So while this is American in origin, the style is most definitely closer to Anime. Now I LOVE the original Last Airbender series (I think you would be hard pressed to find many that do not enjoy it), but I will admit Legend of Korra had a very hard act to follow.
It is always the case that beyond expectation success can leave a far too high bar to surpass or equal for anything that follows (or worse the evil minions of greed want it faster than quality will allow!). Even so, Book 1: Air did a nice job of taking us back into the world of Avatars and benders. I think of it more as an introduction and extrapolation of the world Aang and his group sucked us all into and the results of it. This however deals with the return of Korra in her new season.
Where Book 1 was a lot of plot subtext and introduction, Book 2 hops right into the nitty gritty.
Episode 1: Rebel Spirit
They start off stating that 6 months have passed, we assume a bit here that Korra fixed up the benders Amon ripped their abilities from and that peace has been more or less restored. Tenzin is no longer on the Council as this has been replaced by a non-bender elected President in Republic City.
While that leaves a lot of material to come back to we are curious about, we move forward into some odd occurrences of a boat in the dark. An old seaman has some fun with a rookie, up until a monster that looks a lot like energy attacks and rips the boat into the sea (suggested but not seen).
We then flash back to Republic City, where Bolin is still doing the Bending Tournaments, but with 2 new members who seem...less than competent. Mako is now an policeman with some interesting moves combining his fire bending with stopping some crime, and a well delivered line at the end to boot.
Korra is still at the Air Temple, but in typical fashion she is racing Tenzin's kids in air bending race, which she wins by using the Avatar State. This last bit displeases Tenzin greatly, but he thinks that a planned trip to all the air temples will help her learn not only better air bending, but a deeper connection to her spiritual side as well.
While this is the future, the immediate trip to the southern pole is more warmly welcomed for the fun it is known for. The Spiritual holiday is a time of fun and relaxation for the Southern Water Tribe. Korra of course beings all her friends, one of whom is trying to get her own life back together. Asami comes not just for the invitation, but the chance to get her company, once used by Amon, back on its feet.
Here we get to meet the rest of Korra's family more formally, as well as a better look at Aang's kids aside from Tenzin, Boomy seems bent on seeing the vacation version of his brother.
We also meet Unalaq, Chief of the Northern Water tribe and Korra's uncle it would seem. He does not give off good vibes and Korra's father does not seem overly pleased with him either. The man does not say a word of praise about anything in the south and even seems to want to turn Korra against her own tribe.
Admittedly he seems to have one legitimate complaint, the negligence of the spiritual side of their lives seems to be having dire consequences. The spirits seem angry and Unalaq offers to train Korra on her spiritual journey, something both her father and Tenzin seem very against.
It is also revealed that the isolation of her training was their idea, not Aang or the White Lotus. This particular revelation has Korra in a very bad mood understandably.
However, an almost convenient attack (my opinion) forces Korra to face the fact that her uncle may have a better grasp of the situation than anyone else right now.
Strangely the angry spirit does not attack a single soul, but goes straight for Korra. It is only when others fight that it attacks back. Only Unalaq is able to some how bind and seemingly dismiss the spirit in a sparkle of golden light.
Korra decides after heated arguments to learn from her uncle and ignore both her father and Tenzin's advice. Tenzin leaves for the air temples with his family, and siblings in tow.
Episode 2: The Southern Lights
Very nicely we are not left hanging until next week to see the next step. Korra, her father, Mako, Bolin, Unalaq, and his twins all head for the Southern Pole, where a Spirit Gate appears to have been sealed long ago.
Unalaq believes that Korra needs to open the get before the solstice, when the barrier between the physical and spiritual world are closest together to restore spiritual balance to the southern pole. As they journey, the past continues to unfold.
Korra learns her father did not just leave the Northern Tribe, but was banished. He was doing what he thought was right, but destroyed an ancient forest where spirits were believed to dwell. We see a flashback of Unalaq employing the same technique to sent those spirits back to the wood then as well.
We also see a different side of Tenzin's family as they arrive at the Southern Air Temple. The monks there treat air benders with near reverence, and a good deal of overbearing attitude as well. We once more see the room of statues where all the Avatars are carved and placed. Aang now has pride of place where he once stood looking at Avatar Roku for answers.
Now his young granddaughter, Jinora, is looking at his statue when something seems to compel her to turn around.
Flash back to Korra and gang, and we seem them get attacked rather oddly by spirits. Rather than attack directly, the spirits seem bent on only stopping them and making them turn back. Unlike the previous attack only Bolin gets in serious danger from the malfunction in his engine.
Korra sends her father back and moves forward with the rest to the pole. There they find find a nearly frozen over grove much like the one in the flashback we saw. Korra has to go alone from here, just as Aang had to go alone on many of his spiritual journeys.
As before the spirits, though looking very malevolent, only seem interested in stopping Korra, not harming her. They seem very desperate as she finally reached the closed gate. As Korra battles to open it, Jinora returns late in the night to Aang's statue.
This time a much older statue draws her eye, one that seems surrounded by elements as well. We are left wondering who this Avatar is, but then Korra reaches the Avatar State and opens the gate in the Southern Pole.
As the gate dispels the Everstorm and reignites the Southern Lights, the statue glows at the same moment. All celebrate the success of Korra in the forest and Unalaq tells her she has done well for a first step.
Just when it all seems to be going well...things of course take a turn.
Unalaq's northern forces are landing enmasse as they return. He calmly states that fixing the spiritual balance was but the first step to getting the Southern Tribe on the "right" path. As it seems obvious to all that this would have happened regardless. Given the title of the next two episodes are "Civil Wars," I assume we can expect a lot of conflict.
For a return after a LONG absence, I am enjoying the direction while not losing the usual feeling of the Avatar series. The serious is balanced by the silly and the emotional gut punches can come from unexpected sources. I am more than curious to see where this Book will go and I am more than happy it is longer than the first.
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