Random Korra theory

[lizbee]

So we know that Dante Basco makes at least two appearances, playing a character who is connected in some way with Zuko. One of these episodes is called "Skeleton in the Closet".

I am wondering, given the main conflict in the series is between benders and non-benders, if the skeleton in question is non-bender(s) in the Fire Nation royal family, either a branch that is hushed up, or possibly a lack of bending heirs all together.

Comments

[unjapanologist]

Oh, were there more ep titles somewhere? I missed that. Link?

Maybe it's just Old Zuko moping in a closet because Old Azula is still better than him at everything. But in all seriousness, it would be interesting if the there was no bending heir. I always wondered if the Fire Lord absolutely has to be a bender.

[lizbee]

Oh, were there more ep titles somewhere? I missed that. Link?

No official release, but Basco tweeted that title when he was recording. (Of course, it might have changed by now.)

But in all seriousness, it would be interesting if the there was no bending heir. I always wondered if the Fire Lord absolutely has to be a bender.

Indeed. I know it's just fanon that the Fire Lord has to be a firebender, but it does make sense. And a story about that would parallel, say, the Japanese royal family and so forth.

[unjapanologist]

The show did present a general atmosphere that suggested the Fire Lord usually has to be a bender, with the "superior element" talk, the idea that taking away Ozai's bending is enough to neutralize any threat he presents, how Zuko automatically was presumed to suck because he was less good at bending that Azula, etc. If any nation is going to insist on a bending ruler, it'll be the FN. Which makes me wonder if FN people will be presented as having a different attitude to the anti-bending revolt than people from nations where bending wasn't emphasized that much.