The Legend of Korra: "Night of a Thousand Stars" and "Harmonic Convergence"
So we're definitely heading towards end-game now, which actually took me by surprise as I (embarrassingly) assumed we were only about halfway through this season. Why I thought that I have no idea, only that when it became apparent there were only four episodes left, it was a bit of a shock. On consideration, maybe it's because this season only really kicked into gear after the Beginnings two-parter.
You can see the writers setting up the board for the final conflict, marking off each character's chance to shine, and foregoing the more plot-driven parts of the story in order to focus on pure action. Korra once again takes a backseat in Night of a Thousand Stars so that subplots in the South Pole and Republic City can be brought to their logical conclusion; first with Tonraq and his allies trying to win back the city from Unaloq, and secondly with Bolin becoming a hero in rescuing President Raiko from kidnapping.
Varrick has emerged from this particular season as one of its most interesting characters; namely because he is essentially a villain, but one who is not only charming and charismatic, but is actually on the heroes' side. We've all known our fair share of compelling, sympathetic and even likeable villains, but Varrick is a rare case of a character who is actually working in the best interests of the good guys. Like them, he wants to have the Northern army removed from the South Pole. Unlike them, he's prepared to go to dishonest and dangerous lengths to achieve his goal.
On reflection, this sort of characterization and moral ambiguity rarely comes up in stories. What usually happens is parallels between villains and heroes who each use the same tactics to meet their ends, usually with a My God What Have I Done or You Are What You Hate or Your Approval Fills Me With Shame realization from the hero when they come to grips with the fact that they're Not So Different from the forces they're fighting against.
But here we're given a group of heroes who outright reject their own ally's methods and ensure that he's arrested for his crimes. Specifically his crimes: blowing up buildings and hiring mercenaries to kidnap the President. Not included in this litany of law-breakage is his propaganda film (or "mover"), which serves as a sharp and insightful look at how media and/or stories can sway public opinion, convey information, and make things happen. Varrick's opening speech, in which he drops his bombastic flair and shifts to a softer, more serious mode that reveals his intent of purpose in using the film to inspire a "real life hero" to step forward and help the south (eyes on President Raiko all the while) was a compelling moment for this character.
And just when I was beginning to think that the mover was going on too long, it ended up serving as a backdrop for Bolin's real-life heroics in quelling the would-be kidnappers - complete with Shiro Shinobi's commentary from the stands. (The only thing that would have made it funnier was if Shiro started commentating on both the real-life events and the film, getting them mixed up along the way. When he said: "this is incredible!" I was certain that he was going to finish with "Bolin is bending water and earth at the same time!")
And to top it all off, President Raiko still refuses to lend aid to Korra and the Southern Water Tribe - which begs the interesting question: were Team Avatar right in arresting Varrick and letting the President go free? Because after going to Varrick for help, they end up with a battleship! The show nicely negotiates the shades of grey and the reasoning behind ill-intent with a surprising amount of nuance.
Once things wrap up in Republic City, the focus shifts to the South Pole. And what Night of a Thousand Stars was for Bolin (A Day in the Limelight), Harmonic Convergence is for Bumi, who single-handedly takes out an entire Northern Tribe encampment... even if it was in a way uncomfortably akin to Jar Jar Binks.
To a lesser extent, the episode also showcased Asami and her flying skills, and I get the (sad) feeling that that's it for her. Having been relegated to nurse/transportation duties, she's set back to Katara with a wounded Tonraq in tow.
Up until this point, I found Unalaq to be a rather dull villain... which admittedly I still kinda do. Despite getting a definite fix on his intentions, there's no real indication of whether he thinks what he's doing is good or not. In his own words:
"You think what Avatar Wan did was good? Driving almost all the spirits from this world? The Avatar hasn't brought balance, only chaos. You call yourself the bridge between two worlds, but there shouldn't be a bridge. We should live together."
Now, this premise doesn't necessary mean that Unalaq has bad intentions. There's every chance that he thinks releasing Vaatu is a good thing. That the story has already established Raava and Vaatu not so much as "good" and "evil" but "order" and "chaos" means that there's some wriggle-room in the characterization of a man like Unalaq to truly believe that he has a true and noble cause in which the ends will justify the means. He could be like Varrick, someone else who is doing bad things for what are arguably the right reasons.
But the narrative doesn't afford him the same amount of ambiguity as it does Varrick. We've already seen him threaten a child and maim his own brother. Clearly this is the bad guy who is using talk of spirits and harmony to rationalize his own desire for power in becoming a Dark Avatar. And this is to the character's detriment, for though Well Intentioned Extremists can often make for compelling character studies, he's pretty much just your typical power-hungry Evil Uncle.
It's lucky then that Eska and Desna are present, for they emerge as two confused young people torn between loyalty to their father and (judging by their worried glances) what they instinctively know to be wrong. When Desna steps forward and shouts: "my father is the wisest man in the world; if he says what he's doing is right, I believe him," you can hear in his voice the attempt to convince himself of this.
So we end with Vaatu's inevitable escape and some spectacular animation: the spirits circling the tree (which oddly reminded me of the Dementors in Harry Potter), the changing colour scheme as the spirit world encompasses the Earth, and the terrifying silent blackout just before Vaatu emerges. Seriously, how can a giant black-and-red kite be so scary?
Miscellaneous
Wow, Asami looked gorgeous in that red dress.
I'll admit I laughed more than once at the terrible special effects in the mover, and many of Varrick's lines (including his litany of all that he's done for the gang - including putting Mako in jail).
So after more or less harassing Ginger for the past four episodes, she suddenly decides Bolin is the man of her dreams after he defeats the bad guys in front of everyone? Urgh, I hate this subplot.
Stunning visual of Eska and Desna standing atop the buildings with the spirits hanging from the eaves. Total shivers down my spine.
Oh Mako. I neither love nor hate the guy, but damn - the writers make it so hard to simply like him. Please, please let this interminable love triangle business END already.
I'm going to review the latest episode of Sleepy Hollow next, but I'll be back with the Korra finale the day after!