Goodbye Korra! - Legend of Korra - Season 4, Episode 13 **SERIES FINALE**

Oh, Korra.  Your finale had everything a finale should have- a spectacular battle between good and destruction.  A new Korra who's learned compassion for her enemies.  Friends willing to sacrifice themselves.   A satisfactory decision on the Earth Realm.  A wedding.  A student and master realizing their relationship is now maturing into equals.  And a well-earned vacation.

We start exactly where we left off- with Korra, Mako, Bolin, Lin and Suyin now in the hole Hiroshi Sato sacrificed his own life to make.  They immediately split up.  Lin and Suyin will disable the Superweapon Cannon.  Mako and Bolin will take Bataar Jr.'s advice to the engine room to shut the whole Colossus down.  Korra will take on Kuvira in her bridge.  And Kuvira knows someone got on board, so she sends her soldiers, stationed in the Colossus, to take out Team Korra.

Time to kick butt!

Mako and Bolin cut their way in thanks to a disc that Bolin can lava bend into a rotating saw.  They spirit vines are gathered in a gigantic, larger-than-life heart-shaped bunch, feeding energy into two transformers, which distribute energy to the rest of the Colossus.  The room is bright with pink Spirit Energy transforming into power for Kuvira.  Two levers.  Two guards.  They split up, with Mako's fiery punches and Bolin's lava saw against the guards' metal bands turned into darts.

Comin' to get ya'

Lin and Suyin kick some serious amount of ass in the arm/Superweapon Cannon area.  Spirit vines trapped on glass containers, ready to be ammo for the Superweapon Cannon, are released to fall down the rest of the cannon, where they explode.  The blast is so hard, it shoots up the rest of the cannon.  Lin catches up to her after kicking some butt, and they take a look around. The outside is unbendable platinum, but inside is all metal they can bend.  Lin and Suyin get to work, making Kuvira's Superweapon Cannon arm completely useless.

Kuvira counters this by swiftly saying good bye to her Superweapon Cannon.  Using her one good arm, she rips off her now useless one, and literally throws the arm, cannon still attached, into the City.  The arm crashes into a building, and Lin and Suyin only have time to metal bend belts that hold them in place through the impact.  They're alive, but out.  The cannon itself separates and flies into the Spirit Wilds, where it's lost from view.

Mako and Bolin eventually outsmart and outfight the guards, but when they pull the levers, the Spirit Vines are still generating energy.  Figuring Kuvira engineered a fail-safe, they can't figure out how to stop the Spirit Vines now.  Mako insists that Bolin must know some way to shut it down, but all Bolin knows how to do is blow it up.  Mako looks resigned and grave, but tells Bolin to get himself and the two guards out of the engine room.  After hearing what Mako plans, Bolin hates it, trying to reassure Mako that he already knows his older brother is awesome.  He'll tell his brother he's awesome as many times as it takes to get him out of that engine room.

But Mako is adamant.  It's their only chance. And an explosion will damage the engine so badly Kuvira will never get the Colossus going again.  So, Bolin hangs his head in grief for a moment, and then dutifully hauls the guards out over his shoulders, escaping just as Mako is starting to spark and crackly with blue lightning.  With one hand held back to act as a release so he doesn't electrocute himself, and one hand pointing toward the Spirit Vines, the lightning hits the Spirit Vines, and destroys the transformers.  Mako holds the lightning on the Vines, and they begin to glow from the inside. But he keeps lightning on it. His shirt sleeve is blown off, but Mako keeps up the lightning as he slowly makes his way to the escape hatch.  He can only make it to the hatch as the Vines truly explode, releasing Spirit Energy as a blast.  Mako collapses over the hatch.

Not.. leaving... until.. whole thing.... blows up

Korra has made her way into the bridge, and she and Kuvira have it out with metal and fire.  Kuvira's still the expert fighter here, and she eventually metal bends a belt attaching Korra to her bridge's metal ceiling, then tries whirling her around the ceiling so hard the friction produces fire.  Then she throws Korra into a console.

That all ya' got?

Korra doesn't give up and she and Kuvira resume.  Now, maybe tired, Kuvira is more vulnerable to Korra's air attacks.  And Korra gets creative in her fighting style.  After tumbling to the floor, they are bounced right back up, and we get a moment where they're flailing, out of control, and preparing for their next strikes.  Korra's air blast and Kuvira's metal hit their opponents at the same time, sending them to the windows.

Bolin's not done today.  As Mako lies out cold over the hatch, it's Bolin who climbs up the access ladder, pulls him down, and gets him out of harm's way.  Korra and Kuvira are literally fighting to the bitter end when the Spirit Vines blow out.  A hot pink glow starts in the Colossus' belly, and Bolin and Mako barely have time to make it a safe distance from the explosion that rips the Colossus in two, with the chest and head falling to the ground.  Korra and Kuvira hang on for their lives, and the impact leaves Kuvira out and unable to exit herself.  Mako and Bolin rest in the lower part, out cold but safe.

Korra, in a move she would never have done three seasons ago, helps Kuvira get out of the Colossus safely.  Both women panting, Korra tells Kuvira that it's over.  Her Earth Empire.  Her invasion.  Kuvira's not ready to give them up.  Hurling a chunk of collapsed brick at Korra, she disappears into the Spirit Wilds, Korra on her trail.  Korra catches up to her, but only after Kuvira's found the Superweapon Cannon.  Despite Lin and Suyin's sabotage, there must still be some ammo in the cannon, because Kuvira fires it at Korra, point blank, and Korra must dodge the blast, which she does.  But Kuvira isn't done firing.  She wants to just keep it on and try to hit the Avatar.  Kuvira doesn't notice that the Spirit Wilds have begun to glow themselves.  By the time she does, and she follows Korra direction to turn the cannon off, it won't stop, and Kuvira is unceremoniously thrown from the cannon, collapsing after falling and rolling around a bit.  When the Superweapon Cannon, still firing, aims right for Kuvira, Korra is there.  Just as Spirit Energy hits, she goes into the Avatar State, using her control over Spirit Energy to deflect the blast.  Kuvira, now awake, watches in amazement as Korra creates a safe bubble for them.

This is a new move

Korra is just protecting her enemy, an act of compassion that puts her and the City in danger, as the reaction of Energies expands, send Spirit Energy at nuclear-blast levels throughout the city.  Everybody takes whatever cover they can.  When the blast is exhausted, it sucks back the Spirit Energy, and the whole site implodes, showing the area has been cratered, razed of buildings and is now completely covered in vines, with a hole in the middle.  This hole explodes into yellow light with a double helix of Spirit Energy bursting up and out, into the night sky.  It's beautiful, and Bolin emerges from the remains of the Colossus, with a groggy Mako, to see it.

Tenzin and his air benders approach the new crater.  They are all amazed as Tenzin identifies the light show as a new Spirit Portal, right in the heart of Republic City.  What's left of Kuvira's Mecha Soldiers also approach.  Everyone wants to find their leader.  But the two are nowhere to be seen.  Until Korra appears, seeing a reflection of herself, floating in space.  She's calm, realizing that her spirit is fine.  When Kuvira appears instead of her own reflection, the scene changes... into the Spirit World!  Korra calmly accepts where they are, but Kuvira flails around, frightened she's dead.  Korra calms her down, letting Kuvira know they're safe, just not home.  When Kuvira calms down enough, she demands to know why Korra saved her.

Wait, is this a new land for me to conquer?

Korra gently explains.  Her final victory against Kuvira isn't won with bending, or fighting, or strength, but with the quiet courage to admit that she has learned something about the fear Kuvira continuously keeps at bay.  Orphaned at a young age, by parents that didn't seem to want her, Kuvira's been battling her own hatred of vulnerability for years.  When the Earth Realm fell into chaos, and her only guardian wouldn't step in, Kuvira decided she would keep the Earth Realm together, and make it strong.  As the Earth Empire.  It would be so strong, that no one would need to be afraid again.

I have to make people afraid of me so they're not afraid of the world

Kuvira doesn't think Korra will understand.  But, kneeling in the red wildflowers of the Spirit World meadow, she explains to Kuvira that she's learned something about the terror of being vulnerable.  She sees how fear can drive someone.  But she's clear with Kuvira, telling her that fear drove Kuvira to do terrible things, and Kuvira must now take responsibility for them.  While they finally come to terms with themselves and each other, the others still in Republic City watch as Spirits return all around them.  It means that the fight against Kuvira is over, that the spirits now know it is safe for their return.

Maybe blasting holes in Republic City was a bad idea

Everyone's relief is total as Korra and Kuvira emerge from the Spirit Portal, back in Republic City.  Kuvira's still weak, but her Mecha Soldiers quickly try to take charge, demanding Kuvira's release.  Instead, Kuvira announces that the Avatar beat her fair and square, with power she can't match and never will.  And she surrenders herself to arrest, apologizing to Suyin without reserve and meekly being marched off by her former boss and Lin Beifong.

Do over?  No?

All that's left is the best way to end a story of friendship through struggle: a wedding.  On Air Temple Island. Bolin officiates, with a little help from Pabu.  It's a huge wedding, attended by all our old favorites, surrounded by cardboard mountains to symbolize the Southern Water Tribe lands. The vows are sweet.  Well, Zhu Li's vow for Varrick to agree to is.  Varrick is way too concerned with making sure his callouses are sanded every two weeks.  But, Zhu Li's seen worse, and agrees to wed and love both Varrick and his callouses.  When it comes time to do The Thing together, it's Zhu Li who sweeps Varrick into a dip for a romantic kiss. Varrick's overcome, crying tears of joy, but he also takes out a remote control, so he and Zhu Li can do Their First Thing Together.  The button they press starts fireworks for all to enjoy.

They'll live crazy ever after

The reception is full of our favorite characters in their finest.  Mako, no longer dressed as a security guard and wearing a sling for his hurt arm, congratulates Wu for his handy save during the evacuation.  Wu is dreamy about his big chance to be a hero, calmly telling Mako that he won't try to use it to get Korra on a date; his own success is reward enough.  When Korra joins them and asks Wu if he's ready for Ba Sing Se and his throne, Wu calmly tells them both that he plans to abdicate.  After being a whiny baby for his throne the whole time, Wu has decided that he can make a better contribution as a singer, not a king.  What's more, he thinks the Earth Realm should separate into their states, with elected governments, just like the United Republic.  Mako and Korra are amazed, giving Wu their full support before he decides his last act as king will be to conquer that dance floor.

Alone, Korra can only say thank you to Mako for his willingness to give his life in the engine room, and admits that the words only express a little of her gratitude.  Mako assures her, with no reservations, that he'll follow her into any struggle.  So, they've come from awkwardly deciding they love each other, to breaking up, to becoming awkward friends, to becoming true friends.

Korra decides she needs a minute with Naga, and the polar bear dog is napping a short distance away, as Korra looks out, past Air Temple Island, back to the City and its new Spirit Portal.  Tenzin joins her, with the news that Reiko is going to announce that the City will just expand, leaving the Spirit Temple city center as it now is.  Korra and Tenzin think a bit how the world has changed more in her time as Avatar already, than under the lives of whole past Avatars.  Korra is sorry for her time of sorrow, and any pain it might have caused her friends.  But, she appreciates her time of suffering, so she could understand what it feels like, and remember her lessons in dealing with her enemies.  Together, she and Tenzin decide to keep discovering and growing together.  They're only interrupted by Asami with the news that Varrick has plans for an air bending glider suit and the Air Temple Island Tower.  Tenzin rushes off, hopefully to get to Varrick in the nick of time.

Asami keeps Korra company, but Korra really wanted a chance to apologize to Asami.  For not returning.  For turning away from her friends when they wanted to help her.  Asami assures Korra that she doesn't need to apologize, that her friends are happy she's back, and safe.  Korra consoles Asami over the death of her dad, and Asami admits it's good to have forgiven him before she lost him.  Deciding they've both been through a lot, and that the dance floor isn't really beckoning them back, they both decide to take a trip.  But where to?  Where could they go to really get away from everything, and enjoy a brief time to just enjoy each other's company?

Asami and Korra walk, now dressed for traveling, backpacks on, to Republic City's new Spirit Portal.  It's glowing and beckoning.  They're quiet and happy and hold hands as they enter the Portal.  Once in, they face each other, join both hands, and quietly disappear into the Spirit World.

Someone left a note for the others, right?

What an end.  Sure, there's a great big fight and some things explode, but the real satisfaction comes from Korra winning by demonstrating empathy for her enemies.  There's a happy wedding for two characters we've come to love. There's real change for the Earth States. There's a new Spirit Portal!  There's a whole future to look forward to, of increasing spiritual knowledge, of changing the world for everyone's benefit.  And there's the kind of friends who will be there with you in the future all the way.

A Girl And Her Giant Killer Robot - Legend of Korra - Season 4, Episode 12

They're alive! And, except for Bataar, Jr., miraculously unhurt!  Despite being trapped by a roof!  And they've got Bolin up and ready to bend some really big piece of rock blocking them.  He's struggling under the weight and making sure they all know how hard it is as they scurry out.  Tenzin, free of the wreckage, spies Kuvira's Mecha Suits approaching.  Bolin can't believe he's suggesting they flee for now, and live to fight another day.  Mako points out that the civilians still at the train station would be defenseless, and if Kuvira finds out Wu is at the train station, a target.  Korra is desperate not to lose to Kuvira again.

Do we look like we're going anywhere?

They are all surprised when Lin announces herself, agreeing that they should stay and fight.  Varrick looks hopeless as he tells the group the Hummingbirds have been destroyed; but Asami is already stroking her chin.  She speaks up and reminds Varrick that they still have a couple prototypes back at Future Industries' Headquarters.  So, Korra instructs Suyin to take Bataar Jr. and anyone else not fighting today to Future Industries with Asami and Varrick.  Everyone else is to regroup for a new plan.
The train station is shaking and releasing debris.  Pema tries to calm the crowd, but the train conductor and Cousin Tu put the crowd in a panic with the news that no train is coming, but Kuvira's army is.  It's Wu to the rescue, mounting the bench and telling the crowd he's going to get help, and taking Tu with him.  Pema's in charge.  This crowd of bored city dwellers can't possibly be worse than Meelo.
On the way to Future Industries, Meelo spies a store selling a lot of paint. And he gets an idea for his latest art project.  It involves his fellow air benders, loaded up with balloons, presumably full of paint, flying towards the Colossus.  The Colossus fires on them, and they dodge, regrouping after her laser cannon shakes them up a bit.  But they regroup around Kuvira's head, where her big robot hand can't go, and release the paint balloons all over her windshield.

Paint in the hole?

Eyesight blocked, the rest can move in on the ground. Lin quickly determines it's made of platinum, so metal bending the robot's outsides is out.  Bolin jumps in, lava bending pools of sticky, hot lava under the Colossus' feet.  And Wei and Wing metal bend cables around it's lower legs, so they can take it out AT-AT style.  They tip it over, but Kuvira's got clean windshields and quickly recovers the Colossus' footing.  She sends another laser cannon blast at the team, spreading them out to land hard on the street, Kuvira's Colossuss still intact.
Korra decides to regroup at Future Industries.  Lin decides they need help, and leaves for who knows where.  Varrick and Asami are still testing the Hummingbirds, doing whatever last-minute fixes they can.  Daw, one of our first new airbenders, launches himself in to announce that Kuvira's Mecha Suits are headed their way.  Varrick doesn't have the Hummingbird ready, but he's handled Mecha Suits before, and his idea just might take out the Colossus too.  He just needs a bigger metal pole, and a lot more juice.  He happily climbs the tower over Future Industries, and Zhu Li faithfully follows him.  Varrick rewards her with a story about his favorite farm pet, Mrs. Beaks.  Zhu Li is appropriately confused by Varrick's serious tone and useless story, until he confides that he did love his pet, but he took her for granted.
Lucky for us, Zhu Li's head is in the game, and she spots the Colossus and Mecha Suits coming for them, yanking Varrick away as he triggers his electromagnetic pulse.  It's wildly successful with the Mecha Suits, but the Colossus is still coming.  Varrick commands Another Thing from Zhu Li, but she's all out of Things. Kuvira, still up and coming, decides to have Varrick tracked, by his electronic signal, sure that's where her enemies are.
Bataar wakes up to his mother, faithful to him when Kuvira tried to kill him.  He's disappointed at the betrayal by his love and leader, and suitably repentant.  When Varrick's electromagnetic pulse doesn't take out the Colossus, Bataar Jr. confirms that since the Colossus runs on Spirit Energy, not electricity, it can't be electomagnetically knocked out.  He's sorry, but he designed the Colossus to be indestructible and unstoppable.  He's out of ideas.  Good thing Lin has returned with help.
Hiroshi Sato, specially freed from prison by Lin, reminds them that they need to take advantage of their smallness compared to the Colossus.  What's really small but can defeat an organism many times bigger?  A virus.  They can't bring the thing down.  But they could get inside.

Using his powers for good!

He and Asami figure out how to equip Future Industries' own Mecha Suits with plasma saws, and then fly the Hummingbirds, with the Mecha Suits, to spots on the Colossus where they could cut an opening for Team Avatar to slip in to. Korra agrees to have the rest of the team divert Kuvira's attention from the Hummingbirds.
Pema is down to her last kiddy song, singing away to bored civilians. They're about to compare buttons, when giant, tame Badger Moles appear, ridden by Wu and Tu.  They can't ride the Badger Moles, but the Moles are earth benders, and Wu sings to them, his old buddies, to start them at digging a tunnel to escape by.  The civilians are reluctant, but Wu starts singing to the Badger Moles, to dig away.  As they create the beginning of a tunnel, we can hear Kuvira's army outside.

It's either this or Kuvira

Korra's team is preparing to fight.  Bataar gives them one direction- get to the engine room, and pull two levers at the same time.  The Hummingbirds finally look ready to go. And Kuvira's Colossus approaches.  Korra meets it in the Avatar state, blasting around on torrents of air and fire, heaving boulders ripped from the street at the Colossus.  Air benders zip around, as Korra gets more boulders.  Kuvira readies to fire, but before she can, the air benders  suddenly zoom down, pointing the cannon at the ground.   Kuvira and Meelo have a moment, the little airbender pressed against her windshield and smiling weakly at her before zooming away to avoid being swatted.

Hi there, wanna' be my friend?

Kuvira fires again, this time almost hitting Jinora and Tenzin.  Iki swoops in to catch Jinora, landing on a nearby roof, while Meelo struggles with his dad, saving their landing at the last second.
Now Bolin acts, ripping up a building near the Colossus while the metal benders slowly work the steel structure over. Kuvira is surprised when a whole building falls on her.  She's down for a minute, but smiles as her Colossus slowly stands, to Korra's horror.

Ha ha, thought ya' got me

Wu is singing while the Moles dig and slowly evacuate the remaining civilians underground.  He's singing an homage to Grandma Yin when Kuvira's soldiers, still in their Mecha Suits, call a halt to the whole thing, demanding that the civilians surrender as prisoners and Wu stop singing.  Wu decides to go full drama king, literally offering himself up to the soldiers, if they'll let the civilians go.  All he asks in return is one last song.  It's a song so bad the Badger Moles tunnel away, and the soldiers wish they had any other mission.  Wu's still sure of himself, and his Badger Moles, especially when they pop in, crushing the Mecha Suits and knocking out the soldiers.  Wu and his buddies have saved the civilians!

Wu's first victory!

Hiroshi successfully tests the plasma saw, now mounted inside the lower pilot seat of the Hummingbird.  Asami and Hiroshi spend a moment, thankful that no matter what happens, they've found each other again.  Varrick and Zhu Li, to co-pilot the other Hummingbird, have their own moment.  Varrick needs to attach something to Zhu Li.  A ring, to her finger.  She happily agrees to do The Thing for the rest of their lives, leaping into his arms as he rallies them to their hopeless mission.  To Zhu Li, flying into danger is her romantic fantasy.

Our love can defeat any superweapon!

Wei and Wing and Lin swoop around the city on cables, distracting Kuvira, while the Hummingbirds approach.  Zhu Li takes Varrick to the small of the Colossus' back, hoping Kuvira can't reach there, only to find out she can.  The Hummingbirds evade Kuvira's swatting, and Korra lauches water from the river onto the Colossus, freezing it and the Colossus in place.  Zhu Li and Varrick lose the other Hummingbird, but Hiroshi and Asami manage to land.  Hiroshi is making good progress, but Kuvira is quickly freeing her arm.  She'll get to the Hummingbird before Hiroshi can finish the hole.  Hiroshi realizes he can stay and finish the cut, but it will mean the Hummingbird gets smashed, and somebody will have to die.  And Hiroshi decides that will be himself, ejecting Asami before Kuvira smashes the Hummingbird into bits.  But he finishes the hole, and Korra sees.  She, Mako, Bolin, Lin and Suyin manage to bend their way up and into the hole, looking out from inside the suit.  Asami floats in the air, realizing she's just lost her father.

We did it?

This Is Bad. This Is Very Bad - Legend of Korra - Season 4, Episode 11

The end game begins!  And, like most seasons, Team Avatar gets the worst of it as the season's arch enemy makes her move.  Kuvira's plan is bold, and so surprising that not even Zhu Li or Bolin could have guessed.  It's also a complete break from most of the rest of the series, which tends to rely on Korra defeating someone else through bending material better, or her Avatar powers.  Kuvira has tapped into Spiritual Energy itself, and the spirits have made it plain to Korra that she's on her own.  Except, she's not.  But even all her allies will have their hands full.  If they survive.

Notice how, like the first season, Korra's up against a technological juggernaut.  In the first season, it was controlled by Asami's dad, in league with the Equalists.  Now, it's in service to a fellow bender as she makes a play to reclaim the United Republic for her own.

Once again, the history.  At the end of the 100 Years War, after the defeat of Fire Lords Ozai and Azula, the question remained of what to do with the Fire Nation's colonies in the Earth Kingdom.  Covered by graphic novels, new Fire Lord Zuko, a staunch ally of Avatar A'ang and happy to right the wrongs of the Fire Nation, was poised to return these colonies to the Earth Kingdom, but found out that numerous Fire Nation people now considered the colonies to be a separate entity, not unlike Northern Ireland in our world.  The colonizers had created their own culture, as well as intermarried with Earth Kingdom dwellers.  Zuko led a tense standoff against A'ang and the Earth King Kuei at the time, and got an important concession from both; the founding of a new nation, the United Republic.

King Kuei donated the land, a sore spot with his future successor, Hou Ting.  It went beyond Zuko's hope of a place where former Fire Nation colonizers could continue to live in peace; it became a home to peoples all over the world, with the capital Republic City.  A'ang came to believe in the United Republic; and Toph came to be its first Chief of Police.  It was literally a creation of the original Team Avatar.   But it didn't just irk Hou Ting.  For the first time, the show gives us a good map showing where the United Republic is; tucked into the Northwest Corner, around a great bay, the United Republic is the one dark green spot on Kuvira's map of a reunited Earth Empire.  And she's coming to get it back.

Oh, yeah, I guess I'll let Reiko know after I march on the place

Her speech to her troops is extremely well received, as she promises them that this is the final victory, and they praise her as the Great Uniter.  Behind the scenes, she and Bataar quietly anticipate winning, ruling "their" realm, and hug.  Kuvira looks sincerely happy to almost complete her work with the man she loves.  Is she letting herself imagine a happy future for herself?

And I'll live happily ever after

Since the United Republic's been dark green the whole time on her map, this was very likely always her plan.  Was Reiko wrong to trust that she'd give up power?  Once she refused to step down, Reiko immediately assumed she would attack Republic City, and wanted to prepare for it.  Once again, Reiko can be wrong, but his sense of a threat rarely is.  And he shows that he can change plans based on new information and counsel from Tenzin and Korra.

Reiko, while Kuvira is rallying her troops, is meeting with his Kuvira Response Team.  Progress is limited.  While Asami and Varrick are busy assembling the Hummingbird Hovercraft they've designed, Wu has been trying to evacuate the city.  He's managed to convince eighteen families to evacuate.  Reiko and Korra aren't happy with his progress until Mako reminds them that the evacuation is voluntary, and people still don't see Kuvira as a threat to Republic City.  That all changes when Bolin, again, storms into a private meeting with huge news on Kuvira.  Like before, he's got company with new information:  Suyin Beifong and Zhu Li.  Reiko is pissy about the interruption, but has no problem believing Zhu Li, who confesses that she stayed behind to try to stop Kuvira, but only managed to delay the inevitable.  Reiko gives Wu and Mako the order to evacuate all citizens, and they leave with Lin Beifong to announce to the city that everyone is leaving.  They think they have a couple weeks, maybe a little less, to get everyone out, build their hovercraft, and repel Kuvira's forces.

Varrick still doesn't know Zhu Li has escaped, and he's busy "inspiring" his workers, which means he shouts at them to work harder and faster.  Bolin appears to prepare him for seeing Zhu Li, but nothing can prepare him for seeing his trusted assistant who mocked and betrayed him in his minute of need.  Zhu Li makes a heartfelt apology, declaring that she didn't mean any of the insults, even though they're all true.  Varrick looks hesitant to re-accept her, but quickly goes into shouting mode, and sends her back to work.  But, Zhu Li's not just here to apologize; she's been cleaning up Varrick's messes for too long, and she's back from putting her life on the line to delay Kuvira; she angrily leans so far into Varrick he's got to bend over backwards for her.  She demands to be his partner.  

Listen, Bub- we both know I should be your boss!

Varrick doesn't know what to make of this as she stalks away, with Bolin freaking out that a tiff between Zhu Li and Varrick is the last thing Republic City needs.

Mako, Lin and Wu take over a comm unit connected to Republic City's public address system, and Mako informs the City that the mandatory evacuation is on.  And spouts a lot of gibbeldy-gook straight from some bureaucrat's emergency response handbook.  The city call boards light up with people panicking that they have no idea what to do and no one's helping.  Mako, confused, ends up giving his seat to Wu.  They guys' been totally useless, but today, he reveals something he's got down; smooth-talking the people of Republic City into calmly complying with the city's evacuation order.  He tells the people that it's okay to be scared, but all they need to do is proceed to the nearest way out of town, and he'll handle the rest.  The City immediately launches in evacuation; and Mako is amazed at Wu's new-found people skills.  

With Pema offering to help Wu evacuate the City,  Reiko has cut all mass transit lines that Kuvira could use to access Republic City, hoping to slow her Spirt Power Superweapon down.  Team Avatar awaits her invasion, as Asami and Varrick race to finish their own countermeasure. General Iroh, back from the second season at last, is camped outside Republic City, with the United Forces ready to take on Kuvira's Mecha Droids and troops.

Somewhere along the border of the Earth Realm and the United Republic, a lone watch station awaits, too.  They're surprised by Kuvira's forces, coming a week early.  They're ready though, proceeding to sound the alarm to Republic City.  But they never get to do that.  Because, Kuvira has an alternate mode of transport for her Superweapon Cannon.  The mountain top watch station gets the rare sight of a fighter so tall, so massive, it can look at them at the top of their mountain.  And it's got the Superweapon Cannon mounted on its shoulder, ready to use.  

Wait, what's that red light????

The soldiers at the watch station can see the end coming, they know they have no time to even run for their lives, as Kuvira's Mega Mega Colossus Robot Cannon Holder aims, fires, and obliterates the watch station.  Republic City has no way of knowing Kuvira is coming early, and won't know at all how she's bringing her Superweapon.

While the rest of the City leaves, and the air benders assemble to defend the city, Team Korra is finally truly united.  And they've decided the time has come to confront Kuvira together.  Mako, Bolin, Asami and Korra inform Reiko that they want to take a sky bison, fly to Kuvira, and destroy the Superweapon before it can be used on anyone.  Reiko gives his blessing, and they're off, soaring around the mountains that surround Republic City.  They don't get far before seeing the monstrosity that Kuvira's built.  Bolin had no idea, and no one has any idea of how to defeat the thing, especially not once Kuvira sees them, and we see that the Colossus is controlled by her at the top, in a bridge that she controls by bending the metal levers.  No wonder it moves like her.  

No wonder it's awful like her

Kuvira fires on them repeatedly, and they almost crash, but they dodge the weapon's laser blows, leaving blown off mountains in their wake as they hastily retreat back to Air Temple Island, where Reiko has been taken for his protection by Lin Beifong.  They have only bad news, and no one has any idea how to stop Kuvira now.  Korra decides to find General Iroh, and give him what help she can.  Asami decides that she will find a completed Hummingbird and get in the air.  Tenzin's air benders, including Kai, station themselves so they can see the action from the City's rooftops.  Everyone waits silently, tensely.

This would be a really bad time to have to pee

Camped out in the field leading to Republic City, which has been strung with wire barricades to slow Kuvira's Mecha Droids and tanks, Korra and General Iroh wait, and both are amazed at the site of Kuvira's Colossus.  As Korra described, it's 25 stories tall, taller than most of Republic City's buildings, and Kuvira arrives and demands Reiko surrender the city.  At first, he balks, but Kuvira goes right to demonstrating her Superweapon Cannon on ships in the harbor.  To General Iroh's horror, Reiko immediately surrenders.  But, what else was he to do?  Watch the City be destroyed?  What if Kuvira fired on the train station, where Pema and Wu still feverishly work to evacuate residents?  Surrendering turns out to be what Korra needs to buy some time.

Go ahead.  Make my day.

No one still has any idea of how to beat Kuvira's Colossus.  But, they all realize that Bataar Jr. might know, and Kuvira is sending his airship to Air Temple Island to discuss surrender terms with Reiko.  So, they know where Bataar Jr. is.  Korra decides to lead Kai, Jinora, Tenzin, and Bumi to the airship, kidnap Bataar, and somehow convince him to tell them the how to defeat the Superweapon.  Korra's vague about how she'll get him to talk, but we can tell she plans on meaning business somehow, and nobody argues with her.

Except Meelo, who really wants to go and is defeated by his own wildcard farts.  Guess someone will have to learn some control, and soon.  Tenzin, dressed in the new spiffy airbender outfits, flies with them, quietly landing on Bataar Jr.'s airship, sneaking in flawlessly, and quickly kidnapping Bataar and flying back to Republic City with him.  When Bataar's airship lands, and Lin and Reiko do a great job of pretending to be surprised he's not there, and that Kuvira is violating their agreement.  While Korra tries to threaten Bataar into talking by going into the Avatar state and lifting him up, chair he's tied to and all.

I'm playing bad cop today!

Bataar chuckles when Korra threatens him, but he's right; Korra puts him down, unable to torture or harm him.  So, Suyin tries to talk to her son, one last time.  She's convinced that Bataar has some sort of ulterior motive in all this.  But Bataar shows that he's a true believer in Kuvira.  And still refuses to spill any secrets about her Superweapon.  So, Korra figures out what she can do to Bataar.  She tells him that for as long as he lives, he'll never be in Kuvira's presence again.  No matter how much Kuvira searches for him, Korra will always keep them apart.  And, Bataar gives.  Because he really loves the homicidal, power-hungry maniac.  And he repeats Korra's play to Kuvira.  Who looks angry at first.  Then sad.  But she relents, and tells Reiko and Team Avatar that she'll retreat.

That word must have multiple meanings. Because, while everyone else relaxes, tragedy averted, Kuvira is having Bataar's urgent, loving plea for them to live in the Earth Empire together tracked, so she knows where he and his captors are.  Or, at least, where Korra is.  Before anyone can flee or stop her, she's got the Superweapon Cannon aimed on the Hummingbird factory, where Team Avatar has holed up with Bataar.  She'll kill everyone, her enemies and greatest fan, to get what she wants.  Reiko and Lin look on in horror as the factory, it's Hummingbird hovercraft, and Team Avatar are obliterated.  Lin launches into the air to look for any survivors, as Kuvira sighs, and puts Bataar Jr. behind her.

Is this the Gambit?  Sacrificing Bataar to strike at her most powerful enemies too?  Or is the Gambit to show up with a surprise Colossus in the first place?  No matter what, she's definitely appeared with overwhelming force.  And with Bataar not talking, Team Avatar still doesn't know how to defeat her Superweapon Cannon, or the Colossus.  Will Raava come up with something?  Will the Spirits decide they need to join the fight?   Is Korra even alive to try to defeat Kuvira?

Out of the Polar Bear Doghouse - Legend of Korra - Season 4, Episode 10

Okay, we all know Kuvira is really bad.  And a lot of internal demons have been dealt with.  And now, all our favorite characters are working together to defeat her in one way or another.   But, they're finding out, again, just why defeating their villains is so difficult: they all have such different ways of doing anything.  They also have some personal baggage between each other remaining.  So, as we close the season, the characters must work through their issues as they mount their own separate quests to defeat Kuvira.

Lin and Opal take Bolin, who's happy and ready to help and even more eager to get Opal back, back to Zao Fu.  They notice that a city has had it's protective dome removed, but Lin is more concerned about the massive army Kuvira still has there, and doesn't think they'll be able to get in among them without being seen.  Lucky for her, Zao Fu has already been reconned.... by Toph!  Somehow, Toph used the swamp vines to find out that her daughter and daughter's family had been taken prisoner, and she's already found out that the Suyin and the others have been taken to a separate facility.   Bolin tells them it's probably a factory he heard about nearby, and now the characters must all catch up to the issues a re-appearing Toph Beifong brings up.  Opal is just happy to see Grandma, and the feeling's mutual for Grandma.  Bolin has a major geek out, which bores Toph and frustrates Opal.

Grandma, this is my stalker, Bolin

Bolin confesses all his mistakes and how he wants to get back together with Opal.  For the billionth time.  The real uncomfortable-ness is reserved for Lin, as the two women greet each other as "Chief".  Has Lin always called her that, or at least since Lin started in the police department?  Toph likes to walk around with her hands clasped behind her back, as if she's thinking about weighty matters.  We all know she's actually thinking of whatever insults she'll use next.

She calls Bolin a dipstick, and casts some hard aspersions on Opal's sky bison, Juicy.  She's not so much juicy as she is leaky, obviously suffering from a runny nose.  But, Juicy is wonderfully loyal and has chosen Opal to be the object of her loyalty and affection.  And Opal has given up trying to do anything about that.

Back in Republic City, Reiko wants to see results from his brain trust dream team of Asami and Varrick, and Varrick claims their design is based on dragonfly-hummingbirds that Asami saw somewhere.  They're awesome hovercraft designs, but Reiko wants something that will launch spirit energy at Kuvira.  Both Varrick and Korra put their feet down.  Reiko says they'll need Spirit help somehow, so Korra offers to ask for the help of spirits in the fight against Kuvira.  And Wu, who was hovering at the back of the group, raises his hand to say something.... useful?  Yes, he actually calls for evacuating the city before Kuvira can attack.  No one is more shocked at Wu having a good idea than Reiko, but he agrees on it and puts Wu in charge of it.  He then dismisses everyone.  The group bows, even Varrick.

Kuvira's got a cannon.  We've got a blueprint.  Go us!

After leaving, Mako lets Wu know that he's starting to sound like a king, and Wu is excited that it might be his way "in" with Korra.  Mako realizes that Wu doesn't so much care about people as he does about a date.  And Wu declares snobbily that that's how the world has always worked.  Men have created and evacuated and done everything for the ladies' attention and devotion.  How long until Wu falls in love with a divorcee and has to abdicate his throne?  I give it a year.

How long are we going to see Mako and Asami wasted?  They're key members of Team Avatar, but they've had little do this season except to provide some comic relief and remind Korra that they're here for her.  After seeing Asami start to rebuild her relationship with her father, we also saw that she turned her family house over to Mako's family.  And Mako has done little more than complain about Wu between getting him out of the trouble he gets himself into.  Let's hope the coming final episodes have them defending Republic City, and Korra.

Kuvira's camp outside Zao Fu is tense as they conduct their final test before a public demonstration to Kuvira tomorrow of the spirit energy weapon.  Zhu Li indentifies a problem, and calls for the whole team to desert the weapon as it overloads. Again.  But Bataar won't accept failure.  He risks all, despite Zhu Li exhorting him to leave, to successfully shut the weapon down. When he find the damaged part that caused the overload, he rises and demands that the entire team spend every minute until tomorrow's test examining every single part.  Down to the bolts.

As Juicy floats to Team Beifong's next destination, Bolin wants to know all about Lin and Toph's baggage with each other.  Toph thinks the passage of time and that Lin and Suyin worked out their old feud means that everyone can just forget about the past.  Lin doesn't know what the word "forget" means.

Well, we are not going to rescue this relationship!

Juicy lands in site of the factory where the Beifongs probably are, and it's a toxic nightmare-looking facility.  It's not hard for two accomplished metal benders to quickly bend a hole in the thick metal walls and re-seal it before a Mecha Droid saunters by, not seeing a thing.  They spy the cannon that's recently been completed and checked, and Toph whips out her all-seeing foot, and tells the team that some empty chamber is heavily guarded below.  Lin confirms, but they can't do much as the cargo bay doors open.  They scurry to hide as the daylight shines on... Kuvira!  Come to look at her newest toy.

It's a massive cannon, and even Bataar is a little put off by her surprise inspection.  Kuvira grills both Bataar and Zhu Li about the progress and hiccups.  Bataar gives the cannon a thumbs up, and Kuvira ups the stakes by declaring that her entire army will witness the demonstration.  After looking very uncomfortable for a second, Zhu Li assures Kuvira that they're working everything out, but Toph instantly spots her lying (through subtle changes in the ground beneath them).  Bolin is excited.  Does this mean Zhu Li isn't really working for Kuvira!

No one else seems terribly concerned, and Opal suggests taking out Kuvira while they're there.  Bolin wants to take out the cannon instead.  Bolin, thinking before talking for a change, realizes that the demonstration will occupy Kuvira's army, leaving them a great time to free the Beifongs under the factory.  Even Opal is impressed that Bolin used his brain for a change.  Like Wu, though, it's to impress a girl.

That night, waiting for their time to strike, they prepare around a makeshift rock table, while Bolin decides to ask about metal bending, so Toph can call him a blockhead and declare herself a sensitive instructor, to Lin's cynical mutterings.  When Bolin informs Toph that he's found he can bend lava, Toph expresses some new interest in him, and Bolin gushes that he feels special from even the weakest of compliments.  Lin mutters that Toph sure is encouraging.  She's sitting apart from the others, and back in her the-past-sucked funk from last season.

How has the entire cast not figured out I hate the past by now?!

When Toph tells her to speak up or shut up, Bolin decides to ask the most uncomfortable question of the night.  Who is the lucky guy who got to father Lin?  Lin is flabbergasted that Bolin would even ask, and exasperated when Toph reveals him only as a failed boyfriend named Kanto.  Bolin's not entirely satisfied, but it's Lin's Heaving of Rage that gets Toph to once again demand that Lin actually air her grievances instead of brooding over them.  So, Lin tells her mother that maybe she should have gotten to grow up with her dad.  Toph just lumps Lin's pretty reasonable resentment with all the other stuff teenagers do to piss off their parents.

Which, of course, makes Lin even madder.  Opal is beyond uncomfortable watching, but Bolin isn't letting anything disturb his dinner, and passively eats while he watches the two women fail to work out their differences.  Lin is still bitter at having a demanding mother, delinquent sister and no one who actually seemed to care about her.  She's even more bitter at Toph's repeated indifference to her failure to actually show her daughters some affection. Toph thinks that Lin should've looked elsewhere for that. Lin hisses at Toph, that after freeing Suyin, she's through with her mother.  Toph looks pained as Lin disowns her; but she chirpily tells Lin that if not talking to mom makes her happy, then Toph doesn't care.  Is Toph's indifference feigned, to cover for her hurt at being so angrily rejected?  After all, you can't hurt someone who's indifferent to you.

The next day, sunny and bright, sees the super cannon slowly wheeled out, and Opal realizes why the dome was removed from one of Zao Fu's pods.  It will be a testing target for the cannon's blast.  Team Beifong quickly finds the family, suspended by ropes in a wooden cage deep i the cavern.  Lin leaps to the top of the cage, hiding on top of it from the guard who hears the commotion but leaves when nothing seems wrong.  One by one, each of Suyin's family is hurled from the cage by Lin on her metal cables, and caught by Bolin.

The super cannon is all set, and Bataar looks optimistic as it comes on, then confused when it starts to malfunction again.  He quickly identifies the problem- a missing part.  Kuvira, starting to lose her patience, wants to know how bad it could have been.  When Bataar tells her it could have exploded on them, she instantly suspects sabotage.  And Zhu Li.  Who denies everything.  Until Kuvira bends the metal in the missing piece and it slides out of Zhu Li's jacket.  At first, Zhu Li is a little scared, but as Opal watches, Zhu Li declares Kuvira a monster, and that she regrets nothing.  She's been a brilliant double agent, delaying the cannon's completion as long as she could.  But now, the jig is up.  As Opal watches in shock, Kuvira sentences Zhu Li to be obliterated with the cannon's first target.

It was certainly possible that Zhu Li was always a double agent, hoping to fool Kuvira as long as she could.  Her almost slavish begging for forgiveness earlier, cutting Varrick off, was certainly convincing.  We've never known much about Zhu Li, except that she's extremely smart, can do anything, and isn't convinced Varrick is actually all that smart.  Her vicious send up of Varrick is what audiences have waited for for three seasons, and probably why we all bought it.  Did Zhu Li always suspect that she'd be caught?  She had to know that Kuvira is evil, not stupid, and that she'd get caught.  She's lucky Bataar Jr. hadn't already caught her. Did she think she'd be able to really destroy the cannon, and Kuvira and her army along with it?  Maybe.  Maybe she thought the risk was worth taking.

Bataar Sr. is having his own moment of shock and panic.  He's huddled in the wooden cage, totally unwilling to even get up, let alone get rescued.  Not a metal bender, and definitely not used to swinging on metal cables.  Lin and Suyin can't talk him into letting Lin get him out of there, and Lin apologizes before seizing him with a cable and swinging him as he cries out in sheer terror.  This alerts the guard, who sounds the alarm just as Lin cuts two of the cables, and the cage swings toward the rock ledge, and the two sisters leap to safety.

They're all out in minutes, and Opal's got their transport ready with her quiet whistle.  Juicy lands with a thump, but Opals' got news.  Bolin is worked up at the thought of leaving Zhu Li behind, when she was really working against Kuvira the whole time.  He reminds Toph that she knew Zhu Li was lying before, about fixing the machine, and Toph counters that Zhu Li could have been covering up her mistakes.  Like us, Bolin knows that Zhu Li doesn't make mistakes.  She leaves that to Varrick.  Bolin rushes off to save her, and Opal follows on Juicy.  The Beifongs want to challenge Kuvira while they have the chance.  Toph refuses, on the grounds that she's done enough already.  So, she's left alone to guard Bataar Sr. and Huan.  Huan doesn't feel like speaking, but Bataar Sr. tries to ask how his mother-in-law is.  Ha.  Toph doesn't even take this stuff from her own daughters.

Now that we've got a chance to get away clean, let's all split up

Korra's foray into the Spirit Wilds is anti-climactic.  She'd love to ask the spirits for help, but they dissolve before even hearing her plea.  Korra's concerned as she sees that all the spirits are abandoning the Spirit Wilds.

Back at Air Temple Island, she meditates into the Spirit World, to find them gathered around the Tree of Time. calling them to hear her.  She recaps what they've been through together, and asks for their help against Kuvira.  When a combination bird-eel floats around her, winding himself around her as he turns her down.  Kuvira wants spirit power to fight.  To the spirits, Korra just wants the same.  They slowly disappear again on her as she flubs around.

But I'm totally different from that chick that wants to fight you.  I want you to fight.

Back at target practice, just as the cannon is starting, Bataar spots his sister, trying to free Zhu Li.  Killing Zhu Li, a traitor, is one thing. Killing his sister is another.  He frantically can't stop the cannon, but he can re-direct it at the last minute.  It's massive energy blasts a hole clear through the mountain beyond the town, with the sky visible beyond.  Opal, Bolin and Zhu Li are astounded at the cannon's power.  Kuvira doesn't have time to demand an explanation.  Team Beifong is on her instantly.  Suyin, particularly, has a bone to pick with her.  They battle it out, partly on the cannon, partly on the rocky soil surrounding them.  The twins, Wei and Wing, stay with Lin, using rock barriers to battle Kuvira's troops.  Suyin puts up a great fight and knows metal and everything that can be done with it.  But, Kuvira knows fighting.

Is it really a good idea to be encased in something your enemy can crush?

Move by move, Kuvira defeats Suyin, and the four retreat behind their rock defense, until Kuvira's earth benders bring it down.  Surrounded, they're about to be prisoners again, when Juicy shows up.  With Toph.

She takes down the Mecha Droids easily, declares Kuvira a disgrace to metal benders, and whisks everyone, including Zhu Li, away.  Kuvira can only stare, intently, maybe realizing who it is that's just denounced her as Juicy is Team Beifong's savior.

Lady, I'm the disgrace that kicked your daughter's butt.  Twice.

Back in the wild, away from Kuvira.  Toph finally asks her daughters for forgiveness, which she finally gets.  But, like the spirits, Toph draws the line at any further involvement in the fight against Kuvira.  Her reasons are not exactly the philosophical reason the bird-eel gave Korra- she's got an aching back and two daughters who are in their prime.  Why would she fight?  Especially with a "gumflapper" like Bolin gushing next to her the whole time?

Remember, war is much more bearable with guys who don't talk

Zhu Li sheepishly thanks the team for saving her, and lets them know that Bolin really was just trying to help people while working for Kuvira, which softens Opal.  She turns to Bolin and declares their relationship officially back on.  Bolin's ecstatic celebration doesn't last, because Zhu Li's got bad news.  Reiko was right.  Kuvira does mean to attack.  Republic City.  In two weeks.

Little bit of history.  As Hou-Ting hinted at last season, the Earth Realm ceded the United Republic and Republic City a little after the Fire Lord Ozai was defeated, in a joint venture between King Kuei and Fire Lord Zuko.  The city was established as the capital of the United Republic, a haven for people of all nations and tribes.  Like Hou-Ting, Kuvira must still consider the land part of the Earth Realm.  And she wants it back.  Is that why Reiko was so convinced Kuvira would attack?  Or is he just usually paranoid?  In this case, just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not really out to get you.

A Life For A Life - Walking Dead - Season 5, Episode 8

The question we must ask, is, were these two deaths inevitable?  Was this the dance Dawn and Beth engaged in for three episodes, circling each other, sizing each other up, so they could end each other?  Did Beth plan on killing Dawn?  Or, were the scissors a contingency plan?  Did Beth suspect that Dawn wasn't letting them get away the moment Dawn demanded that Noah be left behind?  Didn't Beth realize that retaliation for stabbing Dawn would be swift?  Did she think she'd survive stabbing Dawn?  Or, did Beth choose her fate, maybe as a sacrifice play so Noah would be free? If she chose, then her hug for Noah was for more than just a new friend.  It was a final goodbye to all.  Her last, tortured look at Dawn - was that an acceptance of the sacrifice she'd have to make so that everyone else in that hallway could walk away?

Maybe Beth just smelled something awful or something

Let's start with a first:  Maggie finally shows some interest in the fate of her younger sister.  To fans, her sobbing at the end, as Darryl emerges with Beth's body, seems a bit too much compared to the utter lack of concern she's showed for, literally, a whole season.  Literally, Dawn has shown more concern for Beth than Maggie has.  So, when the episode ends with Maggie breaking down after hopefully lowering the rifle, expecting to see Beth walk out, it seems like we've been cheated.  Darryl deserves to be weeping like a baby, not Maggie.  Instead, he's holding it together as he gently carries Beth to whatever her final resting place will be.

Wait, why is her ponytail red- oh, wait

Dawn and Beth spend this episode as they have their two before.  Dawn tries to coax Beth into accepting life at Grady Memorial.  Only, now, she's offering Beth the chance to be Dawn's mentee and, maybe eventual successor.  Dawn's speeches are all about how tough you have to be to lead her particular group of "officers", and her confrontation with O'Donnell shows Beth that those aren't empty words or wishful thinking.  Thwarting betrayals and enforcing the boundaries of human decency are Dawn's bread and butter.  If she doesn't know when to push back and when to bend, she could be faced with a silent revolt, where ignoring a call for help is just how people are executed at Grady Memorial.  If she isn't ruthless in situations where she can control what the only witness says and kill her challenger quick, she'll just have to face the fucker again, but with his own backup.  She lets Beth live, though the girl is responsible for the deaths of two of her officers, because Beth ended up doing her a favor.  Sure, Dawn tells Beth that she covered for Beth; but Beth isn't having that bullshit, reminding Dawn that she single-handedly removed two dickheads from Grady, which is more than Dawn could accomplish.  Beth's role at Grady, and with Dawn and Dr. Stephen, has been that of truthteller.  She can't fight back, being smaller and not as physically strong.  But she can throw the truth at people like it's a knife.

And tossing a douchebag down an elevator shaft helps, too

Dawn's struggle for the series isn't between trusting people and killing them before they can try to kill her.  It's between letting bad behavior slide by people until they won't protect the group anymore. Dawn seems obsessed with Beth thinking that Dawn really is a good leader.  And Dawn shows that she's tougher than her other officers when she beats the crap out of O'Donnell, even after he's tried to choke her.  She can't defeat him without Beth's help, and the two stand over the elevator pit, listening to O'Donnell's body hit the bottom, wondering what this shared kill means for their relationship.  Before it happens, Beth tries, one last time, to burst Dawn's dream of the cavalry rescuing them from death, and tries to persuade Dawn that the world really has turned, permanently.  But, Dawn is stubborn, resisting any calls to base life at Grady on the new reality being permanent.

And, she miscalculates at the end.  Sure, she could have just let the detente of the even trade of officers for Carol and Beth end the episode.  The Gatos, an early episode, similar but reversed, ended that way when Rick willingly traded guns for Glenn, mostly because the Gatos were guarding their elderly relatives in a zombie-overwhelmed city, and even Rick could see their need was as great as his own.  But, Dawn gets greedy.  Or, perhaps, she doesn't buy Shepard and Licari confirming that Lambson was killed by zombies, and not Rick.  I know I wouldn't.  Of course, I would have had patrols scouring the city for my missing officers, and possibly found Lambson's body already (Rick did shoot him- didn't anyone hear the shot?).    She and Rick debate whether Dawn can even "claim" Noah as hers, payment for losing Beth, who was Noah's replacement in the first place.

And, why was Noah willing to return.  Rick and Co. were more than happy to fight for him.  And he literally scratched and crawled his way out of that place.  Maybe he, like Tyrese, was committed to avoiding bloodshed that day.  Maybe Noah, like the other wards, was willing to trade security for servitude.  After all, when Rick offers to take anyone away who wants to come, only Noah follows him out.  With Dawn dead and Officer Shepard already in control of the remaining officers, do they hope for a better place to survive?  We leave Grady Memorial, not even reeling after losing Dawn, silhouetted in a dim hallway.  They've picked up these pieces before.

Was Rick right to persist with his ransom plan, even after Lambson died?  Officers Shepard and Licari were more than happy to agree to lie for him.  Even Licari, the asshole from the day before, poses no resistance now.  Shepard even applies icing to the cake by hinting that even if Rick admits to killing Lambson, Dawn might see it as a favor done her, just as she can't help appreciating that Beth rid her of two out-of-control officers.  When he makes his ransom demand, somehow bringing two cops, to his red plastic bag for a parley, with neither of them figuring out that he's got snipers guarding him until Sasha announces herself, the signs are good that the transfer will actually happen.   And when both sides holster their weapons for the actual exchange, hope builds.  Dawn and Rick are both violent people, but both know their duty is to protect their civilians, and Dawn even goes so far as to just accept that Lambson died from zombies instead of Rick bashing him with a car and shooting him in the head.

The only bright spot in today's show is that Tyrese and Sasha have began consoling each other.  Tyrese is damaged and traumatized by losing Karen, the girls, and the clash with Terminus.  Sasha still can't get over losing Bob.  Tyrese has decided that since he couldn't kill Baseball Cap Guy, and it was Sasha who did, that that makes her his little sister even more.  She's even getting his killing hand-me-downs.  Tyrese wants her to realize they're alike, despite the obvious differences in temperament.

Now, we can explore Gabriel.  We last saw him limping along, desperate to get away from his protectors, worried they were savages instead of friends.  The series has brought him 180 degrees around.  He limps off to the school, recently the campsite of Gareth and the Hunters.  It looks like a fairly regular campsite, and Gabriel looks incredulous that they could have been cannibals, until he's face to face with Bob's missing leg.  It's been decaying for a few days, but it's familiar enough that he's horrified at what could have happened to them all.   When the zombies at the school break out and chase him, the series shows him now in the position of begging for shelter, as he screams out his pleas to re-enter the church he was safely barricaded into earlier that day.

Yeah, yeah, I love you guys! Now let me in!

Michonne and Carl, instead of giving Gabriel the same fate as his parishioners, launch right into action, and even remember to bring Judith as they first break Gabriel back in, and then get themselves back out.  Michonne does a fantastic job of squelching the urge to throttle Gabriel for his stupidity, and I doubt she heard his screamed confession that he totally sees how they had to kill Gareth and his Hunters.  But, Gabriel has at least learned to be helpful, helping to barricade the zombies back into the church with Carl.   I guess they could go to the school now.

Why can't Gabriel believe without seeing?  He has made a living preaching faith, but now he's a Doubting Thomas.  While Carol was booted out for murder, and Andrea rejected for divided loyalties, no one's ever been turned out of Rick's group for terminal stupidity.  But, Gabriel's so ridiculously harmless, and so apologetic, and as they exit the church, agrees to go last.  He sends Michonne down the hole in the floor, telling her it's worth it so she can get away.  And he's ready to be taken himself until his own, previously abandoned machete slices a head in half while stuck in the floor.  It's a sign from his god, and he emerges from the crawlspace with blood on his weapon.

I am going to try real hard not to kill you today

GreatM manages to fix the fire truck, which Abraham probably should have been doing instead of having his nervous breakdown, and returns to the church just in time to add the firetruck to the barricade holding the zombies in the church.  Abraham gives peacefully sleeping Eugene a long, undecided look, before exiting the truck himself.  If Abraham hadn't lost his shit, Michonne could have informed Maggie of the news of Beth alive in the city hours before.  As it is, Maggie looks both shocked and deliriously happy, and the whole team decides to get to Atlanta ASAP to help rescue Beth and reunite the sisters.  As we now know, it will be too late.  So, as usual, the expectation of togetherness is denied.

Let's end, with the tease after the credits.  Morgan, the only character who can go months without fucking up, has gotten to the school.  Remember, it was Gareth who left the trail, so they'd know the way back to Terminus.  But now, Morgan has to follow the trail left by zombies to the church, where he finds that GreatM, Michonne, and Carl have driven the firetruck away, leaving the doors open and the zombies gone.  The church is abandoned, and Morgan just wants to pray, at first, reverently placing relics of the church and a few of his own on the altar.  One wonders, what a bag of GooGoo, a bullet, and a blue rabbit's foot have done for him, but hey, it makes him happy.  despite being in a place where awful things obviously just happened, Morgan looks relieved about something that only he perceives.  A scrap of paper on the floor gets his attention.  In the excitement, Carl and Michonne forgot about the map, especially since they certainly don't need to go to Washington, D.C. now.  But it's certainly useful for the corner note that informs Morgan that Rick just passed through.  Will Morgan find him?

Wow, Rick and an asshole.  Who could resist?