Legend of Korra

Television is in a strange time. As many report, we have recently entered a second “Golden Age” of television shows. House of Cards, Game of Thrones, Orange is the New Black, Breaking Bad, I could go on and on. Wherever you look, there is a plethora of quality entertainment… except on actual television channels. Yes, what makes the times truly strange is that, despite the killer lineup of quality programming, television as a viewing medium continues to die. It simply cannot compete with internet streaming – and that is before piracy is factored in. There is just no incentive to watch shows on TV anymore. Which would you rather have: commercials or no commercials, binge watching or pre-planned air schedules, tight plots vs. weekly escapes… there really is no contest. It is a strange time and, as networks adapt, bizarre things can happen. So, let’s talk about just what the heck Nickelodeon is doing with its critical hit, Legend of Korra.

For those out there not in the know: Nickelodeon is pulling Korra off the air midway through its third season. Tonight, the eighth episode will air and… that will be it. The final five episodes will only be viewable through digital distribution (find the episodes here). Wait… what?

The bizarre pulling caused a lot of panic amongst the fans of the show. Co-creator Bryan Konietzko posted this image to console the panic.

On the face of it, this is a real head-scratcher. The Legend of Korra is a very story-driven show so this type of disruption will create chaos with the fans and could potentially damage the show’s viewership. Also, it is not like Nickelodeon is enjoying a quantity of quality shows being created at the moment. Korra’s spot is currently being filled by reruns of Spongebob… with reruns of Full House following that…. really, Nickelodeon? So, it must have been ratings, right?

Gotta get my Full House fix! Party like it's 1995! — Gotta get my *Full House* fix! Party like it’s 1995!

Yes and no.

Season three of the Legend of Korra had the worst premiere ratings of the series. The third season premiere had less than two million viewers, which is a really low number for a season premiere apparently. It really does not look like much when compared with season one’s impressive 4.5 million viewers. However, the low ratings do not necessarily reflect no interest. Consider this: there was no advertising for the Legend of Korra until one week prior to the premiere. Nickelodeon rushed the show out of nowhere in one week.

What?

There is a reason, but it is not a good one. Piracy. The Legend of Korra was not supposed to air so soon in the summer… which really is a bizarre launch window when considered. It is also strange that Nickelodeon would give up all the hype they usually enforce during the San Diego Comic Con (going on now), which is the past has been used to really promote the coming season. Okay, so how did piracy “force” Nickelodeon’s hand?

Legend of Korra is one of the first in the "animated drama" genre, and book three took the series to new heights of maturity, exploring adult themes including the relationship between Lin Bei Fong and her half-sister. — *Legend of Korra* is one of the first in the “animated drama” genre, and book three took the series to new heights of maturity, exploring adult themes like the relationship between Lin Bei Fong and her half-sister, Suyin.

According to this report, four mid-season episodes were leaked online during production. Rather than dismissing the leak, it seems like someone at Nickelodeon hit the panic button. Oh no, they thought, four episodes that people can just watch online – we better scramble to get our episodes on TV! Rather than let any word of mouth occur or give marketing a chance to build up hype, season three was vomited forth less than two months after the leak. Three episodes, then two, then two… in three weeks over half the season had aired. With only thirteen episodes, that means Nickelodeon intended to spit out the entirety of season three of Legend of Korra in less than two months. How was this plan supposed to work?

In a manner that perfectly highlights the weaknesses of traditional television programming, Nickelodeon shot itself in the foot. Why show Korra at all if it will be done in such a foolish and costly manner? Indeed, that appears to have been the reasoning behind the pull. Should fans be worried about Korra going digital? Not really. Will Nickelodeon cancel Legend of Korra? Not likely but they might. They have already purchased a fourth season and it is unlikely that this season will be held accountable for mistakes made at the network.

Surely nothing bad has ever happened to a great show when the network has screwed up airing it... right? — Surely nothing bad has ever happened to a great show when the network has screwed up airing it… right?

That said, Nickelodeon might balk on purchasing a fifth. It would be its loss, however, and Netflix/Hulu/Amazon’s gain. After all, this action only proves that the future of TV lies anywhere except through traditional broadcasting channels.

Like many people out there, I am a huge fan of the Avatar: the Last Airbender animated series. Also like many people, I was really excited when the creator’s of said show announced their new, sequel project, The Legend of Korra. However, you may remember in another article that I wrote, that I expressed my feelings on some rather serious concerns with this new series. Much of the great character writing that had highlighted the first show was missing and The Legend of Korra suffered quite a few problems that held it back from being anything close to great, at least in taking the first season by itself.

And then there's these two. — And then there’s these two.

One of my chief problems was the relationship between protagonist, Korra and non-existent character, Mako. I’ll try not to repeat myself too much here: I simply never felt the relationship worked. Mainly because Korra (being hot-headed, quick-tempered, loves-to-argue) did not make sense to match up with Mako (more serious, level-headed, dumps-his-first-girlfriend-as-soon-as-she’s-poor… didn’t-really-have-much-character-beyond-that). Yes, you could understand an initial attraction, but a long term relationship seemed a more outlandish idea than bending the elements.

Part of what makes this season an improvement is that they begin to define the character of Mako and give him some much needed personality.

So let’s get into season two, set a full six months after season one and Korra and Mako are still together… somehow. The audience gets the sense that not much conflict has happened in this time, which makes the idea of the two of them surviving together more believable. The peace is not long to last though as wild spirits show up and tensions arise between Korra and the two parental male figures in her life: Tenzin (her mentor) and Tonraq (her father).

In comes Mako to diffuse the situation… with expected results. Korra explodes at him and the two get into a heated argument, every time. Mako even admits that he doesn’t feel comfortable expressing himself around Korra, asking essentially if she would to hear his opinion or simply something she would agree with. The signs are there that the relationship is not in paradise but… it keeps going.

This is the common pose of the season for Korra and Mako.

Meanwhile Bolin has entered into a relationship with Eska, Korra’s cousin from the Northern Water Tribe. Eska is very obviously manipulative, controlling, and all-around crazy so Bolin naturally seeks advice on how to end the relationship. He goes to his older brother and the two have a conversation that is one of the smarter scenes in the entire season. Mako advises Bolin to simply break off, that dragging out a bad relationship is like allowing a leech to hang onto skin. Great advice but the audience wonders if Mako should be listening to himself talk.

Poor relationships are actually a common theme in the season as it is revealed that Aang did not have the best relationship with his children.

Here is where the great realistic writing reenters the series. Mako is communicating thoughts that he is already subconsciously feeling but having trouble expressing directly: his brother’s crappy relationship echoes his own but is not his, so he can see it clearer and be more objective.

It’s not hard to see where this is going: eventually Korra and Mako get into a serious fight and Mako announces that he is finished. Korra goes off and does some Avatar stuff (losing a chunk of her memory in the process… boy I hope that doesn’t arbitrarily create drama later) and Mako rekindles his relationship with Asami. Why Asami is so quick to take him back is beyond me but at least the two of them have some chemistry together.

The final argument that breaks up Korra and Mako. Told you it was a common pose.

But anyway, remember how I mentioned that Korra lost a bit of her memory? Guess which part exactly. So Korra comes back, thinking everything’s fine and Mako… rekindles that relationship as well, dramatically hurting Asami in the process.

Asami looking both hurt and angry at Mako's inability to be mature and decide his relationships. — Asami looking both hurt and angry at Mako’s inability to be mature and decide his relationships.

I know I prefaced this as “arbitrary drama” but I actually think that the writing staff deserves a lot of credit for accurately portraying bad relationships: sometimes they’re hard to get out of. Mako dodges the harder conflict in favor of an easier one but just ends up creating more problems for himself.

Korra, of course, regains her full memory at the end of season two and confronts Mako about the break up. Here is the first moment where Korra genuinely becomes the strong character she has been purported to be all series. She is the one to directly come out and state that they, despite loving each other, do not work as a couple and that they are romantically done.

“I think we both know that this… us… doesn’t work” – Korra “You’re right. I’ll always love you, Korra.” – Mako “And I’ll always love you.” – Korra

This is a powerful moment that shows how much Korra has evolved since the start of the series. She has matured and is learning to calm her temper, while also learning to trust her instincts as a person and not just as the Avatar. Mako, by contrast, is revealed as the less mature of the two: someone who still needs to learn how to be more direct with his feelings and take more responsibility for his actions.

Again, I cannot praise the romantic writing (at least in regards to Korra and Mako) enough this season. First and foremost: this is a show intended for all audiences and Korra is a wonderful role model this season. Too often media (television shows and movies in particular) goes only the dramatic route of ending relationships – just look at Disney’s Frozen for an example of that. The Legend of Korra takes the more complex approach: the idea that two people can love each other but not be right for one another. Korra and Mako are not done as friends and they are not done in each others lives.

There was no drama, no unnecessary turn of character traits. No one became evil. The Legend of Korra has started writing its characters as people, and that bodes really well for the remaining three seasons.

Also they brought back Uncle Iroh, that's just awesome. — Also they brought back Uncle Iroh, that’s just awesome.

What Happened with the Legend of Korra Season Three?

It's Actually Better the Second Time Around: Korra and Mako