I still need to rewatch it... I think that I'll appreciate it more on the rewatch. There were a lot of things in book 1 that I hated at first and then ended up liking when I rewatched it. (Same goes for pretty much the entire third season of Avatar: The Last Airbender)

But as a first impression? I was pretty underwhelmed. There were a bunch of things that bothered me, but the one that sticks most in my mind is Tonraq sharing the story of how he was banished from the Northern Water Tribe.

I think his story stuck the most with me (in a bad way) is because it reminded me so much of how Tarrlok shared the story of his childhood with Noatok/Amon. Both Tarrlok and Tonraq have a weirdly detached, 3rd person perspective on their own stories. They're too objective. Memory is an inherently subjective thing. We will gloss over things we've done wrong, try to frame things as though it's someone else's fault...or we will exaggerate the extent to which we are culpable in something. But in Book 1, we have no choice but to view Tarrlok's story as an objective statement of fact, because we never get any other versions of it from Amon or Yakone, and that really bothered me.

There is a chance that we will get another side to Tonraq's story from Unalaq, since he is still alive, but my big fear is that it won't be two men remembering the past in different ways, but instead there will be a plot "twist" and Unalaq arranged for events to unfold that way so that Tonraq would be banished.


I'm also really disappointed that Tenzin was involved in the decision to keep Korra in the South Pole. Then again, I'm also disappointed that Katara allowed it. You'd think she of all people would have been an advocate for Korra to see the world. (Then again, Katara might have wanted to keep Korra around as a connection to Aang.)

I am both nervous and excited about Korra's struggle against all the men trying to dictate her life. I wish there were fewer men in the show overall (seriously, Nick, you don't have to make the vast majority of the supporting cast male just because your lead is a lady), but I always enjoy seeing a young woman forge her own path despite the men who try to steer her. I'm hoping that they really get into the consequences of keeping Korra locked up for 16 years like they did.


Overall, my thoughts are: Thank God for fanfic. But I still can't wait for next week. Love is blind.