'Legend of Korra' Recap: 'Civil Wars Part 1'

There was a fair amount criticism of Korra's behavior last week and a lot of viewers felt Korra was being rather unreasonable. This episode gives a better explanation of where Korra is coming from. Korra is seventeen. In our world, this would put her on the verge of adulthood. I can understand why she would be eager to throw her lot in with Unalaq. Korra meets with him multiple times at the beginning of the episode and he repeatedly tells her that he trusts her and that he values her input. From Korra's point of view, this is the exact opposite of what her parents, more specifically her father, have been doing.

Speaking of Unalaq, he continues to act suspiciously. He knows exactly what Korra wants to hear and uses it to convince her to act in ways that ultimately benefit him. For example, the next part of his plan is for Korra to travel to the North and open another portal. This portal not only connects the spirit world to the physical world, but also allows instant travel between the two portals. Unalaq says this would further help unify the two tribes. He continues to talk about peace and unity, but his actions tell a different story. Not only are northern soldiers walking the streets and threatening people, but Unalaq has even shut down the harbor. This doesn't sit very well with Varrick. A group of southerners, including Varrick, meet at Tonraq's home to voice their complaints. Korra tries to calm them down but Varrick will not hear her out and promises that if Unalaq doesn't back down, there will be a war.

That night, Korra visits her uncle and walks in as a group of waterbenders attempt to kidnap him. She quickly disables a few lackeys and chases after the leader, who she believes is her father. She saves her uncle, unmasks the perp, and discovers her father had nothing to do with the kidnapping attempt. Korra runs home and makes up with her parents. Apparently, Unalaq was tailing her because only moments later, he barges in to arrest them for conspiring to assassinate the chief.

Meanwhile, Tenzin's family vacation hits a rough patch when Ikki goes missing. Tenzin, Kya, and Bumi head out to find her and spend most of the time arguing about differing memories of their childhood and of Aang. Kya and Bumi resent the extra attention Aang paid to Tenzin because he was an airbender. Bumi has obviously struggled as the only non-bender of the family. Aang accomplished so much as the avatar, but he was also a husband and father and it seems like we're going to learn more about that part of his life from his children.
The rest of the gang doesn't appear too often this episode. Bolin's infatuation with Korra's cousin Eska turns out to be very short lived. He turns to Mako, who isn't particularly busy, for advice. Asami doesn't make an appearance. Presumably, she headed back home after securing her shipping deal with Varrick. I'm sure there will be more for them to do next episode, especially with a civil war about to break out. Like Unalaq says earlier in the episode, people will pick sides.

Korra continues to move at breakneck speed and I’m really interested in the themes being explored this season. Family is playing a big part in everyone’s lives. Korra is caught between dueling ideologies that are personified by her father and her uncle. Events on the air temple continue to puzzle me but it seems like it could involve Aang's children as well as his grandchildren. On a larger scale, the conflict between the North and South has shades of religious conflicts and wars from our own world. Soldiers walking the streets and children throwing snowballs seem like obvious parallels to the American Revolution.

The Legend of Korra airs Fridays at 7 pm on Nickelodeon.

Image: Nick press

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