The Avatar Returns

Episode 32 - Beginnings, Part 1 & 2

This week on The Avatar Returns we explore the gritty Miller and Mazzucchelli masterpiece, Avatar: Year One. Okay, not really. But we are talking about The Legend of Korra two-parter "Beginnings," which like the classic graphic novel mentioned above explores origins, in this case the origin of the Avatar State itself. We are introduced to Wan, the lovable riff-raff street rat with the heart of gold, who would ultimately go on to mess the world up in a pretty big way, and in turn become the first Avatar in order to just hold everything together. In other words, we learn that the Avatar is a bandaid. 

Harmonic Convergence is almost upon us, and it's a plot device 10,000 years in the making! Can Studio Mir save us? Or perhaps the Grumpy Carrot spirit is our hero? Is Vaatu the Unalaq of spirits? Tune in to find out.

Next: Book Two nears it's world-altering end as we discuss chapters 209-211, "The Guide," "A New Spiritual Age," and "Night of a Thousand Stars."

 

 

The Breakdown

• Intro / Banter (00:00 - 03:10)
• Main Topic (03:10 - 1:22:40)
• Outro / Next (1:22:40 - 1:25:16)

Episode 31 - Peacekeepers / The Sting

As The Avatar Returns continues its exploration of The Legend of Korra Book Two, Eric thinks Unalaq's boringness continues to bore, Paul thinks Korra's temperamental teenager act continues to grate, and Arlo thinks Paul has gone from face to heel. [Ed. note: he's wrong, Paul has always been an evil bastard.] Fortunately for Eric, chapter 205, "Peacekeepers" features very little Unalaq. Paul is given a mostly Korra-free episode with chapter 206, "The Sting." And Arlo can forgive (or at least ignore) Paul's horribleness because Varrick's heel turn is just so amazing. And everyone comes together in their love for Nuktuk, The Hero of the South!

Next: Studio Mir makes their triumphant return to animation duties with chapter 207, "Beginnings, Part 1" and 208, "Beginnings, Part 2."

 

 

The Breakdown

• Intro / Banter (00:00 - 09:22)
• Main Topic (09:22 - 1:02:05)
• Outro / Next (1:02:05 - 1:04:12)

Episode 30 - Rebel Spirit / The Southern Lights / Civil Wars, Part 1 & Part 2

Six months later...we rejoin our regularly scheduled Avatar universe, already in progress.

The Legend of Korra Book Two kicks off with a gurgle as angry squid spirits drag unsuspecting sailors to their watery graves, Korra has finally "mastered" airbending, and Mako does his best Horatio Caine impression. Chapters 201 and 202 introduce us to Korra's uncle Unalaq, who is boring but apparently important, and Varrick, who's just plain smarmy fun. Oh, and there's a whole spirit portal thing the Avatar has to deal with, but really we just like Varrick. Then in chapters 203 and 204, it's civil war all over again as boring-but-bad Unalaq leads the Northern Water Tribe in a bid to "save" their Southern Water Tribe cousins. We learn more about Tenzin's family, including his hippie chick sister Kya, and his wild and crazy older brother Bumi. The hosts agree, Bumi 2.0 is a big improvement over King Bumi.

Also, Arlo reveals he's had an Eska or two in his past, and Battle Athletes Victory wins the prize for most obscure anime reference on the podcast yet. Congratulations!

Next: Book Two continues with chapters 205, "Peacekeepers," and 206, "The Sting." Starring Robert Redford and Paul Newman.

 

 

The Breakdown

• Intro / Banter (00:00 - 09:00)
• Main Topic (09:00 - 1:14:05)
• LISTENER MAIL! (1:14:05 - 1:18:50)
• Outro / Next (1:18:50 - 1:21:03)

Episode 29 - M. Night Shyamalan's 'The Last Airbender'

M. Night Shyamalan directed a movie. Arlo made us watch it. We didn't like it. We talk about it. We're sorry.

(Ed. note: we experience intermittent audio issues throughout recording, because even the universe didn't want us to discuss this garbage fire of a film.)

Next: we finally get back to The Legend of Korra as we kick off Book Two: Spirits with chapters 201-204, "Rebel Spirit," "The Southern Lights," "Civil Wars, Part 1," and "Civil Wars, Part 2."

 

 

The Breakdown

• Intro / Banter (00:00 - 14:45)
• Main Topic (14:45 - 1:23:35)
• Outro / Next (1:23:35 - 1:26:55)