TV Retrospective: Legend of Korra Book 1 Chapters 7-9 - The Aftermath/When Extremes Meet/Out of the Past

We continue with the legend of Korra book 1 mini-reviews, as the story delves deeper into the equalists plots, and we see a flashback involving people from the original Avatar stories.

Synopsis: In the aftermath of the equalists' latest attack, Chief Beifong and her police are searching desperately for answers, when Korra finds evidence implicating Asami's father, she faces being isolated from the team

After the last, more action heavy episode, we slow things down a bit here, for a bit of character work. That’s not to say that this episode isn’t story driven, because it very much is. Hiroshi Sato is a character that seemed a little too good to be true, and here we see that that’s very much the case

We see the first real bit of dialogue between Korra and Asami, which blossoms in book 3, it was nice, if nothing mind-blowing. They did well with the comedy during the first few minutes of the book. Nothing major, just a few light-hearted moments, to make the darker moments near the end more poignant.

We see a lot more of Lin in action, which is great. It’s good to see that metal-bending wasn’t the only skill Toph taught her, as she uses her feet-seeing abilities. (By far Toph's most bad-ass ability)

Tarlok is right at the beginning where they say that the equalists aren't interested in equality at all, rather waging war against benders. The problem is there is some legitimacy in what they've said (the next chapter will enhance that) but the equalists are just the equivalent of a terrorist faction.

Haroshi’s motives are interesting, his wife was killed by a bending triad (yet another one) the problem is it’s an almost identical origin to Mako and Bolin, the only difference being he happens not to be a bender. No points for creativity there.

The ending is interesting, Lin decides to not let the law stop her from finding her missing officers, this is a great thread, but there aren't any long-term consequences for this. Lin becomes chief of police again in book 2.

Rating 7/10

Synopsis: Asami, Mako and Bolin with Korra form the new team Avatar, and clash with Tarlok’s anti-equalist taskforce

Tarlok had been built up since his introduction as a manipulator, and his plot finally comes to a fold here. But it’s good that Korra can finally see through him (sadly this characteristic does seem to disappear in book 2)

It’s nice also to see team Avatar band together, outside of pro-bending, they haven’t really fought together (although this time there weren’t physical fights.)

It’s nice to finally see what I mentioned in my review of chapter 8, actual current evidence to justify the existence of the equalists, something that was sorely lacking from the earlier chapters. Tarlok is exactly what Amon is trying to fight, with him pursuing a curfew for non-benders, and turning off their power.

The manipulation of the new chief of police was an interesting twist, sadly never brought up again really. It was just an excuse to have Mako, Bolin and Asami arrested (Mako and Bolin for no reason that would hold up)

This of course leads to the final battle between Korra and Tarlok, as brutal as you would expect between two ‘extremes’ and with the interesting revelation that Tarlok is a blood-bender (another TLA call-back)

It’s sad really that this is where the equalist plotline both gets interesting, and runs out of steam at the same time, we don’t see the bender oppression of benders again.

Rating 8/10

Synopsis: As Lin, Tenzin and Team Avatar desperately seek Korra and the missing officers, Korra gets a warning from Aang about the dark times ahead

Well, Mako, Asami and Bolin’s stay in prison was brief. Lin had them busted out as her first move (again, consequences? What are those?) Their search for answers was interesting. Asami finally found out at the kiss between Mako and Korra, with the consequences to come

The action scenes were nicely done here, with good music to match. And eventually their realisation of Tarlok’s scheming lead to a satisfying, if brief confrontation.

The meat of this story though is a story about Avatar Aang, now with completely mastery of the Avatar state, joining Toph in arresting a criminal blood-bender named Yakone, the full depths of this story are yet to come, but it did lead Korra to the realisation of Tarlok being Yakone's son (it’s a bit of a leap really, but it’s well handled)

Then came the terrifying confrontation with Amon, only really powerful people can withstand blood-bending the way her could, it does hint at what’s to come. Naaga searching for Korra on her own was a nice touch too.

Rating 8.5/10

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Images used in this review are from The Legend of Korra and belong to their respective owners. All images in this review are subject to fair use.