WHO’S THAT POKEMON?

Before you watch “The Legend of Korra”

Before you guys watch Korra you should know a few things, or maybe you've already started.  Don't worry, this is spoiler free.  

Avatar and legend of Korra are made by different people.  Yes, the "creators" worked on both shows, but surprisingly few others did.  If you look at the head crews of both shows, you'll notice they are very different.  

Why this matters is because Korra is a very different show from Avatar, by virtue of being made by different people.  A number of things from the original show get retconned, and some characters even get different personalities.  This is because there are different people that are making the show, and this is their interpretation.  

This issue isn't unique to Korra,  many shows/movies/series change when they get a new director, producer, or if they're bought by a different company.  (Like how StarWars was bought by Disney.)  Some of these changes you might like; others you might not.  Just don't feel you have to blindly accept whatever happens. 

Random Thought:  Avatar vs Percy Jackson

A while back some people arguing who was better/ stronger; 

Percy Jackson or a water bender.  

Most of them concluded that Percy Jackson was stronger, but I always thought this was an unfair comparison.  

First, demigods in the world of Percy Jackson are primarily warriors who only occasionally/ rarely use elemental powers.  Second, the rules and limits in Avatar are very clear, whereas a Demigod's power doesn't have any clear limits.   The two worlds treat magic so differently that it feels unfair to ask "who is better".  You might as well compare “Dragonball” to “Harry Potter”.

BUMI:  the Monkey King

[WARNING!:  THIS VIDEO CONTAINS SWEARING]

We first see Bumi at the end of season 1 of Legend of Korra, and we are left with three impressions.  

He’s Crazy (just like the guy he’s named after)

He’s strong (as the commander of an Army)

And He’s fun

However, in season 2 we find out that he’s kinda a washed-up has-been, which I thought was really sad.  

First, I was really excited to meet the character from his first impression.  Tenzin was always the calm and collected side of airbending, so I was excited to see the wild and fun side of Air in Bumi.   Second, Avatar is an amazing show that never looks down on anybody.  Got a disability? No Problem!  You can still be a strong person.  You don’t have Bending?  Not a Problem!  There are plenty of skills you can learn that make you just a strong as a bender.  

Sokka was a non-bender, but the show never put him down because he couldn’t bend.  Sokka was still an important member to the group and did his part.  Bumi on the other hand is openly ignored.  Sure he doesn’t have bending, but he is often portrayed as a useless character.  This really saddened me, because the show had always treated their characters with great respect.   . .

Needless to say I was unhappy with Bumi’s characterization.   . .

So, Here is how I would have rewritten Bumi

I would describe Bumi in three words:  The Monkey King.  Yes I would have based Bumi on Sun Wu Kong from the Chinese classic, Journey to the West.

Despite not being a bender, Bumi would be an accomplished martial artist as wild and free as the monkey king.  He would represent the fun-loving and more wild side of the element of Air, to contrast Tenzins more subdued personality.   And even though he isn’t an airbender, he still knows how to fight like one.  

His fighting style would be Monkey Style or Momo Style if you prefer.  

He would tends to fight with a staff to shows just how strong a non-passive airbender could be.   I imagine him as the fun but crazy uncle who fits right in with flying children.  Overall he would be a fun strong character, not a failure.   Also, Bumi has kids.  Many of whom are Airbenders.  

Avatar: Is Roku to blame for the War?

When something goes wrong in the world, people have a tendency to blame others; especially those in power.  In the United States for example, it's very common for people to blame the president for current problems, regardless on whether or not he/ she has any actual control over the problem.  

Likewise, people in the world of ATLA tend to blame the Avatar when something goes wrong.

The fire nation attacks; blame the Avatar.

People get hurt in a war; blame the Avatar.

Can't solve your own problems; blame the Avatar.

The Avatar's mission is to bring balance to the world.  However, the Avatar did not create the world's problems, and is ultimately not responsible for the actions of other people.

Like the janitor for the world, the Avatar cleans up messes and helps bring order to the world, but more often than not the janitor is blamed for the mess existing in the first place.  The irony is that if people cleaned up their own messes, there would be no need of a Janitor.

This brings me to the subject of Avatar Roku.  Many Avatar fans blame Roku for the 100 yr war, and Roku even blames himself.  

But is it really Roku's fault?  

Roku grew up in the Fire Nation with his best friend Sozin, eventually finding out he was the Avatar, and traveling across the world.  When Roku returned to the Fire Nation, Sozin told Roku his plans for world conquest which Roku immediately rejected.  Later, Sozin invaded Earth Kingdom territory for which Roku confronted and defeated Sozin.  Roku had given Sozin two warnings, and there would not be a third.  However, as soon as Roku died, Sozin renewed his plans for global domination.

Although fans and Roku himself blame him for the war, I can not fault him.  Roku saw a problem and did something about it.  He was decisive.   

Just because his wasn't able to prevent a war, doesn't mean he caused the War nor is he responsible for the actions of other.  (Sozin's an adult.  And can be responsible for his own actions.) 

Roku's actions were natural and reasonable.  Plus, most people don't think of murder as their first solution to everything.

(Seriously, execution isn't the only way to solve problems.)

On a similar note, companies do "preventative measures" to keep people safe.  However, people will still get hurt because no rules or regulations can protect stupid people from themselves.

The Avatar isn't some perfect person who can perfectly solve every problem.  (Say that 5 times fast).  They are a human being who is doing the best they can.  

Added the Spiritual forms of bending to my so it’s pretty much done.  (I hope)

Below are it’s previous versions:  

Avatar:  What order should you learn the Elements?

Each Avatar must learn to master the four elements.  It’s traditional to learn the elements in the same order as the avatar cycle, but this isn’t mandatory.  There are several examples where an Avatar learned the elements “out of order”.   One idea I’d love to see is an Avatar learning in reverse order.   (Such as Korra learning:  Water, then Air, then Fire, and finally Earth) I like this idea because it might help the Avatar connect better to their past lives.  By learning in reverse order, the Avatar could learn about their predecessors along with learning the elements.   e.g.

Korra would learn about Aang while learning Airbending.

Roku as she learned Firebending.

And Kyoshi as she learned Earthbending.

(She would still learn waterbending first since it’s her native element, and I see no reason for her to learn about “Kuruk the idiot”.) The past Avatars might even be able to help the current Avatar learn the bending.  

Avatar: The Last Airbender is the G.O.A.T. | Video Essay

A love letter to the show.   

Avatar: The Last Airbender premiered on this day sixteen years ago!

The Boy in the Iceberg and The Avatar Returns first aired on February 21st, 2005.

If each of the character from Avatar the Last Airbender were turned into food, what food would they be?   (Aang, Sokka, etc...) Post your thoughts below.  

Toph vs Ty Li We’ve never really had a full battle between these two.  But I’m pretty sure who would win.   Toph   Unless Ty Li got her by suprise.