There are no other air benders in the entire world yet? Clearly bending doesn't go straight down genetic lines given that Aang has kids spread among the three elements.

Yep, just like the two brothers Mako and Bolin, fire and earth bend, respectively. It was really nice to see a lot of Air Acolytes occupying the Southern Air Temple. I got teary-eyed when I saw it so abandoned in The Last Airbender.

The northern water tribe invading the south seems very extreme. But more that that it seems overly convenient. Mr. Chief was planning this all along. What is his real game?

Being a c**t of an uncle. Chief Unalaq appears to be a religious extremist and his plans to unify the northern and southern tribes, the latter of which will be undergoing a tremendous cultural assimilation to bring it in-line with the north, could very well be a move against the United Republic and their nonspiritual development. Their navy seems to be on-par with General Iroh's fleet that sailed into Republic City.

Overall I liked the episodes, but they did seem a little rushed. I'd rather they start off a bit slower. But maybe they can slow down now that most everything is established.

The pilot of The Legend of Korra got to the point awfully quick too. "I'M THE AVATAR. YOU GOTTA DEAL WITH IT", training, off to Republic City, and meeting Equalist assholes all in 25 minutes or so. The "previously on" bit at the beginning of the season two opener was a bummer considering everything that took place within six months. Seems like they tried to fit in a lot of ancillary funny bits unimportant to the spirit-focused story.

Now the wait till next week begins. :(

We need more Bolin and Eska. God they're a cute ass couple. Plus Aubrey Plaza is just great as usual. The whole cast is great actually. A lot of really awesome voice actors are in this season. Am I spazzing enough? Yeah I really love this show. Watch it, people.

[*] There are no other air benders in the entire world yet? Clearly bending doesn't go straight down genetic lines given that Aang has kids spread among the three elements.

Aang was the "Last Airbender" of his time. His children and their children would be the only people in the world to carry the Airbending gene. And 3 elements? As far as I'm aware, there's just the two. Tenzin is the airbender (from Aang's genes), Kya is the waterbender (from Katarra's genes), and Bumi is a non-bender. Also

Aang's kids FTW! I enjoyed the small glimpses we got into their sibling dynamics in this first episode.

[*] I don't trust the Northern Water Tribe chief's "spirit bending." It looks gentle enough on screen but I can't help think he's not so much releasing them from their anger as he is brainwashing them or something.

Honestly, he actually seemed like a good guy, stern at times, genuinely concerned about the spiritual well being of the tribes. That is, up until that last moment. I liked him until then. Now, I'm not sure. Does he have something to do with the dark spirits that are running amok?

[*] That statue of the "evil Avatar" looked ominous. At the end of Book 1 me and a friend were trying to think up things that could challenge Korra now that she was a fully powered Avatar. Upon seeing some of the early Book 2 concept art, specifically something glowing blue beneath a bubble of ice, I thought we might be dealing with a trapped avatar kinda like Aang was. The very familiar beam of light when Korra opened the spirit portal combined with the "evil Avatar" statue glowing leads me to think maybe I was right.

I don't think that was an evil Avatar statue. Methinks it was a statue of the first Avatar (hence the really old, wooden look to it) someone we'll be learning about in later episodes.

Now the wait till next week begins. :(

Yeah :(

My words in Blue.

Unbeknownst to me Book 2 premiered on Nickelodeon this Friday. Having just finished the first two episodes I'm fairly excited. Some observations:

• There are no other air benders in the entire world yet? Clearly bending doesn't go straight down genetic lines given that Aang has kids spread among the three elements.

Seeing as Aang was the Last Airbender (who hooked up with a water bender)is it really all that surprising that the result is one air bender, one water bender, and one non-bender?

[*] I don't trust the Northern Water Tribe chief's "spirit bending." It looks gentle enough on screen but I can't help think he's not so much releasing them from their anger as he is brainwashing them or something.

The idea you are attempting to get across I agree with.

[*] That statue of the "evil Avatar" looked ominous. At the end of Book 1 me and a friend were trying to think up things that could challenge Korra now that she was a fully powered Avatar. Upon seeing some of the early Book 2 concept art, specifically something glowing blue beneath a bubble of ice, I thought we might be dealing with a trapped avatar kinda like Aang was. The very familiar beam of light when Korra opened the spirit portal combined with the "evil Avatar" statue glowing leads me to think maybe I was right.

*Facepalm*

It is the first avatars statue. It is known.

[*] The northern water tribe invading the south seems very extreme. But more that that it seems overly convenient. Mr. Chief was planning this all along. What is his real game?
[*] Overall I liked the episodes, but they did seem a little rushed. I'd rather they start off a bit slower. But maybe they can slow down now that most everything is established.

I always am more forgiving of first episodes. As I recall the first episodes of the first show started off slow as well.

[/list]

Now the wait till next week begins. :(

Addendum: Broadly speaking - Spirits will giveback what they get. Give aggression and they will return it at least two fold.

When you first posted this thread I had yet to catch Korra (on the road all weekend)

But, watching it last night (on the nick xbox app no less) filled me with pure joy. It's a pleasure I don't get from most shows.

That being said, I love the motifs that are tackled from season to season. Last one being equality and communism, and this one seems to be spiritual balance and religious cleansing (the latter inferred if the Northern Water Tribe goes Gestapo)

I agree with not trusting the northern water tribe leader, but it seems he may be more of an unintentional villain, believes he is doing the greater good, rather than starting a revolution (also somewhat in the same vein)

I'm excite for all future times.

Chief Ualaq:

Avatar Korra, you have taken the first step in bringing balance back to the south, and soon the whole world.

Is Unalaq going a bit Firelord Sozin on us? Does the rest of the world need the Northern Water Tribe's help in getting balanced? Taken by itself it seems harmless or even encouraging. Taken along with his fleet of warships coming into dock and rows of his troops marching down the streets it becomes less so.