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Behold, I have written a ten thousand word essay on the Legend of Korra and its multi-season trajectory. Because apparently that's how I roll. And how long it takes to write down everything I think. But also: fair warning - this is an essay. I'd love for you to read it, but for real, take your time.
The Legend of Korra: Deliberately Deconstructed
When The Legend of Korra finished, late last year, I was left with the strange sense that I had watched a show completely, and deliberately, dismantle itself. Much was made of that final iconic shot of Korra and Asami leaving for the Spirit World, in what was, honestly, the queerest “platonic” moment I've seen on television since Xena managed to stage a PG-rated dance-orgy. It was (to its credit) both obvious and unavoidable, but it was also the capstone to a much wider-ranging set of choices designed to destabilise accepted narratives. This would be worthy of exploration under any circumstance, but I feel it is particularly fascinating given how much of it appears to be in direct reaction to the events of Book One: Air. While I've seen countless shows begin with promise, only to fall foul of hegemonic expectations, I'm not sure I've ever seen one begin carelessly and then spend three seasons systematically and critically dismantling its initial premise.
( Avatar: the Last Airbender )
( The Bridge Between Worlds )
( The Death of Aang and the Age of Korra )
( Build Yourself a Metal City and Build Around the Vines )
( Post-Industrial Political Revolution )
( On Earthly Bodies, Enlightenment and Sin )
( Korra Alone )
( There's a collision at this intersection )
( The Legend of Bryke )
( Love )
Title: Republic City
Video: The Legend of Korra
Audio: Atlantic City // The Gaslight Anthem [Springsteen Cover]
Summary: Everything dies, baby that's a fact. (But everything that dies, some day comes back.)
Direct download available here. RightClickSaveAs. 83 megs approx.
Cross-posted to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
vidding and ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
vidding
Other vids available here.
Video: The Legend of Korra
Audio: Atlantic City // The Gaslight Anthem [Springsteen Cover]
Summary: Everything dies, baby that's a fact. (But everything that dies, some day comes back.)
Direct download available here. RightClickSaveAs. 83 megs approx.
Cross-posted to
vidding and viddingOther vids available here.
So, the Legend of Korra finished last month and it was actually pretty awesome. Over the course of the series I felt it made up for a lot of its first season missteps, even if the fact I know the first book was written to standalone means I am unwilling to say that everything wrong with it was intentional. But yeah, overall, it was a great wrap-up and while I have a few reservations - things I wish they'd done slightly differently - don't we always? I feel far more joy.
I feel like the whole series - all four books - deserves an epic review post, meta and all sorts, but for right now I kind of just wanted to address one piece of criticism I've been seeing because I think it's worth some attention.
( Forgiveness, compassion, anger, justice and suffering. )
I feel like the whole series - all four books - deserves an epic review post, meta and all sorts, but for right now I kind of just wanted to address one piece of criticism I've been seeing because I think it's worth some attention.
( Forgiveness, compassion, anger, justice and suffering. )
Avatar cartoons. Yup, that's what's been going on lately. I watched them ALL. Like, really quickly cus they were so good. So good. People had been telling me for years, and I didn't listen. I was such a fool.
But now I am enlightened! And, obviously, full of thoughts. Mostly about Korra and expectations and the ways in which it is saddled with an impossible task.
First, though, Avatar: The Last Airbender! Because, wow, that show is a beautiful, beautiful thing. So many narratives that were just...more than I thought they'd be at the start. More subtle, more thoughtful, more touching, more heartbreaking.
( The Last Airbender feelings spam! )
So of course, next, I wanted to watch Korra. Because all that but about a girl? Yes. YES PLEASE.
And then, I was warned, it was not so great, and so I went in forearmed, and I think that helped me, because the first season was not so great. And the others have been...well parts have been wonderful and parts have been confusing, and that's what I have gathered you all here today to talk about!
( So Book One was sort of not great... )
( Book Two was much better! )
( And then we get to Book Three which was mostly lovely yet left me with some uncomfortable questions about the future... )
I need Book 4 like yesterday.
But now I am enlightened! And, obviously, full of thoughts. Mostly about Korra and expectations and the ways in which it is saddled with an impossible task.
First, though, Avatar: The Last Airbender! Because, wow, that show is a beautiful, beautiful thing. So many narratives that were just...more than I thought they'd be at the start. More subtle, more thoughtful, more touching, more heartbreaking.
( The Last Airbender feelings spam! )
So of course, next, I wanted to watch Korra. Because all that but about a girl? Yes. YES PLEASE.
And then, I was warned, it was not so great, and so I went in forearmed, and I think that helped me, because the first season was not so great. And the others have been...well parts have been wonderful and parts have been confusing, and that's what I have gathered you all here today to talk about!
( So Book One was sort of not great... )
( Book Two was much better! )
( And then we get to Book Three which was mostly lovely yet left me with some uncomfortable questions about the future... )
I need Book 4 like yesterday.
