Republic City Dispatch

Solid.

-Da7e-

That’s like when I realized Katara was Ann from Arrested Development. : )

Though I still confuse Jason Isaacs with Timothy Dalton much more than most people.

-Da7e-

I agree the whole thing feels like a “Book Two: Spirits: The Movie,” especially when the beginning of the season had plots that had nothing to do with what the master plot ended up being.

However, if you’re producing episodic television, deciding to let the last four episodes function as one episode is tricky. 

This is sort of the question I’ve been orbiting around with Book Two overall: Just how OK am I that this season only works well when there aren’t breaks between the episodes (you know, long breaks where we debate each mini-decision Korra makes)?

Anyway – yes. I’m also psyched to see the Finale again.

-Da7e-

Yes.
No.
No.
More on the next podcast.

-Da7e-

Change I can believe in?

-Da7e-

Releasing the first two episodes of a TV show — especially a brand new one — is fairly common practice. And it makes perfect sense: What better way to rope new viewers and/or strike up some buzz than give audiences a chance to watch the premiere at their leisure? 

Dropping the finale of a TV season with less than 24 hours is something totally different. A finale is an event. Or it should be — while there was a swell of support to get the episodes out there (expected as us fans are always pining for more Korra), they were being dropped at midnight after two episodes had already aired. As a viewer, that was an overload. It’s not that the move will “affect” anything scheduling or ratings wise (although judging from how many reactions I’ve seen on Tumblr/Twitter/etc a ratings dip on Friday wouldn’t be surprising), my frustration came from people not having the breathing room to enjoy “Night of a Thousand Stars”/“Harmonic Convergence” for the awesome episodes that they were. As we’ve talked about on the podcast in the past, fandom can get swept up in the plot points and speculative questions. That’s what separates an early premiere and an early finale — one pours fuel on the conversation, the other wraps everything up and focuses fandom’s sights on the future (everyone is already wondering what Book 3 will be about). I wanted to luxuriate in the greatness of Friday’s 8pm double-header. Now we’re just done with Book 2.

– Matt

I said that was in the FUTURE, right? 

I don’t think it’s going to end any time soon, I think we have more complications in the ‘shipping. 

BUT, I do think the series will end, like the previous one, with fixed couples. It just might take until Book Four to get there.

-Da7e-

I’d expect to hear this argument out of Unalaq’s mouth sooner rather than later. But, seriously, when has it been good when a character in a dramatic series trusts the giant black spirit monster over the tiny white spirit monster? : )

-Da7e-

That was me that said that, and – yes – there are no bathrooms in the Spirit World. That was an oversight. However, it does backwardsly explain how Unalaq is so chummy with the Spirits despite the portals being closed until very recently.

Interesting bit of world building that Iroh was able to choose to let his body die while he remained in the Spirit World…

…oh no. Jinora.

-Da7e-

I think it’s part Astral Projecting and part your Spirit actually leaving your body and wandering around. But you could also chalk it up to a weird Unalaq Dark Spirit Powers. I didn’t know he could destroy someone’s soul like he threatened to do last episode, so maybe he has some sort of bonding spell.

I wonder if I actually want the show to address this or if I should just move on.

-Da7e-