Toph was more badass than Lin currently is for 1 reason. Lin, and all the metalbenders for that matter, seem to have totally forgotten how badass regular old earthbending can be. If they're metalbenders, that means they're earthbenders, but you'd never know that.
The big platinum wall goes up, and they're like, oh no, we're trapped. A few minutes later, Bolin and Mako come out of a hole that Bolin bends in the floor, which is not metal. An earthbender could have opened a big hole beneath one of the armor suits and buried them completely. An earthbender could have created an escape tunnel and closed it behind them, before the mechs had a chance to touch them or shifted the ground underneath their treads to run them into each other or picked up a huge slab of rock and smashed them around. Lin and the metalbenders have forgotten their roots. That is why they fail.
I was thinking this throughout the fight, but I was like, okay maybe there's platinum on the floor as well. Then Bolin pops his head out if the floor like a baby badgermole, and now Lin's team is completely incompetent in my eys.
In reply to suppi_chan, #8795: Actually, a quick check shows they did use some classic earth bending but only for foot support and by Lin to propel herself onto a mecha... Seriously guys?
Even Korra, the fire-breathing-Avatar, paused for a moment to think, "Hey, I could throw the ground at them... Yeah! *throw* YEA--*bashed into pipe*..." Oh, Korra...too little too late... *sigh*...
Good episode was AMAZING. I am excited for future Spider-Lin. But way less dorky. There was so much fanservice/throwbacks in this episode that made me so happy inside.
Also, I liked the tiny scene in the pool where Bolin and Mako were actually acting like brothers and tackling each other in the pool.
As much I'd like to beat everybody over the head with my being right about Future Industries, I wont, but I was right. I really seeing Lin use 'Foot-Vision', along with all the badassery that everyone contributed. I must say that "Not My Cabbage Corp." sounded like forced fan-service to me, but the giant statue of the Cabbage Merchant made up for that. I still trust Asami about as far I can throw a Sky Bison, but for now I'll lay off... Though her self defense moves resemble Amons... Finally, An Image Dump. YAY!
A new Amon speculation, that I find hard to dispute.
Something sad, yet at the same time moving. I can imagine this happening in the show. Soon. A little, nostalgic pick-me-up from that. Daw.
Apparently there won't be new LoK's for a while so...
According to the wiki you achieve airbending mastery by passing through the 36 levels and then inventing a new technique. Aang made it to 35 and then came up with his new technique early. So they let him skip I guess.
I didn't mention the 36 levels in my previous post because it wasn't the part that was relevant to what I was saying.
Also, even the cabbage merchant has a statue in Republic City and still no Sokka love? Outrageous!
In reply to GR33NMaN, #8807: You were right about Future Industries but not right about Asami, which was the more major point.... At least... not right yet (there are...possibilities). Asami's matching moves could be coincidental... After all, it's just a form of non-bending martial arts...
In reply to datalaughing, #8809: Fair enough. I only mentioned them because it suggested to me that a new technique wasn't required but I stand corrected.
Perhaps we will see Tenzin's new technique when we see Korra learn some more damn airbending, dang it! Seriously... just a poof for progress sake...
In reply to sodafromyoda, #8810: I'm thinking more... Museum? "The Hall of Sokka"
Well, since her dad was in bed with the equalists, and since Asami mentions that he's had her in self-defense training since she was very small, it wouldn't be much of a stretch to imagine that she'd learn some of the same techniques as the equalists do, maybe even from some of the same people, since those might be the most capable people her father knew to train her. Not like her sensei would have to mention when teaching her fighting or even chi blocking (we haven't seen her do it, but it would make sense for her father to have her trained to) that he was a member of a secret organization of revolutionaries.
I was thinking of Sokka getting a massive statue in front of the Mechanist's Guild or the Engineering side of the city. Maybe him riding a motorcycle wielding his boomerang. That would make up for him not having a statue yet.
I still wouldn't trust Asami. I think all this time she's been part of the equalists as well and used this opportunity to gain the trust of the benders. I'm calling it right now, she's always been part of the equalist movement and will betray everyone, especially Mako, but will gain a soft spot for benders and saves him/them at some point in the show.
I could see her potentially betraying Mako, but only because she falters due to her father (and of course regains her senses and fixes everything later). I firmly believe that she didn't know what was up until the factory incident. That would be way too convoluted. "Alright daughter, here's the plan. Get in with these benders. Then we'll destroy the probending ring and they'll have to live with us. Then we frame cabbage corp. Then we lead the benders to us. Then we try to destroy them, but you come in and "save" them at the last second so we can destroy them later. IT'S FOOLPROOF".
To what end? It's been made pretty clear that Amon can pop out and take on whoever, whenever. He and/or his people have taken down Korra 3 times. Tenzin and Lin twice. Why bother to go through all the trouble of getting a mole into the group when so far they've posed no threat to him?
Tarlok, on the other hand, becomes more suspicious all the time. It seemed odd that he changed his mind about cancelling the tournament when Lin said she could offer protection. Now it's obvious that he let it happen because he was sure she'd fail and then he could use it as leverage to push her out and get himself or someone loyal to him in charge of the police force.
Speaking of which, was anyone else super sad that the pro-bending announcer was no longer doing the previously on? Wonder if he's dead after that attack in the previous episode.
While I missed announcer guy, I liked how they handled the previously on Korra this week. The press release by Tarlock was an ingenious way to recap those specific events. I doubt the announcer guy is gone for good.
Evidence does point to Tarlok possibly being involved with the Equalists. Amon was able to get to the statue past his taskforce and he seemed to know Lin would fail at the arena. Either he's working with them or he thinks he can manipulate the situation to his advantage and possibly do away with Amon once he's achieved his political aspirations.
Tarlok is a bender, Amon wishes to get rid of all benders and has proven he's willing to be ruthless to do so. There simply isn't room for the both of them. Tarlok rejoiced when Lin offered to take the blame if something went wrong because he's a politician. Every politician loves the idea of not having blame attributed to them. He also seems to have it out for Lin so her potentially losing her job must've been a plus as well.
