# Avatar: the Legend of Korra **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 15, 2012, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820 "2012-04-15T04:28:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![TheBoltEater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@TheBoltEater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBoltEater)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820/141 "2012-06-20T04:10:25Z")
I can’t believe no one has mentioned the absolute best joke in the series yet. As it clearly states in [his page on the AvatarWiki](http://avatar.wikia.com/wiki/Meelo), and as you can see at about the 15 minute mark of [the most recent episode](http://www.nick.com/videos/clip/legend-of-korra-110-turning-the-tides-full-episode.html)… > [@](#): > > Though an airbender in training, Meelo has already demonstrated several skills. Apart from being able to display a high level of acrobatics, Meelo can levitate himself with an air spout. During the invasion of Air Temple Island, he showed remarkable skill in airbending combat, defeating six Equalists on his own. > > **Meelo is the only known airbender to use his own flatulence to airbend, even incorporating it in combat** Meelo is a _fart bender!_ That’s genius! Somewhere in the Spirit World, Aang is laughing his ass off and trying to figure out how to do it. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820/142 "2012-06-20T11:04:00Z")
If by best you mean worst, yes. The reason I like Avatar is because it’s usually above that sort of rubbish. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820/143 "2012-06-20T11:07:58Z")
It would have been a joke worthy of a slight smirk if had been a half-second throwaway joke in a filler episode with Aang, but I find Meelo so annoying, and fart jokes so unfunny, that I kind of rolled my eyes at the whole endeavor. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820/144 "2012-06-20T11:13:10Z")
It worked with me precisely because it wasn’t in a filler. Goofy jokes, like that one, like the zipper one, work because they are placed where tension/anxiety has built up. Like with earth bending, with goofy jokes timing is everything … ---
**Author:** ![MegaBee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f0a364/32.png) [@MegaBee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MegaBee)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820/145 "2012-06-20T12:04:13Z")
Anyone who hates Meelo hates fun. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820/146 "2012-06-20T19:40:41Z")
> [@TheBoltEater](#): > > I can’t believe no one has mentioned the absolute best joke in the series yet. Much like an actual fart, I think we were all trying to act like it never happened. ---
**Author:** ![TheBoltEater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@TheBoltEater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBoltEater)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2012, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820/147 "2012-06-21T00:45:29Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Much like an actual fart, I think we were all trying to act like it never happened. Oh, come on. Sure it’s completely low-brow, and I’m fairly certain I wouldn’t enjoy a spin-off series based entirely _around_ fart-bending, but as a one-off joke it’s just plain funny. _Avatar_ may be a thousand times better than your average animated series, but it _is_ on Nickelodeon, and I have to believe that its intended audience is kids at least as much as adults. And if there’s one universal truth, it’s that kids love fart jokes. And besides - if Meelo can learn to bend the farts that are _still inside other peoples’ butts_, he can become a real match for even the most accomplished blood-bender. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2012, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820/148 "2012-06-21T03:47:10Z")
> [@TheBoltEater](#): > > And besides - if Meelo can learn to bend the farts that are _still inside other peoples’ butts_, he can become a real match for even the most accomplished blood-bender. 😉 T’hell with _that_…what if he thinks to bring along a _flame source_ while he fartbends? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2012, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820/149 "2012-06-23T04:20:32Z")
Thinking about the season Finale tomorrow I had a thought, and if they pull it I will be so pissed. The Avatar conclusion showed that spirit bending is a battle of wills. If she gets her ass subdued, but out spirit bends Amon because she is just so darn spunky, that would be such a pathetic cop out. They can’t be that cheesy, can they? ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2012, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820/150 "2012-06-23T06:05:34Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > Thinking about the season Finale tomorrow I had a thought, and if they pull it I will be so pissed. > The Avatar conclusion showed that spirit bending is a battle of wills. If she gets her ass subdued, but out spirit bends Amon because she is just so darn spunky, that would be such a pathetic cop out. They can’t be that cheesy, can they? God I hope not, BUT Korra seems to be a very unspiritual Avatar.(but strangely she seems to have manifested her powers early 😕) They have even mentioned this in the show itself numerous times, it makes me wonder if this was foreshadowing or something. I wonder if they will reveal who or what is behind the mask in the finale, I hope so as there is only so far that can go. It will probably just leave us with more questions;) Totally wild assed guessing below: The Avatar cycle got fracked up somehow in Aang’s go round. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2012, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820/151 "2012-06-23T16:21:48Z")
Well, that was interesting. I thought the first 50 minutes of the hour were very good. Then It got pretty Deus ex Machina, unsatifying resolution. And left next season really unclear. ---
**Author:** ![Achren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/898d66/32.png) [@Achren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achren)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820/152 "2012-06-24T03:15:03Z")
Well, part of the problem is that they’d started out with a plan to only have one season, then, when most of their work was done, Nick said that they’d like a second season as well. I’ve got some gripes about the finale, but not that the first season is self-contained. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820/153 "2012-06-24T03:59:58Z")
> [@Achren](#): > > Well, part of the problem is that they’d started out with a plan to only have one season, then, when most of their work was done, Nick said that they’d like a second season as well. I’ve got some gripes about the finale, but not that the first season is self-contained. I know nothing about the behind the scenes stuff, BUT I do know they talked about two seasons more than a year before the first ep aired. If I had to guess, I would say either they were unsure of a second season or got a firm no. Unless someone has info that a S2 is absolutely on. On to the finale, well none of my wild ass guesses were correct.😛 My only complaint is that the first episode should have opened mysteriously in media res, with us having no clue WTF is going on. Two young waterbenders being trained in blood bending? One named Yakone and one named Tarlock, so a Yakone flashback eh? End the episode with Yakone Jr putting on the mask :eek: But I didn’t really care for Amon’s identity,or even reason for wearing the damn mask if he was using heavy fake scar makeup anyway. Why not have Korra go Avatar state during the finale fight? Anyway I can’t complain about leaving left hanging I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Engineerly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9adbd/32.png) [@Engineerly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Engineerly)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820/154 "2012-06-24T05:53:23Z")
Huh. Thought they had the perfect setup for next season: - Kora was only partially restored and had to started from scratch - She had to find new masters to relearn fire, earth and water bending (so that she could do the whole pilgrimage thing) - Amon going bonkers and trying to get revenge (aka Zuko/Azula) - Bayfong becoming a bad-ass normal (aka Batman) I guess the only reason to look forward to the next season is to see how Mako breaks up with Asumithat two timing git… ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820/155 "2012-06-24T06:37:53Z")
> [@Engineerly](#): > > Huh. Thought they had the perfect setup for next season: > > - Kora was only partially restored and had to started from scratch > - She had to find new masters to relearn fire, earth and water bending (so that she could do the whole pilgrimage thing) > …[/SIZE] Well , that is where my last ten minutes objections come from. She doesn’t have to learn anything. Once Aang showed up and flipped the light-switch to turn everything back on, and she learned how to do the same, the entire threat of the premise is retroactively shown to be inconsequential and pointless. There wasn’t a danger at all. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2012, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820/156 "2012-06-24T14:26:05Z")
> [@Engineerly](#): > > Huh. Thought they had the perfect setup for next season: > > - Kora was only partially restored and had to started from scratch > - She had to find new masters to relearn fire, earth and water bending (so that she could do the whole pilgrimage thing) > - Amon going bonkers and trying to get revenge (aka Zuko/Azula) > - Bayfong becoming a bad-ass normal (aka Batman) > > I guess the only reason to look forward to the next season is to see how Mako breaks up with Asumithat two timing git… Like I said IF I find out they had no choice because a second season wasn’t coming, I’ll be fine with what we got. Otherwise W\_T\_F seriously I was going to complain before I wanted to see more of Amon’s movement and why an average person would support it, there were lots of things not fully explored and I was ok with that assuming there was a whole season coming up that had to be filled and they were saving it for then. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2012, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820/157 "2012-06-25T00:36:15Z")
As far as “WTH, _everything_ resolved? In 10 minutes!?”…agree. I was dizzy. As far as I know there is a second season coming, but there’s nothing left for it to be about. This ep looked like they thought there was a second season but it was canceled during ep 10, so they finished up all loose ends, done. OK, so what’s left that might get filled out next season (if and when): - Iroh and Bumie as characters. I guess? - Republic City is still a f’d up place. - Will Korra restore all the other benders? Will they pick and choose who gets restored? - Mako finally breaks up with Asami and the fire ferret gets eaten by the polarbear dog. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2012, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820/158 "2012-06-25T01:16:29Z")
hmm Tough choice. The chick who is an unstable force of power, or the hotter chick who is possibly now the richest and be running the most influential company in the world. Poor Bolin, gets nothing but a ferret, Maybe the plot next year will be him going Heathcliff and scheming to bring them all down. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2012, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820/159 "2012-06-25T02:06:32Z")
You know, I was thinking… I was disappointed in the ending of the season. Korra didn’t really “earn” that ending. Just _poof_ there’s Aang: “congrats, Korra! You’re spiritual! Nice job, and here’s a big Undo button for your grand prize. Oh, and by the way, you’re now an Airbending Master, on your first day of Airbending!” Really unsatisfying. I thought the finale up to that point was pretty good, I’m just frustrated that it ended so quickly with little satisfying resolution of the story arcs. But anyway – IF there is another season – it might be cool that Korra is a full Avatar at the beginning and through the whole season… We’ve never had an ongoing story where the Avatar is the Avatar, just flashbacks from the past Avatars, and the current might-be-Avatar-someday of that story. Aang had to pay for all the f-ups of Roku, and his story was only resolved when he became the Avatar. Why do that again? This season resolved the same way, but the next season can explore further what an Avatar can or can’t do, and how the Avatar helps the world (or screws things up, see: Roku). ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2012, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820/160 "2012-06-25T02:12:09Z")
Also: god, why did they waste our time with Pro Bending, and why couldn’t they have taken those two mostly-pro-bending episodes and given us a longer, better resolution? Gah. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/618820.md?page=9)