Since so much of the episode is a recap, I'll stay away from recapping the past three seasons, and I'll stick to the "theme" of each of the three sets of memories we see. Although, "memories" is a very loose term when describing Varrick's recital. Varrick's more of a "based on a true story" kind of guy.
Wu, in the present day and still at his cushy safe house, a.k.a. the Sato estate, has decided to learn how to defend himself. Although, that mostly consists of getting knocked to the ground repeatedly by Mako, who isn't telling Wu how to do better the next time. Which, leads me to think Mako just wants to hit Wu for a while. You know, on general principle. Wu is pretty happy to be knocked down, yelling "Wu down!" whenever it happens. Mako thinks that's terrible tag line. Grandma Yin wanders in and out, belting Mako herself whenever Wu goes down. You know, on general principle.
A victory for general principle
Wu wants the story on Korra, especially when he finds out that she and Mako went out once. For a guy who's been on the Republic City social scene for a few years, one would think he already knew a good bit. Mako reluctantly tells the tale, starting with meeting Korra as a pro bender, and Wu didn't even know Mako was a pro bender. Didn't this guy follow the Fire Ferrets? Mako takes the detour of falling for Asami, and Grandma Yin wonders if Mako wasn't every bit the ladies man Mako's grandfather was. As Mako delves further along his Tale of Two Ladies, Grandma Yin is completely scandalized. Mako's version of the three seasons before is one of dating both Asami and Korra, the slightly ugly rivalry between them, and their eventual realizations that Mako was meant for neither of them. And Mako's realization that maybe he wasn't ready for a serious relationship.
And, maybe you need some relationship skills?
One of the highlights of the show has been Asami and Korra's deepening friendship, evident when Korra could confide in her and not Bolin and Mako earlier. They've gone from competing over Mako, to becoming close friends, by saving and supporting each other. When Mako was uncomfortable over sharing an airship with two ex-girlfriends, they could only be amused at the Rivalry That Ended Happily. Today, in the present, Asami approaches a pensive Korra with tea, while the two stay on Air Temple Island to determine what to do about Kuvira.
This cup will solve all our problems
Korra is despondent over losing to Kuvira. She really thought she was back, but her fears still haunt her. And her remembrance leads her to believe that she hasn't brought balance, as she is supposed to. She recalls the brash, impatient, but happy young woman who found herself pro-bending in Republic City. She remembers how that girl only defeated Amon and the Equalists with her friends helping her, and almost lost most of her bending powers. She brings up losing her connection to past Avatars, at the hands of Vatu/Unalaq. She feels so guilty about losing them, not just for herself, but future Avatars. There almost were no future Avatars, thanks to Zaheer, and the victory over him came with a hard price that Korra is still paying.
Asami reminds Korra, in a classic sisters-doing-it-for-themselves moment, how Korra's victory over Unalaq made it possible to bring spirits and humans together again. She remembers how Korra found her own spiritual energy to defeat Vatu/Unalaq in the end. She brings up the return of the air benders, and how Korra worked to find them, bring them together, and sacrifice herself for them when called upon. Korra has many legitimate achievements, but they're not enough to convince Korra that she's doing her job. So, Tenzin steps in, surprising them in their private moment. But, he has a gentle lesson for Korra: balance is never permanent. If it was, there'd be no need for future Avatars. Balance is always elusive, and temporary when it does happen. It's the day to day of meeting the needs of others and oneself. It's the compromises that lead to new laws and treaties. It is not a final state. It is never meant to be completed. Balance is learning from the past, including past enemies.
Still on the boat, headed to Republic City themselves, Bolin and Varrick have been "entertained" by the life stories of their fellow escapees. Varrick is tired of hearing harrowing tales of bad onion soups. He's got a new tale, a tale of one hero, destined to defeat humanity's woes: Nuktuk! Well, not Nuktuk. Bolin! Marketed to Nuktuk fans!
This is a star, people. Trust me.
He outright stages his remembrance as a mover pitch, promising to once again make Bolin a star by grossly fabricating the myth that Bolin defeated Amon, Unalaq, Vatu and Zaheer by his lonesome. The highlight is a four-way call between a set of giddy villains, who strive to keep Unalaq out of the cool-villain-clique.
Shhhh... don't tell Unalaq that we're all cooler than him!
Bolin's final win is staged similar to Korra's spirit battle with Vatu, only with Varrick claiming it's Bolin in spirit form. It's impassioned, and filled with Bolin's past loves, including Opal, who Varrick wants to cut out from the mover due to Bolin losing his composure over losing her to his own misplaced loyalty to Kuvira.
No, Seriously, who is that guy who keeps crying?
It's not a bad mover idea, but it has one fatal flaw. If Bolin defeats all the enemies together in one mover, where's the sequel value? Varrick, I expected better from you.
The Last Avatar also spent an episode exploring the past, while the team stayed on Ember Island and caught a play telling their story from the side of the Fire Nation's propaganda. During it, the characters had to wrestle with the fact that their own interpretation of events and themselves isn't what others see. Even when those others are friends.
With this episode, we see that Mako's been trying to find himself without a love life. Korra is trying to define her life's mission. And Bolin just wants Opal back. Korra, now that she's heard from both Tenzin and Toph that her enemies have something to teach her, could learn what that is now. Mako, can proceed through life without worrying too much about the future. And Bolin and Varrick can reach Republic City, ready to help make right what they helped make wrong. With five episodes left, that's plenty of time to solve the present's problems. Or, at least, for Bolin and Varrick to get off that boat.
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