Avatar: The Last Airbender Live-Action Netflix Show Announced -

[Muttnik]

The Avatar comics are so terrible that they unintentionally made Azula 100% justified in wanting to kill her mother for totally willingly choosing to abandon her and Zuko so that she could get laid. It's pretty fucking awful writing when you're siding with the villain into wanting to just murder everyone for their exceptional decisions.

I haven't really read the Korra comics. I just know about the gay death-camps from a screencap I saw. Either way, I don't have any faith in it at all. For me, Korra was an awful series and having its spinoff written by overglorified tumblr people doesn't change how fundamentally broken the series is as a whole. Korra's awful decisions are never called out and the show pretends like they were rationally sound and the right thing to do. Fuck that shit.

 

[Your Weird Fetish]

But even per canon Azula did nothing wrong.

I don't recall Aang doing something that dangerous to humanity and not be properly called out afterwards.

He refused to kill the Firelord on the eve of the largest genocide in his world's history. He and everyone else avoided that fate when two deus ex machinas in a row let him win anyway. This is just taken as proof of his moral superiority. Aang was a massive Mary Sue.

Of course all of that is to be expected of a show aimed at 10 year olds. A show aimed at 14 year olds (Korra) should only be held to slightly higher standards of moral complexity. Which it manages to uphold. Stupid when viewed through an adult lens, sure. But what do you expect? I will say I did enjoy Korra basically being the anti-Mary Sue though. Was fairly unique. She's handed all the unique powers in the world and still fucks up because she's just a dumb teenager.

Korra's awful decisions are never called out and the show pretends like they were rationally sound and the right thing to do. Fuck that shit.

She got her ass kicked a bunch of times and fucked everything up multiple times leading to people being very angry and at one point several years of being a literally shaking PTSD cripple. She also made up for it and the good guys won in the end anyway, sometimes in nonsensical ways, because again, show for kids with mediocre writing.

If you're watching Avatar as an adult for the primary reason of good story telling, you've got issues.

 

[Übertroon]

I heard of Amon being a an analogue of Communism. I can see it, but I don't see how bending works as an analogue of the bourgeois. Benders weren't really presented as obvious societal superiors of the normies in TLA. And while LoK might have tried to do that we didn't see much of signs of it outside of criminals and one crooked politician.

You missed that benders occupied all the leading offices in Republic City? Also while some non benders have talents that put them on equal terms with benders, it's fairly obvious that being born one gives you a significant advantage, like being born taller or smarter compared to shorter and dumber. Also Amon is just as much an analogue of nazism as he is communism. Remember he is there to stop the people who are behind every war in every era, and he is the final solution.

Also, Book 4 tried to say all those villains were right about whatever they upset about but just "went too far." That's not really condemning Leftism.

It said that while the villains were extremists that had to be stopped, the fundamental reason for their actions was a wish for equality, balance, and freedom, which is considered good values. Remember that communists claim they seek a free and equal society, problem is it's a completely wrong way of achieving it. Same with Kuvira, she seeks security and prosperity for her people, that's why Korra tries to reason and show mercy rather than just a thug to crush.

Eh, not really? We didn't get a discussion on the pros and cons of monarchy. Korra's posse just supported the prince until Kuvira surrendered, then that same prince declared the EK canceled.

Having an outright discussion between characters is poor storytelling. Suyin states in book 3 she loathes the monarchy, seeing it as an archaic and damaging institution, that's why her protege so easily casts it aside in book 4. Prince Wu is also presented as a rather unfit ruler, I think most people watching the show realizes why most people don't want him ruling. Kuvira is defeated of course, but as you brought up earlier, you're supposed to understand why the villains do what they do, so the heroes seem to come to the agreement that it's fort he best to let the monarchy go, and let the people decide rather than foreign leaders. Remember that just because Kuvira was defeated in Republic City doesn't change the fact that she was very popular among many across the Earth Kingdom, and removing the monarchy was likely a way to appease the people.

 

[The Estatist]

He refused to kill the Firelord on the eve of the largest genocide in his world's history. He and everyone else avoided that fate when two deus ex machinas in a row let him win anyway. This is just taken as proof of his moral superiority. Aang was a massive Mary Sue.

Look, I'll be the first to admit the energybending reveal was poorly done (especially since it canceled out the discussion Aang had with his past lives that teached him he's not just an Air Nomad, he's the Avatar and so must do what's at odds with his upbringing). That said, Ozai's plan to torch the EK was being countered either way. Korra just leaves the portals open (despite seeing through flashback what happened last time humans and spirits shared a world) and never considers any backup plans in case it backfires (remember, Aang did consider killing Ozai).

You missed that benders occupied all the leading offices in Republic City? Also while some non benders have talents that put them on equal terms with benders, it's fairly obvious that being born one gives you a significant advantage, like being born taller or smarter compared to shorter and dumber. Also Amon is just as much an analogue of nazism as he is communism. Remember he is there to stop the people who are behind every war in every era, and he is the final solution.

We see plenty of non-benders in TLA who are merchants, rulers, scholar, military leaders. Katara being a waterbender didn't win any favors with that old master until he learned she was his ex's grandaughter. Not to mention that the Earth King wasn't a bender while Long Feng was one but still merely a commoner. Not even the Fire Nation had an obvious caste system.

It takes more than not seeing any non-benders in RC's council to buy there was society wide abuse of normies by benders. Mind you, apparently all it took was electing one non-bender to office to end the tension. Amon also has the problem of being a bender himself, which combined with his backstory points to his insincerity (especially since he ended up exposing himself to his posse when he didn't need to). Last time I checked Hitler wasn't a secret Jew.

It said that while the villains were extremists that had to be stopped, the fundamental reason for their actions was a wish for equality, balance, and freedom, which is considered good values.

Amon was just acting from daddy issues. Unalaq didn't have a solid characterization (one minute he's yapping about traditions as he shows off his spirit mojo, next he's cackling about unleashing a dark god that'll ruin the world). Zaheer was just "Dude Chaos." It's silly to write the villians such and insist they were really fighting for ultimate justice the whole time.

Remember that communists claim they seek a free and equal society, problem is it's a completely wrong way of achieving it. Same with Kuvira, she seeks security and prosperity for her people, that's why Korra tries to reason and show mercy rather than just a thug to crush.

Korra was as violent there as she was before, just giving a cheap therapy session doesn't make her a peacemaker. Kuvira just gave up with having her troops all surrendering even though she should have been able to crush Korra's team.

Having an outright discussion between characters is poor storytelling.

Plenty of men discuss things.

Suyin states in book 3 she loathes the monarchy, seeing it as an archaic and damaging institution, that's why her protege so easily casts it aside in book 4.

Suyin (who's an insuffereable character by the way) might have said that, but she also refused to step-in when the EK was a mess. Despite her city's resources and capabilty. Didn't oppose Wu gettting given the throne either. Making her word hollow.

Prince Wu is also presented as a rather unfit ruler, I think most people watching the show realizes why most people don't want him ruling.

The show tried to present him as a respectable ruler at the last minue. Hence his announcement just being accepted with no opposition.

Kuvira is defeated of course, but as you brought up earlier, you're supposed to understand why the villains do what they do, so the heroes seem to come to the agreement that it's fort he best to let the monarchy go, and let the people decide rather than foreign leaders. Remember that just because Kuvira was defeated in Republic City doesn't change the fact that she was very popular among many across the Earth Kingdom, and removing the monarchy was likely a way to appease the people.

They have no grounds to believe dismantling the kingdom and turning it into a bunch of democracies would work. And again, we don't see Korra's posse consider whether the monarchy should remain or not. They're just countering whatever dastardly antics Kuvira's doing. Wu just declares the EK canceled and they cheer him on.

 

[Übertroon]

We see plenty of non-benders in TLA who are merchants, rulers, scholar, military leaders. Katara being a waterbender didn't win any favors with that old master until he learned she was his ex's grandaughter. Not to mention that the Earth King wasn't a bender while Long Feng was one but still merely a commoner. Not even the Fire Nation had an obvious caste system.

It takes more than not seeing any non-benders in RC's council to buy there was society wide abuse of normies by benders. Mind you, apparently all it took was electing one non-bender to office to end the tension. Amon also has the problem of being a bender himself, which combined with his backstory points to his insincerity (especially since he ended up exposing himself to his posse when he didn't need to). Last time I checked Hitler wasn't a secret Jew.

Again, just because non benders have been successful doesn't mean that the upper echelons aren't dominated by benders. Remember as well that the Earth King was a puppet to the Earth Bending Dai Li. Also Amon being a bender completes the historical allusion, plenty of theories that Hitler had jewish ancestors, and nearly all communist leaders have been part of the upper class before they restyle themselves as revolutionaries. You do not have to come from the oppressed class to self style yourself as a revolutionary.

Amon was just acting from daddy issues. Unalaq didn't have a solid characterization (one minute he's yapping about traditions as he shows off his spirit mojo, next he's cackling about unleashing a dark god that'll ruin the world). Zaheer was just "Dude Chaos." It's silly to write the villians such and insist they were really fighting for ultimate justice the whole time.

You're purposely simplifying the villains. You could just as well go, Ozai was just power hungry, Azula and Zuko and mommy and daddy issues. etc. Also the show didn't say they were fighting for justice the whole time, it's saying that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Just like how Sozin started the 100 year war because he believed it was the destiny of the Fire Nation to share their prosperity with the rest of the world.

Korra was as violent there as she was before, just giving a cheap therapy session doesn't make her a peacemaker. Kuvira just gave up with having her troops all surrendering even though she should have been able to crush Korra's team.

In Kuvira's eyes Korra proved herself strong enough to take on her entire army when she took on the spirit beam. That was a "oh shit" moment for her. Also the "cheap therapy seassion" didn't make Korra a peacemaker, remember all her initial attempts failed, but after saving Kuvira's life and finding common ground she got Kuvira to stand down. She even states that the old her would just have looked to beat down Kuvira and end it that way.

Plenty of men discuss things.

Still doesn't make it good storytelling, remember, show, don't tell. You can't make an action adventure show like an episode of Rome and have the characters discuss the merits of democracy over a monarchy.

Suyin (who's an insuffereable character by the way) might have said that, but she also refused to step-in when the EK was a mess. Despite her city's resources and capabilty. Didn't oppose Wu gettting given the throne either. Making her word hollow.

Because Suyin doesn't care about the rest of the Earth Kingdom, she only cares for her city and family. She didn't oppose Wu because she isn't one of the world leaders, and she is not interested in Earth Kingdom affairs. Is it right of her to do that? I honestly never caught the show trying to approve or condemn it, it simply acts as the catalyst for Kuvira to instead step in.

The show tried to present him as a respectable ruler at the last minue. Hence his announcement just being accepted with no opposition.

Why would people show opposition to Wu's personal decision not to pursue his title inheritance? That was entirely up to him.

They have no grounds to believe dismantling the kingdom and turning it into a bunch of democracies would work. And again, we don't see Korra's posse consider whether the monarchy should remain or not. They're just countering whatever dastardly antics Kuvira's doing. Wu just declares the EK canceled and they cheer him on.

They have less reason to believe that restoring the monarchy will work. Remember the rest of the world leaders had simply considered it a formality that the monarchy would be restored. None of them really considered that Kuvira would with the support of the people abolish the monarchy and make herself dictator.

 

[The Estatist]

Again, just because non benders have been successful doesn't mean that the upper echelons aren't dominated by benders.

We don't see any actual bender ruled societies besides the Fire Nation. The Air Nomads don't really count since all of them were benders.

Remember as well that the Earth King was a puppet to the Earth Bending Dai Li.

The point of a puppet king is to give yourself a source of legitimacy. The Earth King was the legit ruler, Long Feng was just a commoner using. Azula even points out that for all his power he was still just a commoner who didn't have the right to rule.

Also Amon being a bender completes the historical allusion, plenty of theories that Hitler had jewish ancestors, and nearly all communist leaders have been part of the upper class before they restyle themselves as revolutionaries. You do not have to come from the oppressed class to self style yourself as a revolutionary.

You didn't address the "Amon exposing himself" part.

You're purposely simplifying the villains.

Not really. Unalaq in particular didn't have much of a characterization that was in line with his actions (see him plotting to unleash a dark god that will surely terrorize his tribe).

You could just as well go, Ozai was just power hungry, Azula and Zuko and mommy and daddy issues. etc.

Ozai was just Aang's final boss. Zuko and Azula had much more to them than Korra's villains (Amon having his backstory dumped at the last minute, Unalaq being Unalaq, Zaheer's muh chaos, Kuvira had potential but never really achieved it).

Also the show didn't say they were fighting for justice the whole time, it's saying that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Just like how Sozin started the 100 year war because he believed it was the destiny of the Fire Nation to share their prosperity with the rest of the world.

TLA never tried to suggest Sozin's actions were legitimate.

In Kuvira's eyes Korra proved herself strong enough to take on her entire army when she took on the spirit beam. That was a "oh shit" moment for her. Also the "cheap therapy seassion" didn't make Korra a peacemaker, remember all her initial attempts failed, but after saving Kuvira's life and finding common ground she got Kuvira to stand down. She even states that the old her would just have looked to beat down Kuvira and end it that way.

Kuvira's troops surrounded both Korra's posse and the city (they even look at each other in confusion when Kuvira tells them to stand down). And Kuvira surrendering that easy suggests she wasn't sincere in her fight (of course I suspect that was just the writers forcing a way to end the conflict when it did).

Still doesn't make it good storytelling, remember, show, don't tell. You can't make an action adventure show like an episode of Rome and have the characters discuss the merits of democracy over a monarchy.

They shouldn't introduce tangents on the best way to govern if they aren't going to have any honest discussion over it.

Because Suyin doesn't care about the rest of the Earth Kingdom, she only cares for her city and family. She didn't oppose Wu because she isn't one of the world leaders, and she is not interested in Earth Kingdom affairs. Is it right of her to do that? I honestly never caught the show trying to approve or condemn it, it simply acts as the catalyst for Kuvira to instead step in.

She would have no actual high-ground to condemn Kuvira if she herself opposed the monarchy and wouldn't step-in when the EK was in turmoil. Considering her treatment by the narrative I doubt we're meant to see Suyin as a repellent character.

Why would people show opposition to Wu's personal decision not to pursue his title inheritance? That was entirely up to him.

"We fought a war over you getting the throne but now you're canceling your kingdom and making it a bunch of democracies so whatev"

They have less reason to believe that restoring the monarchy will work. Remember the rest of the world leaders had simply considered it a formality that the monarchy would be restored. None of them really considered that Kuvira would with the support of the people abolish the monarchy and make herself dictator.

The Earth Kingdom denizens supporting Kuvira were trading a monarchy that sat back as their kingdom fell apart for a new regime that was bringing unity. That's hardly a call for balkanization with elections. They might as well have let Kuvira win if that's the best alternative they have.

 

[Your Weird Fetish]

You're purposely simplifying the villains. You could just as well go, Ozai was just power hungry,

He was. Ozai was a waste of a Mark Hamill. Azula was far cooler.

 

[The Estatist]

Ozai was Aang's final boss. And besides, he was more of a representative of his society and its sins anyway.

 

[Übertroon]

We don't see any actual bender ruled societies besides the Fire Nation. The Air Nomads don't really count since all of them were benders.

Except we do, Fire Nation is ruled by benders, the United Republic was ruled by benders, the Water Tribe was ruled by Unalaq who was a bender, the only nation in Legend of Korra with a non bending ruler was the Earth Kingdom, and that was after ending a puppet regime where the Earth Kingdom was in actuality ruled by the benders in the Dai Li and cultural Bureau.

The point of a puppet king is to give yourself a source of legitimacy. The Earth King was the legit ruler, Long Feng was just a commoner using. Azula even points out that for all his power he was still just a commoner who didn't have the right to rule.

Yes, so he didn't have legitimacy by title, but thanks to his abilities he and his cronies still managed to hold all the power in the Earth Kingdom. At the end of the day power still remains with the shadow chancellor.

You didn't address the "Amon exposing himself" part.

Wasn't much to address. He acted out of instinct and made a mistake. He didn't reveal himself on purpose.

Not really. Unalaq in particular didn't have much of a characterization that was in line with his actions (see him plotting to unleash a dark god that will surely terrorize his tribe).

Well Unalaq was the weakest villain in the show, not much unlike Long Feng in book 2 of ATLA. At the end of the day he simply sought personal power. I've definitely thought of better ways to handle book 2.

Ozai was just Aang's final boss. Zuko and Azula had much more to them than Korra's villains (Amon having his backstory dumped at the last minute, Unalaq being Unalaq, Zaheer's muh chaos, Kuvira had potential but never really achieved it).

Ozai is still the overarching villain. While I definitely found Zuko and Azula's story far more gripping, it still doesn't change that the fight against Ozai was what it all was building up to.

TLA never tried to suggest Sozin's actions were legitimate.

Didn't try to say the Korra villains were legitimate as well, just saying they didn't begin with evil intentions.

Kuvira's troops surrounded Korra's posse. And Kuvira surrendering that easy suggests she wasn't sincere in her fight (of course I suspect that was just the writers forcing a way to end the conflict when it did).

They had a dozen mech units, and Korra had just shielded herself and Kuvira from a blast that took out several city blocks. Also Kuvira was certainly not all that willing to continue the fight, she had already tried the "It's not over, not yet" thing already once, and it nearly killed her, not to mention her trump card was destroyed and she tried to kill her fiancee.

They shouldn't introduce tangents on the best way to govern if they aren't going to have any honest discussion over it.

What was there to discuss? That the horrible inefficient monarchy probably wasn't the way to go? That perhaps Kuvira did have a point with not letting horrible kings and queens back into power?

She would have no actual high-ground to condemn Kuvira if she herself opposed the monarchy and wouldn't step-in when the EK was in turmoil. Considering her treatment by the narrative I doubt we're meant to see Suyin as a repellent character.

Suyin condemns Kuvira for leaving Zaofu and installing herself as dictator. It's a very personal reason, but Suyin simply dislikes her former protege going for a power grab.

"We fought a war over you getting the throne but now you're canceling your kingdom and making it a bunch of democracies so whatev"

No, remember, no one lifted a finger when Kuvira declared herself leader of the Earth Empire. No one lifted a finger when she conquered Zaofu. The war began because Kuvira invaded the United Earth Republic to return lost land to the Earth Empire.

The Earth Kingdom denizens supporting Kuvira were trading a monarchy that sat back as their kingdom fell apart for a dictatorship that was bringing unity. That's hardly a call for balkanization with elections. They might as well have let Kuvira win.

There were several reasons why people threw their lot in with Kuvira. But main point was that the world leaders realized they made a mistake by trying to reinstall the monarchy rather than letting the people decide who they wanted to rule.

 

[The Estatist]

Except we do, Fire Nation is ruled by benders, the United Republic was ruled by benders, the Water Tribe was ruled by Unalaq who was a bender, the only nation in Legend of Korra with a non bending ruler was the Earth Kingdom, and that was after ending a puppet regime where the Earth Kingdom was in actuality ruled by the benders in the Dai Li and cultural Bureau.

The Fire Nation let non-benders be bodyguards for its beloved princess and allowed non-benders to marry into the royal family. Neither of the Water Tribes chieftains back in the 100 Years War were benders. The United Republic and Unalaq aren't in TLA so they aren't relevant to what I'm talking about (which is how bender supremacy wasn't really a thing there).

Yes, so he didn't have legitimacy by title, but thanks to his abilities he and his cronies still managed to hold all the power in the Earth Kingdom. At the end of the day power still remains with the shadow chancellor.

Azula (an actual royal) made him into a Fire Nation puppet.

Wasn't much to address. He acted out of instinct and made a mistake. He didn't reveal himself on purpose.

That's called lazy writing. The writers just needed a way to quickly settle the Equalist conflict since they were running out of episodes so they had Amon discredit himself.

Well Unalaq was the weakest villain in the show, not much unlike Long Feng in book 2 of ATLA. At the end of the day he simply sought personal power. I've definitely thought of better ways to handle book 2.

Long Feng was nowhere near Unalaq. Long Feng was solid enough (a commoner trying to carve a place of power for himself). Unalaq bounced from some Nortern Water Tribe traditionalist conquering the Southerners who doubled as Korra's Emperor Palpatine for her Anakin Skywalker to Korra's Uncle Claudius to a cultist who'll free some dastardly spirit that'll doom the world.

Ozai is still the overarching villain. While I definitely found Zuko and Azula's story far more gripping, it still doesn't change that the fight against Ozai was what it all was building up to.

Zuko and Azula wer closer to the show's prime villains in that they had the most screentime or interaction with the Avatar and his posse. Ozai was the final threat, but I wouldn't call him the lead villain. If anything I'd call the FN itself that.

Didn't try to say the Korra villains were legitimate as well, just saying they didn't begin with evil intentions.

I find that hard to buy for Unalaq considering he was shown framing his own brother.

They had a dozen mech units, and Korra had just shielded herself and Kuvira from a blast that took out several city blocks. Also Kuvira was certainly not all that willing to continue the fight, she had already tried the "It's not over, not yet" thing already once, and it nearly killed her, not to mention her trump card was destroyed and she tried to kill her fiancee.

At worst Kuvira could have just forced her enemies to agree to terms to end the bloodshed. She didn't even do that.

What was there to discuss? That the horrible inefficient monarchy probably wasn't the way to go? That perhaps Kuvira did have a point with not letting horrible kings and queens back into power?

Korra's posse sided with the prince and fought Kuvira's army. If they didn't want the monarchy to return they had a poor way of showing it.

Suyin condemns Kuvira for leaving Zaofu and installing herself as dictator. It's a very personal reason, but Suyin simply dislikes her former protege going for a power grab.

Kuvira was serving the crown when she started her unifier quest and hadn't made a move against Wu when she had her talk with Suyin. Again no high-ground.

No, remember, no one lifted a finger when Kuvira declared herself leader of the Earth Empire. No one lifted a finger when she conquered Zaofu. The war began because Kuvira invaded the United Earth Republic to return lost land to the Earth Empire.

President Raiko supported Wu on the throne. He didn't approve Kuvira's run for the throne. Neither did Korra and her posse besides Bolin (who turns against her anyway). The war can be broken down to a dispute over who gets to rule the EK that snowballed into an invasion of Republic City. Remember, Kuvira already had enemies in Republic City and in Team Avatar before she invaded Republic City.

There were several reasons why people threw their lot in with Kuvira. But main point was that the world leaders realized they made a mistake by trying to reinstall the monarchy rather than letting the people decide who they wanted to rule.

And breaking up the EK into a bunch of democracies is supposed to be the best plan? Instead of say, lettting Kuvira win?

Anyway, here's a set of classic Anti-Korra videos:

 

[Übertroon]

The Fire Nation let non-benders be bodyguards for its beloved princess and allowed non-benders to marry into the royal family. Neither of the Water Tribes chieftains back in the 100 Years War were benders. The United Republic and Unalaq aren't in TLA so they aren't relevant to what I'm talking about (which is how bender supremacy wasn't really a thing there).

Bodyguards and the wife of the firelord are not the rulers of the Fire Nation. Also the Water Tribe had one Chieftain until the civil war in Legend of Korra. And during Legend of Korra, which is the era we're discussing, the Chieftain was a waterbender. As for the 100 years war we don't really know if the Northern chieftain was a water bender or not.

Azula (an actual royal) made him into a Fire Nation puppet.

And? Doesn't see how that makes benders less important.

That's called lazy writing. The writers just needed a way to quickly settle the Equalist conflict since they were running out of episodes so they had Amon discredit himself.

They had 12 episodes to wrap things up. Keep in mind how shittily Dark Knight Rises handled a fairly similar plot.

Long Feng was nowhere near Unalaq. Long Feng was solid enough (a commoner trying to carve a place of power for himself). Unalaq bounced from some Nortern Water Tribe traditionalist conquering the Southerners who doubled as Korra's Emperor Palpatine for her Anakin Skywalker to Korra's Uncle Claudius to a cultist who'll free some dastardly spirit that'll doom the world.

Again you're simplifying things to suit the narrative you're building. Unalaq was not born to become Water Tribe Chieftain, he was the younger brother to Tanroq who was the successor. He then used subterfuge and manipulation to get Tonraq banished. He then also manipulated Korra to get what he wanted. Korra even points out that it likely was very painful for Unalaq to have his banished brother become the father of the Avatar, likely why he was part of the Red Lotus plot to kidnap Korra.

Zuko and Azula wer closer to the show's prime villains in that they had the most screentime or interaction with the Avatar and his posse. Ozai was the final threat, but I wouldn't call him the lead villain. If anything I'd call the FN itself that.

Fire Nation and Ozai is the same power though. Once Ozai is dealt with so is the Fire Nation. Kinda like how after the Emperor dies in Star Wars the Empire is like an afterthought.

I find that hard to buy for Unalaq considering he was shown framing his own brother.

In Unalaq's eyes he likely would make a better ruler, remember that his plan to get Tonraq banished relied on his brother acting rashly

At worst Kuvira could have just forced her enemies to agree to terms to end the bloodshed. She didn't even do that.

She was the Avatar's captive, it likely wasn't the ideal time to start discussing a armistice.

Korra's posse sided with the prince and fought Kuvira's army. If they didn't want the monarchy to return they had a poor way of showing it.

They fought Kuvira's army because they were marching towards the United Republic. Before that it had been because of events such as Kuvira trying to conquer Zaofu and Kuvira's agents trying to kidnap Wu. Are you saying they should have just let Kuvira do all those things unopposed?

Kuvira was serving the crown when she started her unifier quest and hadn't made a move against Wu when she had her talk with Suyin. Again no high-ground.

Kuvira never swore allegiance to the crown. She started her quest to bring order and security back to the Earth Kingdom while foreign leaders made plans to have Kuvira step down after two years to relinquish power. There was never implied that Kuvira had signed any agreement to step down, it was simply expected.

President Raiko supported Wu on the throne. He didn't approve Kuvira's run for the throne. Neither did Korra and her posse besides Bolin (who turns against her anyway). The war can be broken down to a dispute over who gets to rule the EK that snowballed into an invasion of Republic City. Remember, Kuvira already had enemies in Republic City and in Team Avatar before she invaded Republic City.

Raiko supported Wu along with the other world leaders, again, they saw it as the legitimate continuation of the lawful regime of the Earth Kingdom. They had not considered a populist coup. Korra and Bolin is not in conflict with Kuvira until she makes a move against Zaofu, putting their allies in danger is what makes them move against Kuvira. Before that Bolin chose Kuvira over his brother. And even after Kuvira besieged Zaofu Korra sympathized with her and wanted a peaceful solution. Kuvira made an enemy of the Avatar and her friends when she took Zaofu, imprisoned Varrick, and tried to kidnap Wu. They didn't just out of thin air decide they didn't agree with Kuvira. But the actual war doesn't begin until Kuvira invades.

And breaking up the EK into a bunch of democracies is supposed to be the best plan? Instead of say, lettting Kuvira win?

Letting Kuvira win means giving back the United Earth Republic to the Earth Empire. Should the allies have surrendered the Danzig corridor to Germany? As for the democracies, it was perceived to be the best plan after having had one tyrannical monarch, and one tyrannical dictator. I don't fault them for viewing the monarchy as a shitty idea.

Anyway, here's a set of classic Anti-Korra videos:

I like E;R, but that doesn't mean I don't view him as a bit biased in this. The guy has a really strong hate boner for the series. Same way RLM had such a hate boner for the prequels that they nitpicked it to death then tried to delude themselves into thinking TFA wasn't shittier

 

[Replicant Sasquatch]

Also while some non benders have talents that put them on equal terms with benders, it's fairly obvious that being born one gives you a significant advantage, like being born taller or smarter compared to shorter and dumber.

This is not only never implied but almost explicitly contradicted several times in the original series.

 

[Übertroon]

This is not only never implied but almost explicitly contradicted several times in the original series.

So you seriously consider yourself equal with a person that can fly because of an inherent trait?

 

[Your Weird Fetish]

Holy shit I forgot how many words Avatar fans could write about not-anime.

 

[Replicant Sasquatch]

So you seriously consider yourself equal with a person that can fly because of an inherent trait?

The entire point of "Sokka's Master" was that kind of attitude is self-defeating nonsense. Made doubly poignant since it's made very clear bending takes self-discipline and commitment to actually learn and isn't just some X-Man power.

 

[Übertroon]

The entire point of "Sokka's Master" was that kind of attitude is self-defeating nonsense. Made doubly poignant since it's made very clear bending takes self-discipline and commitment to actually learn and isn't just some X-Man power.

It doesn't mean people shouldn't try, but it still means people with bending powers have a leg up on everyone else. And you can be born with higher intellect and still waste it, just because bending requires training doesn't mean it's suddenly negated.

 

[Replicant Sasquatch]

It doesn't mean people shouldn't try, but it still means people with bending powers have a leg up on everyone else. And you can be born with higher intellect and still waste it, just because bending requires training doesn't mean it's suddenly negated.

The point is the benefit it gives people isn't particularly substantial and the series never implies it is. The "bender supremacy" thing is a fan concept which the Korra writers suddenly decided was a thing for no reason.

 

[Übertroon]

The point is the benefit it gives people isn't particularly substantial and the series never implies it is. The "bender supremacy" thing is a fan concept which the Korra writers suddenly decided was a thing for no reason.

What makes you say it isn't substantial? Fire benders can practically create free energy from nothing. It's the main reason why they industrialized first and everyone else is stuck in the middle ages. You've got bending masters who can turn the tide of battles. The Fire Nation nearly torched a continent with their bending power. The show did great by having competent individuals who weren't benders that could fight alongside them, but it didn't treat bending as some novelty. Having or not having it wasn't like switching weapons or classes in an RPG, it's to be born with the ability to control the elements. You realize how out of whack that would make things if that was an inherent trait in the real world?

 

[Fougaro]

It's not even just the dyke part. You also had the the spirits/spirit portal/Wan that happen to obviously mean to be a metaphor for segregation/immigration/multiculturalism (that and aping Miyazaki).

Whatever intentions were behind the unfortunate Avatar Wan episodes, fact is that Bryke fucked the continuity into the dirt in ways I've only seen from Akira Toriyama. Most of Legend of Korra's fuckups could be fixed by a competently written third series but the Avatar Wan episodes were such a disaster and so cancerous to the setting it made the franchise unsalvageable without a reboot. At least I wouldn't know what to do without a reboot besides pulling the plug and proclaiming the patient as dead.

 

[Your Weird Fetish]

Wan was cool and the spirit world was really well animated.