The Legend of Korra - Episode 6 - And the Winner Is... - Review

Wow! This has to be the most action-packed episode of The Legend of Korra yet. Not only did we get a full match of pro-bending at the arena, we also got an epic battle between Korra and the Equalists.

This also served as a coming out party for Police Chief Lin Beifong. She is so badass and probably the most gifted bender in all of Republic City.

What I liked most was an emphasis on the underlying theme of the series: love. We got a dose of this last week with Korra and Mako’s awkward “love quadrangle,” and this week, we learn that Tenzin and Lin Beifong had a romantic past – which made their relationship strained.

I’ve realized that all our protagonists are tied in with their desires for each other – which cause them to stumble here and there – but it is what makes the show so endearing. Contrast that to Amon’s singular purpose to annihilate Korra and the benders and he becomes a compelling villain. Though his argument for “equality” fits right in with contemporary themes of the “haves” vs. the “have nots”, with Amon being the champion of the masses, it’s interesting to see how the show resolves this. Obviously, the answer is for everyone to live together in harmony despite their differences, but some benders have abused their powers in present day Republic City and this needed to be addressed. Amon’s radical approach is unacceptable, but at the same time, the benders have to come to a realization that they’ve f_cked up, and they can’t be completely blameless for what is happening.

I found that while I was clearly rooting for Korra and her friends against Amon, they still had a long way to go in reaching Avatar Aang’s goal of a peaceful society. Getting rid of Amon simply is not enough.

The Legend of Korra - Episode 6 - And the Winner Is…

It’s the pro-bending championships! The underdog Fire Ferrets vs. The Wolfbats!

Korra, Mako and Bolin are training at the gym when the radio is interrupted by Amon telling the council to cancel the probending championship or face dire consequences.

Korra and the guys storm the council room where Tenzin and the council have decided that they will abide by Amon’s wishes and shut down the tournament. Even Tarrlock is in agreement – they will close down the arena.

Mako and Bolin contend that the pro-bending tournament is good for the people. Everyone is watching the benders “in peace” (while the benders beat each other up). Korra adds that if they close the arena, they would let Amon win.

The council doesn’t budge, but then Lin Beifong comes in and agrees with Korra.

“Show a little bit of backbone. It’s time the benders of this city show some unity against these Equalists,” she says. She offers some extra protection for the spectators. Her metalbenders have special armor that can prevent the chi blockers from affecting them.

The council changes their vote. The championship goes on as scheduled.

Tenzin talks to Lin alone. “Tarrlock is playing you,” he tells her.

“I know the risks,” she says. And Tenzin says he will be by her side.

Korra comes in as Lin leaves. She asks him why Lin is so angry at the Avatar. And Tenzin confesses that Lin’s issues are with him, not Aang.

And then Korra puts things together: “You two were a couple!” (Omigosh, yes.) This takes Tenzin off guard – his secret is now known!

“Where did you get that idea?” he demands.

“From your wife,” she says. Last week, Pema told Korra that to get Tenzin to choose between her and another girl, she told him that she loved him. Apparently that “other girl” was Lin Beifong! Oh, the drama…

“Pema didn’t ‘steal me,’ Lin and I had been growing apart for some time. We both had different goals,” Tenzin says, before stopping, realizing that he shouldn’t be talking about his love life to Korra.

“See you at home Mr. Heartbreaker,” Korra tells him.

Amon gets word that the championship is on and says, “Everything is going according to plan.”

Before the match, Beifong and her metalbenders conduct a security sweep at the arena. Tenzin is by her side. She is still annoyed at him being there, but he tells her, “With so much on the line, it would be nice if we could help each other out at least for one night.”

“Like old times?” she concedes.

“Like old times.”

This was such a sweet moment now that we know their history with one another.

The Championship!

The teams enter the arena. Pabu looks so cute in his costume! He introduces the team doing a circus trick with Bolin.

“Yes! Nailed it!” Bolin cheers, “He’s so talented.” (This is exactly how I feel about my dog. I can so relate.)

Tano and the Wolfbats come in with their menacing wolf masks and bat wings.

The match starts and the Wolfbats are cheating. The referees however ignore everything.

“Exceed waterbending time limit! Illegal icing move!” says the announcer.

For Round 1, the Fire Ferrets survive what seemed like a knockout when Korra hung on to the end of the court and hoisted Mako back in.

At the start of Round 2, Korra wants to play dirty too but Mako says no. They know that the refs have been paid to ignore the cheating, but they want to win honorably.

Round 2 ends in a tie-breaker. The Fire Ferrets win the coin toss, and they choose water. It’s Korra vs. Tano!

Korra puts down some killer moves on Tano and wins.

For Round 3, the cheating escalates. The Wolfbats combine their bending and hurl water with rocks in them at the Fire Ferrets. The Wolfbats win by knockout. Korra, Mako and Bolin are all in the water. (Boo!)

As the Wolfbats are cheered, Equalist sleepers emerge from the audience. They are wearing special gloves that give out an electric shock. They knock out the metalbender security in their “armor” – and they knock out Beifong and Tenzin as well.

Korra and guys get electrocuted in the water by that guy with the electric sticks.

Amon then emerges from the middle of the court with his men.

Tano and the Wolfbats attack them. They are quickly defeated. Amon takes away their bending powers. (OMG. That was scary.)

As Korra and the guys are dragged out of the water at the bottom of the court by the electric stick guy, she gets flashbacks of Aang and Toph! It looks like Aang may have tangled with Amon before. It looked like there was some sort of trial. The electric guy ties Korra and the guys up.

Amon makes a speech to the audience about how bad the benders are, using the Wolfbats as en example. He says that they bullied and cheated their way to victory – just like how benders bully non-benders.

“We now have the numbers and the strength to create a new Republic City,” he announces to his supporters. He says that because of modern technology, anyone can hold the power of a chi blocker in their hand.

Meanwhile, Pabu saves Korra and the guys by chewing through their ropes.

After his speech, Amon makes a dramatic exit through the arenas glass roof.

Lin Beifong and Tenzin gain consciousness. Korra goes after Amon by propelling herself up with a blast of water – however, she doesn’t have enough momentum. Beifong helps her out – hoisting Korra up with some awesome metalbending.

They both fight the Equalists on the rooftop as Amon escapes to his airship. It’s a great battle! Beifong makes one final push to reach Amon, but Korra falls through the glass roof after defeating the electric sticks guy. Beifong decides to save the Avatar.

Lin Beifong is so badass! She’s like Spider-Man out there with metal extending out of her arms.

“Looks like we lost this one,” says Beifong as Amon escapes. “I can’t believe Amon did this. I played right into his hand.”

“He played us all. Republic City is at war,” says Tenzin.

Whew! What an episode. How are Korra and gang going to counter Amon now? Amon seems like he is all-powerful - more powerful than any bender.

I was a bit sad that there weren’t any previews for the next episode, so it looks like we are going to have to wait more than just one week for our The Legend of Korra fill. I hope the wait is not too long!

Go Korra! Go Mako! Go Bolin! Go Pabu! Go Lin Beifong!