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SeraRelm
Amon walks into a bar. Oddly enough, it did bend.
Legend of Korra
- Thread starter Raemon777
- Start date
Yeah, that wasn't a deus ex machina ending. We've seen many times Korra's attempts to connect with Aang and the other Avatars. We've seen other Avatars enter the Avatar State. A true deus ex machina is something that comes out of nowhere with absolutely no explanation or previous references. That goes the same for the "love out of nowhere" because we've already seen the tension between them from the start, and how his attitude changed towards her since the kidnapping. Within the context of the story, it makes sense.
Personally, I liked the ending a lot. Loved the dark ending between the two brothers, which left my jaw hanging open. Absolutely agree that it was a great Noiresque ending for the two. I thought it was so odd that Tarlok would join with his evil brother.
And I don't mind that everything was "fixed" for a few reasons. One, once it was revealed that Amon was using blood bending to block bending, it was pretty clear (to me, anyway) that he blocked, not removed like Aang was capable of doing. Two, since this was meant to be a one-season story, it makes sense to end it on a happy ending. Plus, the visual of Lin and the stones was great. Three, every season of Avatar ended with Aang entering the Avatar state. I thought for sure it would happen just before Korra started air-bending. And that was such a great visual of her in the Avatar state for the first time. No complaints there.
One thing I will say: if I were writing this episode with a second season in mind, I would have had Amon secretly swim away rather than resurfacing. Under the stressful circumstances, I can understand why. But if he had gotten away like he did, and still give us that great Noir ending with him and Tarlok, the next season would have a large amount of the non-bending public hating Korra and benders.
Personally, I liked the ending a lot. Loved the dark ending between the two brothers, which left my jaw hanging open. Absolutely agree that it was a great Noiresque ending for the two. I thought it was so odd that Tarlok would join with his evil brother.
And I don't mind that everything was "fixed" for a few reasons. One, once it was revealed that Amon was using blood bending to block bending, it was pretty clear (to me, anyway) that he blocked, not removed like Aang was capable of doing. Two, since this was meant to be a one-season story, it makes sense to end it on a happy ending. Plus, the visual of Lin and the stones was great. Three, every season of Avatar ended with Aang entering the Avatar state. I thought for sure it would happen just before Korra started air-bending. And that was such a great visual of her in the Avatar state for the first time. No complaints there.
One thing I will say: if I were writing this episode with a second season in mind, I would have had Amon secretly swim away rather than resurfacing. Under the stressful circumstances, I can understand why. But if he had gotten away like he did, and still give us that great Noir ending with him and Tarlok, the next season would have a large amount of the non-bending public hating Korra and benders.
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SeraRelm
So about those spoilers.
I feel that, if someone comes into a thread for a show or movie that is 22 pages long with new comments, then they're going to look at the spoilers, anyway.
ElJuski
Staff member
Hey Nick, don't get teacher on me on what "deus ex machina" means. I fucking know what it means, and it definitely can count as an example.
Just because there were little bits and pieces of what could possibly happen, taking three minutes to so neatly wrap up the story in a cute little bow is a manic rush job and pretty sloppy, in my opinion. I think where they left off right before all the last minute bullshit did justice to whatever evolutions the characters had while still leaving room for growth and nuance. And it didn't take some last minute visit by anyone to do so.
Which isn't to say that The Legend of Korra really surprised me on several occasions and transcends the medium of kid's television. They weren't afraid to pull a lot of punches, even if they indulged on some of the kiddie things--Tenzin's kids, cute animals actual TUFF, blah blah. I can't wait to see what the next season brings.
I also can't wait to see how the rabid opinions change on the internet after a few weeks, too >: P
Just because there were little bits and pieces of what could possibly happen, taking three minutes to so neatly wrap up the story in a cute little bow is a manic rush job and pretty sloppy, in my opinion. I think where they left off right before all the last minute bullshit did justice to whatever evolutions the characters had while still leaving room for growth and nuance. And it didn't take some last minute visit by anyone to do so.
It's just so contrived to see Aang go, "OH BUT YOU FINALLY UNLOCKED YOUR SOUL AND NOW LIFE IS OKAYYYyyyyyyyyy" just because she was without bending for all of three minutes of screentime. Korra didn't have to struggle very hard, just mope, to unlock the spiritual side because it was 'her darkest hour'. Pfft, bullshit. Her darkest hour would seemingly still be in the future, when a powerless, bullheaded Avatar must ponder and suffer her uselessness to click into that zen state.
Which isn't to say that The Legend of Korra really surprised me on several occasions and transcends the medium of kid's television. They weren't afraid to pull a lot of punches, even if they indulged on some of the kiddie things--Tenzin's kids, cute animals actual TUFF, blah blah. I can't wait to see what the next season brings.
I also can't wait to see how the rabid opinions change on the internet after a few weeks, too >: P
Hey, I'm not going to deny that it all kind of wrapped up a little too neatly and quickly. But it still doesn't make it a deus ex machina when there was build up beforehand.
Because she's been having dreams of his memories throughout the whole season, which someone explained - in the show - that she was trying to contact him unconsciously. She even tried consciously contacting him while captured. The fix is still cheap? Sure. But it's not a deus ex machina.
It's MUCH less a deus ex machina than the final episode of the last series, when Aang ran into the giant sea turtle thing and given the sudden, new magical power to beat Ouzu.
It's MUCH less a deus ex machina than the final episode of the last series, when Aang ran into the giant sea turtle thing and given the sudden, new magical power to beat Ouzu.
Yeah, i'm gonna have to agree that the end stuff was a waste since they're getting another season... it definitely felt like a final season wrap-up...
And it would have been a great setup for s2 as a quest to you know what... and that's actually what i was expecting.
Also, if they had to go with this i would have preferred if
And it would have been a great setup for s2 as a quest to you know what... and that's actually what i was expecting.
Also, if they had to go with this i would have preferred if
instead of her crying about her loss of power she instead realized she cares more about Mako loving her... and that would have triggered the spiritual connection...
I was a bit disappointed in the finale. The pacing issues that ElJuski mentions were certainly part of it. Also, it felt like a lot of the plot points in the final two episodes didn't really have any weight to them. None of the new information that we learned about Amon was anything more than simple revelation.
As for spoilers, if we had 22 pages of posts since the episode aired, it's pretty much past the point of spoilers. But, considering the episodes aren't available online yet, posting unhidden spoiler information is an error.
As for spoilers, if we had 22 pages of posts since the episode aired, it's pretty much past the point of spoilers. But, considering the episodes aren't available online yet, posting unhidden spoiler information is an error.
No. No that would have been terrible.
ElJuski
Staff member
Actually (whoodathunkit) I really agree with the AVClub's review--especially with the very specific reading that gives the whole bullshit ending some real heft:
http://www.avclub.com/articles/skeletons-in-the-closetendgame,81693/
Not a shabby way to rationalize it, and it makes a lot more sense!
PS-- even the critic agrees it's a deus ex machina, neener neener.
http://www.avclub.com/articles/skeletons-in-the-closetendgame,81693/
Not a shabby way to rationalize it, and it makes a lot more sense!
PS-- even the critic agrees it's a deus ex machina, neener neener.
As opposed to "you're sad, therefore more spiritual"?
But i'm pretty sure your opinion is more about how their romance was handled then the actual idea... if it was as good as Aang/Katara you probably wouldn't object...
Of course it is, it doesn't really matter how foreshadowed it was, any god like power/being fixing everything at the end fits the definition.PS-- even the critic agrees it's a deus ex machina, neener neener.
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SeraRelm
Oh yeah, especially when the episode in question is what, not even a week old? Just use spoilers. It's easy.
You're the worst person ever.
Well i try...
But really, it would be more about her realising that life is more about then her being the avatar and having those powers etc... and that's not how the actual scene came off...
From Merriam-Webster's Dictionary, emphasis mine:
Something that is foreshadowed is not an example of deus ex machina, because foreshadowing renders it neither unexpected nor sudden.
Just watched it with the wife.
While it did end on a high note, we felt it it was rushed and underwhelming. Pretty much on par for the whole series.
Yeah....
We'll see what happens next book but damn if things wrapped up far too nicely the last few minutes. I assume they weren't expecting Season 2/3?
While it did end on a high note, we felt it it was rushed and underwhelming. Pretty much on par for the whole series.
Aang walks up to Korra "Oh, hai, you suffered, here's the cure to bending aids"
Yeah....
We'll see what happens next book but damn if things wrapped up far too nicely the last few minutes. I assume they weren't expecting Season 2/3?
I loved when she started using air bending and the whole thing that followed... just the Aang thing along with the brothers in the boat.... I was like.... they just ruined Season 2"
I kinda feel like this is what should have happened.
1.)Korra finds out she can't use most of her bending anymore, goes off to pout.
2.) As she's breaking down, Aang shows up. He tells her that because she's finally realized the responsibility of the Avatar (when she lost her bending and realized she's been a pretty shitty Avatar so far, kinda like how Aang was at first), she has finally awoke the spark of her spirituality, establishing a weak but true connection to her previous lives. He can now guide and advise her like Rokku did for him.
3.) Korra tells him that it's too late because she can't be the Avatar unless she can bend all the elements.
4.) Aang explains to her that since Amon didn't use Spiritbending to seal her powers, the potential for her to bend those other elements still exists, it's just locked. Sort of like how his connection to the Avatar state was. If she's able to unlock her chakras like he did with the Guru, she could regain her lost bending. In fact, this method could work for anyone who put the time and effort into it (meaning Lin could do something similar to regain her bending).
This makes the next season about Korra's spiritual journey to become a full fledged Avatar, as she tries to unlock her chakras and to meet her obligations as the Avatar in the process.
1.)Korra finds out she can't use most of her bending anymore, goes off to pout.
2.) As she's breaking down, Aang shows up. He tells her that because she's finally realized the responsibility of the Avatar (when she lost her bending and realized she's been a pretty shitty Avatar so far, kinda like how Aang was at first), she has finally awoke the spark of her spirituality, establishing a weak but true connection to her previous lives. He can now guide and advise her like Rokku did for him.
3.) Korra tells him that it's too late because she can't be the Avatar unless she can bend all the elements.
4.) Aang explains to her that since Amon didn't use Spiritbending to seal her powers, the potential for her to bend those other elements still exists, it's just locked. Sort of like how his connection to the Avatar state was. If she's able to unlock her chakras like he did with the Guru, she could regain her lost bending. In fact, this method could work for anyone who put the time and effort into it (meaning Lin could do something similar to regain her bending).
This makes the next season about Korra's spiritual journey to become a full fledged Avatar, as she tries to unlock her chakras and to meet her obligations as the Avatar in the process.
Complete Godfather 2 ending for the brothers.
If he'd said ''honor'' it would have just ruined the man altogether. But at least he had some sweet-ass rocketboots.
Those weren't rockets. He was firebending to fly, sort of like Azula and Ozai could do.
Sorry, but one of the main characters being descended from <insert greek god here> was never a valid excuse for said god showing up at the end and rescuing them not being a deus ex machina...
And even if it doesn't fit the definition of a deus ex machina, it still uses the most annoying part of one, the magical happy ending that negates any prior actions...
I'm aware. But it looks like rocketboots, at any rate. So rocketboots it is.
All in all, Korra is a huge step down compared to the original series.
It was rushed and even if it was action packed and better looking than the original series, it lacked the charm and character building of the original series. I don't understand how they only had 12 episodes signed considering this was such a popular IP but the limited amount of episodes was easy to see during the development of the story as well as the ending.
For example, I didn't feel Korra even attempt to train air bending. If they dedicated an entire episode to this, it would have brought a huge impact to the story in the last episode.
It was rushed and even if it was action packed and better looking than the original series, it lacked the charm and character building of the original series. I don't understand how they only had 12 episodes signed considering this was such a popular IP but the limited amount of episodes was easy to see during the development of the story as well as the ending.
For example, I didn't feel Korra even attempt to train air bending. If they dedicated an entire episode to this, it would have brought a huge impact to the story in the last episode.