The Legend of Korra - Episode 11 / 12 - Video Recap - Season Finale

The one-hour season one finale of The Legend of Korra was filled with incredible reveals and non-stop action, I was at the edge of my seat the entire time.

I have one small gripe about the resolution of Amon's story, but the badassery of General Iroh II more than made up for any flaws in the plot.

Here's the recap with video:

Book One: Air

Chapter Eleven: Skeletons in the Closet

Amon and the Equalists have captured Republic City. Team Avatar are in hiding, spying on Amon's movements while waiting for General Iroh II to arrive with the United Forces. Korra and Mako are becoming increasingly closer with their romance.

The United Forces arrive, but are greeted with no resistance as the fleet arrives in the harbor. It turns out the harbor had been mined and they start exploding. Meanwhile, airplanes from Hiroshi Sato start a bombing run on the fleet.

"Where does Hiroshi find the time inventing new evil machines?!" laments Bolin.

Korra and Iroh try their best to fend off the attack, but the fleet is decimated and Iroh gets knocked out into the water when his ship takes a direct hit from a bomb. Korra brings him to their underground hideout.

Iroh sends out a message to the second wave of reinforcements -- led my Commander Bumi (Tenzin's brother!) -- to keep an eye out for the airplanes that his fleet wasn't prepared for.

Iroh decides that Team Avatar should destroy the airfield to stop the airplanes. Korra however decides to stay behind and deal with Amon herself on her own terms. Mako joins her. Unlike last episode, where he was such a prick, Mako has a civil talk with Asami at how their relationship has turned out. Looks like it's over.

Iroh, Asami, Bolin, Naga and Pabu head for the airfield. Korra and Mako head for Air Temple Island to confront Amon.

At Air Temple Island -- after a close call with the guy with electric sticks who informed Korra and Mako (who are disguised as Equalists) that there was a rally at the arena -- Korra and Mako discover Tarrlock imprisoned.

They wonder why he would be locked up there, then he says: "I'm Amon's brother." WTF.

He then tells his story in a flashback.

After Aang took away his bloodbending, Yakone had surgery to change his face and fled to the Northern Water Tribe. He married and had two sons: Noatak and Tarrlock. He taught them how to bloodbend so they could avenge him and destroy the Avatar.

Noatak was really good -- and after Yakone made the boys bloodbend each other, Noatak turns on his father. He said that the most powerful bending is not bloodbending but to remove bending just like what Aang did to Yakone. He runs away.

Tarrlock said that both he and his brother, who is now called Amon, did eventually become soldiers of revenge like what their father intended.

Korra asks how he figured out Amon was Noatak.

"When he took my bending the sensation was somehow familiar. I later recognized as my brother's bloodbending grip," says Tarrlock.

And so ended the deus ex machina plot reveal which powered the finale and the entire series. Amon is a bloodbender who uses his power to remove bending. His goal is to destroy the Avatar not only out of revenge, but to demonstrate how powerful his bending is.

Korra says that in order to defeat Amon, they must expose him as a bender.

Tarrlock begs her to defeat Amon to end "their sad story."

Chapter Twelve: Endgame

The quest to defeat Amon starts off on the wrong foot. Iroh, Bolin and Asami arrive at the airfield, but are quickly knocked out by an electric fence.

Korra and Mako are at the Equalist rally. After Amon gives a speech, Korra confronts him from the balcony.

"That's a lie Amon -- or should I call you Noatak?" she says. "Amon is a waterbender!"

The crowd gasps, but Amon removes his mask to show the "scars" that the firebender did to his face. To top off the drama, Amon presents Tenzin and his family on stage. (Gasp.)

Meanwhile at the airfield, Iroh, Bolin and Asami have been imprisoned by Hiroshi Sato. Thankfully, they had left Naga and Pabu behind -- and they storm the cell and free them.

The planes are leaving for Republic City -- and Iroh single-handedly tries to stop them. He "fly-firebends" to one of the planes and he tries to fly it himself! Bolin is left behind to detroy the airfield and Asami boards one of the mechatechs to detroy the rest of the planes.

Way above Republic City, Iroh takes out the squadron of planes by himself. Amazing! He was Superman out there. We really need more General Iroh II in the future.

At the airfield, Hiroshi Sato confronts his daugther Asami in a mechatech of his own. They battle, and with an assist from Bolin and Naga, Asami is able to take him out. He runs to escape, but he is stopped.

"You really are a horrible father," says Asami. (Good! I had feared that she might go to the darkside -- but she is a good chracter after all. Yay!)

Back at the rally, Amon declares: "Tonight I rid the world of airbending!" This was enough to put Korra and Mako into action. They attack Amon on stage and free Tenzin and the kids. Korra commands them to escape as she and Mako deal with Amon.

"Prison break!" squeals Meelo.

Mako and Korra corner Amon in an empty room. And then -- Amon bloodbends! It's true! After immobilizing Mako, Amon removes Korra's bending!!! OMG!

Meanwhile, the guy with electric sticks confronts Amon after witnessing him bloodbend.

"You traitor! I dedicated my life to you!" he says, then attacks Amon.

Amon however disposes of him easily. "You served me well lieutenant."

Amon attempts to remove Mako's bending as well, but he somehow electic bends and knocks Amon out. Mako escapes with Korra, but Amon stops them in a hallway with more bloodbending.

Amon tries again with Mako... and then... Korra AIRBENDS! For the first time in her life! This knocks out Amon... who ends up outside in the water below.

Amon's scar makeup gets washed away in the water, and he emerges out of the water using his waterbending. The crowd that has gathered sees this, and his secret is out. He flees.

Amon frees Tarrlock from his cell and asks him to join him. They board a boat out of Republic City. As Amon/Noatak tells his brother about how the there is nothing the two of them can't do together, Tarrlock picks up one of the Equlalist gloves -- and blows up the boat. (Did this succeed in getting rid of both of them? I doubt it...)

Meanwhile, Commander Bumi arrives with United Forces reinforcemenets (much to the dismay of Tenzin).

At the Southern Water Tribe, Katara tries to heal Korra. Unfortunately she cannot restore her bending.

"She can still airbend, but her connection to the other elements has been severed," she says.

Mako tries to console Korra who goes out to have some time on her own.

"I'm not the Avatar anymore," she tells him.

"I realized, I love you Korra," he tells her before she goes.

Korra is feeling all sorry for herself... when the spirit of Aang shows up.

"You have finally connected to your spiritual self. When we hit our lowest point, we are open to our greatest change," he tells her. Then he gives all her bending back! YES! Korra goes into her Avatar state.

Mako greets her.

"I love you too," she says.

Later, Korra gives Lin Beifong her bending back. YES!

"I am so proud of you Avatar Korra," Tenzin tells her.

I love this show so much. What a great end to Book One.

And now on to Book Two! We want more Iroh!