Can you believe it's been 10 years since
Book One of the Legend Korra first premiered?
So, in honor of this anniversary,
here is a little recap of everything that happened
in The Legend of Korra Book One.
Try to keep up.
Episode One, Welcome to Republic City.
Seventy years after Aang defeated the Fire Lord
and brought balance to the Four Nations,
we are introduced to his successor,
the mighty Avatar Korra.
Don't let her age fool you because at this point
she already had a handle on three of the four elements.
Fast forwarding a bit to when she's older.
Korra lives in the Southern Water Tribe,
which is looking a little nicer than it did 70 years ago.
She's clearly proficient at firebending,
waterbending, and earthbending.
Three elements down, one to go.
However, her teachers do tell her...
You're getting ahead of yourself, as usual, Korra.
but she's all like, yeah, yeah, that's great.
Let's move on to air bending.
And with some nudging from Katara,
they agree that she should start learning airbending
from Aang and Katara's son, Tenzin.
So, Tenzin promptly flies halfway around the world
to the South Pole to tell Korra that he can't stay.
You're not staying, are you?
[sighing]
I'm afraid not.
Seems like a waste of a trip.
But hey, I guess he wanted to break the news to her in person.
Korra is super bummed about this.
So, when Tenzin heads back to Republic City
to do his duties as councilman.
Korra decides to sneak out and head to Republic City herself.
Although, her sneaking skills could use a little work.
Nice night for an escape, isn't it?
I guess the giant polar bear dog makes stealth a difficult feat.
Anyway, Katara lets her go, and it's not long before
she gets her first glorious look at Republic City.
People are obviously stoked
to be in the presence of the Avatar.
Benders like this girl only used their power to oppress us!
Yeah!
And we learned that a group called the Equalist,
led by Amon, are rallying against Benders.
Are you tired of living under the tyranny of Benders?
But it's also not long before
she gets herself into trouble with a local gang,
the Triple Threat Triads, putting her in great danger.
Ah ooh!
[grunting]
Okay, maybe the Triple Threats are the ones in great danger.
Regardless, Korra gets picked up by the law, literally,
and is introduced to Lin Beifong.
Wait, Bei Fong?
Yep. Bei Fong, as in Toph Bei Fong.
This is her daughter,
and she is just a soft spoken and gentle, as Toph herself,
You're in a whole mess of trouble, young lady.
But there were some thugs threatening
a helpless shopkeeper, and I had to...
Can it!
So, Tenzin comes in to bail Korra out and wait...
Are you sensing some tension here?
Lin, you are looking radiant, as usual.
Cut the garbage, Tenzin.
I'm sensing some tension here. We'll come back to that.
Tenzin's obviously upset with Korra.
But she's convinced
that it's best for her to begin her training.
and Tenzin has no choice but to see the wisdom
in the young Avatar's words.
So, he agrees to take her in and begin her Avatar training.
Yes! Thank you!
You're the best!
Yay!
Episode Two, A Leaf in the Wind.
Now living in an air temple on an island
named Air Temple Island,
Tenzin begins to train Korra, and it goes... not so well.
Korra is about as opposite of an airbender as you can get.
Well, I'm about as opposite an airbender as you can get.
See?
She then tries the age old technique of shouting airbend
at a newspaper.
Airbend!
When that doesn't work, she lets off some steam
by listening to a live, pro bending match,
which Tenzin firmly disapproves of.
Korra, come down here, please.
Korra must've been practicing her stealth skills
because this time, she successfully sneaks out
and heads into the city to watch some pro bending.
This is where she meets Bolin,
who turns on the charm and brings Korra
to the best seats in the house
to watch him get promptly knocked out of the ring.
Mako, Bolin's brother, is not interested in meeting Korra,
for some reason.
Come here, I want you to meet my brother, Mako.
Mako? Wow! I heard you play on the radio.
Come on, Bolin. We're up.
So, even though Bolin and some other dude,
get knocked out of the ring,
the Fire Ferrets barely pull out a win
and decide to cut this guy from the team.
Mako is even more rude to Korra.
Oh, you're still here?
Then they learn she's the Avatar,
and Mako is suddenly, all regretful that he was so rude.
But, like how ‘bout you just don't be rude
to anyone, Buddy? Avatar or not?
So, Korra joins the team and replaces
that random guy that we never see again.
But unfortunately for her, Tenzin hears this.
She's the Avatar, folks, playing in a pro bending match!
And rushes to the match himself.
I'll get her myself.
But wouldn't you know it,
pro bending is teaching her what he couldn't.
Remember this?
Airbending is all about spiral movements.
Well, look at this.
How about that.
So, Tenzin lightens up
and agrees to allow her to play on the team.
And by the way,
I kind of permanently joined the Fire Ferrets
and we're playing in the tournament a couple of weeks.
[sighing]
Episode Three, The Revelation.
Off to a bad start, the Fire Ferrets don't have
the money to enter the upcoming tournament,
which leads to Bolin getting lured in by the Triple Threats
with the promise of funding, which leads to his kidnapping.
So, when Mako finds his brother missing,
he hits up Korra to track him down.
They get distracted for a minute,
staring into each other's eyes.
Wait, a girl from the Southern Water Tribe
and a brooding Fire Bender sharing a romantic moment?
Doesn't that sound familiar?
Nope, because it never happened before. Moving on.
Eventually, they realize Bolin's in trouble.
They fight some Equalists, steal some flyers
and end up at an Equalist's rally.
Amon has some strong words
about the imbalance that Benders bring to the city
The only thing Bending has brought to the world,
is suffering.
And then he pulls this move.
[grunting]
That was cool and all,
but at least Aang knew how to dress it up.
I mean, look at that light show.
Okay so, Korra and Mako rescue Bolin
and they all live happily ever after.
- You all right? - Yes! Mako!
Until... Episode Four, The Voice in the Night.
Korra is ambushed by some Equalists.
She gets chi blocked!
Amon enters the room.
He says some sinister stuff and takes Korra's bending away.
But none of that really happens.
Just had a bad dream.
Tarrlok pitches a task force to find Amon.
But who would head up such a task force?
It would be my honor and privilege to accept such a duty.
Okay, dude, calm down.
The task force passes and we listen to some swing music.
Ah, but it's interrupted by Amon.
My fellow Equalists.
This is your leader, Amon.
As you have heard, the Republic Council
has voted to make me public enemy number one.
Proving once again, that the bending
oppressors of this city will stop at nothing
to quash our revolution.
But we cannot be stopped.
Our numbers grow stronger by the day.
That dude's the worst.
Okay.
Mako, meets Asami when she runs over him with her motorcycle.
And they hit it off right away.
A brooding Fire Bender falling for a dark haired,
non bending daughter of a rich family.
Yeah, that one has happened before.
They go to dinner and then immediately meet
Asami's father, Hiroshi Sato,
the inventor of the Sato Mobile,
and he decides to fund their pro bending team.
What a good guy. I'm calling it now.
This guy would never betray the city, arm the bad guys,
or attack his own daughter with a giant mech suit.
Tarrlok tries to enlist Korra for his task force.
while Iki mad dogs him for some reason.
I've been reading all about your adventures in the papers.
Infiltrating Amon's rally. Now, that took some real initiative.
Oh. Thanks.
I think you're the first authority figure in the city
who's happy I'm here.
Republic City is much better off now that you've arrived.
But Korra initially declines.
Until he throws a gala in her honor
and lets the public put the pressure on her.
And after they call her chicken, she caves.
I am not afraid of anybody!
The task force arrests a bunch of Equalists.
And remember when Korra's teacher said
she gets ahead of herself?
Well, yeah, she does this.
Amon, I challenge you to a duel.
No task force, no chi blockers, just the two of us,
tonight at midnight, on Avatar Aang Memorial Island.
But Amon proves that he's no pushover.
He ambushes her and delivers a bad guy
speech before letting her go.
Our showdown, while inevitable, is premature.
Episode Five, The Spirit of Competition.
The Airbending girls give Korra some less
than perfect advice on romance.
The best way to win a boy's heart
is to brew a love potion of rainbows and sunsets,
that makes true lovers sprout wings
and fly to a magical castle in the sky!
Where they get married and eat clouds with spoons
and use stars as icecubes in their moonlight punch.
forever and ever and ever!
Which Korra doesn't take.
But maybe she should have,
because what she tries is even less than less than perfect.
I don't know. Asami and I are...
Look, I really like you,
and I think we were meant for each other.
Bolin, on the other hand, seems to have this all
figured out and successfully asks Korra out.
Their date goes well enough, but after their next victory,
Bolin walks in on this.
[crying]
Mako and Bolin fight,
but the brotherly bond is too strong to break
and Korra wins in the next match.
All's well that ends well.
Episode Six, And the Winner Is.
Amon insists that the pro bending finals are canceled
and threatens to attack if the council doesn't agree.
Korra goes to the council
and asked them to keep the arena open.
But the council is unanimous.
The council is unanimous.
See?
Lin Beifong steps in
and asked the council to have some backbone.
Toph would've been proud.
Lin and Tenzin decide to work together.
Did you know these two used to date?
It's a close match,
but for some reason, the rest just let the Wolf Bats cheat.
And the Wolf Bats win and are crowned tournament champions.
They ask...
Anybody else wanna scrap with the champs?
But they weren't expecting... popcorn weapons.
The arena is attacked,
and we learn that this announcer is very dedicated to his craft.
There appeared to be masked members of the audience
wielding strange devices on their hands.
One of them is in the booth with me right now, folks.
He is leveling one of those glove devices at me now.
And I believe he is about to electrocute me.
I am currently wetting my pants.
And Amon takes away the Wolf Bat's bending abilities.
Ha! That's what you get for cheating.
I mean, but yeah, Amon still is the bad guy here.
So, with the help of Lin, Korra goes after Amon,
but he gets away.
Episode Seven, The Aftermath.
Bolin and Mako go and live with Asami
and Korra realizes that she had Asami pegged wrong.
I got to admit, I had you pegged wrong.
See? But then, Korra overhears Hiroshi in his study.
Luckily, the Cabbage Corp investigation
has bought us enough time.
And our pupils dilate, so you know, it's serious.
Trust me. By the end of the week, we'll be ready to strike.
Agh and I had this guy pegged as a good guy.
Korra calls on the cavalry and they conduct an investigation,
but as soon as they get somewhere,
Soto attacks them with robot mechs.
My mecha tanks are platinum as well.
Sato asked Asami to join him,
and she's like, yeah, sure, I'll join you
and then she's like, psych and helps them all escape.
She's sad, though.
Lin resigns from the force
and decides to take down Amon outside the law.
I wouldn't want to be on this woman's bad side.
Episode Eight, When Extremes Meet.
The brothers and Asami go to live on Air Temple Island
and Iki drops this little bomb.
Asami, did you know Korra likes Mako?
This is going to be an awkward stay.
The new chief of police is a huge Tarrlok's fan
and puts him in charge of all matters involving the Equalists.
Tarrlok tries to enlist Korra to his task force once again.
But fool me once. Am I right?
Korra tells Tenzin about dreams she's been having
about his father.
Which in any other context will be sorta weird,
but it's Avatar stuff, so it's not.
Tenzin asks her to meditate on it.
Korra confides in Asami, Mako, and Bolin,
that she's discouraged, since she can't learn airbending.
And they cheer her up and decide to form the new Team Avatar.
They go out to take down some Equalists and they succeed.
But then Tarrlok shows up and ruins everything.
Man, that guy is the worst.
Wait. Nah, no, Amon is the worst.
But Tarrlok's the second worst.
He passes a curfew for non benders
and arrests Asami for being out past curfew
as well as, Mako and Bolin.
Just because I guess.
Korra keeps her cool and goes to Tenzin for help.
But when he can't help, she goes straight to Tarrlok herself.
You and I need to talk.
And after some pleasantries, we have one of our
favorite battles in the entire series.
Also, why does this guy get such a cool office?
Korra proves that she is more powerful
than Tarrlok, until he pulls this move.
That's right, he's a blood bender,
but he doesn't need the full moon.
He uses this ability to win the fight and kidnapped Korra.
Episode Nine, Out of the Past.
They put Korra in a box.
Too bad she's not a metal bender.
With nothing to do, she decides to meditate
and sees visions of Aang
taking on an old Republic City crime Lord, Yakone,
a man who can blood bend without a full moon.
They shoulda been in the newspaper or something.
But get this, Yakone is Amon's father.
Oh, you saw that coming?
Yeah, me, too.
Meanwhile, Tarrlok weasels his way through any interrogations
about the whereabouts of the Avatar.
That is, until this guy blows his cover.
Yeah! Go this guy!
But Tarrlok escapes and vents to Korra.
My life is a disaster now, thanks to you.
Then Amon shows up and takes away Tarrlok's bending.
[grunting]
Korra escapes the box and gets away,
which leads Amon to reprimand his right hand man.
This guy will be important later.
Episode Ten, Turning the Tides.
Korra recovers and Mako holds her hand.
Ooh.
Oh but Asami sees it,
which causes some rifts between her and Mako.
Lin agrees to babysit the airbending kids,
and Korra fills everyone in on the Tarrlok-Yakone situation.
And they plan the best course of action.
Council members start getting captured one by one.
But Tenzin won't go quite that quietly.
Nice try, Equalists.
But then they do start attacking Republic City
with their machines Sato provided them.
When they reach Air Temple Island,
Lin holds them off with help of these three.
[grunting]
Get off our island!
[grunting]
Taste my fury!
Okay. Gross. Pema has the baby.
Oh yeah. Did I mention she's pregnant? ‘Cause she is.
But... was.
And she and Tenzin decide to name him...
Rohan.
But no time for zeroth birthday party for Rohan.
Because they're still under attack
and forced to flee the island.
To give them the advantage, Lin makes a great sacrifice.
Whatever happens to me, don't turn back.
That lady is my hero.
Us too Meelo, us too.
Episode Eleven, Skeletons in the Closet
General Iroh arrives with the full power
of the United Forces behind him.
And yeah, I said Iroh, named for Uncle Iroh.
Ever heard of him?
[laughing]
Because he's the grandson of Fire Lord Zuko.
Notice any resemblance?
Tell her we will be arriving in three days time.
It's about to get worse than you can even imagine.
So, Iroh and the fleet counterattack the Equalists,
helping to turn the tides.
Wait. Wasn't the last episode called Turning the Tides?
Whatever.
Everyone's so excited to hear Zuko s grandson say this.
Thanks for looking out for me, Aang.
Come on, you were excited.
Korra and Mako pay Tarrlok a visit
and he explains his backstory.
We'll make this quick.
Tarrlok and his brother Noatak,
were the children of the crime Lord Yakone.
He taught them both how to bloodbend without a full moon,
but he was also kind of a jerk about it.
And he was all, don't be weak, Tarrlok.
So, Noatak was all, don't talk to him like that.
And Yakone was like, I'll talk to him however I want.
I'm the bad guy, remember?
So, then Noatak was like, ight, I'm a head out.
And he went and became Amon so he could stop benders
from misusing their powers like his father did.
He might've overdone it though.
Episode Twelve, Endgame.
Amon has Tenzin and his kids captured
and plans to take their bending away.
Which would mean no more air benders.
But not if Korra and Mako can help it.
And it turns out they can help it, because they free them.
But not before Amon reveals his scar to the crowd saying this...
This is what a fire bender did to me.
Meanwhile, Asami's trying to steal her father's machines,
but unfortunately her father had all wrong parenting books
and starts attacking her with a giant mech.
Ack! I knew this would happen.
Bolin shows up and attacks with earthbending
and Asami's able to get the upper hand and win the fight.
She's sad again, though.
Korra and Mako fight Amon
and Korra gets her bending taken away.
But before Amon can take Mako's bending away,
this guy comes in all ticked off and creates a diversion.
I told you he'd be important.
Then Mako's actually able to best Amon, one on one.
Mako starts carrying Korra to safety but is stopped by Amon.
Amon's finally about to take Mako's bending.
Until... this happens...
No!
[grunting]
Impossible.
I... I can airbend?
I can airbend!
And everyone who ever watches this scene gets chills.
Don't pretend it's not true.
Amon is exposed for who he is and escapes with Tarrlok.
Until Tarrlok sadly, blows up the boat.
It will be just like the good old days.
Korra is visited by the spirit of Avatar Aang
and he gives her bending back
and teaches her how to energy bend.
Although, he doesn't teach her how to do
the accompanying light show.
I guess he didn't wanna be upstaged.
Korra gives everyone their bending back
and they all live happily ever after until next season.
Oh yeah, and Bumi shows up.
Wahoo!
Great. Now, I have to entertain my brother.
And there you have it.
The entirety of Book One of the Legend of Korra.
How'd we do?
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You'll never believe which book recapping after Book One.
Okay, it's Book Two.
Thanks for watching.