[7.5/10] What's interesting about the episode is that it's basically two long scenes. Sure, there's a few extra bits of setup here and there -- Suyin's attempt to kidnap Kuvira, Korra's resolving to confront her, and the final scene in the aftermath of Zaofu -- but for the most part, this episode is just Korra's confrontation with Kuvira and Varrick and Bolin's adventure on the train.
The latter is (expectedly) the more comedic of the two, but it packs in some tension and excitement as well. The fact that Varrick is both feeling betrayed by Zhulee, but also missing her is amusing, as is the way he acknowledges that he's useless without her and basically only worth a damn for fifteen minutes a day. That makes his plan to double cross Batar and turn the spirit vines into a bomb all the more enjoyable and unexpected. His willingness to go down with the ship (er...train) is strangely admirable in Varrick's own demented way, and Bolin's willing to halfway go along with it while reassuring Varrick that he still hates him was a treat.
The Korra/Kuvira confrontation was a little less successful. It's nice to see a good old fashioned fight between heavies again, but as I mentioned last week, there's a lot of stalling and repetition about the personal and political stakes of the fight that make it a bit tedious and stilted. That said, I'm glad that exorcising the last bits of Red Lotus Venom from Korra's system didn't magically cure her, but that there's still a mental and spiritual block that's keeping her from fully being able to embrace the Avatar State. Seeing her Avatar State'd doppelganger in Kuvira's eyes is a nice touch in that regard, and I like that when she fails, Opal and Jinora step in to save the day.
Still, the capture of Zaofu itself is a little underwhelming, if only because there's no real battle, just a Team Avatar-esque escape and the usual "bow before me" business. Nevertheless, it's an appropriate defeat and down note to hit the middle of the season with before Korra and her allies presumably regroup and strike back. Overall, an interesting and unusual episode structurally for the show, with solid work in those extended scenes.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParent2017-09-14T03:12:32Z
[7.5/10] What's interesting about the episode is that it's basically two long scenes. Sure, there's a few extra bits of setup here and there -- Suyin's attempt to kidnap Kuvira, Korra's resolving to confront her, and the final scene in the aftermath of Zaofu -- but for the most part, this episode is just Korra's confrontation with Kuvira and Varrick and Bolin's adventure on the train.
The latter is (expectedly) the more comedic of the two, but it packs in some tension and excitement as well. The fact that Varrick is both feeling betrayed by Zhulee, but also missing her is amusing, as is the way he acknowledges that he's useless without her and basically only worth a damn for fifteen minutes a day. That makes his plan to double cross Batar and turn the spirit vines into a bomb all the more enjoyable and unexpected. His willingness to go down with the ship (er...train) is strangely admirable in Varrick's own demented way, and Bolin's willing to halfway go along with it while reassuring Varrick that he still hates him was a treat.
The Korra/Kuvira confrontation was a little less successful. It's nice to see a good old fashioned fight between heavies again, but as I mentioned last week, there's a lot of stalling and repetition about the personal and political stakes of the fight that make it a bit tedious and stilted. That said, I'm glad that exorcising the last bits of Red Lotus Venom from Korra's system didn't magically cure her, but that there's still a mental and spiritual block that's keeping her from fully being able to embrace the Avatar State. Seeing her Avatar State'd doppelganger in Kuvira's eyes is a nice touch in that regard, and I like that when she fails, Opal and Jinora step in to save the day.
Still, the capture of Zaofu itself is a little underwhelming, if only because there's no real battle, just a Team Avatar-esque escape and the usual "bow before me" business. Nevertheless, it's an appropriate defeat and down note to hit the middle of the season with before Korra and her allies presumably regroup and strike back. Overall, an interesting and unusual episode structurally for the show, with solid work in those extended scenes.