I think the overpoweredness of Yakone is the factor that drives Aang to make the mistake that leads to the rise of Amon. My hunch is that "Skeletons in the Closet", the penultimate episode, will address this.
Perhaps its not a mistake so much as people began trying to figure out a way aang took peoples bending away since it seemed to have been an ancient lost art before aang rediscovered it. if people knew how to do it long ago than there shouldn't be anything stopping some people to try again. There also has to be some other uses to energy bending other than taking the powers away since if I understand energy bending existed prior to the other forms. The ability to take ones bending away would be useless if the other bendings hadn't existed prior.
Also when in the avatar state you possess all the knowledge and power of previous benders. So can korra energy bend in the avatar state?
I think the overpoweredness of Yakone is the factor that drives Aang to make the mistake that leads to the rise of Amon. My hunch is that "Skeletons in the Closet", the penultimate episode, will address this.
I'm inclined to think this too. At the very least, Aang taking away Yakone's bending in a very public manner probably generated a lot of headlines, possibly influencing Amon. I think the Equalists and/or Amon's power are a result of something Aang did, because I like the idea of Aang's legacy not being perfect, as was the case with almost every Avatar we know of. He's bound to have made some mistakes that will come back to haunt his successor, just as Korra will too.
But common sense tells me the Yakone/bloodbending thing isn't put to rest yet, and that even though Tarrlok was a sub-villain rather than the season villain, his father and Aang still have a bigger role to play in all of this. I'm banking on some more flashbacks in this season, or even a spiritual meeting between Korra and Aang.
I'm hoping they take the time to go back to the bloodbending thing and try to explain it as more than just them being exceptionally talented waterbenders, but I'm not getting my hopes up.
At worst, every waterbender could potentially bloodbend at will. At best, the ability of Tarrlok and Yakone was inherited and restricted to that bloodline. In an ideal world, there's a trick to it, but that seems unlikely given what we know.
Yep which is what irritates me, book is named Air and yet there is very little airbending a.k.a. bestbending. Bolin is ok, right now he hasn't gotten to Sokka levels of awesome but he's getting there slowly. He still needs to show that he's actually useful, in a fight he seems to be pretty average to mediocre and he isn't a good tactician. Right now he's just being a somewhat poor replacement for Sokka but he's still better than Mako who is just boring and his personality in the last episode was just completely over dramatic.
I think the theory that amon is a blood bender seems plausible based on the preview, the flashback with aang being useless for tarrloks arc and why amon could resist bloodbending. The only thing I don't like is how overpowered they made tarrlok/yakone. I wish there was a fatal flaw to blood bending or overpowered techniques for the other bendings.
Pretty good, huh? ATLA is one of the best shows I've ever seen, and easily the best children's show for as long as I can remember (though I'm only 24). I really wish I'd caught the show when it aired, instead of seeing it last year, long after it had finished.
Whilst it's great to see new fans arriving (welcome!!!), I really advise you stay out of this thread, especially if you haven't seen any of Korra yet. We discuss spoilers of already-aired episodes openly and without tags.
But do check the OP for links to all the episodes, since they stream for free (and legally) on Nick.com. You should be able to catch up over a weekend or a few evenings and catch the finale with us in two weeks' time.
1. Amon isn't just sealing bender abilities, he's stealing them. Thus, he's growing more and more powerful as time goes on.
2. Amon will therefore be able to bend all four elements at the final battle of season 2, but we will see him bend a single element before that to throw the viewer off. (i.e. first twist = AMON IS A BENDER! Second Twist = AMON CAN BEND ALL FOUR)
3. The original Avatar from eons ago is essentially like Amon. he was a powerful spirit bender who bent her spirit into future generations, somewhat akin to blood bending. The original Avatar also stole other bender's abilities, to gain all four elements. It's only after generations that the original (horrific) tale of the Avatar is replaced with a more "balance" friendly version.
4. In the end, Amon will be a tinfoil villian, "Everyone will be equal! Equal UNDER MY RULE" but still raises some interesting questions about whether his original intentions were good or not. Kind of like Lenin.
5. [Crackpot for fun] The original Avatar created many of the hybrid species (turtle duck) via spirit bending. They were his/her original experiments to gain experience with inter-generational spirit bending.
Short version: Amon wants to become the new Avatar, by force.
If youre are already watching Korra but decided to check ATLA then you can stay
If you haven't watched Korra yet i would advise you to check the from page only then leave the thread since its a landmine field of spoilers for you. Once you've caught up you can come back and give your opinions and stuff.
but if you want to talk about atla i suggest you go here for now
Pretty good, huh? ATLA is one of the best shows I've ever seen, and easily the best children's show for as long as I can remember (though I'm only 24). I really wish I'd caught the show when it aired, instead of seeing it last year, long after it had finished.
Ditto on that last sentence. I kept hearing about how good it was and eventually started watching the series via Instant Video. Watched only one ep. per day so it took me like 2-3 months to see the whole thing, but it probably would've been more exciting catching the episodes as soon as they aired. The finale was mindblowing. I haven't seen a conclusion this satisfying in a really, really long time. So tactfully handled, too. I never thought you could make action that good without any violence, but hot damn they made it work.
Whilst it's great to see new fans arriving (welcome!!!), I really advise you stay out of this thread, especially if you haven't seen any of Korra yet. We discuss spoilers of already-aired episodes openly and without tags.
But do check the OP for links to all the episodes, since they stream for free (and legally) on Nick.com. You should be able to catch up over a weekend or a few evenings and catch the finale with us in two weeks' time.
Had to just jump in and post guerrilla-style, seeing as there's spoilers ahoy for the next series. I'm definitely going to catch up via Nick.com and join the thread in a few days. See you then!
Perhaps its not a mistake so much as people began trying to figure out a way aang took peoples bending away since it seemed to have been an ancient lost art before aang rediscovered it. if people knew how to do it long ago than there shouldn't be anything stopping some people to try again. There also has to be some other uses to energy bending other than taking the powers away since if I understand energy bending existed prior to the other forms. The ability to take ones bending away would be useless if the other bendings hadn't existed prior.
I think Amon needs to tie back to Aang somehow, some way. That Amon takes the notion of purity of spirit and uncompromising principles to the opposite extreme of Aang just fits with Bryan and Mike's style of storytelling.
Also when in the avatar state you possess all the knowledge and power of previous benders. So can korra energy bend in the avatar state?
That is true, but energybending is very very dangerous. The Lionturtle warned Aang: If one's spirit is not unbendable, one is corrupted and destroyed. I don't think Korra can do it, even if she has the knowledge from the Avatar State.
Omikaru said:
I'm inclined to think this too. At the very least, Aang taking away Yakone's bending in a very public manner probably generated a lot of headlines, possibly influencing Amon. I think the Equalists and/or Amon's power are a result of something Aang did, because I like the idea of Aang's legacy not being perfect, as was the case with almost every Avatar we know of. He's bound to have made some mistakes that will come back to haunt his successor, just as Korra will too.
I'm not sure if the public factor is all that significant; everyone already knows that's how Aang stopped Ozai. I think it all comes down to a choice of Aang's. He realizes that there will always be new dangers and threats out there, and after his ordeal with Yakone, he wants to pass on the technique to someone worthy of it. It just happened to be passed along to Amon, someone who has experienced injustice and discrimination as a non-bender.
1. Amon isn't just sealing bender abilities, he's stealing them. Thus, he's growing more and more powerful as time goes on.
2. Amon will therefore be able to bend all four elements at the final battle of season 2, but we will see him bend a single element before that to throw the viewer off. (i.e. first twist = AMON IS A BENDER! Second Twist = AMON CAN BEND ALL FOUR)
I really think it's plausible just because the finale's got to have an epic fight, and we've never seen anything close to avatar v avatar in this series and the past one. Don't think Amon the chi-blocker will cut it for a climactic fight.
I like how the part where they fight in magical rainbow coloured spandex and pilot giant robots is perfectly fine, but one of them growing a foot in the process is TOTALLY RIDICULOUS.
question: How does blood bending not cause anneurisms or death by way of circulation blockage, and why cant water benders just do it regardless of a full moon considering the percentage of the human body that is water? dont tell me because its not pure h20 because they have no problems bending ocean water.
People have a natural spiritual energy. In fact all living beings do which is why Hama had to start with plants and then small animals before she figured out how to take over humans.
Nope, all the people he de-bent in episode 3 were Triple Threat Triad members, which is how Bolin got caught up in it (Shady Shin recruited him with that big wad of Yuans). They just assumed he was another triad thug and abducted him along with the rest of them.
Nope, all the people he de-bent in episode 3 were Triple Threat Triad members, which is how Bolin got caught up in it (Shady Shin recruited him with that big wad of Yuans). They just assumed he was another triad thug and abducted him along with the rest of them.
I'm looking at it now. We know Lightning Bolt Zolt is the leader of the Triple Threat Triad (which is a not a bender-specific triad -- the Agni Kai Triad bends exclusively fire, and the Red Monsoon Triad are waterbenders [presumably the one Yakone was head of?]). So of the other four we have:
- Guy with a red flannel/handkerchief around his neck, in a reddish/orange tanned hat and coat (probably a firebender, could be an Agni Kai, but could also be Triple Threat).
- Then Shady Shin wearing the purple (he's Triple Threat -- no idea what element he bends, however).
- Then someone in green (probably an earthbender, which means he's Triple Threat too, unless there's an unknown earthbending Triad out there).
- Then Bolin (who was technically working for the Triple Threats at the time).
I think it's reasonable to say that the firebender is probably Triple Threat too, all things considered.
-------
More chakra theory stuff I thought I should elaborate on now I've got fifteen minutes or so before I go to sleep.
9. Unknown episode title: [Light Chakra] This Chakra deals with Insight, and is blocked by Illusion. This one is an episode that stumps me completely. I think it'll be related to the revelations of last week's episode, probably something to do with how Korra handles the truth she's just discovered. However, I don't want to speculate on that, so I don't know what role this episode plays in the narrative. For what it's worth, in ATLA it dealt with how what people think to be separate are actually one thing. All people are one, yet they live separate as four nations, for example. Maybe it will have something to do with the equalists not being that different from benders, and Korra seeing their revolution from a different perspective, understanding them, or something to that degree. But honestly, I have no idea. I think if they retread this one too closely to ATLA they'd be doing the narrative a bit of a disservice, however, so I'm prepared to be pleasantly surprised on this front.
Not much of a prediction, huh? Still, there's stuff to glean from this.
If you think about insight being blocked by illusion, you can see a lot of that happens in this episode, though I'm not sure it happens on a large enough scale for me to consider it necessarily a running theme of the episode (let me know if you disagree). But for the sake of it, here's some of the ones I picked up upon my second viewing.
Illusion: Whilst Asami knows that Korra has a crush on Mako, she believes that he's a loyal boyfriend with eyes only for her.
Insight: Bolin kind of blew this one out the water when he told Asami about that kiss. Mako's meltdown kind of confirms that he has feelings for Korra too.
Illusion: Tarrlok framing the Equalists for attacking City Hall and abducting Korra. Everyone, including Tenzin, Lin, and Team Avatar were all duped by this deception.
Insight: The jig is up when the don't find Korra in the Equalist prison, only to have Tarrlok's secretary finger him as a bloodbender to further break the illusion.
Illusion: Bloodbenders can't do their wicked thing outside of a full moon. The illusion is one perfectly crafted by Yakone to give him cover from Aang and Toph.
Insight: Realising that Yakone can bloodbend at any time or place, at first through witness testimony, but then seeing an actual demonstration. I think this could trump last week's Tarrlok bloodbending revelation due to chronology, but I understand that that's clutching at straws as far as show continuity goes.
Illusion: Aang's spirit is trying to warn/communicate to Korra about Amon through visions.
Insight: He was actually trying to warn her about Tarrlok.
Illusion: Bloodbending is ruthlessly dangerous, and only the Avatar in the Avatar state, or another bloodbender, can break a bloodbend.
Insight: It seems a non-bender, Amon, can do it too.
And some joke ones
Illusion: The Avatar is trapped in a platinum box. She is helpless.
Insight: The words "do not underestimate her" are ringing in your head after being smashed against the wall by her earthbending.
Illusion: The core of the New Team Avatar are all well-written and really well-rounded characters.
Insight: A mere ten seconds of banter between Aang and Toph destroyed that whole edifice.
Anything you guys think I've missed? Want to put your own take on it? At this point I'm starting to doubt it myself, but there you go.
-------
I'm not sure how well the chakra theory is coming on -- as I said I'm having my doubts -- but for the sake of keeping it going and seeing where it goes, I'll continue until the end of the season and see how it all pans out.
Next week's presumed chakra is the Thought Chakra. It deals with
Pure cosmic energy
and is blocked by
earthly attachments
. Remember, though, that
Aang didn't actually give up on his love of Katara (i.e. his main earthly attachment) in order to unlock it. He just had to realise that his duty to the world came first, and that seemed to be enough to allow him to enter the Avatar state once his chi lines were conveniently unblocked by the force of Ozai's fire blast causing him to crash into the rock
This Chakra deals with Pure Cosmic energy, and is blocked by Earthly attachments. As ATLA taught us, Korra won't have to give something up to unlock this chakra just as Aang didn't have to let go of his love for Katara, just that she needs to get her priorities right, and accept that her duty as Avatar comes first, much like Aang did. Heaven knows what she has to give up, but she has been very, er, slow in her airbending training so I expect that this episode will deal with her learning these skills, and detaching herself from earthly bounds as the air nomads did hundreds of years before. Again, this is too far flung for me to guess on plot details or specifics, but I reckon it'll definitely be the first time we see Korra have a strong command of airbending abilities. After this, Korra has unlocked all her chakras.
I wonder, if the chakra theory is rather accurate -- and that's a big if -- and Korra is unblocking her chakras, whether they'll save this one for the finale. It certainly would be more dramatic if that were the case.
What I find interesting about Amon is that he's not immune to blood bending but resistant to it. It takes him some time to get over Tarlokks bending but once he's adapted, it no longer affects him.
I'd say that Amon isn't a bloodbender but more likely someone who has mastered a new form of 'bending' or chi whatever that negates the way bending works. I mean just look at the way the Tarlokk and Yakone need to gesticulate to bend whereas Amon is the antithesis to most bending art forms.
As Sokka implies, Amon might just be one of those new people who bends in a different manner. He may want the Avatar for her knowledge of the Avatar state which may have something to do with his own bending powers.
As Sokka implies, Amon might just be one of those new people who bends in a different manner. He may want the Avatar for her knowledge of the Avatar state which may have something to do with his own bending powers.
As Sokka implies, Amon might just be one of those new people who bends in a different manner. He may want the Avatar for her knowledge of the Avatar state which may have something to do with his own bending powers.
I think it has to do with Amon having some insane amount of knowledge about bending. He uses a mix of the Kyoshi warrior's style with Ty Lee's style. I joked about it earlier but maybe Amon re-discovered that library from ATLA and learned some forgotten/ ancient style of chi-blocking. The Lion-Turtle taught Aang the removal method so it was probably recorded from history in the library. Which would fit Amon's mention of knowledge from the spirits.
I think it has to do with Amon having some insane amount of knowledge about bending. He uses a mix of the Kyoshi warrior's style with Ty Lee's style. I joked about it earlier but maybe Amon re-discovered that library from ATLA and learned some forgotten/ ancient style of chi-blocking. The Lion-Turtle taught Aang the removal method so it was probably recorded from history in the library. Which would fit Amon's mention of knowledge from the spirits.
Library is forever sunk, the location is lost and the desert is enormous. I seriously doubt they found that, nor would the record even be in the owl's library.
Amon being a bloodbender himself is the only plausible explanation for me right now as to why he managed to resist Tarrlok.
I think it has to do with Amon having some insane amount of knowledge about bending. He uses a mix of the Kyoshi warrior's style with Ty Lee's style. I joked about it earlier but maybe Amon re-discovered that library from ATLA and learned some forgotten/ ancient style of chi-blocking. The Lion-Turtle taught Aang the removal method so it was probably recorded from history in the library. Which would fit Amon's mention of knowledge from the spirits.
I get the impression that Tenzin is more than a little insecure about being the son of the Avatar (and of Katara too, for that matter). He seemed to realize in the premiere that he was failing in his duty to maintain peace and balance in Republic City and subsequent events have hammered that point home repeatedly. Maybe I'm reading too much into stuff like his anger at Tarrlok comparing himself to Aang (he could have been offended by that even if my theory is wrong) but it's the impression I got. It doesn't surprise me that he wouldn't be in a hurry to talk a lot about his father.
Those that mentioned that Amon is trying to become something like the Avatar might be right.
According to A:TLA-Annotated:
Amon - The New Spiritual Leader
Amons Equalist movement has a lot of religious elements to it.
He calls his followers brothers and sisters, not comrades.
He calls his rallies Revelation
He claims to be in contact with the Spirit World
He replaced Aang/the Avatar with himself
And that there is a potential parallel, not only to the rise of the Communists and the Chinese Civil War, but also to the Taiping Rebellion.(Where Hong Xiuquan, who claimed (through visions) that he was the younger brother of Jesus founded the 太平天囯 Taiping Heavenly Kingdom).
And now we see another piece in the puzzle: Take a look at what he did to Aangs statue. He did NOT tear it down, as is/was common during all communist revolutions i.e. the sacking and burning of temples and churches.
Instead he replaced Aangs face with his, the Air Nomad symbol with his flag. He is not just toppling the Avatar, he is replacing him. With himself.
The disconnect is that the more something happens, the less special it is. The fact that they're pretty much using it as a crutch at this point starts to take away from the fact that it's the bees knees. It's like if Korra were to enter the avatar state every episode or something.
Personally I hope Amon does actually care about "equality". It's too much of a cop out to make him use it only as a ploy.
He would be a better villain if he really did want to end the societal favoritism towards benders and wasn't using it as a cover to take over the world.
I don't think anything he's said about himself is true and I would be legitimately surprised if he's a villain that's actually been candid about his motivations.
The only thing that is clear is that he wants power and he wants something that has to do with Korra.
Personally I hope Amon does actually care about "equality". It's too much of a cop out to make him use it only as a ploy.
He would be a better villain if he really did want to end the societal favoritism towards benders and wasn't using it as a cover to take over the world.
I really think it's plausible just because the finale's got to have an epic fight, and we've never seen anything close to avatar v avatar in this series and the past one. Don't think Amon the chi-blocker will cut it for a climactic fight.
Wouldn't it be something if the season ends with Amon taking away Korra's bending. No epic fight, not big battle, he captures her and simply takes away her bending.
Season 2 deals with the aftermath of an Avatar free world and Amon's rise to power.
Too much to hope for though, writers play it too safe.
Wouldn't it be something if the season ends with Amon taking away Korra's bending. No epic fight, not big battle, he captures her and simply takes away her bending.
Season 2 deals with the aftermath of an Avatar free world and Amon's rise to power.
Too much to hope for though, writers play it too safe.
Did Yakone murder everyone at the court? Toph and Sokka were there but both are confirmed dead by Korra's time. Katara and Zuko are alive but neither of them were there.
nah, he says he was going to put aang to sleep 'for good' before he starts bloodbending him that second time. it looks like it takes an enormous amount of energy to kill one person with bloodbending, so he probably just knocked everyone unconscious like tarrlok did to new team avatar.
name?
