>>104442
I like it. As much as I love pro-bending, you're right that playing up the triad issue would be great for character and setting development.

Also, the oft-discussed Amon/Korra teamup to take down Tarrlok: yes. I am such a sucker for 'enemy of my enemy is my friend' scenarios.

Korra's lack of spirituality and her rash nature lead her to make mistakes. Mistakes that end up hurting people. Only when at one point she hurts someone close to her, she sees how she should be more like Tenzin, and unlocks her airbending.

I think this whole thing is complete bullshit. The writing is FINE. What we have is a series that only has 26 episodes to tell its story, not the 60+ the original show got. Bottom line: this show does not have time to fuck around, it has things to do. And frankly it's doing just that. Sure it'd be nice if there was time to do things like meet more of the new characters, check in with the old and see how the world has progressed in those 70 years since the Gaang had it's first adventures, but that's just what this show is. The sooner people accept that, the better.
Yes, everyone is entitlted to their opinions, but the failings most people are finding bascially amount to the show NOT being about the previous cast.

I find this a bit premature and lot of these changes to be completely arbitrary and unnecessary, so I'm waiting for the season to be over before i get into this.
Like Bryan said
>a lot of these reactions may turn out to be knee-jerk ones in the long run, once you see where the stories and characters go

I've been mulling over this a lot, although in the context of thinking how TLoK could work condensed down to a movie, but for the 12 episode series there are a few points that need fixing...

1. Rework or Minimize Pro-Bending -- It's a great concept, but it really sucked up valuable time from both the Equalist and Airbending story arcs without returning anything. It either needs to be dropped entirely, moved to Season 2, or reworked somehow (as the OP suggested).

In canon, pro-bending was introduced as a way for Korra to express her freedom (getting off Air Temple Island), to show the struggle between modernity and tradition (why Tenzin hated the "mockery" the sport made of bending as an art), and to give her a practical way to use her airbending training. Yet all those threads get dropped after Episode 2. If pro-bending is kept, it must service Korra's airbending training and the Equalist arc more.

If it's dropped, then Mako and Bolin need to express their core story -- impoverished benders trying to make good -- in another fashion. Having one or both of them work for the Triple Threats has merit, as it'd give the show more of a chance to focus on the underclass and the conflicting ethnic groups (for lack of a better word) in the show. Or, say, have Mako and Bolin work in a shop, pro-bending only in their off-hours as a serious hobby, and defend the fact that they have to pay protection to the triads to Korra. "The cops don't care about the poor" or "they look away from the really multi-ethnic parts of town" or "the triads are our own people, and we don't rat them out to the cop."

Organized crime usually is most effective where the government is the least effective, moving into and filing valuable niches. Protection money means the Triple Threats don't burn down your shop, but it also means they keep the riff-raff and other gangs from making trouble so you can walk around your neighborhood at night. Which is something that might be too dark and cynical for a kid's show, but I'd hope it could deal with the topic in some fashion.

Which leads into...


2. Develop Republic City more -- We do know the penalty rules in pro-bending but we don't know if the ruling council is elected or appointed!

The "bender VS non-bender" conflict also comes off as detached when we don't know the stakes. For all Amon talks about bender oppression, we didn't see much of it before the arena attack allowed Tarrlok to make his play. Are non-benders really being oppressed? If so, the show needs to demonstrate how in more ways than just one gangster scene in episode one. If they aren't, the show needs to demonstrate why not plus why Amon argument is popular enough to fill a large warehouse (like, for example, by scapegoating benders in the midst of a long economic depression.)

Republic City is poorly developed as a setting. Different cities have characters all their own. When you think of Chicago or Detroit or LA, they all conjure up different ideas and sentiments. Yet Republic City is bland and comes off as a city without a soul. This may be due, in part, to the lack of attention paid to the rest of the world. We know Korra thought Republic City basically had streets paved with gold, but what about the rest of the world? What do they think of RC? Are they envious of its wealth? Do they think its multiculturalism is a crock? Do they see it as glamorous but corrupt to the core? And how do the people of RC see themselves in relation to the rest of the world?

Heck, how about why Republic City seemingly went to pot after Aang died? What changed in the last fifteen years? Or are there things about Aang that aren't being spoken of, because wasn't say such things of the dead?

Developing RC would enrich the other arcs greatly, giving them added weight and grounding them in a living world.

>>104447
You know, I'd actually be ready to get rid of the Gaang flashbacks and that subplot, if only that gave the show more time to develop the new Team Avatar and make them more likable to the audience. Hell, I'd even be ready to get rid of Lin, Tenzin, and all of our links to the old Gaang. I like these characters a lot, but if writing them out of the show would allow more room for developing Korra and her friends better, I would be okay with it.

And yeah, there is only a limited amount of time, which is why irrelevant bullshit needs to be cut. And pro-bending counts as that in my opinion, since Mako and Bolin could very easily be introduced through some alternate means. Love triangle was a pretty bad idea as well. IMO it would be better if the series had more focus on the bender vs. non-bender conflict.

>>104447
Um I like this show but I've gotta say, the pacing is like a traffic jam at times. There is way too much they are trying/ had to put in a 12 episode series. Of course, I often feel this way about 12 series in general.

Echoing all the sentiments about Pro Bending and the need for more worldbuilding. Even as early as episode 4 it nothing but a spectacle to showcase fancy animation and the time would've been better served showing exactly how nonbenders were oppressed by benders because until episode 8 the Equalists' cause was basically a case of Informed Oppression.

Hell, just trading one episode's worth of Pro Bending for other stuff would've been a massive improvement.

>>104450
It's been mentioned before but Korra's relationship with Tenzin and Lin is a lot stronger at the moment than the one that she has with the bending bros.

Not only that, they offer a lot to Korra in way of reigning in her impulsive and reckless sort of ways. Truthfully Tenzin and Lin could probably be combined into one character to uphold the uptight, by-the-book foil to Korra, but as it is that sort of character offers a lot more opportunities for Korra's development than the love affairs between the bending bros with their lackluster personalities and actual affect on Korra's character.

Dropping Mako and Bolin for Tenzin and Lin would make a lot more sense.

>>104454
Coming back to this thought, one of the main complaints so far is the lack of development these characters are getting so far. With only twelve episodes, a cast of six (the 4 kids + Tenzin + Lin) is difficult to juggle screentime for. Things could actually be streamlined and better focused if some of the characters were combined.

Not taking into account personality or anything, simply from the perspective of what roles a character could play and the sort of dynamic they would have with Korra, Team Avatar could be comprised of four people. Mako and Bolin could be combined into one rapscallion bender, Tenzin and Lin could be smushed into one strong authority figure and then Asami would keep her role. Korra has the character dynamics necessary to reflect the world of Republic City and the characters themselves will have more time to not only better develop themselves but the part of Republic City they represent.

>>104442
>completely rewrite Asami's character and all of her actions. My suggestion? Make her a rich, snooty bitch.
A female character has no flaws and your solution is to make them into the stereotypical Mean Girls bitch. Seriously? I liked some of your other suggestions, but this is just retarded.

How about establishing Asami as a peaceful Equalist protester? In terms of flaws, she could be a bit overzealous and oversensitive, but at her core a very moral person. In fact, Asami could be the protester in the park in episode one, who is initially at odds with Korra, but is disillusioned by Amon's terror tactics and ends up joining Korra's side. The question of her loyalties and general apprehension of benders (they did kill her mother...) would provide more than enough room for a strong character arc.

This whole thread.

>>104456
I like this idea a lot. I agree with the earlier post that Tenzin and Lin have a very interesting dynamic with Korra, and it would be a shame to lose them in favor of teenage drama.

I probably wouldn't want Tenzin and Lin smushed together since both of them are interesting in different ways. Lin is stern, serious and antagonistic, but eventually warms up to Korra; meanwhile, Tenzin tries to act serious, but always gets stuck in comedic situations and struggles to appear dignified. But as for Mako, Bolin, Asami? Yeah, eliminate at least one of them to allow more screentime and character development for the rest.

I love it when antagonists end up switching their side, and that's the main reason why I'm fond of Lin and the way she grows to care for Korra. I really want the Krew have a former rival/enemy/antagonist in its ranks. As much as I hate it, maybe Lin could be replaced by Tahno, for instance? After his de-bending, there would be room for some nice character development for him. The cast might get a chance to discuss bender vs. non-bender stuff more when Tahno's presence keeps being a reminder of that conflict.
So the Krew could be:

-Korra (the hero)
-Makobolin (love interest; bending brothers mashed together into one guy)
-Tenzin (the mentor figure)
-Tahno (formerly bad guy who gets reformed)
-Asami (Korra's rival or gal pal; which one would be a better charactization? How to make her character more interesting, and how to make sure a love triangle would not fuck up the characters too much?)

Honestly, Mako and Bolin don't need to be smushed together. Take Mako out of the equation and nothing of value will be lost.

>>104464
Between being a jerk and indecisive, I can't pick out many traits from Mako, so yeah, I'd kinda agree.

Hasn't Tahno gotten his mini-arc already? Fangirls for draco malfoy characters aside, I see no reason to bring him back/make him stick around any longer. He served his purpose well like good minor characters do.

>>104458
Yeah, rewriting Asami was the hardest part because there's not much to work with, and I just wrote the first thing that came into my mind on a moment's notice. Her character design makes me think of the rich bitch stereotype, so that's where I went for even though I realised it's really cliched and dumb. I just wanted anything else than the current characterization.

I like your idea. It keeps the core of Asami's personality intact but gives her some more conflict and edge. It introduces the character more quickly which is good; we've only got limited time after all. I also like how inserting her into that scene would allow her to get a terrible first impression of Korra and give her a good reason to dislike her. It would also make Korra get long-spanning consequences for using such stupid comebacks in that scene. It's nice when characters act in a stupid fashion and it bites them in the butt.
Also, switching sides is good, and I want that happening in Legend of Korra.

I think the show is great. I just think they should have gotten rid of the Korra/Mako/Asami thing. Or at least have Mako stick with Asami and just keep it that way. Just because Korra's the main character, doesn't mean she has to end up with the guy she likes. I also agree about removing Pema's advice. Horrible advice.

>>104458
I got to thinking how Korra would convince Asami (the protester) to help Korra get to the Revelation meeting especially if Bolin/Malin gets kidnapped by Amon when he has an association with the Triads. That sort of connection would be poisonous to any relationship Korra would have with Asami, no matter how bad Asami finds Amon to be. It'd simply be unforgivable.

Then I got to thinking if we still had the separate bending bros and only Mako was involved in the Triad business. Bolin would be doing his parlor tricks with Pabu on the streets and not only that, he'd be doing it in the park, right across from where Asami holds her rallies.

This scenario would accomplish two critical things. It reinforces the idea of Mako's protective nature over Bolin (a supposed character trait that we haven't really seen in the show proper), he doesn't want his little brother getting into any dirty business and is willing to go so far as to be one of the actual enforcers in the Triads to protect Bolin.

It'll also allow room for additional perspective to Asami's Equalist views. Even if Amon doesn't necessarily kill his victims which Asami should state proudly, he certainly doesn't let them walk free. As someone Asami would see everyday (probably not even using bending), to learn that an innocent like Bolin would not only lose his bending, but end up imprisoned simply for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, she might wake up to realize that Amon's system isn't really fair(equal) at all.

Some additional merits to this new approach would be revealing the cracks in the bending bro's relationship ("Just stay here and do your tricks, Bolin! I'll handle everything, okay?") with Shady Shin playing on Bolin's subtle resentment for constantly being treated like a child ("You gonna play with your weasel all day or do some real work like your brother?").

The subsequent reunion with the bros would provide some airing out of emotions and a more equal relationship as two men rather than a big bro/baby bro sort of thing. Or at least take the first step to having a more equal relationship. Also Mako will have the perfect excuse to quit the Triads: they tried to drag his little bro into the underworld with him and that is simply unforgivable.

Plus, if any bender is going to get an Equalist to warm up to them, it'd be Bolin so the Asami/Bolin relationship would be a lot of fun to see even before the part where Bolin is kidnapped and is just doing tricks in the park.

> My suggestion? Make her a rich, snooty bitch. She's a pampered beautiful daddy's girl who always gets what she wants, and she's out to have fun, seduce guys and get some dick. She meets Korra, Mako and Bolin in Tarrlok's party. When she realizes that Korra's interested in Mako, she decides to start making moves on Mako even though she doesn't love him; she just wants to make Korra unhappy and show she's the alpha female here. She thinks it would be an amusing accomplishment to steal the avatar's love interest. She starts hanging out with the Krew and keeps saying nasty, snippy stuff to Korra whenever Mako or Bolin isn't around to hear it.

Jesus no. Not only is that an awful trite stereotype I am sick to death of seeing in media--bitchy beautiful man-eater--but that makes Asami matter even less because it means she's only there to be a romantic obstacle we'll know Korra will triumph over the moment she opens her mouth.

Asami isn't just an obstacle in canon; she's a sympathetic non-bender who is unquestionably aligned with the heroes, and can actually fight and do things, unlike Pema--the only other heroic non-bender in the show--who's a minor character currently unable to roundhouse kick dudes in the face. She's also a protagonist with intimate ties to the Equalists. The scene where she chose The Right Thing over her beloved father was awesome, and it wouldn't have had remotely the same impact if she'd been established as an unlikeable ass instead of gentle and kind. The show desperately needs a protagonist with a perspective like hers.

Keep her and cut out the love triangle. Either she goes with Mako and he doesn't stray while Korra goes with Bolin/doesn't get romantically attached to anyone at all, or Korra goes with Mako and Asami is a platonic friend to both of them. In the latter if for some reason we need ~romantic problems~--have Asami be Korra's closest companion so she is not sitting on the periphery of the group, and make Makorra clear from the start, but have them wander around in confusion about it since neither of them know how to proceed. Korra hasn't had real friends or a romantic relationship before so she doesn't know how to handle confessing to Mako or how to interpret Asami's friendship with him, and she fears--without real reason--that he'll develop feelings for Asami. Part of their romantic arc is Korra overcoming her stupid jealousy problems without damaging her friendship with Asami and learning to trust Mako. Asami is completely unchanged; the only difference is that she joins the group after accidentally running into Korra on her bike, and Hiroshi laments that his daughter is traipsing around with the Avatar of all people, and the Avatar's ex-triad cronies.

She still invites the brothers to stay with her at the mansion after the bending arena is destroyed and Mako is still the one to comfort her after she rejects her dad; Korra doesn't because she isn't good at this sort of thing and doesn't know what to say or do, while he understands what it's like to lose family and despite his attempts to seem stoic he cares deeply about his friends. It sends up a mistaken red flag to Korra but after everything Asami just went through she feels like maybe she should just let it happen. I really liked that scene in canon, I think it could still work really well for character development in a slightly different context. This version also fixes a major problem with Mako's situation, in that I think the writers intended him to be a character who wears a cool, collected mask to hide the fact that he cares a lot about everybody, but it doesn't come across as selfless when the only people he ever interacts with are love interests and his brother. If he was only involved with one girl and the other was obviously just his platonic friend, but he treated them both equally, this trait would be a lot more endearing. It's not so much that he's "written wrong" but that, because of how the cast is set up, there isn't an opportunity to showcase that facet properly. He might get that friend in season 2 but I think it would have been better to establish a relationship like that right off the bat because people have already formed opinions on him and they're not the right ones.

Also honestly Tahno joining Korra's close group of friends is a dumbass idea. I'm not opposed to him making occasional reappearances, maybe to redeem himself, but a full-fledged team member? No.

Wow... did you seriously make an "i dont like the way the creators told their own story. I think i can do better" thread

Just wow... ok yeah they could have spent more effort connecting the dots but shit happens when you're on a deadline. To sit here n try to put your own oc fantasy b.s. in is just retarded.

>>104442

Hey, other anon. Just wanted to drop in and say that your notes look pretty good and I hope you go ahead and do something with them. I kind of wish I had contact info for you, so I could chat with you about this stuff someplace other than here.

>>104475
I like your ideas too. As I said earlier, the "rich bitch" Asami was really quickly thought-up and steoreotypical thing, and it's better if we're able to work with an Asami that actually sticks close to the series' characterization. I tried to think of a way to fit Asami as well as love triangle involvement, and the first obvious way seemed to be to show that Asami's somewhat nasty and doesn't fit together with Mako.

I actually kind of like Asami; it's nice and surprising to have this beautiful woman who looks like she's gonna be a femme fatale, but it turns out that she's ridiculously nice, gentle and kind-hearted. Unfortunately, while she'd probably be a really neat person to have as an IRL friend, her submissive niceness makes her kind of boring as a fictional character. But it's still upsetting and unfair that the love triangle will probably really hurt her; she doesn't deserve it.

I'm okay with Asami being around but not involved in love triangle shenanigans. It's probably the best solution. And I like your idea that Asami's connection to the Krew is that she runs her bike into Korra instead of Mako; it's nice to get some female friends for Korra.

>>104476
I'd mostly want Tahno around because he was de-bended. Every time that we've had some character losing their bending, they've been tossed away from the story and they've become irrelevant to the plot. I'd really want to keep one of these people around so that we can see more of how their loss of bending affects them as people. Do they still accidentally try to use bending forms before remembering they can't? Is losing your bending so major that it affects your soul? Some insight into the thoughts and feelings of de-bended people?
All the other folks who lost their bending are nameless triad guys or metalbender cops who didn't really have any interaction with Korra, so that's why I'd kinda like to see Korra interacting more with de-bended Tahno. Or maybe Bolin could've lost his bending back during the kidnapping, and he has to deal with it during the rest of the series.

>>104481
Sorry, most likely I won't be doing anything with this stuff. I just wanted to share my thoughts and hear what kinds of ideas you people can brainstorm. I thought that instead of coming up with theories and speculations about upcoming episodes and then feeling underwhelmed when the next episode airs and interesting plotpoints get rushed, it might be nice to look back at previous episodes and discuss about their writing.

Anyway, I'm a fan artist but I don't have enough self-confidence with my writing to create fanfics. So no, I won't be writing an AU based on this thread. The only fanfic-related thing I might be capable of doing is being a beta reader... but even then, I'm really picky about which fanfics I bother to read. But if you still want my contact info to talk about anything, here you go.

>>104480
I've heard the "WELL WHY DON'T YOU DO BETTER!?" accusation leveled before about loads of works, and frankly it's bullshit. This anon took that idea to task, and made some suggestions about how the plot could've been better done. He wouldn't be taking the effort to do something like that if he weren't at least somewhat of a fan. It's like theorizing, but on a grander scale. It's an exercise I can appreciate at the very least.

Overall, I like the way the show's gone. The writing hasn't always been incredible, but generally I've liked how things develop and I love the show. OP, you have some interesting ideas, and it'd be fucking AWESOME if we could see the show re-done with a lot of those changes for comparison's sake. That said, I hate what you do with Asami. While you could argue she seems "too perfect", it's kinda boring/cliche to have her as the snooty rich girl. The way the show disarms that is endearing, and it's allowed me to forgive how her character isn't always the best-written/developed.

>>104485

>I'd mostly want Tahno around because he was de-bended. Every time that we've had some character losing their bending, they've been tossed away from the story and they've become irrelevant to the plot. I'd really want to keep one of these people around so that we can see more of how their loss of bending affects them as people. Do they still accidentally try to use bending forms before remembering they can't? Is losing your bending so major that it affects your soul? Some insight into the thoughts and feelings of de-bended people?
I'd say what we got in episode seven with the Tahno scene was enough and addressed that. Even Zolt was openly weeping on stage after his turn, btw. I feel lke there's no need for more exposition/mourning scenes about de-bended people.

Some ideas are interesting, but I think we would be better served waiting for the finale, first. Can you imagine trying to judge season 3 if you didn't see Southern Raider or the Sozin's Comet finale? You'd stand the risk of saying Katara wasn't getting any development regarding her distrust of Zuko, no mention of the Avatar State or how Azula was doing after losing her friends. As well you wouldn't be able to say anything about the Lionturtle/Energybending or how you felt that should have been handled. I say we wait. I dislike how the romance is making our Krew act, and some dialogue felt too simple/forced, but I like the show overall, so I'm withholding judgement.

I'd shuffle things about a bit. I think there's a bit of a problem with some characters getting more time than others or being stuck in bland interactions that do their development no favors.

The first of the Krew that Korra meets is Asami in a rather bizarre and catastrophic way. While being chased by the Metalbending cops, Naga nearly collides with Asami and her moped. Panicked, Korra hastily earthbends to halt the incoming vehicle only to catapult Asami onto her polar bear dog. Seeing that Korra is being pursued by the police, Asami attempts to halt Korra to help the cops and a chaotic, mounted fight ensues atop Naga. Eventually they all end up captured by the Zeppelin, with the two teens locked in the same cell as the cops think that the young Sato heiress was Korra's accomplice. The two talk to pass the time, Korra begrudgingly expressing respect for Asami's fighting skills and Asami being marginally fascinated by Korra's being the Avatar and understanding once her cellmate reveals why she was being pursued. During the course of this exchange they discover they have a mutual love of probending though Korra confesses to never having seen a match. Asami offers to bring her along to see one the following day if she manages to get out of jail. While certain events stay the same, this chance meeting would still have a big impact on the story and relationships among the characters.

The series would stress the odd friendship between the two young women which would serve the narrative due to their conflicting characteristics (Bender vs. Nonbender, Penniless vs. Rich, Abrasive vs. Refined, not to mention the physical aspects) having to find a middle ground, a balance if you will since neither can bring themselves to fully dislike the other. They also, at the start, are burdened with legacies, Korra has to be the Avatar, and Asami is probably studying to succeed her father as CEO of Future Industries.

As to how I'd change Asami's character, I'd try to add a darker undertone to her love of racing cars, bikes and whatnot. Maybe her mother being murdered made her confront her own mortality and she's aiming to get the most out of life while she can, making her friendship with Korra being founded on her personal desire for bigger thrills: an enigmatic and eloquent Roxy Rocket if you will. Other than that, she could be a caring, snarky straight man to Korra's more impulsive self. It's a tried mechanic, but true, and its easier translation would allow more time for the other characters and aspects of the show.

Asami's choice of staying with the Krew over joining her father and the Equalists would be more profound. Rather than being torn between her family and a rather shallow love interest who happens to be a bender,she's conflicted as her (best?) friend is THE Bender and is far from perfect, Korra being something of a brash, destructive meathead (leading credence to her father's claims) while nonetheless being a well-meaning, courageous person.

>>104497

>>104497
That... that is very clever. And it would really change up the Krew dynamic.

>>104497

>>104497
I wish they would have done something like this, because it's now that I realize how weak Asami's choice to turn against her father really was.

We'd have to do something about her moped driving skills, though. She runs into Korra and Mako?

>>104497

That's a damn good idea.

I like how it adds a common relationship thread that runs through all the major storylines, something which is lacking in canon, where the three major story arcs are a jumble.

Gold star, ma'am/sir.

>>104503
>>We'd have to do something about her moped driving skills, though. She runs into Korra and Mako?

In this version of events, Asami could meet Mako in Episode 2 with minimal changes. No moped required.

Korra still sneaks off ATI to see a pro-bending match, but it's a pre-arranged get-together with Asami. She has box seats. Korra wanders backstage, and Asami goes after her, half to not get left behind, half because breaking the rules is kinda fun, and then they get caught by Toza as per canon. Bolin rescues them. Mako and Asami have their Meet Cute, while Korra has hers with pro-bending.

The brothers ceased to have a function to the plot after episode 3, so I would've had Bolin get de-bent so Pro-bending stays a spectator sport.

>>104490
Another thing I forgot to mention: how about once Tarrlok starts with his Reich legislation against non-benders, the de-bended people are classified as non-benders and get targeted by the discrimination as well. I'd like to see that kind of situation; de-bended people suddenly understanding equalist arguments and sympathising with them a bit, yet loathing themselves for doing so, because they still hate the equalists and what Amon did to them. That's one reason why I'd like to have Tahno or some other de-bended person around.

And since I mentioned Tarrlok: I think his power grab movements could use a little re-working as well. I liked how he manipulated Korra into the task force and I liked him being a slimy, charismatic prick, but I really disliked the way Korra started ignoring her so-called friends in that episode... she had pressures, sure, but she was doing the same mistake as Hasook. She hadn't been friends with the brothers for too long, and it was a dick move that could've threatened her friendship between them. So, I'd want to write those character actions out.
I thought it would've been nice if Korra had left the task force due to public pressure. Like, news articles with people complaining "benders can move fucking elements, how come we're not allowed to learn defense against them?" and "holy shit they encased my face in ice, I thought I was gonna die".

Tarrlok taking advantage of a very public equalist attack was good, but there should be more focus on him vilifying Lin in the aftermath. In the series Lin resigned herself on her own and due to her own guilty conscience; I would've preferred a little more direct influence by Tarrlok, and Lin actually being forcibly pressured into stepping down.

I also feel that there should be a little more conflict escalation before we get to Tarrlok actually imposing curfew on non-benders and ordering metalbender cops into arresting regular citizens. The scene where Korra almost attacked Tarrlok during the non-bender protest felt kinda off to me, although I did like the bit where the random extra said "you're our avatar, too".
The rest of the council should get more focus when the tensions grow. Why exactly are they going along with Tarrlok's clearly immoral schemes? Let the council members talk, let them say biased things to show that they're corrupted, and make sure to establish a better and more fair ruling establishment in the final episode.

Also, the Korra vs. Tarrlok standoff scene made me wonder. Maybe we could have someone questioning whose command is superior; the avatar's or the council's? Who's got the authority? Nobody voted for Korra and it's pure luck she has her avatar powers. Maybe the avatar is an outdated concept that has no place in the industrialized world? Maybe Korra should stay out of politics and let Republic City sort out its issues on its own? These questions could cause Korra self-doubt and make her try harder with the spiritual side, so she could get some guidance from the Spirit World or previous avatars.

I don't think were done with Tarlokk and his taskforce just yet

>>104485
>>104490
I'd be interested in having Tahno hypothetically stick around longer within the first season as a sort of case study on what happens to people who have their Bending taken away.

As it stands right now, having one's Bending removed has been framed within Korra's narrative as a Very Bad Thing weighted mostly on the argument that its bad simply because you can't Bend anymore. Yes, in concept it is a scary thought, but what about applied experience? Let's show just how bad having your Bending removed really is in the long term.
In episodes following "The Aftermath" the viewer is treated to short segments featuring Tahno trying to adjust to a new life wherein Bending is impossible for him. Remember, this guy used to be a professional athlete, top of the heap, he had money and women, and he was indeed a powerful Bender though pron to cheating, yes... now that's all gone. His means of livelihood is forever lost to him, and he must seek work elsewhere, though he may in fact have few other practical skills at his disposal due to spending most of his life thus far training for pro-Bending. Over the course of these episodes, we see Tahno fall on harder and harder times: he can't find work, he faces discrimination from the police (re: the events of episode 8), he can't defend himself properly without Bending, his "friends" and groupies avoid now that he's a non-Bender and a non-celebrity. The once proud and high-status Tahno we were introduced to in episode 5 is reduced to a poor, starving beggar, half-freezing to death in the streets of Republic City. Perhaps he also becomes a revenge target by some people he had slighted in the past (bonus points if they're non-Benders, thus demonstrating that both Benders and non-Benders have the capacity to be cruel to others based on prejudices, expanding on the theme presented with Asami's father). Before the finale, he crosses paths again with Korra in his weakened state, sharing his tale and motivating her further to confront Amon.

This could help identify two major things which I feel have been sorely missing from the show.
1. Amon has a point, and Republic City is unfairly stacked towards Benders. They have access to better job opportunities in a general sense and can live safer due to their abilities. True, this is a theme which has cropped up in the show, particularly episode 8, but given that its presented as the core tension within the show, we really ought to be witnessing more of it in action. Rather than being told by Amon or Mr. Sato that there are Bender/non-Bender issues, let's get down on the streets of Republic City and see it! I think this might help with >>104449
point about developing Republic City more too by spending time see how the general populous acts and goes about their business.

2. Tahno's plight demonstrates that while Amon's preaching has a point, his actions are not the way to address the problem. Both Korra and the viewer come to the conclusion that Republic City is indeed flawed in its treatment of non-Benders and this is something that needs to be addressed. However, looking at the shattered mess that is Tahno and the way people treat him, we can also safely say that Amon's methods are still in fact causing individual suffering and ultimately not treating the illness of Republic City effectively. This also gives Korra a good moral high ground to face Amon from and further motivation for her to fight him.

>>104449

>>1. Rework or Minimize Pro-Bending

I saw the thread and was just about to post this.

So to put my own 2 cents into a rough script.

Episode 1- Keep mostly as is, but I like the early Korra-Asami meet.
Episode 2- Rather than going off for pro-bending, Korra decides screw Lin, she's going to deal some justice, she'll just be more careful this time. As she's trolling for victims (by feigning helplessness) Bolin comes buy and nearly ruins it as he tries to keep her out of trouble (good for some dialogue comedy) and she meets up with Mako. Mako to Bolin's surprise is actually helpful and agrees to help Korra, talking about how their parents were killed by a criminal firebender. However, at the end it is shown that Mako is pocketing the dough from many of the criminal hideouts, reveal may occur now, may occur later.

3- Near canon, if Korra has found out about what Mako has done, then he begs her to help him as she's the only person he knows, if not just goes to help without saying why.

4. This is actually pretty good, keep though perhaps have tension that Korra's focusing on the equalists. Mako meets Asami by 'saving' her from muggers (later after her fighting skills are revealed she admits she could have fought him off, but she didn't want to make him feel bad). Unlike OP I don't think Asami needs a major rework, her ties to family offer some strong character interaction.

5. This is the major rework area, and the one I'm least confident on, it needs to follow up on the strong end of the previous episode, and have Korra trying to deal with the fear now that she's admitted it. Honestly after the roller coast ride of the previous episode, I think dialing back the tension was the right call, but wrong focus. I would have it be Korra working with various people to trying to figure out what to do, holing up in Air Temple island doesn't work, directly confronting him doesn't work. Have her talk with Tenzin about spirituality, have her go with Bolin to get more experience with the city. Have her visit with Asami, build up Republic city, and maybe give a chance to see some of the tensions.

6. Like canon a major even drags Korra back into the fight, before she's prepared, maybe it's Asami with season tickets to the pro-bending match to cheer her up, maybe something else, either way, it should continue the thread that she doesn't feel ready, but goes anyways.

7. Keep mostly as is, this is good character interaction for Asami.

8,9-10 Less focus on Lin/Tenzin’s infiltration of the Equalists, more on Tarlok’s rise to power, and he doesn’t get caught in this version. Korra doesn’t confront him until nine as the build-up or power is more gradual. While she frees herself in 10, Amon doesn’t managed to take Tarlok himself. Eviler that though can but fun, but it was already done in airbender.

At the same time, in the city Mako, Bolin and Asami have to deal with the fallout of being fugitives from the law (arrested in 9, freed in 10). Asami deals with the poorer sections of town, while events force Mako and Bolin to confront the less ethical uses of their own bending.

11-12 Tarlok, has declared himself emergency head of state, and Amon has gone to all-out war. As the city burn around them, Korra must find a way to stop both of them.

Looking over it, one thing I've noticed I did is cut down on Lin/Tenzin stuff, not really sure if that's good or bad, just observation.

>>104517
>Mako, Bolin and Asami have to deal with the fallout of being fugitives from the law (arrested in 9, freed in 10).
Yeah... that was something that seriously bothered me in the last episode. Lin leaves the police force, says that she works outside the law now, and then she decides to bust the Krew out of the jail without having proper authorization anymore. She completes this task by... um, casually strolling into the police HQ and simply letting everyone out of the jail without any hurry? That's it? No sense of urgency at all, and no indication that she's doing something illegal? And later on in the episode the council, the new chief of police, and even Tarrlok don't give a shit about Lin and Tenzin being accompanied by three people who should currently be in jail?

If we get the Krew stuck in jail and Lin making the decision that it's important to break them out, I would hope for a scene where Lin either bluffs her way into the jail ("I'm done with my little vacation and I'm the damn chief of police again, are you challenging my authority?"), or going all ninja and sneaking in secretly. But then everything explodes in their faces, they get a nice escape/fight scene, and then they're all truly fugitives and underdogs in this whole mess.

The Republic City game stated something about the new chief of police, Saikhan, having great respect for Lin. I'd like to see something done with that bit of information. Maybe Saikhan could be secretly helping Lin and feeding her inside information about Tarrlok, and that's why he seemed to accept Tarrlok so quickly earlier on? He was loyal to Lin and did it for her, and he was never actually on Tarrlok's side? Or maybe Saikhan could be the one to stumble on Lin getting the Krew out of jail, and we get some kind of little sad scene where the two try to appeal to one another but fail, and they're forced to fight even though neither one wants to?

>>104485
On one hand, I agree with >>104490 and I think the debending scenes in general were very well done. They show exactly what they need to just by the expressions on the characters' faces, and we don't need more follow-up or exposition on them. Seeing Tahno for a minute or so in the police station was just enough. Bringing him back to join the Krew for good is just pure fanservice and dead weight; four main characters is kind of pushing it for a 12 episode series already and five is definitely over the limit. In other words, I think everything surrounding this is perfect as is and I wouldn't change a thing about it.

On the other I think Bolin losing his bending abilities is a fabulous idea because it opens so many doors. While I don't really agree with people when they say one of the brothers is a superfluous character because he is just another bender with the same background, is Bolin lost his bending we'd hear less complaining about it as the cast would have a bigger range of perspective. The Krew then would consist of:
- the Avatar (obviously)
- a non-bender who is strongly against the Equalists despite having Equalist connections
- a bender who opposes the Equalists but may be able to sympathise with individuals within the Equalists due to his backstory
- a bender who was caught up in Equalist machinations despite never hurting anybody and had his bending taken away before his brother and the Avatar could save him

It puts a very personal spin on stopping the Equalists, especially for Mako, because as the older brother he sees it as his duty to take care of Bolin and protect him. HOWEVER I think Bolin losing it at the Revelation would be bad pacing because it would be too personal too soon--the Revelation was the first time we saw the Equalists as a potential threat and I think it's important for it to escalate a bit before we see them do anything irreparably bad to a major player in order for us to feel adequately angry and horrified by the act. Keeping to canon events closely as possible, it would make the best impact if Bolin was de-bended by Amon at the pro-bending finals along with the Wolfbats, while Korra and Mako managed to escape. There is a minor problem in that it obviously wasn't Amon's intention to go after Korra or her teammates at that point at all. He was only after the Wolfbats. Why would Bolin get caught in it?

>>104497
this is really good and works well with stuff in >>104475

> During the course of this exchange they discover they have a mutual love of probending though Korra confesses to never having seen a match. Asami offers to bring her along to see one the following day if she manages to get out of jail. While certain events stay the same, this chance meeting would still have a big impact on the story and relationships among the characters.

I think this is a really great way to tie the team together very early and very neatly. By "bringing her along" she means sneaking in behind the scenes to watch the match from the Fire Ferrets' box. They're both snooping around the training area when the coach walks in; Asami manages to hide but Korra's spotted, and the scene with Bolin intervening happens as normal. When Toza leaves Asami greets him in a friendly way. Mako comes in and accuses Korra of being another one of Bolin's "crazy fangirls," with a gesture that implies Asami is the crazy one he's talking about--she got her first backstage pass by taking Bolin out for a high speed joyride in her sweet ass car and going off some earthbent ramps. Or something like that. By that tune she'd be established as a daredevil driver early and we'd be fuckin pumped to finally see her in action. And there, bam, strong team dynamics in which everyone has some kind of relationship/opinion of each other within two episodes.

>>104520
Nice post, liked it a lot.

>There is a minor problem in that it obviously wasn't Amon's intention to go after Korra or her teammates at that point at all. He was only after the Wolfbats. Why would Bolin get caught in it?
The game simply has to end so that when the timelimit of the last round is up, Korra and Mako have fallen into the water but Bolin still manages to remain on the platform. I assumed Amon wasn't planning on specifically targeting on Wolfbats; just any bender who was standing on the platform when the game ended. Except for Korra, of course... seems he's planned things out in advance when it comes to dealing with her. I'm not sure if he had some kind of plan in mind in case Korra's team managed to win.

Either way, I think that while Amon didn't want to do anything about Korra at that time, he wouldn't mind taking away Bolin's bending if he happened to be there.

Is there a particular reason we need pro-bending?

>>104522

You would have to change up how Korra starts learning the basics of Airbending otherwise.

>>104525
Well, you can still have it in episode 2, where she actually does something related to airbending in the ring. After that, I would proceed with episode 3 and get Bolin de-bent, then drop him, Mako, and pro-bending from the series.

>>104527

...I know this is all a thread of opinions, but fuck that, I really like Bolin all things considered and I enjoyed the pro-bending bits.

>>104522
People have recently been saying that "Bryke pulled a George Lucas", meaning that they didn't use enough outsider input in the writing process, and they should've bounced off rough concepts with some other creative minds. Assuming that the comparison to the Star Wars prequels has merit, pro-bending might be the new pod-racing. Activities involving it serve to drive the plot forward, but we get screentime wasted on some fictional sport that people don't really care about. Trying to win a sport event isn't as exciting as seeing the heroes fighting against our main villains; stakes aren't as high. And it's kinda upsetting how the pro-bending rules appear to be more fleshed out than the characterization of our protagonists... and then those rules aren't even properly explained inside the actual series, and everyone in the audience was like "wait, what happened? oh they won the match? okay".

Besides, I'm not a fan of how nerfed pro-bending is. The concept art looked flashy, but the actual series shows none of that. The rules of the game are so strict that it severely limits the bending. We won't get the kind of creative, impressive attacks we got in Earth Rumble. I don't find pro-bending very interesting to watch. It's a shame bending can't be used up to all of its potential.

Still, I think pro-bending can be alright if used with caution and if ensured it doesn't waste too much time. Tenzin initially disapproved of the sport and thought it was a mockery of bending, but then he saw it was good for Korra, and he even got caught up in the moment and cheered at the arena like an excited fanboy. He grew to accept the sport despite initially disliking it. I really liked that development and I would like to keep it. More importantly, the arena was the location of Amon's public attack. I think it'd be nice to keep pro-bending around in some way or another mainly so we can also keep the arena attack. And pro-bending setting could still be a nice common ground for everyone to get to know one another. Mako and Bolin could still be introduced via pro-bending, whereas Korra and Asami could bond more quickly due to the fact that they both enjoy the sport. I'm loving the idea of making Korra and Asami kinda like BFFs; having a friend like that is one of the most awesome things in the world, and creating a female bromance into the show would be nice.

Also, I'd like to make it more obvious that while the characters initially bond over pro-bending, they quickly grow attached to one another due to other factors as well. There should be some more screentime that's shared outside of the arena; the Krew hanging out together simply because they want to. In the series, it seemed like pro-bending was the only thing linking Korra to the bending brothers. Their friendship hasn't seemed very close, and it's been strained by all the romantic tension, too.

Some great ideas here, guys.

I especially like:
>Tarrlok not being removed as a threat due to plot convenience
I think it's very important to show that there are two opposing forces in Republic City and that neither is completely wrong. It also adds a lot of tension. I wouldn't even have him reveal his ulterior motives as much.
I would have stressed Tarrlok's paranoia and his fanatism. He'd rather burn Republic City to the ground before he leaves it to the Equalists.
And the series has never dealt with villains that are actually working within legal bounds and at least theoretically on the same side as the hero.

>Mako/Bolin or Mako & Bolin having different jobs
The whole poor streetrats thing is really undermined by the famous, professional athlete image. Why would they lack for money? Why wouldn't they have a sponsor already, if they are shown to having quite a lot of fans from the very beginning?
If they are grifters/ low-level hoodlums it makes much more sense. We can show that not everything is right with the city and give the fellows some much needed depth, since now they're not completely white hats. I do agree though, that having Bolin as a full blown mobster isn't too good an idea, since Korra needs to mobilize support to get him back. He can't actually deserve what Amon has in store for him.

Therefore I'd make him a pick-pocket/grifter. It fits his personality. He's aimable, fast-talking but a terrible liar when he gets nervous. So he's not very good at his job. He might try to screw Korra/Asami out of some yuons. That would obviously end in a catastrophe and he'll apologize profusely. Thus friendship.
Mako is a mob-enforcer. That way it makes sense for him to be cold on the outside and try to keep his distance from Korra in the beginning. Since his brother often works in the Triple Threats territory and interferes with their operation, Mako's ties to the underworld are the only thing keeping Bo safe and he constantly has to mend his screw-ups. That way we can also establish the Mama Mako thing, which in all honesty was the best thing about his character.
In making Mako a "honorable" criminal, he'd earn some edge/be more complicated. It makes sense for his relationships to be a mess, since his life is now actually complicated. He also now has more of a stake in the conflict. When the Tripple Threat is dismantled by the Equalists, he loses the entire existence he built for himself and his brother (unlike just losing a place to stay like when Amon blew up the Arena after the finals).
>I don't support the idea of Tenzin and Lin being combined, though.
The characters interaction with the Police/Council is quite interesting. And both provide resources that Korra needs to advance the story. With Tenzin, Korra has an immediate handle on the political climate in Republic City. With Lin she has infrastructure and support against the Equalists in the beginning. That way, it makes the situation all the more dire when Tarrlok takes the Police Force from her. Which he really should. Just quitting made no real sense in the context of the show and with Lin's character, since basically nothing changed for her, as pointed out earlier. And it makes Tarrlok look much more of an asshole if he actually forces Lin out of the job.

>>104531
>When the Tripple Threat is dismantled by the Equalists
That reminds me, how much authority did Lightning Bolt Zolt have among his men? With his bending gone, he wouldn't be able to physically fight back against some backstabbing usurper anymore. So, did his men respect him too much to even think of challenging him? Did he continue leading the triad and maybe planning on a revenge against the equalists? Or did one of Zolt's men make his move at the opportunity and become the new mob boss? Or were all the leading figures of the TTT taken out by Amon, and did the whole triad disintegrate in lack of any people capable of filling the power vacuum? What happens if the whole triad is in a complete chaos due to losing its leaders? Did the other triads take advantage of it and start a gangwar to conquer all the Triple Threat Triad territory? Did Amon accidentally make the situation worse, and are non-benders now even more unsafe than ever? Could this be something that Tarrlok could also butt in on, to enforce more totalitarianism and control over the city?

Also, when we met Skoochy, he said this line:

>Shady Shin showed up and flashed some serious cash. Bo took off with him in his hot rod. The Triple Threats? The Red Monsoons? The Agni Kais? All the triads are muscling up for something real big.

What was that about anyway? All the triads were preparing for something big... what exactly? They weren't co-operating with equalists, right? The equalist speeches are the only major thing I can think of happening around that time. Was the criminal underworld aware of those in advance? Were they co-operating with the equalists and is that how they knew? Or were they opposed to the equalists and planning to get this new force out of their turf? Or were the preparations about some other, completely unrelated triad matters?

>>104532
That's a lot to think about and I agree that the Triads would probably make for a more interesting subplot than Probending, but I think we don't have the time for that.
I'd explain it this way:
-It might have been some sort of meeting of the Capos, which Amon crashed.
-Shady Shin took Bolin along, who jumped at the chance of finally becoming a full member of the TTT like his bro (although Mako tried to keep him out of that world as much as possible).
-after Amon takes the bosses bending, the family falls apart, since it relied heavily on intimidation and respect, which they enforced through bending. I'd show Zolt again once, basically a broken man. He tells Mako that the reminder of the TTT is disbanded and laying low until the Equalists are dealt with.
-I'd bring Tarrlok in here too. He'd tell Lin, that she is under no circumstances to let out that the Equalists are really destroying organized crime in the city, as not to give them more support.

But that's where I'd end the Triad subplot. Maybe it can come up occasionally in relation to Mako. People may still owe him favours/have lingering resentment towards him... That'd be nice.

Especially if Chief Bei Fong is already familiar with Mako and Bolin.
>Chief, this is Mako.
>We've had the pleasure. I've kept a cell free just for you, creep.
>I have no intention of going back there. We're on the same side.
>For now. Pity, you'd look good behind bars.
>Eh hehehe. Anyway, this is his brother. Bolin.
>Wait a minute... Weren't you the one peddling faux "Spirit Water" in front of the arena?!
>Oh noNonNonOno. I just have one of those faces. Happens to me all the time

>>104536
I like this. In this "bending brothers are still hoodlums" universe, Lin having an established dislike for the brothers would make it more meaningful when she decides to break them out. It would also be nice to see her respecting Korra's judgement and accepting her word that the brothers are loyal and important friends. Lin's grown to have faith in Korra, and she'll make an attempt to trust the brothers as well, for Korra's sake.

Late in the series, Lin actually decides to ditch the law and everything she's worked for her whole life; she breaks the brothers out of the jail so they can be of help to Korra. She must have a damn good reason for doing this, and she must believe that the brothers are so vital that they need to be let out right freaking now. Because of this, I'd like to fit in a bunch of small character moments and interaction between Lin and the brothers way before they get imprisoned. The snarky exchange you posted was good and there could be more stuff like that, as well as fight scenes showing that Mako and Bolin are competent benders and good allies in a combat situation. There should be scenes that let the characters learn to trust one another.
I'd also like more implication that Tarrlok's not planning to let the Krew out of the jail at all; implication that going through correct procedures to get them out is an impossible task because the system is too corrupted. Lin breaking them out and becoming a fugitive is the only way, and she's ready to do that personal sacrifice for Korra and the Krew.

I like your idea that the triad aftermath gets mentioned but wouldn't get much deeper focus than that. We'd get to see some more reactions to de-bending which is a nice little aside, but concentrating on our protagonists is the most important thing.

>>"bending brothers are still hoodlums"

This adds an interesting tension to the Asami/Mako relationship. Her mother got killed by a gangster, and now she ends up attracted to one. When she learns the truth about his job, she's initially disgusted, but then starts having mixed feelings when Mako talks about needing to provide for Bolin, and how there's no easy outs with Zolt. My only concern is that if Mako is an out-and-out gangster, why do Korra and Asami stick around with him? Friendship alone? I could see Korra doing that, as she's pretty blithe about rules in general, but Asami is a Proper Young Lady.

Maybe Bolin could work in that phonograph shop from the first episode?

>>Re: pro-bending

As a twist on an idea mentioned earlier, of the brothers working security at the arena, what about TTT Enforcer Mako doing the same? Pro-bending in canon is already sort of shady, what with the way the athletes lose their paycheck to annual fees (gym times, groceries, rent, etc.) and how the Wolfbats rig the final. So when Korra and Asami go to the match in Episode 2, they run into "team captain" Mako in the back and tag-along Bolin.

Hasook in this scenario would be a disgruntled jobber fed up with being ordered by management to take dives.

>>104539
>>104542
It'd be fun if Mako actually talked like a criminal then occasionally
>Hey Lady, scram. We're trying to conduct business here.

>Who is this crazy broad?

>Hey copper, watch the hair.

Stuff like that. Could be his public personality or just something he picked up over time.
As to why Asami and Mko hit it off:
I'm thinking he should come clean as early as possible about the matter or Asami should know from the beginning. He'd have to do something brave and selfless to earn her respect before she falls for him. Then she could make it her personal project to pull him out of the crimescene. Perhaps by making Hiroshi give him a proper job, that earns more than minimum wage.
Maybe a reverse My fair Lady set-up would be fun too. I always felt that Mako was way to comfortable with the uppercrust, for someone who spend all his life in poverty. He took far too natural to all the luxery.

I still like the idea of Bolin and Pabu being little crooks but basically so harmless, that even Bei Fong just sighs and let's them off with a smack up the back of the head and a warning.

>>104542
>My only concern is that if Mako is an out-and-out gangster, why do Korra and Asami stick around with him? Friendship alone? I could see Korra doing that, as she's pretty blithe about rules in general, but Asami is a Proper Young Lady.

I think things could work out like this:

Asami is Korra's first friend in Republic City and they're just hanging out in the city together for fun. Then they encounter the pickpocket/conman version of Bolin, and he attempts to scam them in some way or another. Problem is, one of his targets is the rich girl with connections and martial arts practice, while the other girl is the freaking avatar. So whoops; he picked the wrong targets and he's way out of his league. Besides, he doesn't want to use his bending against anyone in self-defense, and Korra and Asami are so pretty that he feels guilty about trying to scam them anyway. Initially the girls are pissed off, but Bolin tries to talk himself out of the trouble and manages to be so nervous, unthreatening, and awkwardly endearing that they're not mad at him for long. The three talk a little bit, and Korra discovers that Bolin's actually a really kind young man who's stuck in a shitty life situation. He's homeless and moneyless, and that's why he's forced to do illegal stuff. This disillusions Korra to the city and makes her realize that not everyone is doing well here. She gets determined that it's her duty as the avatar to help the citizens of RC.

Bolin takes the girls to meet Mako. Mako's being distant and secretive because of the whole "working for triads" thing, but Korra falls in love with him instantly anyway. Later on she finds out about Mako and the triads and it comes as a shock, but at that point she already has feelings for Mako, and she manages to find a way to forgive him.
As for why Asami would forgive Mako's actions: she would get seriously pissed off when she finds out about the triads, and she'd also be upset when Korra forgives Mako. But when she finds out that the brothers were orphaned by a bender, she feels pity for Mako and goes talk with him privately. They manage to establish a truce due to the fact that they both feel the same kind of pain of loss and grudge, and they can sympathise with one another. They share their thoughts and feelings on the issue. It's a discussion that makes them into friends, but Asami still has too much grudge to ever think about him in a romantic sense. (Maybe Asami's mother could've been killed by the triads instead of any random bender, so that things are even more personally offensive to her and it'll be absolutely certain there can be no romantic tension between her and Mako?)

Meanwhile, Korra might notice Korra and Mako talking about their issues in hushed voices. She makes the assumption that it's flirty talk and Asami's interested in Mako in a romantic sense. She feels saddened about it, but decides she can't go pursuing Mako now, because she doesn't want to sabotage her friendship with Asami. Sisters before misters, and she wants her beloved to be happy anyway. - The misunderstanding shouldn't last for too long; maybe one or two episodes at the very maximum, but not for any longer. Too long and too personal conflicts can hurt the team dynamics.

----

By the way, it seems mostly everyone thinks it'd be best if Asami's primary purpose were to be Korra's best friend, and her first new friend in the city? I was thinking about the moment when the two would meet and how the pacing of the episode should go. How about this:

We get "I'm the avatar, you gotta deal with it!" to get an establishing character moment for Korra and show that she's headstrong, reckless, impatient, and she thinks with her fists. Then we get a quick montage of her growing up and learning bending. Then the episode skips to Korra saying byebye to her parents and leaving for Republic City with Katara accompanying her. The dialogue establishes that Korra's mastered all the other elements but she's still struggling with spiritual stuff, and the White Lotus Society agrees it'd be best to get her under Tenzin's tutelage; he's the man whose help is needed right now, and it's time for Korra to learn air anyway.

Korra meets Tenzin and his family. She's excited to start training so she could finally create tornadoes and whirlwinds. Tenzin says she should just settle down for now and they'll start tomorrow, but Korra's being impatient. Tenzin finally tires out and says that Korra can sit down and meditate in order to get a nice good start into airbending. But she thinks that's lame, and she decides that if she can't do any cool bending today, she'll just go see the big, awesome, exciting city.

Then she gets into trouble with the protesters and triads, stumbles onto Asami, they get caught by the cops, and the two girls get to talk about all kinds of stuff in the cell. Finally Tenzin comes to pick Korra from Lin. Korra gets admonished by both Tenzin and Lin, and she feels really ashamed acting in such a stupid fashion. But as she walks out of the police station all miserable, Asami's there to wave her bye; at least Korra made a new friend, and they arrange to meet up again tomorrow.

So what's the purpose of my rewrite of episode 1? To remove some scenes so we can fit a good Asami/Korra introduction into the 20 minutes we've got. I figured we could take out the scenes where White Lotus are being cranky old pricks. I didn't think there was a need to make them look bad and have Korra feel like "nobody understand my teenager problems and my need for freedom". If we have to establish that White Lotus are being controlling and overprotective about Korra, it should be made relevant somehow. I assume that Aang always felt guilty about the way he escaped from the Temple; his action allowed the world to get devastated by the war while he was stuck in ice. And maybe Aang realised afterwards that he was forced to deal with horrible responsibilities when he wasn't even out of puberty yet. I'm thinking that because of these reasons, he asked the White Lotus to keep an eye on the next avatar and make sure Korra will never have to go unprepared against any threat. That's why I assume the White Lotus made that compound for her.
But yeah, White Lotus' justifications for their actions weren't explained in-series, the episode made them look somewhat bad, and it hasn't had relevance later on anyway. I'd just take out the scenes with White Lotus being unsympathetic, so we can make room for Korra/Asami.

>>104546
>Korra might notice Korra and Mako talking about their issues
typo; meant Asami and Mako, of course.

Mock Episode Guide. Since I don't know how the last episodes will shake out, I refrained from writing about them. I tried to keep to the general trend of canon, except incorporating a lot of the suggestions up-thread.

* Mako and Bolin still live in the arena, they just aren't pro-benders. It's more that Mako is the on-site guy when it comes to seeing the pro-bending matches go according to the script. He's basically Zolt's #1 Guy at the arena. So he's more middle management than enforcer thug.


Ep. 01: WELCOME TO REPUBLIC CITY -- Seventy years have passed since Avatar Aang defeated Firelord Ozai and saved the world. Now, his successor, Korra, is training to be the new Avatar. Her studies take her to Republic City, where Aang's son Tenzin lives, but Korra soon finds herself in over her head -- as does the friend she makes.

Ep. 02: A LEAF IN THE WIND -- Eager to unwind from their studies, Korra and Asami sneak out to watch a pro-bending tournament. But a run-in with a pickpocket leads the girls to discover the darker side of their favorite sport. Meanwhile, Mako deals with a crisis as a player named Hasook throws out his script.

Ep. 03: THE REVELATION -- After the Equalists unleash an all-out attack on the Triple Threat Triad HQ, Bolin seeks out the Avatar's help in rescuing his brother. What both of them find is more than they ever expected. At Future Industries, Asami faces a dilemma after her father orders her to hire workers for a new plant.

Ep. 04: THE VOICE IN THE NIGHT -- A special task force is created to handle Amon's revelation, and Korra finds herself roped into joining it. Mako searches for a new job as a citywide Triad-Equalist gang war brews; Asami makes him an offer that he can't refuse.

Ep. 05: THE SPIRIT OF COMPETITION -- Against the backdrop of the pro-bending championship tournament, Korra's friendships are threatened after romantic rivalries shake up her world. Tenzin and Hiroshi learn about the brothers' troubled past. Pema advises Asami on dating benders. (Note: They're not a pro-bending team here, so the backdrop is more of a pub crawl slash friendly get-together.)

Ep. 06: AND THE WINNER IS... -- Amon's threat against the championship's finale brings out Republic City's finest in force, but they have more than Equalists to worry about after Mako recognizes plenty of old co-workers and rivals in the stands.

Ep. 07: THE AFTERMATH -- Following the disastrous three-way brawl between the Equalists, Triads, and police at the arena, Lin is fired from her post as commissioner. That does not stop her from investigating Amon alongside Korra, however. Asami is holed up at her family estate as a violent gang war rocks Republic City, but newly homeless Mako and Bolin temporarily move in with her as a sign of thanks from Hiroshi for defending them at the arena. But is there more to Mister Sato than meets the eye?

Ep. 08: WHEN EXTREMES MEET -- Korra's efforts as Avatar are frustrated by Councilman Tarrlok, who gets emergency powers authorized to quell the violence in Republic City. Korra's friends are arrested for their past association with the Triads and the Equalists, but the new laws prove popular with the general public. But as the police shift their focus exclusively to non-benders, Tarrlok's true colors come to light.

Ep. 09: OUT OF THE PAST -- In the aftermath of last episode's break-out, Lin, Mako, Bolin, and Asami are on the run from the law. Asami sees how the other half lives. Lin and the brothers warily agree to set aside their differences and combine their resources to find the missing Avatar. Meanwhile, in Tarrlok's cabin, Korra mediates on visions from her past life.

My idea for Bolin is that he gathers crowds of people around himself as some sort of Snake-oil Salesman or with bending tricks. Meanwhile Pabu is trained to snatch purses from the distracted crowd.

Korra notices the ferret on Asami and manages to grab it.
Bolin's immediately like:
>NOOOOO! My baby!
and the jig is up. Maybe it devolves into a short chase sequence, but at the end of it they've got Bolin trapped in a corner and he apologizes & hands over the stolen goods.

When the other victims still want to beat him to a pulp, Korra actually steps up for him. So Bolin is indepted to her and leads them back to the arena, where Mako grudingly hands over Season Tickets for both Asami and Korra.
The legality of Mako's "employment" is called into question when Hasook makes a scene within earshot of Korra and Asami.

Are you guys going to write a fanfic or what? Get going.

Wow... after all this long winded oc b.s. this is the best you've come up with?

I might be more impressed if you could create your own characters/world/events.

here's an idea write your own damn show/comic n quit shitting on other peoples work.

>>104638
>here's an idea write your own damn show/comic
I'm inclined to agree. You're all a real creative lot. Hell, your talents are probably best applied in genuine self project, as opposed to fanwo--

>quit shitting on other peoples work.
And you dun goof'd.

>>104638
i don't know why you are getting angry in a thread that is basically a bunch of people talking about an alternate universe fanfiction idea in which asami becomes korra's first and closest companion instead of the bending brothers.

i'm only here because korra is my favourite show on tv, asami is my favourite character and the triad angle this thread has going on is interesting to me and we won't have a chance to explore that in canon

so i don't know where you're getting this "shitting on people's work" from.

>>104610
OP here again. It's about certain I'm not gonna write an AU fanfic based on this. I enjoy writing essays and analyzing fiction, but I don't have enough courage to try to do fanfiction. I don't mind if someone decides to grab a bunch of ideas from this thread and do something with them, though. But in case anyone wants to do that, it's probably better to wait until the finale and see how everything turns out. After that we'll have all of our lego blocks around and it's easier to decide how to rearrange them. And who knows; maybe we'll find out something really amazing about Amon, maybe Bryke have some kind of way to make the love triangle drama work, maybe everything will turn out to make perfect sense in hindsight, and maybe we all judged the series way too early.

I love the stuff you guys have been coming up with. This is all just written concepts we've been tossing around and it's not actual episode footage, but I think most of your ideas sound like they could work really nicely on screen.

Also, guys: ignore people who don't like the thread. People sometimes get defensive when their favourite works of fiction are criticized. It's a normal thing to happen and it's okay, but it'll derail threads only if you let it.

In the end no work of fiction can ever be completely perfect, and there's always room for improvement. And this applies especially much to Legend of Korra. I thought there were all these great concepts and ideas, and they got me so excited in the first few episodes. But a lot of their potential gets wasted when interesting subplots go nowhere and the characterization of protagonists has issues. Korra is entertaining enough to watch, but there's all this potential for the series to be so much better.

>>104567
>>104573
Ooh, that episode outline was pretty good, and I like the idea of Pabu assisting this version of Bolin in thievery. We've seen that Bolin's taught Pabu to do little tricks, and using that fact in such a plot-relevant way is clever.

>>104610
>>104681
What we might do, I think is write short ficlets that "fix" certain scenes.
I see no sense in doing a transcript of every episode up to the point where people have problems with it and change it.

The point of this AU as far as I can tell:
>Give the characters actual, meaningful relationships, instead of just being means to an end.
>Make the Bending brothers more interesting.
>Cut down on the Probending in favor of Worldbuilding and character interaction.
>Take out most of the plot conveniences or twist them in a way that they're not as obvious.
>Give Tarrlok his due before he's kicked out of the show.

>>104684
Also I can understand that people might go:
>>OH THE HUBRIS! YOU DON'T KNOW THE FIRST THING ABOUT WRITING A SHOW! AND YOU WANT TO TELL MIKE AND BRYAN HOW TO DO THEIR JOBS? PATHETIC!

I think LoK is a damn fine show. It's so good, that it's mistakes stand out all the more, which is super-regrettable.
And it's easy to go in after the fact and say:
>Now what they should have done is this! Then it would have been hunky dory.
But that's just how fans are.
I think it's a testament to the impact and quality of the show, that people actually get so worked up about it.
And I can't help but feel that most of our grievances have some legitimacy, since there's a pretty tall number of people going on about them.
If you see all this as some sort of insult to the Bryke-God, then just ignore us. I'm pretty sure that they do.

>>104492
I'm a bit late to the reply party, but allow me to rebut: outlining our current impressions here and now will allow us to objectively create a timeline of fan reactions. Serving as a time capsule of commentary, what we post here shows how the plot up til now has been construed by some of the fans.

I'd like to outline a few modifications I'd like to make to the plot so far, but I'll be walking straight out of college in half of a day, and thus am for lack of sleeping pic I guess related.

Now here's another thing I'd like to adress.
There need to be some jokes played at the expense of Mako and Asami. Their character types are completely straight in the show. With no sense of fun, really.
It's what alienated me from Mako to begin with. It's like they're the holy cows of the show and above such mundane things. And it sucks a lot of life out of them.

Compare and contrast ATLA.
Everybody got a moment to be goofy or dumb or got a good line in.
Zuko was a total dork when he wasn't brooding,
Katara was highstrung and easily agitated,
Aang was the butt of lots of jokes too,
and everybody took the time to ridicule each others flaws and quirks.
That made for a nice dynamic. People who were fun to watch together.

Why can't LoK do that?

>>104705
Good point. My favourite Mako moment in the series is when he gets completely lovestruck by Asami. It's hilarious when Mr. Too-Cool-to-Give-a-Shit-about-Fangirls sees this beautiful lady and suddenly loses composure. He blushes, forgets his words, gets all nervous, and spawns little pink hearts. It's cute and funny to see Mako's serious demeanor melting away like that.

As for my favourite Asami moment? Uhh, I guess it's the scene where Korra's yelling at Ikki, and Asami has this bewildered expression on her face in the background. Yeah... both her and Mako could use some more moments where they're being funny and endearing.

To be fair, there are those moments:
Tenzin getting flustered.
Korra's various silly faces.
Bolin.
The kids.
But those happen to few characters while dumping all of the awkward comedy on Bolin most of the time.
Since Mako has been acting Father Bear-ish towards Korra and Bolin, play it up a bit. ( He is kind of the Katara of this group. Have fun with it.)
Since Asami is a racer, have her freak out over cars and vehicles or snark at how bad they are(I've been watching Top Gear lately ha ha)

>>104707
Yeah, all the other major characters in LoK get some nice comedic moments and it's cool; only Mako and Asami kinda lack them.

Emphasizing Asami's love of cars - and playing it for laughs - sounds like good idea. If I remember right, her apparent race car interest has so far been relevant only twice during the series? In the bit where she went like "I'm not just a prissy princess, I'm actually kind of a tomboy", and later on when they decided to go patrol as the new Team Avatar.

I like the idea of Asami geeking out over cars and being excited to rant about them whenever she gets a chance (which might bore or frustrate other characters). And I think using some "Mama Mako" comedy aspect would be nice, too.

>>104707
I also like the idea of Asmai bein just a teeny bit prissy, despite not admitting it and getting worked up over people being unnecessarily rude and crude.
Like a scene in a restaurant or something, where Korra and Bolin eat like pigs while Asami barely touches her salad and looks on in disgusted disbelief.
>Hey, aren't you hungry?
>I think I'm never gonna be hungry again.

Here's what I think: Asami shouldn't be prissy or that stuck up, but she should have standards. A bit of grime is nothing for a petrol head and blood should be fine for a martial artist. But for someone not used to rat-pigeons or other vermin, or sloppy eating... yeah a bit of disgust is understandable. She's no Toph.

The robots. Those robots are like midiclorians to me. Useless pieces of rubble that totally betray the premise of "fantasy martial arts in magical setting".

>>104714
Did the tanks in the first series bother you?

>>104715
Tanks?

You mean the tanks that FIREBENDERS drove by FIREBENDING?

Why would that bother you?

>>104714
Bitch, please.

>>104717
The fuel might come from firebending, though I'm pretty sure the technology for an engine must have already been there.

Come to think of it, did they ever explain the fully functional REFRIGERATOR in the Boiling Rock?

>>104719
still not "platinum robots"

>>104714
Through the course of AtLA, we got some remarkable new innovations, and technology has been only marching on since then. Looking at the timeline of the real world and how our inventions have advanced, it's IMO very plausible for AtLA world to turn into LoK world in 70 years. And I think it makes a lot of sense that equalists are attempting to find ways to use technology against benders. While I feel indifferent about giant mecha, I'm still alright with them in LoK.

However, from what I understand, platinum is a rare and inconvenient material for robot construction purposes? Or so people said on 4chan. I think someone on /co/ said that they should've instead used metal that doesn't have impurities in it, so that it's impossible to bend? I know absolutely nothing about metallurgy and I don't know if this works or not, but I have no ideas of my own about what would be strong and unbendable construction material.

>>104709
Heh, I like that scene idea. Mako's reaction would probably be just tired resignation... he's lived with Bolin all his life and he's used to his brother's eating habits, but now there are two of them eating like that and challenging one another into burping contests.

>>104573
>>104681
So I was thinking this happens when Hasook gets involved:

Him and Mako have a fight, within hearing of Korra but she doesn't catch the part where Hasook's quitting because he won't throw the game. She immediately waltzes in after the guy leaves:
>Mako: Damn Hasook. Without a full team, we're going to have to cancel the game. And all the bets.
>Korra: Hey, I'm a Waterbender. I could, you know-
>Mako: No, I don't think you're the kind we're looking for.
>Korra: Well, I've never actually played, but I heard some games on the radio
>Mako: I said...Wait, you've never even SEEN a Probending match?
>Korra: Nope.
>Mako: You know what? You're in.
>Korra: Really?
>Mako: Sure. Go for it.

Later during the match.
>Bolin: That's not Hasook.
>Mako: Yeah, he was tired of playing an inept amateur. So I got us the real deal.
>Bolin: Is that Korra?
The penality happens.
>Bolin: You know, I already kinda suspected she was the Avatar.
Mako just stands there with his chin on the floor. The refs converse
>Mako: Disqualify her. Disqualify her. Disqualify her. MONKEYFEATHERS!
Korra wins the match.
>Bolin: YAAAAAY. GO TEAM!
Mako glares at him.
>Bolin: I mean.. uh.
Korra walks up to them.
>Mako: You're off the team!
>Korra: Yeeesh, what does it take to get on this guy's good side?

I don't like the idea of Mako being a Mob enforcer simply because
1) he helps perpetuate the same violence that took his family and
2) they'll always have a hold over him via Bolin.
That is to say I have nothing against Mako being involved with the triads (or knows how to fight dirty). After all an enforcers are pretty plentiful but an accountant who can handle scraps would be valuable (the mob's version of Internal Affairs > "I'm here to check your books"). I'd say a smuggler but Asami has the driving skills for that plus there based within the city. (Still they got that great view with waterfront access).
Anyways I'm curious to see how shady types access the spiritual part of bending. It wouldn't be 3 hour mediation sessions but something small and regular and contemplative like maybe people doing calligraphy (or not). I can see Bolin caring for animals or tending a rooftop garden. I would love to see Mako actions subtly implying he's the reincarnation of Iroh via music or brewing tea only to subvert it in the end.
> Mako stretches after a long day of mobwork/probending/bookkeeping
>checks on his brother but too tired/restless to sleep
>opens cupboards doors, where he contemplates a vast array of teas
>discerning selects one and proceeds to painstakingly brew said beverage
>brings the cup to his lips to inhale the rich aroma
>"Almost forgot the special ingredient"
>dumps half a shot of rotgut
> "Man how did people ever drink this stuff?"

>>104736
But what would happen if the other team was also contracted to lose?

>>104742
Than Mako would be pretty bad at his job, which judging by my piece here he already isn't stellar at.

>>104740
Well, we already kinda made him a bookie who also rigs the Probending matches for the mob. That way we can have Probending and not have it at the same time.

What I've been trying to do was to have Korra take part in ONE match.

So she gets the basis for airbending and we can sorta check Probending off the list of stuff that has to be shown for the world building. We still get to see a glimpse of the finals but Amon rushes them earlier.

I don't know. It's not really an elegant solution, is it?

>>104743
>>I don't know. It's not really an elegant solution, is it?

It still works well enough. It loosely maintains the general arc of canon, giving a reason for the four members of Team Avatar to meet that doesn't require radically reworking the plot. Fixing matches also gives Mako a mob job that isn't overtly violent. And it'd help better set up the championship finale, which is an awesome set piece for Amon and Lin.

>>104740
There are a couple of ways to mitigate the whiplash effect of the brothers' parents getting killed in a crime and them turning to crime to survive. Mako could gradually express real regret over the compromises he's had to make to protect Bolin, and talk about how he didn't have many choices after his parents' death. Thus touching on how the city's system is dysfunctional enough that men like Amon and Tarrlok can rise to power.

Their parents could have been targeted for being a mixed couple, which would add a bit of cultural color to Republic City, and the Triple Threats are the triad that's cool with interracial families. So the TTT are protection here. Which could add a spin to the Korra/Mako and Asami/Mako romances; Asami isn't a bender, but she's of Fire Nation descent, while Korra is a bender but she's quite SWT. (Making the Agni Kais were Fire supremacists are they targeted the Satos for being wealthy and having a mixed marriage, given Asami's green eyes? That'd give a bit of a push to Mako/Asami despite him being a gangster.)

Which would exploit an implication I thought was neat in canon -- Amon attacks decapitates the only explicitly multiethnic triad in the city, meaning the bender underworld has to struggle with its own internal divisions while fending of the Equalists.

Alternatively, Mako could be very defensive about his job as a sports fixer, and not believe it to be "bad" in the same way as what the street thugs do. Until someone like Lin points out that, hey, the triads make serious gambling money off the games Mako fixes. What does he think Zolt does with that money, fund orphanages? And Mako then has to confront the truth.

I'm not hot on a scenario like >>104736 because it would give a bad first impression of Mako when he's supposed to be a sympathetic character.

I liked the pro-bending scenes a lot so I'm a bit biased I suppose, but I think they should be kept. Episode 2 immediately set up Korra and the brothers as a team and that's important, and they were a nice way of having narrative breaks while keeping the show action-oriented. The Equalist attack on the stadium would also have less weight if it hadn't been established as a major setting and if Korra and her friends hadn't been the ones competing against the Wolfbats. Furthermore it makes Korra befriending the bending brothers super clunky--why would she befriend people who want her to purposely lose the match? She has a reason to meet up with them again and talk to them and get to know them after she helps them win the game, but if the brothers are just small-time criminals I don't see why she would want to keep interacting with them at all. In a 12 episode series it's better if trust is established between them right away if you want them to be Korra's homies.

We can still play up the gang angle if Mako and Bolin are players; we can even still have the fixers and corruption in the probending circuit. In canon I think it was implied that the brothers entered the ring in order to make money earnestly instead of being number runners for the triads and were still essentially homeless--they were allowed to stay in the arena attic as long as they won games. That's where all their earnings were going. But their desperation was never played up. So here's what I think:

A fixer, Shady Shin or some other random guy, talks to Mako before the match in episode 2; he wants the Fire Ferrets to lose and Mako reluctantly agrees to it, and his posture and expression make it clear he feels guilty as hell about it but has no choice. Hasook smashes his helmet to the floor and quits in a rage because he doesn't want to be on a team with assholes who are going to throw him under the bus so some gangsters can win some money. Korra steps in and Mako figures that since she's hopelessly green they're not gonna win anyway so he might as well play properly. (Un)fortunately she comes through in the last minute which gets them in hot water with the TTT. They let the brothers off easy when they fucked off to play sports, but you can't just leave the mob when you feel like it. They own you. And defying them is A Bad Idea (tm). Mako tries to hide it from Bolin and his new teammate Korra--they don't need to know, he can handle this shit on his own--but that falls apart when Bolin/Mako (I think we've agreed Mako might be a better option here, especially if Bolin is going to get his bending taken away later?) is roped back into being a thug and captured by Equalists for Amon's Revelation. I think I'd make this episode 4, cut canon episode 4's content and make episode 3 a team-building/worldbuilding episode instead wherein we see a little more of the city and a little more gang activity and a little more Korra-Lin antagonism. Maybe they go on that Team Avatar joyride a little earlier to patrol for criminals and find that there are some other, shadier characters in masks going after the same people, disabling them somehow and dragging them away before Korra can do anything about it.

After the Revelation, Zolt is still the head of the Triple Threats and is looking for a way to restore his bending, although his gang has been severely weakened by Amon. He continues to pose a threat to the brothers and run shady business in the bending ring, which eventually comes to a head in episode 6. The Wolfbats have managed to win all their rounds with the help of the TTT; the Fire Ferrets fought their way to the championship legitimately. Tahno believes he's got immunity--he's had it so far, no matter how much he cheats--and the TTT simply instructs him to take out the Fire Ferrets using whatever techniques they want, and hurt them. The plan is for them to "win" and then be disqualified for cheating, so the underdogs win the championship and big $$$$ are made from the bets, but the other team is still left a crippled mess. Things go awry of course when Amon drops in to say hello. The Equalists (the Lieutenant specifically?) swipe Zolt and some cronies from the stands and Amon makes his big spiel while dangling Zolt by his hair or collar. He de-bends the Wolfbats as well as Bolin, who is injured but still on the platform, and then leaves with the mob boss in tow. Perhaps Lin & co find Zolt again, who is barely recognizable, in episode 9 while they search the Equalist prison for Korra and Lin's captured men.

>>104763
That is some great stuff. I love that:

-things stick close to canon and pro-bending is kept to glue the cast together, but its shady aspects are worked with
-triads have strong involvement in the plot
-brothers still have very recent criminal associations but they are making an effort to get out, which shows that they're good people despite their past, and Korra has a reason to befriend and trust them
-we get to see Mako being protective and trying to shield other people from bad consequences
-Hasook's character makes a lot more sense (him quitting in canon in such a fashion was a little odd)
-de-bent people get to be around and doing stuff.

And my mind is blown by these concepts in the earlier posts:

>Triple Threats are the triad that's cool with interracial families. So the TTT are protection here. [...] Amon attacks decapitates the only explicitly multiethnic triad in the city, meaning the bender underworld has to struggle with its own internal divisions while fending of the Equalists.

>I would love to see Mako actions subtly implying he's the reincarnation of Iroh via music or brewing tea only to subvert it in the end.

While making a little nod to the Mako/Iroh connection would not be an important plot-driving element, it's still a cute quirk to make Mako more human. More importantly it's a really neat little homage, and it kinda plays with the concept of friendships transcending lifetimes.

>>104771
>>104763

Eh, I can't help but feel that we're moving back to square one if we marry the plot to the Probending again.
The cost/benefit just doesn't add up.

There were exactly two uses that Probending had in the realm of plot.
1. Give Korra an in for Airbending
2. Make shit look real when Amon blows it up. (And really any previously introduced vista would have served for that.)

And there are far and wide stretches of nothing in particular in between, where Bryke just wants to show off the animation budget.
It doesn't even serve particularly well as a means of establishing Bolin and Mako. They're still pretty superficial and what little development they got, seemed to happen in spite of Probending and not because of it.

And need I remind you guys that we're still working within the 12 episode constraint?

All you've seemed to have done so far is glue on extra bits.

>>104786
I think there might be at least two ways to in which pro-bending could work with these triad tanglements.

After the supposedly-rigged match ends in a Fire Ferrets victory due to Korra, Mako gets taken to Lightning-Bolt Zolt so they can have a very serious (and possibly violent) discussion. However, Amon happens to attack TTT HQ and kidnaps Mako, Zolt and others.

So here's where the plot can branch out in two different directions.

Pathway A:
When Korra causes a distraction at the equalist rally, Mako ends up saving the now-powerless Zolt, and assists him in escaping. Zolt values the concept of honor, and due to Mako saving him, he thinks he's in debt to him. He forgives the fact that Fire Ferrets didn't do what they were supposed to. Zolt half lets the brothers leave TTT, half kicks them out. They're free and don't owe anything to TTT anymore; they can now play in the pro-bending tournament the way they want to.
In this scenario, the game that Korra won for the Ferrets allowed the team to get into the final match. The Ferrets have won their games really easily, they've been very clearly the best team during the tournament, and everyone expects them to win. In this AU, Wolfbats would be a newbie team and the underdog. But even though Zolt allowed Mako and Bolin to go their own way, he'll still try to gain money from these games. So TTT pays the referees to ensure a Wolfbats victory.
With the help of referees and some dirty tricks, the Wolfbats manage to win, but then Amon attacks. Bolin may or may not lose his bending here; depends on whether it's possible to make a non-bending Bolin still relevant and useful in later episodes.

Pathway B:
Mako has decided that being involved with TTT is too dangerous. He leaves TTT. But this means that Fire Ferrets are forced to quit the tournament as well, because there's too much organised crime around the sport, and it'd be too risky to hang around close to the arena. Fortunately, TTT is currently in chaos due to what happened; as long as Mako and Bolin keep their distance, TTT don't have the resources to go after them. Asami and Korra help the brothers get new jobs. Later on the tournament is about to end, and the girls really want to go watch the finals. They're in the audience when Amon attacks.

In both pathways, we'd only get two pro-bending games, and both would have a purpose. The first one to bring the cast together; the second one to get crashed by Amon. The rest of the games are superfluous. In fact, the other games in the series mostly serve to show that Fire Ferrets have a lot of friction and they struggle with the concept of teamwork. That's no good, and it definitely needs to be cut.
In pathway A, there should probably be a couple of scenes with Korra practising pro-bending between the two games. These scenes should have a bunch of dialogue during the training so they're not a complete waste of time; some plot exposition and stuff.

As for Tahno/Wolfbats rivalry: I'd like to keep Tahno around so that he can get de-bent and some of this stuff can happen later on >>104514

Tahno's a pretty one-dimensional smug prick, so IMO there's only need for one establishing scene for him. In pathway A, he could be gloating right before the match. In pathway B, Korra and Asami might be looking around the arena and stumbling on Tahno. First they'd fangirl over a pro-bending star, but they'd soon enough realize that Tahno's a jerk. So once the game begins, they'll be booing at Tahno and rooting for the other team.

>>104795

Honestly I have to agree with this, probending does very little in itself, and the series has a very very limited time span, given that trying to add the stuff that people want to add, while keeping it in, just isn't viable.

Personally I heavily advocate cutting it entirely and finding other areas to make us of the plot development that pro-bending did have. Mostly I'd advocate insuring that replacement scenes heavily focus one being 'in the city' so to speak, helping to address the problem of a loss of connection with republic city.

So for example, meeting the brothers out in the city helps to establish the corruption and seedy side of the city, rather than in a game. Equally when you want to ease back the tension after a high tension episode, do so by having Korra explore or interact with the city, not the arena.

For me the big problem with keeping pro-bending is the time investment, the before/after matches only deal with character interaction, and don't move the primary plot or help establish the setting, and even feel distanced from it. While a large part of the actual matches themselves tend to be little more than visual combat with only a sprinkling of char development. In a twelve episode series, with as much content as they want to put in, scenes need to be doing as much work as possible.

You know what the problem with Asami is? She doesn't have a fleshed-out personality. She's nice. That's it. Nothing wrong with being nice, but when that's the beginning and end of your established on-screen presence, it makes for pretty shallow characterization. I got interested when I read that Asami was a probending fan who liked to drive fast cars and had martial arts training. I think these elements should have been brought out earlier and she should have been made out to be more of a thrill-seeker and a risk-taker. Maybe a way could have been worked in so, when the Equalists attack the probending arena, she jumps in (against her father's wishes) and helps Korra, Mako, and Bolin escape.

>>104968
In that thrill-seeker, risk-taker vein, if I could add something to Asami's personality, I'd give her something of an adventurous spirit with deep ties to sentiments of scientific progress. The whole Korra and Asami meeting each other first idea was inspired by two scenes that came to mind:

1) Asami sincerely trying to help Korra learn airbending by putting her in front of a giant fan in one of her father's factories. (with things going as well as you'd expect)

2) And the two getting into a quiet, relaxed situation where they end up looking at the night sky with Asami entertaining ideas of space travel and visiting different worlds. With such a tightly established world with a heavily insulated mythology, the subject of outer space is one that isn't brought up much, if at all (The Planetarium from ATLA Season 2 being a chief exception). Heavenly bodies like the Sun, Sozin's Comet and the Moon are definitive entities, almost absolutes in the narrative.

This would show something of a maverick, whimsical disposition in the young Sato, a capacity to think beyond the familiar comforts and certainties of the world she resides on, thinking of places possibly devoid of the familiar elements that have frightened, empowered, damned, saved and defined her people for thousands of years. Of course, she's smart enough to know the time for that is far into the future and that she'd probably sate her curiosity by exploring the land she can reach, but it would nonetheless put her at odds with being tied down to her father's company.

This would also highlight the fleeting nature of the Avatar, and show a new dimension to the Equalist argument. That there may come a time when people won't need bending anymore and that one day they'll leave their current world for good, obviating the need for an Avatar. And where would that put Korra? For that matter, what happens to the 'last' avatar?

They'd avoid the impasse usually hit when thinking of the sublime by coming to the conclusion that Korra and her successors will continue to guide and protect mankind so they can reach that point. If the people and the avatar must part, it will be an amicable farewell, full of bittersweet pride, joy and excitement. Perhaps she would even find new ways to achieve and define balance along the way.

Asami: Who knows, maybe there are Avatars out there, too. You could form a club or something.
Korra: That'd be pretty cool. But don't you worry, I'm not about to leave my sidekick behind if they don't let you in with me.
Asami: (smirks)

Add some technical know how in there and you have someone who's more than just the team's smart guy, but something of a dreamer. A visionary who sees the potential in where technology can take us and bemoans how it is exploited so we can find better(worse?) ways to hurt one another. An individual that tries to reconcile Jules Verne-esque fantasy tech into a workable blueprint. A young girl, who is as a result of being such, is all the more betrayed, hurt and horrified by her father's sinister ambitions.

Some thoughts after episode 1x10:

Lin and Tenzin's family are still great. Some people on /co/ complained about fartbending and overpowered kids, but I didn't mind them. As for the Krew, the damage was done earlier in the season. They haven't had much chemistry and they don't feel too close. Due to this, their interaction in this episode felt very tense and strained. Asami calling out Mako's recent actions was good, though... but I'd prefer if Mako had never been acting so inconsistently in the first place. Wasn't happy with him trying to blame Bolin, either.

Amon now appears more clearly like a conquering megalomaniac rather than a freedom fighter with a reasonable argument. We also got a glimpse of Hiroshi, who's been off-screen and on the run for the past few episodes. Presumably he'll be important again in the finale, and so will his connection with Asami.

Much of the episode was action scenes. Characterization in LoK has issues but action works nicely enough, so I don't have many notes. Except that I loved the idea of using magnets against metalbenders, and Mako redirecting the electricity. Clever tricks.
Oh, and when we saw the councilwoman and her husband, I was thinking "who the fuck are these people and what's going on". She probably should've gotten a couple of really obnoxious lines in the earlier episodes so that she'd be memorable enough to be recognised now.
There was also general Iroh and the United Forces. Curious to see how they're gonna do.

So in the end, this episode was nothing too bad. Mostly the problem lies in all the previous episodes. The Krew have gotten too much romantic tension and too little friendly screentime together. As a result, their interaction feels highly uncomfortable now that the series is about to end.

Two big questions that I see as having the possibility of changing everything and forcing us to re-evaluate all the previous episodes are Amon and Asami. Amon has some remarkable powers, and once we find out what exactly is going on with him, maybe everything will turn out to make sense and we wouldn't want things any other way? Maybe Amon will turn out to be so interesting that dealing with Tarrlok so quickly would be the better choice in the end?

And as for Asami, I could never fully let go of the theory that maybe the Hiroshi vs. Asami scene way back was staged to gain the Krew's trust. Either that, or maybe it was about Asami finding out that both her and Hiroshi were secretly equalists, and she had to choose whether it was the right time to blow her own cover or not. Asami's extreme niceness made her look very suspicious and possible mole material right from the start.
I'm not fond of the "double-agent all along" tweest if it happens, but it would at least show some forethought, and it'd be a slightly better option than the romance drama possibly pushing Asami towards equalists.
But either way, this is all just speculation and we'll find out the truth soon enough. We'll want to work with what we've got now, rather than what we think might happen later. Mainly I'm just wondering if there will be any huge revelations that completely change everything we think about Amon, Asami, Hiroshi, or even the whole series. I would be delighted if there's some kind of magic trick that makes everything work in hindsight.

>>104839
I disagree.

Sports like probending are a good way to introduce the triad problem in the forms of numbers rackets/fixing/etc. and it fits the setting in that it seems to serve as a stand-in for boxing in Republic City (boxing was immensely popular in the 1920s before being hit hard by the Depression). If Korra is set on a team with Mako and Bolin from the very start it gives them a bond and a reason to work together immediately, which as I said before, is necessary in a 12 episode series. Korra just continuously happening upon the brothers who are working for the triads and eventually befriending them might be nice but would develop too slowly. Or, if you did manage to squish it into the show's timeline, it would feel too fast even if we were informed there were multiple timeskips so technically speaking they did have enough time to become real friends--everyone would be complaining their relationship feels empty and stilted because most of their bonding time would have to be offscreen.

I don't think probending accounts for most of the "lost time" in the show. If you're feeling that, I think that's probably because of episode 5 which did contain a few probending scenes but wasted more time dealing with love triangles imo that didn't really contribute much to character development or anything meaningful at all. It was a fun episode and we got that crying Bolin scene from it so it's not a total loss, but it could have stood to be more... economical. And the best way to do that, instead of completely excising probending from the show, is to just cut away the needlessly complicated romance strings. With The Spirit of Competition on the cutting room floor we have an ENTIRE EPISODE to work with.

You can up triad involvement and keep the 1920s boxing fever flavour by having underground bending rings which were a little more violent and dangerous than the official sport, run by criminal organisations, and often rife with illegal gambling and drinking. Perhaps it's here where Mako and Bolin got their start. However you would have to keep in mind this has to air on Nick and you can only slip in so much before the network calls it inappropriate, and you'd have to tell me why Korra and Asami would end up watching the illegal bootleg version of the sport they listen to on the radio instead of the Real Deal in the stadium, and why they would want to associate with guys obviously involved in Criminal Activities.

And ok, if you want probending out completely, what are you going to put in its place, specifically? What is the event that ties Korra to the brothers? Where is Amon going to make his first big, official move (the equivalent of attacking the stadium, which can't happen in a version with no probending because there would be no special connection to that place)? Korra is a big fan of martial arts and probending in canon, what are you going to do with that interest if she never gets involved in any of it? Should she even have that interest when nothing is going to come of it? What would she want to do instead, that would be in character for the Korra we know? There are now very large voids in the series that can't easily be sewn up by things already present, how do you propose to fix them while keeping the show recognisable? (And appropriate for Nick?)

>>104980
> Amon now appears more clearly like a conquering megalomaniac rather than a freedom fighter with a reasonable argument.

That's what he always was though. He made that crystal clear in his stadium speech; the freedom fighter thing may have been his original aim and he was corrupted by the power he wielded, or he might have been deliberately manipulating the downtrodden the entire time so that he could take over the city. Either way, by the time Korra came to Republic City and he started making his moves, "help oppressed people" wasn't super high on his priorities list. "Overthrow the council and take over everything" was.

>>104982
Ever since we got to know Amon, there have been heated debates on whether he's justified in his actions or not. Some people think his goals are admirable and he's got a point, while some others feel that he's been a monster from the start. Since people have been very divided on whether Amon's truly a villain or a well-intentioned person, I tried to be careful with my wording and not to state any opinion on whether Amon ever might have been an okay guy or not.

I'll be waiting for the last few episodes to see if there's gonna be some kind of depth to Amon. Was he truthful or lying when he told about his past? If he lied, I'm assuming he lied about lots of other things as well? Who is he, how did he gain his powers, what is his motivation, what hidden goals does he have? Or is it just the generic "take over the world" schtick?

I hope he was actually telling the truth back then, and he means well but was corrupted by his hatred/power. That approach is more interesting than people being evil for the sake of being evil. Amon having ties to spirits would also allow for some discussion about spiritual matters, which has been kinda missing from the series so far.

>>104984
>> Ever since we got to know Amon, there have been heated debates on whether he's justified in his actions or not.

I feel those debates are partly due to the slipshod worldbuilding of the show. It's hard to place Amon's agenda in the context of the universe because, even though the Equalists can pull a large crowd and recruit dedicated soldiers, there's little else to show non-benders are an oppressed people. There's the gangsters in Episode 1, and the modern council being all benders, but it's all very airy. The brothers are benders yet clearly poor and exploited by their management in a sport that is lenient on teams like the Wolfbats. The Satos are non-benders, yet they're rich enough to own a house that rivals the Earth King's palace, and Hiroshi is seemingly financing the whole Equalist revolution himself. So the Non-bender/Bender conflict ends up coming across as "Jets VS Sharks."

Which is something a lot of posters have been trying to correct in various ways. We've talked a lot about the brothers and how they're just trying to survive in the only way left to them, and how the triads might play a (exploitive) role in taking on responsibilities for their own ethnic blocks that the police have abdicated, but not so much about the Equalists. What can we do to make them at least marginally more sympathetic to the audience and to Korra?

One idea I had was for Asami to have a subplot in one episode where, as part of her training to one day take over the company, is directed by Hiroshi to hire workers for a new plant. She then has to weigh hiring benders VS non-benders, and how many of each. Touch on the advantages and disadvantages bending provides in modern industry.

>>104981
>>104984
>>105013

I agree with you, and I know why makers of LofK didn't put much effort into exploring the oppression of non-benders by benders: they are making kids show, so they don't push that too far, because, you know, they think that kids don't understand complex sociopolitical implications of certain elements of the fictional world.

>>105013
>It's hard to place Amon's agenda in the context of the universe because, even though the Equalists can pull a large crowd and recruit dedicated soldiers, there's little else to show non-benders are an oppressed people.
There was the police treating peaceful protesters violating curfew as Equalists, arresting them and using force against them.

>What can we do to make them at least marginally more sympathetic to the audience and to Korra?
If the moral of the story involves peace, it's better to show both sides as shitty and unsympathetic, with no proper good guy among the two - because the good guy is the actual termination and absence of conflict.

Besides, I hate the "both sides are supposed to be sympathetic and fighting for (world) peace" plotline even more.

>>105013

Honestly I don't think the show made any ambiguity about his actions, he isn't justified. He arguments are silly and irrationality, (bending is a disease, responsible for every war), he's never shown anything but megalomania, etc. The economic advantage of bending wasn't discussed because it doesn't exist, at least in canon.

However, the clashes with our own observations that it should exist, and thus we get dissidence. We notice that there are reasonable arguments for a certain suspicion of bending, and advantages it could cause. And thus we get dissidence, yet notice that at no point to the 'real world' arguments for bending (economic advantage, privilege) intersect with Amon's arguments.

Essentially, I think they wanted a X-men style show, where Amon hates bending like marvel-verse people hate mutants. The problem is that this clashes with the previous show, where bending was simply part of the world, and clashes with the themes since benders are in control, and it's a lot less hard to by sympathetic than to and oppressed minority. Not to mention X-men itself tend to have the problem that having massive power over normal people tends to clash with the whole 'oppressed minority' thing as well. Tarlok was the magneto to Tenzin's professor X, but the idea that the equalists had any legitimacy wasn't really on the table.

I think it would be a better show if they had sought to have Amon have a real grievance, with a insane view of the solution. But that's not the way it was written, at all. Critique the choice of motivations sure, but the presentation was fine, Amon was evil end of discussion.