‘The Legend of Korra’ season 3, episode 13, ‘Venom of the Red Lotus’
The end of the Avatar cycle
Korra threatens the lives of the Red Lotus, but Zaheer states that she’ll never be able to break the platinum chains. He reveals his plan to enter a poison into Korra’s body, thus forcing her into the Avatar State, and killing her while in it, making her “Korra, the last Avatar.”
Jinora’s spirit form hears Zaheer’s plan to assimilate all nations while ridding them of all of their world leaders, and reports back to the imprisoned Airbenders that they’re going to have to act quick to stop Zaheer (especially with the badly bruised Kya and Bumi barely hanging on).
The poison is water(metal?)-bent into Korra’s skin, and what follows is a gruesomely torture scene. While Zaheer’s lackies await Korra’s entering of the Avatar state, Zaheer comments that she’ll flicker in and out for a bit until she finally gives in.
Mission: Save the Airbenders
Tenzin, Lin and co. arrive at the caves where the Airbenders and Korra are being help captive. Su promises to come back out with all of their family and friends.
One of the creepiest sequences ever follows, where a delusional Korra imagines Zaheer, Ghazan, and Ming-Hua turning into Amon, Unalaq, and Vaatu, respectively. Seriously. Their skin crackles and twists into the shapes of Korra’s worst enemies. “Let go! Let go!” her specters eerily chant.
The captive Airbenders convince one of the guards to give them some water. Jinora airbends the guard’s clothes, shooting the keys over to Opal. Just as a guard sees her unlock her chains, Su and Asami lead a surprise attack on the guards, freeing the Airbenders. Hey, Bolin, that’s Opal’s mother you just pushed aside! And yes, Bryke. We did get Kai’s Jet reference (?!).
Jinora tells Tonraq that she’ll show the group to where Korra is. Speaking of the devil, Korra goes full Avatar state, ripping her chains off of the walls, disabling the Red Lotus; re: Korra full Super Saiyan. Korra and Zaheer fly off using their respective bending, leaving Bolin and Mako to fight Ghazan and Ming.
Sozin’s Comet, Part 4: Avatar Aang
Korra tackles Zaheer midair, leading to one of her many harsh descents onto the ground. Nevertheless, the Avatar fire-jets back to the leader of the Red Lotus relentlessly. Tenzin is reuninted with his family as the group tries to think of a way to help Korra.
Bolin shows off his epic new lavabending against Ghazan. “So that’s how you got out of the temple. Let’s see what you’ve got!” taunts the Earthbender.
Korra takes many a hard hit from Zaheer’s airbending, but still attempts to squash him with a giant rock. When that fails, she jumps into a pool of water, effectively freezing his right foot. As Zaheer falls to the ground, the poison in Korra starts to take its deadly effect. “You can’t fight me and the poison,” the deranged man sneers.
Helping the Avatar
On the sidelines, Jinora takes the lead on a counterattack. “There haven’t been this many Airbenders in one place for a long time either. We have power together!” shouts the enthusiastic Jinora. The Airbenders form a circle, and start bending a giant vortex.
Ming trips from Mako’s big fire punches, disabling her water arms. She jumps below to an underground pool and waterbends a LOT of arms around her. “Now it’s over!” she shouts. Mako takes this opportunity to electrocute the crazy to high hell (it’s about time!).
Mako jumps back up and defeats Ghazan with Bolin. Ever the poor loser, Ghazan concaves the entire enclosure in lava. The brothers escape, leaving the Red Lotus lavabender to his doom.
Long live the Avatar
Zaheer gains the final upper hand and starts to bend the air out of Korra’s lungs. Suddenly, the air vortex Jinora and co. created envelope the Avatar and Zaheer. Both are sucked down inside, tumbling down to the Earth at a rapid pace.
Raava kicks in one final time, wrapping the chain still around Korra’s arm around Zaheeh. Korra smashes Zaheer into the ground (seriously, how is this guy still alive?), and the Metalbenders quickly imprison him in earth.
Korra’s dad rushes to his daughter. She realizes that her father survived his deadly fall, and then seems to lose the last life left in her eyes. Zaheer cackles that the poison has already been in her system for too long for her to survive any longer.
Jinora, ever the savant, informs Su that Korra can still be saved, with the statement, “The poison is metallic!” And save her, Su does. Korra shares a tender moment with her father, and Zaheer shouts that the Red Lotus’ work is already underway. Thanks for putting a sock in it, Sokka Bolin!
A new age of Airbenders
It’s two weeks later, and Korra is very damaged looking. As the Avatar sits in a wheelchair, Asami puts the broken woman together for a celebration in honor of Jinora. Asami tells Korra that she’s always going to be there for her.
Lord Zuko, President Raiko, Su, Lin, Kya, Tenzin, and Tonraq greet Korra with both encouragement and pity in their eyes. The president officially welcomes Korra back into Republic City. While Lin earthbends Korra up the staircase to the ceremony, Zuko comments that they still don’t know how many Red Lotus members are out there. President Raiko asks, “Who’s going to protect us while she’s in a wheelchair?”
The ceremony begins for Jinora’s anointment into Airbending Mastery. Tenzin thanks Korra for opening the spirit portals and laying her life on the line to protect the Airbenders. He then tells the assembly that the Air Nomads will reclaim their history and roam the Earth, essentially taking up the job of joint-Avatar whilst Korra’s out of commission.
Jinora takes off her hood, revealing her shaved head and arrow tattoos. She. Looks. Just. Like. Young. Aang. Tears are bent. Well done, Bryke.
‘The Legend of Korra’ season 3, episode 13 recap written by Mitchel Clow.
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