109 Out of the Past [spoilers]

But when Mako's douchebaggery about the friendship ultimatum happened the pro-bending championships were already over so he'd have no reason to support Asami if he was just trying to use her?

Yeah, no, Aang was definitely able to resist bloodbending because he entered the avatar-state. But I was thinking that maybe a master waterbender (like Katara) would be able to resist it too because she understands the concepts of bloodbending and stuff. Like... when Hama bloodbended Katara, she was able to resist and then waterbend/bloodbend Hama? So maybe Amon is just extremely learned in the ways of bending but is not a bender himself and it gives him an advantage. Like... it seems most people in Korra are not very spiritually connected or very learned in the bending forms. In contrast, Amon seems like someone who knows these things very well so these could be helping him resist bloodbending.

Haha, no. He doesn't. I don't even understand Mako's character anymore. I don't know what's happening with him and Asami or with him and Korra. He just seems so all over the place and it just makes me angry because he could have been a good character. Asami could have been a good character. But all of this potential seems to be ruined by Makorra being forced down our throats. Ugh.

Lyssa showed me this gif that pretty sums up my thoughts on Mako for the episode:



Hmm. Do you mean that it suggest that Amon is more than just a human? Maybe a spirit himself? Because I'd like to think that Amon is human, which makes him really relatable and an attractive leader to all the equalists and nonbenders. I don't know if the whole Tarrlok "What are you?" thing was supposed to foreshadow Amon being more than human. It seemed more like just a shocked reaction to Amon being able to resist the bloodbending. Tarrlok seems like a pretty arrogant and self-confident person and when he started bloodbending the equalists and Amon it was pretty obvious that he was expecting to win. He doesn't seem like someone who is spiritually connected or interested in spiritual connection so he wouldn't be aware of the ways that you could resist bloodbending. Hence, more shock. So yeah. I think Amon is completely human. But he could have spirits helping him out, I don't know.

See I still think Amon is just a really spiritually in tune person but just the fact he could resist bloobending in a way that Aang even struggled to do is intense. Like you can see in the flashback scene that Aang did have some more resistance to it than most of the other people (he struggled against it the longest, it never knocked him out, it took A LOT out of Yakone to twist him around) but he still used the Avatar state's power to escape it completely.

Yes, Amon clearly had a slight struggle against it but it wasn't that bad. The only person who was ever able to resist bloodbending BETTER than that was Katara, who is arguably one of if not the greatest waterbender of all time.

So Amon doing something Aang couldn't even really do is terrifying and does make me wonder about him, but I still kind of stick to my theory and agree with Adiba. He knows his stuff, he's a chi/chakra blocker and bloodbending means going inside another person's body. If he is an energybender or at least has the understanding/skill/knowledge to have people fooled that you are an energybender, maybe somehow his own abilities and control over his chi/body were more than Tarrlok's control over him.

Also I'm pretty sure Yakone was stronger than Tarrlok at bloodbending. I don't know why it just seems this way to me. =\

Anyways yes. Amon is terrifying (that was one of if not my favorite scene in the entire series) but I still hold on to the theory that he is just human, he just has ridiculous willpower, resolve, and spirit.

He is stronger than Tarrlok.

I also agree with Adiba that he knew what was up with Tarrlok the whole time and was just letting him do his thing. Amon's not scared of anyone, but up until that point most of Tarrlok's actions actually HELPED the Equalist cause until finally Amon was like "That's it, I've let you run around long enough."
But again, he TOOK Tarrlok AND the scene where Tarrlok was so offended by the idea that he was like Amon... They might still have some connections/rivalry?

I just don't expect ALL of that build up with the Yakone and Tarrlok scene to just end up being to show that Amon is a badass who no one can touch. I mean, he is and it was a way to show us that but I think there's more coming from it as well.

Aang ... he sounded like Aang. And Toph sounded like Toph. And Sokka ... oh my god best.

But when they were all being bloodbent ... it was like a part of my soul died.
I love these characters like they're my own children, weird as it may seem, and ...
Oh god I was so worried for them.

And when Aang was about to DIE? ....
Um, my heart stopped and I had to pause my recording and go elsewhere for a minute.
Because I was literally sick to my stomach.

I never want to see that scene again as long as I live.
I honestly felt nauseated. And I was watching a cartoon.
He's not even a real person, and I was reacting as though it was real violence.
After watching it, I was legitimately shaken ... which is amazing. And terrifying.

Also, I have a strange love of Tarrlok. I don't know why. I ... just do. Always have.
I mean, I think he's a horrible person and a douche and just as bad as Zhao ... but I love him.

Amon terrifies me.

I really adore Korra. I just want to cuddle her.
And I honestly don't know why I have this particular reaction to her?
I mean, she's clearly a badass and does not need cuddling.

BOLIN NEEDS CUDDLING.
Oh my god when he was peeing in the beginning? LOL'D.
... Which reminds me: Why was all the comic relief in the beginning?
Meelo is precious. So precious. ... and Tenzin/Lin never fails me.

But speaking of things that failed ....

... Mako.

I really despise the way the show is going about the character relationships. Mostly because I love Asami, and I want her to be a real character, instead of Miss Jealous-pants ... because she's SO much better than that. Or at least had the chance to be before she was ruined.... by Mako.

Stupid Mako.

I admit, I had gut-Makorra feels at the end of this episode ... just because I feel like it's a natural reaction to a scene of love and comfort, such as when Mako caressed her cheek and was gently reassuring her at the end. I however do not "ship" Makorra in the classic sense. I support all ships, but I have no serious serious leanings, really.

But the whole Asami/Mako/Korra love triangle is annoying me to death. I honestly hate it. Mako is making out with Asami one moment, then focusing all of his energy on Korra the next. It'd be fine if he'd just make up his mind, and if Asami could act independently of him, and ... well, mostly if all of this had been nipped in the bud. I get that Mako and Bolin have this brotherly love of Korra from her being on their team, but Mako honestly has no reason to feel something too much deeper than that (granted, deep friendly love can be created pretty quickly).... especially since he's given no real indication of it in the past.

I guess that there's some kind of "oh they're just crazy hormonal teenagers" jumbo going on in the background here, but ... I don't like it. They were more graceful with the A:TLA relationships... and I don't understand why they're removing that grace here. Nothing would have been detracted from the episodes if the "romance" had been taken out, and added more gradually, instead of rushed and thrown upon us.

If anything, I'm more prone to reject Makorra because of the way it seems to be shoved at us. I went to one of my friend's graduation parties last night, and we were discussion Korra (I hadn't seen the latest episode, but we were discussing ships and such) ... and most all of the people there (like 8 out of 9) had seen Korra. And we were ALL talking about how much we hated Makorra, simply for the reason that it seems to be the "ship they want us to ship." And that it seems to be some kind of replacement for Zutara, since Zutara never 'actually' happened. And there were ex-(possibly current) Zutara shippers in the room! Talking about how much Makorra bothered them!

.... I just want to see the action of whatever the heck Amon's doing, and how he's doing it. I want to learn about his past, and I want to see flashbacks of the Gaang. I want Korra to learn airbending and I want her to enter the Avatar State. I want to see badass bending battles, references to the old show, and development of the new plotline.

I don't want to see one stupid little man being indecisive over two pretty girls.