Second verse same as the first, friends! Let’s get into our Contrarian Retrospective of the second season of Korra!
Episode One ~ Rebel Spirit
Six months after the previous season finale, Korra continues doing Avatar stuff, Mako works with Lin and the Republic City police, Bolin aimlessly continues Pro Bending, and Asami is running Future Industries almost by herself. The gang comes together to head to the Southern Water Tribe, where they meet up with Korra’s father Tonraq, and her uncle, Unalaq. But then spirits start going crazy and attacking!
Season Two kicks off with an actually pretty great opener that gets us caught up to speed with where everyone has been and what they’ve been doing for the past six months. It also manages to introduce a boatload of new characters and kick off the central plot involving Unalaq and the evil spirits that need balancing. It also sets up some tension between the ever-impatient Korra and Tenzin, specifically with Korra not respecting the power she has. It’s a solid start to what can be a pretty bumpy season at times.
Rating: 9
Episode Two ~ The Southern Lights
Korra journeys with Unalaq (and his children, Eska and Desna), to attempt to re-open a long dormant Spirit Portal in the hopes of appeasing the wild dark spirits. She learns more about her father and grows to resent him, and she bonds more with her spiritual side thanks to Unalaq. But then, it appears she may have been manipulated all along, as the Northern Water Tribe makes a move to take over the Southern Water Tribe by force.
Yet again another solid episode. Honestly, it’s the second half of this season (or really the middle third) that drags it down, because these first few episodes are great across the board. Eska and Desna are constantly entertaining in their banter with Bolin, who as well is in top form in this episode. The backstory on Korra’s dad is really neat to see, and the entire climax sequence with Korra unleashing the Spirit Portal is a visual treat. Of course, then we get the cliffhanger setting up for a Water Nation civil war, which can’t be good for our heroes!
Rating: 8.5
Episode Three ~ Civil Wars, Part 1
On one side of the world, Korra attempts to stave off an entire civil war between the water tribes, fend off her slowly-less-congenial uncle, patch things up with her father, and deal with the unpredictable and money-hungry inventor Varrick. Meanwhile, Tenzin reunites with his siblings Kya and Bumi, though the three do not get along well.
Again, these first four episodes are pretty great, and if the entire season had focused on this sort of stuff instead of where it eventually ends up going, I think this season would’ve been a lot more fondly remembered. Korra’s family relationship drama is always excellent to see, and I love the moments of watching her grow in maturity. The tension in the Water Nation is super palpable too. Plus, we get the debut of Varrick and Zhu Li in this episode, and those two are awesome! Do The Thing! Also, the family drama with Tenzin and his siblings adds some awesome nuance to the character of Aang retroactively.
Rating: 8.5
Episode Four ~ Civil Wars, Part 2
Korra teams up with Varrick and her friends to break her father out of prison when Unalaq launches a full-scale coup of the Southern Water Tribe. The group barely manage to escape to Republic City, and Korra promises to return with reinforcements. Meanwhile, Tenzin patches things up with his siblings, as does his youngest daughter Ikki with his eldest daughter, Jinora.
Tensions in the Water Nation bubble to a head, producing yet another fantastic episode that fires on all cylinders. My favorite moment, evidenced by my screenshot selection below, is Korra going super-aggressive with threatening the corrupt judge who tried to condemn her father as part of Unalaq’s coup. There’s other awesome bits though, like Varrick’s stupid bear costume, the epic and very well animated escape from the South Pole, and the tease of a love-crazed Eska chasing after Bolin, who she’s developed a crush on.
It’s only a shame that we have to enter the slump section of this season now.
Rating: 9
Episode Five ~ Peacekeepers
Consequences of the Water Nation civil war reach Republic City as a cultural center is bombed. Mako tries to find the culprit, but by playing things to by-the-book he ends up curtailing Korra’s efforts to find reinforcements, fracturing their relationship. Meanwhile, Varrick and Bolin team-up to create a series of propaganda films they hope will inspire people to aid the Southern Water Tribe and their war.
I’m a sucker for political drama. I don’t try to hide this. But it’s gotta be sufficiently good and engaging political drama, and the back-and-forth conversations with no progress that start happening in this episode gets grating. Bolin’s movie-star arc is also a pretty big miss, though it’s certainly funny and gives us the iconic Nuktuk theme song. Korra and Mako’s relationship gets messy here too, which only brings back in some of the same love-triangle stuff that bogged the first season down a bit. This is all a shame, because I want to care given the stakes at play in the story.
Rating: 7.5
Episode Six ~ The Sting
Mako and Asami team up with some less-than-savory individuals to try and stop a theft of Future Industries property, but they are double-crossed and most of Asami’s inventory is stolen. In desperation, she sells controlling shares of stock to Varrick to save the company, only for Mako to realize Varrick (ever the war-profiteer) is the one behind it all. Unable to convince anyone, Mako is disgraced by his bosses.
Second verse same as the first, although I’d argue that this episode is even worse than the previous one (and my rating says so too). With Korra out-of-action in this episode, almost nothing of substance is accomplished. Mako keeps trying to do cool things, but the story (and everyone around him is distractingly out-of-character-ly dumb to pile onto this) won’t let him. About the only cool thing about this episode (and it’s pretty great actually) is the reveal that Varrick is an evil traitor selling out Team Avatar for his own gain. The scene where Mako finds out is oddly chilling given Varrick’s earlier goofy nature.
Rating: 7
Episode Seven ~ Beginnings, Part 1
Korra, who washed up on an island after being attacked by Eska and Desna, is induced into a meditative trance by some spiritual guides, and experiences the memories of the first ever Avatar, Wan. She learns about how Wan came to possess bending, and how he befriended the spirits. She also learns how Wan accidentally triggered a war between the spirit of light, Raava, and the spirit of darkness, Vaatu.
The first flashback episode, and the weaker of the two. It’s interesting world-building for sure, but they really pushed the limits since they knew they’d get two episodes for this, so this first part ends up dragging a fair bit and not having much going on. Still, it coasts by on intrigue and the very pleasing visual style. Honestly, not much else to say here.
Rating: 8
Episode Eight ~ Beginnings, Part 2
Korra’s flashback memories continue, as she experiences how Wan went about correcting his mistakes with Raava and Vaatu. Fusing his power with Raava, he became the first true Avatar and master of all four elements, and he defeated Vaatu in a massive power-struggle and bound the creature in a prison. He fell to his wounds, though, but thanks to Raava’s power the reincarnation cycle of the Avatar began. Wan also commanded the spirits to stay in the spirit world, and humans would remain in the human world.
The second flashback episode, and leaps and bounds greater than the first one. This is the one with the real meat-and-potatoes, and it delivers everything the first part promised. The fight scene between Wan and Vaatu is one of the most visually appealing in the entire series. The backstory wraps up in a really nice way, and I get a little misty eyed when Wan dies as he hears Raava promise they will meet again, and then we hear the sound of a baby crying to signify the start of the reincarnation cycle. It’s also hard not to get excited as a rejuvenated Korra leaps back into action at the episode’s end to kickstart this somewhat flagging sophomore season back into high gear!
Rating: 9
Episode Nine ~ The Guide
Korra visits Tenzin in an attempt to be guided into the spirit world, but he is unable to perform the act. Jinora offers her assistance, and together she and Korra enter the spirit world in search of answers. Meanwhile, Mako is arrested on false charges thanks to fake evidence planted by Varrick in his apartment. In the Water Nation, it is confirmed that Unalaq is working with Vaatu, trying to free the ancient dark spirit.
The season starts getting back into its groove here with some excellent character work. While it isn’t too exciting from a plot perspective, we get some fantastic development for Korra, Jinora, and Tenzin (three characters who all made it onto my Top 10 characters list). And considering the action-packed previous episode and the big climax to come, it isn’t too surprising to take things a bit slower here. A very solidly written episode…except for the Mako stuff. His storyline continues to be disappointing in how established competent people like Lin keep acting so dumb just so Mako can fail his goals.
Rating: 9
Episode Ten ~ A New Spiritual Age
Korra and Jinora are separated within the spirit world, and Korra is forced to contend with her personal struggles and feelings before being guided on the right path by an old friend. Jinora learns how to defeat Unalaq and Vaatu, only to quickly be captured in a surprise attack by Unalaq. Unalaq then forces Korra to open the Northern Spirit Portal, nearly freeing Vaatu from his prison. Korra escapes to the real world, but Jinora is stuck in a coma.
Spirit World shenanigans slow this episode down a bit, but it’s still got a lot to love. I’ve made mention several times that while I find the Spirit World cool as a concept, I’m not a fan of when it takes up time just to be weird for weird’s sake. This episode falters there a bit, as Korra and Jinora stumble around trying to find answers. It leads to good character beats for them both, and it caps off with the incredibly heart-breaking moment of Tenzin realizing his daughter is now trapped in a coma, so it’s not all bad. Plus (for all the questionable sense it makes), it’s nice to see Uncle Iroh again, imparting his wise wisdom as always!
Rating: 8
Episode Eleven ~ Night of a Thousand Stars
During the premiere of the final propaganda movie, Bolin ends up foiling an attempt to kidnap the president of Republic City. In the process, he also publicly ousts Varrick as a traitor, which in turn sees Mako freed from prison. Upon Korra’s return, the group of friends reunite, but are still short on reinforcements for their war. In the Southern Water Tribe, Korra’s father is nearly killed in a duel with Unalaq.
Bolin’s basically useless, but mildly entertaining, story arc of this season finally comes to an end in the best way possible. I still don’t think this episode’s greatness justifies the whole Nuktuk thing, but it’s pretty darn close to doing so. From references and call backs to perfectly timed jokes and musical cues, Bolin accidentally embodying his fictional movie hero persona to save the president is extremely entertaining. It’s also satisfying to see Mako vindicated and Varrick finally thrown in jail for his schemes. Also (though a jarringly tonally dissonant scene compared to the rest of the episode), the ending fight between Tonraq and Unalaq is tense, well choreographed, and exciting.
Rating: 8.5
Episode Twelve ~ Harmonic Convergence
Harmonic Convergence, a spiritual event that will unite the two spirit portals and free Vaatu, nears. Korra and her friends launch an all-out attack against Unalaq and his forces, and though they are captured, they are soon rescued by a heroic and lucky maneuver from Bumi. Korra, Mako, and Bolin head into the spirit world to do battle with Unalaq, while Tenzin, Kya, and Bumi go in search of Jinora. Despite everyone’s best efforts, Vaatu is freed.
Things really kick off at this point in what has got to be one of the coolest action scenes in the entire show. The entire raid on Unalaq’s base is awesome, in all its various parts. From the aerial bombardment that Team Avatar unleashes, to the craziness of Bumi’s mechasuit-aided rescue attempt, it’s an engaging visual treat from start-to-finish. It’s one of those episodes that, on paper, exists just to put the pieces into play for the two-part finale coming up, but they had so much fun with that assignment that it ends up a very worthwhile episode regardless.
Rating: 9
Episode Thirteen ~ Darkness Falls
Mako and Bolin are overwhelmed by Eska and Desna, and fail to stop Unalaq from interfering in Korra’s attempts to re-seal Vaatu. Unalaq and Vaatu fuse together, becoming a dark Avatar to match Korra. The two battle, and the tides turn in the favor of darkness when Raava is stripped out of Korra and torn to shreds by Vaatu’s dark spiritual powers. The Avatar cycle of reincarnation ends up broken, leaving Korra disconnected from her past lives and powerless. Unalaq heads towards Republic City to conquer it.
Continuing on the high from the previous episode, both the stakes and the excitement keep building on into this penultimate episode. The heroes desperate but futile efforts to stop Unalaq and Vaatu from merging is really tense and compelling, and the newly created Dark Avatar puts up one heck of a well-animated, entertainingly prolonged, and action-packed battle with Korra at her full power. Some much needed character development for Eska and Desna finally occurs and is rather sweet (in a silly sort of way), and the shocking ending with the Avatar cycle being broken is one of the boldest decisions Korra makes as a show, and one that really meshes well with its central themes and messaging. Even the Spirit World stuff is quite good, with some nice catharsis with Tenzin’s character arc.
Sadly…
Rating: 9
Episode Fourteen ~ Light in the Dark
Tenzin and his siblings, having rescued Jinora, nurse Korra back to health. Korra then heads into the Spirit World and taps into deeply buried potential, attaining a powerful but fleeting form she uses to head to Republic City and do battle with Unalaq. And then, with some assistance from Jinora, Korra is able to sense the remnants of Raava, reconstitute them, and purge Unalaq with a Water Nation cleansing ritual, killing him (and Unalaq) for good. Korra officially breaks up with Mako but maintains his friendship, and diverts from Wan’s old decision by letting spirits roam free in the human world.
Alas, the season finale stumbles a bit in trying to cross the finish line, but it tries its best to wrap up this season’s confusing and somewhat conflicting plotlines.
Giant-monster Unalaq just isn’t compelling to watch, from both a character standpoint and also from a fight choreography standpoint. Korra finding some development as she connects with her spiritual side is great, but the battle just boils down to a big kaiju slugfest. And then Jinora shows up as a Deus Ex Machina (I could get into how it works and how it’s actually kinda cool, but the fact that I need to explain it at all is still a knock against the show for not doing a proper job setting it up). It’s all kind of a mess, and Vaatu’s death almost seems counterintuitive to the message about balance between light and dark.
Still, there’s good spots here. Korra’s decision to let spirits remain in the human world is a profoundly mature one, and one that really sets her apart from the previous Avatar (quite literally building off the fact the she is now the first of a new Avatar generation since the previous episode’s consequences). Similarly, her official break-up with Mako is also handled a good deal more emotionally and maturely than the previous love-triangle shenanigans.
The central conflict is messy, but everything around the periphery is good, is basically what I’m saying!
Rating: 7.5
SEASON CONCLUSION
This season has its problems. It’d be silly to pretend that it doesn’t. It feels like two different storylines mashed together (Water Nation civil war, and then light spirits versus dark spirits), and the pacing is all over the place. It also feels like the writers didn’t really know what to do with Bolin and Asami, and even Mako’s plot relevance keeps being sidelined by annoying contrivances that feel made-up to handicap him.
However, the internet would have you believe that this season is some sort of personal offense, and a veritably war crime just by existing. It’s nowhere near that bad, and actually has a lot of positive moments. The two-episode flashback with Wan is super neat, the ending of Bolin’s movie star arc is cheesy and fun, and there’s several fun action scenes. This season also introduces some great characters like Varrick, Kya and Bumi, and Jinora (who technically was in the previous season but didn’t do much).
So yeah, it’s the weakest season. But it’s far from awful!
Rating: 7.5
But hey, that’s just my opinion!
The Contrarian Corner 