Korra 1.05: "The Spirit of Competition"

[lizbee]

Oh man, this episode was like a kick in the guts.  Literally.  Because I just tried to eat half a bowl of mac and cheese, and my stomach is so sore, and then there was that bit where Bolin took the disk to the belly and lost his noodles, and that's exactly what I was feeling. 

There seems to be a lot of rage on Tumblr.  Not just shipping wank, which is inevitable, but "this is an objectively bad episode with no character development" rage.  Which is strange, because here is all the things we learned about our characters:

- Korra's a bit socially backward
- Mako is attracted to Korra, but also Asami, and this confuses him, but his first priority is his brother
- Bolin falls hard and fast, but also recovers equally fast
- He's also an emotional eater, which isn't something you see much in a masculine character
- Korra, despite her spiritual block, is an adept healer

And, finally, in the end Korra takes the first steps towards building a rapport with Asami.  (I kind of don't agree with the complaints that they're not instantly BFFs just because they happen to share a common gender, but that's me.  I also don't agree with the "Korra has no female friends" line, when she's taking romantic advice from two little girls.  I mean, no, she doesn't have any female friends her own age yet, but counting out the kids just because they're kids is one of those things fandom does that annoys me.)

ALSO, apparently it's an Avatar Thing to hear the words "I'm confused" and think it's a call for kisses.  (In Aang, this makes him a rapist, in Korra, it makes her a whore.  THANKS, FANDOM.)  Awkward as it is, I feel like "actually, that's a bad idea" is a lesson that can't be repeated enough to an impressionable audience, because there are whole genres out there that say the opposite.  And I really like how this episode resolved with apologies and renewed friendships.  And now the awkwardness is out of the way, so we can get on with the important stuff.  I'm really glad these subplots weren't dragged out for a whole season.

MEANWHILE, the important thing is that I have a new favourite character.  No, not these ladies --

-- although I love them quite a lot and feel like some kind of Rabbiroo cosplay is in order.  HERE:

No, not Tahno, though well done, fandom, for falling for the predatory guy in eyeliner. Girl in green behind him on the right, the one who is plainly Mai's great-niece, or a Fire Nation princess slumming it or something.  SHE'S AMAZING AND I LOVE HER.  (Hey, if the handsome Order of the White Lotus guy who appears for ten seconds in the first episode can have fangirls, SO CAN SHE.) 

Anyway, I desperately need some pills and a nap, so I leave you with inkstone's fascinating post on the second chakra, and the wider purpose of this episode.

Comments

[alexseanchai]

Asami/Mako/Korra/Bolin y/y?

[lizbee]

NOOOO MY INCEST SQUICK!

[alexseanchai]

Oops. Sorry. Forget I said anything.

[(Anonymous)]

So many good moments in this one. All the worst moments were followed with genuine hilarity (even the uncomfortable kind, like Bolin's breakdown)

I Neeeeeeeed a screen of the reaction shot to the belching contest. NEED.

[sianmink]

Oops that was me.

[sianmink]

[inkstone]

I don't even know what happened. I went out for the night and then come back to discover that post has a ton of notes and I have like 50 more followers than I used to. O_O

The slut-shaming of Korra by fandom at large is pissing me the fuck off though. A friend of mine hit it on the mark when she said this episode was uncomfortably accurate in depicting real life teenage romance (versus the teenage romance we often see in books, especially YA, where it's like you see a person and fall in love with them forever and ever and no else can get in the way).

[herewiss13]

BTW, that chakra post is extemely brilliant. If the next episode deals with willpower/shame you will have officially won the Internetz.

[inkstone]

I guess we'll see!

[lizbee]

I don't even know what happened. I went out for the night and then come back to discover that post has a ton of notes and I have like 50 more followers than I used to. O_O

Look, you go around saying interesting things that no one else has thought of, this is the sort of thing that happens!

A friend of mine hit it on the mark when she said this episode was uncomfortably accurate in depicting real life teenage romance (versus the teenage romance we often see in books, especially YA, where it's like you see a person and fall in love with them forever and ever and no else can get in the way).

Yes! But fandom seems to take the lack of romantic obsession as a sign that Bryke are doing it wrong? Even older people who presumably have some experience of their own with romance. It's strange.

Also, the idea going around that LoK only has romance because Korra is a teenage girl, and SEXISMS, is kind of annoying. Unless it turns out that Aang, Sokka and Zuko were all teenage girls all along. (Note: I'd totally read that fic.)

[inkstone]

Ha! I was just surprised. The root chakra post from last week got a decent number of notes & I picked up a few followers but it was nothing like this!

[sapote]

Yeah, this episode honestly made me reel a little bit because I'm so used to that tv romance trope - where nothing is more important than True Love even though you're like sixteen - that I was actively confused by them showing teenagers in love acting like actual teenagers in love with the awkwardness and the crying and the emotions ricocheting in different directions and the fact that actually lots of things are more important than the day's romantic flailings.

[inkstone]

Yeah, there were parts where I was feeling strong secondhand embarrassment because oh god, do I remember how that goes!

[nonelvis]

I don't know why I bother tracking #legendofkorra, since so many of the posts about this show make me facepalm. (Not yours, though. Your thoughts are correct, obviously.) People are really saying this episode had no character development? When it was almost entirely about character development? Is this one of those cases where "character development" = "served my ship and ONLY MY SHIP AND NOT YOUR WRONG SHIP OF WRONGNESS"?

[lizbee]

IDK, people seemed to be actually expecting a Korra/Bolin/Mako/Asami resolution? Never mind that, even if incestuous polyamoury was likely to appear on Nick, the episode made it pretty clear that these characters don't have the emotional maturity for that yet.

[sabra_n]

There is nothing better than Bolin on a teary noodle bender. NOTHING.

[sianmink]

Pabu waddle-sliding out the door after is very very close.

[deird1]

Your thoughts are very wise and excellent. *nods*

[archangelbeth]

I approve of your ideas and would like to subscribe... Oh, wait, I am subscribed! (And, also, the Rabbiroos are awesome, and the girl in green is definitely intriguing.)

If I have to ship Korra with anyone, I ship her with Bolin; anyone with earthbender muscles like him can probably do awesome backrubs with a little practice. (He does need to be a little less desperate, though. He's less awkward/pushy when he's being himself. But, c'mon, backrubs, probably for hours! This is worth investigating.)

My spouse points out that for narrative reasons, Korra should get a non-bender SO. Asami may or may not fulfill this role. Depends on if Amon is the Mystery Guy who funded her dad's dreams or not. >_> (But if Korra does go with Someone Completely Different, that would be kinda cool.)