The episode starts exactly where last week's ended, with Korra shocked that Suyin set out to somehow "take down" Kuvira. Since this show doesn't actually show people being murdered, does this mean that Suyin and the twins mean to kill Kuvira, or just imprison her somehow? As Suyin, Wei and Wing approach silently, they attack and disable guards along the way. They stop in a sheltered tree to finalize their plan, and Suyin assures the twins that defeating Kuvira will send her drafted army home. Then they put on their ninja masks, so we know that Suyin means business. Because I'm sure no one will recognize her once she starts bending metal.
Kuvira has, apparently, chosen to sleep in the middle of her camp, surrounded by battle armor suits. Where everyone can see her quarters. Suyin makes sure she's there, and sleeping, by using earth bending with her foot, "seeing" the way Toph once did. Of course, Toph never wore shoes, because it only works with bare feet. Maybe if Suyin had done it right, her foot would have seen that the woman they managed to capture is actually Zhu Li, laying in wait as bait for them. Kuvira has them surrounded and trapped in rock before mildly scolding them for thinking her so easy to capture.
Korra, back within Zao Fu itself, is trying to consult with Bataar Sr., Opal, and Jinora on what to do. Suyin has broken the truce that Kuvira held to. Korra worries that further breaking the truce will bring more of Kuvira's wrath on Zao Fu. Opal wants only to swoop in, attack Kuvira, and save her mother and brothers. Jinora wants Opal to abide by the non-aggression oath she swore when she became an air bender. Opal thinks that oath doesn't apply to situations where her mother gets herself in trouble. Jinora doesn't have any magic solution for Korra, but Meelo is happy to shout out that Korra should open a can of Avatar-whoop-ass. Meelo complains that he can't be world famous if he doesn't fight by Korra's side for Zao Fu. Korra still wants to resolve the siege peacefully. Bataar Sr. doesn't even have a suggestion, as if he and Suyin never even discussed a Plan B. Huan just woke up himself and seriously needs to comb his hair.
Kuvira moves the action along by somehow taking control of Zao Fu's public address system, a little like Zaheer did in Ba Sing Se. Kuvira confirms that she has captured Suyin and her sons, and that she considers the truce broken. Now, the only way she won't swarm the city with soldiers is if Zao Fu's other leaders meet her outside the city to unconditionally surrender. Does Kuvira really believe the game is over? Does Kuvira really think Korra won't have something to say about this?
Outside Zao Fu, Kuvira's Magnet Train speeds away from the city carrying two prisoners. Bolin is supposed to be on his way to a re-education camp. Varrick is supposed to be working on a super weapon for Kuvira. Both are still sleeping in the train's prison car. One wonders how its use was explained to Bolin before now, but he can clearly see, this morning, it's for people who stood up to Kuvira.
Varrick is dreaming of a world without Zhu Li to serve his every need. It wakes him up from sleep, shaking and screaming for Zhu Li like a baby for its bottle. The only one who greets him, though, is Bataar Jr., with two guards ready to drag Varrick to his lab on the train, which has supposedly been fixed. Bataar Jr. doesn't just want a super weapon; he wants to observe Varrick building it. As previously explained, Bataar is an engineer, so he stands a chance of understanding what Varrick is doing. And he wants to replicate Varrick's work if need be. Varrick tries to stall for time, saying that he needs an assistant; Bataar says the guards can double as that. Varrick seems to accept this, but casually mentions that the assistance is dangerous, and could cost someone their arms. So, now the guards are balking at Bataar's plan. Since it's two of them and only one Bataar, he looks around and realizes he's got the perfectly expendable assistant in Bolin. Who knows nothing about science, and whimpers that he's kind of attached to his arms. Bolin's unwillingness is icing on the cake for Bataar, though, and Varrick's former mover star is now a lab worker.
Instead of meeting with Zao Fu's leaders, come to surrender, Kuvira is met by Korra, Opal and Jinora instead. Meelo, Iki, Bataar Sr., and Huan have been left to escape later if they need to. Korra still wants to talk a way out of Kuvira either taking the city or attacking it. Opal demands to see Bolin. Kuvira says he had to leave on urgent Earth Empire business, but that he's still on Kuvira's side. No one lingers on Bolin's current status long. Kuvira announces that Suyin breaking the truce gives her all the just cause she needs to take Zao Fu almost any way she wants... but she has an out for Korra. Maybe she and Korra can resolve this, woman to woman. With one fight. If Korra wins, Kuvira and her army leave. If Kuvira wins, Korra stands out of Kuvira's way. Oh, and did Kuvira forget to mention that she'll let Korra use any Avatar power, including the Avatar State?
Back on Kuvira's Magnet Train, Varrick is busy at his totally refurbished lab, spirit vines somehow back in glass containers and equipment ready to be used again. He's totally unsatisfied with Bolin as an assistant, mostly because Zhu Li probably knew more than Varrick did about anything, and could therefore know what had to be done before even Varrick ever did. Bolin is ready to tear his hair out at Varrick's bitching and the fact that they're helping at all, but Varrick seems strangely calm as Bataar tries to re-explain to himself what Varrick is doing. He notes that it looks like Varrick is feeding the vine's spirit power back into the vine, but Varrick tells him this is an attempt to control the power so it doesn't blow the lab up again. He then proceeds to turn on the damn thing, and everyone hears a beeping sound. As if a timer is counting down. Varrick confirms, that, yes, their doom is approaching.
Varrick triumphantly announces that he's transformed the laser beam into a bomb. A big bomb. Big enough to blow the lab. Big enough so that no one will be able to use his work to hurt people. Big enough to kill everyone on the train. Oh, and if Bataar tries to stop the timer, Varrick will just press a button on the remote he secretly made that will blow them up the instant Bataar makes a move on his bomb. Terrorist, or freedom fighter?
Bataar doesn't care. The only silver lining is that Varrick is giving them a chance to live, insisting that his lab car be disconnected from the rest of the train. Varrick wants them away to make sure the bomb goes off, and Bataar will comply because he's not ready to die. Bataar fumes over this; but since the lab car is the last car on the train, it's easy to disconnect. As angry as Bataar is, Bolin has more reason to hate the outcome; Varrick insists that Bolin ride out the end with him and the bomb. At first, Bolin tries to get Varrick to admit it was all a trick. For once, Varrick says there are no tricks, just a really big bomb that will kill them in about a minute. Destroying the super weapon and the guy who can build it was Varrick's only plan.
Bolin freaks- he's not ready to die! Varrick's plan isn't fun anymore! Varrick is anticipating his big exit, but Bolin manages to scrounge around the soon to be stopped in the middle of nowhere lab car until he finds another exit hatch, this time under the car. Below is all rock, meaning they would have nowhere to go. Unless, there's a really expert earth bender on board. Oh wait, there is! Bolin snatches Varrick and the two escape through the hatch and Bolin tunneling through the rock below to protect them from the blast. Bataar watches the blast from afar. It never occurs to him to go back and check to see what remains of the lab, and confirm if either Bolin or Varrick survived.
Varrick, on the other hand, is ecstatic. Bolin has finally figured out what Varrick needed before Varrick did! He's officially Varrick's assistant.
Kuvira and Korra start off. Neither looks flustered, both look ready for the fight. Korra is eager to defeat Kuvira to stop her invasion, and save Suyin's family. Kuvira is just as eager to win and get Zao Fu, home to technology and resources she wants to "share" with her Earth Empire. Korra goes on the offensive early, with Kuvira just dodging her blows with earth and fire. Very little or no water, probably because Korra doesn't have any handy. Just like in the season premiere, Kuvira expertly dodges every attack. She eventually starts launching her own metal bands from her uniform's metal pieces, hitting Korra every time. At no time does Kuvira look afraid or surprised. Did she want this fight?
Why would you want me to kick your butt?
Opal's unhappy with the progress of the fight; Jinora worries that they'll need to get out. But, finally, Kuvira pushes Korra over the edge, and into the Avatar State. Opal is ecstatic as Korra, eyes glowing, beats Kuvira blast with gales of wind, Kuvira gets her first knocks around as she's tossed to the ground several times. Kuvira's hair is finally messed up, and Kuvira seems to be losing her cool. When Korra gathers a boulder the size of a ranch house, it looks like Kuvira's number is up. It should be. Korra's in the Avatar State, from which she is unbeatable. Kuvira is still groggy from her last knocking, and hasn't even raised her head. So, when Avatar State Korra holds aloft the house-sized boulder, we take a good, long, last look at Kuvira as she raises her head.
At first, it seems reasonable to think that there are two Avatars. Because Kuvira's eyes are glowing, just like Korra's. But the small tails in front give Stalker Korra away. She's back. She's not done with Korra. And Korra reacts in the fear she's come to expect from seeing the symbol of every defeat and enemy. The boulder falls uselessly to the ground, and Korra falls with it, collapsing in useless fear and dread. Kuvira instantly attacks, and eventually traps Korra in bent rocks just as she did Suyin and the twins the night before. It's over. Kuvira now needs only strike, and the next Avatar will be from her Earth Empire.
My hair may be messed up, but my plan isn't
Jinora and Opal have decided that's not going to happen. Using her spirit, Jinora sends a distress signal to a very ready-to-go Meelo, and he and Iki sweep in on Pepper, free Korra and get her away. Kuvira watches them go in glee. The Avatar had to be rescued and fled from her! What a victory to score in front of her whole army! This was her intention from the beginning. How she knew she'd defeat the Avatar, is unknowable. Perhaps she was willing to take the chance of losing. Perhaps her backup plan was to retreat and try again. Jinora doesn't understand. Didn't removing the metal poison make Korra all better? Meelo can't believe he was called in for retreat duty. What an insult.
It remains only for Kuvira to order her troops to take the city and hold a public meeting where she demands that Zao Fu's citizens all bow to her or be imprisoned. Only Suyin and her sons refuse. Even Huan is sticking with his dad. None are happy at having their city taken from them. Bataar bitterly tells Bataar Jr., who's managed to arrive, that he's only disappointed in his son. Have they realized, now, that Bataar isn't brainwashed but bitterly angry about something? Suyin can only watch in sadness as her city becomes Kuvira's, and her family becomes Kuvira's prisoners. Not even Hou Ting treated her like this.
Well, there goes mover night
It's all going so well, that Kuvira doesn't know what to think at first when Bataar Jr. has to give Kuvira the bad news that Varrick killed himself and Bolin. Does Suyin and her family hear this? Bataar does have some good news, though. He observed enough of Varrick's work that he thinks he can replicate it. So, Kuvira just has to rebuild the lab and give it to her fiancee, who's been unceasingly loyal to her. But, the super weapon maker still needs an assistant. Someone who knows Varrick's work even better. Someone who's already proven how useful she is the night before. Someone standing right next to Kuvira the whole time. Oh, and did Zhu Li forget to mention that she's totally up for helping Bataar Jr.?
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