does get rid of him, and Mako and Asami have a chance to catch up. Mako's been, literally, babysitting- ahem, I mean guarding- Wu. And he's so over the guy. Mako's looking forward to Wu's coronation and eventual packing off to Ba Sing Se so he can rejoin the Republic City Police. Both look forward to a certain visit: Korra's supposed to return to Republic City that very night. And Mako points out that Bolin will be in Republic City for Wu's coronation, though he doesn't say why that would interest Bolin. But it should be great; the four haven't seen each other in a while. I think Asami secretly wants to beat Bolin at Pai Sho again. He's so entertaining when he loses.
We'll get a different, more contentious reunion soon. Right now, Reiko wants to inform Prince Wu - and the audience- that Wu's coronation will be followed by his return to Ba Sing Se. Which Wu isn't so excited about. Their day spas aren't up to Republic City standards, and there's the nagging issue that Wu can't be his extra-human self if he has to worry about not being killed. Reiko assures us that Kuvira, a name that should be familiar, has most of the Earth Kingdom secure. Which means, according to Tenzin, that most of the roving bandits have been rounded up. Which means, according to Lin Beifong, that he has an almost zero chance of being killed. Beifong enjoys stressing "almost", as she fantasizes about the almost zero ways Wu could be killed, and therefore knows the exact number.
Wu's soon-to-be-subject's chances of being invaded by bandits and their homes being ransacked is a bit more than almost zero. We see a scary attack, in broad daylight, with bandits openly making off with some poor family's last food supplies. Both the victims and bandits show how desperate they are. The victims are afraid, while the bandits look like they have nothing to lose.
Well, they can still lose their freedom, and two spiffy-looking air benders arrive at the last second to take it away, and return the stolen food. Opal and Kai, riding their own sky bison, arrive in the nick of time, expertly working together and manipulating their new flight suits with flying-squirrel-like flaps to stop the bandits and leave them tied up on the ground. The Governor of the State of Yi, a part of the Earth Kingdom, appears. Despite Kai and Opal's quick, efficient take-down of the bandits while preserving the food to be saved, the Gov isn't reassured when the offer to stay and keep the peace; he requested help ages ago, and more than just two kids. Opal and Kai, like beleaguered airline employees, promise him whatever help they can provide.
The Earth Kingdom is now Disney World, in that it has a monorail. On it, a lone train brazenly zooms through the vast distances between towns in the Earth Kingdom, There's good news on the train- two more states in the Earth Kingdom have decided to accept central control. The news is delivered by a clean cut, totally put together young man. It's Bolin! With his hair in place and a uniform on. Whoa. His news is received with a congrats by Bataar Jr., Suyin's oldest son. Remember, he's an engineer, so he doesn't need the bending skills he doesn't have. A lounging Varrick, who has obviously decided the train is where the action is, calls for champagne as a seasoned warrior stands alone at the front of the room, staring silently at a map of the Earth Kingdom. She's encased in a metal collar and breastplate, standing at attention with her hands together behind her. It's Kuvira, Tonraq's hero from the assault at Laghima's Peak!
Back in Republic City, Wu is off to a busy spa day, while Mako can't be more bored than he is. While Wu waxes on about his seaweed wrap, they emerge from Wu's building into a crowd that is part groupies, part disinterested spectators, and part enemies, some of whom carry the same banner from Kuvira's train, and a couple of whom carry something unseeable. Mako is instantly on alert, grabbing Wu and shoving him in the car, so the assailants can only get a couple of pies thrown at Wu. It looked like a serious assault, and it has Mako rattled. The next one could be actual weapons, instead of pie that can only stain Wu's clothes and send the boy into a panic until Mako reminds him that he's really allergic to bee stings. As much as he detests his charge, he's not letting Wu die on his watch. Is Mako a bodyguard or a nanny? Wu is instantly grateful, and frets over the damage to his face if Mako hadn't been there.
The Earth Kingdom is now Disney World, in that it has a monorail. On it, a lone train brazenly zooms through the vast distances between towns in the Earth Kingdom, There's good news on the train- two more states in the Earth Kingdom have decided to accept central control. The news is delivered by a clean cut, totally put together young man. It's Bolin! With his hair in place and a uniform on. Whoa. His news is received with a congrats by Bataar Jr., Suyin's oldest son. Remember, he's an engineer, so he doesn't need the bending skills he doesn't have. A lounging Varrick, who has obviously decided the train is where the action is, calls for champagne as a seasoned warrior stands alone at the front of the room, staring silently at a map of the Earth Kingdom. She's encased in a metal collar and breastplate, standing at attention with her hands together behind her. It's Kuvira, Tonraq's hero from the assault at Laghima's Peak!
Original Kuvira
Kuvira Now
If she doesn't look as happy as before, that's because she's got a map to worry about. The light green pieces are states that have accepted her security control. Dark green states have not. Notice all the dark green in the upper left? That area just happens to include Republic City. Not that I'm worried about that.
Varrick certainly isn't worried, he's in such a good mood, he sends Zhu Li to serve the good stuff. When Kuvira refuses to indulge, everyone else lowers their cups too. The awkwardness is interrupted when the train stops so violently all but Kuvira are thrown around. While her staff are cleaning spilled tea from their uniforms, a conductor informs Kuvira that the train stopped at rocks strewn on the tracks, most likely from bandits about to ambush. They're in for a surprise.
Kuvira tells the troops to sit this one out, as she needs a little exercise. Which is, really all she needs to do to fend off about twenty earth-bending, boulder-wielding bandits on both sides of the canyon the train is currently trapped in. With simple waves of her arms, she propels metal blades that turn into blindfolds and handcuffs at the bandits. All while easily dodging their boulders. She makes it look like a Madonna music video. When the fight is over, she bends the metal cuffs and blindfolds together, smashing the bandits attached to them into one lump.
Vogue.
Kuvira allows her stormtrooper-esque fighters to round up the bandits, still blindfolded and cuffed, and arrange them prostrate over the monorail track. Kuvira stands in the center of the track, and removes the metal blinders. They are shocked to see that the leader of the enormous train is none other than the only person willing to travel these days. Kuvira, after imperiously ordering their silence, offers them spots in her army. The alternative is to hope they get rescued before the next train takes their heads off. Calling her the Great Uniter, they beg to be a part of her army, while she smiles to herself.
Back in Republic City, Wu is off to a busy spa day, while Mako can't be more bored than he is. While Wu waxes on about his seaweed wrap, they emerge from Wu's building into a crowd that is part groupies, part disinterested spectators, and part enemies, some of whom carry the same banner from Kuvira's train, and a couple of whom carry something unseeable. Mako is instantly on alert, grabbing Wu and shoving him in the car, so the assailants can only get a couple of pies thrown at Wu. It looked like a serious assault, and it has Mako rattled. The next one could be actual weapons, instead of pie that can only stain Wu's clothes and send the boy into a panic until Mako reminds him that he's really allergic to bee stings. As much as he detests his charge, he's not letting Wu die on his watch. Is Mako a bodyguard or a nanny? Wu is instantly grateful, and frets over the damage to his face if Mako hadn't been there.
I pay other people to worry for me
Opal and Kai are gathering hay feed when Kuvira's train arrives. Kai and Opal hope for supplies, but get Bolin instead, which excites Bolin and makes Opal anxious, despite Opal's relationship with him. There are hugs all around until Kuvira and Bataar emerge. Bataar and Kuvira try to be polite, but Opal is angry and bitter at both of them. Partly for leaving Zao Fu, and partly because stories about Kuvira stress she's a little over-the-top. Kuvira and Bataar's news that they're engaged doesn't improve the mood at all. Bolin is just plain embarrassed by the tension between Opal and the others. Kuvira offers to make peace, asking Opal to forgive the nastiness of their parting.
This here Earth Kingdom ain't big enough for the five of us
The Governor dislikes the sight of Kuvira even more than Opal does. Kuvira summons the old man into her lounge car, and stresses that his situation is dire at best. The Governor has, apparently, heard the same stories as Opal and doesn't like how her protection comes with her control. But Kuvira is adamant; bandits in the area will take over the area, ousting the one-man government sitting in the lounge car. So, the Gov's choices are: sign the contract authorizing Kuvira to operate in the Great State of Yi, or Kuvira will leave him and the Great State of Yi to its less-than-great state. Kuvira tells him her protection will require only her "supervision", but the Gov throws the papers and ink off the table, and tells Kuvira off. He accuses her of wanting his state's mineral. Kuviria, angry accuses the Gov of sacrificing Yai to his pride. The Gov expels her from Yi.
Opal and Kai request Kuvira's forces to stay, but Kuvira only hands Kai the contract, and tells them she'll wait a day for it to be signed, then leave for good. Opal angrily demands that Bolin leave when he points out they're not allowed to stay. Bolin, crushed, sighs and leaves without saying goodbye. Kai, seeing them go, offers to solve the supply problem with their sky bison, Lefty. Opal is ecstatic to save the town themselves. When Lefty is loaded up by neighboring farms, they feel like they have a chance to save Yai themselves.
Opal and Kai try to talk out her relationship with Bolin. Opal is worried that Bolin has changed too much working with Kuvira, and Kai points out that someone so young is bound to change. It's cut short by air bandits. One flies a plane while the other zip lines onto Lefty, and uses a double-bladed sword to fight off Kai and cut the food loose from Lefty. When the bandit also knocks Kai from Lefty, his damaged wing suit can't save him. Opal decides to save Kai, and the two, locked together with his damaged wing between them, soar until Lefty can pick them up and fly them back to town.
Well, there goes Yi's independence
The Governor is disappointed. Opal cannot even speak, as they've failed the town. Kai can only hand the Gov Kuvira's contract, calling it a tough choice. The Governor looks back over his hungry, completely defeated people before he signs. When the Governor hands the contract back, he tells Kai to instruct Kuvira to save his town. Kai tries to comfort him, but the Governor is only taking Kuvira's help because it's Yi's only hope now.
Kuvira's stormtroopers, dressed like WW1 chemical warfare soldiers, arrive in town, clanking as they march. Behind them are the manned robot warriors originally developed by Asami's dad. Bolin is happily handing out food to hungry locals. Kuvira announces peace and prosperity have returned, and quietly turns to remind the Governor that he's supposed to bow to her. The town looks happy and cheers Kuvira's announcement. The Governor growls out his loyalty and grudgingly calls her the Great Uniter. Kuviria's six-sided symbol is unfurled over the town gate. Opal looks on, disturbed by how easy it was for Kuvira to gain the people's and Bolin's loyalties.
Sunset at Republic City's Air Temple Island is beautiful. Korra's friends, the Reikos, Prince Wu are all gathered together to await her arrival. Even Pabu, who stayed behind with Tenzin and Pema's family looks a little excited. Dinner is all about Meelo declaring himself a man to rock music and animated warriors, and Wu trying to sell Reiko on getting a tea leaf wrap. Beifong and Mako stand aloof in the corner. Mako confides in her that he can't wait to be rid of Wu. And Beifong realizes she has the totally unwanted duty to inform Mako that the Wu Show is on indefinitely. Wu specifically requested it of Reiko, who has terminated him from the Republic City police force and re-assigned him. Apparently, none of this requires Mako's consent, because Beifong tells him he probably won't get out of it. For the first time, Beifong appears sorry for someone else's misfortune. That's how bad Wu is.
I will run away if I have to!
The only good news comes from an acolyte, still dressed in traditional robes, who announces that a ship from the Southern Water Tribe has arrived, and the whole room erupts in happy anticipation of seeing a rested and recovered Korra, all ready for new Avatar adventures or maybe just a walk through the Spirit Wilds. Tonraq and Naga emerge. Naga immediately makes herself at home, but no Korra emerges. When Tenzin asks where she is, Tonraq can only inform them, very grave, that Korra left the Southern Water Tribe six months ago, and has sent him letters that state she's been with Tenzin in Republic City. Tonraq ends by wanting to know where his daughter is, which Tenzin can't help him with.
We see Korra, hair cut into a bob, but with the same fighting look as she faces her opponent in a battle of earth bending. It's rough brawling for a screaming crowd. Korra is weakened early, and despite getting a couple chances to turn things around, gets knocked out. Korra goes down. Usually, this only happens in the next-to-last episode of a given season. So, to see Korra lose so easily, so early, is disturbing. She collapses in the ring, surrounded by the rocks she'd been fighting with.
Taking a breather from Avatar duties
Defeated and feeling like a loser, Korra is getting ready to leave long after the arena has emptied out, when the fight organizer throws her pay at her, while deriding her sloppy loss. Korra, now just some anonymous chick who fights with rocks for a living, stands up as the guy muses that she looks like that girl who can do cool stuff. Korra, deadpanning with a black eye, tells the guy she hears how she looks like Avatar Girl a lot, while she slings her bag over her shoulder. She trudges off as the organizer wonders whatever happened to Avatar Girl. Korra once again deadpans that she wouldn't know as she trudges off. Does she not know where the Avatar is because she's decided to reject the job? Does she think she's no longer worthy? Or, does she really think she can make prize fighting work as a career?
Reinventing herself. One black eye at at a time.
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